“Fine, but I want my keys by the end of next month.” He snapped. “But don’t expect me to give you a good reference.”
He stomped out through the door, and Billie let out a huge breath. As much as she loved the house she’d rented from him, the man gave her the major creeps. Not that he’d ever done anything.
“I’ve got a feeling he’s going to give you a fight when you demand your damage deposit.” Abbie stood behind her as they watched Byron stomp across the street and get into his car.
“At this point, I want to tell him to keep it and never go inside again.” Billie walked to the small table where they kept the coffee pot.
“You need to get your things, Billie. Plus, I’m sure there’s some stuff there Chloe would like to have that belonged to Peggy.” Abbie stood next to her and pulled her into a huge hug. “If you need someone to go inside with you, I’m sure Dana and I can help.”
“I’m not going to worry about it until next week.” Billie sighed as she hugged her friend back.
“That man gives me the creeps but look on the bright side, seventy-three minutes until Hottie McHottersen.” Abbie pulled back and wiggled her eyebrows. Leave it to Abbie to make her laugh.
Matt had come and picked up her car so she wouldn’t have to leave it in the parking lot. Her brother still seemed like he had the weight of the world on his shoulders. The bags under his eyes and the tension in his posture filled her with concern.
“Now, if you need me to pick you up, call me.” Matt pulled her into a huge hug.
“Mike said he'd bring me home.” Billie rolled her eyes.
“I know, but you never know. His car could break down, or you may have to kick him in the nuts for getting too handsy.” Matt let her go and stepped back.
“Thanks for the vote of confidence, Matt.” Mike’s chuckle had Billie moving to look around her brother,
“Just making sure my little sister knows she won’t be stuck if you get out of line.” Matt pointed his finger at Mike.
“Just so you know, I’d never do anything to hurt your sister or make her feel uncomfortable. I don’t understand why you think otherwise.” Mike and Matt stared at each other.
“Oh, for the love of God. Let me check and see if I’ve got a ruler in my office so you two can take them out and see who’s bigger.” Abbie grumbled from behind Billie.
“No need for that. Matt and I’ve got an understanding.” Mike reached out his hand to Matt, and for a moment Billie thought Matt was going to slap it away.
“As long as you understand she gets hurt. You get hurt.” Matt took Mike’s hand and shook it.
“Matt, you can go now.” Billie shoved her brother toward the exit.
“By the way, Matt. You’ll have the revised birth certificate for Chloe by next week.” Mike’s words brought both Billie and Matt to a halt.
“Really?” For the first time since the whole situation happened Billie saw the emotion in his eyes.
“Yes,” Mike smiled at him.
“Thanks, Mike.” Matt nodded and then hurried outside.
“I think you just gained some points with my brother.” Billie walked toward Mike.
“I didn’t do it to get points.” Mike rested his hands on her hips and pulled her close to him.
“I know Matt appreciates it.” Billie linked her arms around his neck and pulled his head down to meet hers.
Billie brushed her lips against his and sighed because she’d craved the touch of his lips all day. He placed quick kisses on her lips, and every time she’d try to deepen one of them he’d pull back and grin.
“Mike,” Billie growled when he pulled back again.
“What?” He gave her a quick kiss again on her lips.
“I want a kiss.” She narrowed her eyes and tried to tug him closer.
“I just gave you like a dozen.” He chuckled.
“They weren’t kisses; they were pecks.” Billie groaned.
The next thing she knew he dipped her and covered her mouth with his. He devoured her mouth sliding his tongue into her mouth and swirling it against hers. The kiss wasn’t rough but demanding. Almost as if it was a promise as to what was to come.
“Is that what you call a kiss?” Mike pulled his lips from hers and stood her back up straight.
“Ummm, wow.” Billie sighed
“Now that was one hell of a kiss. I think I need a cold shower.” Abbie fanned herself.
