“It doesn’t matter,” Mandy said. “You said it. You meant it. You probably have a point. The problem is that you refuse to listen to me when I’m making a point.”
“Emma is too weak to deal with this right now,” James said. “She needs to be coddled. I needed you to coddle her while we took care of business.”
“She doesn’t need to be coddled, James,” Mandy countered. “That’s the last thing she needs. Emma is stronger than you’re giving her credit for. She needs a kick in the pants. Finn has to be the one to do that.”
“I disagree.”
“You disagree because you want to control everyone,” Mandy said. “I may be a spoiled brat, but you’re a control freak.”
“I shouldn’t have called you that,” James said. “I didn’t mean it. You were just … frustrating me. I’m sorry. If you want to yell and scream, go for it. I’m ready.”
“I don’t want to yell and scream,” Mandy replied. “It’s not going to do any good. Our fights are one-sided that way.”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
“It means that when I’m angry you simply overpower me until you force me to forgive you,” Mandy answered. “You tickle me … or wrestle me down … or you just follow me around until I have no choice but to give you what you want.
“When you’re angry with me, though, it’s a different story,” she continued. “You storm downstairs and sleep on the couch of your office rather than talking to me. You send me into the hotel bedroom like you did in Louisiana even though my heart hurt that night.”
“I came to you that night,” James protested.
“After you sent me to bed like a child and I spent an hour crying,” Mandy clarified. “You came to me on your terms. I wasn’t allowed to argue with you on my terms. That’s the way our marriage is. You’re not going to let me be angry tonight, so … .” Mandy surprised James when she whipped her T-shirt over her head.
“What are you doing?” James asked, confused.
“You want sex, right? Come and take what you want.”
“Now, wait just a minute,” James said, racking his memory for the fight instances Mandy referred to. He hated to admit it, but when he thought back over those arguments, she had a point. “I … .”
Mandy widened her eyes to comical proportions as she tugged her sleep shorts down and stood next to him completely naked. “Let’s have sex.”
James’ expression softened. She was hurt. He preferred her angry to hurt. He grabbed Mandy around the waist and forced her to sit on his lap at the end of the bed. He ran his fingers over her stiff shoulders as he considered how best to proceed.
“Mandy, you are the love of my life and I will never compromise when it comes to your safety,” James said. “You’re my … everything. If I took a one-sided approach in our fights, well, I’m sorry.
“I never considered it from your point-of-view,” he continued. “When I go after you because you’re angry, it’s because my heart hurts not to be close to you. It’s not because I’m trying to take control away from you.”
Mandy remained silent.
“You have to know that I love your fighting spirit,” James tried again. “When I put distance between us after those fights, it was because I didn’t want to say something truly awful. When I threw that chair at the wall that night in the apartment, I saw the look on your face. For a second, baby, you were frightened of me. I don’t ever want that.”
“I wasn’t frightened that you were going to hurt me,” Mandy clarified. “I was frightened you were going to hurt yourself. You were out of control.”
“That’s what happens when someone threatens the people I love,” James said. “In New Orleans I wasn’t angry because you’re fiery and mouthy. I was angry because someone could’ve hurt you. I don’t mean to dominate you. You know that, right?”
“I know that you want things a specific way,” Mandy replied, choosing her words carefully. “You’re my husband, James. You’re not my king. You have to at least ask me about some of this stuff instead of decreeing it.”
James brushed his lips against her cheek. “Pritchard is not messing around, baby,” he said. “I need you safe. Will you please let Peter’s man watch you? Will you please stay in the courthouse at lunch?”
“Yes.”
James tightened his arms around her waist. “Thank you.”
“All you had to do was ask,” Mandy pointed out. “I like to think that I’m not so unreasonable that I would purposely put others in danger.”
“I didn’t say you were.”
“You said I was a spoiled brat.”
“And there it is,” James said, shifting Mandy on his lap so he could study her face. “I’m sorry.”
“You’re going to be sorry,” Mandy said. “Now you have to make me feel better.”
“And how do you want me to do that?”
Mandy graced him with the first real smile he’d seen in hours and his heart soared at the expression. “I think you’re going to have to … give me sex.”
James grinned. “Oh, yeah?”
Mandy nodded.
James pressed a soft kiss to her mouth, relieved when she sank into it. His hands were gentle as they rubbed her bare back. He kissed her like that for a few moments and then tipped her back on the mattress and rolled on top of her. “Your wish is my command,” he murmured, giving her one more kiss before shifting his mouth lower so he could latch onto her breast.
Mandy groaned when he swirled his tongue around the hardened nub, twining her fingers in his hair as she pressed her eyes shut.
James took his time, enjoying the feeling of her skin as she shifted beneath him. He switched to her other nipple, rolling to his side so he could shed his boxers and crush their skin together when he climbed back on top of her. He kept her nipple in his mouth as he slipped his hand under her bottom and pushed her farther up the mattress. He wanted her comfortable.
Once her head was situated on the pillows, he kissed his way down her flat abdomen, spending a few seconds dipping his tongue into her belly button before moving lower. He pushed her thighs apart, licking the quivering flesh on each one before flattening his tongue and slipping it between her ready folds.
