"Don't be jealous, Magnolia. I promise I'll drive you ten times harder than I drive this baby."
I blush, hiding a smirk as he puts the car into first and glides out of the parking lot effortlessly. He doesn't turn down the road to my apartment and I furrow my brows.
"Where are you goin'?"
"To my place. I don't want you home alone tonight."
"Landry," I laugh. "I have a door man, the security in our building is impenetrable. Everleigh and her shank are across the hall and Eden and Addison a floor below me. Plus, I...I can take care of myself. I'm trained and…" I trail off, not ready to dive into my past just yet. "How about you stay with me tonight?"
Landry smiles, grabbing my hand and kissing my knuckles. "I'll be fine."
He turns the car around toward my place and I shake my head. "I know you will be but I would feel better if you stayed, plus we still need to...talk."
He eyes me as he makes the few turns back to my apartment building and pulls into my spot.
He cuts the engine and pinches my chin between his thumb and pointer finger as he softly kisses my lips. "Okay. I'll stay."
I smile in victory as he cuts the engine and walks around to open my door. He takes my bag from the back seat, crossing it over his chest as he hangs his arm around my shoulder. I lace our fingers together and then wrap my other arm around his waist as we walk through the building, thanking the door man and heading to the elevators.
I can feel the tension simmering, remembering what happened the last time we were in here. The reality of the conversation I have to have with Landry is the cold bucket of water on my sexual appetite, though.
The elevator dings and we walk down the hall as I unlock my door and toss my keys to the foyer, locking the door behind him.
"Let me just shower, okay?"
He smirks and I put my finger up to stop his suggestion.
"Our talk, remember? You promised you wouldn't distract me."
Landry relents, putting his hands in the air as he plops down onto my couch and turns on the TV. "Fair enough, fair enough. I'll be here when you're done, don't take too long. As soon as we're done talking I have a date with your pussy."
I scoff, rolling my eyes as I walk down the hall to my bedroom, disappearing into my massive master bathroom.
As I strip down, I notice the swell of my belly and smile, putting a hand over it. To an outsider it looks like I had one too many tacos, but to me it's a miracle, it's a fresh start I never in my wildest dreams thought I would get.
"Let's hope you still want my pussy when you find out it's gonna pop your baby out of it in six months," I mumble, heading toward the shower and quickly doing my thing.
A few minutes later, I throw on my skimpiest pajamas and towel dry my hair as I walk back to the living room and stop when I see the sight before me.
Landry is sprawled across my couch, one arm behind his head, the other over his forehead and his lashes kiss his cheeks. His puffy lips are parted and I watch his chest rise and fall as little snores escape his nose.
I press a hand to my mouth as I keep my giggle quiet and take a blanket from the love seat, covering him and pressing a kiss to his forehead. "It can wait until tomorrow. Sweet dreams my beautiful sailor."
9
Landry
I bolt upright, getting my bearings as I wipe the drool off my lips and look down at myself. I'm still wearing last night's outfit from the club, a University of Georgia fleece blanket covering me. She wasn't kidding about being a Dawgs fan.
I stand, hearing the silence in the apartment, and walk down the hall to Magnolia's bedroom. I peek inside, seeing that beautiful woman strewn across her bed without the blanket, her shorts so short I can see half her delectable ass.
Down, boy.
I walk back to the kitchen, rummage around her cabinets and fridge, and decide on omelets. I fire up the coffee machine, mixing all the ingredients for breakfast in a bowl, and hear the sizzle of the pan as I pour in the egg whites.
I'm about to bring Magnolia breakfast in bed when my phone chimes from the coffee table. It's the office. I swipe to answer, and Rachel's voice rambles.
"Landry. We heard about what happened last night. We have a car coming to pick you up. Ethan wants a meeting, so Henry asked if you wanted to come to the office first to prepare."
"A meeting? No one said anything about a meeting," I answer, putting the plate and coffee back onto the island.
"He said he emailed you last night and never heard back."
