Behind The Lies

by Dahlgren , Heather

  “Let me give it to you.” My heart is pounding. I haven’t put myself out there, in longer than I can remember, and it scares the shit out of me.

  “What? No. Wait, what?” she asks, stumbling over her own words.

  “McKinley, I don’t do this. Putting myself out there is something I wasn’t sure I’d ever do again. It’s you. Since you came crashing into our lives, I feel this pull to you that is undeniable. Let me try to make you happy.”

  The fear of rejection is coursing through me right now and I’m man enough to admit I’m terrified. Until I see a tear roll down her cheek. I stand up and wipe it away with my thumb.

  “Braden, I don’t deserve you,” she says, choking back a sob.

  I take her hand and pull her up to me. “You deserve so much more, but the one thing I can give you is me.”

  She lets a few more tears fall, and I press my lips to hers. When I pull back, she runs her left hand down my face.

  “I don’t know where life will take me, but I want it to be here. I want to be the one to make you smile,” she says.

  A piece of my heart finds its way back together in this moment. I don’t say another word. I lead her through the house and upstairs to my room. I’m not going to play games or let my fears stand in my way. I want this woman and I intend to show her just how badly.

  Chapter 9

  McKinley

  * * *

  Walking into Braden’s room, he slowly leads me over to his bed. All the nerves and uncertainties I’ve been feeling completely disappear as I decide to just let this happen. I want this more than I can remember wanting anything before. More than I want a career in modeling.

  When the back of my knees hit the bed, Braden lets his eyes rack over my entire body. A slow burn starts taking over my body that I know will soon be on fire. He slowly runs his hands down my body, causing my eyes to close on their own account. I feel his lips on mine and when he runs his tongue across the seam, I open right up for him. The second our tongues touch it is explosive. His hands find their way to my hair and tangle in, turning my head just enough to deepen the kiss. I let my hands wander, silently beginning for more.

  When he pulls back, we are both breathless and he searches my eyes. “McKinley, are you sure you want to do this?”

  I step out of his hold and pull my dress over my head, dropping it to the floor. Standing before him in my strapless bra and panties, I smile.

  “I’m sure.”

  “Holy fuck, you are stunning.”

  He lets me stand there while he takes in each inch of my exposed flesh. Never taking his eyes off my body he unbuttons his shirt so agonizingly slow, but it is such a damn turn-on. He drops his shirt to the floor and my body is screaming for him to touch me. Unzipping his jeans, he gets out of them a hell of a lot faster and I’m thankful. When I see him standing there in nothing but his dark blue boxer briefs, I can feel my pussy getting wet with need.

  He takes a few long strides to me and pulls me into his arms. Feeling his skin on mine is more than I can handle, and he must feel the same because in a heartbeat it is all-consuming.

  He is kissing me with a fierceness I’ve never experienced. It is hard, rough, sloppy, and hot as fuck. Running his hands down my back to my ass he lifts me with ease, and I wrap my legs around him. Never once breaking our kiss. I’m so turned on I don’t know how to handle it. I want him inside me, no I need him inside me.

  Breaking the kiss, he nips my neck and kisses a path to my breasts. My chest is heaving as I tangle my fingers in his hair. Braden kisses the top of my breasts and I feel my nipples harden. Using one arm to support his weight, he brings the other around and unclasps my bra letting it fall off. Having my breasts exposed to him for the first time is overwhelming, in the best possible way.

  “You are flawless,” he says right before he sucks one of my nipples in his mouth.

  “Oh shit,” I moan.

  The feel of his touch is washing over me. He is paying homage to my breasts and I drop my head back when he gently bites my nipple.

  Without a word, he spins us around and places me on the bed. Pulling my panties down my legs he tosses them over his shoulder, before stepping out of his boxers.

  My eyes take in his entire body and holy shit it’s perfection. Muscles, tan, and a big cock. I unconsciously lick my lips and he climbs on top of me and grins.

  “I like when you eye fuck me.”

