by Maggie Marr
Damn.
“I want you,” she said.
He spun her around and faced her toward the tile wall. He wanted her, too. With a burning, furious heat. Her hands spread on the tile surface. He spread her legs at her heels. His hands clamped over her fingers, holding her hands together against the wall. Her ass pressed back toward him, toward his sex.
“Don’t leave me anymore.” His hand drifted around her waist and found the front of her belly. He rubbed his finger against her clit. Her ass thrust back and a low moan escaped her throat.
“Oh my God, Trevor, please I want you.” Her ass tilting, seeking, wanting him to plunge deep into her.
He circled her clit with his finger. His lips pressed to her neck. His sex hard against the seam of her ass. “Do you hear me, Poppy? Don’t leave me again.” He continued circling her clit. Her hips became more insistent and her breathing shallow.
“You’re mine.” He slid one finger into her tight pussy, still teasing her clit.
“Please, Trevor, please.”
“Say it.” He could barely contain his desire. Heat throbbed through him. His balls drew up tight to his body. Soon he’d explode all over her back if he didn’t fulfill his need to plunge his cock deep into her pussy.
“Say, that you’re mine.” His voice husky with want. He sucked her shoulder while her hips pressed back and forward. He kept her hands pinned above her with one hand. Her entire body writhed, as though she could barely contain the pressure of her own desire.
“I’m yours,” she wailed, and with one swift motion, Trevor hitched his hips back and plunged hard and deep into her sex.
“Oh my God, Trevor, I’m yours!” she wailed again. He pulled out and then slowly plunged forward again. He wouldn’t last. He stroked her clit with his finger and her pussy tightened around him. He pulled his hand from her hand and wrapped it around her waist holding her tight against his powerful thrusts.
“I’m going to … oh my God, Trevor … I’m going to …”
“Come for me, baby, come for me now.” He pushed his cock deep into her and the come shot through him and pulsed out. Tight rings of muscles clenched around his cock over and over again, draining him of every ounce.
His head rested on her back and then he turned her around. His hands caressed her cheeks, his kiss deep and languorous on her lips. He looked into Poppy’s eyes.
“Don’t run from my love anymore, Poppy. Don’t run from us.”
Fear cascaded through her eyes, followed by surrender. “I don’t want to. Trevor, I’m sorry. I just get … I get so scared. Today with Therese in the hospital room, everything was closing in around me. I couldn’t breathe.”
The hot water streamed over them. He pulled her into his arms. “I know, baby, but when you run you scare the hell out of me. There has to be a way you can have your space and I still know you’re coming back.” He looked into her eyes. “You’re everything I want, everything I need. I want you. I want us. Let’s find a way to make that work.”
Poppy nodded. He took a long breath, grabbed the soap, and proceeded to wash the most beautiful woman that he’d ever seen.
Chapter 14
“Okay, so I’ve got your things in the wash and I’ve collected a couple things from Mom’s closet.” Trevor held out a pair of black fleece-lined pants and a soft hoody.
Poppy pulled the plush terrycloth robe closer to her body.
“Is it weird for you to put on my Mom’s clothes?”
Poppy looked at the red hoody and plush sweatpants.
“It might be a little weird, but those look so comfortable.” She pulled the clothes from Trevor’s hand. She pulled on both soft and luxurious pieces quickly. The hoody was roomy and didn’t make it obvious that she didn’t have on a bra. “Thank you. Aside from the shower, I think this is the warmest I’ve been all day.”
“We need the rain. Always do in Los Angeles.” Trevor pulled out a pair of soft grey sweatpants and a Stanford sweatshirt. “But yes, it’s pretty cold for L.A. Thought we’d eat a little something and then I can take you home, or you can hang out here, or”— He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her to him —“we could go to Malibu.”
Poppy wished she could do all of those things. “Or, after we eat, I could go back to Mimi’s and change. Brian gets in tonight. I’ll go back to the hospital when he gets here.”
Trevor pressed his lips to the top of Poppy’s head. “You know I’m here, if you want to talk. I can listen and I won’t judge.”