Shit. He might have. I was so distracted last night I didn't even check my emails. "Okay, send a car. I'll head to the office."
I hang up, writing out a quick note to Magnolia as I walk her breakfast to her room, hoping the smell will stir her. When I place the plate and coffee down on her nightstand along with the note, I give her a few minutes but nothing. All right, she's exhausted. We tried.
I lean down, kissing her bare shoulder, and she stirs but stays sleeping.
I leave, making sure to shut and lock the door behind me and head down to the street, hopping into the car out front. I check my emails on the way to the office.
Fifteen minutes later, I'm walking into the office as Henry greets me with a list of shit we need to go over before we meet with Ethan Freeman.
"Dude, why the fuck didn't you check your emails? We should have been working on this all night?"
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I was...I was out."
Henry eyes me, shaking his head with a smirk. "You went to that fucking club again, didn't you?"
I open my mouth to make up some excuse but trying to keep Magnolia separate from Siren will be hard. How do I maneuver this?
“I...actually, I had a date last night.”
“No shit? Who? I thought you were still hung up on that stripper?”
My jaw clenches, and I don’t think before I speak. “She’s not just a fucking stripper.”
Henry smirks, putting his hands up in defense.
“Okay, easy. Your new girl is okay with you still going to see her through? Can’t say I know many women that wouldn’t be threatened by their guy hitting up the strip club on the regular.”
I roll my eyes, taking the papers from his hands, and sit at my desk. “Let’s just get this shit done. Drop my love life for the time being, please.”
Henry relents, and we work for the next few hours on the campaign Ethan threw our way for a security program for the hospital Magnolia works at. It’s not my regular MO, but they’re having issues with the patient’s information getting leaked, so Ethan asked for us to come in and plug the holes.
My phone buzzes, pushing me to hurry up and finish up the last of the proposal as he eyes it. “Gonna answer that?”
I see Magnolia’s name slide across my screen and smile, giving Henry a look as he leaves my office with a shit-eating grin and shake of his head.
"Hey, sleeping beauty."
I hear her hoarse laugh, and my body stirs to life. "I could say the same to you. Passed out on my couch last night catchin' flies," she drawls.
"Can I make it up to you? Come to my place for dinner tonight."
"I work at the hospital tonight. How about lunch?"
I look over at the clock on my desk and have an hour before I have to meet Ethan. "Can it be a late lunch? Give me two hours? I have a meeting in one. Then I can pick you up after?"
"That works. I don't have to be at the hospital until seven. Make it four?"
"Sounds good. We still didn't talk, right?"
I hear silence on the other end of the line, and I think she's hung up before she finally clears her throat. "Yeah, we...we still need to talk."
"All right, I'll see you soon then."
I pace outside of Magnolia's apartment building, and I can almost sense her before I even see her. I turn, facing the front door, and it's almost like time slows down as I take her in. From her black stilettos, her tan, smooth legs, that short black flowy dress, and that breathtaking smile as she thank
s the doorman. Her blonde curly locks hang a little bit past her shoulders, and then her blue eyes flick to mine, and I have to remember who I am, where I am because she's too fucking stunning for words.
"Fucking hell, Magnolia. You look beautiful."
She smiles, leaning toward me, and I don't hold back as I devour her mouth right here on the street. I ignore pedestrians and the honking of horns. I ignore everything except the feel of her lips on mine.
I run my hand down her back, resting it above her ass, and she whimpers, fisting my shirt in her hand.
"U-upstairs," she pants. "Let's take this back upstairs."
I don't protest as she drags me back into her apartment building and the elevator, picking up where we left off the other night. Our bodies slam into the sidewall as she clumsily hits a few buttons, finally hitting the top floor button as my lips suction onto her neck.
"I can't stop this time, Magnolia. I can't," I warn her.
"I-I know, I...we need to talk but—"
"It can wait," I finish, running my hands up and down her ribs, moving one to the front of her dress as I palm her breast.
"Oh Jesus," she gasps, dropping her head back to the elevator wall.
