Chapter 27
Maggie
Iglance over at Ian. He has one hand draped over the steering wheel as the other drums on the middle console. The muscles in his forearms ripple with every motion.
Even as I try to look away, my eyes are drawn to him. Normally, it would be because I find him so attractive, but today, I’m worried about his demeanor.
When he showed up at the coffee shop, I could tell something had happened.
His body was taut with tension, and his expression was so severe that customers gave him a wide berth.
He ordered coffee and sat in the corner of the shop for the rest of my shift, scowling the whole time.
When I brought him a refill and asked him again what was wrong, all he did was kiss the back of my hand and tell me he would fill me in later.
After I got off work, we stopped by my apartment so I could pack a bag, and now we’re on our way to his house. I’m not sure how best to help him. I want to do my best to be there for him the way he’s been for me. I debate whether I should suggest he call his therapist.
When we come to a stop in his driveway, I’m just about to climb out when Ian calls my name.
I shift in my seat to face him. His fingers bury in my hair, and he takes my lips in a slow kiss.
His lips are firm as they move against mine, and my body sways closer like I’m magnetized to him.
I’m completely lost in the moment as he deepens the kiss.
When we’re both breathless, Ian pulls back and stares down at me with his hand still cradling my head.
His face is softer than before, but it still has an edge to it that hurts my heart.
“Ian, I don’t want to push you, but do you want to talk about what happened?”
With a sigh, he glances over my shoulder, his entire body tense as he utters with a tinge of anger, “What the fuck is he doing here?”
“Who?” I try to turn my head to look out the window, but Ian’s hand is still in my hair.
He releases me and reaches down to unbuckle me. “Fucking Jack. Let’s go and get this over with.”
I’m bewildered at what’s happening, but I open my door and step out.
Jack’s standing on the stairs leading to Ian’s porch with his hands shoved in his pockets.
He’s wearing sunglasses so I can’t see his eyes, but it seems his stare is intense and fixed on us.
The charged energy rolling off both of them is palpable.
While I suspected something happened with work since Ian showed up in the middle of the day, it makes me sad for him that it seems to be something between him and his best friend. I know how important the relationship he has with these men is.
Taking my bag from me, Ian intertwines our fingers as we walk toward the front porch.
Jack inclines his head and pushes his sunglasses onto the top of his head. “Maggie, good to see you.” His stare moves to Ian. “Can we talk?”
Ian leads me past Jack to the door without responding. He unlocks it as I look between the two men, worried I’m about to be in the middle of something I shouldn’t be.
We step inside, and Ian turns back to Jack, who’s still standing in the same spot on the porch.
“Are you coming inside or not?”
Jack follows us inside, and I try to pull my hand from Ian’s. “I’ll go to the bedroom. Give you two some privacy to talk.”
Ian’s grip on me tightens. “No, I want you here with me.”
The vulnerability in his voice both shatters and warms me.
“Okay, I’ll stay with you.”
The flash of relief in his hardened features has emotion clogging my throat.
Ian and I sit on the couch, and Jack takes the chair to the left of us. He leans forward with his elbows on his thighs and claps his hands between his legs. No one says anything, and I start to fidget. Ian slides his palm over my thigh to calm me, and I place my hand on top of his, waiting.
Finally, Jack breaks the silence. “Ian, I owe you an apology. For multiple things.”
Ian rears back a little but doesn’t confirm or deny Jack’s statement.
“First, Gisella told me what happened today, and I’m sorry for not getting your side of the story. You were completely justified in what you did, and I can’t tell you how much it means to me to have you looking out for her when I’m not there.”
“You know I would do anything for her.”
“I do.” Jack sighs, then says, “Nate and I talked a lot after you left today, and everything you said is true.”
“I know it is,” Ian grunts.
Jack nods. “I fucked up. We, Nate and I, fucked up. We didn’t recognize all the hard work you’ve put in right by our side from almost the very beginning.”
I’m pretty sure my jaw drops open. Even though Ian brushed me off when I brought this up a year ago, after he told me about all that he’s done with the company, I could tell that it bothered him more than he let on that they didn’t seem to view him as an equal.
