Spark of Time: MacKenny Brothers Series Book 5: an MC/Band of Brothers Romance

by Kathleen Kelly

  “Are you wet enough?”

  “Go slow, and we’ll find out.”

  Inch by inch, he slowly enters me. My body expands as he makes sure not to hurt me. I’m a little surprised he didn’t touch me to see if I was ready, but every lover is different.

  “Fuck, you’re tight.”

  I move my hips away from him and leisurely move my body back onto his cock. Chase gasps in pleasure as I do it again. His hands rest on my hips, holding me in place. Chase pulls out and moves back in a little faster. He does this three more times, then pounds into me. It doesn’t hurt, but this position is hard for me to orgasm. Balancing on one arm, I touch myself as he digs his nails into me and then suddenly stops with a loud moan.

  Chase bends over me, lightly nips my shoulder, then stands, taking me with him. His limp cock slowly falls out of me.

  “Sorry, Isabelle, you felt so good. Next time, it’ll be your turn.”

  Chase moves away from me, and I place my feet on the floor. As I turn around, he’s already heading for the bathroom.

  That’s it?

  He gets to have a quickie, and I’m left wanting more?

  Sitting on the bed, I stare at him in disbelief. It must have been the quickest fuck I’ve ever had. It certainly wasn’t lovemaking. He comes out of the bathroom, doing up his belt.

  “Do you want to have a quick shower?” Chase asks without making eye contact.

  Slipping off my shoes, I bend to pick up my dress and walk into the bathroom. Showering quickly, I dry off and slip my dress back on. Leaning over, I check my appearance in the mirror. My hair and makeup look fine, but I touch up my lipstick out of habit.

  I’m livid. It was our first time, and he didn’t even get me close to an orgasm. What we just did was all about him getting off, nothing more.

  Once again, I let my body rule my head.

  Never again.

  Sucking in a deep breath, I count to ten, then exit the bathroom. Chase is over by the door, using his cell phone.

  He looks up at me and smiles. “You look amazing.”

  “You owe me.”

  His face falls, and the smile disappears. “I owe you?”

  “Yep, one orgasm.”

  Chase scoffs. “You can hardly blame me. You’ve been teasing me for weeks. You’re lucky I didn’t blow all over you the minute your dress hit the floor.” I scowl at him, and he laughs. “I said next time.”

  “What makes you think there will be a next time?”

  Chase gives me a smug smile. “We both know there will be. Don’t be mad, Isabelle. I was worked up, is all.” He pulls me to his side and kisses the tip of my nose. “Practice makes perfect.”

  With that, he opens the door, and with me pressed into his side, we go back to the party.

  Isabelle

  My life is full to overflowing. Between running my business, looking after Charlotte and Chase, there’s no time for me. I don’t remember the last time I had a day to myself. But today is that day. It’s Wednesday. Chase and I have been together for six months now. Our sex life has improved, but I’m left unsatisfied most of the time. He’s truly wonderful in every other area, but a healthy sex life is important to me. I’ve lied to my staff, to Chase, and everybody else and told them I have a meeting upstate so I can spend the day in my PJs. All I want to do is sleep in, eat chocolate, maybe a pizza, and watch romance movies on television.

  My cell phone buzzes, and I pick it up. It’s a text message from Chase.

  Chase: Are we on for later?

  Isabelle: No. I’ve got that meeting, remember? Won’t be home until late. I hit send and smile to myself.

  I need a day. Just one.

  Chase: Forgot! Okay, ring me when you get home, so I know you’re safe. LOVE YOU!

  Then he sends me a series of love hearts and kissy faces.

  Groaning, I send back.

  Isabelle: Love you too.

  Tossing the phone onto my side table, I put my feet on the floor and walk into my kitchen. The coffee machine is ready, and I pour myself a cup, enjoying the aroma as I hold it to my lips. My cell phone beeps again, and I just know it’s going to be Chase sending me another emoji. Sighing loudly into my empty home, I trudge back into my bedroom and pick up my phone.

  Chase: I miss you!