They stopped at a couple of places before they headed out of town to Hopedale. Since neither of them had lunch, Mike picked up a couple of sandwiches, and they ate them on the way. They talked most of the way, but Billie took in the beautiful scenery while they drove. She didn’t get to enjoy it when she drove there a few months before and certainly not when she zoomed out of the town.
“It’s so pretty out this way,” Billie spoke softly almost with reverence.
“Yes, it is, but when you grow up here, you don’t notice it until you leave and have to deal with the craziness of the big city.” Mike pulled off the highway, and Billie saw the huge sign that said, ‘Welcome to the town of Hopedale.’
“I don’t know how you wouldn’t notice being almost surrounded by the ocean.” Billie motioned with her hand.
“Because people who live here see it every day.” Mike pulled into the driveway of his property and parked the car.
“I don’t know how anyone could get tired to this.” Billie sighed.
“I’ll never get tired of the beauty.” Mike grasped her hand and kissed it.
“I was talking about Hopedale.” She smiled.
“And I was talking about you.” Mike leaned into her and brushed his lips across hers.
“You’re smooth, aren’t you?” Billie jumped at the sound of the strange voice.
Mike glanced over Billie's shoulder and groaned. It made Billie turn her head and come face to face with a beautiful auburn-haired woman.
“Hi, Emily.” Mike pulled back and got out of the car. Was this woman one of Mike’s former lovers or possibly current one? He’d sworn that he hadn’t been with anyone in a long time.
“I was just on my way back to the salon.” Emily smiled at Billie as Mike opened the door.
“Home to have a quickie for lunch.” Mike laughed.
“Oh, Mike, Keith and I don’t do quickies. We have marathons.” Emily winked and held out her hand. “I’m Keith’s wife, Emily. You must be Billie.”
“It’s nice to meet you.” Billie tried to keep her relief hidden.
“Emily and Keith live just beyond that path.” Mike pointed to an opening in the trees. “It seems Emily has started using it as a shortcut.”
“Hey, I’ve started walking back and forth to work because it’s summer.” Emily slapped his arm. “And I wanted to make sure that things are still going ahead tomorrow.”
“Yep, if everyone is still up to it.” Mike pulled Billie into his side.
“Okay, we’ll see you tomorrow then.” Emily waved as she hurried down the driveway. “It was nice to meet you, Billie. Hopefully, we can have a longer chat tomorrow.”
Billie didn’t say anything as Mike led her to the front door of his home. She’d seen it the day she came to see Matt, but she never got to get a closer look. The ranch-style house's deck circled the entire thing. The front door was a dark oak with a large window with what looked like a sailboat etched into it.
“That door is beautiful.” Billie smoothed her hands over the boat as Mike led her inside.
“My grandfather was a fisherman, and I wanted something of him in my house.” Mike closed the door and grasped her hand.
“That’s sweet.”
The front foyer was not overly large but to the left was a closet, and on the right, a table stood against the wall underneath a large oval mirror. As they moved further into the house, it opened into a large open area that was obviously the living area.
“Mike, this is incredible.” Billie turned around.
“Your brother did a great job.”
Mike shrugged out of his suit jacket and hung it over a chair.
“Matt did this?” Billie never realized her brother was so talented.
“He’s the one who designed the layout. According to Keith he walked in and had a rough drawing done within fifteen minutes.” Mike explained. “He really should have been an architect.”
“He always liked to draw growing up.” The memory of Matt’s room when they were kids flooded her thoughts. He would draw things and pin them up on the wall, but she never realized he still used that talent. With everything she’d found out about him over the last few days, she was beginning to believe she didn’t know her brother at all.
Mike gave Billie the grand tour including all four bedrooms, although only two had furniture in them. He explained that he was still deciding what to do with the other two rooms. The view from the master bedroom was incredible. Trees surrounded the large backyard.
“I love this view. I can see the ocean from here but then again no matter where you are in Hopedale, you can see that.” Mike wrapped his arm around her, and she turned to face him.
