Prevail (Triumph Book 3)

by S. J. McGran

  Just as the thought crosses my mind, a loud crack of thunder ricochets over our heads and the sky opens up, a warm spring rain pouring down on us. Paint and rain drip from our skin as we stay locked together. Freeing my wrists from his hold I stretch up on my tiptoes fisting his messy hair in my hands holding him to me, refusing to let him go.

  “Kit,” his nickname for me a growl. “I need you baby, I need you so fucking bad.”

  “Then take me home, Rico. I’m yours.”

  As we stand there making out like teenagers in the middle of a thunderstorm my heart skips a beat, my breathing falters as elation, excitement, and fear course through me. I’ve never had this before. I’ve never felt this out-of-control need and want, this burning passion ever before.

  And, now that I have I know I’ll never want anything less than this. I knew Rico Jones would ruin me, and I was right. I’m officially ruined for all other men. I’ve been owned, claimed, taken by this man and I’ll go down kicking and screaming if someone tries to take this away from me.

  Chapter Thirty-Seven

  Rico

  “What the fuck is with you today?”

  I snap my eyes up to Jared’s cool stare. “What?”

  “Where are you? Because you’re definitely not here, focusing on your damn job.”

  Jared and I have been working construction together for a long ass time, but he’s recently taken over as part owner of the company, therefore making him my boss. It’s been quite entertaining watching him try to be the big man amongst the same guys he used to work side-by-side with for so many years. Especially me.

  “Hello? What the hell Jones?”

  Shaking my head, I try to focus on the job I’m doing and not on the memory of Riley’s pliable body beneath mine all weekend. It’s harder than you’d think to forget. “My bad, Roman. I had a uh, a fun weekend,” I say with a smirk on my face.

  “Which whore were you with this time?” Jared’s voice is cold, annoyed. “What happened to Riley? Thought you were going to fight for her?” He uses his fingers to put air quotes around the word fight and I swear if I weren’t on such a high from being with Riley his attitude would piss me the fuck off.

  “I think the better question is what the fuck is with you today?”

  He leans down to pick up the hammer I just dropped slamming it against the wood a few times for no good reason. “I haven’t had sex with my wife since we got back from the honeymoon.”

  I bite back the laugh building in my throat. “Why not? One of you bring something back from the cabin?” Instead of taking a traditional honeymoon, they opted to spend the week locked up in the cabin. They’ve been back just over a week now.

  “Fuck you, asshole. She wants a dog, a fucking dog. I said no.” I stare at him with a confused look on my face completely fucking clueless what a dog has to do with sex. “No dog, no sex. At least that’s what she’s saying for now.”

  Unable to hold back any longer I bust out laughing, bending over at the waist as the humor of the situation sinks in. When I finally get control of myself I stand up straight and offer the best advice I can give my friend in this situation, “Just get her a damn dog.”

  Jared growls pounding the hammer against the wood a few more times. “Fuckin’ shit. I know. I’m taking her to the damn shelter tonight.” Again I fight back a wave of laughter at his resignation. A man will do just about anything for sex—including getting his wife a dog he obviously doesn’t want. “So, tell me about this fun weekend.”

  “Riley,” Is all I say and just her name brings a dopey smile to my face. The same smile I’ve given Jared shit about since he first met Zhoe.

  It’s Jared’s turn to laugh as he takes in the look on my face, undoubtedly coming to the same conclusion I did this weekend. “You’re screwed, dude.”

  Yep, totally and completely screwed. That girl has me so damn twisted I can’t even see straight. After getting caught in the rain Saturday afternoon we went back to my place showered, ordered take-out, and spent the rest of night lost in each other. Again.

  We woke up late Sunday and spent most of the day lounging on the couch, napping, and well… not napping. She finally convinced me to let her leave late Sunday afternoon, but not without a fight.

