“You smacked my ass!”
“I sure the hell did. You deserved it for that little game.”
“You smacked my ass!” I repeated.
He chuckled out loud as he threw me over his shoulder and stalked to the bed. When he gently dropped me on the mattress, he took control of my ankles and pulled me to the edge.
“Kieran, stop!” I giggled, but I was too late. He’d pushed my panties to the side and lowered his mouth over me with full intent to get me aroused. Typically, his techniques were slow, methodical, smooth and deliberate. At this moment, the aggressiveness he displayed was unbearable and when he sucked my clit into his mouth I cried out, ready to explode. He stopped. Stood. Put on his jeans. And I curled up waiting for the aching to go away. I considered finishing myself. But he was strong enough to go to the party without being satisfied; I was too! Rich little prick, I smiled with that thought.
Ruthie picked me up and the wetness between my legs was still there. Damn Kieran. Just the breeze blowing when I walked to the car hardened my nipples. Everything on my body was hypersensitive when we arrived at Winks around 8, which was the time the party was to start. Kieran had reserved us a parking spot out front. There was no line tonight, and a sign plastered on the door read: PRIVATE PARTY CLOSED TO PUBLIC.
The guy inside the door nodded as we stepped in and walked on past. I spotted Kieran immediately, propped up with his elbow next to the bar. He or Todd could take possession of any woman here and I simply stared for a minute as he laughed. Everything about him demanded attention. And for the time being, he was mine. The thought of him not being mine…hurt. I didn’t want to hurt so I pushed the thought from my mind.
Todd spotted me first and gave me a once over, then he tapped Kieran’s shoulder with his beer bottle. Kieran was taking a drink from his longneck but looked in the direction Todd pointed. My direction. Kieran’s eyes widened and he treated me with a shitty little grin that made me smile instantly. Then, with the sexiest swagger known to mankind he made his way to me, truly stealing the air from my lungs.
“Ladies,” he said to both me and Ruthie but his eyes slammed into me, causing every muscle inside me to clench. “You look beautiful,” he added as his eyes roamed from the top of my head to my toes.
“Thank you, Mr. Scott. You look…great?”
“Great?” he asked with raised brows.
“Great?” Ruthie echoed, then shook her head and trotted off toward Todd.
“Great isn’t the right word,” I said totally flustered. All I could think about was him between my legs. I scratched my head.
The measured steps he took toward me left us inches apart. “What is the right word, Doc?”
Behind his back there were a few girls eyeing us and I wanted to plant a kiss on him right then and there. Stake my claim on him. We hadn’t taken this whole…whatever it was…public. But I think I’d feel better if we did. I’d know where I stood with him.
“Sexy,” I finally said. “You look incredibly sexy.”
His chocolate eyes hooded just a bit. “That’s because you make me feel that way.”
That made me smile.
“Your dress is too short to my liking. I’d like for you to stay by my side, please.”
“My dress will be easy access for you, Mr. Scott. And why don’t you take my hand here in front of all these people and lead the way,” I suggested and my heart beat up in my throat as I waited for his response.
His gorgeous eyes narrowed to a squint like he was trying to read me then he did. He took my hand and led me to the bar, which led to another round of whispers.
“Megan,” Todd greeted me, nodding.
“Hey. Happy Birthday Wink,” I said first to Todd, then to Wink, who stood next to him.
“Good to see you, Megan,” Wink said…winking.
The band was playing a little bit of everything but a lot of something from Wink’s generation…some ’50s and ’60s. Great music. The party had been going about an hour when a group of ladies, Wink’s age or maybe a bit younger, walked in. Kieran hit Todd, who hit Wink in a ripple effect. In an instant, Wink’s tics moved from not just blinking but to shoulder shrugs and some necks twists. He was nervous. How cute was that?
Kieran had told me about Wink’s wife and what happened. Also said that she was his soul mate. So I wondered what was up with these women and if Wink would move on. Kieran believed he deserved a companion. So, I did too.