“This is obscenely tough, okay? I mean, she’s my mother, but she’s not really my mother. And Mimi and Brian have completely different memories of their childhoods because they were so much older when Therese left.” Poppy sat on Trevor’s bed and ran her fingers through her damp hair. “Mimi thinks I need all this closure, but I don’t know. I don’t feel it right now. But she says things will change if I ever …” Her eyes drifted toward Trevor. “If I ever have children.”
Her heart leapt in her chest as she said it. She’d never thought that she’d have children, but then again, she’d never thought that she’d ever let a man into her life, at least not for longer than six months.
“This,”—Trevor waved his hand at the space between them—“makes me think about a lot of things I didn’t think that I wanted.”
Poppy tilted her head. “I’m listening.”
“I didn’t think I wanted to run Up Side Burger. I thought I had to be a writer, but now, I mean this thing between you and me … I’ll always write, but there’s something very appealing in the idea of building something for a family.” Trevor’s gaze met Poppy’s. “I’m just going to say it, Poppy. Running Up Side Burger is appealing because of building something for our family. A family that you and I would create.”
Poppy’s heart beat faster. Her stomach clenched with that familiar clamping feeling, the same feeling that came right before she wanted to run.
“Oh, no, no, no, no. I know that look. I’ve struck terror in your heart and now you want to high-tail it to the nearest international terminal.”
“Am I that transparent?” Poppy shifted away from him. She pulled at the string that hung from the hoody.
“Only to the man who loves you.” Trevor put his arms around her. “I won’t hurt you, not intentionally, and I won’t leave you, not ever. If you love me, Poppy, which I’m pretty convinced that you do, then you can trust that I’m going to continue loving you.”
A deep breath filled her lungs. “Trust, you say? Not so good at that.”
“Right. Well, I’m willing to earn it. Now here’s the thing. I like this talking much better than the running.” Trevor wove his fingers through Poppy’s. “You think we could try this out? You talk to me before you bail, even if it’s just to say ‘I need a little space’? Otherwise, you trigger all my abandonment issues from losing my dad.”
Poppy swiveled in his arms and her eyes looked into his. “Oh my gosh, I’m sorry … I didn’t even think about that.”
“Neither did I, until Robert and I were sparring today. I wondered why I was so completely pissed at your disappearing act. I mean, I know who you are, I understand how you feel, and I kind of suspected that at some point within the next twenty-four hours I’d hear from you again, but I was just angry. And then it hit me. My dad. He was never around. He was always working, and then after this great vacation where he was finally around and we connected, he died. So of course, I’ve got this fear that the other shoe is about to drop, especially after something good happens. And Malibu was good. It was a good start. And then with today, and you leaving …” Trevor leaned back against the pillows on his childhood bed. “Poppy, you’re not the only person with issues. I think we pretty much all have them.”
“Okay. I can do this. If I want to bolt or am going to bolt, I’ll say something first. I can do that.”
Trevor’s mouth hooked upward into a smile. “Thanks.” He leaned forward. His forehead gently touched Poppy’s. Her body tightened. The scent o
f him fresh and soapy, his clear piercing eyes, he was just … he was enticing and sexy and he was quickly becoming her home.
Her stomach grumbled.
“Whoa.” Trevor smiled and stood. “Let’s get you fed.”
*
The kitchen table was set for three. Mom had come home. She walked in from the laundry room with Poppy’s clothes in a neat pile. “I saw the shoes by the front door and the purse, and thought …” Her words drifted off and she smiled. “Well, I thought perhaps you were entertaining. I didn’t want to interrupt, so—”Her gaze flashed past Trevor. “Hello.” A giant smile lit her face. “I’m Adele, Trevor’s mom.”
For a moment Poppy looked like a deer caught in the crosshairs, but she quickly recovered. The effervescent smile and the charm he’d watched her use on guests at Mesquale flooded over her face.
