Fighting Love
Page 12
He kissed her forehead. “I’ll be fine.”
She sat straight up and glared at him. He blinked at her expression.
“What’s up, Reena?”
“OK, that’s it. I’m calling my third Big Three.”
“You’re doing what now?”
“You heard me.” She brushed her hair back. “You’re impossible sometimes, you know that? You just – you don’t listen to me when I try to take care of you. I told you to stay in the hospital, but here you are. I told you to take it easy for a month at least, but you’re going back to hitting things and people in less than half that time. It’s incredibly annoying.” She huffed.
He grinned at her. “So now you’ve used up your Big Three, and I haven’t used a single one.”
“Well, you did, but you changed your mind about it.”
“Yeah. I guess what I’m saying is that you’re just the best person to live with ever.” He ran his hands down her back. “And I think it’s time for us to start living together properly.”
Reena looked around the apartment. “Um. I guess you haven’t noticed, Mitch, but actually… we have been living together. For just over three months now.”
“But not properly.”
“I think I need to know how you define that word.”
“We’ve been in two separate bedrooms this whole time, but I want one bedroom. Our bedroom.”
“Oh,” she said. “So who’s going to move rooms?”
He took her face in both hands, cradled her gently. “I’m moving to you, sugar. I’ll always move closer to you, any chance I get.”
They kissed softly. Mitch rested his forehead against hers and breathed deeply, just taking her in.
She touched his uninjured cheek. “And what do we do with the extra room then?”
“Maybe a guest room? Bridget wants to come and visit soon… asked if she could bring Melissa and stay a few days.”
Reena leaned back. “Really?”
“Yeah. Is it OK if we have a few guests? My family’s all dying to meet you.”
“They are?”
“Uh-huh. Mom especially. She’s practically jumping through the phone at me to get an official invitation.”
“Oh, boy.” Reena laughed. “I’m not sure I’m totally ready for the whole Corrigan clan to descend upon me.”
“They’re going to love you, sugar. I promise.”
“Yeah?”
“Oh, yeah.” His green eyes were warm and sweet. “They won’t be able to help themselves… I know that I sure as hell wasn’t.”
**
A few hours later, Mitch rolled over and reached for Reena. His hand touched the mattress of her bed and he opened his eyes. She was gone, and he knew where he’d find her.
He padded next door to her studio and stood in the doorway watching her. She was intent on what she was doing, totally focused, and he waited quietly for her to notice him, not wanting to disturb her if she was in some kind of artistic zen world.
She dabbed some paint, stepped back, cocked her head. She looked up then and saw him standing there. At the sight of his huge chest and gorgeous face, her whole body heated up, yearning for him.
“Hi,” she said. “How long have you been standing there?”
“Less than a minute.”
“You move quietly for such a big guy. It’s rather ninja-esque of you.”
“Yeah, I’ve heard that before.” He hesitated. “Can I see? Can I see some of your paintings?”
Reena looked up at him in surprise. He’d never expressed any interest in her work before, beyond asking how it was going, and she had just assumed that he wasn’t all that keen on art, or maybe he just thought it was personal to her. She hadn’t been offended or insulted in the slightest, but his question now warmed her with its sweetness.
“Sure,” she said.
Mitch came over to her and gazed at the numbered canvases all lined up against the wall, facing away from the door. “Is it a series?”
“Yeah.” She set down her palette. “I took some photos and then went to a few of my favorite galleries today, shopping it around for an exhibition.”
“Any interest?”
“Lots.”
Mitch could see why; Dean and Jim hadn’t been kidding when they said that Reena’s paintings were like a punch to the head. Or the throat. The images cut off his air: they were so strong and stark, so expressive and alive. He could feel them, he could hear them.
“Goddamn, Reena. Does it all come from your childhood?”
“What?”
He gestured at her paintings. “The anger and frustration and rage. The – silent screaming.”
She looked him, amazed at how much he saw of her, how well he understood where she came from. “Yes. I think it does.”
