Honey Red

by Liz Crowe

  “Ah, yes,” she sighed as he pressed deep, giving her clit contact with his pubic bone. His own orgasm hovered, but he wrestled it back.

  She looked up, let her hands drop to his shoulders as her breathing calmed. He tilted her face down and stared at her. “Just this once more, okay?” he croaked out.

  “Yeah,” she whispered, biting his earlobe and yanking his shirt up. She ran her hands across his chest, flicked her fingers across his nipples, making him shudder. “Handy, having condoms in your desk drawer. You do this a lot?”

  He sighed and pulled her away from the wall, carrying her, and kissing her neck until he found the desk. Keeping their bodies connected, he leaned over her as she dropped back to her elbows. “If I told you I brought them in today…just in case….” He groaned when she bent one long leg up against his chest, drawing him in deeper. “Jesus, Red you are like…some kind of addiction.” He closed his eyes, kept thrusting his hips and let her lean up to bite down on his nipple. “Fuck,” he muttered as she tightened around his cock. “Gonna come.” He whispered. “Kiss me.” He said.

  She raised her lips to his and he tasted her as his vision dimmed and the orgasm roared up his spine and exploded across his brain. They stayed there, clinging to each other as their heartbeats calmed. She broke away first, kissing him gently as he pulled out of her.

  “I’d say you were a liar,” she said, rearranging her disheveled dress and hair.

  “Huh?” he rubbed his face, still addled and buzzy from the orgasm.

  “I’d say if you told me you brought those condoms in today, just in case…I’d say you were lying.”

  “Oh, well, I’m not.” he said, tugging the condom off and wrapping it in a tissue before flopping into a chair. He grabbed her hand so she couldn’t walk away and drew her down to his lap, kissing her nose, cheeks and lips. “Come home with me tonight.” He whispered, tucking her hair behind her ear.

  “No,” she said, as she snuggled into his embrace. “No more sleepovers. If we’re gonna fuck with some sort of regularity that’s fine. But I have zero interest in anything more.”

  He leaned back narrowing his eyes at her. “Well, that’s different.” He said, putting his thumb over her kiss-swollen lips.

  “How’s that,” she bit his finger, grinning then jumped up and found her shoes.

  “A woman who just wants to just fuck…maybe I want you to sweep me off my feet, romance me, buy me flowers?” He smiled but his gut was churning. What was his problem?

  “Sorry doll,” she patted his cheek. “I never promised romance. Besides,” she leaned down giving him a lovely view of her lush breasts, “you don’t want that from me, remember? You have someone else in mind for feet sweeping duty. Or had you forgotten about him?”

  Something in her voice made him stand and grab her arms. “For your information Nick and I have come to an understanding. We are … friends and nothing more. Not even with any benefits. He has some other guy handling that for him now.” He let go, his face hot with fury and something resembling embarrassment.

  “Oh,” she said, lightly but with an undertone of something he wanted to latch on to.

  “What are you doing December twentieth? Around four?” He leaned back on the desk where he’d just fucked the lovely woman now standing in front of him. “Got a nice dress?”

  “I don’t know. And why?” She matched his pose.

  “My brother is getting married, and I would like for you to accompany me. As my ….”

  She breached the small distance between them. Put her fingers over his lips. “Don’t say it.” She replaced her fingers with her lips briefly. “I’ll come with you to the wedding. But it’s not a date. Got it? Just friends. A favor because you can’t find anyone else.” Her eyes were hard.

  “Fine, whatever.” He shrugged away from her. “Good luck tomorrow.”

  She gave him an odd look. “Um, thanks. What for?”

  “Your interview? Real marketing job with deep pocketed auto company?” His chest hurt as he looked at her but he forced his voice to stay calm and non-committal.

  “Oh, yeah, that. Thanks.” She turned, opened his office door and walked out without another word.

  Ian sat for nearly thirty minutes trying like hell to square his thoughts, about the woman—and the man— in his life. And honestly wondered how in the world he could ever be happy with either one of them given his own inability to decide, as his brother so eloquently put it, which fucking team he batted for.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Ian smiled down at Jamie, dressed in his suit, standing beside him and Gavin as they waited for Alyssa to make her appearance at the back of the chapel. The little boy tugged on his trouser leg, whispered loud enough for the first three rows to hear—“Daddy. What are we waiting for? I’m hungry. You said there was cake. Can we have cake now? Is Santa coming? You said he might! Remember?”

