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Always On My Mind: A Bad Boy Rancher Love Story (The Dawson Brothers Book 1)

Page 89

by Ali Parker

"We can practice, but we're not having babies for a while. I'm too greedy to have you to myself." He leaned back down and took her into his mouth as he pumped his fingers expertly out of her body, almost punishing her for being so bold with his fast fucking.

  Lisa closed her eyes and let herself dive into the delicious feeling of him taking ownership of her. It didn't take more than a few minutes of being beneath him and she was buckling with a strong orgasm. She cried out and rode the high for a few seconds before pushing at his head.

  "Enough, baby. Stop." She pushed harder and dropped back on the bed.

  "Let me taste you." His eyes moved up toward hers as he extended his tongue and ran it through her folds, his fingers still tucked inside her as her body pulsed in rhythm with her heartbeat. "So beautiful. I love knowing that I can bring you so much pleasure. It's empowering as hell."

  "Egomaniac." She reached up and kneaded her breasts, thinking about how nice it would be to strip him down and take her turn on her knees. He was magnificent no matter how he came, as long as he, in fact, came for her.

  "You love it." He pulled his fingers from her, kissed her inner thigh and stood up. "I'm going to wash up. I want more of that tonight when we're done with decorating and shit."

  "Me too." She rolled over and stood up, pulling her panties and leggings back up before walking toward the door. A quick stop by the mirror to brush her fingers through her hair, and she was mostly presentable. A night with their friends would normally be welcomed, but something about snuggling up with Marc sounded so much better.

  "Hey, there." Drake lifted a beer in the air as she walked into the kitchen. "We got beer, wine and hard liquor."

  "I'm thinking a beer would hit the spot." She smiled at the handsome gym owner and got a beer out of the refrigerator. He and Sicily had started dating a few weeks before, and where things were new with them, they just fit together. A lot like she and Marc did.

  Sicily walked into the kitchen and stopped, putting her hand on her hip. "You guys did it, didn't you? I swear you can't be in the same room for more than two minutes without humping each other."

  Lisa chuckled. "Better we hump each other than the walls, or the furniture."

  "Vulgar." Sicily moved toward Drake, taking his beer and helping herself to a sip.

  Kari and Jake walked in next, holding hands. Kari glanced around the room. "Who's being vulgar?"

  Jake laughed and pulled her into a side hug. "I want to hear some vulgarity."

  "Good. Hang out for the evening then." Lisa lifted her beer. "To good friends, great food and vulgarity."

  Everyone laughed as Marc walked in and put his hands on his hips. "Someone called?"

  They laughed again.

  Kari moved across the room to hand Marc his cell phone. "Mom called and wanted to see when you guys were coming to New York."

  Lisa sat down at the table and pulled the bag of art supplies her and Sicily had muscled Kari into buying earlier that day. The trip to the art store had been fun, and far more entertaining than Lisa expected. Why Kari fought against her passion to draw and paint was beyond Lisa. It was silly, and yet to some degree she got it. Kari had been through a lot over her life. Dreaming was scary. Or before Jake it was. Maybe now that the two of them were together, Kari would open herself up to a world of possibilities. Lisa wanted that for her friend. Kari deserved it and so much more.

  "Come with me on the deck, baby." Marc tugged at the back of Lisa's hair before turning to walk down the hall.

  "Let me grab my coat." Lisa got up and walked to the living room where everyone had retired to. The tree was up, but had yet to be decorated. They'd figure it out shortly, and if they didn't? No big deal. The holidays were a fuss, a stressor for most people, but it felt like time to sit back and relax to Lisa. Marc seemed to be of the same school of thought, which was one of the many reasons they got along so well. Nothing got done, but it was irrelevant.

  "Hey. When are you headed to New York?" Sicily's voice stopped her at the edge of the kitchen.

  Lisa turned around and smiled. She and Sicily had been friends since childhood. There wasn't much they hadn't shared with each other. "I think we're leaving on Thursday. Why?"

  "Just checking. I'm going to go stay with Drake out at his place until we head back to see my family." She moved toward Lisa and reached out, brushing her fingers through Lisa's hair. "You really need to put this mop up after you and Marc roll in the sheets."