The elevator dings, and I don't waste a second as I drag her down the hall to her door and position her in front, kissing the back of her neck.
I smirk against her skin as she fumbles with her keys, cursing under her breath when she can't get her hands to stop shaking. I should have mercy on her, but I don't as I move my hands to the front of her, cupping her breasts and then running my palm up the front of her neck.
She slams her palm to the door, shaking on her heels as she drops her head back to my shoulder and sighs.
"Landry…"
"Put it in, Magnolia."
"You put it in," she growls through gritted teeth.
I laugh, taking the keys from her as I slip them in and unlock her door effortlessly. "This isn't what you meant, was it?"
"No," she moans.
I attack her again as we finally stumble into her apartment, my jacket dropping to the floor as she works on my tie. "I want you so much," she mumbles against my lips.
"Me. Too," I manage to respond.
She grabs my face between her palms and manhandles my entire body. My lips and tongue are meshing and tangling with hers as I unzip the back of her dress, dropping it to the floor at her feet.
I break the kiss, pushing her away from me as I take her in from her sky-high black stilettos, her muscular thighs, and black lace panties. My eyes roam up her stomach to her bare breasts as her chest heaves, her lips parted and puffy as her blue eyes land on mine through thick, black lashes.
"How are you so fucking perfect, Magnolia?"
Her lips press together, and then that tongue comes out, causing her dimple to deepen.
"I'm...I'm not perfect, Landry. Not even close," she sighs.
I walk toward her, bringing her hand down to my zipper as she pulls it down. Working on the buttons on my shirt, I press my forehead to hers and smile. "I love that you own RISE, that you work there and dance and sing. That's nothing to be embarrassed about, Magnolia." I cup her cheek, kissing her hard as I bring her on my lap as I sit on the bed.
"It's not that. I'm not ashamed of that," she whispers. "I love it. I...I shouldn't be doing this with you, though. Not until you know everything, I…"
Suddenly, our heated exchange disappears as she pushes off my lap and turns away from me. It's like she just remembered something, and now nothing can stand in the way of her getting it out. She takes her dress off the floor and slips it back up her body as I sit there, confused as shit.
I walk to her, putting a hand on her back, and she jumps.
"Magnolia…"
"I...I was married before, Landry. I've been divorced for six years, but there are so many things you don't know about me," she whispers.
I pull her dress back down her body and turn her, lifting her in my arms as I grip her ass. I bury my nose in her neck and kiss it, feeling her shiver against me. I drop us to the bed, my hand slamming down above her shoulder to keep my weight off her.
"I don't care. I don't care about your past, Magnolia. I care about this woman in front of me." I kiss her lips, and she tries to protest, but I grip the back of her head, feasting on her.
"But...there's other...things," she pants against my mouth.
"Doesn't. Matter."
I drag my hand down her neck to the valley between her breasts. My fingers trace along the ridges of her abs, and her lips freeze against mine.
I pull away, studying her face as she struggles to catch her breath. "Magnolia, I would never hurt you. I hope you—"
"I'm pregnant," she blurts out. “I’m so sorry.”
Boom. My erection deflates as my mouth opens and closes, her words unable to sink into my brain.
"Preg...pregnant. Wow. Okay," I mumble, getting to my feet.
I run my hand through my hair and laugh, a sarcastic laugh as I button my pants and shirt, tucking my tie into the back of my pants. "I should go."
"W-wait, Landry. Please…"
I stop, slowly turning to face her as she covers her half-naked body with her bedsheet. She kicks off her heels and scrambles toward me, but I take a step back.
"Did you know the whole time? The whole time I've been pursuing you?"
She opens her mouth to deny it but then closes it, nodding as she looks down.
"Unbelievable. I could look past the Siren thing, Magnolia, I really could. The way you move out on that stage is something I would never want to take away from you, but this? I don't want to be a part of this."
"Wait, Landry, don't!" she cries, grabbing my arm.