“God damn you boys,” Wink muttered, taking a sip of his amber-colored drink.
Todd and Kieran both laughed and clinked their longnecks making an X as they touched.
“There is the birthday boy,” one of the ladies shouted, and they all squealed a bit and headed straight for us.
“Wanna dance?” Kieran asked, and my heart fluttered in my chest.
I nodded. “I’m two glasses of wine down, I may need someone to lean on.”
He snatched my hand up and led me to the dance floor. “I’m that guy.”
After a few songs I was hot from dancing, and dancing with Kieran did little to kill my hormone rush…if anything it only caused it to fester. He guided me through the crowd and nabbed a bottle of water from behind the bar but also ordered me another glass of wine.
“I’m hot.”
“Yes you are,” he said with a smile.
“And still on fire from earlier,” I admitted to him when he gave me the water and wine. “Thank you very little for that!”
“Maybe we should Stop! Drop! And Roll!”
“A really sexy fireman used that line on me once,” I said, pursing my lips at him.
He twisted his neck; his face carried a strained expression. “Oh yeah? Don’t play with fire, lady.”
“Will I get burned, Mr. Scott?”
He took a long pull from his beer. “You? No. Some sexy fireman, yes.” He grinned.
“Well, I was joking. He wasn’t all that sexy.”
“Hear this Doc?” he asked, then exaggeratingly laughed out loud. “I like laughing. You make me laugh and you make me smile. There are certain things that don’t make me smile even if a joke is intended.”
I took a drink of my wine and I wanted to plaster my mouth to his. My possessive Kieran.
“What other things don’t make you smile?” I asked.
“A hungry child. Natural disasters. Animal cruelty. The thought of another man touching you.”
My heart expanded. Jealousy was good, right? He wanted me all to himself. I wanted him all to myself.
“Kieran…” I whispered and wasn’t sure if he even heard. “I don’t want anyone else.”
His brown eyes studied me and I felt exposed after saying that.
“Good,” he said.
“Happy birthday to you,” someone started singing behind me, and when I whirled around, a big cake was being wheeled out. We all started singing.
Wink sat like a pimp daddy in the middle of his harem of women. All of them bellowing out the song together. He wore a genuine smile that made me smile. He got up and went over to the cake where sixty candles sent smoke into the air when he finally blew them out. Then suddenly, a young, beautiful, hard-bodied girl, clad in a bikini, jumped from the center of the cake.
Wink started laughing and pointed at Todd and Kieran, who acted innocent by shaking their heads as if they knew nothing about it. The women who had been sitting around Wink hooted and howled at the young girl, egging Wink on.
Some other women came out and started cutting the cake placing pieces on a table set up next to the dance floor.
“Want one?” Kieran asked.
I nodded. “If it’s white. I love white cake.”
He left me standing there and went to get one. With nothing but pure admiration and an ounce of lust, I kept my eyes set on him until I heard Ruthie laughing, then I noticed Todd and Ruthie in a conversation and I wondered what that was about.
“Hi, baby,” I heard a woman drawl, and my attention turned back to see the almost naked cake-j
umper-outer girl greeting Kieran, rubbing his back. The hair on the back of my neck stood.
“How are you, Penny?”
“I’m good. Long time, no see,” she said leaning into him. His eyes turned and met mine for a second then flickered away.
He turned his back to me finishing the conversation, then came back carrying my plate of cake. What couldn’t he say in front of me? Penny stared at me for a short minute then went about her business.
“Thank you,” I said, not feeling all that hungry anymore and not really wanting stripper sweat near my cake.
About an hour later, I was completely feeling the benefits of the wine and still trying to measure my response to the private stripper convo. Ruthie was dancing with Todd, and Wink was dancing with one lady in particular. Kieran was doing something with a keg.
“Care to dance?”
My eyes moved from the dance floor to the guy next to me. He was talking to me? He looked twenty-something, cute and completely bald. As jealous as I was right now, I knew Kieran wouldn’t appreciate it.
“No, thank you.” I smiled.
