Love Restored

by Carrie Ann Ryan

  Damn it. Graham Gallagher licking himself clean after fingering her was the hottest thing she’d ever seen in her life.

  And they were both still clothed.

  “Fucking sweet.” He crushed his mouth to hers before gripping her ass in his large hands and lifting her off the floor. She wrapped herself around him, tangling her hand in his hair as she kissed him back.

  “I need you,” she panted. She may have just come, but she needed more than a light touch. She needed his body, his mouth, his cock. She needed it all.

  He carried her to the bedroom and set her on her feet before quickly stripping her. She tossed her shoes as soon as he let her down and then helped him with her leggings, but he had her bra undone and her panties off in a blink.

  The fact that she stood naked in front of him, stretch marks and signs of bearing a child on full display, all while he was fully dressed shouldn’t have been a turn on, but it was. She pushed thoughts of what she wasn’t revealing to him out of her mind and tried to live in the moment.

  She’d deal with the consequences later.

  “Get naked,” she rasped. “I need you naked.”

  He chuckled even as he reached out and cupped her breast in one large, calloused hand. She gasped as he slid his thumb over her nipple. “We can do that. Yeah, we can do that. And, baby? I think these pierced would have been hot as fuck. They’re hot as fuck now, too.”

  She nipped at his jaw, needing more. “Thank you. Now take off your fucking clothes.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Now who’s in charge?” she teased.

  He reached around and smacked her ass. Hard. “If me getting naked gets me in that cunt of yours quickly, then yeah, I’ll do what you want.”

  She rolled her eyes, then moaned as he slid his hand between the crease of her ass, dipping inside to probe her. She licked her lips. “Not that kind of play on the first date, Gallagher.”

  His eyes brightened. “Does that mean I get your ass one day?”

  “First, let me see your cock.” She laughed as he undressed so fast, she was afraid he’d break something. Seriously, tell a man you might be open to anal at some point and suddenly, they’re quick as lightning to get things done.

  She looked at him, all muscles and sinew, hard—and yet she knew he could be soft. He was tanned like he worked outside but had faint tan lines like someone who worked long hours outdoors and didn’t care about getting his color even. His arms were thick, as were his thighs. She wanted to lick every inch of him.

  Every. Inch.

  And those are some inches, she thought as she looked at his cock.

  “Um, yeah, I don’t think that’s going to fit in my ass, Graham.” He was wide and long, thick, and oh so hard. The piercing on the end glinted under the lights, and she couldn’t wait to feel that inside her. She knew that he’d hit her at the right spot, and she’d see stars. The man worked wonders with his hands, and she had a feeling he’d be even better with his cock.

  Graham kissed her then. “Just the tip?” he asked with a laugh.

  She laughed with him, but when she reached out and gripped him, he groaned. “Let me see,” she said smoothly before going down on her knees.

  “Holy hell, you on your knees in front of me is a hell of a sight.”

  “Just wait until you see the back of my head.”

  Graham threw his head back and laughed before choking on it. He gripped the back of her head and hissed. “Fuck!”

  She’d licked the tip of his dick around the piercing before carefully wrapping her mouth around the head. She had to be careful of her teeth, but since she worked and dated within her industry, she was no stranger to blowjobs with pierced dicks. When she cupped his balls with one hand and wrapped the rest of his cock with the other, he moaned again.

  “Baby, I’m going to come if you’re not careful.”

  She looked up at him and hummed before bobbing up and down, licking around the crown as he moaned and thrust his hips. When she let go of his balls to reach around and play along the crease of his ass, he froze.

  “Blake?”

  She pulled back and kissed the side of his dick. “Ass play is fair game, Gallagher.”

  When he pulled her up, she wasn’t surprised, but his words did surprise her. “You can play with my prostate and even fuck me in the ass later if you want, but I don’t want to come in your mouth. I need you now. Got me?”

  She laughed and shook her head. “I didn’t think that would be your game, Graham. What about the whole control thing?”

