Enflame

by S. Layne

  Becky’s eyes are wide with surprise at seeing me standing in Donovan’s house, and if I’m not mistaken, her cheeks turn a pale color as I lift my hand and wave. “Hello, ladies. Becky.”

  “You’ll explain this, right?” Donovan whispers in my ear as I begin walking toward the table.

  I nod without saying anything but wait for Donovan to pull out my chair. He seats me across from Becky, who’s losing more color in her cheeks by the moment, while he moves to his chair across from Cassandra. Her lips are twisted into a very unladylike scowl.

  “Should I do the introductions?” I ask happily, once Donovan is seated and drapes his arm over my shoulders in a possessive gesture.

  “Becky, this is Donovan.” I turn to him and grin. Wide. My cheeks ache and twitch from the strain, but I don’t care. “Donovan, this is Becky. She’s the woman who ruined her lifelong friendship with Laurie by fucking her husband.”

  Becky gasps.

  Donovan’s jaw drops and he shoots me a shocked look. I nod once. “Yup.”

  And Claire says, “Young lady. I don’t know what type of family you grew up with, but we do not use that language in this home.”

  I take my scolding with a grain of salt, because that’s funny, too. I grew up in a home where parents would never pull some asinine stunt like this and find it acceptable.

  Clearly, by the look on Becky’s face, she’s regretting her appearance.

  “Nice to meet you,” Donovan says casually, as if he means it. His thumb begins rubbing the top of my shoulder and Cassandra notices.

  “Aren’t you going to say hello to me?” she asks Donovan, purring like a kitten, her eyes like lasers where his thumb is brushing my skin.

  He shrugs and drops a kiss to my bare shoulder before turning to look at her. “Not sure why I’d bother. You’re not my wife, no longer part of this family, and I’m not sure why you’re here.”

  Claire gasps again and opens her mouth.

  Donovan silences her. “And you should be ashamed of yourself. I don’t know what game you’re playing today, but if Talia and I weren’t finding this so fucking hysterical we’d already be out of here. So why don’t you cut the crap and tell me what this is about, or serve your food so we can get the hell out of here. We have family shit to do today.”

  I fight back a laugh.

  Claire’s expression morphs further into disgust with every curse word spoken, until I think she might blow her top.

  Across from me, Becky fiddles with her napkin.

  “Cassandra is family,” Claire says slowly. She reaches out and holds Cassandra’s hand on top of the table. “Some bonds are thicker than blood, and she will always be my daughter. Just because you so carelessly tossed her aside doesn’t mean I have to.”

  Donovan chuckles. He squeezes my shoulder and pulls me closer to him. I wish I had a camera for this moment. It’s deteriorating quickly, and if it wasn’t so ironically funny, I’d be fuming mad. As it is, I have a feeling Claire is slamming the final nail into the coffin of her relationship with Donovan.

  “That’s funny,” Donovan says, reaching for his water glass. “I suppose you know all about her fucking the CFO of her father’s company then?”

  Claire’s expression falters a bit when Cassandra says, “You aren’t supposed to disclose that information.”

  “I’m not supposed to disclose that information publicly, but I also believe you were handsomely rewarded with a few million dollars to stay the hell out of my life.”

  “Your mother invited me.”

  “My mother has an agenda that far surpasses anything you can understand.” As if Donovan just realized there were more people in the room than he and his ex-wife, his gaze slides toward Becky and narrows. She looks about ready to vomit. “And why are you here? Moral support for Cassandra? It sounds as if you two have a lot in common.”

  Becky opens her mouth but nothing comes out.

  “Becky’s father is running for senator soon. I think her closeness with our family will secure connections,” Claire quietly supplies.

  I bite back a snort and reach for my water, taking a sip when Donovan says, “If you thought I’d fuck her to get in her family’s good graces, you’re sorely mistaken.”

  Becky turns green.

  I choke on my water.

  Cassandra’s eyes water as if she might actually cry, and she looks at Claire.

