Chapter 14 #2
She didn’t need to elaborate. It was all there, written on her beautiful face. She’d wanted him. Was disappointed that he hadn’t gone to her. “Neither could I.”
He darted a glance at the table. No one was paying them any mind, so he moved closer. “I plan on making it up to you later.”
“Oh, yes?” Her voice was breathy, slightly husky.
“As soon as everyone leaves, I’m going to bend you over that table, drag up that skimpy sundress, and play with you until you’re so wet, so desperate for my cock, your thighs are slick with need.” She moaned softly, and he got closer still. “Then I’m going to fuck you until you scream my name.”
Her fingers slid around his forearm, and she squeezed lightly. She was only touching his arm, but the way his blood sizzled in his veins you’d think she’d reached down and grabbed his cock. “Maybe I’ll make you scream my name,” she whispered.
He sucked in a ragged breath. “Baby…”
“Those steaks ready yet?” Reid called from across the yard, shattering the moment, and along with it the bubble he existed in when he was with Piper. Without thought, he tugged his arm out of her hand and took a step back.
Subtle. Not.
Cole glanced over at Piper, but she wasn’t looking at him, she had her head down, busy loading the steaks onto a plate. “Piper?”
She lifted her eyes to his and smiled, but it seemed a little wobbly. “Come eat.” Then she called back to Reid, “On their way.” And walked back to the table.
Piper raced around, making sure everyone had drinks, then into the kitchen, getting sauces and dressings.
Not once did she look at him. Something was wrong.
He had no idea what. And there wasn’t a damn thing he could do about it with everyone here.
Grabbing a plate, Piper smiled brightly as they all took their seats. “Dig in, everyone.”
They all loaded their plates, and the conversation died for a few minutes while they ate. Cole glanced at Deke and noticed he was looking at Piper intently. The guy frowned. “What’s that on your neck?”
Cole followed his gaze across the table. She was cutting into her steak, hair tucked behind her ear…
Shit.
His stomach bottomed out. He’d marked her skin. He hadn’t even realized he’d done it, but there it was, for all to see. A fucking hickey, just above her collarbone. It had faded, a slight yellowish tinge around the edges, but there was no way to mistake it.
He’d been so out of control that first night, so hot and hungry for her, he’d been desperate to taste her skin. He’d devoured her. How the hell hadn’t he noticed it all week?
Piper’s eyes widened, and she lifted her hand to her neck, covering it.
Alex swallowed her mouthful and pointed her fork at Piper. “She had an accident. Tripped and fell on someone’s lips.”
Deke narrowed his eyes at Alex. “You knew about this?”
“Calm down, babe. Pipe’s old enough to make out with boys if she wants to, and you know it.”
Deke spun back to his baby sister. “You’re seeing someone?”
“Nope.” That was all she said, then shoved a piece of steak in her mouth and started chewing.
Deacon frowned. “No?”
Piper shrugged and pointed to her mouth. Sorry. Eating. Can’t talk.
Leaving her to deal with her brother’s questions while he sat there with his mouth stapled shut did not sit well with him. Fuck this. Reid already knew. He needed to own up to what they were doing and deal with whatever consequences followed.
He put down his knife and fork and opened his mouth to confess, but Piper spoke up first, cutting him off.
“I went on a date. We made out a little. I decided he wasn’t my type. End of story.”
Deacon scowled at her. “Tell me you didn’t bring him back here?”
Piper’s silence and preoccupation with her roll said it all.
Deke’s fork clattered to the table. “Jesus, Piper…”
“Oh, lay off.” Rusty sat back in her seat. “She’s fine, and it’s not like she can get up to much trouble. Not now that you’ve assigned a surly ex-cop as her babysitter. Cut her some slack.” Rusty winked at him. “No offense, Cole.”
Cole shifted in his seat and forced a smile, but it felt more grimace than grin. Deke still looked pissed, and Piper hadn’t looked at him once. Fucking wonderful.
The rest of the night went further downhill from there. What with Piper seemingly ignoring him and Reid smirking his ass off every time he caught the other man’s gaze. He’d obviously picked up that Piper was avoiding him and was enjoying the hell out of it.
When it got dark, Piper lit candles and brought out a big tray of chocolate brownies.
He watched her across the table, candlelight dancing across her lovely face, the way she laughed and joked with her family, the love that shone from her eyes when she focused on one of them—the people she cared about more than anything in this world.
Right then, he wished he was one of them.
Wished she could be his.
