The squeak of the door opening had me looking around the corner.
Calum had come out, and August got down on his knees, so he was closer to my little boy’s height. “So, you were a soldier, like on TV?”
“I was,” August answered him. “And it’s a lot scarier than it is on TV, too.”
Calum nodded. “I bet it is.” He blinked a few times. “And your friend John, the one who had something bad happen to him? Did he die?”
August nodded, his expression solemn. “Yes, he did, and I was there when that happened. It was very sad, and it’s made me see things that aren’t there. I know it sounds crazy.”
Calum nodded in agreement. “Yeah. It is crazy. But one time, I saw a monkey in a tree at Granny’s. It was a real monkey, but no one believed me.”
“How’d that make you feel, Calum?” August asked him as he ran his hand through Calum’s dark hair. Hair that matched his perfectly.
“Crazy and mad,” he said with a huff as he threw his hands in the air. “Why would I make that up?”
August shook his head. “I don’t see why you’d do a thing like that.”
“I wouldn’t. I ain’t no liar!” Calum huffed again.
August nodded in agreement. “I bet you’re not.”
Then Calum looked at August, and he reached out to put his hand on his cheek. “I bet it made you sad when you saw that happen to your friend.”
“Sadder than I’ve ever been. I’m trying like crazy to stop these nightmares, because I don’t want you to be scared of me. Your momma is trying to help me, too, so I’d like to stick around if that’s okay with you, Calum. I like your momma a lot, and I like you, too.” August placed his hand on my son’s shoulder. “So, what do you say, Calum? Can I hang around with you guys? I’d sure appreciate it if you’d let me.”
“Momma did help you. And I think she likes you, too” Calum said, then took two steps forward, wrapping his arms around August’s neck. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry I was afraid of you. You can hang around with us.”
August got up, carrying Calum as he did. “Thank you. You have no idea how much this means to me, Calum. You sure do have a big heart.”
They walked over to me, catching me wiping tears away from that scene, which had touched my heart in a way I couldn’t describe. “So, I see you two have worked things out then.” A sniffle would’ve confirmed to them that I’d been crying a little, if they hadn’t noticed already.
“Yep,” Calum said. “We’re friends again.”
Friends. No, they were more than just friends. But when would the time be right to tell them that?
Chapter 13
August
Although Calum had seen fit to forgive me for the episode he’d witnessed, I wasn’t ready to forgive myself. I’d been warned by my sister and my therapist, but I’d still made the unfortunate decision to ignore their sage advice. It didn’t sit well with me that I’d scared the poor kid.
Although a part of me, the rational part, told me to leave Tawny and her son alone and be on my merry way, my selfish side simply wouldn’t allow me to do that. No, that side of me wanted Tawny—and Calum—in my life more than it had ever wanted anything.
So, after eating the delicious beef stew she’d made, I told her what I wanted after we’d retreated to the living room while Calum filled the dishwasher with our dirty dishes. Slipping one arm around her as we sat on the sofa, I whispered, “So, what are the chances of you letting me sleep over?”
Her pretty green eyes went wide as she shook her head. “No way, August. You know I’d love that, but this place is tiny, and Calum’s a light sleeper.”
My cock wasn’t going to give up so easily. “Okay, then how about we figure out a way to get him out of the house for a little while?”
Her expression turned from stern to intrigued. “Like how?”
I only had one go-to for that answer, so I took my cell out of my pocket to call my sister. The sound of a group of people all talking over each other hit my ears immediately as Leila answered my call, “August, what’s up?”
“I was wondering what you were doing this evening,” I said as I played with a strand of Tawny’s red hair.
“Actually, Jacob wants to go see some new cartoon movie tonight. He and I are about to head out now. Why do you ask?”
“Well, I’m at Tawny’s and…”
She stopped me. “I see. Yeah, I know what you want now. I can take Calum with us if he wants to go.”
“I’ll ask him.” With a kiss to Tawny’s cheek, I got up to go ask Calum if he’d like to watch a cartoon movie with his Aunt Leila and Jacob.
“Yes, sir!” he shrieked then slammed the dishwasher shut before making a beeline for his bedroom.
“He’s in,” I told my sister. “When can we expect you?”
“About a half hour. At least, that’s what Tawny said it took for your driver to bring them over that one time. Text me her address.”
And with that, I’d managed to get Tawny all alone for at least a couple hours. Sure, I’d rather have an entire night, but I’d take anything I could get.
Going back to the sofa, I sat down next to her, running one fingertip over her shoulder. She bit her lower lip. “Maybe I should jump in the shower and do myself up a bit. I’ve been dreaming about this, and I’d like to look my best.”
“Whatever you want. I’ll be right here.” Before she could get up, I left a kiss on her lips that told her what she was in for.
She left the room with a flushed face that made my cock thump in my jeans. Things were turning around for us, I could feel it in the air. It felt heavy and light at the same time. Heavy with what was to come, and light with happiness.