  “I like control when I’m fucking you, Blake. But I’m not a young guy who is learning how to make a woman come. I know how to find your clit and your G-spot. I’m going to make you come fucking hard, too. But for me? I like it all. I might not be into guys like Jake is, but I don’t mind you playing with my prostate if it turns us both on.”

  Holy hell, Graham Gallagher not only talked dirty, but he was dirty.

  Lucky, lucky fucking girl.

  “Kiss me,” she gasped. “Then fuck me. I need you inside me. I know you wanted to go down on me, but I need your cock first.”

  Graham smiled, his eyes going dark before he kissed her. “Let me grab a condom. Lay down on the edge of the bed and spread your legs. Hold your thighs and keep your knees up by your shoulders. Think you can do that?”

  “Thank God for Pilates,” she joked.

  He kissed her hard. “You can show me all those moves later. I like that you’re bendy.”

  Her body shook in anticipation as she did as he asked. She felt weird, oddly bare and open for him as she lay there. But he was quick with the condom, and for some reason, she felt safe with him. It was probably a mistake, but she didn’t care. Not then.

  “You are so fucking sexy,” he growled. He leaned down over her, licked her pussy with one long stroke before kissing up her stomach and the valley between her breasts and biting each nipple. She shook more as he licked up her neck and planted a hard kiss on her lips. She could taste herself on him, and she almost came again.

  “You ready for me?” he asked, his voice deep. She met his gaze and nodded. She didn’t know what she saw there, but it should have scared her. The fact that it didn’t, scared her even more.

  “Graham!” she called out, her back arching, as he thrust into her fully to the hilt. Though she was wet and ready, he was so freaking thick. As she’d hoped, his piercing hit her in the right spot and tears slid down her cheeks. Not in sadness, or even sheer joy, but just everything.

  “That’s it,” Graham panted. “Meet me, Blake. Move your hips with me. Let me go deep. You feel me? You like my cock?”

  “God, yes. And if you don’t speed up, I’m going to play with my clit and make myself come.”

  “Shouldn’t have warned me, baby.” He gripped a hip with one hand and held her wrists above her head with the other. The fact that he was so strong, and nimble enough to do that, just took her closer to the edge.

  When he thrust again, this time so fucking hard she saw stars, she came on his dick like he’d wanted. She met his gaze, her mouth parted, her breath escaping her. His eyes darkened, and the veins on the side of his neck stood out as he came with her. Though the condom separated them, she could feel the heat of him.

  “Holy hell,” Graham panted, leaning over her. “I think I popped a blood vessel.”

  Lazily, she ran her fingers over his sweat-slick back. “I popped something.” She sighed, wanting him close, but knowing if she didn’t escape now, she’d make a mistake.

  Like, fall in love with a Gallagher.

  She tilted her head and checked the clock, letting out a small curse. “I need to go,” she whispered. “I have things to do at home.” Not a lie, but not quite the truth either.

  Graham frowned down at her. “What?”

  “I should go.” She pushed at him, and he slid out of her. The fact that he was still semi-hard forced her to wince. She’d be sore in the morning for sure. “Thank you.” She cuppe
d his face and kissed him softly. “That was one fine orgasm.”

  He gripped her wrist, still frowning. “You’re leaving? Just like that?”

  “I have to,” she whispered, afraid of what she’d say if she stayed. “I’ll…I’ll see you tomorrow. I promise.”

  And with that, she grabbed her clothes and ran. Shame consumed her even as she pulled on her clothes in his living room. She needed to tell him about Rowan, needed to tell him about even more. Because what they’d just done wasn’t sex, wasn’t fucking. Even though it had been hot and hard, it had been more than that.

  And that, above all else, frightened her.

  So she ran.

  Again.

  9

  “Fuck this shit,” Graham shouted as he pulled his thumb away from the wall. He’d been distracted, again, and had smashed the damn thing with his hammer. Thankfully, he’d been out of it and hadn’t been swinging that hard so he didn’t think he’d broken it, but he’d have to watch the nail so he didn’t lose it. Hell.