  I can feel that damn dopey smile on my face again as I replay the weekend’s highlights over in my head. When the lunch bell sounds, I’m grateful for the distraction. Jared and I make our way to the dining trailer, and I can feel his eyes on me the entire way. Looking over at my friend, who still looks smug as hell at the fact that a girl finally weaseled her way into my heart, I say the one thing that will bring him down a notch or two, “Yeah, well at least I’m getting screwed.”

  His eyes narrow into thin slits as he glares at me. “You’re dick.”

  I’m laughing as we take our seats in the small, temporary trailer that has a vending machine and a handful of long picnic tables. A large group of sweaty guys barrel into the room lugging their lunch pails in one hand, hardhats in the other.

  When catcalls start sounding I know it can only mean one thing—there’s a woman in our presence. Unlucky girl. My smile grows when I look up and see a beautiful, brown-haired girl waltzing through the room wearing a tight red skirt, sky-high heels, and a white blouse. I almost feel bad for my friend when I see the look of determination on Zhoe’s face as she saunters our way.

  “You got a visitor, Roman.”

  I watch as Jared turns, his jaw dropping when he takes in his wife’s outfit, his eyes skimming her body from head to toe twice before stopping to glare at her. Turning back to me he says completely serious, “Call the cops if you don’t hear from me tomorrow. I’m completely convinced she married me for my life insurance policy.”

  Leaning over Zhoe places her cleavage directly in Jared’s line of vision. “Hey, Stud. Thought I’d surprise you for lunch today.”

  Jared turns quickly, grabbing Zhoe’s hand and practically drags her out of the lunch room, barking at any of the guys he catches staring at her along the way. Just before they reach the door, Zhoe turns back to me and gives me a triumphant grin and a wink. I can’t help but laugh. Jared thought I was the one that’s screwed. He’s totally done for.

  One of the guys sitting at our table mumbles out loud, “That is exactly why I’m not married. Too much damn work.”

  I almost agree with him out of habit, but then I realize that’s a comment I would have made when I was single when I didn’t have an amazing woman to call mine. Zhoe might be driving Jared crazy right now, but he’d have it no other way, he loves that girl more than anything and would do just about anything she asked him to do.

  Instead of laughing at the guy, I ignore him altogether. Pulling out my phone I shoot a text to the girl that has me just as crazy as Zhoe has Jared.

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  Riley

  I’m just finishing up with a client when I hear my phone vibrate in my top desk drawer. After scheduling our next appointment and saying goodbye, I lock my office door ready for a little me time.

  Pulling my lunch and phone out of my desk drawer I head over to the couch ready to relax for the next hour. Opening my messages app, I find a new text from Rico.

  Rico: I can’t stop thinking about you.

  A giant smile rolls across my face as I read his message. It’s not particularly original, and it’s definitely not Earth shattering but it is so Rico. It’s nice to know I’m being thought about, nice to know this thing isn’t totally one-sided because I literally have not gotten that man off my mind since I walked out of his apartment yesterday.

  Feeling nervous and unsure I slide my fingers across the screen of my phone, my message mirroring his—simple, sweet, thoughtful.

  Me: The feeling’s mutual, handsome.

  Rico: Can I see you tonight?

  Fighting the urge to squeal like a teenage girl I give him a one word answer—yes—before turning my phone on silent and tucking it into my lunch bag, knowing I won’t be able to
concentrate the rest of the day as is but especially if I sit around waiting for him to text me back.

  Pathetic.

  For the rest of the day Rico and the prospect of seeing him again are on my mind, causing the rest of the afternoon to drag by. When my last client leaves I practically skip to my desk, eager to see what Rico has planned for the evening. When I pull out my phone and see that I have no missed text messages or calls from him, my heart drops a little. Tamping down the disappointment I continue packing up my things before trudging down the hallway to the elevator.

  I’m completely lost in my own head, questions brewing. I try to convince myself that he must have just gotten busy at work and was unable to text me back. But, the insecure girl that still lingers inside me starts to question what this really is, if he really wants this. I’ve been honest with him letting him know it’s not going to be easy to infiltrate my walls, to get inside my heart—shit, he’s seen enough of my ugly past to know that by now—but, he promised. He told me he’d fight.