I turn back, the sight of tears falling down her cheeks threatens to shatter me, but I hold firm. If she thinks I'm raising another man's baby, she's got another thing coming. There's no way it's mine. She would be so far along and showing by now, but I can bet my ass she's going to make it seem like mine.
"I'm a good guy, Magnolia, but I'm not that good. Don't take advantage of my kindness."
"Landry…I...I'm not, I swear. We were careful. I put the condom on myself; I don't know how it happened. It wasn't even supposed to happen. I'm sorry. I didn't...I didn't mean for it to happen."
I whip around, gritting my teeth. "How many?" I boom.
"W-what?"
"How many men have you fucked at that club, Magnolia?"
She flinches as if I've hit her, and she bites her bottom lip, shaking her head. "No, I—"
"Do you even know who the father is?"
Her eyebrows draw together as she examines me, her hurt expression changing to anger.
"You think I'm pregnant with another man's baby, and I'm trappin' you? Expectin' you to raise it with me just because we went on a few dates?" she asks incredulously.
"Are you not?"
"Get out!" she snaps.
"What?" I laugh.
"Get out of my apartment, Landry." Her voice is low, deadly, and furious, and the change from the soft-spoken, nervous woman to this is messing with my head.
"Magnolia, you can't be—"
"Get out!" Her yell echoes throughout the empty room, and I shake my head, walking toward the front door.
"Is it my baby, Magnolia?" I ask as she opens the front door, and I turn toward her.
"Fuck you, Landry." She pushes me out of the door and slams it behind me. I cringe at the sound vibrating throughout the hallway, and I sigh, running a hand down my face.
"Fuck!"
I walk down the hall to the elevator, Magnolia's words running through my head. Could it be? I haven't even looked at her, really looked at her. Maybe she's got a belly? Maybe she's had one. I just...
"Dammit!" I slam my hand against the elevator button and try and figure out a way to make my stupid ass behavior up to Magnolia.
"A baby," I whisper, “A baby.”
10
Magnolia
I hold my sheet tigh
tly around my body as I press my back against the door, sliding down to my butt. I cover my mouth with my hands, letting the sobs take me.
All my emotions are firing on different cylinders, and I can't keep track of anything anymore. Nothing fits in my neat little boxes, feelings and emotions spilling into everything and spreading like wildfire.
There's a knock on my door, and I get to my feet, wiping at my eyes quickly and taking a deep breath. "Coming."
I stand, opening the door, expecting to see Landry, but it's Everleigh, and when her arms wrap around my body, I sob into her and hold on like she's the only thing keeping me from falling off a cliff.
"Eden cut him off in the elevator. Luckily he already got you pregnant because I don't think he'll be able to produce any more sperm after she's done with him."
I laugh through my tears, hugging her tighter as she walks me into my living room, plopping me onto my couch. She leaves for a second, coming back with an oversized t-shirt, and I silently thank her, slipping it over my naked body.
"What happened?"
I sigh, shaking my head as I take one of my throw pillows and hug it to my chest. "He...he thought I was trappin' him. That it was another guy at the club, and I expected him to raise it with me because he's a good guy. God, Ev, I've never been that girl, and the fact that he just assumed so quickly…"
I wipe at my eyes again, and Everleigh curses.
"My shank is twitchin', just warnin' you."
I laugh, slapping her knee. "Don't. I...I told him to...f-himself."
Everleigh gasps, putting her hand to her chest. "Magnolia Marie Giordano, the mouth on you! Straight to Hell. I hope you brought sunscreen."
I laugh again as Eden and Addison walk into my apartment. "He's dead. Got a shovel?" Eden asks, walking toward the couch with a massive tub of ice cream and four spoons.
"I stopped her, don't worry. That pretty face though…" Addison groans, twisting her face in agony.
"Guys, stop," I mumble, shaking my head.
"He knows he fucked up. He'll be back. Tonight though, that tub of ice cream has your name on it, mama," Eden says, plopping down next to me as Addison takes the spot next to her.
Delivered in Sin Page 13
