by Unknown
“Can I come in?”
“Why would I want you to do that?”
“Because I have something for you.”
It was then she realized he was holding something behind his back. Curiosity had always been her Achilles heel and she found herself wavering. “Fine. But make it fast. I have plans.”
He followed her into the living room of her apartment and noted the half-eaten Chinese and the empty pizza box on the floor. Good God, she was definitely losing her human being status. “I’m not judging but…”
“Get to the point,” she snapped, embarrassed beyond belief. Why hadn’t she picked up a little? She’d never been this messy but she hadn’t much cared about anything and now she was excruciatingly aware of just how awful everything —herself included — must appear. She swallowed her next bitter comment when Laird produced a beautifully wrapped package. “What is this?” she asked warily.
“It doesn’t tick, I can promise you that,” he said, handing the package over to her. “I think you’re going to like it.”
“Why are you giving me presents?” she asked, her voice bordering on a plaintive wail because, drat it, tears seemed close by. “Laird…what’s going on?”
He took a deep breath and said, “You were right. I didn’t realize how close to the nerve you’d hit with some of the things you’d said the other night and I didn’t know how to deal with it. But of all the things that you said, it was the things I was feeling that really threw me. I’ve never in my life felt the way I do than when I with you. And that was before we even had sex. What I didn’t realize, until too late that is, is that I was falling for you from the minute we met. That first day when I came to your apartment and took you to mine after what happened to Emma. I didn’t know what it meant to love someone until you.”
Tears burned behind her lids. She didn’t know if she could hold them back even as she blinked furiously. Don’t cry. Don’t. Cry. “I don’t understand…” she said, bewildered. “Are you saying…you’re in love with me?”
Laird seemed tongue-tied and gestured to the present. “Please open the gift.”
Lana stared a long moment, trying to make sense of the Twilight Zone episode she’d just landed in but finally, at a loss of what else to do, opened the present with shaking fingers. The luxuriant softness of cashmere met her fingertips and she gasped as she pulled the beautiful blanket Laird had purchased at the fundraiser dinner, tied with a lovely ribbon from the wrapping. But even more striking than the blanket was the beautiful ring tied within the ribbon. She gasped and nearly dropped everything. Her startled gaze met Laird’s. “Laird? Oh my God, it’s beautiful…” and she couldn’t manage any more words or keep the tears from falling. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Say you’ll make an honest man out of me,” he said, moving closer to gently caress her cheek, wiping away the tears. “I’ve been an idiot for a long time. As Vince so eloquently put it, I’ve been dicking around for longer than I should’ve. And you’re right…a man should work. I guess I’ve been playing at being an adult for so long I forgot what it meant to actually be a responsible adult. To that end, Vince has agreed to give me a position at Buchanan Enterprises. I don’t know what I’ll be doing — hell, knowing Vince I might end up getting his coffee and rubbing his feet but I don’t care. I want to remember how it feels to be proud of an honest day’s work because you’re right, I should be doing more with my life.” He swallowed, looking as if he might cry as well. “I might need some help being the man you deserve but I swear to you, I’ll work my ass off to be the man you can be proud to call your husband.” He was proposing. Her stunned brain could barely manage the reality of her situation. It wasn’t until she saw that he was shaking as he put the ring on her finger that she knew, this was the real deal. He was serious as a heart attack. This wasn’t Laird being the jokester, this was Laird being a grown-up and he was scared shitless. “What do you say?” he asked nervously when all she could do was stare at the ring and then back at Laird. “Is that a yes?”
Yes. Yes. A million times yes. “Yes,” she whispered, tears spilling freely as she landed in his arms. “I will marry you, Laird Tiechert. I will.”
“Oh, thank God,” he breathed, gathering her tightly. “I was prepared to beg but I wasn’t looking forward to it.”
She choked on a laugh and a hiccup. “Maybe I should’ve held out a little longer,” she teased and he groaned.
“I might’ve died from the pressure.”