  The crowd tittered a little nervously. Ian patted his son’s head and leaned into Gavin’s ear. “Uh, is everything okay?” Gavin frowned at him, shot his cuffs and shrugged at the justice of the peace who smiled. Ian felt the stress oozing from his twin brother’s pores. “I’m gonna go….”

  “Yeah, thanks.” Gavin muttered, keeping his eyes trained to the back of the room. The rehearsal had gone off without a hitch, the dinner was fun and relaxed. Nothing indicated that Alyssa was having second thoughts. But she did look more stressed around the edges than Ian cared for, although he told Nick she looked “just fine.”

  He’d been with his fuck buddy Jake, and Ian had been unable to tear his eyes from the guy’s six-foot stockiness. The jerk was handsome, charming to a fault to everyone and attentive to Nick just enough to make it clear who was with whom. He’d shot Ian a couple of funny looks, and Ian mentally cursed for not insisting that Hannah come with him to that stupid event too. But she’d begged off, telling him going to a wedding was bad enough—she hated the damn things and was not about to drag out the agony by going to a rehearsal for it too.

  He let his eyes pass over the man in question, sitting near the back dressed in an impeccable dark blue suit, his long brown hair pulled back with a small strip of leather. The guy met his eyes and nodded curtly before training his eyes to the front that was still devoid of a bride. Ian spared a second of admiration for the elegant simplicity of the Michigan League room Lyssa and Gavin had chosen. It was lit by about a million candles, with red roses tucked into holiday-style greenery arrangements along the strip of white that led up to where his brother stood nervously running a hand through his hair.

  Ian couldn’t really fathom what sort of planning and detail had gone into such a simple looking set up but he knew one thing—if Gavin’s fiancé did not appear soon at the back of the room, the guy was gonna lose it. He watched as his son slipped his small hand into his uncle’s making Gavin start and look down at his nephew, a smile playing around his lips as he knelt down to talk to the boy. Gavin’s sons were there too, providing a bit of moral support.

  Ian’s heart pounded as he slipped into the back room designated as the bride’s. He saw Alyssa, in Nick’s arms, her shoulders shaking. Nick lifted his face when Ian shut the door behind him, then motioned him closer as he kept talking to her. “Shh, Alyssa, listen, it’s gonna be fine. Please. You love him. There is no reason to be so upset. Since when do you break down like this, I mean come on….” Ian could tell that Nick was having a tough time keeping a reign on his own stress. Between the two of them they were not helping each other at all.

  Ian made his way towards them while Nick rubbed his sister’s back. Her sniffles sent a shaft of anxiety to Ian’s brain. “What’s up in here?” he said, keeping his voice light. “There are approximately a hundred and fifty people out there waiting to see you but one in particular who’s sweating through his tailor made tuxedo. As the best man in the general vicinity I was sent as a peace envoy to determine the state of the bride’s condition.”

  Alyssa shrugged out of Nick’s embrace and turned to
wards the window where snow was falling as if ordered up by the wedding planner, covering the campus of the University of Michigan with a soft white blanket. Her shoulders and hands shook. Ian stood next to Nick. “What’s up,” he whispered.

  “I have no idea.” Nick said looking helpless and pissed off in equal measure. The dog was whining and bumping against Nick’s leg, as if trying to get him to fix whatever was wrong with Alyssa.

  “Will you guys stop staring at me like I’m a circus side show?” Alyssa demanded, fists clenched at her sides. Ian took a breath and just watched her pace. She was breathtakingly gorgeous in her cream colored, classic, figure-hugging dress that left no doubt the woman was pregnant. But it worked for her. She looked lush, full, sexy, if about to shatter into a million pieces. “I mean, shit, you know what I mean.”

  Nick sighed and sank into a chair, running a hand down his face. “Honey,” he said, “What is it? Everything is fine. The reception is set. I know you must look great. I….”

  She whirled around, her fancy updo starting to wilt, her eyes full of tears. “I don’t know. Don’t you get it? I’m a fucking basket case. I can’t even enjoy this day—my day—I cry at the drop of a hat and the thought of walking out there and doing this is making me want to claw my skin off. Jesus.”