  I send him a heart back, then turn off my cell phone. It’s only nine o’clock, but I head back to the kitchen, open the refrigerator, and pull out my extra-large chocolate bar. One of my favorite things to do is break off a line of chocolate and dip it into my coffee. It’s melted chocolate heaven.

  With my chocolate and coffee, I head to the living room and turn on the television. My couch is plush, the kind of couch that you can fall asleep on.

  Tucking my feet up underneath me, I sip my coffee, dip my chocolate, and settle in for a day of bliss.

  The next thing I know, someone is pounding on my door. Glancing at the clock, it’s five minutes past one in the afternoon. I must have fallen asleep.

  “Isabelle! Are you in there?” Chase’s voice filters through the door.

  Quickly, I run to the door and open it.

  “Chase?”

  He pushes past me and walks into my home, his eyes darting everywhere. “Why are you home?” Chase demands.

  Closing the door, I stay near it and say, “My meeting got canceled.”

  He looks at me. “Aren’t you feeling well?”

  “I’m fine.”

  Chase puts a hand on my forehead. “You don’t have a fever, but you’re all filmy.”

  Stepping back, I look up at him. “My meeting got canceled, so I decided to stay home.” I’m surprised at how quickly I lie.

  “Why aren’t you answering your phone?”

  “I turned it off. I wanted a lazy day. A me day. A day where I don’t have to get dressed or shower or answer to anyone.” Chase frowns at me. “Don’t you ever just want a you day? One where you can be in your PJs all day and relax, eat bad food, and zone out?”

  “No. If I have a free day, I want to spend it with you.”

  Guilt floods my system, and I take one of his hands in mine. “I’m sorry, I should’ve called you.”

  “When did they cancel?”

  “Just after we spoke this morning.” The lies roll off my tongue.

  “And you didn’t think to ring me so we could spend the day together?”

  Shrugging, I let his hand fall, and I go back to my position on the couch. “Honey, I just wanted a day.”

  “You planned this,” Chase accuses.

  “No. But I should’ve let you know I was home.”

  Chase puts his hands on his hips and stares down at me. “I was worried.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “You could make it up to me.” He thrusts out his hips.

  My lips turn down, and I pull my knees up to my chest. “I haven’t even showered today or brushed my teeth.”

  “You could do other things?”

  I shake my head. “I’m not in the mood.”

  Chase pouts and looks around the room. “Well, I’m here now. Do you want to go get lunch somewhere?”

  Lunch with Chase is always a formal affair. I just know he’ll take me to one of the fancy restaurants downtown, where he’ll shake hands with just about every person there as we make our way to the table. It’s annoying, and I feel like a trophy that he likes to show off to his friends and business associates.

  “No, honey. I want a day at home.”

  Chase sits next to me and nods. “So, what are we going to do?”

  Inside, I groan, but outwardly, I smile at him. “You go back to work. I’ll be fine here. Tomorrow we can do lunch or dinner or both. How did you know I was home, anyway?”

  Chase frowns. “Your car is parked downstairs. I was driving past.” He folds his arms across his chest and pouts again. “You don’t want to spend time with me?”

  “Chase, honey, this has nothing to do with you. This is me wanting a lazy day. A day where I just look
after me.”

  His pout turns into a smirk. “I could look after you.” His hand trails up my leg, and he moves closer to me.

  Holding up a hand, I shake my head, and he goes back to arms folded and pouting.

  “I haven’t showered, remember? Besides, you must have work today?”

  Chase stands. “Yes, I do. Excuse me for wanting to spend time with the woman I love.” Chase walks to the door. “But I guess she doesn’t love me as I love her.”

  I throw my head back on the couch and look up at the ceiling.

  “That’s it? You have nothing more to say?”

  Sighing, I scramble off the couch and walk to the door, opening it. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “Isabelle, you’re not serious?”

  With my hands on his chest, I look up into his eyes. “I love you. But if I’m not with you, I’m working, and if I’m not doing that, I’m with Charlotte. It’s been ages since I’ve had a day to myself. So, when my meeting was canceled, I jumped at the chance to treat myself.”

