Upper Hand (Cedar Tree Book 5)
Page 9
“I’ve chased her away I think.”
“Thank you. I didn’t seem to be too successful.” He smiles. “But I stopped you because I wanted to let you know that I got your son’s computer—handed it off to Neil, who’s back in town and at Gus and Emma’s—and I got a couple of guys I know to help me pack up the rest. Most of it is in a storage unit near the airport, I’ve got the key and the paperwork upstairs. I can go grab it now or bring it with me tonight. I assume you’re going to the open house?”
“I was planning to, yes. Just bring it with you. I don’t know how to thank you for doing that, Mal,” I tell him, putting my hand on his arm.
“You kidding? You’ve looked after me since I got here; feeding me and slipping into the apartment to clean when I’m on assignment. Don’t tell me you thought I wouldn’t notice. I notice everything, Beth,” he says with that familiar arrogant tilt to his mouth. Gawd, whatever woman ends up taming him is one lucky bitch. “Oh, and before I forget, I’ll pop by tomorrow to drop some shit off I brought back. Was gonna do it this afternoon but I got...held up.”
“What do you have for me?”
“Didn’t make sense to have little Max’s room packed up and stuck in storage, when he could have it here. Figured he might miss his things.”
Oh yeah, some girl’s going to hit the jackpot with this one.
-
-
“Well, that was unexpected,” Beth says, as she takes off her coat and hangs it in the closet by the front door.
We’ve just come home from the clinic’s open house, where I had an awkward reunion with my brother. I’d figured he’d be there. Hell, hard as it is for me to admit, he must’ve worked his ass off getting the place done. Although exactly what his motivation is for being here in the first place, I don’t know. I managed to be civil, at least with Beth around, but when she was chatting with Kendra, Jed approached me wanting to talk.
“I’ve got nothing to say.”
“Maybe so, but I have enough for the both of us.”
That threw me off a bit, because he’s basically running my business, and I’m curious what the fuck he has to tell me, I tell him next week. That I’d be by at the office next week. Guess it was enough because he backed off then.
Then to everyone’s surprise, Joe showed up in a tux and dropped to a knee before Naomi. Certainly caught her off guard, although she got him back when she tackled him to the floor knocking the ring right out of his hand. I chuckle at the memory. But his proposal doesn’t really surprise me. Naomi’s been the one for Joe for years, even when he still had his head up his ass. And Naomi? Let’s just say Joe couldn’t have found a better woman around anyway. Well, with maybe one exception. My eyes flick to Beth.
“The timing was, the sentiment wasn’t.”
“I guess,” she mutters, as she passes me by in the direction of the kitchen. “Want some decaf?”
“Sure.”
I watch her puttering around the kitchen, wondering whether I should call her on the strange mood she’s been in since she got home. It’s not even nine-thirty yet, by all accounts early for a Saturday night. What better way to spend it than try and make some headway with this stubborn woman?
“You okay, Beth? You’ve been a bit off since you got home from the diner, is it that time of the month?”
With a clatter the spoon she was holding to scoop coffee grinds drops to the counter. I realize in that moment I probably just fucked up again.
“Say what?”
Damn that woman can look angry.
“I just meant that you seemed a bit off, like you weren’t feeling well or something.” I struggle to recover but once unleashed, there is no escaping the wrath of Beth.
“I’m off and so being a woman it must be my time of the month? Un-fucking-believable! You are such a Neanderthal, Clint. What do you call it when a guy is ‘off,’ huh? Oh wait, that’s right, men stronger than that, right? Not bothered by ‘little’ things that would affect only us ‘fragile’ women?” The sarcasm is dripping off, and before I have a chance to throw up a defense, she’s back in action, the coffee spoon clutched in her hand, waving around like a weapon. “For your information, buster, I haven’t had a period since the doctor removed my chicken coop twelve years ago!”
I swear I try to follow what she’s saying, and I think I’m doing okay until she brings up a chicken coop. Confused I shake my head and repeat it back to her.
