Stay with Me: The Moran Brothers Series

Chapter 10

Perfect in Theory

Knight

“What has you smiling like that?”Rem asks as she sits across from me at the kitchen table.

I lift my eyes from my phone and look into hers. I hadn’t realized I was smiling. My grin spreads as I see the look in her eyes.

“Do I detect a bit of jealousy in your voice?” I say, not able to resist.

“No, you’re just being a little rude at the moment,” she says teasingly.

“Fair enough.” I stand and go to lean over her, rubbing my nose against hers.

I love the connection I feel as I make the gesture. She closes her eyes, causing me to get the feeling she feels it too. I peck her lips and smile.

“My brothers have been at it since last night. It’s like the two of them are ten again. That’s what has a smile on my face. You can put the claws away.”

“Whatever, Knight. How are Prince and Lord doing?”

“They are Prince and Lord. Still never a dull moment around them. Prince has this top secret showing he’s been working on and driving us all crazy about.

“I’m excited for him. You know how he gets about his work. This is huge,” I reply.

I grab her empty plate and take it to the sink with mine. She comes up behind me and wraps her arms around my waist, placing her face against my back. I stand basking in the ease of the moment.

I love when she’s like this with me. It’s the side of Rem that draws me in and makes me want more. We’re so good together when we’re like this.

“You’re always so warm and you smell nice,” she murmurs.

“Does that mean I redeem myself?”

“Huh?”

“From the way you found me that day when I was sick,” I explain.

She bursts into laughter. I turn in her arms and lean my butt against the sink. Wrapping my arms around her, I give her a squeeze as I look down at her to search her face with my gaze.

God, she’s beautiful when she laughs. She’s so gorgeous, she takes my breath away. Leaning down, I take her lips.

“Maybe,” she breathes as I break the kiss.

“My pride has been wounded. How ever will I recover?”

“Oh please. Like I didn’t go down on you this morning. If I was turned off, that would never have happened. You’re good.”

I slide my hands down her back to palm her ass and squeeze. I love that she’s in one of my T-shirts again. It makes me think of how well she took care of me that day.

She yelps as I lift her off her feet and onto my waist. I nip at her chin and move my lips to her neck to suck her soft skin into my mouth. She moans and pushes her fingers into my hair.

“Where are you taking me?” she moans as I start out of the kitchen.

“You just reminded me. I didn’t get to return the favor this morning. I know just how we can spend the next two hours.”

“You can’t be serious.”

“Rem, you have no idea how serious I am. It’s been too long since I’ve had you in my arms. I have so much to make up for,” I croon.

“Knight, I?—”

I cut her off with my lips. I’m not giving her an out. It’s been too long, and this time I don’t want to brush this off as a quick fling.

I want my friends with benefits days over. The only way to get that is to walk the fine line of dominating this relationship and knowing when it is too much for her. No excuses. I need her to be real with me and herself.

When she settles into my hold, I deepen the kiss. I know I have her attention now. Once in my bedroom, all else is forgotten as I spend the next two hours making her cry out my name.

***

“I should head home,”Rem says as she lies across my chest while running her fingers up and down my ribs.

I tighten my grasp on her hip. I knew this was coming. The hours she’s given me today were more than I thought I would get.

Rem can be a workaholic. I can appreciate when she takes time for me. I know how hard she has worked to get her firm off the ground.

“I can pack a bag and come with you,” I reply.

“I won’t get anything done if you come with me.”

“Yes, you will. I plan to cook for you while you work. I won’t be a distraction. I know how this works.

“Music, wine, and chocolate. As long as I supply those, you’re good for a few hours to yourself. I can cook and watch the game while I stay out of your hair.”

“Ugh, when you put it that way how can I resist? Fine, pack your bag.”

“We’ll stop at the store on our way. I know you don’t have any food at your place,” I tease.

“Jokes on you. I hired a shopper. My fridge is well stocked these days. Stop thinking you know me so well.”

I chuckle. “Okay, I’ll take it back. I’m proud of you, a shopper?”

“Coming home so late with no options to eat will do it. I had enough and decided to do something about it.”

“That’s my girl. Always the problem solver.”

“Whatever,” she laughs. “Go pack your bag before I change my mind.”

She gets up and saunters her way into the bathroom. I watch her with a smile on my face. Hope blooms from the knowledge that she’s changed something so big in her life.

