He stood and leaned into me, his face hovering over mine as he returned my kiss with a soft gentle touch of his lips on mine. “You are in for one hell of a fucking spanking, Red.”
I smiled and nodded as eagerly as I could, then flinched at the pain in my stomach.
“Hang on baby, I’ll get a nurse.”
He disappeared and I smiled gently as Ryan blew me a kiss from the corner of the room, winked and then vanished.
“Bye, baby” I whispered to him, knowing he was okay, he was doing fine and he would wait a while longer for me.
Lucas would just have to share me when we got up there. That would be fun and I felt a grin lift my lips at the thought.
Two men in my bed in the afterlife.
No complaints from me.
* * *
Kenny’s funeral was hard. The hospital had released me for the day and wheelchair bound, Lucas had refused to let me do anything, never letting me out of the chair, and lifting me in his arms whenever it was necessary.
My Dad had refused to even acknowledge me and my mother was nowhere in sight. No surprise there then.
She had left us when I was five and we had never seen her again. My Dad had brought us up single-handedly but when I had ran off to Gretna Green with Ry to get married he had disowned me and held it against Kenny for his knowledge of what I had done.
The only good thing to come out of the whole thing was Sara. She had turned up at the hospital, a mess, and held onto me for hours and hours and then we had talked, both of us hashing out our thoughts, grievances and apologies. We were taking baby steps but I knew we would get there.
Mason didn’t know what to do with himself every time he visited. His pain and guilt over what had happened ate away at him and I could tell Ava was growing concerned and we both hoped it wouldn’t see Mason delving back into his old habits.
I had told him over and over that it wasn’t his fault. He hadn’t pushed me into Kenny; it was Kenny’s gun that had gone off and shot me, not Mason’s or Ava’s and it was me that had invited Kenny into his home, not knowing what Kenny’s hidden agenda actually was.
Lucas refused to leave my side and eventually the nurse had physically dragged him out of my room so he would go home for some rest and clean clothes. But he had returned within the hour and snuggled on my bed, gently pulled me against him, then slept for twelve hours solid.
I had been lucky really. The bullet had done some substantial damage but it was all repairable and everything inside me still worked properly after the three operations I’d had to have.
I was a lucky girl.
* * *
I was released five weeks later, just in time for Lucas’s birthday. He had told me in his dominant way that I would be staying at his apartment until I was 100% better.
I hadn’t argued; I was looking forward to lots of amazing sex if I was honest. Five weeks was a long time to go without, especially when you were sharing a bed, even if it was a hospital bed, with the Sex God that was Lucas.
“Holy . . . Wow . . .” Lucas mumbled when I stepped out of the hotel suite’s bathroom where we were staying for Lucas’s birthday party.
I smiled wickedly at his face. The tight red sleeveless calf length dress I was wearing was sexy but very classy. It hugged me like a glove and the side split reached up to the top of my thigh. I had teamed it with elbow length black gloves and five inch black stilettos, with red heels.
Lucas stalked across the room looking particularly sexy himself in tight arse hugging black trousers and a black shirt that stretched deliciously over his chest.
“You like?” he asked as he caught me devouring him with my eyes.
“Very much” I smiled back as he reached me and I slid my hands around him and dragged my nails over his taut buttocks.
He growled before he mirrored my action and grabbed my arse. “I am so fucking this tonight, with my fingers, with my tongue and then with my hard cock. You are mine in every way tonight, baby.”
I pulled in a much needed breath as his words sent a shiver through me then I looked up at him and gave him a seductive smile. “And how about I repay the favour and fuck your arse with my tongue and my fingers?”
His eyes widened but I noticed how black they turned, his desire and excitement told me his answer without words and I reached up and kissed his mouth gently “You are mine in every way tonight, baby”
He sucked air through his teeth and then plunged his lips over mine, his tongue demanding my compliance whilst he dominated every inch of my mouth as his hot breath pulsed all the way down to my womb.