“Poppy.” She held out her hand. “I’m so sorry about the clothes.” She flushed a shade of pink only a bit lighter than the hoody she wore. Trevor kept a smile from his face. She was adorable when flustered. “I got caught in the rain and I didn’t have—”
“No explanation necessary.” Adele waved toward the stack of clean clothes she had set on the kitchen island. “They’re clean and dry. After dinner you can change if you like, or you’re welcome to wear those things home.” Adele leaned closer to Poppy. “Those sweatpants are so soft. I have four pair because they are so damn comfy.”
Poppy smiled.
“Wine? I was just opening a bottle when Trevor walked in.”
“Please, yes.” Poppy’s face telegraphed that she was trying to be nonchalant. Was she worried about meeting his mother? About making a good impression?
Trevor moved away from her side and took the bottle, a wine key already sticking out of the cork. Mom settled in one of the chairs at the kitchen table. Poppy sat beside her.
“You worked at Mesquale? You and Trevor met there?”
Poppy nodded. Again with a tiny blush. Trevor pulled the cork out of the bottle.
“And you have a sister here in Los Angeles?”
“Yes.” Poppy looked up at Trevor as he walked to the edge of the table with the bottle and three wine glasses. “And my brother is coming in tonight … he’s …” Her words drifted away.
“Poppy’s mother, Therese, is at UCLA.” Trevor poured a glass for his mother and then one for Poppy. “She isn’t doing well.” He handed the wine to Poppy and looked into her eyes. “Her brother is coming in to see her.”
“Oh my goodness.” Adele pressed her hand to her chest. “I’m sorry. I had no idea. Please, if you or your family need anything.” She covered Poppy’s hand with her own.
Trevor’s heart warmed. His mother really was a lovely woman, even if she was trying a little too hard. Mom wanted what she wanted, and she, Trevor knew, would do whatever was necessary to get it. He’d never brought a woman home, nor had he ever spoken of women with his mother, simply because there hadn’t been one who spoke to his heart like Poppy did. There had been women … lovers … but not the love of his heart, not before Poppy Martin. Trevor sipped his wine. Mom must feel it, she had to know. He settled his hand on the back of Poppy’s chair. Adele stood, went to the stove, and pulled two dishes from the oven.
“Do you like chicken, Poppy? I know Trevor won’t eat meat any longer, but do you?”
Poppy smiled. “I do. I’m a big carnivore.”
“Ah.” Adele picked up Poppy’s plate and scooped a large portion of chicken piccata onto it. “A woman after my heart. You’ve had our burgers then? You like them?”
“Like them?” Poppy took the plate from Adele. “More like love them. Always my first stop within twenty-four hours of arriving in Los Angeles.”
“We hear that a lot.” Adele glanced at Trevor. “How long for you now? Since you’ve had one?”
“Let’s see—about eight years.”
“How do you stand it?” Poppy placed her napkin in her lap. Adele scooped a helping of vegetarian piccata onto Trevor’s plate and set it in front of him, before serving herself last.
“I guess I had enough Up Side Burgers when I was a kid.” He picked up his fork.
“Trevor did eat his fair share, especially all the way through adolescence. I think when you worked at the Westwood location they weren’t quite breaking even.”
“So you worked at the stores when you were younger?” Poppy asked.
“I’ve had every job in an Up Side Burger but manager, and by ‘every job’ I mean including washing dishes, mopping floors, and scrubbing toilets.”
Adele smiled and took a bite of her salad. “Trevor’s father and grandfather were big believers that every member of the family should know every job in the store. It’s important to understand what our employees have to do in order to do their jobs well.”
“Smart men.” Poppy grinned.
Adele returned her smile. “They were. I still miss them, even now. What about you, Poppy? I know you’re American, but Trevor said you grew up in Australia. I don’t hear much of an accent, though.”
“Maybe because both my parents were American? We moved to Australia when I was three because of Dad’s business, and then Therese came back to Los Angeles when I was five.”
“I see.” Adele’s gaze flashed to Trevor and then back to Poppy. “So where is home?”