“It's a beautiful place.” Billie pressed her hands against his chest and gazed up into his face.
“It feels more beautiful with you here.” She could feel his heart thudding against his chest.
“Is this crazy?” Billie met his intense stare.
“What?” He pushed her hair behind her ear and ran his finger down to her neck.
“This. You. Me.” Billie sighed when he lowered his head and lightly brushed his lips against her ear.
“I don’t know if it’s crazy but I know I’ve never wanted anything or anyone more.” His hot breath feathered across her neck causing goosebumps and setting her on fire at the same time.
“I want you too.” Billie didn’t know when she’d started to unbutton his shirt but her hands pressed against his warm skin and his pectoral muscles flexed as her fingers explored his body.
“Billie,” His voice sounded strained as his mouth covered hers and he pulled her flush against his hard body.
He devoured her mouth and plunged his tongue between her lips. Billie slipped his shirt off his shoulders and slid her hands across his shoulders until they met at the back of his neck. They were getting carried away, but she didn’t care. His hand slid down to cup her ass and pull her tighter against the proof of his arousal. His other hand slid slowly under her shirt, and the heat of his touch was like a brand against her skin that made her gasp with need.
“Billie,” Mike groaned against her lips as she pushed him back toward his bed.
When the back of his legs touched the bed, he lifted her, spun around and eased her back on the bed. She felt the loss as soon as he released her to rip off the rest of his shirt. She gazed at the perfection of his torso and the tattoo wrapped around his left side under his chest. She wasn’t sure what it was, but it was sexy as hell. There was another on his shoulder that looked like some sort of tribal thing. It was hard to concentrate, especially when he unbuckled his belt, opened his dress pants and let them drop to the floor. Once he’d rid himself of his shoes and socks, he eased himself onto the bed and hovered above her. Her body vibrated with need, and there was still more clothing between them then she wanted, but when she grabbed the bottom of her shirt to remove it, he stopped her.
“Beautiful, that’s my job.” He grinned as he knelt between her legs. Slowly his hands slid under her shirt, and he eased it up her body at the same time he placed soft kisses across her stomach as he exposed her bare skin inch by inch.
“Mike, you’re driving me crazy.” Billie squirmed under him when he finally pushed her shirt over her head and tossed it to the floor.
“I’m only getting started.” He winked, and she didn’t know whether to kiss him or kill him.
The appreciation in his intense blue eyes told her he wasn’t as in control as he tried to make her believe. He shook when she snaked her arms around him and lightly dragged her nails down his back. She could feel his arousal pressed against her leg and it only made the ache between her thighs grow.
“Now who’s driving who crazy?” Mike groaned as she rubbed her leg against his hard cock.
Billie pulled him down and his mouth covered hers as they wiggled and squirmed to remove the rest of the clothing that prevented his bare skin from touching hers. She knew Mike had been around the block a lot and frankly she was no white virgin herself but something inside her screamed that what was about to happen between them was so much more than just two people giving in to their desire.
Could it be, more?
Chapter 15
Mike hadn’t planned to go this far when he showed Billie around the house but when she looked up at him with those brown eyes something struck him right in the chest. He didn’t want to admit it, but he knew without a doubt what it was. He’d heard his brothers talk about it when they first knew.
The urge to be close to Billie overwhelmed him, and he wasn’t sure he liked the loss of control. Who was he kidding? He loved it. His cock was painfully hard, and it took everything he had not to explode before he was inside her.
“How are you so perfectly sexy?” Billie nibbled on his earlobe.
Mike squeezed his eyes shut and bit his lip to keep control of his urge to ejaculate every time she did that. He pulled back with a shudder when her tongue swirled around the outer edge of his ear.
“Billie, have you looked in the mirror lately because you’re like a wet dream come true.” Mike’s gaze traveled down the length of Billie’s naked body. Her breasts were round and firm with dark nipples that called out for him to suck. Mike didn’t want to disappoint and lowered his head to suck one into his mouth.
