Just the Thing

by Marie Harte

  * * *

  Gavin slowly raised his head, admiring the chaos Zoe had left in her wake. Out-fucking-standing. His parents were talking over each other in their haste to understand. Theo wouldn’t stop laughing, and Hope didn’t seem to realize it had all been a huge fabrication. The golden moment had been the introduction of Zoe’s incestuous, jail-ridden brother, of course.

  She’d hit him in the ego with that reference to Mark though. Nicely played.

  Gavin stood to go get her when she entered the room. He could tell right off she’d removed the fake belly. He tapped his glass with his fork. “Everyone, quiet please.”

  His mother and father glared at him. Not amused, apparently.

  Zoe came to stand next to him. “I’m sorry, Gavin. But I can’t keep my brother’s baby and raise it as our own. Not even for you, the man I love.”

  He got a weird tickle at the confession, fake though it was.

  Theo went into another gale of laughter. This time, Hope joined him.

  “Classic!” Hope erupted into giggles. “Oh man, Mom. If you could see your face!”

  Van sighed. “I thought so.”

  “Oh, you did not,” Linda snapped. “You bought into this stupidity like I did.” She turned to point a finger at Zoe. “And you…you lied to us. With him.”

  “Yes, yes I did.” Zoe reached for his hand and gripped it tight.

  So, not as sure of the outcome as he’d told her to be. That was all right. Her payback for freaking him out about Mark.

  “But sugar pants,” he said to her, “with all that Federal Reserve money Mark stole, we’ll be set for life if we raise his quadruplets.”

  “That’s true,” Zoe said, rubbing her flat stomach.

  Van guffawed. “Jesus, that was good. You totally had us going. Not exactly the incestuous part, but the pregnancy.”

  His mother still hadn’t cracked a smile. Then he realized. “Oh, I know what this is. You now have to acknowledge I’m the new master. Say it, Mom. Come on. I, Linda Donnigan, do announce a new winner…”

  “Yeah, Mom,” Hope said.

  Theo added, “Say it.”

  Linda grumbled, then begrudgingly stated, “Gavin Donnigan, I hand over my crown. I now proclaim you king and Zoe queen of this year’s prank wars. Now that’s it, you three…four.” She included Zoe. “No more screwing with each other. And Zoe, come here. I won’t bite.”

  Gavin gave his lying, two-timing, brother-sexing girl a full-on mouth kiss, one with a little heat, before letting her go.

  Flushed, she glared at him before joining Linda. “I—”

  His mother had the nerve to pat Zoe’s stomach before she nodded. “Sorry. Had to make sure.”

  At which point everyone burst into laughter once more, Zoe too. Once they calmed down, Zoe introduced herself properly and answered his mother’s hundred-and-one questions about her life—how they’d met, her hobbies, and maybe even her shoe size. Gavin wasn’t sure; he’d zoned out by then.

  But all in all, the night had been a huge success.

  After downing large amounts of pepper steak, the family centered around the kitchen island for dessert and coffee. The dessert was a sumptuous crème brûlée. Gavin’s father had painstakingly poured it into individual ramekins and encrusted the sugared tops with his mini-torch. One of Gavin’s favorite desserts since he’d been a kid. He’d even helped his father make the dessert a time or two. Well, more like he handed over the ramekins, but that counted.

  “Thanks for dessert, Dad.”

  “But of course. Anything for my son, his girlfriend, and our pretend grandbaby. Was it a boy or a girl?”

  “A girl. We called her Zoe Jr.”

  “Oh please. What’s this ‘we’? Are you suddenly French?” Zoe asked, standing next to Linda by the sink as she dug into her serving. “Van, this is amazing. Oh my gosh, goodness, topped with crunchy sugar.” She swallowed and moaned, then pointed her spoon at Gavin. “But in regards to tonight’s performance, I was blackmailed into helping. Totally against my will.”

  “Well, I’d say you more than held your own.” High praise from Linda. “Nicely done, honey.”

  “Thanks.” Zoe looked proud.

