by Fiona Murphy
It was several long minutes before either of them could breathe normally. Her nose was buried in his neck, and as she felt him shift, she flicked a tongue over his soft skin, loving the taste of him.
“Woman, you are going to kill me.” His hand sifting through her hair, he kissed her gently. “I can’t think of a better way to go.”
She laughed and ran an appreciative hand down his chest. “I can’t believe we’ve never done it this way before. Why were you holding back on this position?”
“It isn’t an easy position for most women to control how deep I go, and since you still felt so tight and new, I didn’t want to put you in a position that could hurt you. We would have done it eventually, but I was thinking of you straddling me on the couch or in bed with me sitting up. You over me with nothing to hold on to but me was the last thing I wanted, but I’m glad it didn’t hurt and it only made you come.”
“Is this about that first night again? I’m telling you, Declan, you need to let it go. I have, and shouldn’t I be the most important part in the whole equation?”
“Not when it comes to your pleasure and keeping you from getting hurt. In this there is no argument, Miranda. Don’t give me that look. I won’t have it. I take care of what’s mine, and you, my love, are mine.” He rolled over, and even though Miranda was annoyed at him, he was thickening inside her and she couldn’t fight her body’s reaction.
“Take care of me, Declan. Take me to the stars again. Please, Declan, take care of me.” Clutching his cock inside her, she loved the way he shuddered against her body. His hands moved down to her hips and wrapped her around him. She didn’t care what he said; it thrilled her when he lost control, and she loved pushing him to the edge of it. “Harder, Declan. I need your cock to pound my pussy harder.”
He growled in his chest, and Miranda loved it. He got incredibly hot when she talked dirty. She had learned lesson one quite well, much to his satisfaction. The Miranda of weeks ago would have blushed until she fainted at the things she taunted him with in the bedroom. The Miranda who had come alive at Declan’s hands gloried in it, and she had found it made her wetter too.
“Declan, all day long all I could think of was your cock in my mouth. I love it when you fuck my mouth like you do my pussy and I can taste your come. The only thing better is when I clean your cock after you come inside me and I taste the both of us on your cock. Fuck me harder, Declan. Fuck me and make me come, so when we finish I can suck your limp cock and clean us off you.”
He was like a man possessed, faster he pounded into her, and he was thickening inside her. Dear lord, her nipples hurt so badly she ran her fingers over them. Her climax was building.
“You didn’t suck my nipples, Declan. I’m so angry you neglected my aching nipples. Harder, damn it. I’m almost there.”
Sweat dripping, he moved faster, and then he leaned down and took one of her aching nipples into his mouth and sucked so hard she screamed, and then she began to come, and told him so.
But Declan wasn’t done. He kept pounding, and it was killing her, the agony of his thick cock inside her moving against her still-tender clitoris. He moved to her other breast, and for the first time he toyed with her nipple far past the point of slight pain, and oh how she loved it.
“Yes, Declan. Don’t stop, please don’t stop.” Again she came, and finally so did he. When he spilled inside her, she told him how much she loved the feel of his come filling her up, and he shuddered against her. He tried to roll off her, but she clung to him.
“Declan, I love the feel of you inside me. Just a few minutes longer. You always pull out too soon,” she complained, as she ran her hands over his sweat-slicked back.
“I have to pull out because you start squeezing my cock and start me up all over again, when I need longer to recuperate for you.”
“You didn’t need long to recuperate this time, and thank you. I loved it, all of it.”
“I didn’t need as long to recuperate and it took me longer to come. Are you sure it felt good? I thought I was hurting you at the end.”
“Hmm... which hurt, the breasts or you still inside me? Because I have to tell you that whichever one you’re talking about, I really did like it, and I love what you do to me.”
Shaking his head, he sighed and tried to pull out, but she clung tighter, and he sighed again as he looked down at her with obvious frustration. “Miranda, it’s not okay. Your breasts are one thing, but being inside you is something else.”
“That doesn’t make any sense. You smack my ass and you tease my nipples until they hurt. How is being inside me and it hurting any different?”
