by Karen Deen
“Are you going to come and kiss me hello, or just stand there staring at my manly body?” The moment’s broken and we’re both laughing as I walk to him. I fall into his arms and kiss him, showing how much I missed him all day. Don’t know why I bothered with the lipstick, it’s probably now smudged all over my lips. Oh well, that’s what the mirrors in the car are for.
“Lucky I know that big ego is not compensating for something. Otherwise I might be worried.” Giving him a little kiss on the cheek, I turn and shut down my computer for the night. I feel him press up behind me, his breath on my neck.
“I’ll be more than happy to remind you right here with you bent over your desk how big all things I own are, Red.” Fuck, it’s that low voice that just conquers me. I’m fighting with my body, that is crying yes please, to say no to him. I can feel him everywhere on my body. The shivers are running wild. “See how easy it is to get you to do as you’re told, Red? Just remember that. As much as I want to bury my cock deep into you right now, I know Luke and Grant are still in their offices. I don’t feel like a fistfight with your brothers tonight. Rest assured, though, one day, I will take you on this desk and you’ll fucking love it.” I can hardly breathe. My body is aching for him. Damn him and his delayed gratification.
“You smell so good, baby. Now let’s go or we’ll be late.” Kissing my neck, he stands back and moves back to the window to let me pull myself together.
My hands quiver a little and I hear him sniggering behind me. “Sucks when your other half flirts and teases you then walks away, doesn’t it, baby. Thanks for the hard-on I’ve been carrying around all day from your little butt wiggles this morning. Karma’s a bitch, they say.” He continues to laugh at himself now.
“I remember you saying you play to win. Well, Mr. Boston, so do I. I’m never one to back down from a challenge. Bring it on.” Picking up my bag and walking past him towards the door, I casually sweep my hand across that dick he’s been complaining has been hard all day. I think I’ve just helped it along a little further.
“You play dirty, Red. Game on,” he growls. I walk with a smile on my face, not willing to turn around.
The car trip is full of talk about both our days. The closer we get to the restaurant, the more the butterflies in my stomach start to flutter. My talking gets less and looking out the window is my new pastime.
“Lilly, talk to me. What’s wrong?” Kane asks me, putting his hand on my leg, squeezing to gain my attention. “You’re pulling away all of a sudden.” I turn to look at him and try not to give away what I’m thinking.
“I’m fine. Just tired.” I know I haven’t convinced him one bit by the look he’s giving me.
“The moment a woman says fine, we all know that’s bullshit. Come on, tell me, baby. Let me help. That’s what we agreed on, remember?”
I can’t resist his soft compassionate voice. It has me spilling out my problems. “I’m nervous about meeting Jessie. Logically I know there’s nothing between you two. But my mind keeps going back to seeing you all over her. Hearing her moaning while wrapped in your arms. I know it was all an act but it’s still there.” I babble out in a rush as we pull into the parking lot for the restaurant.
“Baby, no woman will ever be what you are to me. No one. I do understand what you’re saying, though. I keep having visions of that guy touching you. It’s not comforting. Don’t you see, though, that’s why we’re meeting tonight. Those pictures are going to be replaced by you seeing Adam never taking his hands off his wife. He and I are cut from the same cloth so I’m pretty sure he’s still struggling with it all too. It will be good for you two to be able to talk it out and we can all bury it. Where it belongs, with all the other filth that place contained.” He takes my face in his hands and kisses me with such love. Not hot and sexual. It’s slow, soft and tender. Showing me how much I mean to him.
He rests his forehead on mine. “Okay?” he whispers.
“Okay,” I whisper back. I take a deep breath and sit up, ready to do this.
“That’s my girl,” he says and gets out to come around to my door. Standing with the door open and his hand out to me, it reminds me of that first night in New York. Time to channel my confident Lilly and move past this. As he pulls me into his arms, I start to feel balanced again.
Walking to our table, I can see Jessie talking and laughing with a guy that must be Adam, her husband. Although she is small, he looks tall and built solid, a lot like Kane. She spots us as we get closer and jumps up and throws her arms around me.