  And right then and there, Gavin wanted to yank her away from everyone, haul her over his shoulder, and take her home. Then not leave the bedroom for weeks. She fit him, his family, hell, his lifestyle, perfectly. She didn’t ask for more than he wanted to give. And she made him want to do anything just to see her smile.

  The past few days he’d meditated—his father was right about the healing power of meditation, but Gavin refused to admit it to the old man—talked to Lee some more, and in general took time for himself. Some long hikes along the ocean, on wilderness trails, away from people.

  He had to stop flying off the handle and freaking out about surviving. He knew that. It was too late to jump on a bomb and sacrifice his life for the greater good, to join his friends in service to their country. Suicide had never been an answer he’d consider anyway, not since arriving back home.

  No. Gavin had survived. Now he had to deal with it.

  The past few months, he’d been doing much better. Healing, until Nicole forced him to confront losing his friends. He couldn’t run from it forever. Especially not after tonight. Seeing Zoe with that pretend baby gave him all sorts of crazy ideas. Glimpses into a future he still didn’t know if he deserved, but one he’d like to work toward.

  They finally said their good-byes after Gavin had pledged, on payment of his life if he reneged, to bring Zoe to their next family dinner. His parents and Hope had hugged her. Theo gave her a shy smile and offered a free coffee next time she came into his shop.

  “Your family is awesome,” she said with a laugh. The cool night had warmed enough that she only needed a light jacket. June in Seattle promised a return to sunny days and, with any luck, heartier plants to garden.

  “Yeah, well, they’re something.” Gavin held her hand as they walked.

  After a moment, Zoe snorted. “Had you going for a minute, eh?”

  He groaned. “Go ahead. Get it all out.”

  “Oh my God. You thought I was in love with Mark Swanson? Seriously?” She laughed at him.

  “You just brought that up out of nowhere. It was as stroke of genius, really, because you threw me. Made it more believable.”

  “I know.”

  “You’re even gorgeous when you’re smug. There’s no end to your terror, is there, you monster?”

  She laughed and swung their clasped hands. “That was so much fun, Gavin. It felt like what Aubrey and I used to get up to with our parents. She always had some scheme or another, and I was always the straight man. Until tonight. Yes.” She pumped her fist high. Then she stopped him, her eyes shiny. “Right now, I’m kind of sad. Because I miss her. But I’m happy too. Because that was a good memory.” She drew him into her arms, and he went willingly. Then she kissed him. Not a sexual touch, but a loving one that sent his system haywire all the same. “And now when I think of her, I’ll also think of you.” She smiled. “You made a new memory come alive. Thanks.”

  “Anytime.” He kissed her back, rubbing her stomach. “Is it just me, or was it a little weird with the baby bump?” He stared into her eyes, so blue, so bright.

  “It was weird. I mean, I’m not there yet, ready for kids. But when I touched it, I wondered what it would be like.”

  “With me, or in general?”

  They both tensed. Such a stupid question to ask.

  Then she smiled. “Both. And is that freaky or what?”

  He smiled with her, feeling so much for her he had no idea what to do with all that balled-up emotion. Gavin cleared his throat. “Speaking of freaky…I believe I owe you something.” He moved his hand from her stomach and around her back to her ass. And squeezed.

  “Well then
, Smoky,” she said, her voice husky, “let’s go home so you can pay your debts.”

  Chapter 15

  Zoe moaned.

  Having already experienced one major orgasm courtesy of her fake baby daddy, she was gearing up for number two. Going without, for just a few days, had left both of them raging to have each other. Once sated, they’d succumbed to what should have been a short nap. Zoe had woken before he did, in the middle of the night, feeling warm and loved in the shelter of his arms.

  But was that love coming from her or him? Or both of them?

  Gavin hadn’t let her dwell on the answer. Instead, he’d tied her up using her pink tights—fetish much?—and set out to destroy her sanity. Her arms spread wide, her legs as well since he’d settled between them, all their important parts aligned, she could only lay supplicant while he teased with a mouth that never quit. He stroked her belly while he sucked her nipples into tight peaks.

  “Gavin, come on.” She squirmed, ready for him right now.