  "Why? I like looking wild."

  Sicily laughed. "Why does that not surprise me."

  "Right?" Lisa swatted her friend's hand away. "Are you and Drake not going to see his family?"

  "No. He lost his mom recently, and he's not really close to the rest of them." Sadness raced across Sicily's beautiful face.

  "What? When did that happen?" Shock raced through Lisa, though it might have been unfounded. She had no clue about Drake's family or his life back home. Maybe his mom had been sick for a long time.

  "End of October. Cancer." Sicily shrugged. "Same kind your mom had all those years ago, but she didn't pull through."

  "I'm so sorry, Sis." Lisa pulled her friend into a warm hug and pressed her cheek to Sicily's shoulder. The memories of her own mom being sick swam through her mind's eye, pulling her back down into a slight depression. It had been the hardest time of her adult life. To take care of someone who was hateful and angry at the world was miserable, but she managed to get through it. Her father got sick right alongside her mother, first with pneumonia and then mono. It was as if he were suffering on her mother's behalf. Lisa forced the images out of her head and tried to focus on the moment.

  "It is what it is." Sicily pulled back, her expression tight. "It's weird that we both lost our moms this year. I'm going to try and keep the Christmas spirit for both of us whether I want to or not. I refuse to have a depressed holiday."

  "You guys just lean on each other. And lean on us." Lisa gave Sicily a warm smile. "We're all here for you, and I know you'll both take care of each other. Find small things to focus on. Things to keep you busy and having fun when possible."

  "We are. We're going to go to New York later this week and spend time with my brothers. They don't know how to cook, so I'll be making Christmas dinner. I'll miss my mom, but some part of me is excited to do this to honor her." She shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe it's dumb."

  "Not at all. I love it, and she will too." Lisa moved forward and hugged Sicily once more. "We'll get through it like we always do."

  "Together?" Sicily asked softly.

  "Exactly." Lisa held on tightly as a host of emotions blasted through her. There were so many things to be sad about, and yet there were just as many to be happy for. She looked up to see Marc's handsome face plastered to the kitchen window, snow in his hair and a wild look on his face.

  She laughed and pulled back as Sicily turned and laughed too. It was going to be a good holiday for her. Marc was going to make sure of that. Hopefully Drake would be able to do the same for Sicily.

  Lisa knew that he would try if nothing else.

  Chapter 5

  Marc

  The night before putting up the tree had been far more fun than Marc expected. Everyone couldn't help but be in a good mood around each other. Kari and Sicily had a little too much to drink, but as per usual, Lisa held hers just fine. Making love to her later in the comfort of her cold sheets was the perfect ending to a good night.

  Marc lifted his hands into the air and yawned loudly as he waited outside the gym. He'd left Lisa sleeping soundly back at the house to join Drake. The fire station was having a teddy bear collection for Christmas Eve, and where Marc wouldn't have usually signed up for such a sappy event, Jake asked him to. It was hard to tell Jake no. He was too good of a guy.

  "Hey, man. Come on in." Drake opened the door and motioned for Marc to join him. "I gotta wrap up a few more things and then we'll head up to the fire station. You're going to freeze out there."

  "I'm enjoying it. I'm used to freezing
in the winter. It's part of the charm of the holidays." Marc moved into the gym as the smell of sweat and air freshener filled his nose. He glanced around to see the place empty. A pretty girl with long brown hair smiled and waved as he followed Drake to the back to a small office.

  "Ignore her or Lisa might hurt her." Drake closed the door behind Marc and chuckled. "Violet is my best worker. She's helping Sicily at the bakery too. Funny how we didn't realize that our businesses actually complemented each other."

  Marc snorted and dropped down on a dark leather couch in the office. The walls were filled with fitness magazines, events and trophies, but no personal pictures. Not one. "And please do tell me how a bakery and a gym complement each other. I gotta hear this."

  Drake sat down and glanced up, his eyes filled with far too many stories. The guy seemed nice enough, but he was haunted by something in his past. It was hard to be around him and not ask what the fuck it was. Something told Marc that he would get shut down for asking, so better to keep his curiosities to himself.