  I hate that I don’t believe him.

  Shoving the front door open I run smack into a wall. “Shit. Sorry,” I mumble when I realize it’s a person and not a wall I ran into. When the person’s arms move to wrap around my waist, my first instinct is to scream, afraid it might be William again. But, when I look up I see Rico’s bright brown eyes looking down at me with a look I can only describe as adoration and anything but excitement disappears.

  “No worries, beautiful.” With that damn smirk of his he leans down and takes my lips in a kiss that walks the line perfectly between sweet and sultry. Bending me backward he dips me until my hair grazes the ground, his lips still firmly on mine. Eventually, our smiles break our lip lock, laughing at our ridiculous display of PDA.

  Standing me upright, he looks me up and down taking in my white button-up blouse, black pencil skirt, and black heels. “Don’t take this the wrong way, Kit, but for months I’ve had to watch you walk around in your sexy power suits and haven’t been able to touch you.” His hands fall from my waist to grab my ass possessively, “I’m going to take you home now, fuck you, and then I’ll take you out for a romantic dinner. Deal?”

  I feel a blush creep up my cheeks but force it down, wanting to prove to him that I’m not always insecure and shy, that I can be sexy and confident, too. Pressing up on my tip-toes I take his earlobe between my teeth gently nipping at him. “What are you waiting for?”

  A growl leaves his lips before he dips low and swings me up and over his shoulder, carrying me with easy grace to his vehicle. Excitement flows through me at his eagerness.

  This beautiful man wants me. Me. Fuck, that’s an empowering thought.

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  Rico

  The door slams shut behind me, the sound alone causing my dick to stir to life. He knows what he’s about to get and he can’t wait. For months, that girl has tortured me with her suits. Her ass looking fucking edible in the skin-tight skirts as she walked around her office trying to avoid eye contact with me, trying to ignore the attraction zinging between us.

  That girl, the one who avoided my eyes, who blushed at my compliments is nowhere to be found. Standing in the middle of her living room is a confident girl, a girl comfortable with the way she looks, sure of who she is. Determined to get what she wants.

  Crossing the distance between us I cup her face in my hands, my gaze locked on hers. “You’re so fucking beautiful.”

  Her hands slide from my waist up my middle stopping only once she reaches my chest. Instead of reaching for me like I thought she would, or ripping my shirt off of me like I hoped she would, she gives me a subtle shove. “Sit,” she demands as I stumble back a few steps.

  Smirking at her cute attitude I take my seat on the couch. Resting my back against the cushions behind me, I stretch my arms along the back of it giving her my undivided attention.

  “You know, I’ve never felt beautiful. Never, not once in my twenty-seven years.” She isn’t telling me this for pity, she’s telling me for a reason and I have to force myself to just listen to her. No matter how badly I want to grab her and do everything in my power to make her feel the way she deserves to feel. “Not until you, that is. You tell me constantly and not only with your words but, with the way you drink me in like I’m your salvation. The way you touch me like I’m the most delicate, precious thing you’ve ever touched.”

  Her chin wobbles as her steel walls finally start to bend. Refusing to give in she takes a steadying breath and I can almost see the resolve in her eyes. That is until my own eyes are no longer focused on her gaze, but on her hands, on her chest. Her fingers come up to her shirt and slowly, so fucking slowly, she plucks at the buttons undoing each one, until her shirt finally falls open revealing her perky breasts hidden behind a lacy, white bra.

  I have to bite my lip to keep the words from falling out. I want to tell her again how damn stunning she is. I want to demand she come to me so I can worship her body. I want to do and say so many things to prove to her how special she is. I don’t though, I restrain myself. Just barely. I let her have the floor, loving the way she’s finally opening up to me, finally letting herself feel what I’ve been trying to make her feel.

  “I’ve wanted you for a long time, Rico Jones.” She smiles at me and my heart starts pounding, especially when she reaches under her skirt and pulls her panties down her legs, kicking them to the side. “I’ve been too afraid of acting on it. Too afraid of the repercussions. Too afraid of feeling too much. Too afraid of disappointing you.”

