Too Much: A Loveswept Contemporary Erotic Romance (All or Nothing)

by Lea Griffith

  “Relax,” he whispered as he sat up straighter.

  He was such a big man. Even sitting now, chest to chest, she had to look up at him slightly. There was also no way for her to relax with her body, riding a high and about to once again be invaded by ecstasy.

  “So tense, little sub. Tell me, what would you have me do to you now?”

  She remained silent, unsure how to answer that question. What had started out as simple play in the restaurant had become something much deeper. She could feel the emotion swirling around them. Intent was in his storm-tossed gaze but it eluded her. He wanted something from her.

  “Tell me,” he said again, firmer and with a squeeze on her bottom.

  “Love me,” she said, the words pulled from her soul.

  He impaled her with one smooth roll of his hips and she was lost to him. “I do,” he said at her neck.

  Then it began. As the car moved through the streets of Atlanta, Daly was taken by her man, her Dom. Slow strokes, hard strokes, delectable kisses and nibbling bites—he devoured her, and any misgivings she’d ever had about giving herself to Jeremiah Copeland evaporated under his body’s demands. She hovered on the brink of orgasm and he took her over, spilling himself inside of her when she yelled his name.

  “Everything,” she said at his lips.

  He stared at her, long and hard, before his hand cupped her cheek and he pulled her closer. His cock flexed inside her body and he affirmed, “Always.”

  Chapter 22

  Jeremiah’s main business offices sat in the Equitable Building in the heart of downtown Atlanta. He had a business call he could not put off, so after they’d straightened their clothing, they’d gone to his office and she’d waited on him to finish.

  He had gone into shipping. A global market that was competitive as hell, Jeremiah had thrived in the environment and become one of the largest shippers of transcontinental freight in the world. Not too shabby considering his parents had abandoned him at age twelve with two siblings. He’d done what he had to do and come out on the other side of that something better than anyone could have hoped.

  Not that many people had ever hoped for Jeremiah. She watched him as he steepled his fingers and played hardball with a client. He was a master tactician and before the call ended, he’d received the contract. She had no idea of his net worth and didn’t really care, but the man seemed loaded. She knew he owned many properties in and around Atlanta—so yeah, her bad boy had handled himself well on the business front.

  She’d often seen him pictured in business magazines but had never read the articles, too afraid she’d remember his touch and what she’d walked away from.

  “You ready?”

  She glanced up from her perch on his office couch and nodded. He pulled her up, wrapping his arms around her waist and simply holding her.

  “What’s on your mind?”

  She didn’t want to talk about the past. She’d started new. “Nothing important,” she said, and then shrugged off a feeling of impending doom. “Where do we go next?”

  He looked out the window of his office. “It’s too cold for the lake. Too warm for snow, so skiing is out. But it might be perfect weather for …” His gaze sliced to her.

  She threw back her head and laughed. Then she snuggled against her man and said, “Yeah, we could do some more of that. I’m game.”

  “Tell you what, let’s go change and hit Atlantic Station. We could see a movie, go bowling, whatever you want,” he said with a smile.

  She shrugged. “I kinda like the first suggestion.”

  He smirked. “You would.”

  Daly rolled her eyes. “Of course I would. You’re pretty good at making me come.”

  “You ain’t so bad yourself, Day.” He waggled his eyebrows and she laughed again.

  “Okay, look,” she began. “Let’s go to my place, make a little love, watch movies and eat popcorn and M&Ms. Thoughts?”

  He kissed her mouth, a short kiss that had her leaning into him for more. “Perfect plan. But let’s go to my place instead.”

  “Why?”

  He took her hand and put it over his very hard flesh. “It’s closer,” he responded.

  Thirty minutes later, they were pulling up to the same building that housed The Underground. She turned a gimlet eye on him.

  “You live here?”

  He gave her a sheepish grin and said, “You’ve seen the club, the dungeon, my office, and the apartment off the office. But the top five floors are all mine. The rest are luxury apartments I rent out to certain members of the club.”

  Her eyes widened. “Five?”

  “Yeah. One for Ruthie, one for David, and three for me.”

