Because of You

by Laura Ward

  “See what I mean? Why does he care how she cooks her turkey?” Dean asked into my ear.

  Turning my head, I spoke into his, placing my hand on his upper thigh as I did. I felt him stiffen with surprise, but then he melted into my touch. “Settle. He’s just being polite,” I murmured.

  The clattering of silverware and the tipping of glasses caused us to pull apart. As we did, I saw Diamond jump off the table with Dean’s turkey leg in his mouth.

  “Ohmigod!” Crystal screamed and jumped up to chase her little thief. “She could choke on a bone!”

  Dean sat back and folded his arms across his chest focusing on Damian. “Your girl’s dog is an asshole.”

  Damian shrugged and dove into a pile of mashed potatoes.

  Dorothy had gotten up, righted everything that was spilled or tipped, and replaced Dean’s leg with some fresh turkey. She handed him a glass of wine. “Try some of my boxed wine, dear. It’ll calm you down.”

  Dean sipped the cheap wine. I was drinking it too, and it really wasn’t all that bad. “Hmm. I could drink this tonight. Think I’m gonna need it.”

  I was pretty sure we all did.

  * * *

  A FEW HOURS later, my parents had gone home, and the boys were finishing cleaning the kitchen and all the piles of dishes under Dale’s supervision. After I got Finn to bed, the ladies, minus Crystal, who was lying with Diamond to check for any potential breathing issues from her turkey debacle, gathered around the dining room table. We all drank Dorothy’s boxed wine, except for Daisy and Delilah, who drank pop.

  “I need more wine!” Dorothy yelled into the kitchen.

  “Ma, I think the box is empty,” Damian yelled back from the kitchen.

  Dorothy smacked her hand on the table. “No way. You’ve got to work at it, Damian. Tip it! Tip the box!” She yelled, her face flushing with exertion.

  I met Dianna’s, and then Daisy and Delilah’s eyes.

  Ma Goldsmith was drunkity drunk drunk.

  Our round table drinking session needed to end pronto. We couldn’t have the matriarch of the clan feeling sick in the morning.

  “I’m going up to bed, ladies. Happy Thanksgiving.” I hugged each of them and then headed into the kitchen.

  Dean looked so sexy, his hip propped up against the kitchen counter, drying a dish with a towel while he laughed and teased with his father and brothers. I walked up to him and whispered in his ear. “I’m heading to bed. Take your time. Enjoy your family.” I pulled away to go, and he captured my wrist, returning me to his side.

  “Nope, I’m ready to enjoy you. Finally.” Dean waved goodnight to his family, and we made our way to bed.

  “Finn asleep?” Dean asked around a mouthful of toothpaste.

  “Yup. I checked twice.” I lay in bed in a nightie, rubbing lotion onto my arms and legs. “Door locked?” I gestured toward the bedroom door with my thumb.

  Dean spit out the toothpaste and drank water from the faucet. “Yup. And I locked the hallway access to this bathroom, too.” He wiped his face with a towel and walked toward the bed wearing only his skin tight boxer briefs.

  “Look at us learning lessons and not making the same mistake twice.” I giggled as he crawled toward me on all fours.

  Dean kissed me hard and then quickly pulled the nightie down, exposing my breasts. He sucked on one nipple and then the other, pulling each into his mouth. My back arched as I tried to give him more. His mouth was perfection.

  He lifted his head and winked as he moved down my body, dragging my nightie lower as he went. He knelt at my feet, throwing the satiny fabric down on the floor.

  Dean lifted my foot at the ankle and smirked. “Want me to suck your toes, Red?”

  “Ewww,” I scowled, scrunching my nose at him and yanking my foot away.

  “I kid, I kid.” Dean planted soft kisses up my leg until he stopped between my legs and waited.

  I rose up on my elbows to see him. “Please, babe. C’mon you got me all worked up all day. Crystal’s quiet, the damn dog is quiet, everything is quiet… I need you.”

  Dean parted my soft skin and grinned. “That’s what I’ve been waiting for. Let me take care of you.”

  He brought his mouth to me and licked, sucking right where I ached for him. I flopped back down on the bed, fisting the sheets in both hands.

  Dean paused and lifted his head. “You gotta stay quiet, too, Red.”

  “Yes, of course, just keep going,” I panted, my eyes squeezed shut as pleasure surged through me.

  And then he added two fingers, pumping vigorously, and I was gone.

  Bliss.

  My body clenched as I held my breath and absorbed the beautiful sensations rippling through my body.

  When I recovered, I sat up. Dean pulled me onto his lap, and I linked my hands behind his neck. “Thank you, baby. That was mind-blowing.”

  “Let’s go for mind-blowing orgasm number two.” He lifted me onto my knees, adjusting us so the tip of him was ready for me to lower down on. This was one of my favorite positions. Me on top with Dean sitting up. He got so deep and hit the exact spot that caused me to lose my shit, fast.

  Squeak, squeak.

  Squeak, squeak.

  Squeak, squeak.

  The sound came rhythmically from somewhere below us. Dean stilled, his eyes finding mine.

  We held each other’s gaze. “Is that coming from downstairs?” I asked.

  Dean nodded, tilting his head to listen.

  Squeak, squeak.

  Squeak, squeak.

