by KT Webb
“Okay, I want to date you. I’ve wanted to be with you for a very long time. I think we should see where this goes.”
“Me, too,” the words spill out of my mouth before I have a chance to think about them. Oddly enough, I don’t regret them.
Miles grins and pulls me in for another kiss. “That was the best game of laser tag I’ve ever played.”
“Yeah, I enjoyed that a bit more than the little victory dance you normally do when we play.”
“Hey, that victory dance is adorable and you know it.”
I laugh at him, “What did you mean you’ve wanted to be with me for a long time?”
Miles sighs, “You’re going to laugh at me.”
“I doubt it.”
“I have had a major crush on you for years. You terrify me. You’re a frustrating, strong, intelligent woman.”
“Unlike the girls you usually date.”
“Quite unlike those girls. But, you always treated me like your brother so I didn’t try to press anything. In my wildest dreams I never would have thought we would end up right here.”
I snuggle closer to Miles. He wraps his arms around me and holds me tightly. He breathes deeply when he buries his face into my hair. I don’t know if this is a good idea or not, but I can’t imagine this being more perfect. Miles is a good man; I could do much worse.
Chapter 7
I’m giddy as we get ready for work in the morning. Giddy isn’t usually my style. Miles seems more relaxed around me and it’s refreshing. He grabs me for a kiss before we leave the condo.
“If you keep that up, we may not make it to the office today.”
“Don’t tempt me, babe,” he gives me a more passionate kiss.
“You know you’re going to have to behave yourself at work, right? I’d rather keep this whole thing between us until we know if it’s going anywhere.”
Miles holds up his hand in a salute. “Yes, ma’am.”
He slaps my ass as we exit. In the elevator, I can smell his cologne. We’re standing next to each other but the attraction is evident. Breaking my own resolve, I push him against the wall and press my body against his. We share an intense kiss that leaves us breathless when the elevator door opens. He takes my hand and leads me to the car we have waiting in front of the building. He holds my hand the entire drive, tracing small circles with his thumb.
We pull up to the building and hop out. I shoot Miles a warning look and he shrugs innocently. Once we arrive in the office, I take a seat at my desk and Miles winks at me on the way to his office. I roll my eyes at him before diving right into my work.
“CeCe, can I see you in my office please?” Theo asks, startling me from my work.
I hop up and follow him, understanding that he’s probably found more information about my father. I close the office door behind me and take a seat as he pulls out the file I had given him weeks ago.
“Everything checks out. Your father is as clean as he says.”
I’m dumbfounded. “Seriously?”
“Yes, CeCe. I don’t want you to rush to make any decision regarding your relationship with this man, but it appears as though he truly has returned with the intention of rebuilding a relationship with you.”
“Okay,” I stare at my hands as tears spring to my eyes. I try to wipe them away; I don’t know why I’m being so emotional about this.
Theo comes around the desk and sits in the chair next to me. He takes my hand.
“Honey, you don’t have to talk to him at all. I know it’s a lot to process.”
“It’s not just him. There are so many things going on in my head right now. I don’t know if I can deal with all of it at once.”
“Tell me what’s going on. Maybe I can help.”
The first thing that springs to mind is my budding relationship with Miles. There is no way I’m ready to talk to anyone about that. The other thing on my mind is the decision I’ve been struggling with since I received the letter from Harvard. The appearance of my father and my feelings for Miles have further complicated that situation.
“I got a letter from Harvard.”
Theo’s eyes light up. “And?”
It warms my heart that he has such faith in me that he doesn’t automatically assume that I didn’t get in. It’s always nice to have that reassurance that the Hanover’s believe in me.
“I was accepted.”
Theo cheers and pulls me into a quick hug. “I knew you could do it.”
“I don’t know if I want to go.”
“If it’s the money you’re worried about, don’t. I wouldn’t have offered to pay for your schooling if I couldn’t do it.”
“It’s not that,” I pause, unsure of how to articulate the swirl of emotions I’m experiencing. “After years of not feeling like I belonged anywhere, I finally feel like I know who I am. I have a family. I lost everything the day my mom died, and I never thought anyone could ever fill that void. Then I met Olivia and everything changed.”
“You needn’t be worried that you will lose your family. We will be right here waiting for you when you visit and should you choose to return after graduation.”
I shake my head. “I know that. But, Liv and Isaac will marry soon and Ava will be graduating from high school in the spring. I don’t know that I want to be so far away for all these important events.”
Theo laughs. “You can always come home for those things. You can use my new private jet whenever you need.”