I don’t know what prompted Ian to say something, but I’m so happy that he stood up for himself and that his friends seem to recognize it.
Ian clears his throat. “I appreciate that, but I need more than an apology.”
Jack leans back in the chair, nodding again. “Nate and I agree. In your email, you should have two emails—one from Gisella with your new salary and one from our attorney making you a full partner and the third owner of Nash Security.”
If my jaw wasn’t on the floor before, it is now. I grip Ian’s hand, and he twists his to thread his fingers through mine.
Jack continues. “You can sign both or just the salary agreement. Either way, Nate and I don’t want to lose you as a coworker and a friend. We hate that we even got to this point.”
Ian sniffs hard and nods curtly. His voice is rough with emotion when he says, “Thanks, man. I hate that we did, too. Sorry, I made it so dramatic. That certainly isn’t my usual style.”
Jack laughs. “Yeah, that was something else. Gisella’s mad at both me and Nate, if it makes you feel any better.”
I bite my lip to hide my smile.
“It does a little,” Ian teases. He glances at me, then back at Jack. “I do need one more thing.”
“Anything,” Jack agrees quickly.
“I’ll need a few days off in about two weeks. I don’t know the exact dates.”
“Done. Just let me know when you find out, and I’ll have Gisella rearrange the schedule.”
“Thanks, man. For everything.”
Jack grins and stands, holding out his hand.
Ian does the same, and they do the manly, one-armed hug.
I clasp my hands together and tuck them under my chin as I watch them.
After Jack tells me goodbye, the two men walk to the door, talking about an event they have tomorrow as if nothing happened.
Ian slaps Jack good-naturedly on the shoulder before pulling the door open and telling Jack one final goodbye.
As Ian rejoins me, he blows out a breath, dropping down beside me. I don’t waste any time straddling his waist and resting my forearms on his shoulders, my palms going to the back of his neck.
“How are you feeling?” I ask, searching his face to decipher any emotion.
His broad chest expands with his deep inhale. “Shocked. But relieved.”
My smile widens. “I’m so happy for you. And proud. You deserve this and more.”
Ian tucks my hair behind my ear, and his expression softens with affection. I open my mouth to tell him how happy I am to be here with him, but before I can get the words out, I let a yelp when I’m picked up and gently dropped to the couch, so I’m lying on my back with Ian hovering over me.
Kissing me, he pulls back way sooner than I would’ve liked. But then he’s grasping the top of my leggings before pulling them slowly down my legs, making me shiver with excitement. His face is so intense, like he’s lost in thought, so I stay quiet.
“For all of my life, I’ve never had someone to go to when I was upset.” He grips my thong and pulls it down my legs, his hands trailing back up to rest on my hips. “But today, I was furious. And all I could think about was seeing you.”
I bite my lip as my eyes fill with tears. “I’m so glad you came to me.”
Ian kisses the inside of my knee and works his way down the inside of my thigh, nibbling on my sensitive skin. Belly flipping, I squirm under his lips.
“Ian.” His name escapes as a low moan when his tongue drags up my slit and circles my clit.
“How are you even real?” Lick. “How do I get to have you next to me?” Suck. “How do I make sure I can keep you?”
He devours me like he hasn’t eaten in a week. His hair is too short to grab, but my hand finds the back of his head to keep him against me, not that he needs to be convinced. As my moans grow louder, he slides two fingers inside me, his teeth grazing over my clit.
I cry out, and my back arches off the couch.
Tears stream down my face at the intensity of his words and my orgasm.
Ian kisses up my stomach, lifting my shirt as he goes.
He takes one nipple in his mouth and sucks me through the fabric of my bra.
When he reaches my face, he softly kisses my tears away.
“Beautiful. No tears.”
I sniffle. “They’re happy tears.” I slip my fingers into the top of his pants. “Ian, sit back and let me take care of you.”
He kisses my lips in a sensual way that has me dizzy. “No, this was just for you. You’ve already taken care of me by being by my side today.”
My whole body feels like it’s floating on a cloud as he gives me a lingering kiss on my forehead and lifts me up to hold me against him. My hands grip his shirt at his sides, reveling in the perfection of this moment. All I can hope for is that we get many more like this.