His phone rang and we both groaned at its intrusion. His dark eyes bore through me, telling me just how much he wanted me before he pulled back and went to answer it.
I went back to the bathroom and fixed my lipstick before he finished his call and we made our way down to the party.
I was a little nervous, truth be told; because tonight would be the first time I met his family.
His Mother and Father were coming along with Lucas’s brother and he was excited to introduce me to them. He hadn’t told them about me, mainly because they knew what a manwhore he was and they would’ve brushed me off as one of the little women without giving us a chance.
So now as we came up to our three months ‘anniversary,’ Lucas was excited to show me off as his, his words, long term girlfriend. I had laughed at this but I suppose to Lucas, three months was actually long term.
He squeezed my hand. “Ready, baby?”
I nodded and smiled at him before he led me into the room.
The place was packed to the rafters and the room exploded in cheers and whoops as Lucas made his entrance.
I spotted our friends and told Lucas I was joining them whilst he made the rounds with his eager birthday wishers. He nodded and placed a gentle kiss on my forehead before he let go of my hand and I knew his eyes were on my arse when I walked away.
I could feel them burn through the thin material of my dress and my cheeks suddenly matched the intense colour.
“Yes, he is staring at your ass” Sara chuckled as I joined her.
I rolled my eyes as she handed me a flute of champagne and I mumbled an appreciation to his parents for throwing such a stylish and lavish party for my man.
My man? I frowned at myself when the possessive term slid through my thoughts.
Yes, he was my man and I shivered in excitement as it actually sank in.
My man was a Sex God; a hot hard, caring, intelligent and beautiful Adonis and he was all mine.
“What are you grinning at?” Liv asked then lifted a brow as if she could see into my head, “You dirty bitch” she added with a wink and a nudge as I laughed.
“Little Willowww. . . .” Mason slurred as he pulled me in for a hug. I frowned at him as I returned his embrace.
“You okay, Mase?” I asked as I cast a glance to Ava.
She looked sad and upset but she shook her head at my silent question if he was high. He was just drunk and although that was bad enough so early in the night, I was relieved he hadn’t turned back to old habits, some of them being hard to die.
“Me and you, tomorrow lunch, Mase. Then we talk” I said in his ear. He pulled back and looked searchingly at me but then sighed and nodded, his brow pulled tight in his acceptance that we needed to do this.
He drifted off as Sara came back to me and pulled me towards the dance floor as Ava, Liv, Courtney and a few more women joined us and we were soon all bumping and grinding against one another.
Switchfoot’s ‘Your love is a song’ started playing and I frowned at the sudden change in rhythm, this song being a slow track but then I understood when I was spun round and pulled tight against Lucas’s hard body.
“Dance with me, this is my favourite song and now I want it be ours, baby.”
I slipped my arms around his neck as he pulled me in deeper and I rested my head against his chest; even in my five inch heels I was substantially shorter than him.
/> “Ooh, your love is a symphony, all around me, running through me . . . Ooh your love is melody, underneath me, running to me. Oh, your love is a song . . .” he sang in my ear and I breathed in every single word.
I looked up at him and no sooner had I titled my head, his lips were on me, his kiss was gentle and tender and I knew he was telling me everything he felt right at that moment.
“I love you too, so much.” I told him when he pulled back but only so far that the tips of our noses were touching.
“Don’t ever leave me, Red. Never. I would die without you.”
I palmed his cheek and circled my nose around the tip of his. “Never baby, my heart won’t allow it. It would shatter first.”
His eyes dropped to my lips and he smiled softly “You know; you have the lips of an angel. You have the eyes of a temptress and the body of a goddess but you also have the heart of a lion, baby. Strong, solid and fearless” He whispered against my lips.
“And all yours” I finished.
He growled softly before he devoured me again, this time so passionately but so adoringly and my heart literally stuttered at his intensity and devotion.
“May I cut in?” a man said beside us and I frowned at his rudeness.