  “Uh, yeah,” Ian glanced over at Nick who mouthed “Get Gavin,” at him. He nodded and shot Hannah a text to get Gavin back here, and bring Jamie, too. Within a few minutes of Alyssa pacing in silence while Ian and Nick stood shoulder to shoulder watching her, the door flew open.

  “Alyssa,” Gavin barked. “What in the hell?” He stepped back when she flew at him.

  “Damn you, Donovan. I don’t want to be pregnant. I mean, I’m glad and I…shit, fuck, hell.” She pounded on his chest a minute, then gripped his lapels and hid her face in his chest. Gavin looked over her shaking shoulder at Ian, who shrugged, and tucked his hands in his pockets. He saw Hannah lurking near the door, Jamie hanging on to her hand, his eyes wide at the outburst. He smiled, noting how amazing the lovely redhead looked in a simple, shimmery, sheath dress.

  “Shh, baby, listen. It’s this wedding. I knew we shouldn’t try to do all this crap. I hate it, and it’s made you insane.” Gavin soothed, his eyes wide and confused.

  She yanked herself away from him. “I thought you wanted it. Why didn’t you tell me you hated it?” She stood, chest heaving, glaring at him, her face flushed red. “How can we possibly be married?” She sank into a seat, face in her hands. Gavin stuck his hands in his pockets and looked around, worry in every line of his face. She glanced up, her hair escaping its many clips and dripping around her face. “We can’t even communicate about this?” Her last words were loud, and Jamie clapped his hands over his ears.

  Gavin set his jaw, took Alyssa’s arm and drew her up to her feet. Ian watched, mesmerized as his brother pulled the hysterical woman into his arms. “You’re right. My love,” he kissed her hair tilted her face up and brushed her tears away with his thumbs. “I’m so sorry.” He put his forehead to hers.

  Nick touched his arm, and they started to make their way out to give Gavin and Alyssa some privacy. As he moved towards the door, he heard words that made his heart clench with happiness for his brother and no small amount of jealousy that he couldn’t find the same kind of soul mate.

  “Listen to me,” Gavin said as he and Nick passed them, paying no more attention to all the family in the room than he would a fly in the window. “Alyssa Gail Traynor—I love you. I want to be with you forever. With our family.” Gavin touched the swell of Alyssa’s belly. “And I vow right here and now to never keep anything from you again. These last few weeks have been a nightmare—and now I know why. Because neither of us were being honest. I would have eloped with you—anywhere you wanted. I thought you wanted all this,” he waved his hand around. “All I want is to make you happy.”

  She nodded, and put her hand to his face. Nick gripped Ian’s arm; Brutus whined. “I love you too. And I’m sorry to make such a stupid scene at my own wedding.”

  Gavin chuckled, kissed her forehead and held her close. Ian caught his brother’s eye again. Gavin gave him a thumbs-up sign over her shoulder. “So are we back on here sweetheart? Or do I tell all these people to hit the road?” Ian said, loving the feel of Nick’s hand on him. “Drama over?” She turned, wiped her eyes, and smiled. “You joining this family or have you come to your senses and decided to bolt before it’s too late?”

  She held out her hand grabbed her brother, tugging him close. “No, I think I’m all in, Ian. Sorry.” She closed her eyes a split second.

  Nick’s voice was sharp as he moved out of her embrace. “Alyssa, you okay?”

  “No,” she said, her voice a little high and thin. “I need to sit…a minute.”

  Gavin eased her into a chair. She blew out a breath. “Um, water?”

  Hannah handed her a bottle. Jamie jumped on the dog. Nick frowned. “What the fuck is going on. I can tell something’s wrong. I hear it…Lyss, the baby….”

  She leaned back, her eyes closed, holding the bottle to her flushed face. Nick crouched beside her and she grabbed his hand. “I’m good. Baby is fine. I just haven’t eaten today—too nervous. Feeling a little light headed.”

  Gavin put a hand on her shoulder. “Anybody got a granola bar?”

  “There are some over there,” she motioned towards a leather bag on the floor. Hannah grabbed one and handed it to her. “Thanks,” she said. Nick frowned and rose, backing away from Hannah fast, stumbling over a chair. Brutus growled, grabbed his hand in his huge jaws shaking Jamie off who promptly burst into tears.

  “Okay, then,” Ian grabbed his son and took Hannah’s hand. “I’m gonna go remind people we are here for a wedding. That work for you, drama queen?”

