by Vonnie Davis
He never spared her a glance as his hands flew over the repaired walls. “I’ll come back in two days, once I’m sure this has all dried, and put on a fresh coat of paint. The manager of the complex willna have a reason to deny ye yer security deposit.”
It was as if he’d patched every ounce of hostility and evil memories from the place. Dear God, the sweetness of this hardworking man. Surprise turned to wonderment and quickly grew into the kind of gratitude that overcomes one’s normal emotions. Her chest constricted with the force of appreciation, not only over what he’d done, but over the reasons behind his actions. She dropped to her knees and cried.
His thick knees met hers. “Baby, what is it? What have I done?”
She couldna speak. Instead she waved an open hand around the empty place. “Ye did all this fer me? No one ever does anything fer me.”
He wiped sandy hands over his jeans before he wrapped them around her face. Breathing kisses on her eyes, he blotted away her tears. “This…right here…right now…is where all that changes, because ye are mine now. By being mine, ye belong to me family too. Ronan helped me fix the holes in the plaster. He’s a whiz at that sort of thing; ʼtis what he’s done at the lodge many times. We were done with the holes and had replaced the closet door in under two hours. A simple ‘Thank ye’ is all that’s required for him.”
Bryce leaned her back onto the carpet and lay on top of her. He nibbled her neck. “Now we both ken I’m a demanding bastard. I’ll require a more sexual show of gratitude. I’m also thinking we should say goodbye to this apartment that holds so many bad memories for ye with a healthy, happy dose of lovemaking.”
“Is that condom still burning a hole in yer arse?”
“Och, beloved, ye have no idea!” He reached behind him and slipped it from his back pocket, waving it under her nose. “ʼTis the rubber from hell.” A slow sexy grin spread. “But I’m betting it could take us both to heaven, so when ye walk out of here fer the last time, a smile will be shining from one of yer delicate ears to the other.” He kissed her quickly. “And ye’ll be floating as if ye’d sprouted springs on yer feet.”
Normally, she’d deliver a smart-ass retort, but his idea held great merit. How long had it been since she’d last climaxed? Since him. Duncan was too concerned with his own satisfaction to give one moment’s thought to hers, but Bryce had always enjoyed pleasing her.
In a flurry of movement, he tugged off her T-shirt and reached around her to unsnap the clasp of her plain bra. “I wish I’d worn a sexier bra to excite ye more, but I didna.”
He exhaled a bark of laughter as his gaze swept over her. “As if ye arna woman enough to excite, me calico-eyed seductress. I have dreamed of seeing ye naked, night after night.” His kisses began at her collarbone and worked downward. A nip here followed by a soothing sweep of the tongue to ease the ache and kisses that made her yearn in places she’d long since thought dead.
“I have always loved these breasts of yers. More than a handful, fer sure. Breasts a man fantasizes about touching, kissing, sucking.” His tongue circled one nipple, which pebbled to a painful point, and when he drew it into his mouth, all her feminine parts wanted to clap and cheer. Her other nipple puckered, as if pouting over its lack of attention. Bryce’s mouth moved to tease and suck it too. Kenzie grabbed his head to keep it where she needed him, drawing at her breasts. A deep masculine groan rewarded her efforts, and he intensified his attentions to her needy breasts.
“I could suck on those all night.” His thumb grazed the points. “Ye are so, so beautiful.” He propped himself on one arm and reached with his other to unsnap and unzip her jean shorts, tugging them off.
“Raise your hips, luv, so I can remove these lacy panties. Part of me wants to rip them off ye, but there will be no roughness between us in this place. Ye’ve suffered enough of that here. Today, there will only be gentleness. Only tender touches with words of praise and love.”
He kent. Somehow he kent the awful memories that haunted her here and, because he cared, was determined to give her a precious remembrance to dwell on when thoughts of this apartment came to mind. Her heart swelled over the depth of his thoughtfulness, and her earlier scalding tears of sorrow changed to tears of joy. “Ye make me happy.”
“Och, me beauty, I’ve only started.” He sat and undressed. “Take off yer boots. There will be nothing, but that feckin’ condom between us today. I mean to touch and lick and kiss every inch of ye.” He trailed a finger over her pussy. “Before our date tomorrow night, give some thought to shaving this. When it glistens with moisture fer the want of me, I want to see it before I taste it.”