“You have a lovely smile. You should smile more,” he said.
This made me smile bigger. “Thank you.”
“I’m Josh,” he introduced extending his hand.
“Megan,” I said shaking.
“How do you know Wink?”
“I don’t really. I know a guy who knows Wink.”
“Ah. So, are you here with this guy?” he asked.
“Yes. For the most part,” I whispered, looking down because for some reason, things felt off since the stripper.
“Megan,” Josh said, lifting my chin with his thumb and index finger, and I semi-flinched away. “Are you OK?”
“Josh. Back off now,” Todd said, breathing heavy and flying to my side. Suddenly Wink appeared at my side with his bat in hand.
“Josh. Come over here,” Wink encouraged. Todd kind of stiff-armed Josh, keeping him at arm’s length away.
Josh’s eyes stared at me for a split second then flashed back to them.
“You’re Kieran’s girl?”
Kieran stepped up behind Josh, and Todd now wedged himself between the two of them.
“You got a problem with her being my girl?” Kieran growled and Josh flipped around, looking past Todd.
“No problem at all. But seriously, Kieran. She’s not your normal type. Let this one go before you rip her heart out.”
My eyes flickered to Kieran’s regretful ones.
“Was he bothering you?” Kieran asked sincerely.
“No,” I mouthed and waved for Kieran to come to me. He didn’t. His stoic face was unreadable.
“Come on, Josh. Get outta here,” Todd said.
Josh raised his hands in the air. “That’s fine. But she’s a beautiful girl, Kieran. I just wasn’t sure if she was aware that she was seeing a guy who killed his parents.”
Even in the dark, Kieran’s face flashed red and Malcolm was suddenly there flanking Kieran’s other side. Kieran stared at me, taking a long, slow breath.
“Guys,” Kieran said. “This is Wink’s night. I’m not going to ruin it.” His jaw ticked back and forth as he tightened it.
I immediately darted between Todd and Malcolm, wrapping my arms around Kieran’s midsection, and he wrapped his arms around me too.
“Josh. Kieran didn’t kill his parents,” Wink said from behind me. “But I think you should go. We want tonight to be enjoyable for all.”
Josh nodded. “I’m sorry, Wink. Happy birthday.” He started to walk off, then turned back; Kieran’s body stiffened under my arms. “Megan. Be careful. He will hurt you in some way. He hurt my sister. Hell, he’s probably hurt half the girls here.”
“Josh!” Wink cautioned and at that time, Todd and Malcolm began walking him out.
Kieran didn’t let me go for a bit and it wasn’t until I pushed against his chest that I saw fire in his eyes.
“You’re angry?”
He quietly shook his head and hid his eyes from me.
“Can we go back to your place?”
His eyes broke open. “Our place,” he snapped. “Yes.”
His possessive arm never left my waist even as we made our way across the bar to Ruthie.
“You OK?” Todd asked, brushing his hands as if he were discarding crumbs. He sat next to Ruthie again.
Kieran gave a simple nod.
“We’re leaving,” I said mainly to Ruthie. “You want a ride?”
Ruthie quickly glanced at Todd, who sheepishly smiled at her, then looked away. “I think I have a ride home,” she said.
“Can I talk to you for a second?” I requested, a bit annoyed.
Ruthie and I walked about five feet away.
“What are you doing?” I asked her.
“Talking,” Ruthie explained.
“Ruthie. Jerry?”
She shook her head as if she was trying to clear it from some thought.
“I like T…Todd,” she stuttered. “He makes my freaking toes curl Megan. I just don’t want the night to end.”
I knew the feeling she described. I loved the feeling she described. I also knew that Jerry put her feet to sleep as much as he did mine. But that doesn’t mean you cheat on someone.
“We don’t mind running you home. I know Todd is hot but think…I don’t want you to make a bad decision.”
“Megs. You’re having sex with a client,” she came back at me, then winked.
“You’re right. OK. Have fun then?” I said sounding like a question.