“For fuck’s sake, Miranda, I cannot believe you just said that. You were terrified that first night we made love. You thought you were frigid throughout a six-year marriage because the first time you had sex the bastard made you feel pain in your pussy. There is a huge fucking difference between a few slaps to your ass and making it so that you do not want my cock inside you after I have hurt you.”
Pulling him down with one hand, she stroked his tight lips with the thumb of her other hand. “Declan, that was in the past. You have made it so what happened that first time is a distant memory, a bad dream. My body knows it’s you every time and loves your touch. I can’t even believe that as often as we make love and you touch me throughout the day, when I sleep you are in my dreams, fucking me hard and then slow and then gentle and then out of control all over again. Please, don’t let that hold you back from making love to me the way we both need it.”
With a heavy sigh, he rolled to his side and pulled her into his arms and onto his chest. “All right, my sweet Miranda, I cannot deny you what you want. Tell me, my sweet, what you want, when you want it, and I will give it to you. Every time, no questioning you, my love.”
Miranda snuggled into him. She loved it when he held her on his chest and she could feel his heart under her ear. They were that way for a long time, and then his hand began to play in her hair and she remembered. With a kiss on his lips, she got on her knees and licked him clean of their juices. He hardened in her mouth, and with a devilish grin she stopped. A smack of her ass rang out through the room, and then another, and she took him back into her mouth. Hands went into her hair and held her while he fucked her mouth, until he came. A soft kiss on the tip and she moved back to lying on his chest.
“I can’t believe I didn’t know you have a gym down here. I hate working out, but I’d love to just watch you.”
“I’m pretty sure neither of us would last long if you did that. You have no need to work out. Your body is perfect just the way it is.
“I hate to tell you this, and it feels like it ruins the moment, but your brother is in jail and he’s likely to be there for a while. He robbed a jewelry store with a gun out in Vegas. He’s looking at ten to fifteen years.”
She froze at his words, and as she took it in, she could only shrug. “Is it bad that I’m not heartbroken? I can’t say I’m surprised, sad a little, maybe but I think a part of me always knew he would end up that way. How did you know?”
“I hear things. People know he owes me money. The same people know you’re his sister and that you’re with me.”
Miranda moved away from him then and began looking for her clothes. It was weird, the idea of people in his world as far away as Las Vegas knowing about them. Then again, it was silly for her to think that way. Several times during the weekends they had walked hand in hand along the streets of Chicago, and often been greeted by people who obviously knew and respected his position. Twice, they had eaten at one of the pubs he ran, and everyone there had eyed her curiously, while at the same time being extremely polite. She found her skirt, and was buttoning it back up when he stopped her.
“What’s the matter?” He had put his shorts back on.
She shook her head as she turned away and found her blouse. She didn’t know herself. “Nothing. So what’s for dinner tonight?”
Declan turned her around, his hand gentle but firm on her a
rm. He cupped her chin and brought her to face him. He growled low, from deep inside his chest. “Tell me what’s wrong.”
As she looked into his eyes, the answer was there, but she couldn’t tell him, and the pain of knowing that caused her to burst into tears. “I’m sorry. I guess I’m just more upset about Peter than I thought. It just kind of hit me.”
Gone was the command, pulling her into his arms, he ran a hand up and down her back. “It’s okay, sweetheart. I’ll get him a good lawyer. I can call around and find the best for him.”
“No! Declan, no more bailing him out. He screwed up and now he has to pay the price. Please don’t pay any attention to me. It’s almost that time of the month. I’m just hormonal.” Burying her face in his chest, she was unable to look him in the eye as she lied to him. She didn’t love him. She couldn’t love him, not this fast, not so much it felt like she would explode with it. This was lust. This was mind-blowing, never-felt-before lust that was making her feel this way.
Who wouldn’t imagine themselves in love with someone as gorgeous, kind, and generous as Declan? There was also the not-so-small fact he had been the first and only man who had ever made sex feel so good for her. She had to get control of herself. Eventually, he would grow tired of her and move on. When that time came, she would be free of all those fears that had kept her from men in her life, and just maybe she would move on. There would be another man who could make her feel like this. Miranda shuddered at the thought of another man touching her the way Declan did, and Declan felt it.
