Still, having her here was beyond perfect. Landen was determined to make the most of it while it lasted.
Landen reached up, taking hold of her hand, then allowed her to lead him to the bathroom. Once they reached it, Landen stood, watching Amelia as she bent over the bath, to turn on the taps. Then she picked up some Magnolia bubble bath from the shelf behind the bath, pouring a generous amount into the water.
When she turned back to Landen, she smiled.
“It will be ready in a couple of minutes,” she said as she walked slowly towards him. “But first I think we need to get you out of these clothes.”
“Well, you’re the boss,” Landen said, as he gave her a knowing grin. If he couldn’t have her the way he wanted, he would sure as hell have some fun in whatever way he could.
He stood watching her, but made no effort to strip himself.
Amelia walked closer to him, smiling as she reached up and began to unfasten his shirt. Each button she unfastened, Landen’s heart hammered a little harder in his chest. When the last button was open, Amelia carefully slipped her hand up his body, pushing his shirt down over his shoulders, before Landen let it slide down his arms and billow down to the floor.
Amelia smiled as she raked her eyes down over his body, but when her eyes reached the bruising on his side, her smile faded, as her breath caught in her throat.
“It’s not as bad as it looks,” Landen told her, but he could tell she knew he was lying.
“If you hadn’t been coming to see me,” Amelia whispered as tears danced in her eyes. “You wouldn’t have been in the garage.”
“This wasn’t some chance meeting,” Landen said as he stepped closer to her, took hold of her chin, pulling her eyes from his ribs, up to his eyes. “This was not your fault. They would have had their chance, regardless of when or where.”
“I just don’t like to see you hurt,” she whispered as she stared up into his eyes. “I was so scared.”
“But I’m okay,” Landen assured her with a smile. “And I promise you, that it will never happen again.”
“Okay,” Amelia replied, with a smile. “Now, let’s get you into the bath.”
“I think you just want me naked,” Landen growled, with a grin. “I can see right through you, Woman!”
Amelia held his gaze as she reached for the waistband of his trousers, pulling them open.
“If I wanted you naked, Mr. Murphy,” Amelia breathed out as she slipped her hand inside Landen’s trousers, allowing her fingertips to graze the head of his cock. “It wouldn’t take much doing.”
“Jesus,” Landen groaned as he pressed his head down against hers. “You really don’t play fair.”
“I know,” she replied with a smile, as she pushed his trousers, and boxers down over his backside, freeing his now rock- hard penis, letting them drop to the floor. “Now, get in the bath.”
“You minx,” he growled before he kissed her hard, then stepping back and kicking his trousers and boxers off, then standing there before her, with his erection standing proudly against his groin.
Amelia just grinned, before Landen turned and stepped into the bath, slowly lowered himself into the water. If he had thought that maybe he wasn’t as tender as he actually was, the pain in his ribs as he lowered himself down almost took his breath away, minding him that he really wasn’t at full strength.
He closed his eyes and took a couple of deep, calming breaths.
“Are you okay?” Amelia asked, and Landen could hear the worry in her voice.
“Yes,” he assured her with a smile. He hated that she was seeing him so vulnerable. Showing any weakness was the one thing Landen hated. He added with a grin, determined to show her that he was still the strong, determined man he had been. “I would be a lot better if you joined me.”
He gave her a pleading look.
“Landen, you’re hurt,” Amelia reasoned as she watched him closely.
“I’m not that hurt,” he insisted, giving her a pleading look.
Amelia stared at him for a moment. He knew she was unsure of what she should do, and if Landen was honest, he was sure that she would tell him no.
Instead, she reached for the hem of the t-shirt she was wearing, slowly pulling it up over her head. Then, as she kicked off her shoes, she opened the zipper on her jeans, before she dropped them down to the ground, kicking them away.
Landen watched her closely, as once more his body reacted to seeing her stunning body standing before him. She hesitated for a moment, before she made short work of her bra and panties.
“Just a bath,” Amelia insisted as she stepped into the bath, and carefully lowered herself down into the water at the far end of the huge, white porcelain bathtub.
“Just a bath,” Landen said with a grin, as he watched her closely. “Though, I do remember someone promising that they would wash my back if I drank the milk.”
“You really are incorrigible,” Amelia giggled, then released a long sigh.
Landen picked up his washcloth from the little shelf next to the bath and threw it at Amelia, laughing.
“Get washing, Woman,” he said with a grin. “A deal is a deal.”
Amelia sighed once more, but Landen knew she was trying her hardest not to laugh as she moved in the bath, so she was now on her knees.
“Okay,” she said as she moved closer to him, and instantly his heart began to hammer faster, as his already hard cock, pulsed with longing. “I will wash you, but you will behave, Mr. Murphy or I will tell your doctor.”
“You are no fun,” Landen pouted as Amelia moved to straddle his legs carefully, taking great care not to lean against his body, or in particular his ribs.
She began with his chest. Squirting some of his body wash onto his washcloth, she gently glided it over his broad chest, then down each of his arms, then down over his perfectly toned abs.
“Don’t forget you said you would wash my back,” Landen said as he watched her from beneath his long lashes.