“James.” Mandy’s voice came out in a ragged gasp and he tightened his grip on her thighs and attacked her with gusto. He needed her to be happy and relaxed. As long as he lived, that was the one thing he wanted above all else.
Most of the time when they fought they ended up clawing each other’s clothes off and going at each other like angry animals the first go around. James didn’t want to control her this time, though. He didn’t want to claim her. He wanted to be with her.
Mandy orgasmed swiftly, her shoulders pulling up from the mattress as she cried out. James remained on task until the shaking subsided, and then he crawled up her body. His mouth was soft when it joined with hers, and Mandy dug her fingers into the hard muscles of his back when he slid inside of her.
“I love you, Mandy,” James whispered, sucking her earlobe into his mouth as he picked a steady rhythm. “Never doubt that.”
“James,” Mandy murmured, lifting her thighs so they could rest on his hips and give him easier access.
James wanted things to be slow and sensual, but when she licked her lips and spurred him on with her legs he acquiesced and increased the pace. They came together a few minutes later, whimpers and moans filling the room. James exploded inside of her, passion and love sweeping over him. He collapsed on top of her, knowing she preferred to feel his weight for a few minutes before they separated.
James remained there until their hearts returned to a normal rhythm, and then he pressed her tightly to his chest and rolled so they were still joined, but she was on top. Mandy was surprised at the move.
“What … ?”
“You’re going to be in charge for our second round,” James said, kissing her cheek. “You’re an equal in this relationship, baby. I didn’t mean to make you feel like you w
eren’t.”
“James, I shouldn’t have said that,” Mandy said, her voice small. “It wasn’t fair to you.”
“It was fair,” James argued. “I love you, my baby. You’re my forever. If you want to dominate me, I’m all for it.”
Mandy smirked, but her eyes were serious. “I love you. I don’t mean to upset you.”
“You complete me,” James said. “You can’t help but be upset when you love someone. I’m going to do better on the bossy thing.”
Mandy snorted. “We’ll see.”
“Hey, I’m laying here and waiting for you to boss me around,” James pointed out. “We’re not going to sleep until you get your way.”
This time Mandy’s eyes flashed with mirth when she smiled. “Well, I guess we’d better get started on that, huh? We need sleep because I’m going to want to boss you around in the shower tomorrow morning, too.”
“Now that’s the way to take control, baby,” James said. “I … oh, holy … baby.” He was taken aback when she shifted her hips. His softening erection flared to life inside of her as she changed the angle of entry and internally squeezed him. “Wow. If I didn’t love you before … .”
Mandy didn’t give him a chance to finish, covering his mouth with hers and taking charge of the situation. James didn’t mind in the least.
Eight
Grady watched James hum as his older brother walked around his desk the next morning, rolling his eyes when James realized he had an audience and snapped his mouth shut.
“What?” James asked after a moment.
“You hum the theme from Jaws whenever you have sex,” Grady said. “You know that, right? We’ve all noticed and we make jokes behind your back.”
“That’s not what I was humming.”
“Don’t bother lying,” Grady said, sitting in a chair and studying his brother. “You don’t look maimed. How long did you and Mandy fight?”
“About a half hour.”
“Who won?”
James smirked, his eyes taking on a far-off quality. “We both won … multiple times.”
“You guys are sick,” Grady said. “I thought after you got married you would calm down. If anything, you two are ramping things up on a regular basis these days.”
“Actually, we didn’t have a scream fest last night,” James admitted. “Mandy said something to me … .”
“Oh, James. Oh, James.” Grady mimicked Mandy’s voice.
“Not that,” James said. “Although, she did moan my name a few times.”
“Ugh,” Jake said, making a disgusted sound in the back of his throat as he joined them. “I hate it when he boasts about his sex life.”
“I wasn’t boasting,” James countered. “I just … do you think my fights with Mandy are one-sided?”
Grady was surprised. “Like how?”
“She pointed out last night that when she’s angry with me I go after her until I melt her resolve and force her to forgive me,” James said. “I did it after the explosion when she ran away. I did it after the cooking class debacle. She says when I’m angry with her I force my will on her and hold her at arm’s length.”
“You probably do,” Grady said. “You don’t do it to hurt her, though. You do it so you won’t blow a gasket.”
“Is that fair?” James asked. “I force her to forgive me, and then when she needs comfort or to yell, there are times I push her away so I won’t say something truly awful. She called me a control freak.”
Grady snorted. “You are a control freak.”
“I don’t want to dominate her,” James said. “That’s not a partnership. I can’t seem to help myself when she’s in danger, though.”
“It sounds like you and Mandy had quite the philosophical discussion before sex last night,” Jake said. “Ally yelled at me for an hour and then made me draw her a bubble bath and sit in it until my skin pruned up.”
Grady chuckled. “Sophie cursed like a sailor and then … well … sailed me for the rest of the night. I feel like an old man again.”
“I’m serious,” James said. “I think I’ve been treating her unfairly.”
“I think that you two treat each other unfairly a lot of the time,” Grady said. “That’s the nature of life. You learn and you grow. Are you going to make the same mistake again?”
