Take Me in the Dark (Take Me #2)

by R. L. Kenderson

  I’d heard from the police that morning. There were no fingerprints besides Tommy’s, Derek’s, and mine, and they were still collecting results from DNA on the letters and envelopes, particularly the seal.

  But even though we didn’t know who had sent me the letters, there hadn’t been any more, and I didn’t feel right about pulling Tommy away from his vacation.

  I was only going to be an hour away, and I was already working on ways I could come and visit. I just worried that I would look too desperate. Tommy had never mentioned seeing each other beyond this trip. Then again, neither had I. But Virginia was a long way away from Iowa. I couldn’t even make relationships work when I lived in the same town as the person I was dating. How could I possibly do it from half a country away?

  “Hopefully, after the movie, we can put the boys to bed and watch a grown-up one,” Addison said to me. “If it’s not too late. I know you have to drive back tomorrow.”

  “No, I’d like that.”

  “Did you want me to put Thane to bed now?”

  I rubbed the little guy’s back. “No, I’m good. It’s my last night to get baby snuggles, so I might as well take advantage of it.”

  Addison smiled. “I never took you for a baby snuggler.”

  I chuckled. “Me neither. But he’s pretty hard to resist.”

  I heard the sound of heavy footsteps coming up from the basement. Tommy had gone down there with Maddox after dinner to go over some plans on what he wanted to do to finish up the lower level.

  The two men stopped in the kitchen and were speaking in low voices to each other.

  “What do you think is going on in there?” I asked.

  She arched her back, sticking her ear out since she was closer to the kitchen than I was. She relaxed and shook her head. “No idea. I can’t hear what they’re saying.”

  The two men rounded the corner, and my mouth dropped open when I saw them first.

  Addison spun around in her chair, holding on to Spencer so he wouldn’t fall. “What is going on?”

  Tommy and Maddox were wearing jeans, no shirts, and bow ties.

  Tommy held up a bottle of nail polish. “We came to pay up. And we’re not quite naked butlers, but we thought this was pretty close.”

  Maddox sat down at Addison’s feet.

  “Whose idea was this?” she asked.

  “I kind of forgot about the bet,” I said.

  “I told you,” Maddox said to Tommy. “We can always leave,” he said with a smile to his wife.

  “Oh, don’t you dare.”

  He chuckled and picked up a foot. “I figured as much.”

  “Daddy, what you doing?” Spencer asked as Tommy sat down by my feet and faced me.

  “I’m going to paint Mommy’s toenails.”

  Spencer held up a little foot. “Me, too.”

  “After Mommy, buddy. You have to wait your turn.”

  I had to admit, I was shocked that such an alpha male would be okay with painting his son’s toenails. Some guys would shut down the idea.

  “Don’t you dare,” Addison said to Maddox. “There is no way he’ll sit still long enough for it to dry, and we’ll have streaks of nail polish all over the house.”

  Maddox winced. “Sorry, buddy. Mommy makes a good point. Maybe when you’re a little older.”

  “Now.”

  Addison picked up Spencer’s foot and blew a raspberry on it. The sweet boy giggled and seemed to forget all about getting his nails painted.

  “So, what color did you pick out for me?” I asked Tommy. “Some sort of red?”

  He grinned. “Fuck-me red,” he said, whispering the word fuck so Spencer couldn’t hear.

  I wiggled my toes. “Have at it.”

  He picked up a foot and massaged the ball of it. “At this time, I would like to remind you that I suck at this. But I give great foot massages, if you’d like to change your order from nail painting to foot massages.”

  His hands really did feel great, but I wanted to see this big manly man do my nails more than I wanted a rubdown.

  I smiled and shook my head. “No dice.”

  He shrugged. “Can’t blame a guy for trying.” He unscrewed the bottle, set it on the coffee table, and pulled out the brush. He painted my big toe and pulled my foot back to inspect his handiwork. “Not too bad.”

  I lifted my leg and looked. “Good job, stud. Let’s see you do the little ones now,” I teased.

  He pulled my foot back and went to work on my other four toes.

  His brow furrowed in concentration as he painted. He was adorable.

  Even though he had warned me that he was going to be bad at this job, he was still trying his best for me.

  Thane stirred on my chest, and I suddenly wondered what it would be like to have Tommy paint my nails while I lay on our couch and held our baby as he slept on me.

  I closed my eyes and tried to shake the image as my heart began to pound.

  It was one thing to want a family someday. It was another to want it with my vacation fling.

  I had never even pictured having kids with my past boyfriends.

  Holy shit. I was in deep with this guy.

  “Olivia. Olivia.”

  I opened my eyes.

  Tommy smiled. “I’m done.” He tilted his head. “Are you okay?”

  “Yeah. I was drifting off there; I was so relaxed.”

  “Sorry.”

  “Do not apologize. That felt amazing.”

  “You want to take a look at my work?”

  I lifted one foot and then the other. There was a good amount of paint on my skin where it met my nail in a few places, but I didn’t mind.

  “I love it,” I said with sincerity. “Thank you.”

  Tommy twisted the cap back on the bottle. “You’re welcome.”

  “Want to help me put this little guy to bed?”