  I smile because that is exactly what I was doing.

  He leans in to kiss me and we once again become frantic. We are all exploring hands and mouths. The more my body rubs against his, the wetter I get.

  “Oh God, Braden. I’ve never wanted someone like I want you,” I moan.

  “Fuck. Me either.” He reaches down and rubs his hand on my dripping pussy. “Do you have any idea how fucking hot that is to me when you are so wet for me?”

  His words alone could cause me to orgasm at this point. Braden leans over and grabs a condom out of his nightstand, and I watch with fascination as he rolls it onto himself. I feel his cock at my entrance, and I hold on tightly to his arms.

  “Are you alright?”

  “Oh God, yes,” I shout.

  He grins at my response and kisses my nose. Slowly, he starts to push his way into me, and it feels amazing, but I need more.

  “Shit, faster.”

  That’s all I needed to say, and he slams into me, causing me to scream out.

  Holy crap he knows how to fuck. He is hitting the right spot over and over. I toss my head back letting out a moan and he picks up his pace. “Fuck, McKinley, you are so beautiful.”

  I won’t last much longer; I can feel my orgasm creeping up on me. He must be able to feel it too because he reaches down and rubs my clit. “Look at me. I want to watch you come,” he demands.

  I do as he says, and it becomes too much. His cock inside me, his fingers on my clit, and staring in my eyes; I can’t take it.

  The orgasm crushes over me like the waves down on the beach, pulling me out with it.

  “Oh Braden,” I scream as my orgasm goes on and on.

  “Fuck. I’ve never seen anything hotter in my life,” he says, slamming into me a few more times before he finds his release.

  “Oh fuck,” he growls, before collapsing onto me.

  We lay there in each other’s arms trying to catch our breaths and I can’t help but smile. I never would have thought when this day started that it would end in Braden’s bed. Not only that but after having the best sex I’ve ever had.

  He pushes himself up, leaning on one elbow, and grins down at me before kissing me. Searching my face, I reach up and run my hand down his face.

  “This is the best dinner I ever had,” I joke, and we both laugh.

  “I’m glad.” He kisses my nose and looks at me with a serious expression. “You know it wasn’t my intention when I invited you over. I mean don’t get me wrong, it’s all I’ve thought about, but I invited you here to get to know you better.”

  “I’d say you know me pretty good now.”

  I giggle and he grabs on to me and rolls us so I’m lying on him.

  “That’s where you are wrong. I’m just learning about you and your body,” he says, kissing me.

  I rub my sensitive pussy against him, and I know round two is about to happen.

  My head is resting on Braden’s bare chest and has been since he fell asleep about a half-hour ago. After another explosive orgasm, he asked me to spend the night. I didn’t know if I should if it was too fast, but how much faster would it go? We’d just had sex.

  So, he gave me a t-shirt to put on and we went downstairs to clean up dinner. Once that was done, we talked for a bit, while I was wrapped in his arms on the couch.

  He’s been so sweet and attentive, making me feel more special than I’ve ever felt before. While I lay here listening to his heart, I start to wonder what it would be like if it actually belonged to me.

  I am awoken by the sun blinding me even with my
eyes closed. Rolling over I notice Braden isn’t in bed and I sit up squinting my eyes. He probably never sleeps in with the sun being so damn bright. I get out of bed and put on his t-shirt before heading downstairs.

  When I get to the kitchen, Braden is making breakfast in just his boxers. I stand there admiring the way his muscles flex every time he moves. Damn it’s sexy. He still hasn’t noticed me, so I walk closer and kiss his shoulder.

  He turns his head slightly and grins. “You scared the shit out of me.”

  I giggle and he turns around wrapping his arms around me. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you,” I say.

  Kissing my nose, he smiles at me. “Don’t be sorry. How did you sleep last night? I wanted to let you sleep in today, so I thought I’d come make breakfast.”

  This can’t be real. What guy in real life is this sweet?