For as long as I can remember, keeping groceries stocked in her home has been so low on her priority list it’s almost comical. I tease her about it all the time. Maybe if she can change that, she can change how she feels about us.

With that thought, I climb out of bed and head into my closet to pack a bag to stay at her place for the night. This is a step in the right direction. One step at a time, with Reminisce I have to be willing to take it one step at a time.

* * *

Reminisce

I sitin my home office with a smile on my face. My home has delicious aromas floating though it. Classical music fills my office and I have a fantastic glass of wine at my fingertips.

Of course, I had to eat my words as we arrived here to find I was out of wine and I didn’t have all the ingredients Knight needed to cook for me.

After laughing at me and teasing me for a full twenty minutes, he went to get me two bottles of wine and the other things he needed to cook.

I tap my foot as I scan the documents before me. Reaching for the back of my neck, I begin to rub the tension out. If these attorneys change the verbiage in these contracts one more time like I’m some dummy who doesn’t read through every single contract, I’m going to lose it.

They keep wasting my time because I’m going to point it out and demand they fix it to stick to the agreed upon terms every time. This back and forth is ridiculous. If they’re doing this for billing hours, I’m going to send them my bill and not my client.

“Here you go,” Knight croons as he places a plate on my desk.

“It smells so good,” I say as my stomach rumbles.

“Tastes even better.” He begins to massage my neck and shoulders for me.

I close my eyes and savor the moment. This is the life. This is what I hope to have with someone someday.

I push those thoughts away and stay in the moment. I know I shouldn’t but I’m not ready to let this go. I’m not even going to analyze why that is.

“That’s nice,” I moan. “You know what? I’m going to put a pin in this for now. I’ll come out and eat with you.”

“You sure?”

“Yeah, I need a break anyway.”

“Sounds good to me. I forgot your garlic bread anyway.”

“How could you?” I mock gasp.

“Hey, I was under a lot of pressure. Someone didn’t have everything I needed after boasting about this shopper I’m now beginning to think isn’t real.”

“Oh, shut up. I forgot she took a week off.”

He chuckles and kisses the top of my head. He’s been doing a lot of sweet gestures like that today. Rubbing his nose against mine, grabbing my fingers as I walk by, and kissing the side of my neck like he just did now.

If I’m not careful, he’s going to make this harder for me to break away from when it’s time. Eventually, my senses will come back to me. They always do.

There’s so much about Knight that’s perfect in theory. If I didn’t know better, he would check all the boxes. It’s how I end up here over and over again.

Then the shoe drops. Reality sets in, and the knowledge of how unsafe he is kicks in. For now, I want to remain suspended in this bubble.

Knight picks up my plate and holds his hand out to me. I grab my wine glass and place my palm in his. Warmth spreads through me.

“Want to catch a movie with me this week? I can come by the office and pick you up. I haven’t been to a movie in a while,” he says as we move to my dining room.

“Maybe, I haven’t been to one in a while either. I’ll let you know.”

“You don’t have to wait for me. I don’t want your food to get cold. I’ll make mine and be right back,” he says as he places my plate on the table, then pulls my chair.

I sit and tuck my hair behind my ear. My mouth waters as I look down at the pasta dish. I learned a long time ago that Knight is actually an exceptional cook.

It doesn’t take long for him to return with my garlic bread, his plate, and the bottle of wine. He tops my glass up and then sits with his food. He gives me a stern look as I wait for him to settle despite his words for me to start eating.

I take my first bite and moan. The flavors burst in my mouth and bring a smile to my face. He’s gotten better. This is delicious.

“This is so good,” I say after swallowing.

“Really? I’ve been experimenting with some new spices.”

I rip a piece of bread and dip it into the sauce. Oh my God, this is so good. I look at him and smile.

“Stick with those spices. They’re a hit.”

“I’ll keep that in mind. How’s the wine? I didn’t see your usual,” he says nodding to my glass.

“It’s fantastic. I’ll have to stock up on this one. My usual was discontinued.

“That’s probably why you couldn’t find it. I bought the last bottles I could find. I hadn’t noticed I went through them all.”

“Maybe we should pop into a few vineyards. We can find you something to add to your favorites.”

My heart leaps with excitement from the suggestion, but I tamp those feelings down. This is starting to feel like a relationship. A relationship I really want.