He walked from painting to painting, examining each one closely. She followed behind him and when he got to the one she was working on now, he reached for her hand.
“This one,” he said. “Is it Bridget?”
“How did you know?”
“The yellow and black police line tape around her mouth.”
“Yeah. It’s your sister.” Her eyes were anxious. “Does that upset you?”
“No. I think it’s powerful, and I think it’s exactly how she felt for so long.” He blinked at the sting of tears. “They silenced her, Reena. Took away her voice.”
“Well, the series is called ‘Silenced’, and I’ll be painting people forced to be quiet, and being furious about that.” She paused. “Screaming with their mouths closed.”
“Will you be the subject of one of the paintings?”
She smiled. “I always am, Mitch. Everything I paint has a small piece of me in it.”
He stood behind her now, wrapped his arms around her. He buried his face in her hair and breathed in her sweet, pure scent. Reena leaned back in to him, loving the feeling of protection and safety that he gave her.
“You feel a bit better after getting some sleep?” she said.
“I’d feel a hell of a lot better if we hadn’t just slept.” His hands moved over her hips and stomach. “When are we going to make love again, babe?”
“When your ribs heal up.”
“That’ll take six weeks.”
“Then that’s how long we wait.”
He groaned. “I’ll die.”
She laughed. “Oh, we’ll find some other things to do, don’t you worry about that.”
He turned her in his arms and pulled her in tighter. “What kinds of things?”
“Oh, I don’t know.” Her hand moved slowly down his body and he closed his eyes, waiting for her to touch him. “I was thinking about taking you to bed and kissing you all over.”
“All over?”
“Yep. But one spot in particular.” Her hand stroked his hardness and length and he groaned again. “Do you have any idea where I mean?”
Mitch’s breath was coming faster now. “I may.”
“So how about we go back to bed now? See if you’re right?”
“Only if I get to kiss you in one particular spot after.”
“Oh, don’t you worry, tough guy.” Her eyes glowed. “I’m going to insist on it. Many, many times.”
**
Dear Reader,
I very much hope that you enjoyed following the individual and group stories of the ‘Fighting For Love’ series characters. ‘Fighting History’ (Fighting For Love #4) will be published on November 4th, 2014.
If you want to know when it is available for purchase, please check on my website at www.marysoljames.com or one one of my social media platforms (Twitter, Facebook, and my blog). I will be announcing its release in all of these places, and posting some sneak peeks of the cover as well as some excerpts.
Thank you for reading!
Marysol
About the author
Marysol James is the author of the 'Open Skies', ‘Fighting For Love’ and 'Unseen Enemy' series. She writes steamy, sexy, slinky romances which featu
re strong, complex women and equally fascinating men. Marysol is interested in producing well-written and passionate stories with characters who learn to let go of control and to trust – both in and out of the bedroom.
Her stories are very sensual (very!), and offer smart plots, a bit of humor, and lots of character development, so her books will appeal to readers who want emotional connection as well as sexuality.
When not writing, Marysol can be found swimming, doing yoga, listening to music and drinking coffee. To stay up-to-date with her, visit her official author website at www.marysoljames.com or follow her on Twitter (@marysoljames) or Facebook (marysol.james.romanceauthor).
By the same author
The ‘Open Skies’ Series:
Open Skies (Open Skies #1)
Open Arms (Open Skies #2)
Open Eyes (Open Skies #3)
Open Heart (Open Skies #4)
The ‘Fighting For Love’ Series:
Fighting Hard (Fighting For Love #1)
Fighting Strong (Fighting For Love #2)
Fighting Love (Fighting For Love #3)
Fighting History (Fighting For Love #4)
PUBLICATION DATE November 4, 2014
The ‘Unseen Enemy’ Series:
Enemy Within (Unseen Enemy #1)
Enemy Outside (Unseen Enemy #2)
PUBLICATION DATE September 30, 2014
Enemy Mine (Unseen Enemy #3)
PUBLICATION DATE October 21, 2014
Enemy From the Past (Unseen Enemy #4)
PUBLICATION DATE November 25, 2014