“When you found out who I was,” she continued. “You weren’t just mad, you were in a rage. I wasn’t sure that you’d even speak to me again.”
“I am sorry,” James said distractedly as he stared at her legs. The t-shirt had ridden up so high that he could see most of her silky thighs and from the sultry shadow between them he could tell that she wore nothing underneath. His hand twitched spasmodically and, with an effort that he hadn’t had to employ since he was a randy teenager, he fought back his desire and tried to concentrate. “I overreacted,” he finally admitted. “And it wasn’t all due to you. There were other factors involved, things that had been festering for a long time. I regretted my reaction from almost the moment it happened, but I didn’t have the courage to come after you.”
“Wait a second.” Mira slapped at James’ hand as it crept up her leg and toward the hem of her shirt. “Why didn’t you tell me this?”
“I thought I had,” he said as he thought back to his drunken apology. “Anyway, I assumed it was obvious.”
“Well, it wasn’t,” she fumed. “I mean, what was I supposed to think. The whole time that I’ve been staying here, you’ve treated me like I have The Plague. Anytime we spent more than ten minutes together, you bolted. You couldn’t get away fast enough.”
“What was I supposed to do,” he exploded in frustration. “I couldn’t control myself and you damn well nearly ordered me to stay away.”
“What!?” The admission stunned her and loosened a knot inside that she hadn’t even been aware of. “Can you be a little clearer?” she asked carefully.
“Damn it! What do you want to hear? I couldn’t be in the same room and not want to touch you.”
“Why tonight?” She whispered hoarsely as emotion clogged her throat. Her back refused to hold her up and she slid down to sprawl across his chest.
“Because.” He lifted his hands to cradle her face. “Life is too short and I could have lost you today. I couldn’t face another night without you.” He pulled her face down, intending to kiss her gently, but the taste of her was like fine brandy, smooth and potent at the same time. What was meant to be a light touch became a deeper merging as passion exploded. His tongue plunged in and out, imitating the full joining that his body desperately craved.
When they finally came up for air Mira was on her back with the heat of James’ arousal pushing between her thighs. Her shirt was bunched above her waist. She clutched eagerly at his back and raised her hips as sensation pooled between her legs and her body turned moist and heavy.
He ignored her grasping hands and lifted her arms above her head so he could slip her shirt off. When her body was fully bare he propped himself up and carefully examined her breasts. The sight of the faint bruises lashed at him. He couldn’t stand the thought that he hadn’t been there to protect her. Very carefully, he bent down, placing light kisses on each of the purplish marks.
Her heart soared and her body melted as he lowered his head and pulled a swollen nipple into his mouth, tugging gently. She cried out and sank her fingers into his hair, holding him to her. He laughed darkly, pulling out of her grasp as he moved to the other nipple and gave it the same loving treatment.
Just when she thought she could take no more he pulled away and slid his mouth down her body, leaving a trail of heat in his wake. Mira moaned as her flesh quivered and caught fire. She reached out, looking for an anchor and fisted her hands in the sheets as his warm breath fluttered against her stomach.
Just watching her movements aroused James so much that he felt ready to explode, but he wanted the same. His body cried out to feel the sensation of her hands and mouth running over him. “Please,” he begged hoarsely. “Touch me.” He held his breath as she urged him onto his back and bent her head to pull a small, pebbled nipple into her soft mouth and groaned in pleasure, grabbing desperately for his slipping control, as she reached a hand down and curled her fingers around his aching length.
He jerked as is shocked by a live wire and Mira pulled her hand away, almost afraid she had hurt him.
“Just give me a minute,” he said as he sucked in air and tried to breathe and attempted to calm down. It was no good. He didn’t want to rush her, but if he didn’t get into her soon he felt like he going to die. With a trembling hand he reached between their bodies and slipped a finger between the silky folds of her womanhood.
Mira’s breath broke on a sob as her body clenched and strained, desperate for a deeper possession.
James felt the moisture drenching his hand and was lost. With a swift move, he flipped her over and sank into her welcoming heat.
Their twin groans of satisfaction echoed throughout the room, rivaling the sound of thunder that still sounded in the distance. Their hands locked together on the rumpled sheets and they moved in tandem, establishing a rhythm that was both achingly familiar and blindingly new, but as necessary to them both as breathing. When the climax came it wasn’t a bright explosion, but a slow, sweet pulse of pleasure that stretched on, leaving them weak and sated.
When her heart rate had finally evened out and breathing was no longer a struggle, Mira scooted back and curved her body into James’. He kissed her shoulder and wrapped an arm around her, pulling her closer.
Bound together, they slept.
Chapter 30
They walked carefully around each other for the rest of the weekend, neither of them willing to test the strength of the fragile but beautiful bond that was forming between them. Mira was very aware that something fundamental had changed in their relationship and it wasn’t solely caused by the intensity of their lovemaking.
It was as if a concealing veil had been banished and with it had gone all the doubts and the illusions. She no longer saw James as a cynical, harder version of the boy she had once loved, but as a complicated, intense, exceptionally attractive man. And, despite his tough outer shell, she sensed a deep well of compassion and caring inside him and a yearning for love that he refused to voice.
