If You Could Only Imagine (Buchanan Brothers Series Book 2)

by M. E. Clayton

  My fingers dug into her flesh and I held her captive as I crashed into her, making the pictures on the wall rattle. “I fucking love you, Denise,” I repeated, giving up on any sort of romance of the moment. “I love you and I’m going to live inside this perfect pussy of yours.”

  “Aiden!” Her cunt clamped over me and her body started to shake. I fucked her through her tremors, and it wasn’t a few seconds later, and I was with her, riding the high.

  Our heavy breathing was the only thing that could be heard in the entire apartment and I stayed lodged inside her until my dick softened and our releases eased me out of her body.

  With her towel being a thing of the past, I finally lowered her onto her feet, and she stood before me gloriously naked and looking thoroughly fucked.

  I was halfway to removing my clothes when she finally found her voice. “Mi…Michael came to see me,” she said, her eyes raking over me as I undressed. I loved that I fucked her deep and hard enough to make her stutter. That’s what I wanted to do with this woman for the rest of my life. Fuck her so good, she’d always be an incoherent mess afterwards.

  My pants were already being kicked off my feet when I said, “Yeah?”

  She bit her bottom lip, still ogling me. “Yeah,” she replied.

  I stood before her just as naked as she was, with all kinds of ideas of how I planned on taking her, running through my head. However, I did my best to focus on what she was saying. “And?”

  Her eyes finally found mine. “He said I’m in love with you,” she blurted out.

  If my heart wasn’t already racing as a result of our earlier excursions, it was certainly racing now. “Yeah?” I was not going to lead this conversation. She already knew how I felt. It was her turn to lay her cards on the table.

  Her beautiful head nodded. “He said I had to be in love with you for me to let you…take me over like you have.” I remained silent as her she stretched up on her tiptoes and wrapped her arms around my neck. “And I’m pretty sure he’s right,” she said, her words feathering against my skin. “I love you, Aiden.”

  Chapter 23

  Denise~

  My sweaty body laid sprawled out over Aiden’s in its final attempt at life.

  After I told him I loved him, he had carried me into the bedroom where we continued to worship each other long into the late hours of the night. Nothing had been left to the imagination and Aiden made sure I cried out how much I loved him with every orgasm he gave me.

  “Aiden?”

  “Hmm?” His hand was running up and down over my back as my cheek rested against his chest.

  “I’m still four years older than you, mixed with no social standing, whatsoever, and an employee of BI, who works for a living,” I mumbled. I wanted him to realize that my issues-while not as severe any longer-still existed to some extent.

  He was quiet for a bit before saying, “Women outlive men anyway. Our children are going to be gorgeous with their mixed heritages. And they’re going to have the best uncles and aunt in the world. And are you actually an employee of Buchanan Industries if you’re a Buchanan?”

  My body jerked across his in an uncontrollable laugh. I loved that he could joke about it because his ease with my issues made them less…serious. He made them seem simple and manageable. “I’m not a Buchanan,” I pointed out.

  He gathered me tighter in his embrace. “You will be,” he replied, simply.

  “How?” Just one word, because I knew he knew what I was asking.

  Aiden kiss the top of my head and went back to running his fingertips over my skin. “I’ll admit, before Shane, I would have taken this connection for a crazy, strong attraction and nothing more.” My heart seized a little at his words. At the end of the day, every girl just wants a man who is crazy for her. That’s why we read fairytales, watch romantic comedies and daydream. I found myself actually worried that he was changing his mind regarding his feelings for me. “I wasn’t a big believer in love at first sight.” He let out a soft chuckle. “It sounds absolutely juvenile.”

  “But…”

  “I know you’ve heard the rumors, and there are all kinds of speculations about Mason’s mental health, and the truth? He is a bit of a sociopath.” I was rather shocked that he was speaking so freely about his brother. “He doesn’t empathize very well and has no regard for other people’s feelings.”

  I suddenly felt the need to defend Mason. “That’s not true,” I objected. “During my meeting with him, he was very…sympathetic to what was happening.”