“Lilly, I’m so glad to finally get to meet you properly. The big fella next to you hasn’t shut up talking about you since that night. Well, actually even before that.” Instantly that makes me feel good to know that Kane is sharing things about me with Jessie. Adam stands and puts his hand out and takes mine shaking it, then shaking Kane’s like a man-power struggle. Sitting down, there’s a little tension in the air that I think everyone is feeling.
“Not going to lie, I’m still struggling with knowing you had your hands on my wife and touching her in ways that drive me crazy.” I feel Kane tense a little, but I’m the exact opposite. He couldn’t have said anything better to break the ice if he tried.
“Oh my god, thank you. Me too. I keep trying to get past the vision, but it still sits there. I know it was all work, but it still sucked. How bad did you want to punch Kane? Because I was ready to scratch Jessie’s eyes out when I saw them together. At least you knew. I had no idea what was going on, so I was on a mission to take her out. Then she was wearing a red dress which is sort of special to Kane and me so then I wanted to punch him in the balls too. They are so damn lucky that security guy slowed me down, otherwise they would have been the ones in pain that night.” I stop for a breath and see everyone around the table still looking at me. “What? You said I was allowed to get it all off my chest tonight so that’s what I’m doing.” Then they all start laughing. I feel a little hurt then I realize I must sound like a raving idiot.
“It’s okay, babe. You can keep going. May as well get it all out before entrées.” I smack him on the bicep as he puts his arm around me.
“I thought I had a few things to say, but, Lilly, you look like you’re summarizing just perfectly for me. Please continue.” Then I can’t help it, I start laughing with them. It’s like the tension is gone and we can freely talk and get it all out.
After I’ve said my piece and feel like a weight is off my shoulders, along with Adam adding his comments in along the way, Jessie leans over the table and takes my hands in hers.
“Lilly, I need to tell you some things. They might make you feel better and more at peace with it all. Firstly, you need to know Kane was such a gentleman, and was so respectful of me and my space the whole way through. We never touched in any way I didn’t feel comfortable with and agree to. He told me I could stop and leave at any moment even in the middle of the raid, I could walk away at any time. We talked extensively every night before we headed into any clubs on what our plans were and how we would fake it during the night. Never did he kiss me on my lips or touch anywhere on my body that was private. We worked out how to trick people and so much of our show was done through the use of moans and words to fool people.” Adam at this stage puts his arm around her shoulder and squeezes her to know she’s doing a good job and to continue. I’m stuck in the bubble of not wanting to know but needing to know everything she’s telling me.
“Secondly, the most important thing you need to know is that Kane told me about you when I confessed I was struggling with us having to get more intimate for the last club where everything was much more intense. But the good guy he is, he understood and told me all about you and how he felt about you. How he realized he had made a mistake and was coming for you as soon as he could. So even if you hadn’t seen us that night, he was coming to win you back. Then lastly, and something I will always be grateful for him that night, the moment he knew you were in there and in trouble, he could have left me, to rescue y
ou. He knew the raid was only two minutes out and I’m a trained policewoman. But instead he never left me, making sure he got us both out of there safely before anything happened to either of us. I’m not sure if I had to choose between him and Adam in a dangerous situation, I would be able to do the same thing. Yet your man kept his promise to Adam and brought me home safe. So, I know those visions and that night were pretty horrible, but you need to think past that and know that man sitting next to you thinks you are it for him. You spin his world, and the minute he walked away from you he knew he would never survive without you.” By now the tears are running down my face and for the first time in my life I don’t care what my make-up looks like.
I turn and fall into the arms of the man who has captured my heart. I am finally letting go of everything I didn’t realize I was still carrying from that night. His quiet whispers of how much he loves me and will always love me are so soothing to my soul. His hands rub my back to help me calm and pull myself together. It takes a few moments, but I’m finally game to look up and face everyone. Wiping my eyes, Kane kisses my cheek then lets me sit up into my seat properly.