  "They eat cupcakes at the bakery and feel the need to work it off, which brings them to the gym."

  "And here at the gym, what? Who works their asses off and then goes to the bakery to fill up on sugar?" Marc ran his hands down his thighs and sat straight.

  "People who think they need a treat." Drake lifted his eyebrow. "How many times have you done something good and thought, 'I really should treat myself’.”

  "Every day count?" Marc laughed.

  "Right? And what's the first thing you think to treat yourself with? Besides fucking Lisa?" Drake's turn to laugh.

  "That is the first thing on the list, but I guess you're right. Sugar would be next." Marc stood and moved toward the bulletin board of fitness events. "Finish what you need to do. I'll be quiet."

  "You're good. Just need to sign a few invoices and then we can go."

  "Are you headed back to Chicago this week or are you guys just going to Sicily's family's place?" Marc slipped his hands into his pockets, ignoring his promise to hush. Drake apparently didn't care if they sat in silence, so best they didn't. Marc didn't know him well enough for that.

  "No. We're just going to New York. I got nobody I need to see." Drake kept his head down and scribbled on something as Marc pursed his lips and continued to stare at the images. A million questions ran through his mind, but he ignored them.

  A few minutes later, Drake stood and twisted his torso, popping his back.

  "You ready?" Marc turned to face him. "I mean, the teddy bears are in need of someone to fluff them. You look like just the guy for the job."

  "Watch it." Drake gave him a stern look that melted into something playful.

  Crazy how much he looks like a hitman. Like the kind of guy that no one would want to meet in a back alley.

  Marc didn't know Sicily very well, but he needed to make sure Lisa was good with Drake and her being together. He wasn't sure he was, but was it really his concern?

  "You look lost in thought. What's on your mind?" Drake clamped his hand down on Marc's shoulder, jolting him a little.

  "Fuck, man. Let a brother know when you're sneaking up on him." Marc pulled back and walked to the door, his heart racing in his chest. Something was off, but he wasn't sure what. "I'm ready. Let's go get this over with."

  "You don't like kids?" Drake moved up behind him and held the door open.

  "Kids? Who said anything about kids? Jake said we were sorting teddy bears."

  "Yeah. To hand out to kids. The donations are being split. Half go in the fire station for when we're called out and a kid is involved, and the other half we're giving out to the less fortunate. You're playing Santa."

  "No, the fuck I'm not." Marc walked into the gym and glanced over his shoulder. "You've lost your mind."

  "That was Jake's assignment. Seems like he owes you far more than you thought." Drake chuckled before looking over his shoulder. "Later Vi. Lock up when you're ready to."

  "Okay, boss. Bring hottie there back with you, anytime." Violet's voice was pleasant. Almost sexy.

  "Oh yeah, she's going to die if she's not careful." Marc held the door open for Drake. "You should tell her I'm dating a really crazy bitch."

  Drake laughed and walked to his truck. "I'll be sure to do that. When Lisa isn't around."

  "Yeah, cause we don't want you to die as well." Marc got into the truck and buckled up.

  "Naw... I've been through a lot in my short life. I'm not scared." He pulled out of the parking lot. "You guys leaving tonight or tomorrow for New York?"

  "Tomorrow. Jake and Kari are visiting my mom today. It's a really small place." Marc ran his fingers through his hair as worry raced through him. His mother's house was too small. Half the reason he was working to become a doctor was to get her into a better place and help take care of her in retirement, which looked like it might be a long ass way away.

  "And your dad?" Drake asked.

  Part of Marc wanted to spout off something asinine seeing that Drake never talked about his family, his past, his personal life. The guy was a sealed safe.

  "He cheated on my mother years ago. She's been alone since, but Kari texted me this morning that she might be seeing someone." He pulled his phone out and checked it again.

  "And you're not happy about that?" Drake glanced over at him.

  "I'm not sure. I haven't met the guy. I'll let you know when I do."

  "Let me know if we need to take him out."

  Marc stiffened. The guy was a hitman in his past. He had to be. "You gonna do the deed?"

  "Nope." Drake winked. "We'll get Lisa to do it. Better him than Violet."