“Probably,” James replied. “I don’t mean to boss her around, and yet I really can’t seem to help myself. When I know she’s in trouble … I see red.”
“I think Mandy understands that,” Grady said. “She’ll be fine. Emma is the one I’m worried about.”
“Mandy said something about that, too,” James said. “I discarded it at first, but now I’m starting to wonder if she was right.”
“What did she say?”
“She said that Emma didn’t need to be coddled no matter what I thought,” James answered. “She said Emma was strong and she needed a kick in the pants.”
“I don’t know about that,” Grady balked. “Have you looked at Emma since this happened? She’s a shaking mess.”
“I agree with Mandy,” Jake said. “Ally doesn’t. We talked about it last night, too. She wants to smother Emma with kisses and fix everything for her. I don’t think that’s what is going to help Emma, though, and that should be our primary concern.”
“Why do you agree with Mandy?” James asked, genuinely curious.
“Emma is the strongest of all of us,” Jake responded. “She’s already been through the worst this world has to offer and she came out the other side. Wallowing is making her weak. She needs to be strong to survive this.”
James rubbed the back of his neck as he considered Jake’s words. “I think Mandy might be right, too.”
“When it comes down to it, it doesn’t matter what we think,” Grady challenged. “It matters what Finn thinks.”
“I agree,” James said. “That’s why I’m going to talk to him.”
“Oh, good,” Grady deadpanned. “This should go over well. There’s nothing a man likes more than another man telling him how to handle his woman.”
“WHERE do you think they are?” Finn asked an hour later, hopping out of James’ Explorer and glancing around the filthy alley worriedly. “This is a horrible neighborhood.”
Peter called not long after James decided to have a talk with his brother. His men managed to contain Tony Lupo when he approached a prostitute, and they were holding him so James and Finn could be present for questioning. The neighborhood in question had more in common with a cesspool than anything else.
“I’m not sure,” James said, glancing around. “I … .”
Peter appeared from around a corner and gestured for the two men to join him. He looked out of place in the harsh Detroit environment, but he appeared calm and collected.
“Mr. Lupo is unhappy with his circumstances,” Peter explained, ushering James and Finn through a door. “We had to move him indoors to cut down on the screaming.”
“What is this place?” Finn asked, glancing around nervously. “I … seriously, what is this place?”
“It’s a meeting place of sorts,” Peter replied, unruffled. “We used to come here quite regularly to conduct business. The neighborhood has fallen on hard times, though, and we don’t visit often. Technically I still own the building, although after visiting it, I’m unloading it with due haste.”
James snickered. “Good luck getting a buyer.”
“You would be surprised at the vermin who would jump to get this building,” Peter said. “I won’t have trouble selling it. I might, on the other hand, have trouble getting the filth out of my suit.”
“I guess that’s the hazard of your business, huh?” James quipped.
“You seem chipper for a man who fought with his wife last night,” Peter said, looking James up and down. “I take it you made up.”
“I like the way she makes up, too,” James replied, not missing a beat.
Peter chuckled. “I never worry about you and Mandy falling apart
because you can’t keep your hands off each other despite the drama,” he said. “I’m glad you’re back in sync.”
“Me, too,” James said, glancing at Finn. He wanted to bring up the Emma situation, but now definitely wasn’t the time. “Where is Lupo?”
“This way,” Peter said, leading James and Finn into a large room at the front of the building. The windows were completely blacked out and Tony Lupo – his dark hair greasy and flopping to the side – was tied to a chair in the middle of the room.
James scanned the three men watching him, but he didn’t recognize their faces. “Hey, Tony,” he said, hunkering down so they were at eye-level. “How are you doing?”
“I’m going to kill you all,” Tony seethed. “I’m going to rip your nuts off and feed them to you while you’re choking for life.”
“That sounds delightful,” James said. “We’ll get right on that after you answer a few questions. How does that sound?”
“It sounds like I’m going to kill you!”
James straightened to a standing position and shifted his chocolate eyes to Peter. “What do you think?”
“I think we’re going to start beating him if he doesn’t stop this nonsense.” Peter was matter-of-fact. “I hate this neighborhood. I’m not staying here one second longer than I have to. If Mr. Lupo doesn’t want to talk, we’ll just have to convince him that he’s wrong on that matter.” Peter lifted a finger, ready to instruct one of his men to start the beatdown, but Lupo snapped his head up and stilled him.
“I don’t want to be beaten,” Lupo snapped. “Come on, man. Have a heart. You’re a criminal. You should like me. I’ve got … potential … for your organization.”
Peter rolled his eyes. “You’re going back to prison, Mr. Lupo,” he said. “I have no tolerance for anyone who gets caught. What shape you’re in when we deliver you to the authorities is entirely up to you.”
“I just got out,” Lupo whined. “I don’t want to go back.”
“Bummer,” Peter said, nonplussed. “Tell us what we want and we’ll buy you breakfast before we return you to prison. Make us beat you and you’ll get nothing but pain and you’ll still end up in the same place.”
Deadly Arrival (Hardy Brothers Security Book 16) Page 6