By the time Leila arrived, Calum was chomping at the bit to get going and ran out the door as soon as she knocked. Slowing only to give her a brief hug and thank her for taking him, Calum was quickly on his way.
Leila leveled her eyes on me as she stood at the door. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do, little brother.”
“Never,” I said with a laugh then closed the door, locking it before I turned to head toward Tawny’s bedroom.
Tawny was still in the bathroom, so I stripped down, wanting to surprise her in her bed. My cock was ready for her already, but I’d be taking my time with her tonight.
“August?” she called out from the hallway.
“In here,” I called back to her.
I’d turned off the overhead light and turned on a small lamp beside the bed.
“I thought you said you’d wait in the—” she paused, mouth agape as she saw me in her bed, sitting up with my head resting on the pillows.
I patted the empty side of the bed as she stood in the doorway, giving her an eager grin.
Tawny had a towel wrapped around her, her damp hair hanging in loose waves around her shoulders. She clamped her mouth shut, taking in my bare chest and arms. “Oh, you’re naked, huh?”
Tossing the blanket back, I let her see just how naked I was. “Drop the towel, baby.”
She took a deep breath then let the white towel fall to the floor. One of her feet flew back, kicking the door closed before she came to me.
Each step she took made her large breasts jiggle. My cock pulsed, and my mouth watered, wanting to taste every bit of her juicy body.
She sat on the edge of the bed, her breath already coming in quick gasps. It reminded me of our one night together, and I laughed as I grabbed her, pulling her on top of me.
She straddled my stomach as I played with her tits, first with my hands then with my mouth. Her hands fisted in my hair as she made quiet moans. The last moan was filled with words that did something to me I’d never experienced while in bed, “I love you, August Harlow.”
My cock couldn’t wait any longer. I threw all my plans for a slow seduction out of my mind, and with one swift movement I had her on her back, my body hovering over hers as she spread her legs for me. “I love you, Tawny Matthews. Are you ready for me?”
&
nbsp; With a nod, she confessed, “I’m soaked for you.”
“Good, because I’m about to slam this cock into that wet pussy and fuck you the way I’ve been dreaming about for far too long now.” And with that, I slammed into her tight pussy.
She let out a scream as my cock stretched her, as her body worked to fit me, “August!” Her nails curled into my shoulders, making them burn.
A groan escaped me—she was unbelievably tight. “Oh, baby!”
Moving in and out of her, I felt every part of her again. Her soft skin rubbed against my chest with each thrust, her hips jutted up, hitting my stomach as she arched her back—everything was sensation, every move she made took me back to seven years ago.
But now she was mine for real, not just the girl I’d found sitting outside at midnight, looking at the same moon I was.
Auburn hair fanned out over the white pillowcase, green eyes looked up at me and pink lips trembled, and I had to take them with my own. Passion made the kiss hard and demanding, and our tongues moved in circles as I made her mine once more.
The sound of her moans mixed with my harsh breathing, and our flesh slapped together over and over in a rhythm that took us to our first climax of the night—and it took us at the same time, just as it had seven years ago.
I’d never had an orgasm at the same time with any other woman. What Tawny and I shared was special, and I knew that without any doubt.
Resting my body on top of hers, but being careful not to put my full weight on her, I panted until I regained my breath. When I looked down at her glowing face, with her eyes closed, lips parted, still panting a bit, I knew without a doubt that this was what love felt like.
It took root inside my heart. Pure love, a love I’d never felt before. I’d do anything for this woman. She felt like a part of me I’d always been missing.
Her eyes opened, and she caught my face between her hands. “My God, August.” One tear rolled down her cheek.
Kissing it away, I echoed, “My God.”
Words were hard to come by to explain how I felt. And it seemed to be the same for Tawny, too. I hadn’t always been the best with words anyway, but I sure could show her what she meant to me.
Rolling onto my back, I kept her close, not allowing our bodies to separate for even a moment. She lay on top of me, and then I gently pushed her to sit up. Those big boobs called to my hands and I played with them again.
One eyebrow cocked as she asked in a husky voice, “You do like the tits, don’t you, August?”
“Nope, I love ’em.” I sat up, taking one into my mouth and licking the nipple as I rolled it between my lips. Her moans had my cock growing stiff again, and soon she was riding my cock to another simultaneous orgasm.
I didn’t want to let her out of that bed. Like, not ever. Keeping her in bed with me would’ve been a dream come true, and that thought had me remembering the way I’d felt that first night. It had seemed like I couldn’t get enough of her back then, and that feeling was still there.
Cupping the back of her head, I kissed her softly. “Leaving you after all we’d done was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. And now that I’ve got you, I don’t think I can ever leave you again.”
She giggled as she pushed her hands through my hair. “I hope you don’t leave me again. I never told you this, but I cried every night for a month after you left. And my prayers for your safe return never stopped. I suppose they were answered, huh?”
