Lover's Road (Forever and Always #11)

by E. L. Todd

  “How was your week?” she asked.

  “Shitty.”

  “Mine too.”

  I continued to stare at her face, memorizing the curve of her perfect lips. I was hot for her all over again. I could never get enough of her. “My parents are getting divorced.”

  Her eyes widened. “What?”

  “I found out a few days ago.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me?” Her arms wrapped around me, protecting me.

  “We weren’t speaking…”

  “You still could have told me.”

  I shrugged. “I knew you needed your space.”

  She rubbed my shoulders. “Are you okay?”

  “I guess.”

  Her eyes filled with sympathy and pain.

  “My mom isn’t the person I remember growing up with. She’s cold and mean. I’m not sure why my dad put up with her as long as he did. But…it’s still weird to think of them not being together, you know?”

  She nodded. “I do know.”

  I averted my gaze. “I’m sad. I’m happy. I’m confused. I’m a lot of things…”

  “They can’t work it out?”

  I shook my head. “My dad made it clear this decision was final.”

  “So…what now?”

  “My dad is staying with Sean. I’m not sure what my mom is doing.”

  “Maybe you should check on her,” she suggested.

  “No.” I was still pissed for the way she treated my girl.

  “How’s your dad?”

  “He seems okay. But with him, I can never tell. He always acts like everything is okay. Even when he was being sued for his entire company, he kept his cool. I’m not sure how he does it. A nuclear bomb could be hovering over us, and if he said he would be all right, I’d still believe him. That’s how amazing he is.”

  She rubbed my arm. “Then maybe this is the best thing for everyone.”

  I nodded. “Then why do I feel like shit?”

  Her eyes softened. She pressed her lips to mine and gave me a gentle kiss. “Because you care.”

  7

  Ryan

  Janice finished her first week at her new job. Judging her happy attitude and beautiful smile, she was loving it. A spring was in her step and she practically clicked her heels together. We got home about the same time every day, so now the house wasn’t nearly as clean and there was no dinner prepared. Janice wasn’t in the mood to get hot and heavy because she was tired from wearing her heels all day. She wore tight dresses that made her tits look noticeable. Her clothes clung to her skin and put every curve on display.

  There was no doubt that every perv in that office thought about fucking her.

  Fucking my girl.

  I held my tongue and didn’t say anything. I didn’t like the person I was becoming. I just didn’t trust this guy who got her the job. What if he wanted something from her?

  Janice sat across from me at the table. “You really need to get the hell over this.” She didn’t look at me when she said it.

  “Over what?” I played stupid.

  “Just be happy for me. I’m happy for you even though you put tramp stamps on a bunch of whores.”

  “Totally different.”

  “No, it isn’t.”

  “I know this guy is going to want something from you.”

  She gave me the look of death. “And what if he does?”

  “I’ll kill him.”

  She rolled her eyes. “I have a dinner benefit on Saturday. I was going to invite you as my date but forget it. I’ll take Scarlet.”

  Whoa. Hold on. “I’ll go.”

  “Too late.”

  “I’m coming.” I gave her the same look of death.

  “Why?” Her eyes narrowed at me, showing her anger.

  “Because I’m your damn boyfriend.”

  “But you aren’t supportive. If you’re going to be a dick the whole time, why would I want you there?”

  “I won’t be a dick,” I said firmly.

  “I’ll think about it.”

  “I’m coming,” I pressed. “Try and stop me.”

  She ate her pasta and ignored me. Her phone was in her hand and she browsed through it, not interested in my company. I hated it when she was distant from me. I loved it when she gave me a kiss when she came home from work. But now she treated me like a nuisance.

  “I’m sorry, okay?”

  “Are you really?” she challenged. “Or you just want to make sure everyone at my job knows I’m taken?”

  “Both.”

  “I’ll have a better time with Scarlet anyway.”

  Now she was pushing my buttons. “I’ll hold you down and keep you here if I have to.”