  He’d slept like hell, and hadn’t had coffee at his place because he’d been running late. And, of course, this day of all days, Owen wasn’t on the site yet, so he couldn’t even wheedle coffee out of his ever-organized brother. Owen would be there later, once he’d finished up his work in the office and at their other site, but for now, it was just Graham, Murphy, Jake, and the rest of the crew.

  Graham needed coffee.

  And ice for his damn hand.

  “Having issues?” Murphy asked as he strolled into the room Graham was working in. Murphy wore a tool belt around his hips and had been working hard that day, but it was the damn tablet in his hand that made Graham want to curse.

  “I’m not changing shit,” Graham bit out. “We’ve had to do a hundred changes as it is because of the historical society and this damn place. I’m done, Murph. Whatever tiny change you want to make to my job can hold off. I don’t want to hear it.”

  Murphy raised his brows. “You don’t want to hear much of anything, do you? Well, dear brother of mine, you’re going to have to suck it up. Because it’s my job to make the plans, your job to follow them. So fucking do it.”

  Graham turned on him. “Excuse me? You little shit. You think that’s okay? You think you can just rule over me? Because I don’t fucking think so.”

  “Hey, you two, knock it off,” Jake said as he walked into the room. “You’re both lucky the crew is on lunch right now, or you’d have to deal with the people that work for us seeing you two act like little shits.”

  Murphy and Graham whirled on Jake, who was on site for the day. Their fourth brother didn’t work on-site much, and tended to do his jobs for the business at home in his workshop, but he still showed up to pound things when he needed a break, or they needed him.

  “What?” Graham bellowed, his chest heaving. He was acting like an irrational ass again, but he couldn’t seem to help it. Between the anniversary coming up and what had happened with Blake the night before, he couldn’t think straight.

  Murphy sighed and bent down to the cooler to pick out three bottles of water. “Drink this. You’re sweaty, hot, and on the trigger right now.”

  Graham narrowed his eyes at his baby brother, but took the bottle and drank down half of it anyway. It might not be caffeine, but he was hot and, apparently, really irritable.

  “Jesus,” he whispered, running a hand over his dirty face. “Sorry about that. I smashed my finger and guess I needed to take it out on you.”

  “Is that all?” Jake asked. “I know the date is coming up, bro.”

  Graham closed his eyes, letting out a breath. “Yeah, it is. But I need to stop acting like I’m a fucking bear who woke up before hibernation was over.”

  He opened his eyes as his brothers smiled at him. Murphy laughed and said, “I can see that. You’re as hairy as a bear.”

  Graham ran a hand over his long beard. “I’ve been thinking I should just shave it off. It’s annoying as hell during the summer. And Murph? You’ve got a beard, too.”

  Murphy smiled and ran a hand over his. His brother was always so damn happy about that thing since it had taken a long time to grow in. Endless chemo and radiation had wreaked havoc on his brother’s system, so growing a beard was a feat. Not that they talked about that at all, though.

  “Don’t shave it,” Jake put it. “I hear Blake likes it.”

  Graham stiffened. “How did you hear that?”

  “Maya told me, and I guess Blake told her, or my woman picked up on it. Either way, don’t shave it.”

  He wasn’t going to mention that the point might be moot anyway, considering Blake had turned tail and run the night before. There were some things brothers didn’t share, and this was one of them.

  Graham sighed. “Anyway, sorry about blowing up.”

  Murphy shrugged. “No big deal. But I do have a few things that need to be changed. Nothing that needs to be taken down or reworked, but things for the future. I figured I’d tell you now.”

  “Tell him what now?” Owen asked as he walked in. He wore a suit and tie, telling Graham his brother had been doing the business part of their job for most of the day. It would be a pity for him to get dirty. Hence why Graham would make sure that Owen helped him with the HVAC crap later today. Dealing with heating, air conditioning, and ventilation while inside a wall and up in the attic would make sure Owen remembered not to wear his nice clothes on-site. And since the place on the hill was fucking huge, HVAC would take a couple of days and a whole lot of sweat.