Poppy shrugged. Her eyes swept over Trevor, and then she looked at Adele. “I’m not sure anymore.” Poppy smiled, but there was a seriousness in her eyes. “For the last ten years home has been Mesquale for six months of the year, and then anywhere I wanted to travel for the other six. I kind of thought that would be my life.”
“And now?” Adele asked.
Poppy’s eyes locked with Trevor’s. “And now I don’t think I’m …” Trevor reached his hand across the table and his fingers intertwined with Poppy’s. “I mean, I don’t think we’re so sure right now.”
Adele’s smile spread over her face. “This makes me happy. So very happy. Poppy, we’re celebrating Trevor’s birthday next month. You’ll come to the party, won’t you? It will be small. Really just family and close friends.”
Trevor snorted. “Yeah, when mom says ‘small’ she means like four hundred people.”
“Stop, Trevor, not true. I promise you the guest list is no more than two hundred and fifty.”
“See?”
Adele ignored him and continued. “We won’t be able to truly celebrate without you. I can see what an important part of Trevor’s life you’ve become. Please, if you can join us.” She speared a tomato in her salad. “I’m hoping that Trevor will have lots of good news to share that evening.”
Poppy’s gaze landed on Trevor. His normally contented expression was awash in not exactly panic, but consternation. He hadn’t made up his mind about Up Side Burger. He still didn’t know what he wanted to do, and he didn’t have much time to decide.
“Thank you, Mrs. Brice, I’ll try.” Poppy wiped her napkin over her mouth and looked at Trevor. “I’m sorry, really, I can take an Uber, but I should get going. Brian should nearly be to the hospital by now.”
“I’ll take you.” Trevor jumped up.
“No—” Poppy caught herself. She was stopping him … why? To protect herself? To keep him at a distance? As though either of those were even a remote possibility any longer. He’d found his way deep into her heart. She would let Trevor in, she would accept his support, she would let him show his love. “Actually, that would be nice,” she corrected herself. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” He bent down and placed a kiss on top of her head. “Just let me get my keys.” He slipped away from her.
Adele put Poppy’s clean clothes in a plastic bag. She brought them to Poppy, saying, “I remember when Trevor’s father was in the hospital. Please know that I mean it when I say if you need anything, anything at all, please let me know.”
Poppy nodded. A thickness grew in her throat. What she needed was to try to understand the complex feelings that wove through h
er. When it came to Therese, Poppy went from fear to anger to hurt to disdain to not caring a whit. She’d even had moments of just wanting the whole damn thing to be over. How selfish was that? What kind of horrible person was she to wish her own mother dead? But it wasn’t the first time. She’d had similar thoughts when she was a teenage girl, alone in Sydney with a father who worked all day and drank away most nights with his mates. Sure Mimi and Brian had stayed as long as they could, but they’d both had lives to lead, and Poppy was seven years younger than Mimi and five years younger than Brian. As an adolescent she’d felt so alone, so awkward, so unloved.
Tears formed in her eyes. Now, according to everyone around her, she’d be best served if she could find a way to forgive Therese. Well, she damned sure wasn’t certain that she could forgive Therese, or that Therese even deserved her forgiveness.
“Ok, ready.” Trevor stood before her in jeans and a sweater. The scruff on his face made him look rugged and sexy. The warm hopeful look on Trevor’s face, full of understanding and compassion, made her feel better, safer, more grounded. How was that happening? How had the very man she’d sworn not to give her heart to now become the guy who firmly kept it safe for her?
“Be careful, the roads will be slick,” Adele cautioned.
Trevor shot his mother a patient smile. He leaned his head down and accepted her kiss on his cheek.
“Poppy, so nice to meet you.” Adele pulled her into a hug. Poppy’s family weren’t really huggers. Affection hadn’t ever been their thing, so for a moment, Poppy stiffened in Adele’s arms, but Adele just clasped her a bit tighter. The tension eased out of Poppy’s body. The hug from Trevor’s mom actually felt good. Adele pulled back and met Poppy’s eye. “And please, do call me Adele.”
“I will, and thank you.” Poppy smiled at her, completely understanding where Trevor had gotten his warmth and his smile.
Chapter 15