“You okay?” I murmur, tilting my head.
“Do you think we have time?”
“Time for what?” I smile, ducking my eyes to trace the broad lines of his chest.
“A quickie?” His eyes drop to my breasts. Biting his lip, he ever so slowly caresses the soft mound of flesh, his finger dipping lower and finding my nipple underneath my sports bra. He gazes at me with a wolfish grin. Everything inside me clenches, and my pussy grows slick with need. My chest aches so badly for him, even with all the ugliness that my tortured eyes have seen. He presses an unexpected kiss to my throat, nibbling my flesh, causing my heartbeat to ratchet to a rapid pace.
“Yes.” I glance at the wall clock, wishing time would stand still as he presses his lips against mine and kisses me with veracity. I sigh, wrapping my hands in his hair and feeling his stubble graze my face. I gasp as James tears his mouth from mine.
He manages to remove my bra and yoga pants, leaving me completely naked in front of him. He then grabs my ass and pulls me closer. I feel his erection through his pants as he grinds himself against my clit.
“Fuck, you make me lose my mind.”
Never losing eye contact, he moves to stand between my legs, backing me against the wall next to the kitchen counter. Spreading my legs apart with his hands, I feel his thumb brush over my clit and then press deep inside me. I moan when he trails two fingers over my clit and rubs faster. My stomach tightens as I unzip his pants, and his engorged cock springs free as his pants drop to the floor.
“You want this?” he asks as he turns me around so I’m bent over the counter. I feel his hands grab my hips.
“Baby, yes,” I plead, my body shaking with need.
“Good. I’m going to give it to you.” He pulls my hair, bending my neck backward to plant a ravenous kiss onto my swollen lips and trailing more kisses down my neck before he releases me. “Mmm…I can smell how turned on you are.”
His cock nudges at my entrance, and he finally slides all the way inside, causing me to clutch the counter as he starts to thrust inside me. I shut my eyes, savoring his slow, deliberate rhythm as he groans, gripping my hips harder. “B, you always feel so good.” He fucks into me smoothly as his fingers lavish my clit, rubbing without mercy. I lift my ass into the air and push harder against his dick as he slams his body into mine for several minutes. I’m giving him all of me, like I always do.
“James.” My body buzzes as he continues his assault on me and as I tighten around his cock. I’m approaching ecstasy as his hips slam against me, driving deeper and harder.
“So good, baby,” he growls as he slams into me one last time. The force of his motion pushes me forward as I unravel underneath him. “Oh, fuck!”
The force of my orgasm tears and explodes through my body, causing me to tremble as he presses down on me. Stars explode behind my eyes, and my body shakes with pleasure. Gradually, I float down from my orgasm-induced haze, small tremors still zinging through my body.
James pulls out of me and wraps his arms around my sweaty body. Our heavy breathing is the only sound in the room. Lacing his fingers with mine, he kisses my neck, and my eyes land on the ring on his finger, and then I stare down at mine. A symbol of love and commitment I believe in with my whole heart. Eternity, love, and all the things I dreamed about when I was a little girl that I hoped to have one day. And I do. I just don’t know if what we have is strong enough to weather the storms that come our way.
“Quick. You’re gonna be late.” He chuckles, breaking me from my reverie and back to the moment.
“You lied. You said a quickie.”
“Telling a lie is not bad, if you can get what you want.”
His comment pierces both my brain and my heart. Does he use that with her to get what he wants? I don’t react to his words. I pretend they don’t faze me as I push my ass against him.
“Baby, I don’t recommend doing that, or you’re going to have to cancel this photo shoot and stay with me.”
“If I didn’t know better, I think you intentionally planned to make me late.” I turn around and kiss him on the cheek as his hand lazily rubs up my hip and sinks into the valley of my waist.
“Maybe...” He smirks, smacking my ass. “Do you blame me?”