“Chicken coop?”
For a minute I think the dramatic eye roll is all I’ll get for an answer, when in reality she’s just gathering steam. Fucked up as it may be, it makes me harder than steel to see her all riled up. My cock is straining behind my zipper to the point of serious self-mutilation.
“Oh. Em. Gee. Yes, Clint. Chicken coop. The works. The baby factory. I had a hysterectomy, you baboon!”
Okay, sue me, but all I can think right now is the promise of sliding into her without the barrier of a condom between us. Fuck yeah.
“Tell me I don’t have to explain to you what that is?”
Her hands on her rounded hips in challenge, she stirs the darker side of me. A challenge like that is not wasted on me and before she can blink I am on her. My arms pull her tight into my body, one hand sliding down to clasp that luscious ass and the other one tugging at the damn elastic band in her hair so I can weave my finger through.
Eyes wide and mouth opening in what I assume to be protest, I take away that option, forcing her to swallow her words when I slam my mouth down on hers. Hands that were braced against my chest in rejection, slowly curl to find purchase in my shirt as my mouth eats at hers in a dance for the upper hand.
I win.
Her whimper, along with the moulding of her body to mine, shows me that underneath that bristly fierce creature lives a woman who craves giving up control. Who despite the tight reigns she keeps on her life and everyone in it, secretly wants to let go. The knowledge that I’m able to bring that out in her makes my chest swell with emotion. Fuck yeah.
With Beth wedged between my body and the counter, I hold her head in place with my hand tangled in her hair, while the other hand goes exploring. Over her soft hips to the dip of her waist, skimming the slight swell of her stomach I can feel her suck in, to the weight of her breast overflowing my palm. I pull back slightly, leaving my lips barely touching hers and will her eyes to open to mine. I need to see her reaction as I use thumb and forefinger to sharply pinch and tug on her nipple poking through the lace of her bra. The sharp hiss and instant darkening of her chocolate brown eyes tells me enough.
“Bed,” I mumble against her mouth. “I need my mouth on you in the worst possible way, and I’ll end up on my face if we don’t get horizontal right fucking now.”
I shouldn’t be surprised to feel her stiffening up against me, but I’m not about to back off just because she feels insecure.
“I don’t think—“
“Don’t want you to think. Just want you to feel.” Taking in a deep breath I give her a little. “Bean, please. Bed.”
Taking a step back I take her hand and hurry as best I can down the hall. Don’t want to chance those damn defenses going up, like I know they will the moment I take my hands off her. The woman runs rings around me everywhere, but in passion she yields.
We pass by her room and head straight for the master, where I sit on the side of the bed, pulling her body between my wide spread legs. I haven’t had a chance to take her in with her gorgeous wavy hair down and take my time doing it now.
Uncomfortable under my intense scrutiny, as I let my eyes slide down the length of her body slowly, her hands start fiddling with the hem of her shirt by her sides.
“You know, I should—“
I can hear the uncertainty in her voice which pisses me off. For all her spark and fire, she shouldn’t be anything but proud for all she is, instead of shrinking before my eyes.
“Eyes on mine,” I interrupt her a bit curtly, waiting to have her attention. “Don’t look away.”
“Your taste is incredible, I don’t think I’d ever need another meal if I could have my mouth on your body all day,” I mumble with my lips on her stomach. She feels and smells amazing, and I want to see to confirm what I already know—that she is beautiful. Feeling a little bit like I’m charming a feral animal, my eyes let go of hers and drop down to where her gorgeous, soft tits are almost spilling from the cups and lower to the creamy white soft flesh of her belly. Dayum.
“Gorgeous...”
Her sharp intake of breath has me raise my eyes again. “You are, you know that? It doesn’t really matter how hard you try to hide it with your ponytails and plain clothes—you can’t camouflage this kind of beauty. Nor should you.”
I grab her hips firmly in my hands to hold her in place.