  Squeak, squeak.

  “What’s right below us?” I asked, almost hesitantly. I had this weird gut feeling that I probably didn’t want to know the answer.

  Dean closed his eyes and rested his head on my shoulder. “My parent’s room.” His voice was so defeated.

  “Oh, yes. That’s my Big Kahuna!”

  The sound was unmistakably Dorothy, in what sounded like the throngs of ecstasy. So Dorothy and Dale still had sex. Loud sex. Good to know.

  Dean lifted his head and kissed my forehead, moving me away from his dick. “First I’m cock blocked and now it feels like everyone in my family is getting some but me this year.”

  I climbed off his lap and grabbed my nightie from the floor. I shimmied it up over my body, as I watched Dean fall onto the bed, lying on his back with his palms covering his eyes. I felt guilty that he took care of me and then missed his chance. Again. I had to try and turn his mood around.

  “I know. It sucks.” I lay beside him, curling into his side. “But think about this. Last year for Thanksgiving, Finn and I were alone until you came over. And now we’ve spent the whole day surrounded by family, friends, and one asshole dog.”

  Dean’s body shook with laughter next to me.

  “Tomorrow we will drive back to our beautiful condo where we will make love in our own bed. Dean, I’ve never been so grateful.”

  He leaned down and pressed his lips against mine. “Me too, Red. Me too.”

  We were quiet for a few minutes, and I thought Dean had fallen asleep. It seemed the Big Kahuna had taken care of his woman, and I felt my body and mind relax.

  “But so help me God, if Jon’s is hooking up with my baby sister I’ll fuckin’ kill him,” Dean muttered and then began to snore.

  Jeez, I had a feeling Christmas was going to be really awkward.

  Acknowledgements

  THE FIRST PERSON to thank is my sweet husband who encourages me to fulfill my dreams! Thank you and I love you!

  Thank you to my children for understanding when I need to work or travel. Most importantly, thank you for sharing my love of books and writing. You three are the best and I love you more each day.

  To my wonderful beta readers: Tamara Debbaut, Lindsey Iler, Dina Littner, Christine Manzari, Brooke Page, Magan Vernon, and Christina Elle—thank you for allowing me to pick your brains, ask you endless questions and for providing the most helpful feedback.

  I’d like to say a special thank you t
o Nicole Safford for her help with my references about the deaf community and to Bettina Guevara-Timms for her help with the references about the Peruvian community.

  After the first drafts of a book are finished, the real work begins. Luckily I have the best team to help me. Working with Amy Donnelly at Alchemy and Words is always invigorating! You are an incredible editor. Thank you for your time and care with my story. Alison Evans-Maxwell at Red Leaf Proofing caught all the tiny details at the very end. Murphy Rae at Indie Solutions created this beautiful cover. Thank you! The exceptional formatting in the ebook and paperback versions of this book are because of Julie Titus at JT Formatting. She is amazing! Tamara Debbaut is the creative genius behind my marketing artwork and I appreciate her help so much. Finally, I would like to thank Give Me Books for handling my release blitz.

  While I’m at it, there are a few bloggers who have been instrumental in sharing my books. Thanks to Gitte and Jenny from TotallyBookedBlog, Jenn from Garden of REden, Candy from Prisoners of Print, Jamie and Theresa from Smokin’ Hot Reads, Stephenee from Nerd Girl Reviews, Alicia from Mean Girls Love Books, and Ethan from One Guy’s Guide to Good Reads.

  Tamara Debbaut there aren’t enough way to say thank you to you! You are there for me with any questions, problems, issues, or ideas I have. Thank you for your talent and friendship!

  Christine, what can I say? Meeting you, writing with you, and traveling with you has been the greatest blessing I’ve received from this journey. You are the most generous and talented lady I know. Thank you for ALWAYS being there for me.

  Finally, to anyone reading this right now- you have made my dreams come true. I’m a writer thanks to you!

  About the Author

  USA Today bestselling author Laura Ward writes sweet and sexy stories that will hopefully make you look at the world in a different way. Her books include the Not Yet series: Not Yet (Amazon Top 100 bestseller and Amazon All-Star), Until Now, Someday Soon, and Because of You. She also wrote the Contemporary Romance standalone, Past Heaven. Laura is the co-author of the College Bound series: The Pledge, The Color of Us, and The Sound of Your Heart (release date July 13, 2018).

  Laura lives in Maryland with her loud and very loving three children and husband. She married her college sweetheart and is endlessly grateful for the support he has given her through all their years together, and especially toward her dream of writing books. When not picking up toy trucks, driving to lacrosse practice, or checking spelling homework, Laura is writing or reading romance novels.

  Keep up to date with Laura Ward via:

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  http://www.laurawardauthor.com

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  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8328712.Laura_Ward

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  Email: laurawardauthor@yahoo.com

  Other Books by Laura Ward

  The Not Yet Series:

  Not Yet (Book #1)

  Until Now (Book #2)

  Someday Soon (Book #3)

  Because of You (Book #4)

  Standalone Contemporary Romance:

  Past Heaven

  The College Bound Series:

  The Pledge (Book #1)

  The Color of Us (Book #2)

  The Sound of Your Heart (Book #3)

  Release date: July 13, 2018