Thirty minutes later, I am showered and ready to go. I would have been done sooner, but James insisted on joining me. Keeping with the Independence Day theme, I dress in a red and white striped strapless dress, a thin blue belt, and a pair of red wedges. I apply some mascara and red-tinted lipstick and decide to pull my damp hair back into a chignon since the weather plans to be close to ninety degrees today. James carries my camera while I grab my purse and sunglasses and follow him outside to the car.
“Are you sure you don’t need me there?” He laces our fingers together after placing my camera unto the backseat.
“No, I’ll be fine.” My gaze drops to where our fingers are entwined, and I smile, reminded that the simplest gestures are the most profound and telling. I finally thought I had my three wishes—a husband I love, a career I love, but the third one is so much harder to obtain alone. Our baby.
“Couple of hours, right?” He glances at his Rolex, a gift from me when he landed the position of district attorney.
“Yes, baby.” Pressing my palm onto his bare chest, I stand on my tiptoes to kiss his lips. His hands slide down my back, stroking my skin. They continue to travel down the map of my body, leaving small patches of fire in their wake. I am home. I am always home with him. I kiss him as if I will never kiss him again. He was what was missing in my life, even before I met him. What would happen to me if I lost him? I can’t even think about it. “When have you ever been so caught up with deadlines on the weekends?”
With a smile, James speaks softly into my ear, sending goose bumps down my arms. “When I have to watch my gorgeous wife leave me for two hours when all I want is to have her naked and in bed creating our own fireworks.”
Nothing about James has changed since I first met him except for the smile lines that now appear around his eyes. He leans down, his lips caressing my ear. Need coils inside my belly, spreading quickly to every part of my body like hot lava.
“Two hours.” His voice is husky and raw as he presses his forehead against mine. “I love you.”
“I love you, too,” I speak the words without a doubt, but with an ache in my heart. I gaze into his aqua depths, looking for the reassurance that a man in true love would have. I believe I find what I seek, but there are shadows in his eyes that tell a story of doubt, not that I doubt his love for me, but doubting what we have will last. And because he’s not certain, neither am I. Our words used to be enough, but I’m not sure. One of us has to be strong.
Does it always have to be me?
The drive to 21 Whitney Lane is less than fifteen minutes away. Pink and white balloons float in the breeze from the mailbox as little boys and girls arrive with their parents, running to the door with gifts in hand. My stomach tightens, and I swallow hard, trying to ignore the pain that’s squeezing my heart. I thought I would be able to deal with seeing a bunch of four year olds for two hours, but I’m not sure I can. Exposing myself to this is a reminder of what I may not experience—torture of the worst kind for me. I need to get a grip. If it’s not one thing that’s bringing me down, it’s another.
I feel like I’m on the verge of hyperventilating because of what I see. I’ve only done this a couple of times in my life. Both times were when I saw James with another woman over four years ago. When I see him with a woman now, I don’t hyperventilate. Instead, I get angry and bottle it up inside.
He’s seen me with other men since we’ve been together, and he’s never had to worry or never had to question my loyalty to him. So, why have I always felt this way, even before Lisa? Relationships with the opposite sex are healthy as long as you don’t cross that line.
“Brie.” I freeze at the sound of the familiar male voice, and my eyes fly to where Mason is bent over with his
hands on his knees, tapping on my passenger side window. Dazed, but not confused, I roll down the window. “Are you okay?”
“Fine.” I smile, pulling a strand of hair back as a breeze enters my car. “Just catching my breath.”
“Something you learned from yoga?” He laughs as he studies me.
“I don’t think inside my car is the most ideal place to practice yoga breathing techniques.”
“True. So nice to see you. Lily is really excited. Can I help you with anything?”
“No, I don’t have much.” I grab my purse with shaky hands, causing the contents to strew all over the passenger seat and floor of the car.”Ugh,” I groan. God knows my mind has been a bit scattered these days, but did I have to fall apart in front of him?
“Are you sure you’re okay?” he asks as he opens the passenger door to help me retrieve the loose items.
“Yes.”
“Good. I need you on top of your game when it comes to Lily and her big day. She can be a very demanding little thing when she wants to be.”
“I can’t picture that little angel being anything otherwise.”