  She lowered her brows. “Three for you, huh?”

  “I’m a big dude,” he said as he leered at her.

  “Whatever,” she said with a small laugh.

  They pulled beneath the building into a garage and rode a private elevator to the top. She’d just stepped out of the elevator when she heard a gasp. Daly turned and there, in the middle of a huge living room, stood one of her best friends.

  “Ruthie!” She hurried toward the woman and once she stood in front of her, Daly stilled.

  Jeremiah’s sister was hands down the most beautiful woman Daly had ever seen. Tall and willowy, with creamy skin that set off her ebony hair to perfection, she also had the heart of an angel.

  “You just gonna stand there?” Ruthie asked.

  “I’m overcome by your beauty,” Daly said with a hand over her heart.

  Ruthie snickered. “You’re full of shit is what you are.”

  Daly launched herself at Ruthie, and the two women were hugging and crying and talking all at once.

  “I missed—”

  “You didn’t tell me—”

  “How have you—”

  “Let me tell you—”

  Then they stopped at the same time. “You first,” they both said, and then fell into a fit of giggles.

  Jeremiah cleared his throat and Daly glanced up.

  “Why didn’t you tell somebody you were coming home?” he asked his sister.

  “I have to report to you, J.C.? I don’t think so. I’m a big girl and can make my own schedule. Besides, why didn’t you tell me you were back with my favorite person in the world?”

  Silence followed Ruthie’s question and Daly’s gaze never left Jeremiah’s. She waited for his answer. Were they together? Was that what this was?

  “You didn’t ask. Besides,” he said in a mocking voice, “it’s not really any of your business.”

  “Is too,” Ruthie said.

  “Is not,” Jeremiah returned with a negative head shake.

  Ruthie snickered, then sighed. “You’re right. I probably didn’t need to know you were getting busy with my best friend. But she damn sure should have told me!”

  Ruthie and Daly were almost the same age. Daly was older by six months. They had bonded when they’d met at the age of eighteen and been close ever since, even after Daly left Jeremiah.

  “I haven’t had time to tell you, Ruthie.”

  “It’s only been a little over a week since I talked to you last, Day-day,” Ruthie whined.

  Daly snorted. “Well, this was all sudden, and I’ve been kinda busy,” Daly murmured.

  “Yeah—busy getting busy and ewww,” Ruthie said and raised her head to Jeremiah. “So, are you going to stand there or hug me?”

  He wrapped his sister in his massive embrace and Daly felt her heart turn over. Jeremiah’s gaze stayed on hers, and in the gray depths was a promise.

  “Why’d you come home?” he asked when he let her go.

  “I have my reasons,” Ruthie said mysteriously.

  Daly wondered if Toby was part of that. She hadn’t seen her brother yet and wondered if he knew Ruthie was home.

  “David’s in trouble again,” Jeremiah told his sister, who shrugged.

  When everything had happened three years ago, Ruthie had been devastated.
That one brother had placed another in the situation David had was the straw that broke the camel’s back for her. Then Tobias compounded that by doing what he’d done, and …

  Daly shook her head. Men had little to no clue how to handle women. Her brother and Jeremiah included.

  Ruthie nodded. “I wondered,” she said.

  Jeremiah’s gaze flew to his sister. “Why’s that?”

  “He called and asked me to stay in Vegas. I had planned to come home this month anyway to see you two. When he called, I moved it up.”

  “You came home when you knew your brother was in trouble?” Toby’s strident voice rang out as he stepped from the elevator.

  Ruthie’s spine snapped straight and her head swiveled to Toby. “Yes,” she said matter-of-factly.

  A small smile played about her lips, and Daly knew that didn’t bode well for her brother.

  “Fucking stupid thing to do,” Toby grated out.

  Jeremiah rolled his eyes and Daly smothered a laugh.

  Ruthie shrugged and ignored Toby. “So, Jeremiah, is my apartment still good?”

  “It’s yours as it always was,” Jeremiah said. “Now get out. Both of you.”

  Toby glanced around as if finally realizing there were other people in the room besides him and Ruthie. “I’ll escort your sister down.”