  She turned her angry gaze on me. “Oh really? Because I remember something distinctly different happening last time we were fighting.”

  The hair on the back of my neck stood up. She made me into a dirty, pathetic man. I felt weak and insignificant when she brought me to my knees. I knew it wasn’t an idle threat.

  “That’s what I thought.”

  “Baby, just let me come.”

  She opened her laptop then ignored me.

  I knew I kept pushing her away. There was only one thing that could make us connect at this point. I left my chair then stood behind her. I pulled her hair from her neck then gave her gentle but aggressive kisses. When her breathing increased, I moved my hand down her chest and under her dress. I touched her the way she liked, dimming her angry for a short time.

  She opened her legs, telling me she wanted more. My tongue moved across her skin, and my fingers caressed the nub between her legs. Quiet gasps escaped her lips and she rocked her hips slightly, telling me she wanted more than just my hand. I picked her up and carried her to the bedroom, moving inside her as soon as we hit the mattress.

  Janice dug her nails into my back, being rough with me because she was still a little pissed. But I liked it when she pushed me to the limit. When our bodies connected in this way, I felt the jealousy and anger fade. It was just she and I in our sweet embrace.

  I knew I was being overprotective of my girl and I needed to back off, but I couldn’t. All my jealousy came from love, even if it didn’t seem like it. But when I was inside her, I was reminded of the love she felt for me. No matter what I did, she would still be mine. She’d put me in my place and give me attitude but she would still love me until the end of time. I wasn’t sure what I did to get such a magnificent, strong, fucking gorgeous woman to spend the rest of my days with, but I was glad I did something right.

  I knew she was about to explode. Her nails were at the point of drawing blood.

  “Baby, I love you.” I didn’t tell her this often because the words were unnecessary. She knew she was my whole world perfectly well.

  “I love you,” she said through her moans. She soared off the edge and breathed my name as she tightened around me. “You’re a fucking pig but I love you.”

  I smirked even though my cock was twitching. I emptied inside her, feeling the warmth and tightness of her perfect pussy. “Hmm…”

  When we were finished, we clung to each other. Where she ended, I began.

  “So, you’ll let me come with you?” I asked with a smirk.

  “I just did,” she said playfully.

  I chuckled then kissed her forehead. “Let me come to the dinner with you. Please.”

  “Only if you don’t act like an ass.”

  “I never act like an ass.”

  She gave me a look with an attitude.

  “I’ll be on my best behavior,” I assured her. “For you.”

  “You better be.”

  “As long as that pervert doesn’t make a move.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Knock it off.”

  We were back to our happy selves so I abandoned the argument. “Want to watch a chick flick on TV?”

  “Only if you snuggle with me under a pink blanket.”

  “Sold.”

  “Ryan, do not embarras
s her,” Scarlet said firmly over lunch.

  “How could I possibly do that?” I snapped. “Look at me. I’m a hot piece of ass.”

  Cortland laughed then finished his sandwich. “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, I guess.”

  Scarlet glared at her brother. “I’m serious. She told me you’ve been nothing but a dick about this whole thing.”

  “Why don’t you mind your own damn business?”

  The anger didn’t fade. “I’m the person she calls when she wants to bitch about you, in case you haven’t noticed. So it is my business.”

  “God, you’re annoying,” I said with a sigh.

  “I’m just trying to help you, Ryan. The harder you fight this, the further away you’ll push her.”

  “I didn’t push her away last night when I fucked her brains out.”

  Cortland pushed his sandwich away, a cringe on his face. “Suddenly lost my appetite...”

  “She’ll get sick of it, Ryan. I’m warning you. If you love her, let it go. She’s not doing anything wrong. This isn’t the fifties anymore.”

  “Coming from the housewife of a damn mansion,” I snapped.

  Her eyes narrowed. “When have I ever done anything that wasn’t in your best interest?”

  “When you didn’t tell me Janice fucked Sean.”

  Scarlet gasped. “How dare you throw that in my face!”