Her kiss-swollen lower lip begged me to take it between my teeth. I bit it gently, tugging it as I said, “Thank you for praying for this.”
And then I felt my cock pulsing back to life again, and she did, too, moaning as she started to move again. “Yes, babe. Take me again, you insatiable man.”
With her, I was insatiable—only with her.
Chapter 14
Tawny
August seemed content with the way things had to be. He came over during the day while Calum was at school, and we’d make love the whole time, stopping only to eat and drink a bit to replenish our strength. He’d stay for dinner and would leave when the time came to put Calum to bed. That went on for a week.
But then one day, that wasn’t enough for August. Sweeping into my little apartment moments after I’d gotten back from dropping Calum off at school, I found a serious expression clouding his handsome face. “Tawny, this isn’t working for me.”
Wrapping my arms around him, kissing his sweet lips, I felt the tension leave his body as he and I melded into each other. Once everything felt settled, our mouths parted. “Now, what’s not working for you?”
He took my hands in his, pulling them up and kissing each knuckle as he eyed me carefully. “Not having you in my bed at night.”
“But you have me all day long,” I reminded him.
“Yes, but I won’t always have this. You’ll start work, and then we won’t get to do this anymore.” His lips pressed against my palm, making my insides turn into melted butter.
“August Harlow, have you become addicted to me?” I laughed as he nodded without an ounce of shame. “Well, that can’t be good for you.”
“But it is good for me.” He pulled me along with him to place me on his lap after he’d taken a seat on the sofa. “You see, you’re very good for me, and I just want you around all the time. I know you’ll have to go to work soon, and then I’ll have to give you up during the daytime hours. Then what will I get?”
To be honest, I hadn’t even thought about it. What would he get? What would I get?
I needed my time with August just as much as he needed his time with me. But there was one thing that stopped me from wanting to change our routine—Calum.
The hard thing about keeping a secret is knowing when the right time might be to confess. At first, I didn’t want to burden August with anything. And then, after witnessing his PTSD episode, I knew he wasn’t up for any surprises just yet. But when would he be ready?
Living with PTSD was no easy thing for any veteran, and when you added in the fact that he’d accidentally killed a fellow marine and one of his good friends…well, you had a recipe for disaster.
And then there was the fact that August was now a billionaire. To some women that would be the best news ever. To me, it wasn’t.
Although he and I came from similar backgrounds, he’d become phenomenally wealthy. Wealth like his came with a lot of responsibilities and problems that I was unfamiliar with. Like living in the public eye or needing to have bodyguards for protection on occasion, not to mention the women who threw themselves at wealthy men.
If I told him my secret, which I’d kept from every person in my life, then things would change drastically. And maybe not all for the better. August, and my parents too, would probably see me as a liar.
I didn’t want that.
Sure, with time they’d likely forgive me, but how could they not have a little niggling feeling inside of them, knowing that I’d kept the truth from them for years? Especially when it was about something as important as the identity of my son’s father.
No, I couldn’t do it. Not yet.
“So, what would you suggest we do, August?” I asked him as I ran my hands through his silky dark hair.
“Why don’t you two move in with me?” His eyes danced and glittered as he smiled at me.
Now, I knew most women would fall all over themselves over such a request. But again, I wasn’t most women. So, when my answer came out, the frown I got wasn’t unexpected. “No.”
One solid huff forced a burst of air out of him as he stared at me with a questioning expression. “Well, you won’t let me stay the night here with you. You’ve said it’s too small, and Calum would hear everything. I think my idea is great, if you ask me.”
“Look, Calum is a large part of why I can’t move in with you. He gets up almost every night and climbs into bed with me. That would be a problem if you and I slept together each night.”
With a roll of his eyes, his reply was blunt,
“You’re grasping at straws, Tawny.”
“I am not,” I said as I got off his lap. “I’m getting a cup of coffee. You want one?”
He nodded and followed me to the kitchen. What I really needed was a glass of wine to soothe my nerves, which had grown jagged.
“I don’t see why he can’t learn not to get out of his bed at night, is all I’m saying. Maybe Leila can give you some tips on that. That shouldn’t be something that keeps us apart, Tawny, surely you can see that.” Coming up behind me, August ran his arms around my waist, leaning his chin on top of my shoulder.
Turning in his arms, I wrapped my arms around him and told him a bit more of the truth. “Another reason is for our safety and privacy. I know you live in a high-profile neighborhood—not to mention that your lifestyle must be wildly different from what we’re used to. If we were to move in with you, I think we’d need to be protected—by a bodyguard or security, at least. I get that you don’t need anyone to protect you, but your philanthropy and the opening of your club are turning you into a household name in this city. People will be curious about us, and Calum and I would have to have protection. I don’t think I’d like living that way.”
Sadness filtered into his hazel eyes. “Baby, what are you saying? Are you telling me that we can’t ever move forward? Are you saying this is all we’ll ever have?”
Nightclub Sins: A Billionaire Romance Series Page 38