“Oh, trust me. My niece is not all sugar and spice and everything nice. When she doesn’t get her way, she’s hell on wheels and won’t back down. I’m not looking forward to her being a teenager.” I see adoration flash over his sexy features when he speaks of his niece.
“I wouldn’t think of letting her down…or you. I’m a professional.” I smile. “Only the best for a friend.”
The handsomest smile appears on his face. “I knew I could count on you.”
I remember to breathe, and with a shy grin spreading over my lips, I reply, “Well, I don’t know how she’d feel if we were late.”
His deep laugh sends a warm feeling through my veins. I swear my over-stimulated body will disintegrate any minute now if I don’t put some space between us. The attraction is undeniable. From the first time I saw him, I’ve been pulled into his orbit. The situations lately seem to align perfectly for us.
“Yeah…good point. Let’s pick this stuff up,” he answers, bringing me back to the moment.
“Right.”
He bends down, reaching forward the same time I do, and when our hands brush against each other, a tingle races up my arm.
Here I go again.
Mason takes a small intake of air, almost a gasp, like he felt the spark, too, but maybe I’m just imagining things in my weirdly overemotional, oversensitive state. But then he freezes, wrapping his hand around something he picks up from the floor. He lifts his eyes to mine in what feels like slow motion, and my heart skips in my chest when I see the look in his eyes.
“Where did you find this?” His voice is barely a whisper as he opens his hand, revealing the gold band I found under the washer.
I fidget under his stare and reply, “I’m...sorry. I meant to ask you, but it slipped my mind. So, it’s yours?”
He slips the gold band onto his finger, and it fits perfectly. “Yes, I’ve been looking all over for it.”
“I found it under the washer you fixed,” I say as I toss everything into my purse, avoiding his gaze for a moment. He’s one of those people who has a stare that is a little too intense for me to handle. Seconds pass before I turn my head slightly to see relief etched on his face, and it brings a small smile to my lips. He touches the ring around his finger like it’s the most treasured thing to him. “That ring is really precious to you.”
“Yes...my sister gave it to me before she died.”
“I’m glad I found it, knowing how much it means to you.”
Our gazes lock, and I swear I can feel the warmth radiating in unrelenting waves from him in the small space we are sharing.
“I could kiss you. I’ve been kicking myself for losing it.”
A crooked smile plays on his full, sensual lips that look both punishing and soothing. I shove away the inappropriate and tantalizing thoughts filling my head and zip up my wallet and purse. Clearing my throat, I can’t think of what to say. I square off my shoulder and lift my head and look straight at the sensuous man standing near me. Right before he looks like he’s about to say something, a tiny voice carries through the air.
“Daddy!”
I turn my head as Lily skips down the front lawn wearing a pink dress with her hair in pigtails. “Hurry up! Evan is here. I want you to meet him.”
“I think we’re a little late.” Mason winks, his eyes smiling.
“You always said you’re never late. Big fail today.”
“Good memory,” he whispers, eyeing me with an arresting look, another look that makes me smile and my insides melt.
Smirking and without another word, Mason straightens up and rounds the front of the car so he can catch Lily in his arms. Just the sight of him with her sends my pulse racing. Dressed in black jeans, black boots, and a white T-shirt, he looks casual and ruggedly male. My knees wobble when I step out of the car and grab my camera bag from the backseat. Being around him for the next two hours is going to be a problem.
“Happy birthday, Lily.” I smooth away the hair that falls over her eyes. “You look like a princess today.”
“Thank you, Ms. Brie.” She giggles. “You can meet Evan, too. He’s my Prince Charming. He looks like my daddy, but he has blue eyes.”
“Oh, boy.” Mason rolls his eyes playfully at his niece. “We need to go see about this Prince Charming.”
Brie is lying to me about being okay. I saw the shadows in her eyes and the way her delicate hands trembled. I don’t know why she feels like she has to hide from me, though. I’m her friend, and I’ve mentioned it to her a few times that I’m all ears if she wants to talk about anything. I’d love to get inside her head to understand what makes her tick and smash down the walls she has built around her. It tore at my heart watching her in the car those few moments before I approached her. I swear she was about to cry, and I didn’t want to see that. That’s when I knew I had to rescue her.