  “I slept great. The sun blinding me this morning was unexpected though.”

  He chuckles and kisses my lips. “You get used to that. When I first moved in, I got woken up every day at sunrise. I’m used to it now.”

  He lets go of me and turns around to whatever he’s making, which I know includes bacon because I can smell it.

  I lean against the counter and smile. “I don’t know how you could get used to it. Don’t get me wrong, it’s gorgeous, but damn it’s bright.”

  He is busy with breakfast and just quickly turns his head to grin at me. “Oh right. Well, I do have a remote that tints the windows and blocks out the sun.”

  I laugh and smack his arm.

  Once he finishes making omelets, bacon, and coffee, we take it out on the desk to eat.

  “Are you sure no one will notice I’m just in a t-shirt?”

  “McKinley, believe me, I’d never lie to you. We are so far off from where they can even see clearly. Plus, I don’t want anyone looking at you like that.” He gives me a sexy wink as he finishes his omelet.

  “Okay, fine,” I say and finish the delicious breakfast he’s made.

  He definitely knows how to cook, I’m impressed. Even the coffee tastes better than it does when I make it.

  He rests his arm on the back of my chair as we both enjoy the stunning views in front of us. I’m still amazed that he actually lives here. It’s just breathtaking.

  “McKinley, we need to talk.”

  I don’t like the way he says it and I prepare myself for the morning after speech. You know the one most guys feed you after sleeping with them and they are done with you.

  “Do we really need to do this? I’ll just get dressed and leave.”

  I start to get up and he grabs my hand, stopping me from walking away.

  “What the hell are you talking about?” I don’t even know how to answer him, so I just shrug my shoulders and bite my cheek. “Hey, come here,” he says as he pulls me onto his lap. “Look at me.”

  I do and he takes my arms wrapping them around his neck. He blows out a breath like he is nervous and gives me a tight smile.

  “I need you to know that everything I told you last night is the truth. I want so badly to make you happy.”

  I’m right. He’s going to ask me to leave.

  “But?”

  “But what I didn’t tell you is that I’m trying to get custody of the girls.” I give him a huge smile, but he doesn’t return it. “The thing is I haven’t told anyone. They all keep telling me to get custody, but I don’t want to disappoint anyone if it doesn’t happen.”

  “Braden, I understand. I’d never say a word to anyone,” I say, still not understanding why he has this serious expression.

  “I appreciate that, but that’s not the thing.” He closes his eyes briefly before looking at me again. “With me seeking custody, I need to be careful. Sarah, my ex, will do everything in her power to make sure I don’t get my girls. If she knew that I was with anyone, she’d make it hell.”

  I smile and look into his concerned eyes. “Braden, believe me when I tell you that there is nothing your ex could throw at me that I couldn’t handle.” It is the truth. I’ve already lived in hell, been treated like a whore, and called every imaginable insult. “I’m stronger than you give me credit for.”

  Leaning forward he captures my lips in a sweet, slow kiss and it gets my heart pounding. He pulls back just enough to look into my eyes and says, “I am learning how strong you are, and it is sexy as fuck. I just don’t want you to resent me when things go bad because believe me, they are going to go bad.”

  I don’t know what he wants here. Does he want me to just walk away? That kiss tells me, no, but the words say something else. Truth, he wants the truth.

  “In the past, after the sex, comes the dismissal. I don’t know what the future holds for me, for you, for us, but right now I want to live in the moment,” I say with nerves swimming in my stomach.

  What else can I possibly say to him? I feel these things I’ve never felt before. He makes me feel beautiful, smart, and even after just one night with him, I feel special. I’m not sure where the hell any of this is going, so I kiss him. I kiss him with everything that I have, hopefully relaying without words how he makes me feel.

  Cupping my face, he rubs my right cheek with his thumb. “You’ve just been with the wrong guys because I can tell you any real man would never do that. I would never do that. If I didn’t want you here, I wouldn’t have invited you, I wouldn’t have had sex with you and I wouldn’t have asked you to stay the night. I want you here McKinley, I want you here more than you’ll probably ever understand.”