  “And hanging out in your PJs, not showering, and being alone is treating yourself?”

  “I don’t expect you to understand, but yes.”

  Chase covers my hands with his. “Are you sure?” He smiles and kisses the tip of my nose.

  “I’m sure.”

  Chase removes his hands from mine, steps back and around me, and stands in the doorway. “Fine. I suppose I’ll see you when I see you.”

  “Don’t be like that.”

  “No, really, it’s fine.”

  Chase walks out of my home, and I’m left standing there feeling relieved. I’ll make it up to him tomorrow. The guilt that I felt before seems to have vanished. Walking back into the kitchen, I make myself another coffee and grab the takeout menu for my favorite pizza place. I read the menu, but I already know I want a cheese pizza. Neither Chase nor Charlotte like plain cheese pizzas. I love them.

  Going back into my bedroom, I turn on my cell phone, and it immediately blows up with dozens of messages from Chase and one from Charlotte.

  Ignoring Chase’s, I listen to Charlotte’s.

  “Hey, Isabelle! It’s Charlotte. I just wanted to say, have a good day! And you’re coming on Saturday, aren’t you?” She pauses. “Brandon is coming over.” She giggles nervously. “Call me later?”

  Before I call her back, I order my pizza and garlic bread and then dial Charlotte. I sit on my bed and then lay down as I wait for her to answer.

  “Hello!”

  “Hey, Lottie, how’s my favorite girl?”

  “Isabelle! I miss you!”

  I chuckle. “You saw me last week.”

  “Don’t you miss me?”

  With Chase, I was annoyed as he’s a grown man, but with Charlotte, I don’t mind. She occasionally needs reassurance.

  “Of course, I miss you! What time on Saturday is Brandon going to come over?”

  I’ve met Brandon a handful of times, and Tom was completely wrong about him. He has a younger brother with disabilities, so he understands Charlotte. He has no romantic feelings toward her but was grateful to her as he was out of work when they first met, and Charlotte fed him. He’s a good guy who enjoys spending time with her. Brandon quickly became someone I could rely on when Charlotte has her occasional breakdowns.

  “Can you be here at ten thirty? Brandon said he’d be here at eleven.”

  “Sure can, sweet girl.”

  “Okay, I’ve got to go. I’m at work.”

  Smiling into the phone, I nod. “Well, you better get back to it.”

  “Bye!”

  Charlotte hangs up, and I smile up at the ceiling. She’s doing so well lately. I’m amazed at her tenacity and willingness to learn.

  Sitting up, I go back to my position on the couch and turn on the television. Within thirty minutes, there’s a knock on my door. Opening it, it’s Chase with my pizza.

  “Chase?”

  “I was downstairs when your pizza delivery arrived. I gave him a tip, and he let me bring it up.”

  Opening my door wider, I gesture for him to come in. Chase walks to my coffee table and puts the pizza on it, then stands with his hands in his pockets.

  “Want to share it with me?” he asks.

  “It’s a plain cheese pizza.” I shut my door and go into the kitchen to get some paper napkins.

  “I don’t mind,” Chase yells out.

  Opening a cupboard, I get out two small plates and walk back to him. Holding out my hand with a plate and a napkin, he takes them off me and sits down.

  “I wanted to apologize.”

  “What for?” I ask.

  “I didn’t realize you needed a break from me, from us.”

  Rolling my eyes, I open the pizza box and get out a slice for myself.

  “Me wanting a day to myself has nothing to do with us. Nothing to do with you. It’s about me needing a day to reinvigorate myself, so I can do everything I do.”

  “You’ve never had one before.”

  I take a bite of my slice and groan at the cheesy goodness. Chase leans forward and grabs a slice.

  “I haven’t had the opportunity. It’s been go, go, go.”

  Chase nods as he takes a bite, and I can tell he’s not really enjoying the plain cheese pizza.

  “Don’t you love me?”