Lucas laughed loudly then pulled the man in for a hug, “Logan” Lucas declared happily.
Logan coughed and shifted his eyes to me and Lucas smiled widely “Logan, this is my girlfriend, Re . . . Layla Summers. Red, this is my brother, Logan Hunt.”
Logan held his hand out and tipped his head slightly. I placed my hand in his super large one and he pulled it to his lips and placed a soft kiss on my knuckles as his eyes held me.
“Oi, none of this seductive crap, she’s mine” Lucas grumbled light-heartedly.
Logan released my hand and smirked at his brother. “Can I help being so charismatic that all the ladies fall for my charm, bro?”
Lucas laughed loudly before Logan grabbed my hands and pulled them round the back of him and deposited them on his arse.
My eyebrows lifted at the same time as my hands and I rested them on his back instead as he started to sway to the music.
“Behave” Lucas warned before he left us to it.
Logan pulled my hands up to his neck so we were now comfortable as we danced. He watched me silently for a while and I could see the question in his eyes.
I had thought Lucas was a solid man but his brother beat him hands down, he was rigid everywhere with muscles that showed no resistance what so ever. His fiery blue eyes, the same as Lucas’s, showed that they were related but where Lucas’s nose was quite small, Logan’s was steeper and wider.
Logan was roughly the same height as Lucas, give or take a few centimetres, and his hair was a shade lighter.
“So, little lady, Lucas seems smitten. You feel the same?” he probed and I knew immediately I was in for the second inquisition.
“I do, very much” I answered honestly.
He nodded as he spun me round a little and I was now face to face with a smirking Sara, her eyes watching Logan’s arse and I rolled my eyes at her dramatic tongue hang.
“How did you meet?” he asked now and I stiffened. I tried to hide my reaction to his question but he sensed it and narrowed his eyes on me.
“Well, I . . .”
He sensed my hesitation and lifted an eyebrow “Something I shouldn’t have asked?”
“No, uhh, Lucas comes into the club where I work” I told him evasively, hoping he would leave it now.
“Oh, you work in a club? Waitress or barmaid?”
God damn!
“Neither,” Sod this! I shouldn’t be ashamed of what I did. I was proud of my dancing. I considered myself a good dancer, if not a great dancer and I should not be embarrassed. “I’m a pole dancer.”
Both of his eyebrows lifted now and a small smile lifted his lips “Well, nice.”
“So, what do you do, Logan?”
My turn.
“I own a few health clubs and bars.”
I nodded, impressed with his answer. “How long have you been with Lucas then?” He asked as he carried on his own interrogation again.
“About three months now.”
I gave Sara a pained look, begging for her meddling characteristic to kick in and she didn’t let me down.
“May I pinch the end of this dance?” she asked Logan and I stepped back immediately, offering him to her.
Logan tipped his head again and I smiled at his politeness. Their parents had obviously done a fine job of raising their boy’s.
“I’ll find you later, little lady. Don’t think I have finished with my cross-examination.”
I laughed slightly but nodded before I went to find Lucas.
Chapter 44
Lucas
“LUCAS, DARLING, I haven’t seen you for nearly eight weeks. You really need to get your family priorities sorted out.” My Mother started and I just grinned at her as my Dad rolled his eyes at her chastisement.
Even her nagging couldn’t pull my good mood from under me tonight.
Although I had just hit thirty, I had the most stunning, bright and remarkable woman in love with me, almost as much as I loved her.
I had decided tonight, I was never letting Red get away again and I grinned when she slid up beside me.
“Hey, baby” I whispered as I planted a kiss against her head and snaked my arm around her waist.
I knew Red was nervous to meet my family but tonight had been the perfect opportunity to kill two birds with one stone.
“Mom, Dad, I’d like you to meet my girlfriend, Layla Summers. Red, this is my Mother, Teresa Hunt and my Father, Bernie Hunt.”
My Dad’s eyes lifted at the word ‘Girlfriend’ and he seemed impressed for a moment. My Mother? Well, I couldn’t quite read her as she eyed Red warily.