  I knew that was cold. “I take it back.”

  “You better take it back,” she snapped.

  I rested my elbows on the table and looked at the fries I didn’t touch. I suddenly wasn’t hungry.

  “What is the big deal, Ryan? She loves her job. Be happy for her.”

  “I don’t trust that guy,” I said firmly.

  “You’ve never even met him. What if he’s 5’5 and bald? You really going to be threatened by that?”

  I had a feeling he wasn’t ugly. “Let me take care of my own relationship.”

  “You clearly don’t know what the hell you’re doing.”

  Cortland kept his mouth shut and tried to stay out of the argument. I loved my sister more than anything, but hell, she could be a damn pain in the ass.

  “Let’s drop it.” I threatened her with my eyes so she knew I meant business.

  “Fine. Throw your relationship away.”

  “Janice would never leave me and I wouldn’t leave her. We are the most stable couple of this group. That will never change.”

  “Someone’s cocky,” Scarlet said.

  “No,” I said simply. “I just know Janice loves me.”

  “And if I were you, I wouldn’t take it for granted.” She tucked her hair behind her ear then finished her fries.

  “Where’s Sean?” I wanted to change the subject.

  “He’s at the office.” There was sadness to her voice.

  “What’s wrong now?” Were they ever not fighting?

  “Sean’s parents are getting a divorce.”

  Cortland knocked his soda over. “What? Seriously?”

  “Andrew and Diane?” I asked. “The King and Queen of Connecticut.”

  She nodded. “We’re all recovering from the shock. Andrew has been staying with us. He puts on a brave face but I know he’s going through a hard time.”

  “That’s crazy…” I was still processing everything.

  “Did she leave him?” Cortland asked.

  “No,” Scarlet said simply. “Andrew ended the relationship. She’s not the same person he married.”

  “So…is this a good thing?” I asked. I never liked Diane, especially in recent months. She treated my sister like garbage even though Scarlet was one of the most amazing women I’ve ever met, not that I would ever admit that. She was borderline psychotic. She was all work and no play. Andrew had a youthful soul to him. Diane was just stiff.

  “I don’t know,” Scarlet said with a sigh. “But I know Sean is taking it hard. Divorce is never easy.”

  “But Sean doesn’t like his mom,” Cortland pointed out.

  “No, he doesn’t,” Scarlet said. “But it’s still hard to accept. You’re so used to your parents being together, it’s hard to place them in a new category when they are apart. And now he worries about his dad being alone.”

  I couldn’t think of anything to say so I held my silence. Cortland cleaned up the spilled soda with a bunch of napkins then tossed the garbage on the tray.

  “Since he’s a single guy, I’ll need to take him out to the bars and introduce him to the new version of Playboy and porn DVD’s.” I smirked at the idea.

  Scarlet rolled her eyes. “Andrew is too mature for that.”

  Cortland laughed but didn’t comment.

  “Men love naked women,” I said. “It doesn’t matter how old you get. That aspect will never change.”

  “My father-in-law isn’t a pervert.”

  Cortland laughed again.

  “Baby sister, all men are perverts. I’m sorry to shatter your image of Andrew, but he loves pussy just as much as we do.”

  She cringed. “Eww! Stop. He’s like my dad.”

  “And daddy loves big butts and tits,” I said.

  She threw her cash on the table. “I’m leaving.”

  “So you can do the nasty-nasty in your husband’s office?” I asked as she walked out.

  She turned around and flipped me the bird before she stormed out.

  Cortland chuckled then placed his tray on Scarlet’s. “You know she means well, right?”

  “Huh?” I had no idea what he was talking about.

  “With Janice. I think she’s right. Cut her some slack.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Not you too.”

  “Look, Monnique is the exact same way. Even though I’m scared someone will hurt her on the job, she’ll contract a deadly disease from a patient, or the doctors will flock to her for a single date, I let it go and let her do what she wants. Once I respected her decision, we became closer. Sometimes you have to let it be. And honestly, we can’t protect our girls from everything. They are both strong and impossibly smart. Just let it go, Ryan.”