  “I love your tits. They’re the perfect handful.” He of course measured, squeezing and petting. And torturing her with pleasure. “Not too big or too small. Jussttt right.”

  She nearly laughed. But he teethed her nipple again. “Okay, baby bear. You had your fun time. Now fuck me.”

  He kissed his way down her belly, and she felt his grin against her skin. “What a mouth on you. It’s no wonder your brother couldn’t keep his inmate hands off you.”

  “Stop,” she moaned. “That’s just”—her breath hitched—“gross.”

  “And to think, you don’t even have a brother.” He chuckled, then shifted to devote his full attention between her thighs. He sucked her clit and licked her, sliding hands up her thighs.

  “Gavin, please.”

  He continued to go down on her, adding his fingers. First one, then two, into her slick, hot sex. He pumped in time with his mouth, until she writhed, on the cusp of orgasm.

  “I’m so close. Oh please, Gavin, in me,” she rasped, not sure she could wait.

  He moved in a blur, one moment licking her, the next pushing that thick, long cock inside her. All the way, so very deep. She stared into his eyes as her body clamped down on him.

  “Yeah, come, baby. Come hard,” he growled and thrust faster, harder.

  Her climax took her breath away, as did the intensity of his expression as he rode into an explosion of ecstasy and affection.

  “Coming in you. Oh fuck.” He shoved one final time and swore again, giving her everything as they lay joined, face-to-face, heart-to-heart, their bodies completely in tune.

  He moaned and gave a few more short thrusts before stilling completely, wrung dry.

  She could only lie there, trying to breathe while her brain reset.

  After a moment, he untied her hands but remained joined with her.

  “That was…” He sighed, then kissed her. “Incredible.”

  “Yes.” She wrapped her arms around him, stroking the base of his neck and sending him into shivers. Smiling, Zoe confessed, “It’s always better when you’re inside me when I come.”

  He nodded. “I know. Me too.”

  They stared at each other.

  “I don’t want to go,” he said softly. “Is that bad?”

  “Is it bad I don’t want you to go?”

  His relieved smile made her fall that much harder. Zoe had a bad feeling she seriously loved Gavin Donnigan.

  But then his smile faded. “Zoe, I want to stay over tonight. But, well, I have issues.”

  “Issues?” Probably a discussion they should have when he wasn’t buried inside her. “Maybe we should clean up.”

  His eyes brightened. “Great idea. Let’s take a shower.”

  He withdrew, yanked her to her feet, and hustled them into the shower. He got the water nice and hot, then held the curtain for her to precede him.

  She did and found her back pressed against the tile wall while Gavin made love to her mouth. When he pulled away, she felt unsteady on her feet.

  “Man, coming in you is like nothing else. It’s seriously nirvana.”

  She took a deep breath in, filled her lungs again, then let it out. “I like it too.” She hugged him, feeling the water sluice down her body, cool in contrast to his heat. “I like you wet.”

  His wide smile turned into a laugh. “Isn’t that my line?”

  “Ha.”

  “Yeah, well, it’s true. Shower wet, or sex wet.” He kissed her again, cupped her breasts, and groaned. “You were so great tonight. And I’m not talking about you coming over my cock either.”

  “Gavin.”

  “And still, she blushes. You’re so beautiful.” He quieted. “But those issues we need to talk about. I want to sleep with you. As in sleep in bed, at rest. I mean, I have from the first. But I didn’t want to be pushy, make you feel like I was moving too fast. This is your place. I respect that.”

  She smiled and stroked his hair. “I know, baby.”

  He swallowed, closed his eyes, then opened them. “Shit. You are making this really hard to say.”

  “What’s wrong?”

  “What’s wrong is that I want to make love to you all over again, but we need to talk.”

  “So talk.”

  He looked uncomfortable, and she stopped teasing. “Gavin, you can tell me.”

  “I, ah, well, sometimes I have nightmares. I wake up yelling, sometimes screaming. And I didn’t want to freak you out.”

  “Oh.” And how that must have hurt to admit. “That’s okay.”

