Chapter Twenty-Four
Rainey
I took one look at Lucas’s bruised jaw and I wanted to throttle my brother. I didn’t appreciate being pulled into another room for a talk I didn’t see the point in having.
I’ve spent the last I don’t know how many weeks worried about what my brother will think of my feelings and relationship with Lucas, but now that he knows? And reacted irrationally—no matter what Lucas thinks—I’m past the point of caring.
“I can’t believe you hit him,” I say, glaring at my brother.
“And I can’t believe you slept with him!” Jack replies.
I draw in a deep breath and let it out. “It’s more than that. We’re more than that, and I am sure Lucas already told you as much.”
Jack shoves his hands into the front pocket of his slacks. “He did.”
I nod, satisfied Lucas and I are on the same page when facing my sibling.
“Look, I’ve been worried about what you’d say about me and Lucas since the beginning.
I don’t want to hurt you, and I don’t want to come between you as friends or partners.
But as much as I want you to be happy for me and support us, if you don’t, I’m not walking away from him.
” Tears fill my eyes at both possibilities.
Losing Jack because he refuses to accept our relationship and losing Lucas.
I only have control over one of those things, and I’m taking it.
I hold my breath and wait for Jack to speak.
He pulls one hand from his pocket and runs it through his hair.
“From the time I was a teenager, I warned all my friends to stay away from you. I didn’t care that we were younger, I knew some day we’d reach the point where age didn’t matter.
Dad taught us to be protective of you, and I was. I still am.”
“But Lucas is your best friend! And he’s two years older than me.”
“And I know his past,” he says.
“So do I.” Once again, I’m feeling emotional and a lump rises to my throat. “He’s changed.”
Jack nods, his lips pulled into a firm line. “But I also know his history with women.”
I admit to myself that that’s not something we’ve discussed in depth, but I do know he hasn’t been with another woman in a long time. “Talk to him about that because it has nothing to do with me. We’re different than whatever either of us had in the past.”
I want to tell Jack I love Lucas, but I haven’t said the words to him yet. And he hasn’t told me. My brother doesn’t get them first.
I narrow my gaze. “So, you hit him?”
“I hit him before we talked,” Jack mutters. “And he deserved it. Just ask him.”
I roll my eyes. “Men.” It’s my turn to mutter.
He sighs and walks over, then grasps my arms and meets my gaze. “I know how Lucas feels about you. It’s just going to take me time to get used to the idea, that’s all.”
He sounds pained, like I should feel sorry for him.
“Like I told you, we did consider your feelings. You weren’t supposed to find out the way you did.
But, Jack, we’re not waiting for you to come around.
I need you to deal with us as a couple and accept it.
Quickly. Because that’s not going to change. ”
“I love you and I just want what’s best for you.”
I nod. “I know. And what’s best for me is Lucas.” I rise to my tiptoes and kiss his cheek. “And, Jack? I love you, too.”
We return to the great room where Lucas is staring out the window. At the sound of our footsteps, he turns to face us, his gaze landing on me. “Everything okay?”
I look to Jack. “Is it?”
He nods. “Everything is fine. As long as he treats you well.”
I slip my hand in Lucas’s bigger one, signaling to Jack that we’re a team.
My brother doesn’t stay long. His plane had just landed this morning, and he’d come straight to Lucas’s to confront him. He wanted to go home and shower. They agreed to meet at the club later so he, Tristan, and Lucas could discuss his findings about each city.
Once he leaves, I relax, my shoulders dropping in relief. “It’s done.”
Lucas nods. “It’s done.”
Reaching up, I slide my fingers across his jaw. “I’m sorry.”
“I’d take a hit for you any day,” he says with his charming grin. “Ask me why.”
I crinkle my nose, confused, but I do it anyway. “Why would you take a hit for me?”
He takes my hands in his. “Because I love you, Rainey Dare. This might not be the most romantic setting or way of telling you, but it’s true.” Lifting my hands, he presses a kiss on my knuckles.
Warmth fills me along with a sense of all being right, finding my guy, security, someone who loves me for me and not my last name.
Grinning, I say, “Well, it’s a good thing you do. Because I love you, Lucas Carras. And I told my brother he’d better get used to us because I’m not letting you go.”
He cups my face in his hands and lowers his mouth to mine. I expect the kiss to be hard and fast. Instead, it’s soft and meaningful. He’s not reacting with desire, though that always exists between us, he’s reaching for my emotions and revealing his.
He takes his time, delving deep, his tongue sweeping back and forth inside. My stomach flips and my body tingles. I love him, and I’m experiencing what that means for the first time.
Breaking the kiss, he slides his hand against mine and leads me to his bedroom. I remove my high heels and suddenly feel smaller beside him. It’s not often that happens, not with my thicker curves. But he seems to appreciate them, a low growl coming from his throat.
His gaze never leaving mine, he undoes the buttons on the back of my sundress, lowers my shoulder straps, and the garment falls to the floor.
Before he can rip my panties, I pull them down and step out of them.
He immediately reaches around my back and unhooks my bra.
Once it joins my other clothes on the floor, I’m naked before him.
All he’s wearing is a pair of black track pants, which he easily removes, and I discover he’s commando beneath them. I lick my lips at the sight of his cock standing erect, a drop of precum on the tip.
I begin to drop to my knees, but he stops me, hands on my arms. “No, sweetheart. This isn’t about me. It’s about us.”
He lifts me by the waist and places me on the bed.
I scoot backward, knowing I’ll need the support of the pillows behind me.
Desire thrums through my body, my nipples hard peaks, wetness dripping from my sex, and emotional need deep in my belly.
But it’s my heart that’s pulsing in my chest, every beat meant for him.
I lay back and he comes over me, bracing his hands on either side of my head. His cock lays against my sex and he rubs his hard erection over my clit until my arousal begins to grow. The more he moves, the wetter I become, and the more I need him to fill me.
“I need you inside me.” The words sound like a plea and they are. I part my thighs wider. “Please, Lucas.”
“My pleasure, beautiful.” He shifts until his cock is at my entrance and seats himself just inside me.
I close my eyes and whimper at the tease, lifting my hips, pulling him deeper inside me but not enough.
“Look at me,” he says, and as I set my gaze on his, he slowly glides inside me, shifting his hips, filling me up, and making sure I feel his thickness until we’re fully joined.
When he begins to move, once again it’s not hard and fast, it’s with reverence, letting me know how much I mean to him. And if I have any doubt, all I need to do is look into those green orbs to know he’s right there with me. Feeling every emotion that’s overwhelming me, just as it is him.
He glides in and out, beginning to pick up the pace, his deep stare never breaking.
With each thrust, my need grows until he shifts his hips and he takes me harder.
It doesn’t take long for the familiar tingling to begin.
Three more consecutive drives inside me and my release takes over.
I’m overcome with emotion, my climax a glorious, intense thing that’s filled with wonder.
And love.