Todd’s eyes brightened a bit when she turned around and sat back next to him. Kieran’s eyebrows shot up at me and I finally said, “let’s go.”
Chapter 41—Kieran
Damage control. That’s all that crossed my mind as I opened her door and let her in the Porsche. I remembered when I was little and my mom would slam a door or a cupboard, I knew she was angry. When we were driving and Mom would glare at me in her rearview mirror, I knew she was mad. When she would shout a rhetorical question that I knew had an easy answer but she didn’t want me to answer, I knew she was fucking pissed off. And if tears ever touched her face, it made me sad and I hated when she cried. Well, all of that…that’s how I felt with Doc.
Having no experience reading women other than my mother, I sucked at this. I didn’t know what to say or do. So, I sat silent. The vibe was going strong the entire way home that she was upset or something—from her staring out her window to not speaking at all. But for shit’s sake, I didn’t know if it was at me, at what Josh had said or if it was Ruthie for hanging with Todd. Hell, I figured if she wanted to talk, she would. So, I stayed quiet. Besides, I knew she was a little drunk too and maybe that was it.
By the time we pulled into the garage and after hearing her third deep breath, I finally asked, “You OK?”
“Fine,” she said getting out of the car.
I did know enough to know that fine didn’t mean fine.
Once inside, she kicked off her heels, picked them up and went directly to the bedroom. Her bedroom! She didn’t pass go. She didn’t collect $200.
“Doc? You want to talk about something?”
The door slammed.
“I guess not,” I said beneath my breath, unbuttoning my shirt then throwing it in the hamper. I went to my room and took off my boots and my T-shirt and started unbuttoning my jeans when I heard her door open. Suddenly, she stalked through my door and slammed it, staring at me. She was already in my T-shirt that she wore most nights, looking cute as hell.
“What do you want?” she yelled.
I slid my hands in my front pockets and leaned back against my dresser.
“Well, I’d like for you to quit slamming shit for starters.”
She opened my door again, glared at me and slammed it a second time.
I chuckled at her stubbornness.
“What do you want, Kieran?” she said a bit more calmly.
“Could you be more specific?�
�
“Sure. Do you want Penny?”
What?? I literally shook my head trying to catch up with whatever fucking left field that just came from. “Penny?”
“Yes! Penny! The stripper from the cake. ‘Hey baby,’” she mimicked. “Do you want her?”
I couldn’t fight the smile that crept slowly across my face and I knew instantly that I was going to get in trouble for that too. With an exasperated moan, she turned and fled back to her room…slamming the door.
I opened the door slowly and she sat on the edge of the bed. Her wounded eyes met mine and I crumbled inside.
“No. I without a doubt, unequivocally, do not want Penny,” I said, sitting next to her.
“You’ve already had her?” she asked immediately.
“Yes.”
“Jesus, Kieran. Is there anyone in the Portland area that you haven’t slept with?”
“I’ve never slept with Ruthie,” I joked.
She pursed her lips and swatted my hand away.
“Doc. I’m almost 27 years old. I have lived in Portland my entire life and yes, I’ve slept with many women. But…”
Before I could finish, she moved away from me over to the small desk in her room and leaned up against it.
“Seriously?” I said. “You aren’t upset about what Josh said? You aren’t upset that my buddy is probably knockin’ it out with your girlfriend right now? You’re upset because a stripper named Penny said, ‘hey baby,’ to me?”
She frustratingly ran her fingers through her hair. “No. I’m upset because you turned your back to me and you all were whispering. Then she stared at me!” Her feelings were clearly hurt.
A small laugh came up my throat. I got up, staring at her. A mixture of desire and hurt in her eyes. “Penny wanted to know if I was free later tonight. I told her no. That I was taken now.” My heart beat so heavily against my chest I grew dizzy. “I told her you were standing behind me and that I was crazy about you.”
Only three inches separated us now and her little mouth parted. Her gray eyes flickered with need…longing.
“That’s probably why she looked at you funny,” I continued, and she only nodded.
Sessions Interrupted Page 22