  “Well, the thing is, I don’t want to hurt you.”

  She froze. “Huh?”

  “If I wake you up, and I’m moving around or something, just let me thrash. Don’t try to wake me. One time I woke up swinging and nearly hit Landon. But that was when I first got back. Since seeing this counselor guy, I actually don’t have a lot of nightmares anymore. When I do, I normally wake up on my own. Nothing violent or anything, but it freaks Theo out.” He made a face. “We share a room since he can’t handle living with Mom and Dad anymore.”

  “Oh.” She thought about it. “I’m game. Let’s try it.”

  “You sure? It’s okay if you want me to go. I won’t be upset or anything.”

  “No.” She kissed his warm mouth. “I like being in your arms. Or is that bad to admit?”

  He eased against her. “Hell no. That’s exactly what I wanted to hear. So let’s finish getting clean, then go to bed.”

  “Sounds good.” A big turning point in their relationship. The sleepover.

  She let him wash her hair because his big hands felt awesome massaging her scalp. But Gavin didn’t stop there. He took a long time washing her breasts, making sure not to miss a spot with all that soap. And her belly, her legs, her ass.

  “This is the best ass I’ve ever seen,” he said, standing chest to chest against her as he cupped her butt in his hands. He kissed her, then lifted her against the wall.

  “The water’s getting cool,” she managed in between kisses.

  “Better get you warmed up. Wrap those ankles behind my back. Yeah, like that.”

  A few minutes later, panting and dirty all over again, she agreed. “Shower sex, definitely a yes.”

  “Definitely.” He panted. “Now let’s clean up for real and hit the sheets. I think I’m too exhausted to dream tonight.”

  “Me too.” She yawned, turned off the water, and stepped out of the shower. “But we need to be at Josh’s house tomorrow at nine.”

  “Huh? Who’s Josh?”

  “Some guy.”

  She had a hard time focusing as they dried off, then stumbled into bed. She fit in his arms like the perfect piece in a puzzle. Zoe sighed and put her head on his chest, listening to his heartbeat. She felt the kiss on top of her head and snuggled into him.

>   “Josh?” he whispered.

  She slurred back, “Cleo’s brother. You’ll see.”

  * * *

  Staring at the mounds of dog shit all over the guy’s lawn, Gavin wanted to strangle Josh Brewer, cop or no cop. No wonder he hadn’t locked his back fence. With the many minefields all over the place, the guy was in no danger of criminals underfoot. Because whatever made that yard mess had to be huge.

  “This? This is what you tricked me into doing with you? Cleaning up the dog piles from a crappy lawn?”

  “No. Our job is to take care of Mauler.”

  He blinked. “Who?”

  She opened the back door with a key, and a black Great Dane lumbered out. It had pointed ears and a white diamond on its chest. The damn thing came to Zoe’s sternum.

  “Hey, Mauler.”

  It woofed in a deep bass and rose to its hind legs, planting its paws on her shoulders while it licked her.

  She laughed and stroked the thing’s huge head.

  “Whenever you’re done dancing, want to introduce me?”

  At the sound of his voice, the dog left Zoe’s shoulders and growled at him.

  Whoa.

  “Mauler, be nice. This is Gavin.” She drew the dog toward him, holding it—being dragged by it—by the collar.

  Gavin did nothing to alarm it, holding out a hand to let the dog sniff. After a few moments, the dog licked his palm. Then, to Gavin’s dismay, it stuck its huge head in his crotch. Hard.

  He moaned and clutched himself while Zoe laughed.

  And she laughed a lot, not a soft hint of amusement, but a deep belly laugh.

  When he could catch his breath, he scowled and said, “Glad you think this is funny.”

  “S-sorry.” She wiped her eyes. “There’s just something about a nut shot I find really funny.”

  “Nut shot?” He blinked, now able to focus past the pain between his legs.

  Mauler had gone to add to the mess out back and returned with a happy grin.

  “Appropriate, eh?” She watched the dog and shook her head. “I’m going to have to let Josh know his new guy isn’t doing his job. He hires someone to clean up his yard every few days.”