  And before anyone can say anything else about the colossal fuck-up that is brunch, two servers appear and quietly set dishes down in front of us, oblivious to the tension that is bouncing around the room.

  “Well that was the most fun I’ve had on a Saturday morning since I can remember.”

  Donovan slides me a glance. His thumb taps a rhythm on the steering wheel to the beat from the music playing on the radio. “I’m concerned about your mental well-being.”

  I snort. I’ve long since given up ladylike appearances—not that I had many to begin with. “Oh come on, that was funny. Did she really think she’d try to whore you out to Becky and Cassandra?”

  “I don’t know if I should be amused that you find this funny, or worried.”

  I place my hand on his thigh and squeeze, laughing. “Your mom brought in two women who have both slept with married men and thought you’d find them so beautiful you’d turn away from me. Wasn’t that her goal?”

  “I assume so.” His lips purse and a tendon pops by his temple. He’s more upset about this than me. I decided during the quiet, stifled meal—that was absolutely delicious and foodgasm-worthy—to stop caring about what anyone thinks of me, especially in that trio of horrible women.

  I have enough things on my mind, and worrying about Donovan going back to any of them is at the bottom of my list. Becky, maybe, if he didn’t know who she was.

  I’m just thankful I finally got a chance to tell her what I think of her. After she slept with James and Laurie found out, I quickly took sides, severing my friendship with Becky. Today is the first time I’ve seen her since, and the whole reason she was there is simply laughable.

  “But I hope she’s happy knowing that she’s lost me for good after this stunt. If she ever wants a relationship with me, she has a ton of groveling to do.”

  The thought of Claire Lore on her knees begging anyone for anything makes me giggle. Which means it’s never gonna happen, and I don’t have to worry about her tricks in the future because Donovan truly wants nothing to do with her. I almost feel bad, but thankful he sees how truly wretched she is.

  “Can we talk about more fun things now?” I ask, leaning my head on his shoulder. The move softens him and I feel his breath leave his chest in a long, calming exhale.

  “Like what?” He drops his hand, threading his fingers through mine.

  “Like the fact that by the end of the night, I’ll be living with you.”

  “You’ve been mine for a month.”

  “Yeah, but it’s official now.”

  He turns his head and presses a quick kiss to the top of my head before turning to focus on the road. “You’ve been mine since I slid my cock into you eight years ago and took your virginity.”

  It’s true. No man has ever compared.

  I can’t even argue, but in order to not become turned on by the thought of his cock sliding into me when we’re minutes from my house, I change the subject.

  “Have you spoken with Jensen?”

  “After yesterday’s debacle with Dick, which I’m still mad at you for, by the way…”

  I roll my eyes. He’s pissed I let the man search the center, but I didn’t have anything to hide and I didn’t want him returning while I was there. No sense fanning the flames of his anger.

  “Jensen said he’s going to fast-track the meeting with the judge. He thinks he can find someone to look over everything in the next couple of weeks, instead of thirty days.”

  “That means everything could be done before Thanksgiving.”

  I smile, thinking of the four of us together as a famil
y for Thanksgiving. It’s a long shot, considering Ben could take off any day, but something tells me he won’t.

  “You like him,” I tell Donovan, meaning Ben. “I’m surprised you’ve jumped into all of this, to be honest.”

  “I see something in him that I used to feel in me.”

  I frown, slide my fingers against his, and watch as his muscles tighten. “What?”

  I pull back from his shoulder so I can see his eyes. They’re lined with small wrinkles as he squints into the sun. “Fear of never being good enough. Failure. Terrified he’s going to fuck up somehow.” He pauses, shakes his head. “My parents never beat me, but their expectations were certainly unreachable and there was always the fear of what I would lose behind their threats.”

  “It seems too easy, having him stay with us—like he fits right in, but I’m worried he’s faking it.”

  “Me too, Talia,” he says and pulls into my driveway. I can’t help but smile when I see Mrs. Bartol flirting with Bentley. He looks uncomfortable looking at the woman twenty years older than him donned in only a silk robe that stops at her knees. He flinches when she reaches out to touch his shoulder, and I see her laugh.