  Seeing that he’s not understanding, I put my meal down and stare into his eyes. “Yes, I love you. Yes, I want to be with you. I’m sorry, I worried you. I honestly didn’t mean to. I’ve been so run down and tired, I just wanted a day to recharge.”

  “From me?”

  “No. Chase, you aren’t listening to me.” Reaching over, I take his hand in mine. “When I’m not working, I’m with you, and when I’m not with you, I’m with Charlotte. Sometimes, I just want to be by myself. Sleep in, eat bad food, and be lazy.” He stares at me, so I try another tack. “Okay, sometimes you take out the small boat and sail around the harbor by yourself.”

  “It’s called a sailboat, and yes, I do it to relax.”

  “This is the same thing.”

  Chase nods and takes another bite. “So, this has nothing to do with us?”

  Finally, he gets it.

  “Absolutely nothing.” I smile at him and finish my pizza.

  Chase picks up the television remote and changes the channel to watch football. Shaking my head, I take it from him and change the channel back to my movie.

  “Nuh-uh. It’s my day, remember?”

  “So, I don’t get a say in what we’re watching?”

  “Nope. You’re lucky I’m sharing my pizza with you.” Frowning, I ask, “Wait, didn’t they give you garlic bread?”

  “I told him that must have been a mistake. You don’t usually eat garlic bread.”

  Drawing in a deep breath, I slowly blink at him and let my breath out. “You gave away my garlic bread,” I reply flatly.

  Chase looks uncomfortable and sits forward, putting his plate on the coffee table. “I’ve wrecked your day. How can I make it up to you?”

  “By letting me have the day to myself.”

  Chase stands and nods. “Okay. I’ll leave you to it.”

  Realizing he’s probably not going to let this go, I shake my head. “Why don’t you order us another pizza and garlic bread? I’ll go shower, and we can spend the rest of the night together.”

  “We could go to—”

  “No. We’re staying in. Just us.”

  Standing, I pick up the pizza box and take it into my kitchen and turn the oven on low. Sliding the pizza out, I put it on a tray and place it in the oven. Chase is standing in the doorway watching me.

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes, honey.” The last thing I want to do is go out, and he’s clearly not taking this well, so I guess I’m sharing the day with him.

  Stretching up on my tiptoes, I kiss him lightly, then go into my bathroom.

  This was the beginning of a series of events that should’ve set off alarm bells. If I cou
ld go back, this was the moment I should have ended things. At the time, I thought I was lucky to have a man like Chase Kelly interested in me.

  I was completely wrong.

  Isabelle

  We’ve been together for nine months. Tonight is another party at his parents’ home. The who’s who of Chicago and beyond will be there. And, of course, it’s on a Saturday night, my day with Charlotte. Unlike all the other parties, Chase told me to bring her.

  Charlotte is excited. She’s twirling around in a circle so her dress can fan out. It’s light pink with capped sleeves. Chase wanted her to wear heels, but I know she’d never manage, so I’ve paired it with some ballet slippers that are almost the same color as the dress.

  “I feel like a princess!”

  I’m wearing a black dress that clings to my curves. Chase picked it out. It’s sleeveless and flairs at the bottom like a mermaid dress. He insisted I wear a pair of red heels with it. Charlotte and I spent the day at a salon getting ready. She has a little makeup on, and her hair is pulled up into a bun with tendrils hanging down. When I sat in the chair, they informed me that Chase also asked that my hair be up in a similar style, but I declined and asked them to give the ends a curl and left it hanging down in waves. I think it looks nicer this way.

  “Are you ready?” Charlotte nods profusely. “Do you have your clutch?”

  We went together to a department store downtown, and we found her a light pink clutch with a gold strap. Charlotte picks it up and mimics my stance, holding it in front of her.

  Walking to her, I place an arm around her. “Remember, if you tire of holding it, put it on your shoulder or across your body.”

  “I know.” Charlotte bounces up and down. “Can we go now?”

  “Selfie time!” I yell.

  Pulling out my cell phone, we take some photographs, and then I grab her by the hand. “Come on, Lottie. Let’s get this show on the road.”