A part of her ached to ease that yearning and give her heart to him fully with no reservations, but her mind urged caution. It was for that reason she that found herself standing alone inside her repaired, but somehow empty house on Sunday night despite the fact that James had asked her to spend the night. She had put him off with the excuse that she had an early morning.
In reality, she was running, not from him but from the fate that seemed to be pressing down on her. On one hand she still felt a sense of nostalgia toward her childhood dreams, but she was a different person now—a woman with a well of experience, both good and bad, behind her. She didn’t like feeling she were being pushed by some unseen force when it came to James. But with the relative speed their relationship has progressed, especially since the break-up, she did. Granted, it was probably just her own neurotic brain creating problems where none existed, but it was still making her itchy.
When she was a child it had all seemed so simple. She had believed that the two of them would grow up the best of friends, doing everything together and then, one day when they were older, James would turn to her, fall to his knees, and declare his undying love. They would have a fairy tale wedding, where her father would beam with pride and her mother would be so happy that she cried. After a honeymoon to some exotic land they would live in a big house in Boston and she would become a famous artist while James managed her father’s company.
Of course, Mira mused as she toed off her shoes and unpinned her hair, nothing had worked out the way she thought it would. Her parents were dead, the company was gone and, although she was sure that James felt something for her, he certainly hadn’t declared his eternal love.
If she wanted to be fair though, she thought as she pulled on a nightshirt and climbed into bed, she hadn’t exactly said anything about love either. And that, she decided, was the way it would stay at least until she was more sure of things.
But her resolve was tested the next morning when she walked into work and found James waiting for her.
She had spent an incredibly restless night, alert for any strange noises and haunted by dreams of a faceless intruder, and it showed. Despite a liberal hand with her cosmetics her eyes were shadowed and drooping. As she glanced critically at herself she realized that there was also a long run in her pantyhose, stretching from behind her knee to her ankle. She sighed morosely. They must have snagged on something.
James on the other hand, looked gorgeous in dark blue dress pants that molded to his athletic frame, giving her a nice view of his excellent ass every time he moved. His jacket was off and the sleeves on his white dress shirt were rolled back to reveal tanned forearms. His beautiful dark hair was pulled back in a sleek tail. Considering the fact that he never came to work with a single button undone and she hadn’t even known he owned such a form hugging outfit, she had a feeling he had dressed for her. Perhaps as a reminder of what she had given up for refusing his offer last night.
Well, she was made of sterner material and she could certainly handle an attractive man without melting in a puddle at his feet. She took a fortifying breath and told herself that she didn’t really look that bad. With her head held high she pulled open the door and entered the lobby. James stepped forward and intercepted her, reaching out to lightly grip her shoulders.
“You look like hell,” he said bluntly as he critically surveyed her features. Ignoring the interested stares of his employees as they passed by, he leaned down and placed a light kiss on her lips.
So much for her flagging confidence. Mira knew she looked like crap, but he wasn’t actually supposed to point it out. “What happened to compliments?” she asked acerbically.
“All right,” he sighed loudly and grabbed her hand, dragging her past the startled receptionist.
His employees obviously weren’t used to see him act like a human, Mira decided, as she pulled back, halting their forward momentum, but she didn’t particularly care what they thought. She had yet to hear a compliment and she certainly hadn’t heard an apology. “Well,” she prodded.
His mouth turned up, crinkling at the corners. “I still think you’re beautiful, even though you look like you haven’t slept in days.”
“I suppose that’s a bit better,” Mira conceded. She felt her cheeks heat slightly as they passed by Mary Beecham and the older woman winked at her. Then they were in his office with the door shut and her back hit its solid surface.
“Now,” James murmured as he cupped her face and bent down. “It’s time for a proper greeting.”
His mouth touched hers and her thoughts spun away. This kiss was nothing like the earlier peck. His whole body became involved, hips grinding against her stomach, thigh pushing between hers to spark tiny fires, and God, his mouth. It ravished as he consumed her desperate cries like a man dying from starvation. When he finally pulled back, she was mindless, griping his neck like a lifeline.
“What,” she managed to gasp, “was that about?”
“Nothing,” he replied gruffly as he let go of her and walked behind the desk. “I missed you last night.”
The admission seemed to have been dragged from him and if Mira’s legs hadn’t already felt like jelly, his words would have weakened them. It was a miracle that she was still standing. Wobbling like a drunkard, she stumbled over to the chair in front of his desk and collapsed. “You do realize,” she said, “that after that possessive display everyone will think we’re a couple.”
“So,” he brushed off her worry. “We are a couple.” He cleared his throat and determinedly pulled his eyes away from her pouting, kiss-reddened lips. “As such,” he continued. “It’s your duty to tell me what’s wrong so I can fix it. Now, what happened last night?”
She crossed her legs and lifted a hand to examine her nails. “I’m not sure what you’re referring to. Is it the fact that I wanted a little time alone?”