“Now take off your bra,” I say, my voice with a hard edge now.
Instinctively Beth’s hands shoot up to cover her breasts and fire returns to her eyes making me smile.
“You don’t get to tell me what to do,” she challenges, but all I do is look at her without saying a word. A couple of minutes, not even, and I can see her determination wavering until finally she drops her hands away and reaches behind her to unhook her bra. Her breathing, high and shallow, is telling of anxious anticipation. The waiting for what is to come next and it’s that sound I love. The sound of promises of things to come. The sound of the tender beginnings of trust. The sweet, sweet sound of letting go.
The moment the cups of the lace confection falls away from her heavy, slightly sagging breasts, my hungry mouth and hands are there; kneading and lifting, sucking and nipping, groaning into her flesh until I feel the sting of her hands scratching my head. Yessss. This is what I hoped to find. I bury my face in her soft tits, her heart racing under my ear and her fingers massaging my skull. Fucking bliss, and I haven’t even been inside her body yet.
With my hands back on her hips, I move her back a little so I can maneuver her to sit on the bed beside me, her hands slide from my head and her mouth-watering tits sway with the movement. All it takes is a nudge to her shoulder to have her on her back on the mattress, and I lean in over her body, finding her mouth with mine in a possessive kiss. Not an easy task to get her jeans undone and down her hips with one hand, while the other holds her head in place by the hair, and I have to release her mouth to finish the job. Her creamy soft body is splayed out on the bed and momentarily has the breath stuck in my throat. Everything I fucking dreamed of is right here in full display. Cotton, waist high panties in stark contrast with the seductive Victoria’s Secret bra I just had her take off, symbolizing everything that is Beth to me. Her tempting dark Gypsy beauty paired with the simple, undemanding but hard-working woman underneath. The combination as alluring as the lingerie she wears.
I don’t notice the smile on my face until she starts rolling away.
“Where do you think you’re going?” My voice comes out in a growl, pushing her shoulder back down in the mattress, and pinning her with my body.
“I don’t particularly like being the butt of your inside joke, you asshat!” she spits, her fight only serving to make me harder, if that’s even possible. Without hesitation I slip my hand under the elastic of her panties and without stopping to play with the surprisingly soft hair on her mound, my fingers dip firmly into her wetness.
Fuck me.
The slick heat I find between her swollen folds almost has me come in my jeans, but I manage to control myself and focus instead on her pleasure. The immediate response of her tight channel squeezing the two fingers I pump in and out of her, tells me she is close and I want to see her come undone. Pressing my thumb down on her clit as her hips come off the bed, I demand her attention.
“Eyes on me, Bean. I want you to let go for me.”
“I don’t...I...ohhhhh Jesus!”
Although she isn’t quite screaming my name, the satisfaction I get from feeling her convulse on my fingers and watching her face go slack in release, is like no other. Letting her ride out her orgasm on my hand, I finally slide my fingers out and bring them up to my mouth, using my tongue to lick her taste off me, while she watches carefully with heavy-lidded eyes.
“That’s gotta be the hottest thing I’ve seen.”
The sound of her voice is lazy and the smile on her lips spells temptation, but before I have a chance to kiss the smirk off her face, the ringing of her phone pops our bubble.
CHAPTER NINE
“Don’t get why you can’t just have Mal drop it off here.”
I’ve been moody since Katie called with apologies last night, but Max was puking up a storm. He’d apparently gotten into Blue’s kibble, or so it looked from what he was upchucking. Beth ran out to pick him up and the poor kid did look miserable when he came home. She ended up sleeping with Max in her bed. As for me, if I hadn’t just gotten effectively cockblocked by a two-year-old, I’d probably think it was funny. That kid is something else, constantly into stuff he shouldn’t be into. A certain incident with some bunny ears comes to mind, and this time I do chuckle.
Doesn’t last long though, when Beth announces she has to go to her place before work today. Mal is dropping off some things for Max he picked up when he was cleaning out Dylan’s apartment.