  Marc forced a chuckle and sunk back in his seat. Why in the hell did he tell Jake he would take his place at the fire station and spend the day with Drake?

  Right. Because they were friends, soon to be family.

  The cockhead didn't mention playing Santa.

  He was so getting paybacks for leaving out that small detail.

  Chapter 6

  Lisa

  Lisa pressed her fingers to her mouth as a laugh bubbled up inside of her. "Oh my God. Never in a million years did I expect-"

  "What?" Sicily walked up beside her and glanced around. "Oh no. Is that Marc as Santa? Oh my God. Give me your phone. I need to take pictures."

  Lisa dug it out of her purse and handed it off, hoping like hell that the two of them wouldn't get caught taking pictures. Marc would be mortified.

  The warm smile on his face and the way he looked the little kids in the eye as they walked up touched a part of her that she didn't know existed. Warmth filled her body as her eyes burned with tears.

  "Kari is going to laugh her ass off." Sicily took several pictures as Lisa wiped at her eyes. "Do you think he knew he was going to have to do this? Wasn't Jake supposed to... Hey, what's wrong?"

  "Nothing. I'm getting older and I cry at everything." Lisa wiped her face.

  "Are you on your period?" Sicily handed her the phone and reached out to squeeze her shoulder.

  "Why do I always walk up to a conversation at the worst possible time?" Drake stopped in front of them and smiled.

  "Hey, baby." Sicily slipped into his arms and they kissed, the picture of them together leaving Lisa feeling better.

  "Hi, beautiful." He kissed her again before turning his attention toward Lisa. "He's been incredible. For a playboy whore-bag, he's great with kids and quite the Santa. You might want to get up there if you want to sit on his lap."

  Lisa snorted. "He's my playboy whore-bag."

  "Yes, he is." Sicily patted her back. "Go get him."

  Marc glanced up at her, his cheeks burning pink as she got in line behind three little girls, who were giggling softly. They had to be pre-teens from what Lisa could tell.

  "Hi, there. What do you want from Santa this year?" Marc smiled warmly at the three little girls.

  "You?" One of them laughed and the others broke out into giggles.

  Lisa turned and covered her mou
th, laughing with them. Marc had to be the cutest thing she'd ever seen in all of her life. When the hell did she move from wanting something lusty and sexy to being bent over by sweet and soft? Truth be told, she loved both, and he was the perfect mix of them.

  "Me? You want an old man hanging around the house? We fart and burp and don't clean up after ourselves. You should get a puppy or maybe a car? How old are you women? Twenty? Thirty?" His voice was low and husky as if he were the real Santa.

  Lisa turned back and watched him as she fell in love all over again.

  "A puppy?" One of the girls nodded. "I'd much rather have a puppy than a fart-bag."

  "Fart-bag?" Marc laughed and glanced up at Lisa. "I'm going to file with HR for abuse."

  The girls laughed, grabbed their teddy bears and ran off, leaving Lisa up next in line.

  "Hi, Santa," she whispered seductively before moving up and sitting on his knee. "How are you?"

  "Much better now." His eyes moved around her face, as if trying to memorize her. "The most beautiful woman in the world wants to sit on my knee. What could be better?"

  "Maybe her lying across your knees? Naked? Getting a spanking?" She wrapped her arms around his neck and snuggled up to him, grateful that no one else was in line behind her.

  "Oh." His eyes widened and he pulled her down for a quick peck. "No making out here at the fire station in front of the kiddies."

  "No?" She glanced around. "Okay. Then come home with me?"

  "Is that what you want for Christmas this year?" He reached up and brushed his hand down the side of her hair, his words hitting home far more than he could ever know. She would have to visit her mother and father, and the last thing she wanted was to do it alone. Having him come home with her would mean the world.

  "I just want you." She gave him another quick kiss before standing back up. "I didn't know Jake wanted you to play Santa."

  "That makes two of us. I'm going to kill him." Marc got up and stretched, his back popping. “I'm the youngest guy at the fire station and they have me playing the oldest. I've been hit on by everything from a two year old to her great-great grandmother. I feel like I need a drink, a hot shower and you screaming my name for the rest of the night to get over this."

 

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