“How’s the new place?” Deke asked beside him.
Guilt instantly washed through him, and for the first time in his life, he couldn’t look his friend in the eye. “Fine.”
“Thanks again for moving down here. It’s a relief knowing you’re around to watch out for Pipe.”
“Don’t mention it.” Please, don’t fucking mention it.
He took a pull of his beer so he didn’t have to talk, but then the conversation turned to work, and Cole made sure he kept it that way—until Alex slid into her husband’s lap, interrupting by whispering something in his ear.
Deke grinned, and after a quick farewell, the pair were up and gone a few minutes later.
Piper and Rusty were deep in conversation, and Reid leaned over to him. “I find groveling works best.” Then he stood, grabbed his woman around the waist, threw her over his shoulder, and with a chin lift, carried a giggling Rusty to his car and drove away.
Leaving him and Piper alone.
She stood, blew out the candles, and started clearing up the few empties left on the table.
He watched her, confused, frustrated. “You going to talk to me, or give me the silent treatment for the rest of my life?”
She kept her head down. “I’m going to give you the silent treatment for the rest of your life.”
“Fair enough. You want to tell me what I did wrong first?”
Her head came up, and her eyes drifted shut, just for a second. Then her shoulders slumped. “I’m sorry. I’m being silly. I just…I overreacted, and I’m taking it out on you. Please, forget it.”
“I can’t do that, not seeing how upset you are. Talk to me, Pipe.”
She crossed her arms, biting her lip. “One minute you were telling me how much you missed me, how much you wanted me…the next you were pulling your arm away like I had some highly contagious decease.” She shook her head. “See? I’m being silly.”
Shit. After what went down here tonight, he should back off, leave her alone.
But he couldn’t. Not yet. Maybe that made him an asshole, but what’s new?
He’d be here as long as Piper wanted him.
There was no point denying that truth. Still, he had to make sure she understood.
The last thing he wanted was for her to get hurt.
“I thought you knew what this was, Pipe?” She pressed her lips tight together, like she was holding whatever she wanted to say in. “You know why I pulled away.”
“It still didn’t feel great,” she muttered.
“Have you changed your mind?” Please don’t change your mind. Not yet. “About what we’re doing, about spending time with me?” The words felt like sandpaper leaving his throat.
She shook her head, blond hair slipping forward to cover her face. “No.”
Thank fuck. “Come here, baby.”
When she lifted her head, her cheeks were flushed, eyes bright. The woman was killing him. Tucking her hair behind her ear, she moved around to his side of the table and climbed into his lap like she belonged there. God, he wished that were true.
Maybe his shrink was right. Maybe, just maybe, he could have this. All of it. This woman. This life.
Maybe there was a way.
Maybe…
Piper turned in his lap, looking up at him, open, sweet. “Are you staying tonight?”
“Yes.” No way could he get up and walk away. Not now.
Not ever, a voice whispered in his head. He locked the voice down as quickly as it rose. He couldn’t afford to have thoughts like that.
Hands on her hips, he turned her in his lap so she was facing away from him. Right then, looking into her eyes was too much. The way he felt in that moment, she’d see right through him. “Lean back on me.”
She did as he asked, her breathy sigh causing his spine to tingle.
He rested her legs on the outside of his spread ones, so she was open, exposed, then slowly slid his hands up her thighs, taking her dress with them.
Turning into her, he gently sucked and nipped a perfect little lobe. “How much did you miss me last night?”
“Too much,” she whispered.
Yeah, she was killing him. He palmed her over her panties, the fabric beneath his hand damp. He groaned. “I can feel how wet you are, how hot. Do you hurt, sweet girl?”
She wriggled. “Yes, so much.”
“I’m going to fuck you with my fingers, right here with you on my lap, then I’m going to strip you bare, lay you on that table, and watch your beautiful tits bounce while I fuck you hard. You want that?”
She moaned, tightening under his hand. “Yes.”
Sliding his hand down the front of her underwear, he hissed when he felt just how slick she was against his fingers.
Piper tilted her hips, asking for more, and he obliged, sliding two fingers deep into her tight, needy body.
She gasped, her grip on his forearms tightening, nails digging into his skin.
He fucked her like that, deep and fast, close to losing it every time she moved her hips, pressing her round ass down on his erection.
Her arousal coated his fingers, getting wetter with every thrust, every time he went deeper. He cupped her breast with his other hand, rolling and tugging her stiffened nipple through her dress. “Feels good, doesn’t it? You love my hands on you?”