  We step out of the car at the same time that Jeremiah and Ben walk out of my front door, carrying a teal buffet table I want to bring to Donovan’s house.

  Donovan’s hand finds mine and he slides our hands together, interlocking our fingers as we watch the boys smile and laugh while they carry the table to the truck parked at the curb.

  “On the other hand,” Donovan says, leaning down to whisper in my ear, “maybe it’s easy because we’re giving him what he wanted, because he can relate to Jeremiah in some way, and because he trusts you.”

  I sigh, shivers dancing along my neck from his breath and then his teasing touch as his finger draws slow, lazy circles at the small of my back. “Maybe you’re right.”

  “We’ll watch him, but I trust the kid, too. Otherwise I wouldn’t have handed him a truck and just assumed he would stay. Now c’mon,” he says, and swats me on the behind, making me jump. “Introduce me to Mrs. Bartol and let’s get you moved in with me. I want to fuck you on our bed tonight, knowing you’ll never leave it.”

  Hmmm…how can I argue with that?

  The sun wakes me up, and I stretch my well-used muscles slowly. It’s been a week that I’ve woken up in Donovan’s bed every day, living with him. The sex alone would have quite possibly been enough to sway my decision to get me to move in with him. He’s insatiable—even more so now that he knows for certain I’m not going anywhere.

  I never want to go anywhere where he isn’t with me. A month ago, I never thought my life would change so drastically—and while it’s been filled with more drama than I can imagine, there’s also a peace deep inside me, knowing I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.

  A smile tugs at the edges of my lips as I turn my head to see Donovan sleeping next to me, one arm behind his head, the other resting on his naked abdomen. The sheets are tangled around his waist, and I know he’s not wearing anything under them.

  My lips twitch with mischief and a sudden need to wake him up in the same way he enjoys waking me up most mornings, with his tongue and his fingers. I don’t often have the opportunity to see him sleeping, since he’s usually up before me—but today, with the sun barely rising, I seem to have beat him.

  And I plan to take advantage of it.

  Sliding onto my side slowly so as not to wake him, I rise to my knees and shift to the end of the bed.

  Pulling back the sheets, I move quietly until I’ve exposed his beautiful cock.

  Even at half-mast, he’s still long and thick and beautiful.

  I lick my lips, and look up to see that he hasn’t moved. His lips are slightly parted and his chest rises to a slow, deep rhythm.

  He’s so handsome, with his square jaw slightly covered in stubble, that crooked nose, his chest and abs that are perfectly carved with just the right amount of hair smattering his pecs.

  Just looking at him causes moisture to begin sliding down my inner thighs, and I push them together, reveling in the way that I can be turned on just by looking at him.

  Sliding my palms to the outside edges of his hips, I lean down, deciding if I want to use my hand or my tongue on him first.

  He seems to grow and harden just by my lustful stare, and my mouth waters.

  I do this to him. Even in his sleep.

  “Are you going to just stare at it, or put your sexy mouth to use?”

  My head snaps up and I look to see Donovan smiling, his sleepy eyes barely open.

  “You scared me.”

  He arches a brow, pulls his lips into a smirk. “Well?”

  His hips lift, and his now thick and hard erection bobs, standing straight up. I can’t resist it.

  Wrapping my fingers around his base, I sigh at the feel of him beneath me.

  Donovan closes his eyes and arches into my light grasp.

  “I think I’ll put my mouth to use.”

  Lowering my head, I tug on his shaft once and then twice, smiling at the way a groan falls from my man’s lips.

  He’s so damn sexy.

  I swirl the tip of his head with my tongue, teasing him. Pulling on his hard, thick shaft, I tighten my grip when my hand brushes my lips, and then lighten my hold as I move back down.

  I’m torturing him, and I love the sounds he makes when I do. I wrap my mouth fully around him, sliding down his shaft and tasting every inch of him, and he lets out a shaky breath that makes me even wetter.