  Alyssa gave him a thumbs-up.

  “Lovely, just as I suspected.” He sighed, patting Jamie’s back. She turned the thumbs-up into a middle finger. “Yeah, that’s the sister-in-law I want.” He tugged Hannah out with him, ignoring Nick completely. Unfair perhaps, but if he didn’t get the hell away from the man there would be yet another scene, and he figured that could wait for another day.

  Nick gripped the dog’s lead and felt Alyssa put her hand through his arm. “I love you.” He said, leaning over to kiss her cheek. “I’m sorry.”

  “What for? I’m the one causing the problems today.” She shivered. But he could still hear the comforting and now familiar whoosh-whoosh of her baby’s heartbeat. Now that he was used to it, all the extra sensory shit like hearing things no one else could was not so bad. He patted her hand as the music changed.

  “Um, is this right?” He shifted from foot to foot, more nervous than he’d been in a long time. The string quartet and piano were playing…but not quite the song he expected. “Alyssa, seriously.” He muttered, then laughed. “Al Green? Jesus.”

  She leaned into him as the strains of “Let’s Stay Together” became clear. “Let’s go. Walk me down the aisle, damn it. I need to get to my man.”

  He kissed her. “I wish I could see you right now. I know you are beautiful, but ….”

  “Shh, Nick,” she put a cool palm against his face.

  “No, I’m sorry for being this giant pain in your ass. Something you have to worry about all the time.”

  “I worried about you anyway, you dummy.” She bumped him. “You are no more a pain in the ass than you ever were. And I’m glad you’re here with me today.”

  “Me too,” he said and felt a rush of fresh air against his face. Brutus pulled him forward and he heard the sighs and “ahh’s” of the crowd as he walked his sister down the aisle. At one point he hesitated, getting a whiff of it again—the sweet smell of honey. The same scent he got when Ian’s date Hannah passed near him to hand Alyssa a granola bar. It nearly bowled him over then, and it was now too.

  “You okay?” Alyssa whispered, letting him stop a second.

  “No, but what else is new?” He gulped, and kept walking,
cursing fate that took his sight, blinding him not only to his sister’s wedding day but also to the woman Ian had brought who smelled so tantalizing.

  Brutus stopped, indicating they had reached the end of the walk. He felt Gavin’s hand on his arm, then gripping his. “Thank you Nicholas. I promise I will take good care of your sister.”

  He nodded, unable to form words at that moment, kissed Alyssa’s cheek and let the dog lead him to his seat. The ceremony was simple and heartfelt and before he knew it he was standing, clapping and getting jostled out to the aisle again.

  “Hey,” Ian’s voice hit his ear, making him want to turn and pull the man to him, to kiss him so hard they’d both collapse from the effort. “Nice job,” the man said. A strange sort of anger and sadness gripped him, choking off words. He felt Brutus dancing around beside him, sensing his anxiety. “C’mon.” Ian’s hand was on his elbow, propelling him forward and out of the crowd.

  Then he realized Jake was on his other side. “Nick, the car’s this way.” He let the other man turn him from Ian without a word, but the honey-like fragrance he’d gotten keenly when Hannah had been so near him lingered around Ian like a fog. He frowned, as Jake led him away from the man he wanted, even more than he wanted to have his sight back.

  Chapter Twenty

  Hannah stared around at the happy group at the reception. Beer rock stars abounded, as befitted the celebration of the nuptials of two of their own. The tables were gorgeously simple, with cream-colored tablecloths, red roses in the center and rich white china and crystal at every place. But as if in a nose-thumb to convention, the food was a mash up of “gourmet” and “beer snacks” which made for an incredible combination of giant pretzels with beer cheese made from the Ypsi Brewing India Pale Ale, to “burgers” that were actually sliders of lamb with rich blue cheese on top. It was classy to a fault, but over the top, including the five medium sized ice sculptures of beer steins that graced the giant buffet.

  She sat back, sipping her beer and watching the party unfold. She should so not have come here, especially not with a Donovan brother. Jesus. She closed her eyes a split second, relishing the way she felt—sated, enervated and tingly with anticipation all at once. She and Ian had been fucking around nearly daily, unable to keep their hands off each other, and her body was beginning to adapt, and want more which Ian was eager to accommodate probably more than was strictly necessary.