  Aiden gave me a small squeeze. “That’s because he already knew how I felt about you,” he explained. “The second you started to mean something to me, you started to mean something to him. Michael and Gabriel, too.”

  I mulled that over and it sounded reasonable. “Okay, so you were saying…”

  “The day Mason saw Shane at Blaineview, he called me the second she was out of sight and told me he just saw the girl he was going to marry. We were freshmen and his mind had already mapped out a plan on how the next four years would pan out and what their futures would be.”

  “Wow.” This love story warranted a ‘wow’.

  “Yeah, wow,” he acceded. “I’ll never forget it. I knew my brother, and I knew he didn’t suffer emotions like us normal folks. So, when he said that, I knew he was telling me the absolute truth as he saw it. He looked over, saw a girl standing across the walkway, made eye contact and felt.”

  “Attraction can be a powerf-”

  “It wasn’t attraction,” he said, interrupting me. “Women have been throwing themselves at Mason since he got his first hard-on, and he’s been attracted to a few different women during his lifetime. He wasn’t attracted to Shane. He felt something emotional when he looked at her, not sexual. If one look can make Mason Buchanan feel, then one look proves love at first sight.”

  His words bounced around in my head and I wanted to believe in the phenomenon of love at first sight. Because if it was real, then these past couple of days would all be worth it. “The rumor is that he worships the ground she walks on,” I shared, the romantic girl in me hoping he confirms it.

  He let out a deep blast of laughter. “Mason does more than worship the ground that girl walks on, Denise. Michael, Gabriel and I worship the ground she walks on,” he stated. “Mason…Mason’s every breath is taken merely for the sole purpose of her existence.” I could feel my eyes water at the emotion in Aiden’s voice. “Shane Buchanan has a soul so beautiful, she’s like a walking, talking masterpiece.”

  I couldn’t argue with the man. I’ve only been around Shane a handful of times, but even as brief as those encounters had been, I could still see what a wonderful nature she possessed. Being around Shane was like being surrounded by peace.

  I wondered if she was aware of her gift.

  “And Mason…”

  “Mason knows exactly what he has in his wife. He knows how special and…Shane’s like our home,” he went on. “That’s the best way I can describe what she means to us. Especially, Michael.” Aiden let out a low whistle. “Michael would murder someone in cold blood for Shane. Remember that if you ever have to discuss something about Shane with him.”

  “She’s very lucky,” I muttered, suddenly feeling…a little bit less than.

  “Well, she’s the reason I believe in love at first sight. And she’s the reason I know that’s what it was with you.” Aiden rolled over and positioned me beneath him, his elbows bracing all the weight of his upper body. “I look at my sister and see the purest soul I’ve ever seen. I look at her and know that I would take a bullet for her in a heartbeat.” He leaned down and gave my lips the softest kiss before pulling his head back to look into my eyes. “But all that pales in comparison to what I feel for you, Denise.”

  I gasped. I wasn’t expecting those words. “Aiden…”

  “I love you in a way that outshines whatever it is I feel for Shane or any of my brothers. It’s easy to lay my life on the line for any of them. I m
ean, if I die protecting one of them, well then, I’m just dead. They’d have to deal with the aftermath, but me? I’d be dead without a care in the world. But this thing with you…I risked my reputation, your reputation, the company’s reputation, Mason’s reputation, possible lawsuits, jail time…everything…just for a chance to fucking chase you.” I could feel lone tears trail down the side of my face. “I’m willing to live in the aftermath of this clusterfuck if it means I get to be with you, Dibtab.”

  I laughed through my quiet tears. “I can’t believe those boys saddled me with that ridiculous name.”

  Aiden kissed the tip of my nose. “It suits you, babe.”

  I brought my arms up and started running them over his hard, muscled chest. “So, we’re really going to do this?”

  He smirked. “We’ve been doing this,” he huffed. “You were just a little late getting on the ride.”

  “So…Mason…” Even though Mason had been supportive and understanding, the man was still intimidating. And hearing Aiden confirm his psychopathic status, well that was rather…daunting.