“On top of all the other things, I have the added complication of my estranged father returning to my life.”
Theo nods. I know he understands that I’m conflicted, but I don’t think anyone can truly understand what I’m facing. The other major obstacle is staring at me in the form of the incredibly attractive man I am now living with. I don’t know if Miles is hoping that his admission of attraction will sway me one way or another.
“I think you need to take your time to make this decision. It’s May. When do you have to make a decision?”
“I have until the middle of August to get the registration process completed. That’s the very latest I can push it.”
“Good. Take some time to think about it.”
The office door opens and Miles steps in. He glances at me but quickly returns his attention to his father.
“What’s the commotion? I heard you “whoop”.”
Theo chuckles. “CeCe was just telling me that she’s been accepted to Harvard!”
His demeanor instantly changes. I already knew Harvard was a touchy subject but we haven’t talked about it again after our “relationship status change”. Miles plasters on a smile and congratulates me before leaving the office without any further conversation. I excuse myself from Theo’s office and rush down the hall after Miles. Once we were in his office, I close the door behind me.
“You’re still thinking about going?” He demands.
“I don’t really know. It’s kind of a big deal.”
“I know. At the risk of sounding selfish, I kind of thought we were a big deal.”
I can’t help but feel my heart begin to tear in two at the anguish in his voice. I walk right up to him and break my own rules. I pull him down to my height and hit him with a passionate kiss. He wraps me in his arms and lets me take control. I shove him against his desk until he’s sitting on the smooth glass top, then reach my hands up to grip the back of his neck. When I pull away, he looks at me with drunken eyes.
“We are a big deal. That’s why I’m struggling so much with everything right now. You told me last night that you’ve wanted me for a long time, but this is fairly new for me. I don’t know where it came from, but my attraction for you is very real, and my feelings are getting stronger every day.”
“Then I guess I have some time to convince you to stay with me.”
His comment catches me off guard.
“Miles, please don’t put my choice on your shoulders. I don’t want you to think that if I choose to go to Harvard it mean
s I don’t want to see where things go between us. I’m doing my best to carefully consider everything in my life right now, but in the end it may just come down to taking the opportunity that’s been presented to me.”
He’s quiet for a moment, but nods in acceptance of what I’ve said. I don’t know if he truly understands why this is a difficult decision for me. I know he faced the same predicament and chose to stay, but this time there’s more at stake than just moral support for his family.
“What did dad find out about your father?”
“It appears as though he’s on the level.”
“So, what are you going to do?”
“I honestly don’t know. I don’t know if I want to let him back in my life after all this time, but I feel like if I don’t I’ll always wonder what would have happened.”
“If you want to meet him, I can be there. Even if I’m just at a different table or something. I don’t want you to do this alone.”
“No, I don’t need you to be there. I need to do this alone.”
As I open his office door, Miles yanks me inside again.
He closes and locks the door then slams me against the wall in one fluid motion. The alarm bells are going off in my head as he presses against me and silences my mouth with a kiss. I try to push him away but he continues his fervent assault. My mind is getting cloudy; I want so badly to return his kiss but I don’t know what’s gotten into him.
He breaks away and looks me in the eyes. The fire burning in them is too intense. Miles leans in, staring at me, waiting for permission. I don’t know what comes over me, but I grip his tie and pull him to me again. I bite his lip and taste blood. His muscles tighten but he doesn’t pull away. Right now, all I can think of is how badly I want him, all of him.
I can feel his excitement pressed up against my hip as he starts trailing kisses down my neck. Before I can stop him, he rips my shirt off. Not figuratively, literally. I hear buttons go flying and fabric tear. Well, shit. I feel his breath on my chest as he reaches behind me and frees me from my bra. I pull his suit jacket off and return the favor of destroying his shirt. He pulls away and grins; he knows he’s got me.
In the blink of an eye he lifts me and wraps my legs around him. I never stop kissing him as he sets me down on his desk and removes his belt. I reach out and deftly unfasten the button and unzip his pants. He hikes my skirt up until it’s bunched around my ass. Then all at once he’s inside me. I moan against his mouth as he lifts me again and carries me around his desk. He sits in his oversized leather chair with me straddling him.
I begin to move slowly at first, but when I see how much he’s enjoying himself I pick up the pace. He firmly places his hands on my hips in an effort to slow me down and I comply. He gathers my hair in his fist and I feel the tingles run through my body when he pulls it gently. He takes my breast in his mouth. I can’t stop myself from crying out when he twirls his tongue around my nipple. I dig my nails into his shoulders as we continue to move. He brings his mouth back to mine and we lose ourselves in each other.