  Excellent.

  Graham needed to pound something, but this would have to do.

  “I have a few changes,” Murphy said.

  “The ones you mentioned last night?” Owen asked as he made his way to the group. Graham loved when all four brothers were on the site at once. His siblings might annoy the hell out of him as all younger brothers were prone to do, but he wouldn’t take their presence for granted.

  “Wait,” Graham said once Owen’s words registered. “You already knew about this?”

  Owen raised his brow at him. He didn’t have the piercing in, just the spacer, so it didn’t have the same effect. “Yeah, Murphy was over to play Call of Duty. Got a problem with that?”

  Graham shook his head. Considering he’d had Blake in his bed during the evening, he couldn’t really complain.

  “Tell me about the changes,” he grumbled.

  “There he is, our big brother, the softie,” Jake said before ducking Graham’s punch. “Too slow. Shit!” He cursed again as he rubbed his shoulder where Graham had hit him not too hard, but hard enough.

  “Too slow my ass.”

  He grinned as his brothers punched at each other, joining in when he felt like it, then got back to work. They had a job to do, and when a Gallagher went to work, shit got done.

  Though he’d rather have had dinner with Blake that night—something that worried him since he didn’t want to rely on a relationship now or ever—he ended up eating at home with his brothers. Since he’d had pizza the night before, he’d opted to let Owen cook them up a meal.

  All the brothers could cook reasonably well since their mother hadn’t raised fools, but Owen was the only one who was any good at it. Tonight, they were having stir-fry with rice and pot stickers. The fact that Owen had made the damn appetizers himself didn’t surprise Graham in the least.

  Jake had done the grocery shopping since there was no way Graham would have had the ingredients at home. Murphy had brought the beer and chosen the movie to watch afterward if they were up for it. Therefore, Graham just had to make sure the place was clean. Considering he’d been halfway cleaning the house every day for the past week before things had popped up, it didn’t take long.

  By the time they were seated in his living room and gorging themselves on Owen’s creation, Graham was feeling more like himself. He was still a little off because of what he’d revealed to Blake and how they were getting closer to the anniversary, plus how Blake had left the n
ight before, but he would be okay. He always was. He had his brothers, and that’s all that mattered.

  “Anyway, it’s Border and Maya’s turn to go on a date. And while I’d have been fine in the guest room tonight while those two enjoyed each other, I figured I might as well see what you guys were up to. I don’t spend enough time with you anymore.”

  Graham turned his attention from his thoughts to Jake and his brother’s words. Though Graham had partaken in a threesome a couple of times in college, he’d never been in an actual relationship like Jake. He didn’t quite understand how his brother could make it work with two other people. He knew it took a hell of a lot more communication than it did with just a couple. But considering Graham couldn’t even figure things out with one woman, he couldn’t imagine being with another woman or man besides. But his brother, Maya, and Border seemed to be making things work, so more power to them.

  “Earth to Graham,” Murphy said as he threw a carrot piece at him.

  Graham clenched his jaw and picked up the carrot from the floor, setting it on the coffee table in front of him. “Don’t throw food, dipshit. You’re how old now?”

  “Not as old as you,” Murphy said with a grin before stuffing his mouth full of another bite.

  “Jesus, Murph,” Owen groaned. “Who taught you manners?”

  “Mom did, but they didn’t stick.” Murphy smiled, though there was sadness in his eyes at the comment.

  After spending so many years keeping her youngest son alive, their mother had died from a brain aneurysm soon after Murphy’s clear diagnosis. Their father had died soon after from complications of the flu. Graham always figured they’d just wrung themselves out after taking care of Murphy for so long. Cynthia had died right after that, and Graham had lost himself in his work and grief. If he hadn’t had his brothers with him, he wasn’t sure what he would have done.