  “Damn it, Talia. So fucking good.”

  His hand rests on the back of my head, not controlling my movements but encouraging me to continue.

  I love the feel of him in my mouth. The dichotomy, silky but hard as steel, turns me on as I continue sliding my mouth up and down his thick cock, taking him all the way to the back of my throat, opening myself so I don’t gag.

  “Hell…”

  I pull off, my hand dropping to his balls, and I cup them in my hands, teasing him and pulling on them.

  “Hurry up,” he grits, his thighs tensing.

  I raise my gaze to meet his and the sight of him coming undone spurs me on.

  My mouth moves faster as I suck him in, my hand gripping his balls more firmly before I pull off his erection and suck his balls into my mouth. His hips arch and jump and his hand tightens on the back of my head.

  “Yes…so good…damn it…”

  “I love the way you taste,” I whisper before putting my mouth back on him.

  “I love the way your mouth feels on my dick. Now stop teasing me and take it.”

  I squirm, leaning back on my knees so I can take him further while my other hand slides to my own sex.

  And then I quit playing. My own need is too great.

  With two fingers on my clit, I rub myself, sliding around my juices while I continue bobbing on his erection. My breath is panted, my chest heaving, but I don’t take my eyes off Donovan as I suck him. He groans and his muscles flex and tighten in ecstasy.

  “Get there,” he groans out, his head pushed back into the pillow. “I’m gonna come, T.”

  Me too. My fingers rub against my clit more furiously as I chase my orgasm, and just as I fall over the edge, my own pleasured moans muffled by his cock, I feel him stretch and grow.

  He arches into me, hitting me at the back of my throat, and then I feel his hot, salty flavor sliding down my throat.

  “Holy fuck,” he gasps. His hands press against my cheeks, holding me still while he takes over, fucking my mouth with quick, sudden movements. I take every last drop, letting him use me until his climax is complete and my own has subsided.

  I open my mouth, letting him slide out, and give him one last long, teasing lick with my tongue.

  “Good morning,” I whisper, pressing kisses against his stomach, up to his chest. I straddle his hips and rest my head against his shoulder.

  His arms wrap around me, holding me close to h
im.

  “Hell of a way to wake up,” he murmurs, pressing kisses against the top of my head. “I liked it.”

  I chuckle softly.

  “Any plans for today?” he asks, his hand sliding through my long blond hair. I love the way he plays with it. It’s erotic and soothing at the same time, and my body begins to warm all over again.

  I can never get enough of him.

  “Not except for seeing my dad.”

  “How is he?”

  Donovan met him earlier in the week when we both stopped by after work. I was shocked to happy tears to see him sitting up in a wheelchair, staring out the window. It was the first time I had seen him out of his bed.

  “Dr. McGarry said he’s improving much quicker than they expected now.” I smile against him, pressing my lips to his hot skin. “I can’t thank you enough for moving him.”

  His hand on my waist tightens and he squeezes me. “Just glad I could help.”

  “I know.” I raise my head and push my fingers through his sandy hair. “I love you for it.”

  “Just that?”

  “No.” My lips twitch. “I love you for your dick, too.”

  He laughs, and I’m smiling when his arm tightens at my back and then I’m flipped to my back, Donovan hovering over me.

  His hand wrapped around his dick, I look down to see him stroking it quickly and watch it harden in his hand. “You just love me for my dick?”

  I nod, feeling heat spread to my cheeks. “Yup.”

  “Perhaps I should show you how good it is, then.”

  He already has, dozens of times, but I love this playful side of him.

  He slides his cock through my slit, still wet from earlier but growing even wetter as he teases me.

  “Uncle Donovan!”

  We both jump at Jeremiah’s shout and snap our heads toward the door right as a loud pounding comes from the other side. “Wake up!”

  “What the hell?” he groans and jumps out of bed, quickly moving to his dresser. I slide out of the bed too and am getting dressed in a shirt that Donovan tosses me as he shouts, “What is it, J?”