“I’m sorry everyone, I’m not normally this emotional. I guess I just needed that.” I try to use the napkin to dab my face.
“Don’t be sorry, it’s better than wanting to hit walls which is what I wanted to do every night they were out there. We all cope how we need to. I will be eternally grateful to you, Kane, for bringing Jessie out of that safe. I know we go to work every day and risk our lives but it’s good to know you have her back, and I mean really have her back.” Adam puts his hand across the table to shake Kane’s and this time it’s one of gratitude. I notice Jessie wiping tears from her eyes too.
“Okay, that’s enough of this. I’m done with worrying about it, how about you guys? Who needs a drink? Kane, let’s crack a bottle of champagne to celebrate new friends. What do you think?” The resounding yeses get the night started back on the right track. “Now, while you get the drinks, I’m going to fix my face because I’m guessing I would scare a small child at the moment. Jessie, do you want to come too?” I go to stand, Kane squeezing my hand.
“You are always beautiful to me.”
I kiss the top of his head and pick up my handbag.
“What is it with damn women and having to go the bathroom together?” Adam laughs as we both walk off together towards the restrooms.
Once we’re both at the mirror fixing our make-up and I feel more like I can face the rest of the night, I turn to Jessie.
“Thank you for being there for him when I couldn’t, and for sharing all that with me. I didn’t know how I needed to hear it to move on. You are one strong brave woman.” I take her in a hug to show her my appreciation.
“From what I’ve heard and seen, I think you’re a strong dynamite too. If I were you that night, I would have done exactly the same thing. I have a feeling we’re going to be great friends, Lilly. We both have super-protective pain-in-the-ass men. It’ll be great to have another friend who understands.” We both start laughing and head back to the table with those alpha men who look lost without us close by.
The rest of the night is so much fun. We eat, drink and laugh a lot. Afterwards we end up at a bar and dancing the night away. How different my life has become. Out partying in couples is so different to my girls’ nights out. I will still do that occasionally but I’m loving this new type of fun. Jessie and Adam love to dance as much as we do so I can see some fun nights in the future.
Saying goodbye, we make promises to make a date for the next dinner. Jessie and I have already programmed in each other’s phones and connected on all our social media. Luckily Kane had been the responsible one with the drinking because there is no way I could drive. Lying back in my seat as he drives us home in my happy alcohol-fueled mood, I start to giggle. Kane looks at me, smiling even though he has no idea what I’m laughing at.
“What’s so funny, Lil, care to share?” He keeps checking on me and then eyes back on the road.
“You knew Jessie would smooth it over for you, didn’t you? Girls are better at talking than boys. We talk a different language.” Again, my giggle kicks in. “Like Adam, he didn’t know how to talk about it, he just wanted to punch you. Now you’re besties. Men are so hopeless. Lucky you have us strong women to sort you out and take control.”
“Is that right? You think you’re in control now, do you little one?” Kane looks at me with intensity.
We pull into the garage of his building.
“Just saying it how it is. Of course us women are in control.” I give him the flirtiest smile I can, hoping I have him hook, line and sinker.
“Upstairs, Red. Time to bring rule number two into play. I’ll show you who’s in control.” He gets out of the car while I whisper to myself, “That’s what I’m counting on.”
Watching the doors to the elevator close, he leans down. “Lucky I kept those handcuffs you bought as a present for me. Might be time to revisit them.” That voice, how I love what it does to me.
“Take me to bed, Kane, I’m all yours.”
***
“The view from up here is amazing. So secluded, you wouldn’t even know it was here. I’ve driven past that little break in the trees with the little road and didn’t know what it was hiding.” Kane stands behind me leaning against his motorbike while I take in the beautiful mountains and valleys before me. The first time he got me on the bike I was so scared, but as soon as we rode down the road, I realized what an adrenaline rush it was to be behind Kane, hanging on tight while he sped along the roads. I understand why he loves his bike so much. You feel so free when you’re out on the winding roads of the mountain ranges in the fresh air. I place my life in his hands and trust him fully with it. It fuels his need to be in control and protect me, keeping me safe.