  I feel tears swimming in my eyes, so I kiss him again. He sinks his fingers into my hair, and I melt into him. It’s slow, sweet, and dare I say full of promise.

  When we break the kiss, he smiles at me and says, “I want to do things at your pace, but if we are going to do this, I need to know you want this.” I smile and just as I’m asbout to speak he presses a finger to my lips. “I’m not saying we need to know where this is going in a week, month or year. I just want to know that you are willing to give us a chance as a couple, even with the crazy shit that could be thrown our way.”

  I would swear I feel him shaking with nerves saying this to me, but it may be the cool wind. Giving him a tight smile, I say, “Braden, you told me you want the truth so here it is. I want this so bad. I want to know what it’s like to be in a real relationship. Be with a guy that truly wants to be with me, laugh, and actually mean it. I want to make you happy, but I’m scared.”

  He rubs his hands up and down my back and kisses me quickly. “I’m scared too, but if you are willing, we can be scared together.”

  If I’m jumping in, I’m doing it with both feet. I want this with him, so fucking bad. With my mind made up I smile at him.

  “I’m more than willing.”

  After a few hours, I had to leave since I am working tonight. London has been so generous not only letting me live in her house but giving me this job. Most days I work during the day, but since I am the new girl, when coverage is needed, I’m not given much of a choice. It’s money though and I’m earning it respectfully.

  I didn’t want to leave Braden’s, but since I have this smile hasn’t left my face. I’m sure people are looking at me like I’m crazy and truthfully, I don’t care. I’m happy, for the first time in my life things are falling into place for me. I’ve got a decent job, started modeling, live in a beautiful home, all because of Blake. Adding Braden to it all makes it, dare I say, perfect.

  “McKinley, your order is up. You better go grab it before London has your ass tomorrow,” one of the girls I work with says, pulling me out of my happy thoughts. I get the food for my table and rush to serve them.

  I can’t wait to get home and take a hot shower. My feet are killing me from being on them all night. I check my phone and see I only have a half-hour to go. I also notice I have a text message from Braden.

  Braden: Hope your night at work is good.

  Me: We’ve been busy, so it’s going fast.

  He gets back to me i
mmediately and I feel like a damn teenager.

  Braden: When do you get off?

  Me: A half-hour.

  “McKinley!” Shit.

  I shove my phone in my pocket and push off the wall I was leaning against when Mr. Smithson yells for me.

  “Hey Mr. S, what’s up?” He doesn’t seem amused with my playful attitude, so I quickly drop my smile.

  “You aren’t being paid to be on your phone. You get paid to be a waitress. That means that after you serve them, you check on them. When that is done there is plenty of back-end work that needs to be done. If you have time to stand around, you aren’t doing your job.”

  I feel like an idiot. Of course, I know I shouldn’t be on my phone.

  “You’re right. I’m sorry, it won’t happen again.”

  He doesn’t say anything else just gives me a quick nod and heads back to his office. I check on my remaining tables and clock out not a minute late.

  When I pull into my driveway, I don’t even want to walk to the door, my feet hurt so bad. I need to invest in better shoes, these are awful. Getting out of the car I lock it and walk to the door, nearly tripping over something there.

  I look down and see flowers. Braden comes right to my mind as I pick up the vase and smell the heavenly scent. I quickly unlock the door and make my way to the kitchen to get a better look.

  I suck in a deep breath when I see how beautiful they are. It’s a mix of all different flowers, colors, and scents. Leaning in to inhale again. I see a note and pull it out.

  McKinley,

  Just wanted you to know I’m thinking of you.

  Braden

  Without even thinking I grab my phone and press call. “I’m hoping this is because the flowers were received.”

  I giggle and drop my purse on the counter before I grab a bottle of water out of the fridge. “Yes, it is. Thank you so much, they are beautiful.”