“Are you sure? I don’t want you to look back with regret.”
Nodding as she swallowed past the lump in her throat. “I’m sure.”
“Okay, it’s your call. Let’s share a shower and we can get changed and go out for dinner. What do you say?”
Wiping her eyes, she nodded. “That sounds good to me.”
Chapter Nine
Their walk along North Broadway was leisurely, and Miranda enjoyed the feel of her hand in his. A dress in the window caught her eye, and she thought she was quick to let her eyes go back to the street, but Declan saw her interest and pulled her into the small boutique after him.
“Declan, no. It’s beautiful but I can’t wear it.”
“What do you mean you can’t wear it? That’s just silly, sweetheart.”
A sales assistant was there to greet them, tiny and slender, with a short pixie cut and looking about eighteen. She reminded Miranda of Tinkerbell. “Hi, how can I help you today?”
Declan pointed. “Pink dress in the window, in a size ten, please.”
Tinkerbell looked at Declan with a gleam in her eye, but Miranda she gave the stink-eye. “Hmm, I’m not sure. Are you sure she’s a size ten? Maybe more a twelve or fourteen, and we wouldn’t carry that.”
Declan wasn’t stupid. He picked up quickly on the insult, and Miranda felt him go very still. Hoping to avoid a scene, she slipped her arm around his waist and leaned into him. Before she could speak, though, a woman came out of an open door behind the register. The woman was very tall and thin, at just under six foot, dressed in a long black dress that went well with her dark olive tone and short silver hair.
“Debbie, finish cleaning up the back while I assist here.” With a warm smile, she came forward and offered her hand to Declan and then Miranda. “I’m Beatrice, and this is my shop. Thank you so much for coming in, and I’m sorry about Debbie. There are times I would love to slap her mouth, but she’s my niece, and her mother and I have problems as it is. I can see very clearly you are indeed a ten, and I can also see why you don’t think you can wear it, but I’m telling you that you can. Let me go get the dress and I’ll be right back.”
Miranda doubted it, but eyed the dress in the window longingly. It was an off-the-shoulder dress in the softest of pinks. With her naturally light blond hair and fair complexion, it would suit her, but Miranda was certain with her 38D bust it wouldn’t look good on her at all. There was also the fact that, with her height, the skirt was rather short and would leave a lot of leg on show. While she did enjoy skirts, most of hers ended an inch or two above the knee, this would end mid-thigh.
“I can see you wanting it, my love. It’s yours.” Declan kissed her temple, and she shook her head.
“Not if it doesn’t look right it’s not.”
“Here we go, the dress, and your secret weapon. Let me guess years ago you tried a strapless bra, maybe even two, and they fit horribly and you said never again. Times have changed, my dear. Try this one on. It’s light, the material is sinfully wonderful on your skin, and you don’t feel cut in half by it. 38D, am I right?”
Miranda took the black bra and was fascinated. It seemed to be everything Beatrice said. Light with enough give, but also made of the finest materials, it no doubt cost a fortune. “Yes, you’re right.” Miranda hesitated to follow the woman toward the dressing room but didn’t have much choice, as Declan’s large, warm hand at her lower back propelled her on.
“Here you go, dear.” With a click, the door closed, and she heard Beatrice offer Declan a seat in the front and glass of wine.
Miranda unzipped her own basic black skirt with a flair and her white eyelet top and camisole underneath, with apprehension. Taking off her own bra, she made adjustments to the one Beatrice had given her before putting it on. Miracle of miracles, it felt amazingly comfortable, and she didn’t look or feel like she was coming out of it. Cautiously, she leaned over, and her breasts stayed in the bra. Pushing her luck, she was grateful for the closed door, and shook her shoulders. She was stunned, as her breasts moved easily but stayed in the bra, and her skin could still breathe.
Happy at the results, she slipped the dress over her head. The dress clung to her body in ways that before Declan would have had her shaking her head and walking away from it. But in the weeks since she had moved in with Declan, he had shown her to appreciate her body and the curves that he adored and paid homage to every day. Without a trace of vanity, she knew she was downright sexy in this dress. Before Declan that would have scared her, made her uncomfortable, but now she couldn’t wait to see Declan’s reaction.