“Because we’d only have to move it all to my place anyway when the doctor gives you the all clear on Tuesday. Might as well take it directly there.”
I grumble because I don’t like the idea of her going back to her place. Not at all. But she seems adamant. So damn independent, that woman. I’m sitting on the couch with the little man pressed to my side, watching cartoons. This is what I’ve been reduced to. When I look over my shoulder, Beth is leaning against the kitchen counter, her mouth twitching to hold back a smile.
“What’s funny?” God I’m starting to fucking sound like a woman. Apparently it amuses Beth because she finally lets go of that smile she’s been fighting and has a good chuckle.
“You. You’re pouting. I never thought grown men could pout, but there you are; doing it.” The twinkle in her eye lets me know she’s half teasing, but still I slip off the couch, making sure Max’s little body rests against the pillows instead of me and stalk over to where Beth is observing my every move. That’s right, sugar, you watch.
“I don’t pout.” I stop right in front of her and box her in with my arms on the counter so she has to tilt her head back to look up at me. Perfect angle, goes through my mind as I cover her mouth with mine and insert my tongue in her mouth, claiming it as mine.
“Whoa,” she exhales when I finally pull back. “What was that all about?”
“That was me making sure you understand that I. Don’t. Pout.”
Her snort tells me she’s not half as impressed as I’d like her to be with my little dominant display, so I bend low and with my lips against the shell of her ear I make her a promise.
“You’re playing with fire, Bean,” I tell her in a low voice. “Keep it up and I’ll have you over my lap in a heartbeat. Won’t be laughing then.”
“Why you...” Beth huffs annoyed, but I’m pleased to see annoyance is not all that plays in her liquid brown eyes; there is heat there too. She likes the idea of being put over my lap, and that leaves me with a boner the size of a tree-log at ten o’clock in the morning. Tempting, oh so tempting, to take this into the bedroom, or on the counter, I’m not that picky, but Max once again makes sure I keep it in my pants.
“Big gah?”
“Yes, little man
, I’m coming.” So to speak.
“He’s still not feeling himself this morning,” Beth points out. “Wonder if I should call Arlene and tell her I can’t make it. I don’t want to hand him off to Katie when he’s sick.”
“No need,” I tell her, sitting back on the couch and settling a lethargic Max against me. “I’ve got him. You just go do your thing. Us men will be okay here.”
“You sure?” she asks tentatively. I throw a smile over my shoulder that is intended to show her much more confidence than I’m feeling, ‘cause what do I know about kids?
“Positive.”
Falling for the bluff, Beth takes one last sip of coffee before setting her mug in the sink.
“Well, I best get ready then.” Off she goes to her bedroom, leaving me with an unusually quiet Max cuddled up to me on the couch.
-
“Gammy?” Max sniffles into my shirt.
He’d fallen asleep half on my lap just an hour or so after Beth left to meet Mal at her house. With his little body warm and heavy on mine, it hadn’t take me long to doze off either, after a virtually sleepless night. When his voice and the small hands patting my face wake me up, I find the TV still on, but the cartoons have morphed into the Sunday afternoon football game. Seeing as they’re midway through the fourth quarter, I’m guessing it’s mid-afternoon or thereabouts.
Looking at Max, I notice a bright red flush on his cheeks and his eyes are shiny. I lift him up and settle him completely on my lap before touching my lips to his forehead, something I’d seen Katie do with Mattias to see if he’s spiking a fever. I’m surprised at the heat coming off this little boy, and his subdued little sniffles that haven’t stopped have me concerned. Before I can get to the phone to call Katie for advice, a rap sounds on the front door. With Max settled in my arms, his warm head resting on my shoulder, I open the door to find Gus on the step.
“Hey.”
“Hey, yourself. Is that Beth’s little boy?”
“Yeah, her grandkid, Max. Come in.” I step aside to let Gus in. “Want something to drink?”