“I haven’t” she laughed as she ran the washcloth back up over his chest. She leaned up on her knees, using the side of the bath for balance, before she moved closer to Landen, reaching down behind him to wash his back. As she did, her bare, perfectly formed breasts were barely inches from Landen’s face.
“I know what you’re doing,” Landen told her, as he released a long, frustrated breath. “And you are playing with fire.”
“I don’t know what you mean,” Amelia said, but Landen could hear the smile in her voice.
“All you are doing is making more trouble for yourself,” Landen growled as he reached up and softly glided his hand up from her thighs to her backside. “Because when I am able, I am going to teach you a very, serious lesson.
He wanted so much to pull her down onto his waiting erection, but he knew that his body just wasn’t ready.
“And what lesson would that be, Mr. Murphy?” Amelia asked as she sat back down on his lap, staring into his eyes.
Before Landen had time to respond. Amelia smiled at him, as she glided the washcloth back down over his abs, but this time she didn’t stop until her hand reached his rock-hard length.
“Jesus!” Landen exclaimed as she took his cock in her other hand, holding it firmly, as she softly worked the washcloth up and down his entire length. “Amelia.”
“Close your eyes,” she breathed out through her soft lips, and Landen did exactly as he was told. “I want you to trust me, so keep your eyes shut.”
“Okay,” Landen whispered as he kept his eyes closed, resting his arms on either side of the bath. He had no idea what she was planning to do, but Landen didn’t care. Right at that moment, he was giving himself to her, and it was the most amazing feeling in the world.
He softly groaned as he felt her hand take hold of his cock once more, then her other hand, but this time there was no cloth, it was just her soft, delicate hand. Slowly she began to move her hand up and down his shaft with long gentle strokes.
Landen’s hea
d dropped backward, as he fought the urge he had to watch her. But he could see her in his mind’s eye, and that, combined with the feeling of her soft hands on him, made his heart almost hammer out of his chest.
Over and over again, Amelia slid her hand up and down his cock, every so often, she allowed the pad of her thumb to glide across the throbbing head of his erection.
“Amelia,” Landen growled as his legs began to tremble beneath her, as he long to pull her to him, and make slow, sweet love to her.
Suddenly she moved, and Landen had to resist the overwhelming urge he had to open his eyes. He wasn’t sure what she was doing, but he promised he would trust her, so trust her he would.
Landen stilled when suddenly he could feel her warm breath wash over the, and before he had time to react, he could feel her soft lips close around the sensitive tip of his erection, before she took head of his cock into her mouth.
Landen instantly opened his eyes, and watched Amelia as she took his whole length into her mouth. He could barely breathe as he watched her drag her lips back up along his shaft before she took him into her mouth once more.
“Amelia,” he groaned as his whole body began to tremble. “Jesus, you are going to make me come.”
This just seemed to push her on, and she took him deeper into her mouth, then back up before she flicked her tongue across his head once more.
Over and over she worked her mouth up and down him until he knew he was going to come apart.
“Amelia,” he cried out, unsure if she would want him to pull out or not before he came. “I’m going to come now!”
Without removing her mouth, she glanced up at Landen from beneath her long dark lashes, and it was his undoing.
He came hard, erupting in her mouth, as the pleasure coursed through his body was almost indescribable. Amelia didn’t stop until she was sure Landen was completely finished.
When she finally released him, she gave him a nervous smile, almost like she was unsure if she should have done what she just had.
“You are fucking amazing!” Landen exclaimed as he sat forward pulling her to him, claiming her mouth with his, and the fact that he could taste himself on her lips was strangely arousing. He pulled his lips from hers and looked into her eyes. “Promise me that you will never run again.”
“It’s the only thing I know to do to protect myself,” she whispered as she held his eyes with hers.
“But it’s my job to protect you,” he breathed out against her lips. “Promise me, Amelia.”
“I promise,” she replied with a whisper before Landen claimed her mouth once more.”
Chapter 14
Amelia
Over the next few weeks, Landen and Amelia settled into a comfortable routine. She had spent the rest of the weekend in Landen’s penthouse taking care of him. Amelia found that she loved every minute that she spent with him.
Landen’s family all dropped by at some point over the weekend. Dylan called by on Saturday evening, and Sunday to check on him. His mother and father called by on Sunday, as did Finn and Callum. Callum told Amelia to take a couple of days off, knowing that if she weren't there, Landen would return to work, and Nell had insisted she wanted him to take some time off.
Liam dropped by on Monday morning with the news that they had picked up Charles Greenway and his goon. At first Charles Greenway had denied that he had anything to do with what happened to Landen, but when Liam told him that he had security video footage of him in the car, as his henchman had worked Landen over, he soon changed his tune.
He pleaded no contest, as did his goon, and they both accepted a deal. It turned out that he had a friend that lived in Landen’s building, so he had visited him, using the visit as a way of gaining entrance into Landen’s underground car park. He admitted that they thought they would have to spend the night hiding there, but it was pure luck that Landen came back down into the garage late that night.