“Should I even ask where ye learned about that? Ye never requested it when we dated before.” A pang of jealousy slammed into her and twisted her stomach. Who was the woman who shaved fer him? Or were there several women?
“Guests at the lodge often leave books behind. Some of them I read.” His face reddened and he glanced sideways at her.
“Surely ye dinna mean romance books?”
“Ye ask too many questions, and ye have a sassy mouth that needs to be kissed.” Good humor twinkled from his eyes before his lips smacked against hers. “The time for talking is past. Now we feel. We enjoy.” He positioned his knees between her legs and lowered his head. His thumbs separated her labia and he swiped his tongue along her slit. “So fukin’ sweet, luv. I want to stick me fingers in ye, but they’re not clean enough from the sanding. But me tongue…aye, me tongue…”
Her hips elevated from the carpet when his tongue entered her. “Bryce!” Nothing had felt this good in ages. He was right. He would take her to heaven.
He established a slow pattern of one lick around her clit before three tonguings. She pinched her eyes shut and concentrated on his calloused hands lifting her bottom off the carpet so he could taste, taunt, and tongue-fuck her. Her abdomen tightened and her thigh muscles quivered.
“Are ye close, sweetheart? Let me hear ye scream me name when ye come.” His mouth picked up its fantastic pattern again. Then the sexual storm hit, thundered, roared, and split the world into a bazillion parts.
“Bryce!”
He pressed feather-light kisses to her labia and inner thighs until her tremors stopped. “I will remember how ye liked that and do it again and again over the years.”
Over the years? The man talks like this will be permanent.
Then he tore open the foil packet and rolled the condom over his straining erection. He slipped each of her legs onto his shoulders and slowly entered.
“My God, ʼtis like coming home. It’s been fourteen months and twenty days since I’ve been inside ye. Yer tightness, yer wetness, yer fukin’ amazing body. Let me go slow, baby. I want ye to come again.” He took his sweet time entering her all the way to the hilt and slowly pulling out. “I love ye with all me heart.” He slid into her again and back out. “Look at me, sweetheart.”
She opened her eyes and focused on his. Sweat beaded on his forehead. The muscles in his neck corded. Then he raised up enough to allow his hand to come between them so his thumb could circle her clit. “Ye are mine. I’ll be jealous. Aye, possessive as fukin’ hell, but I will never lay a hand on ye in anger. I will treasure ye with every part of me being.” His hips pistoned into her. “Me God, ye are like feminine gold. Precious. So damned precious.” His thumb finally ceased its circular torture and pressed on her clit.
Like a freight train, her second climax rumbled through her body, roaring in her ears and making every muscle in her body tremble.
“Mine!” His head reared back. He shouted her name and shuddered as he came with such force even he seemed surprised. With gentleness, he slid her legs off his shoulders and fell against her. His damp forehead nuzzled his favorite spot on her neck as he struggled to catch his breath. His arms shifted to hold her closer, and several minutes passed before his labored breathing slackened. “Wow.”
The pounding in her own heart had slowed only enough to let her form a few cohe
rent words. “The same thought crossed me mind a time or two.”
He raised his head so that he could look at her for a bit. “Just a time or two? I need to try harder to please ye.” His sexy grin appeared. “Stay, luv. Let me dispose of this.”
She could barely keep her eyes open after her two fantastic climaxes, but through their slits she admired his strong back and tight arse as he walked out of the bedroom.
Please dinna let him hurt me again. Not after the beauty of today.
Chapter 9
After showering and putting on clean clothes, Bryce was still floating on his sexual high when he stepped into the huge, spotless kitchen at Matheson Lodge. Colleen stood on a wooden chair at the sink, her little arms elbow deep in a pan of sudsy water. He bent to kiss her upturned face as bubbles floated about her head. “How’s Da’s sweetest girl today?”
“Dinna ask! I’m as peeved as two bees in a jar, working as hard as I am.” She tilted her head to a pan of clear water full of doll clothes. “I’ve been doing me laundry. Twelve dollies make a lot of dirty clothes.”