  “You don’t have to do that,” Addison said. “Maddox is almost done.”

  Tommy stood and carefully lifted the sleeping baby from my chest. “You two fed us dinner. The least we can do is help you out.”

  “I appreciate it,” Addison said.

  “Me, too,” Maddox added from the floor. He looked at his older son. “One down, one to go. Right, Spence?”

  Spencer laughed.

  Tommy carried Thane to his room while I followed.

  “Put him on the changing table,” I said as I started opening up the dresser drawers. I found what I needed in the second from the top. I selected a pair of pajamas with bears on them and carried them over to Thane and Tommy.

  Tommy already had Thane undressed and was changing his diaper. “Can you believe he’s sleeping through all of this?”

  “No,” I said as a lump filled my throat. Again, I was bombarded with thoughts of Tommy and me together, getting our baby ready for bed. Instead of a little blond-haired boy, ours would have a head of dark locks.

  “Olivia.”

  I met Tommy’s face. “Hmm?”

  He held out his hand. “PJs?”

  “Oh, right.”

  Tommy dressed Thane and then slowly lowered him into his crib.

  We both held our breath to make sure the baby didn’t wake up.

  After a good minute, Tommy turned to me and put his hands on my upper arms. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

  35

  Tommy

  Something seemed to be weighing on Olivia’s mind, but rather than talking about it, she threw herself in my arms and kissed me.

  I tried to fight it at first because I didn’t want her to feel like she couldn’t talk to me, but when she started rubbing herself over my groin, my body soon won the battle with my brain.

  “We shouldn’t be doing this here,” I said, eyeing the sleeping baby a few feet away. “Let’s go back to my place.”

  Olivia cupped my length. “Or we could go into the bathroom.” She squeezed.

  “Okay, let’s go into the bathroom.”

  Man, I was super easy.


  We peeked out into the hall and then snuck across it to the bathroom. As soon as the door was closed, she kissed me again.

  “We have to make this quick before we get caught,” I said as I pulled my shirt over my head.

  “I know,” she said, pushing my jeans off my hips far enough so that she could grab on to my dick.

  I shuddered and looked down at her clothes. Olivia often wore skirts and dresses, but today wasn’t one of those days, which was a shame. I could have set her on the counter, lifted up her hem, and slipped inside her.

  We were going to have to go with plan B.

  I twirled her around and pushed against her back. “Bend over the counter.”

  She did as I’d asked and rubbed her ass against me to let me know she was ready.

  I pushed her shorts and underwear down to her knees and spread her legs just enough. Pushing a finger inside her, I groaned. She was soaked.

  I rubbed against her G-spot for a few seconds before I replaced my digit with my cock.

  “Ready?”

  “Yes.”

  I thrust inside her with one smooth move, and I had to bite my cheek to keep from groaning at how good she felt.

  I wrapped my arms around her body, touching her everywhere as I began to thrust. I pushed my hands under her bra and squeezed her breasts, and I pulled her back against me over and over.

  Little sounds were beginning to escape her mouth. I was half-worried Maddox and Addison would hear and half-worried we’d wake up the baby.

  I pulled a hand from under her shirt and glided it up. I was aiming for her mouth, but when I reached her throat, something told me to stop. When I cupped her there, her pussy tightened around my dick.

  When she made another noise, I put pressure on her. “Shh…you gotta be quiet.”

  She nodded and clapped one of her hands over her mouth.

  “Do you want me to stop?”

  She shook her head.

  “Do you remember our safe word?”

  She nodded.

  “Good.”

  I tightened my hold a little as I slammed into her. I didn’t know how much longer I could hold off my orgasm, but I needed to make sure Olivia came first.

  I went to pull my hand from her throat to move it to her clit, but she slammed one hand against mine.

  I grinned. Who knew that hard-ass Olivia Mayer liked to be choked?

  Me. I did.

  I gently squeezed her throat, and she started contracting around me.

  “Yes, Olivia, come,” I whispered.

  She shook in my arms, her hands falling down to the counter to catch herself before she fell.

  She pushed her ass into me, and I came with a hot rush.

  We stood there, gasping for air, with our shorts and pants around our knees and my forehead resting on her back.

  I really hated that she was leaving tomorrow because I wanted to explore her sexuality so much more. So much had changed in a week, and I couldn’t imagine what I might find out if we had a month together.

  I heard movement down the hall in the living room and knew it was time for us to get dressed.

  I reluctantly left her body and pulled up her shorts. I tried to button them for her, but she brushed my hand away.

  “I got it.”

  I tugged up my own pants and fastened them. “You okay?” Maybe I had taken things too far with the choking. “I didn’t hurt you, did I?”

  She lifted her head, her eyes filled with shock. “No.”

  “Whew. You had me worried there for a second.”

  She arranged her bra and shirt back into place while I picked up my own tee from the floor and put it on.

  She threw her arms around my neck. “You didn’t hurt me. That was great.”

  “Then, what’s wrong?”

  She opened her mouth, but I stopped her.

  “And don’t tell me nothing.”

  She smiled. “I’m going to miss you.”