  “It’s different. I—”

  “I know. You said it a million times. But just because some guy wants to sleep with her doesn’t mean he gets to. And if he’s bothering her, she would tell you, right?”

  I nodded.

  “Then back off.”

  “You’re right,” I said with a sigh. “Thanks, man.”

  “I’m glad I could help.”

  The night of the dinner, I wore my suit and tie. The jacket was black and the tie was gray. I hardly ever dressed up. All I wore was jeans and hoodies, even baseball caps if I was really in a lazy mood. But I knew this evening was important to Janice.

  Her eyes lit up in desire when she saw me. “Damn, you clean up good.”

  I smirked. “Turn you on?”

  She grabbed my crotch and gave me a gentle squeeze. “You sure did.”

  I gripped her hips and eyed the black dress she wore. The cleavage of her tits was on display. I didn’t even need to be 6’2 to see the valley between her breasts. A child would notice them.

  Her thin waist looked even smaller in the petite dress. It fit her curves perfectly. Her thighs to her ankles were revealed. The toned and defined muscle drove me wild. And her fuck-me pumps just made me grow longer. “You’ll be the hottest bitch in that place tonight.”

  “Aren’t I always the hottest bitch?” she asked with a smile.

  I moaned deep in my throat. “You’re correct.”

  She took my hand and placed it on her thigh. When she moved it under her dress, I felt the moisture between her legs. No panties.

  “Hmm…”

  “Maybe we can sneak off to the bathroom.” A mischievous glint was in her eyes.

  My jaw dropped. “Shit, you’re hot.”

  “I know.” She grabbed her clutch. “Let’s go.”

  I stared at her ass as she walked away.

  Damn.

  When we arrived at the confere
nce room in the hotel, everyone was mingling with their glass flutes. My hand was hooked around her waist and I let her pull me wherever she wanted me to go. I wanted to grab her ass but I resisted the urge. A few of the girls snuck glances at me, checking out everything I had to offer. I pulled Janice closer so they knew I was taken—and so was my cock.

  “Baby?” I leaned toward her ear.

  “Hmm?”

  “I’m sorry for the way I’ve been acting this week. If you love your job, I’m happy for you. And I’ll be more supportive from now on.”

  Her eyes softened when she looked at me. “Thank you.”

  I kissed her forehead. “I was being a sexist pig. I admit it.”

  She wrapped her arms around my waist and pulled me close, her lips practically touching mine. “You’re going to get fucked so hard tonight.”

  My cock came to life at her words. “I look forward to it.”

  “Now let me introduce you to everyone.”

  I couldn’t care less about that.

  Janice introduced me to her coworkers. Most of them were women, which I noticed with satisfaction. The men I met seemed to be professional and slightly indifferent to Janice, like they hardly knew her. Perhaps it was because she was new. After I spent an hour meeting the million people she worked with, I realized I didn’t have anything to worry about. If the guy who got her the job was among that group, then he didn’t seem threatening. I didn’t pick up a sinister vibe from anyone.

  “Having a good time?” she asked as she sipped her champagne.

  “I always have a good time with you.”

  “Good response.”

  When she introduced me to everyone, she made it clear I was her boyfriend. And when she said it, she was affectionate with me, touching me everywhere. It was pretty clear she was head-over-heels in love with me. And I liked that.

  “Janice!” A smile that showed perfect teeth stretched across the face of a man I immediately disliked. A perfect complexion with a strong jaw, he immediately opened his arms and beckoned her into his embrace.

  “Hey, Cal.” Janice moved into his embrace and hugged him. She didn’t hug any of her other peers, just him.

  And that set my teeth on edge.

  His hands moved around her waist, dangerously close to her ass. “You look amazing.” He eyed her up and down. “Maybe you should move to a fashion company and start modeling.”