“Maybe it’s time ye threw a couple away, especially the old ones who’ve lost an arm or leg.” He stepped back in case she decided to kick him fer his remark. The child had more dolls than any four girls.
“I’ll pretend ye dinna say that. Especially when I have a bone to pick with ye.” Her auburn eyebrows lowered, and she grunted as she pulled his pink, bejeweled T-shirt out of the soapy scrub water. “I found yer bestest shirt under yer bed. Is that any place to keep a masterpiece such as this?” She speared him with a scowl that frightened his bear.
Kiss her. Make her happy again. Dinna let her start that infernal screeching ye humans call crying.
ʼTwas time to feign innocence. “Och, me darlin’, how did it end up there?”
Her little arms worked furiously, the level of soap suds rising in her scrub bowl. “Dinna ask me. I’m not the one who wore it last.” She cast an accusatory glare his way. “Good thing I helped Cook clean the private quarters this afternoon. I found a golden Barbie high heel under me bed and this under yers. And just what do ye have to say fer yerself?”
Bryce glanced at Cook Edweena for help. All she offered as she looked up from the large pot she was stirring was a narrow-eyed stare. It seemed the entire house went into a tizzy anytime Colleen got upset.
“Och, and wait till Uncle Ronan sits at his place at the dinner table and sees the magazine I found under his bed. I’m putting it directly on his plate.” Colleen waved her soapy hands around in obvious disgust before planting them on her tiny hips. “Wait until you look at that awful magazine. What kinda woman would have her picture taken with her bare bottom stuck in the air as if she wanted the wind to blow up her arse just to see if it would whistle?” She puckered her lips and made a whistling noise.
Bryce swiveled toward Cook Edweena, her back facing him now, her shoulders shaking in obvious laughter. He joined her at the stove. “Me daughter isna the hired help for upstairs work. She can help down here.”
The woman’s face was bright red. “I’m sorry,” Cook whispered. “I didna ken she would find so much stuff. She’s like a human dust rag, that one. Nothing misses her scrutiny.”
He rubbed a consoling hand over Edweena’s shoulder. “She is a handful. Perhaps we’ve got her a wee bit spoiled. From now on, find her little jobs down here to keep her busy until school starts.” He winked at the old woman. “I canna wait until Ronan gets his arse chewed fer having that magazine. Colleen will embarrass the hell out of him.”
Cook snorted. “I’ve got the whole staff on notice.” She glanced over her shoulder at the child. “Bright as a button, she is. Ye know everyone at Matheson Lodge loves her more than the next Highland sunrise.”
“Aye. As do I.” He pivoted and stood behind his daughter, wrapping both arms around her wee shoulders. “Me sweet one, ʼtis sorry I am fer tossing yer beautiful handiwork on the edge of the bed when I undressed last night. I was too tired to put it in its proper place. I guess as I tossed and turned in me sleep, it fell on the floor.” He buzzed a kiss on her neck, blowing raspberries that brought about giggles. “Can ye forgive yer careless da?”
She kept on scrubbing the T-shirt as if he’d worn it through a mud storm. “I wanted ye to wear this to the cinema tomorrow. Did ye ask Kenzie to go with us?” A splash of soap suds landed on her forehead and Bryce quickly wiped it off before it ran into her eyes.
“Aye, I did. She’d love to go if she doesna have to work for Effie. Ye ken I told ye she was to be her personal assistant.”
“Then perhaps ye should step outside so ye can call yer sweetheart. Cell phone perception is better out there.”
“Reception, me sweet one. ʼTis phone ‘reception.’ And what is this about ‘me sweetheart’?”
“Och, that.” Her head bobbed like it did when she was about to explain one of life’s mysteries only she seemed to understand. “I’m yer sweet one. She can be yer sweetheart or yer luv. That way ye won’t get us mixed up when ye sweet-talk us both at the same time.”
Bloody hell, his wee sweet bairn was growing up too fast. Jealousy. He hadna given a thought that his little girl might be envious of his new relationship with Kenzie. And this would be a deeper connection between Kenzie and him—a permanent one, a committed one. His daughter’s feelings must be taken into consideration. He’d not have her hurt.