It was then she suddenly remembered that she probably stank and her cheeks bloomed with heat as she scrambled away. “I stink,” she wailed. “Is this the story we’re going to tell our kids about how you proposed?”
“Damn straight,” he said, going straight to her with the grin that she’d fallen in love the moment they’d first met. “But I love the way you smell, baby, remember?”
Then he scooped her into his arms and she went shrieking and laughing as he carried her to the bedroom.
He was a keeper, she thought giggling as he gleefully stripped her of her clothing without even batting an eye at the fact that she was several days past her deodorant’s expiration and realized that life with Laird would never be dull.
That was practically a promise.
And she wouldn’t have it any other way.
-Epilogue-
Laird grinned, his heart ridiculously full as he watched his fiancée flit around the house hanging Christmas decor and singing off-key to the Christmas music on Pandora. Could she be more adorable? Not possible. And how had he never appreciated the simple beauty of a woman’s touch in his home? Everything Lana had touched she’d made warm and cozy. Although they had practically spent the equivalent of the national debt in Christmas decor because, as Lana pointed out, they were starting out from scratch and they had to build in some traditions for their kids, he was happy as a clam.
Kids.
Whoa.
If someone had said to him a year ago that he’d be gleefully embracing the idea of fatherhood and marriage, he would’ve laughed and asked what drugs were they taking and could he have some. But there was no doubt that he was happier than he’d ever been in his life and everyday seemed brighter than the last.
Hell, there was definitely some magic in that woman’s touch because he was well and truly intoxicated whenever she was around.
And hot damn, his wife was hot. There was that, too.
Lana sent him a dazzling smile and then popped an adorable expression as she realized she needed something else —how that was possible, he didn’t know but he was happy to oblige whatever she desired. “I can’t believe we forgot tinsel,” she said, distressed. “Do you think we can make another trip to the store?”
“For you, anything,” he said. “But it’ll cost you.”
She graced him with a sassy, sly smile. “And just what exactly will the toll be?”
He patted his knee with an openly licentious grin. “C’mon over here and find out, pretty thing.”
She straddled him, her pert rump fitting snugly against his quickly plumping cock and she matched his grin with one of her own. “You’re a naughty boy,” she purred, grinding slowly on his cock, driving him crazy with her newfound confidence. He filled his hands with her full breasts and she leaned into his grip, smiling with pleasure as he teased her nipples through the thin sweater. “On second thought, tinsel can wait…” she fell forward and sealed her mouth to his.
Within a heartbeat, their clothes were off and they were fucking like bunnies — happily committed, but very, very naughty bunnies.
Lana rode him like a banshee, crying out with pleasure as she came hard and quick against his cock, milking his shaft with each violent spasm. His soon-to-be wife was a lustful creature with a voracious appetite and he couldn’t believe what a lucky bastard he was.
A lucky bastard who just might’ve knocked up his pretty woman.
And, you know what? That was just fine with him.
Fatherhood, marri
age, the Escalade or minivan…whatever.
Bring it on.
He was ready.
***
The new Buchanans are in town. Watch for the stories for Sutton, Reece and Whitney Buchanan in 2015!
Excerpt
The Buchanan’s Redemption
-1-
Vince Buchanan was a restless beast without a discernible outlet. His sharp gaze wandered the dim haze of the opulent underground and exquisitely private club, Malvagio, and a mildly amused but ultimately dissatisfied smile curved his lips as couples in various stages of undress fondled and teased one another with abandon. The sounds of gasps and moans mingled with the wild thump of the gothic music pumping in from hidden speakers and an occasional muffled scream echoed from a play room. He could easily imagine what was happening behind one of the few closed doors because often, he was the one meting out the punishment for the lovely subs begging for the kiss of his lash or the slap of his hand on pristine flesh. Was there anything sweeter than the sound of flesh meeting flesh and the resounding cry that followed as a round, bountiful ass jiggled from the impact? Vince didn’t think so. He loved a woman’s ass — more so after his palm had heated it. Malvagio was his den of iniquity, his blissful acceptance of sin in its myriad of forms and the balm to his ragged psyche — most nights.