Opening the door, she found him waiting for her. He went still and his eyes burned bright as he walked toward her very slowly. He pulled her clasped hands apart and brought them up to his chest, and his hands slid down her arms. He pressed her close to him. “You are so beautiful you make me ache. I don’t think I’m hungry for food anymore, my love, only you.”
She trembled in his arms and brought his head down to her so she could press a kiss against his lips. “Let’s go home.”
“Yes, but you leave on the dress. I want to take it off you slowly, very slowly.”
Beatrice gave them a knowing smile as she bagged the clothes Miranda had worn into the shop and gave a wave of goodbye.
Their walk home was no longer leisurely, and Miranda felt herself melting into Declan with each step. As they turned onto their street, Declan’s cell phone went off and his face clenched as he read the display. When he answered, Miranda felt a kick of anticipation. Something wasn’t right. He pulled her back to him, and although his words were clipped and few, he was tense. When he ended the call, he looked down at her fear-filled face and sighed. He dragged her with him up the stairs and into the house. When at last he closed the door behind him, he leaned against it and pulled her into his arms.
“My uncle wants me to visit. It wasn’t a request. He had Mark book a flight, I’m to leave tonight.”
“When?” It was a whisper.
“In three hours.”
“I can’t come?” She knew the answer. She had no idea where the words came from.
“No, just me.”
“How long?”
“I don’t know. In the past it’s been about a week.” He sounded weary, and Miranda hated it.
“Well then, I guess we should make the three hours last.” She breathed the words into his mouth as she kissed him, and she clung to him. His grip was almost punishing
as he held her to him.
The hours passed too fast for the both of them, and Miranda was proud of herself for not clinging to him as he got out of bed. Yet she couldn’t watch as he packed a small carryon. He sat down at the edge of the bed and swept the hair from her face.
“Miranda, look at me.” She couldn’t open her eyes, terrified he’d see what she felt for him. He wiped a tear away as it slid down her cheek. “Miranda, I love you.”
Stunned, her eyes flew open and her breath caught. She couldn’t speak.
“I know it isn’t fair to leave the words on you like this, but I would like to think you had figured it out by now. I don’t want you to leave the house when I go. I want to know that you are here with Dolly to look after you. I want you to be here when I get back. It shouldn’t be long, and I’ll call you as soon as I know.” He dropped a kiss on her still-parted mouth and then he was gone.
It was a long time before Miranda could think clearly over what he had said, and when she did, she rolled over and cried.
Chapter Ten
When she got up the next day, it was as if she were on autopilot. It shouldn’t have been different. Declan usually slept in while she got ready for work, and she had breakfast that Dolly prepared. It shouldn’t have been different, but it was. With him gone, despite the fact that it was a beautiful morning and bright day, Miranda felt empty and listless.
“Come now, dear, I won’t have none of that. You’ll eat your breakfast like a good girl. If I didn’t take care of you while Declan is gone, he’d have my hide. If I may say, I’m tickled to know that you care about Declan as much as he does about you. I had hoped, and the signs were there, but you can never be too sure these days.”
Miranda’s head went up at Dolly’s words, and she blushed. Dolly laughed. “Come now, it was clear you had feelings, but you are much like Declan in keeping your feelings tight to you. It’s only in me practically raising him since he was a boy that I knew how deeply he felt about you. It was plain as day and, I could tell, just as scary for him. He isn’t one to give in to his feelings or much admit he has them. I took one look at the girl he married and just hoped it would be a clean break when the time came, and thankfully it was. But you, when he brought you down the stairs that first day, I about went down on my knees to give thanks he had found you. Declan is a good man and deserving of the happiness he can find. Wasn’t his fault his ma didn’t have it in herself to be there for him. Gypsies aren’t ones to settle outside their circle. It was madness of his da to think she could be changed. I suspect it was seeing his da waste away for loving the selfish thing after she’d long left that didn’t help him.