  “Kit, baby,” I have to say something. She’s crazy if she thinks she could ever disappoint me. She’s everything I’ve ever wanted. She’s the only thing I want.

  She just smiles and shakes her head. Her eyes darken as she looks at me, her voice stronger than I’ve ever heard it, “The pants, Rico. Lose ‘em.”

  Holy fuck. Yes, ma’am, I think as I practically rip my jeans from my body. Once I’m sitting there in nothing but my t-shirt and boxers she walks over to me, still completely clothed, her shirt opened wide. Seeing her like that—the professional girl, mixed with the sexy woman—is what every single one of my fantasies have been made of since I first laid eyes on her.

  How many times did I visualize pushing her over her desk and sliding under her tease of a skirt to fuck her? How many times did I fantasize about her dropping to her knees in front of me as I sat on the couch in her office?

  We may not be in her office, but the visual is just as good. Better, even.

  Stopping in front of me she pushes my legs apart with her knees before bending at the waist putting her cleavage directly in front of my face she grips my shirt and pulls it over my head. Sliding her fingers down my now bared skin I watch her delicate hand as she reaches into my boxers and pulls my rock-hard cock out.

  That damn noise, that erotic little purr leaves her lips when she takes in my hardened state. “Shit, baby. You and that damn noise,” I growl at her.

  A smirk that rivals my own creeps up her lips as she climbs onto my lap. With my cock still gripped in her hand and no hesitation, no foreplay other than her little strip tease she lowers herself onto me. A hiss leaves my lips, my head tips back, and my eyes close at the feeling.

  She’s so fucking tight and warm, and wet. Goddamn, she’s wet.

  Her fingers tug on my hair pulling my head upright, my eyes instantly lock onto hers—her expressive eyes are filled with so much emotion it nearly chokes me up just looking at her. “Thank you,” she whispers against my lips, “For giving me my confidence back.”

  This girl. This damn girl has me twisted up in knots, is so far under my skin I couldn’t extract her even if I tried, and she did that without even trying. But, this? Her brutal honesty, the raw emotion in her eyes, in her words? I have no defense. None. I am completely lost in her. Lost in the high she provided. And truthfully? I never want to come down.

  Grabbing her hips, I stop her from moving above me, desperate for her to hear wha
t I’m saying. “You sweet, sweet girl. I should be thanking you.”

  “For what?”

  “For giving me a reason to keep going. You, baby, you are everything to me.”

  I watch as one single tear rolls down her cheek. I watch it until it falls from her chin and lands on my chest. Unable to hold back any longer I kiss her the way I’ve always wanted to, the way I plan to for the rest of my life. I kiss her like she’s my all, because slowly, so slowly that’s exactly what she’s become.

  Our bodies move together gradually, in harmony. We no longer need words to express our feelings, just our touch. It’s in the way she digs her fingernails into my shoulders keeping me close to her, in the way my hands hold her face reverently, in the way I fit inside of her perfectly—nothing I’ve ever had compares to the way it feels when I’m buried deep inside this girl.

  Whatever happens now I know, in the deepest, darkest parts of my heart—parts of me that I’ve buried deep, thought were lost forever—it’s me and this girl. It’s us against the world. Against her past. Against my addictions.

  It’s just us, and I’ll be damned if I let anything take her away from me.

  Chapter Forty

  Riley

  Curling into Rico’s chest I let him wrap his arms around me and hold me tight. It’s been a long, long time since I’ve felt this beautiful, this special, this cherished. If I’m honest with myself, I don’t know that I’ve ever felt this happy.

  “I’m starving.”

  I laugh out loud at Rico’s sudden declaration, effectively breaking the gentle moment we were having. “Okay, handsome let’s go find something to eat.” Standing from his lap I remove my skirt and finish taking off my shirt, loving the way Rico’s gaze eats up my every movement.

  “On second thought,” he says, “I’ll just eat you instead.”