The asshole who actually delivered the beating would do time, as it wasn’t his first offense. Charles would get probation, as it was his first offense, but on the condition, he returned to DC and didn’t return to San Francisco.
Not only was Landen happy, but Nikki was relieved too when Landen called her to tell her the good news.
When Landen returned to work later that week, Amelia said that maybe it was time for her to go home now too. He didn’t say it, but Amelia could see Landen wasn’t happy.
If she was honest, she didn’t really want to go home either, but she and Landen were still just getting to know each other, so she knew it was the right thing to do.
Amelia returned to work too. Despite the uncertainty she had felt for the last couple of weeks, she felt that maybe her life was finally falling back into place.
Even though Pete Reynolds was always there, in the back of her mind, Amelia found that she was able to imagine a future that didn’t involve her running away. A future where maybe she could, not just give love, but allow herself to feel love in return.
Both Nell and Landen had put some protection orders in place for Amelia. Nell had managed to have a restraining order put into place, but it also involved a protection clause that meant even though Pete Reynolds would be informed of the restraining order, he was not given Amelia’s information, which was something that made Amelia feel happier.
Landen also had it be made a requirement that, in order for Reynolds to be released from his mental health facility, he needed a board of three doctor’s to approve it, once they were certain that he no longer posed a threat to Amelia. Also, the hospital had to notify Amelia, through Landen’s office of any change to Reynolds’ situation that could have any impact on her life.
Amelia knew there were no guarantees with any of these measures, but they gave her comfort, which was something she hadn’t felt in such a long time.
She and Nikki had grown closer too. They had a bond because of their shared histories, so in a way, it brought them closer as friends.
Amelia had also grown closer to Landen’s family. It was something she never believed she would ever feel again, but with the Murphy’s, it was almost impossible not to feel part of their family.
“Do you have plans for the weekend, Amelia?” Eloise asked as they walked to the elevator one Friday evening as they were heading home for the weekend.
“I’m going to some charity fundraiser with Landen,” Amelia replied as they stepped onto the elevator. “It’s a black-tie event, but I have never been to one before, so I have no clue what to expect.”
“You’re going to love it!” Eloise exclaimed with a smile. “The Kennedy Group have a big event every Christmas. It is always my favourite night of the year.”
“This is all very new to me,” Amelia said as the elevator came to a stop once more. “I don’t even know what I’m supposed to wear. Nikki said she would take care of it, but now I am wondering if I should have just taken care of it myself.”
“I think you need to stop worrying,” Eloise said as they both stepped off the elevator, towards the revolving doors. “You are going to have a great time.”
“I hope so,” Amelia said as she spotted Landen leaning against his car outside, waiting for her. The moment he saw Amelia, his face lit up, and she couldn’t help but smile too.
“Have a great weekend, Amelia,” Eloise said as she started off down the sidewalk, heading for home. “I want details on Monday.”
“You have a great weekend, too,” Amelia called after her, before she turned and was greeted by Landen with a kiss.
“How was your day?” He asked as he drew her into his arms.
“It was good,” Amelia replied as she smiled up at him. “Even better now.”
“I thought that maybe we could go to dinner tonight,” Landen said still not releasing her from his embrace. “I mean we are out, and we are hungry.”
“Sure,” Amelia replied giving Landen a bright smile. “But maybe I should go home to get changed first.”
“I think you look beaut
iful just as you are,” Landen said as he leaned down to kiss her again.
“But I’ve been wearing these clothes all day,” Amelia replied as she looked down at her long, black pencil skirt, and her grey, satin blouse.
“I’ve been wearing this suit all day too,” Landen said with a laugh. “It’s just dinner.”
“Fine,” Amelia said with a pout, which just made Landen laugh harder.
Twenty minutes later they were being seated at a table in a little Italian restaurant, not too far from Landen’s penthouse.
Landen ordered some wine for them both as Amelia continued to look through the menu.
“I really don’t know what I fancy,” Amelia said as she looked up from her menu and glanced at Landen. Something seemed off with him. He seemed on edge, nervous, or something, but she didn’t know what it was.
“Are you okay?” She asked as she watched him closely.
“Never better,” he replied with a smile, but Amelia could sense that something was definitely off with him. “I would recommend the steak here. I promise you that you won’t be disappointed.”
“I’ll give it a go,” she said as she closed the menu, setting it down in front of her. “Are you sure everything is okay? You seem I don’t know, distracted a little.”
“I think it was just a long day,” Landen replied, giving her a smile, but Amelia was far from convinced. She knew Landen almost three months now, and she could tell that there was something on his mind. But it was clear that he didn’t want to talk about it, so for now, she would let it go.
As they ate dinner, Landen talked about a case he was working on, while Amelia told him about how her day was at work. It was funny, when she started at The Kennedy Group, she was sure she was never going to fit in, but she soon settled in, and now she loved her job.
She loved working with Eloise. They had grown to become really good friends, something Amelia had never imagined she would have again. But she did, and not just one friend; she had friends. Of course, other than Landen, Nikki was her best friend, but she had grown close to Landen’s family too. It was a life she had never imagined she would have again.
Landen Page 14