Billie arched off the bed. He loved that her breasts were so responsive because he was a boob man. When he moved to the other, she moaned his name, and it was the first time he’d ever loved hearing his name.
“Fucking, beautiful.” Mike groaned when she grabbed the back of his head and tugged on his hair.
“I need more.” Billie gasped.
“Tell me, Beautiful.” Mike licked one nipple then the other.
“I want you inside me.” She pleaded.
Mike covered her mouth with his and pulled her body tightly against his. He wanted inside her more than he wanted to breathe. His heart raced, and part of it was because of his arousal, but part of it was because he was terrified. Yes, Mike O’Connor was terrified because he knew when he entered her his life would never be the same.
“Billie,” He groaned when his hand slipped between her legs slid his finger through her wetness.
“Mike,” She gasped as his finger slid easily inside her heat.
“You’re so wet, baby. It makes me so fucking hot.” Mike pushed a second finger inside her and pressed his thumb against her clitoris.
“Yes, right…. ahh…there.” Billie’s back arched off the bed, and Mike watched her face as he brought her to orgasm. “Oh…my…. yes.”
“So fucking gorgeous.” Mike was in awe as he watched her come apart.
“I want to feel you inside me, Mike.” Billie panted.
Mike pulled his hand from between her legs and licked the moisture from his fingers. They were both beyond the point where he could dive between her thighs, but he needed to taste her. He reached into the nightstand to grab the unopened box of condoms and tore the box open with his teeth. His hands shook as he pulled out a strip because he wanted her so bad.
“Let me put it on.” Billie pushed herself up on her elbows and reached for the strip he held.
“Not now. If I let you touch me now, I’ll lose it.” Mike tore the condom open and rolled it on.
He knelt between her legs and cupped his hands under her knees and yanked her toward him. His cock was next to the entrance of her sex, and he moved forward just enough that the tip slid between her folds and her eyes closed.
“Billie, open your eyes. I want to look into them when I slide inside.” Mike hovered over her as her eyes flu
ttered open.
Slowly he slid inside her and kept his eyes locked with hers. When she ran her nails down the length of his back, it made it hard to keep his own eyes open, especially when he felt her clench around him.
“Ahh… Mike don’t stop.” Billie moaned as she arched up against him.
“That’s it, Beautiful.” Mike groaned.
He slowly pumped in and out, but he wasn’t sure exactly how long he would be able to hold on. Billie's heat surrounded his cock, and her soft moans had him ready to explode. He slid one hand between them and pressed his finger against her sensitive nub. Within thirty seconds she dug her nails into his ass and screamed his name as her sex tightened around him and that was it. Mike shook as he exploded inside her.
“Fuck. Yes. Billie.” Mike moaned.
He dropped his head into the crook of her neck as he rode out the last of his orgasm. For a minute, he thought it wouldn’t stop but when her body relaxed under him, and her hands fell to her sides he slowly pushed himself up.
“That was intense.” Billie sighed and ran a finger across his lower lip.
Mike hooked his arm under her waist and rolled over, so she was on top of him. She pressed her lips against his chest, and he tucked his hands under his head. He studied the first woman in his life to ever take his heart.
“I don’t know if I’m going to be able to move anymore.” Mike smiled because the muscles in his body still twitched.
“Well, you did promise me food, so you better move at some point.” Billie folded her hands across his chest and rested her chin on them.
“I’ll order pizza if I got to.” Mike couldn’t tear his eyes away from hers.
“Right now, I could eat the leg off of the lamb of God.” Billie laughed.
“Hey, Mike.” A deep voice echoed from the front of the house.
Billie rolled off him with a gasp and jumped off the bed. He was on his feet but wasn’t quite as frantic as Billie was because he knew the voice. He grabbed a pair of jeans and a T-shirt from his dresser and turned just in time to see Billie spinning in the middle of his room with her clothes held tightly to the front of her body.
Dangerous Silence (O'Connor Brothers Book 5) Page 12