  His face softened. “Babe, you’re going to see a side of Mason that no one outside the family ever gets to see. And you’re going to absolutely love him once you get to know him.”

  “An…and your…parents?” I hated to ask, but if we were really going to do this, I needed to know what I was going up against. And I already knew his father was a racist prick, but I had no clue to what Aiden’s mother was like.

  He rolled us over until I was straddling him and looking down at him. His green gaze was so full of tenderness, my eyes watered again. “I’m not going to lie and tell you my father isn’t exactly what he is reputed to be,” he said, simply. “He’s a horrible person, and he made our lives…doesn’t matter. He’s a horrible person, and nothing anyone says or does will change that. Mason’s in charge now and that’s all you need to know in regards to my father.” I wasn’t sure what to say to that, but his next words conveyed just how estranged these men were from the man who raised them. “If he ever comes near you again, Denise, and I’m not around, you go to Mason. Understand?”

  The conviction in Aiden’s tone made me hope I never run into the man ever in my life. I nodded, then asked, “And your mother?”

  “Our relationship is a work in progress,” he confessed. “However, she’s nothing like Harold, and she actually stopped by today to let me know she’d like to meet you whenever you’re comfortable enough to do that.”

  “Do…does Shane get along with your parents?” I was curious. Everyone loved Shane, so I wondered if his parents loved her, too.”

  Aiden’s hands started running up and down my flanks and I marveled at how natural it felt to be laying on top of this man, completely naked, and totally at ease. “My mother, Natalie, adores Shane, but she’s…not exactly comfortable around her because of Mason’s psychosis where Shane is concerned. My mom worries she might offend Shane in some small manner and Mason will burn the city down as a result. Harold stays away from her, but when he can’t avoid her, he’s on his best behavior.”

  I took a minute to process all his words, then finally said, “I’d really like to meet your mother.”

  Aiden leaned up and kissed my chin. “I was hoping you’d want to.”

  Chapter 24

  Aiden~

  “Jesus Christ, woman,” I growled. “How many times do I have to tell you? I had nothing to do with that.”

  Denise had her hands planted on her hips. “Then who would? And don’t tell me it was Shane, because she’s too sweet to be that calculating.”

  I threw my hands up in the air. It was that or strangle the stubborn woman.

  Last night, Denise and I had stayed up way into the later hours of the night talking in between bouts of screwing. She told me all about her family and how growing up bi-racial had been an unfortunate eye-opener. She told me how her parents struggled with racism and how they did their best to balance a good life for her versus growing up in a bad neighborhood. I learned so much about what made her tick and I realized her initial concerns for dating me had been valid.

  In turn, I had told her about growing up with Harold and Natalie and how Dad was a dick and Mom had been neglectful, but not…well, she wasn’t Dad by a long shot.

  I told her about Mason’s burden of responsibility when it came to me, Michael and Gabriel. I told her about Dad’s verbal abuse, physical abuse and dictatorship growing up. I did my best to explain why Mason was the way he was, why Gabriel was the way he was and why Michael was the most damaged out of us all.

  When she had asked if I should be telling her all our dark family secrets, I assured her that my brothers and I didn’t keep secrets, and soon enough, she would learn that first hand.

  Then she cried herself laughing when I told her I walked in on Shane blowing Mason and how Shane just laughed at me.

  Now, she was in my office waving around an invitation of some sort. Denise had stomped in here, no hello, good morning, hey babe, or anything and just got to instantly accusing me of nefarious party plotting. “Well, have you asked Shane?” Fucking, women, I swear. “Maybe she’s giving herself a little congratulatory party and…well, I don’t know what. But did you ask her?”

  “No,” she retorted. “Why would she throw herself a congratulatory party, Aiden?”

  “Hell, if I know,” I barked back. “But it wasn’t me.”

  Denise walked over to my desk and pointed to the phone. “Call her then,” she demanded. “Call her and ask her about this party my parents got invited to.”