  Ruthie’s face blanked. “I don’t need you to escort me anywhere, Tobias Edwards.”

  “Tough shit,” Toby said and grabbed her hand.

  For just a shimmering instant, Ruthie’s façade cracked and Daly saw everything the other woman felt at Toby’s touch. Pain, hope, desire … love. Daly’s breath caught, and she wondered if that was what she looked like when Jeremiah touched her. Her eyes watered and Jeremiah stepped into her line of vision, cradling her face.

  Toby and Ruthie disappeared, and all Daly knew was the man in front of her. The one who’d stolen her heart.

  “They have to fix what’s going on between them,” he said softly.

  She nodded and sank against his heat. “I love you,” she whispered.

  “I know, baby. I know.”

  He held her close, and for that perfect moment they were just Daly and Jeremiah. Two people who had hurt each other and managed to come back together. Then his phone rang, and he cursed as he glanced at the screen.

  “I’ve got to take this, Day.”

  She stepped away and nodded. Jeremiah took his call and she wandered around the mammoth apartment. Huge banks of windows lined each wall. It was a very open space and wooden beams lined the ceilings, giving the apartment a rustic feel. Hardwood floors completed the look. Heavy mahogany and leather furniture dominated the living room, and the kitchen was a chef’s wet dream. They had loved to cook meals together. Her heart ached and she rubbed her chest.

  “What’s wrong?”

  His voice startled her. She’d lost herself in memories for a minute. “Nothing.”

  Jeremiah turned her around and put his hands at her hips. “I have something I have to take care of. Shouldn’t take me long. I was thinking I’d bring back some Valenza’s and we can eat, make popcorn, watch some movies, and fuck.”

  She laughed. “Sounds like an amazing plan,” she murmured at his lips.

  He kissed her then. A sweet, lingering meeting of lips that had her hands burrowing in his hair and her body pressing against his. He growled. She groaned. And then he pulled away and started to walk out.

  “Jeremiah?”

  He glanced back at her once he was in the elevator. “Yeah?”

  “Be safe.”

  He nodded, and once the door to the elevator closed, she was left alone.

  Chapter 23

  Jeremiah’s “shouldn’t take long” had gone on for hours. She’d showered and borrowed some of his sweats, loving that in his absence his clothes kept her somewhat warm. He hadn’t bothered to call and eventually Daly had gotten mad, then sad, and finally decided she was going to visit Ruthie. She called her friend, who didn’t hesitate to invite her down.

  “I wondered when you’d come see me,” Ruthie said from her spot on an enormous leather sofa.

  “Where’d they go?” Daly asked, dreading the answer.

  “Don’t know. Don’t care,” Ruthie responded. She flipped off the television and patted the seat beside her. If Ruthie was home, a TV was on somewhere in the house. Though she couldn’t watch it she could listen and she always said that was enough for her.

  Daly curled into the couch beside her. “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming when I talked with you last?”

  Ruthie raised an eyebrow. “Why didn’t you tell me you’d reconnected with my brother?”

  “I hadn’t necessarily … okay, look, I just didn’t,” Daly said miserably. “I didn’t know what was going on. I tried to call him to tell him I had David’s ring and the asshole wouldn’t respond to my calls.”

  Ruthie grunted. “So you got dolled up in your clubbing finest and drove your happy little ass down here, didn’t you?”

  “Yeah.”

  Ruthie laughed. “I knew it was only a matter of time, Daly. Two hearts connected that deeply had no choice but to find a way back together.”

  “Something is going on though, and I’m wondering if David is in the middle of it again, Ruthie.” Daly sighed when Ruthie grabbed her hand.

  “What was it like?”

  Daly cocked her head, but Ruthie’s sightless gaze was trained on the windows. “What was what like?”

  “Coming back home.”

  Daly’s soul felt squeezed by the pain in the other woman’s voice. She didn’t even pretend to misinterpret what Ruthie was asking. “It was—” She took a deep breath. “It was beautiful.”

  Ruthie nodded, and a tear slipped down her cheek. “I had hoped you two would find your way back. Now what’s this I hear about David being in trouble?”