Tonight was not one of those nights.
His life as of late had turned to utter chaos and not even the promise of a good, dirty fuck could set things right again.
He sighed and threw back the scotch in his hand, attracting the attention of his friend and fellow business partner, Laird Tiechert, who’d previously been enjoying the talents of his favorite pet, Sapphire, which wasn’t her real name, of course, but her Malvagio personality.
“Saff,” Laird drawled, motioning to Vince before he downed the contents of his own tumbler. “My friend could use a pick-me-up. He’s been pouting all night. I’ll bet you can put a smile on his sour face.”
Sapphire, a young woman born to ridiculous wealth and perennially bored with all life had to offer by the tender age of fifteen, had finally been invited to Malvagio for her eighteenth birthday. The invitation, of course, had been secret and received with breathless anticipation as an invitation to the underground club was a closely guarded honor. And thus far, Sapphire hadn’t disappointed her sponsor. The succulent little harlot had a tight body, loose morals, and an insatiable appetite, which ordinarily would’ve represented Vince’s favorite qualities in a woman but these days, he was completely out of sorts. He blamed his brothers. Laird grinned as Sapphire, clad in a sapphire choker, matching heels and little else, knelt before Vince and her nimble fingers plucked at his trouser button, eager to free his cock for her greedy, red mouth but even though he enjoyed the idea of having his cock sucked immediately after the woman had sucked off his best friend — such a perverted bastard he was — his cock barely stirred.
“Someone doesn’t want to play?” Sapphire pouted when she saw his flaccid cock.
“Maybe another time,” Vince said.
“Maybe you just need some more encouragement,” she countered with a coy smile and Laird chuckled.
Before Vince could dissuade her, Sapphire’s lips covered his soft cock and a riot of pleasurable sensation followed. Laird signaled for the hostess and ordered two more rounds, all the while Sapphire sucked and licked, dutifully trying to rouse his cock. Although his member finally sparked to life, Vince knew it would take a while before he’d come because his mind wasn’t engaged and gently disengaged Sapphire with a smile. “Darlin’, it’s me, not you,” he said and she climbed to her feet with an unsure expression, her gaze darting to Laird as if she were afraid she’d displeased him. “Laird, assure your pet, her talents are sweet. I’m just in a shitty mood.”
Laird sighed and nodded, reaching to pull her close by her collar. “I will punish you later,” he promised in a dark but silky tone and then slapped her on the ass, sending her away.
“You’re such a cruel Master,” Vince said, chuckling. “Go easy on her.”
“Don’t worry about Sapphire. She puts on a good show but she loves getting paddled. She is the quintessential brat with daddy issues. God, I love her. You’re missing out,” Laird warned playfully, his gaze following his pet as she made her way through the throng of people to a private room to await her master. “So, what’s really eating at you? I’ve never known you to turn down a blowjob from one of my pets. You know I have discerning tastes and would never offer you anything of a sub-par nature.” Laird’s expression turned to mock fear. “Good God, you’re dying, aren’t you? Joining the priesthood? Or worse yet, still whining about your little investment going down the drain thanks to that pesky older brother of yours?”
“Don’t talk about Dillon or Penny. The walls have ears and besides, I don’t even think about Penny that way anymore.”
“Because she’s about to burst with your brother’s progeny or something else?” Laird asked solicitously. The man was an incorrigible bastard and one of the many reasons he and Vince got along famously. “I never knew you to be so squeamish.”
“My lack of desire for Penny has nothing to do with the fact that she’s pregnant, but rather the fact that Dillon would remove my head from my shoulders if I so much as glance at Penny in a sexual manner. And seeing as my relationship with my older brother has only recently become civil once again, I don’t see the point in challenging his orders. Besides, Penny is now like my sister. And I don’t go that way.”
“Pity. Some sisters are hot,” Laird responded with a shrug, his gaze alighting as the scantily-clad hostess returned with their drinks. “Ahh! Perfect timing. Tell me, gorgeous, what’s your name?”