“Pleased to meet you both” she grinned widely at them both as she held out her hand.
My Dad gave her the usual once over, his eyes skimming over every inch of her, before he smirked at me and took her hand in his. “It’s a pleasure, Miss Summers. Anybody who can tie my son down deserves my upmost respect.” He told her with a huge grin and I bit into my lower lip at his openness.
“Well, I don’t know about tying him down, Sir,” she laughed “but, if you have any rope, I would be willing to give it a go.”
My Father barked out a laugh and turned his gaze to me with a lift of an eyebrow “I like her.”
“I’m really glad, Dad.”
Red then turned to my Mother, the worst of the two evils to win over, and tipped her head as she held out her hand, “Mrs Hunt, it’s a pleasure to finally meet you. Lucas has told me so much about you.”
My Mothers eyes skimmed over Red and I knew what she was thinking. Her cold eyes settled on Red’s as she took her hand and my stomach clenched in apprehension. “It’s a shame I can’t say the same, Miss Summers. But, tell me, where did the two of you meet?”
Oh Shit.
Without batting an eyelid, Red smiled sweetly “Lucas frequents the club where I dance.”
Oh bigger shit.
“Oh, you work in a club?” My Mothers sneer was not lost on me and I was secretly planning how to get Red out of here to save her embarrassment.
I knew she would be ashamed to tell my folk’s what she did, it didn’t bother me, I was in awe of how she danced like she did; her lithe little body held my attention every time she took to the pole and I was always impressed with her moves, some of them looked downright dangerous, but Red always performed them with effortlessness and expertise.
“I do, Mrs Hunt, yes.” Red smiled. I noticed the slight twitch of her thumb against her finger but she was so far holding her own and I knew I had to let these women find their middle ground.
“What type of dancing do you do? I’ve been thinking of taking up Salsa to try and keep myself in shape but your dancing seems to keep you nice and trim.”
Even bigger shit.
“I’m a pol
e dancer, Mrs Hunt.”
There was my girl. Open, honest and fearless.
My Mothers eyes widened and my Dad struggled to hide his smirk and I just stood and took a deep breath.
“Really?” My Mother said as she eyed Red’s body, “Is it difficult to learn?”
What the hell?
Red shook her head, “No, not at all. There are tutors who teach you right from the basics upwards, but if you don’t mind me saying, I think you would be great at it. You already have a figure to kill for and that helps, but the pole will keep everything tight and supple.”
God, I loved this girl.
“You want to pole dance?” My Father asked my Mom and I swallowed at his excitement.
“Well, I think it would be fun Bern, don’t you?”
“Good God, yes, definitely.”
“Okay folk’s, you are my parents, stop right there.” I warned.
Red turned to me and laughed before she looked back at my Mom. “If you’d like, I could give you a few simple lessons to start, just to see if it’s something you think you would like.”
My Mother’s face lit up like a beacon and she beamed at Red. “Oh, darling, that would be fantastic. I’d feel a little more comfortable doing it with someone I know.”
God bless you Red.
“You will have to give me a couple of weeks Mrs Hunt, I recently had an accident and I’m not supposed to dance for a few weeks yet, but if it is okay with you, I’ll get your number from Lucas and give you a ring.”
My Mother nodded happily, “That’s fine, darling. I hope it wasn’t a bad accident.”
This time Red did stiffen but she smiled at my Mom. “Just a car accident, everything’s fine, I just need a few more weeks’ physio and then I’ll be right as rain.”
Thank you Red. I didn’t think my Mother would appreciate me being involved with the mafia and guns.
I nearly fell on my arse when my Mother leaned forward and planted a tender kiss on her cheek.
Red smiled sweetly just as the crowd started chanting my name and I turned to look at the expectant crowd.
“Okay” I shouted as I took Red’s hand and made my way to the stage.
The NSC Boxset: Heart of Stone Page 148