“Ye do ken ye will always be first in me heart? Always.”
“Aye. But I’m a watcher. I watch how Grandma loves ye, Uncle Creigh, and Uncle Ronan the same amount. A wee bit different, but the same, if ye catch me meaning. I think ye can do the same with me and Kenzie too.”
His darling girl was a smart one, she was. Smart and intuitive. “Ye mentioned having Kenzie for a mum. Were ye serious or just talking wishes?”
The child jumped into his arms, her wet hands sending a chill down his neck and soap suds settling in his still damp hair. She blew them away, then said, “Och, Da, I was really, really serious. And I ken just how ye should propose.” She took a deep breath before giving her excited directions. “I’ve been giving it careful thought all day while I worked. Listen to me now while I give ye a few tips I learned from Beauty and the Beast and a few other fairy tales.”
A cold chill slithered up his back. It was never good when Colleen got to planning things. “Well now, Kenzie might refuse me. Ye never ken.”
“Not if ye do it right. Do ye have a ring?” Colleen’s head tilted. “A ring is verra important. And satin breeches. Do ye have satin breeches to wear? Golden ones would be best. Och, and matching gold satin shoes with heels and buckles.”
What the fukin’ hell? “Not fer any woman am I wearing gold satin breeches and shoes with heels and buckles.”
Colleen crossed her arms and arched her eyebrows in her typical bet-me glare.
Cook covered her wrinkled face with her apron and laughed out loud.
—
Kenzie’s cell phone rang as she soaked in a hot bubble bath. She reached over the side to grab it and saw Bryce’s name on the caller ID. “Hello.”
“I’m a fukin’ excuse of a da. I lied to me daughter.”
The concern in his voice was so serious, she couldna help but laugh.
“ʼTis not so damn funny! I came home to find her scrubbing me ‘special’ pink T-shirt, pissed because she found it hidden under me bed. I had to pretend I hadna a clue how it got there.”
She squeezed the loofah sponge, allowing the water to dribble over her upraised leg. As Bryce retold the entire story, including the part about the adult magazine beneath Ronan’s bed and the woman’s bare arse, she laughed until tears of mirth moistened her cheeks. She moved around in the bathwater some more. “Ye’ve got quite the daughter there, Bry.”
“ ‘Bry.’ Ye’ve not called me that in ages. Och, and I’m under orders to call ye ‘sweetheart’ or ‘luv.’ ‘Me sweet one’ is Colleen’s special name.”
She straightened, ready to reach
for the bath plug. “Do ye think our seeing each other will make her feel left out? I dinna want to make her jealous or feel less important. She’s so dear to me already.”
“No. She just has her own ideas about things. Believe me, she is not in the least bit jealous. Sweetheart, where are ye right now? I hear water. Please dinna tell me ye are taking a bath…naked…because I’m getting a hard-on just thinking about watching ye.”
“Isna that how one takes a bath? Naked?”
His moan was both sensual and painful.
“Da, can ye hang up yer special shirt now so it dries for tomorrow? Are ye talking to Kenzie?” There was movement she couldna discern. “Let me talk to her while ye hang yer shirt and me Barbie clothes on the clothesline.”
“So much fer putting on a macho front, hanging up Barbie clothes. Here’s Colleen, sweetheart.”
“Hi, Miz Kenzie. Do ye like the new name I gave ye? Though what will I call ye?”
“ ‘Kenzie’ is fine. Friends call each other by their first names, dinna they?”
“I was thinking of ‘Mumma.’ ”
Och, dear God. How do I handle this? I’d love to have her call me that, but ’twouldn’t be right.
“What a lovely thought. Something we can talk about later. Okay? Yer da tells me ye’ve been working hard. I hope ye have taken a rest so ye get better.” She pulled the plug, stood, and reached for a towel, trying hard to keep the cell from plopping into the water.
“Aye, I did work hard today.” She heaved a sigh over the cell. “And I lay down twice fer naps, but I only slept once. I read books the other time. Are ye going to the cinema with us tomorrow?”
“Aye, I am. What color are ye wearing, so we look alike?” She wasna so old she didna recall the girly dressing ritual when going somewhere. They quickly decided on jean shorts and purple T-shirts.