Her big eyes widened and she actually stammered a bit, which Vince found oddly endearing, and he took an extra second to regard the girl. “J-josie,” she answered, placing their drinks on the small table between them. “Is there anything else you need?” Laird patted his knee with a lascivious glint in his eye and the girl’s mouth fell open as she shook her head. “Sir?”
“Darling, have you forgotten where you are? You’re in Malvagio. You can’t play the blushing virgin within these walls because there’s nothing more tantalizing to jaded wretches like us than a woman who hasn’t had a cock between her thighs yet; we might devour a tasty morsel like that…”
“I…”
Vince could nearly see her shaking. The sequins on her hostess costume twinkled in the dim light, winking, as she trembled. Her blond hair tumbled in waves down her back, encouraging a good hold at the scalp, and he wondered briefly if she were in fact, a virgin. Admittedly, he had a thing for virgins — a weakness, one might call it. But, just as the idea sparked his slumbering libido, reality intruded. There was little chance at all this succulent piece of ass was untouched. No one came to Malvagio so sweet. Laird was right; they’d be eaten alive. But she was plainly nervous and Vince wasn’t interested in forcing himself on a quaking girl with little sense in her head for putting herself in harm’s way. “Leave her be, Laird. Go fuck your pet. This one isn’t interested,” he said with a bored drawl, motioning for the girl to be gone.
Once the girl had scuttled off, Laird turned to Vince with a speculative look. “Did you hire her? I know I didn’t.”
Vince searched his memory and came up curiously empty. “No, I didn’t,” he answered. “Perhaps Nolan?”
But even as he suggested it, he knew it wasn’t true. Nolan was too busy being a husband and father — one of the most recent upsets in Vince’s life — to bother with the club they both held major stakes in. “I think we need to question the little morsel,” Laird suggested, eager to find the girl who’d practically ran away from them. Laird loved nothing more than the chase but Vince knew his friend too well and volunteered instead.
“I’ll take care of it,” he said, rising. “I need something to take my mind off what’s happening all around me.”
“You’re transparent, Buchanan,” Laird said, grinning.
“You want to find out for yourself if that sweet little piece of ass is a virgin. Fine, have it your way, but if you find her, let me know so I can watch. I love watching you do what you do best.”
“Fucking pervert.” Vince grinned even as he delivered the insult and Laired grinned back as he called after Vince without shame.
“A badge worn with pride.”
Vince descended from the VIP level onto the ground level of the club and wound his way through the throng of well-heeled individuals all bent on being someone else for the night. Assumed identities were part of Malvagio’s charm as they acted out their most depraved fantasies under darkened and secret cover. Of course, most were decidedly tame, Vince thought as he passed by a number of sexual acts that were hardly taboo but enjoyable just the same, and even lingered a moment as a woman, her legs thrown over the shoulders of a man feasting on her clit, cried out, as her big, synthetically-enhanced tits heaved with the force of her climax. But he was more interested in finding the mystery hostess than remaining with the couple who had moved onto fucking before the woman could even catch her breath.
Malvagio was a tri-level building with the VIP quarters and the security cameras at the top level so they could overlook the second floor, an opulent expanse of divans, soft, sensual chairs as well as an area used for dancing as gothic techno music throbbed in time with the moving bodies. The bottom level was the dungeon, which was equipped with five different rooms of varying sexual preference and taboo. The walls were covered in burgundy damask wallpaper with priceless oil canvas art of William Bouguereau and Francois Boucher with buxom models showing plenty of flesh in varying stages of debauchery. Vince and Nolan had always professed an appreciation for a full-figured woman for there was nothing better than the give of soft flesh beneath the fingertips. His gaze sought out the unknown blond but each hostess that passed by were ones he’d hired — and bedded — at one time or another and his pique at not being able to find her was beginning to converge into something more serious. How had she managed to circumvent their security to gain access to Malvagio? No longer simply curious, his need to find the girl was grounded in the need to protect the club. Many had much to lose if their involvement became known and thus, the proprietors took great care in protecting their anonymity. Something didn’t feel right.