  Daly recounted the little she knew to Ruthie, who sat quietly during the retelling. Daly left out the part about the pictures she’d mysteriously received.

  “You think someone else is pulling the strings?” Ruthie asked.

  “Yeah. But I don’t know who or why. And your brother won’t tell me anything.” Daly had been running every conceivable situation through her mind but come up with nothing. She didn’t have any enemies she knew of, but Jeremiah probably did.

  “Jeremiah will find out. Don’t worry.”

  Daly patted Ruthie’s hand. “I can’t help but worry about him.”

  “He’s a strong man, Day. He made a choice when he fell in love with you not to ever engage in that life again. When I think about the things he gave up to care for me and David when he was so damn young—I can’t fathom the type of mental toughness it takes for a twelve-year-old to raise two younger kids. He kept us out of the system and in school, Daly. He’s a good man. Trust in him,” she said.

  “Maybe that’s what worries me, Ruthie.”

  “What?”

  “I do trust him. I’ve given him everything this time. It took me a while to realize what I’d done to him. How could I not have known? Why didn’t he tell me what he’d done for David? Why would he keep that from me—allow me to think the worst of him?”

  Ruthie turned to her at that, her storm-tossed gray eyes seeing more than any blind person should. “Your love for him should have told you everything.”

  “Toby said I didn’t love Jeremiah enough.”

  “Toby said that? Wow. Funny that a man who can’t see his hand in front of his face when it comes to his own relationships could be so startlingly insightful about someone else’s.” Ruthie sighed and squeezed Daly’s hand. “Jeremiah is a hard man. He’s done things he isn’t proud of. But when you two got together, he changed. He let go of all the bad and turned his life into something you would be proud of. He did that because he loved you.”

  Daly saw it all now and mourned that she hadn’t seen it then.

  “And I disagree with your brother. I don’t think it’s that you didn’t love him
enough. I think you loved him too much,” Ruthie said. “You loved him so deeply, so completely, that the thought of him doing anything to betray your trust shut you down and you ran. After all, the easiest way to prevent pain to yourself is to inflict it on the other person first.”

  Shock ghosted through Daly. “Are you talking about me now or Toby?”

  “Both,” Ruthie said in a dull voice. “Heyward Edwards did a number on you two. Trust is a two-way street. Neither you nor Toby ever seemed inclined to keep the path clear for others. Jeremiah, David, and me—we grew up tough. You two grew up in hell.”

  “I love your brother, Ruthie. I’m not letting him go this time. I have no idea what he wants from me, but this is not a game. If he lets me go this time, it will destroy me.”

  “That’s how much he loves you too, Daly.” Ruthie went preternaturally still and smiled. Chills danced up Daly’s body. “Trust him and he’ll be everything you need.”

  “Yes, oh Great Swami of Love, I will do as you say,” Daly said dramatically, and then fell backward on the couch.

  Ruthie cackled. “You’d better get back upstairs—I think I heard the elevator heading up,” Ruthie said.

  “Let’s go eat at McGuire’s next week. Chelsea would love to see you. Oh! Have you talked to Candace lately?” Daly asked as she stood up.

  “I haven’t. Figured I’d visit while I was in town this time. Give me a call. It’s not like I’ve got huge plans, just some painting when I feel the muse, and then I’m all yours.”

  “Deal,” Daly said and kissed Ruthie on the cheek. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”

  * * *

  As soon as she stepped off the elevator, Copeland enfolded her in his embrace.

  “I smell you and it makes me so fucking hard, all I can think about is getting inside your body,” he ground out.

  She laughed, low and husky, and every insecurity he had about this woman he’d given his heart to dissolved.

  “I missed you, Jeremiah. Four hours is too long to be away from my heart,” she whispered.

  “Goddamn, I love you,” he said harshly and turned her around in his arms. It shocked him that the words flew from his mouth so easily. Then it didn’t matter that he’d opened himself up so wide because Daly jumped up, wrapping her legs around his waist, and all he wanted was to be inside her. It was a pounding need. More than a desire for the physical release, it was a desperate requirement for Copeland to draw closer to her in that way. He wanted everything she was, in all the ways she could give it to him.