There was no way he would admit to being that needy, despite the fact that his bed had felt empty last night and he had done his own share of tossing and turning. “No,” he said, “that’s not what I’m talking about. It’s the fact that you came in looking so run down. Are you sick?”
“I’m perfect. I was just a little jumpy so I had some problems sleeping, but it’s fine. I can fix it myself.” She leaned back and studied him. “As a couple,” she continued, addressing his earlier comment. “We should share our problems, but we’re both intelligent, competent adults. Help should only be given when it’s asked for.”
“You asked for my help when you came to my house,” he reminded her. “Besides,” he ran his gaze over her slight figure, repressing a smile when he noticed the rip in her pantyhose. “I’m much stronger than you so it’s my responsibility to take care of things.”
She crossed her arms and stubbornly kept her mouth shut.
James tapped his fingers on the desk and wondered how things had gone so wrong. He had started the morning determined to convince her that staying with him was the best option, but from the set of her mouth there was no way she would agree now.
Mira probably felt safe know that she had a state-of-the-art security system that he’d made sure was installed, but he still wasn’t happy with the idea of her living alone. Until he could convince her to move in or until the bastard who had attacked her was caught, he would just have to come up with a solution. For now, he would work with what he had.
“Have the police told you anything yet?” he asked.
She shook her head and tried to ignore the annoying tapping noise.
“I spoke to Devon yesterday.”
“Why would he call you and not me,” she fumed. Were both of them conspiring to take away her decisions?
“He didn’t. I called him. Either way.” He steepled his fingers and ignored her glare. “It seems that Kim has conveniently gone on a long vacation overseas and they can’t get in touch with her. The police are continuing to talk to her friends and acquaintances, but they haven’t had any luck yet. However,” he continued when her face fell. “They haven’t exhausted every avenue.” He stood up and escorted her to the door. “I’ve got work to do,” he said, “but I’ll see you later. I don’t want you to worry.”
As if he needed to sooth her like she was some scarred child. She was tougher than that, she assured herself as she sat down to work. Although, now that the thought was in her mind, Mira found that she could do nothing else but worry at it. Knowing for sure that someone who wanted to hurt her was running around free was a scary thought.
By the time she finally made it home that evening she was a nervous wreck, very close to jumping at shadows. When a knock sounded at the door a few hours later, she stifled a scream and the plate that she had been holding fell, with a thunk, to the carpet. Thankfully, it was blessedly empty. With slightly trembling hands, she picked it up, sat it on the counter, and went to see who was there. When James’ face, grinning boyishly, stared back through the peephole she sighed with what she refused to admit was relief and pulled open the door.
The first thing she noticed when he stepped in was that he was wearing a coat despite the mild evening. The second thing she saw was that it was moving.
“I’ve brought you some company,” James said as a tiny black nose poked out. He handed the tiny German shepherd puppy over to her with a vague sense of reluctance. Despite the upheaval the little whirlwind had caused in his house the past day and a half, he was going to miss the little bugger and he had a feeling Winston would too.
“What’s his name?” Mira asked softly as she buried her face in his fur to hide her damp eyes. Roses, presents, and compliments hadn’t been able to do it, but a tiny puppy had—she was deeply and irrevocable in love with James Kelly. The trick now, she decided resolutely as she held in a sniffle and raised her face, was to make sure he loved her too.
“He doesn’t have a name yet,” James smiled with quiet satisfaction as he watched childlike delight appear on Mira’s face as the puppy licked her cheek. “I thought you’d like to do the honors.”
“I think
,” she said as she ran her eyes over his black and brown body to his overly large paws. “I’ll call him Zeus. I believe he’ll be a mighty dog one day.” She put the squirming bundle down and turned to James.
Standing on tiptoe, she braced herself on his shoulders and leaned forward to kiss him gently. “Thank you” she said as she lowered herself.
“You’re welcome,” he replied roughly, absurdly aroused by the mere touch of her lips. “Why don’t we try that again?” He reached down and gripped her waist, already lost in her soft green eyes.
A crash sounded and they sprung apart, both of them running for the kitchen.
They found Zeus sprawled on the floor in front of her pot cupboard with a large wok almost eclipsing his body.
If he hadn’t looked so miserable, Mira would have laughed at the absurd picture he presented. Instead, she picked him up and snuggled him against her chest. “I suppose,” she mused aloud. “I’ll have to puppy proof the house.”
“You’ll have to ask Winston about that.” He bent down to pick up the wok.
“Really?” She laughed at the amusing image of the stoic butler chasing around a rambunctious puppy. “How long have you had him?”
“I picked him up yesterday evening, but trust me he made a big impression.”
“Did you happen to pick up some food, a leash, and a bed?”
“It’s in the car.” James sighed as he saw a quiet romantic evening going down the drain. “I’ll go and get it.”
By the time Zeus had been fed, walked and put to bed and she had made James a sandwich, which he quickly consumed, Mira was exhausted. All she wanted was a fast shower and a warm bed.
She escorted him to the door, intending to send him home, but as she watched him walk slowly to his car she changed her mind. He looked so dejected.
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