All I can think about is Miles: the way he tastes, the intensity in his stare, the way he is gripping my ass while I ride him. I’m close to the edge and all it takes is one more thrust for me to spiral out of control. Miles holds me close as he continues to move until he too loses all sense of reality.
We’re a panting mess in his desk chair. I have never been with someone like Miles before. I’ve had more one night stands than relationships and I always wanted to keep it that way. Now, as I look at the man I’m tangled up in, I can’t help but wonder what took me so long to get here.
“That was the best meeting I’ve ever had,” Miles whispers.
I snort and bring his lips to mine again. He pulls back slightly to look in my eyes again. The devotion I see in them makes me wonder what he’s thinking, but leaves me terrified to ask.
“Now we need new shirts,” I breath into his ear.
I feel the rumble in his chest as he chuckles at me. I gently stand and attempt to straighten my skirt. I find my bra near the door. I can feel him watching me as I hear his desk drawer open. He produces a brand new shirt for himself and a well-starched undershirt for me. Why am I not surprised?
Chapter 8
I arranged for Julio to meet me at a Starbucks. I didn’t want to commit to dinner and there was no way in hell I was going to meet him for drinks. I glance over at a table in the corner. Miles nods at me before returning his attention to the laptop in front of him.
I can’t believe he’s here. I told him I could handle this. I storm over to his table and slam his lap top shut.
“What the hell, Miles? I told you not to come.”
“I didn’t realize you were meeting him at this Starbucks.”
“Cut the crap. I can’t believe you followed me here.”
Miles tries to look innocent, but fails miserably. I give him another steely look before telling him to leave. I whirl around and approach the counter. I am not pleased to see that Miles is still there while I wait for my order.
I already have my coffee in hand when Julio walks in the door. He raises a hand in greeting and gestures for me to join him in the oversized chairs near the fireplace.
“Celia, I’m so glad you finally called.”
“I had to wait to check out your story before I’d agree to meet with you.”
He nods, “Is that why you moved?”
“I moved because Theo Hanover wanted to keep me safe until we found out what you were here for.”
“I understand. And, did I pass the test?”
“For now, but I still have questions.”
“Ask me anything.”
I start with the basics. “How did you meet my mother?”
“We met at a bar. I was out with some of the other recruits on one of our rare nights off. Your mother was there with a man who was yelling at her and made a move to strike her. I stopped him.”
“Why did you divorce?”
“We met at the beginning of boot camp and were married just after graduation. We hardly knew each other, but after we found out about you, I thought it was the right thing to do and she accepted my proposal.”
“So you divorced because you didn’t love her?”
“We didn’t love each other. She was going to end the pregnancy but I wouldn’t have it. The only way she would keep you was if we married. So we did. She didn’t want to live with me, she didn’t want to be around me at all. She wanted the benefits that come along with being a military wife. Celia, your mother started seeing your stepfather while we were still married.”
I don’t know what to say. I knew my mom wasn’t exactly the best role model, but to hear she was a slut and a bit of a bitch left a hole in the pit of my stomach.
“I don’t tell you these things to hurt you or change your view of your mother. I’m telling you because you asked and I value honesty. The last time I saw you was your fourth birthday. I had completed my job training and was set to deploy as a Seaman on the U.S.S. Liberty. I stopped over to give you your present and get the divorce papers from her.”
“Don’t you have any family who could have taken me in? Do you have any idea what it was like to live with a piece of shit for a stepfather and an uninterested mother?”
“My parents live in Kenosha. They saw you when you were a baby, but your mother demanded sole custody and refused to let anyone see you.”
“She died when I was a teenager. Where were they then?”
“They didn’t know. Neither did I. By the time I found out, you were eighteen. I didn’t think you’d even know who I was, let alone be interested in seeing me. When I was sent back to Great Lakes, I decided to look for you.”
“So, I have grandparents. Any other long-lost family members I should know about?”
He chuckles, “No, I was an only child.”
I glance over to the table where Miles is pretending to work on his laptop. I feel the rage flare up in me. I can’t handle this right now.
I look at Julio and wonder what I’m supposed to do now. How am I supposed to feel about my estranged father showing up? I feel like the walls are closing in on me and I can’t help but get down to the bottom line.
“So, what are you hoping for out of this?”
“I want to get to know you. I want you to meet your grandparents. I’d eventually like for us to be a family.”
“You’d have to find a way to fit into the family I’ve built. Just because you waltzed back into my life doesn’t mean the Hanover’s aren’t family.”