  I ran my hands through my hair and almost ripped out every strand. We were exactly where we were meant to be, and she wanted to argue over a party. A party I had nothing to do with. “What’s the big deal, anyway?” I asked. “It’s not like I wasn’t going to meet your parents at some point, anyway. You do want them at our wedding, don’t you?”

  She gasped in true theatrical fashion. “Call. Shane,” she repeated, her eyes narrowing on me.

  I reached for the phone and punched in Shane’s extension, placing her on speaker. She answered on the second ring. “What’s up? Oooohhhh, I’m on speakerphone,” she said, excitedly. “This must be good.”

  I rolled my eyes. I loved my sister, but she was such a weirdo sometimes. “Sis, did you send Denise’s parents an invitation to a sort of launching party of your company?” Might as well get right on it.

  There was a couple of heartbeats of silence before she said, “Nope.” And she popped the ‘p’ super hard. “Hold on a second,” she said, before sounds of buttons being pushed invaded my office.

  The sound of a ringing phone filled the silence and Mason’s voice made an appearance. “Hey, baby.” I glanced up and saw how Denise’s face softened at his greeting. Too bad not everyone knew the Mason Buchanan on the phone right now.

  “Hey, Mason,” she responded, her voice filled with just as much love as my brother’s. “You’re on conference with Aiden and Denise an-”

  “How did you know I was in here?” Denise blurted out. I smiled as I watched her plant that sexy ass of hers on my desk.

  “Uh, why else would Aiden call me on speaker?” Shane reasoned.

  “Lots of reasons,” Denise countered. “Maybe his hands are busy…” She face-palmed herself as soon as her words registered.

  “Oh, I bet his hands are all kinds of busy,” Shane teased.

  “Shane!” Denise yelped, her face flushed.

  “What?” she asked, Mason’s chuckle in the background.

  “Oh, my God! Can we get back to the purpose of this call, please,” she muttered, clearly embarrassed.

  Shane’s laughter subsided, and she asked, “Mason did you send out an invitation to Denise’s parents for a party in celebration of…uh, how I accepted your ridiculousness?”

  I laughed as I watched Denise’s eyes bug out of her head. I couldn’t imagine what she was thinking listening to Shane speak to Mason in such a flippant manner.

  “
It wasn’t me, babe,” he answered. “But a party sounds like a good time.”

  Denise’s hazel gaze shot my way. “Then who would invite my parents to a party no one knows about?”

  “Michael,” came the immediate answer by me, Shane and Mason.

  “I’m going to strangle that kid one day,” Denise muttered.

  “Nu uh,” Shane chimed in. “I got dibs on that man’s neck.”

  I laughed, not at all surprised that this was Michael’s concocted plan. “Thanks, guys,” I said, hitting the End button before they could even say their goodbyes. I looked up at Denise and waiting patiently for her apology.

  She rolled her eyes and grumbled, “Okay, fine. Sorry…”

  My lip tilted. I was doing my best to refrain from smiling at her obviously painful apology. “That’s it?” I asked. “You barge in here, accusing me of all kinds of evil doings, and that’s all I get?”

  She cocked her head at me and stared at me like I was a simpleton. “Can you please call Michael and ask him what the hell?”

  This time I narrowed my eyes at her and dialed Michael. “I’m just letting you know now, you’re sucking my dick in the only appropriate way of an apology that I’ll accept.”

  Denise straightened her spine and crossed her arms over that glorious chest of hers. “Oh, am I, now?”

  Michael’s voice came over the line before I could confirm. “What’s up? Oooohhhh, I’m on speaker phone. This must be good,” he said, echoing Shane, and I laughed. I’m sure Denise didn’t find it funny, but she’d get used to my family soon enough.

  “Seriously?” she asked, looking over at me.

  I got myself under control and spoke into the phone. “Michael, did you send Denise’s parents an invitation to a party for Shane’s company?”

  The little twerp snorted. “Of course, I did,” he answered, his voice sounding completely reasonable.

  “Why?” I asked, curious as to what had been going on in his mind.

  “Dude,” he deadpanned. “Your charms obviously weren’t working, Aid. What was I supposed to do? Let her get away?”