Why does she stay with him? Is she so broken she doesn’t know how to fix herself?
I glance at my watch; the party is over in an hour. I’ll make sure to catch her before she leaves.
Sipping my beer, I scan the large backyard decorated in pink balloons and streamers with kids running everywhere when my skin breaks out in goose flesh.
What the fuck are they doing here?
My gaze flies to Micah who’s supervising a little boy as he swats at the butterfly-shaped piñata filled with candy. Micah’s eyes are fixed on mine. He’s not fucking happy about this. He wasn’t too happy about it when I told him what I did. He waves Cindy over, telling her he needs a break from piñata swatting duty and stalks over to me.
I open my mouth to say something, but Micah doesn’t give me a chance.
“I take it you see what I see?” He glances back over his shoulder where Cole and a friend are standing off on the fringes of the backyard, looking out of place among the kids and parents. Cole did dress up for the occasion, wearing a blue polo shirt and jeans that aren’t wrinkled like the night he showed up to throw my world into chaos.
“Yeah, you didn’t tell me about the other dude.”
“Well, the invitation didn’t say to bring a fucking guest. The asshole took it upon himself.” Micah pauses for a moment, clenching his teeth and looking me in the eye.
“I don’t know about this.”
“I’ll clear this shit up.” I swallow my temper before casting a glance across the yard, making eye contact with Cole. “Alone,” I clarify as my brother takes a step in Cole’s direction.
“Fine. This is your fucking mess to fix anyway.”
“I think you’re getting ahead of yourself. It’s not a fucking mess yet.” I finish off my beer and hand it to Micah. “Take care of this while I take care of him and his buddy.”
“Just remember there are kids around here. You tend to lose your mind.”
“Can you let me take care of the situation and stop running your mouth?” I
shake my head as I turn to leave, but Micah grabs my arm. “What now?” I hiss, looking over my shoulder.
“Make sure you’re with them when they talk to Lily. Something doesn’t seem right with this shit.”
“Yeah…Bro, I got this,” I say as I shake off his hand.
I’ve had that same feeling since the day Cole showed up on my mom’s front porch, but I didn’t tell Micah that.
“Good.”
Cole’s eyes are pinned on me as I rush toward him with my fists clenched at my side. I nod, fuming that this dude brought an unsolicited guest and the fact he actually had the balls to show up. I was hoping that perhaps he wasn’t quite ready yet. Fucking wishful thinking on my part.
“I thought I made it fucking crystal clear that I only invited you,” I seethe, glancing between Cole and his companion. I don’t even ask who it is; I’m too fucking pissed to care.
“No, you didn’t say I couldn’t bring anyone.”
“Fuck, man. Don’t make me regret this decision, because I’ve been kicking myself since that night.”
“I won’t. Shit, we won’t stay long. We just want to see her. I give you my word that I won’t fuck up or do anything stupid.”
“We?” I narrow my eyes in irritation.
“Well, yeah, Caleb is my older brother…Lily’s uncle.” He forces a smile at his brother who stands beside him with his hands shoved inside his pockets.”We’re not complete idiots.”
“I beg to differ on that one.”
“Listen, we’ll say hi, tell her we’re friends of yours, give her this gift, and be out of your hair in like fifteen minutes, tops,” He pulls out a yellow envelope from his pocket.
“The gift isn’t necessary, and I don’t think I can stomach you staying her more than fucking five minutes. Fucking baby steps.”
“Why are you being so damn difficult?”
“You think this is being difficult, asshole?” I growl under my breath as a couple of kids run by screaming with a handful of candy. “If I were difficult, your sorry ass wouldn’t be here. You’re fucking lucky. So, let’s make this visit short and sweet, all right? And just to be safe, I’m going to be there when you talk to my niece.”
Love Is Louder Page 20