  “Ah, shit. I’m going to miss you, too.” It was on the tip of my tongue to tell her to invite me back to Des Moines with her, but I didn’t. If she wanted me to come, she would think of asking me on her own. “I know tomorrow will be here shortly, but you and I still have tonight. What do you say we get out of here?”

  “But I told Addison we would watch a movie.”

  I was disappointed, but it was her last night with Addison, too. “I understand.”

  She studied my face. “Screw it. Addison lives a lot closer than you. Let’s go back to your place.”

  I grinned. “Yay for winning.”

  She laughed. “Now, I just have to go break the news to my friend.” She stepped away and opened the door.

  I grabbed her wrist. “If you really want to stay, please don’t leave because I pressured you.”

  She smiled. “I’m not. I really want to go back with you.”

  I sighed with relief. Our time wasn’t over yet.

  But it was coming to an end all too soon.

  36

  Olivia

  It was going-home day. A week ago, I’d thought my vacation was going to drag out and last forever. But time had flown.

  I stood in Addison and Maddox’s driveway, hugging Addison good-bye.

  “Come back again, okay?” she said to me. “Don’t make it another few years either.”

  I squeezed. “I will. I promise.” Especially if I knew Tommy was going to be in town.

  I stepped back and gave Maddox, Thane, and Spencer hugs. And then it was Tommy’s turn.

  He pulled me into a bear hug and buried my face in his chest. I was really afraid that I was going to cry right there for everyone to see.

  I looked up into his face and forced a smile. “I’m going to miss you, you big oaf.”

  “Ooh.” He pretended to be hurt. “I’m going to miss you, too, you little pixie.”

  A genuine laugh came out of me. “I guess this is it.” I had no reason left to stay.

  “Maybe the three of us can come and visit you this weekend,” Addison offered.

  I immediately brightened at the idea until I saw the guys exchange looks.

  “Uh, Addy, we were planning to get a lot of work done on the basement this weekend.”

  “Oh crap. That’s right.” She shrugged. “Maybe just me then.”

  “I’d like that.” Not as much, but that was neither here nor there.

  I climbed behind my wheel and forced myself to start my car. The longer I hesitated to leave, the more everyone was going to think something was wrong.

  I rolled down the window and waved as I pulled out of the driveway and onto the street.

  “Call if you need anything,” Tommy yelled.

  “I will.”

  “He’s serious, Olivia. You’d better call us,” Addison said.

  I smiled. “I will.” I put an X across my chest. “Promise.”

  With one more wave, I put my vehicle in gear and drove away. By the time I reached the highway, I was wiping away more tears than I was comfortable with admitting.

  I needed to keep my brain occupied before I got too sad about missing Tommy, so I went straight to work. Derek knew I was coming and had an afternoon coffee waiting for me.

  “You’re the best assistant,” I said as I pushed open my office door.

  “Says the woman who was planning to fire me less than a week ago.”

  “I’m allowed to change my mind.” I flipped through the messages he’d handed me.

  Most of them were potential clients who wanted to hire me. I was going to have to wade through them and decide who I wanted to meet with and who was going to be an outright no. There were simply too many of them and only one of me.

  But we had a couple of associates that I could kick some of the cases down to. Even the first and second years were good because we didn’t hire bad attorneys. Or at least, we tried not to. We’d had to fire a couple over the years.

  “Can you ask Bridget to come in here? I have a couple of things I need her to look into
, so I can get started on Tate’s lawsuit case.”

  Bridget was our investigator and one of the best there was. We were lucky to have her at our firm.

  Derek looked uncomfortable. “About that.”

  “Already something bad? I just got here. There aren’t any more letters that you haven’t told me about, are there?”

  If Tommy or even Addison had told Derek to leave me alone on vacation, I was going to be pissed. Yes, I’d had a great time, but if something had been kept from me, there was going to be hell to pay. I was not a child.

  “First things first.” Derek shook his head and handed me a pile of mail that was in his other hand.

  “Junk mail, junk mail, a wedding invitation, junk mail, a reminder to schedule my six-month checkup at the dentist, junk mail, junk mail, and more junk mail.”

  He pulled one last message slip out from his pocket. “Also, your mom called.”

  I sighed. “What does she want?”

  “To know if you’re going to your cousin’s wedding next month. She wanted you to know that she’ll be going a few days early, so you can’t ride together.”

  My father had been the glue that held our little family together, but he’d died from a heart condition when I was in high school. It was the same heart condition that had been discovered after I was adopted but before my parents had tried to adopt a second child. That was the main reason they had been unable to adopt another child. So, now, it was just my mom and me, and we weren’t close. We were nothing alike, and I always got the impression that my father was the one who had wanted children while my mom had done it to make him happy. It was never said to me, but she always lacked a certain warmth. Not just to me. It was her personality. How my joyful, full-of-life father had ever married her was something I’d never understand.

  “Joke’s on her. I’m not going to the wedding.”

  Derek’s mouth opened in surprise. “Did you not get invited?”

  “Oh, I did. But Cynthia has always been a bitch. Trust me, we’ll both be happier when I don’t show up.” I pulled up my chair and sat down. “Now, will you tell Bridget to come to my office, please?”