“The view of your ass in those tight jeans, boots and leather jacket is pretty damn fine too, baby,” he comments from behind me.
“You’re always checking out my ass, aren’t you.” I turn to see him with that cheeky smile and his aviator glasses on. “You don’t look too bad there yourself, sexy man.” Almost identical in outfits, the black is doing it for me too. As I stalk towards him, he takes off his glasses and holds his arms out for me to fall into. My favorite place to be. Standing and picking me up, I swing my legs around his waist. He takes a few steps and places me on the back of his bike. Stepping away, he goes to his jacket pocket and pulls out a small box.
The kind of box that sends any girl into hysteria and trying to hold it together.
Dropping to one knee, his beautiful fiery eyes look up at me.
“My Lilly, my Red, you are the woman who finally made me live my life without being scared of what tomorrow brings. You’ve taught me that we can get through anything if we do it together. You captured me that first night with your spirit and light. It burns so bright and keeps me on my toes. You give me your all and taught me how to give you mine. I love you more than I know how to handle in words. Marry me, baby, and be my light and protect me for the rest of our lives.”
I can’t sit any longer. Jumping from the bike, I lunge at him.
“Yes, a thousand times yes. I’ll be your Red if you promise to always be my Wolf. I love you, Kane, so much.” Tears are streaming down my face as he slips the red ruby surrounded by diamonds on to my finger. He kisses me and twirls me around in circles. When he stops, I’m not ready to be put down, so, wrapping my legs around his waist, I bury my head in his neck for a moment. Letting the moment sink in. I know exactly what we need to seal the deal.
“Kane, live your fantasy. Give us something to remember that every time our grandkids ask us about the day you asked me to marry you, we will look at each other and remember the part of the story that no one else will ever know.” My voice is quavering by the time I finish as he works out what I’m offering.
Placing me on the back of his bike and slowly laying me down, he smiles at me with tears in his eyes.
> “I never deserved you, Lilly, yet here you are still giving yourself to me. I’m one lucky man.”
Then without words, he shows me how much he loves me and struggles to say. I don’t always need the words.
I know Kane loves me and that’s all that matters.
I’m his Red and he’s my Wolf.
Opposites who attract.
Love’s perfect.
Epilogue
Lilly
4 years later
IF I HAVE ONE MORE of my brothers ask me if I’m okay, need to take a break, or sit down, then I’m going to lose my cool. Kane has tried to warn them that normal Lilly temper is nothing compared to nine-months-pregnant Lilly who hates feeling helpless.
“I’m fine! What do you all not understand? This little girl inside me is just as feisty as me. She will come when she is ready.” I lower myself into the chair on the back deck of Mom and Dad’s house. All the kids are running around on the grass and I’m surrounded by family.
“Baby, I keep telling you it’s a boy. But either way, any child of ours is going to be stubborn. Just humor me and sit and relax while we get lunch organized.” Kane fusses over me, getting a footrest for me to put my very puffy swollen feet on. Whoever said a woman glows during her pregnancy hasn’t seen me. I’m bloated, with ankles that are now cankles. My hair has gone all dry and my face blotchy. This baby better be thanking me by being a good sleeper. I’m giving up all my looks to make them a healthier child.
“Sweetheart, can I get you an iced tea?” My Dad stands next to me with his hand on my shoulder, looking at me with such love. I can’t snap at him. He’s my Dad.
“Thanks, Daddy, that would be great.”
“Wow, how come you’re so nice to him?” Kane laughs at me, rubbing my feet.
“Because he didn’t put this watermelon inside me and expect me to somehow get it out. That’s all on you, Wolf. So, suck it up, big boy. Now help me up, please, I think I need to go to the toilet.” He smiles, knowing I don’t mean a word of what I’m saying. I try to stand up quickly because I can feel the pee starting, before I’m even close to the toilet.