“You’re already doing it by being here for me. I don’t know what I would do without you,” she said, putting her head against his chest. “Thank you so much for coming to be with me. You have no idea what it means to me that you’re here.”
All she wanted was to be in his arms, away from all the harshness of this day.
“I think it might be good for you to lie down for a while. Why don’t we retreat to the basement?”
“You’re right…”
Neil followed her from the kitchen back to the living room.
“John, thank you for being honest with me. I’m going to lie down for a little while before everyone gets here. We’ll be downstairs if any of you need us.”
John got up and hugged Kate. “I’m so sorry for all of this. Just know if he could’ve changed things, he would’ve done it in a heartbeat,” he said.
Kate nodded. What could she say to that? Her brother followed her lead and retired to his room as well, no doubt to reflect on the day’s events.
Kate and Neil went down to the basement and closed the door behind them. Neil took her hand and led her toward the bed.
“Baby, you’re shaking,” he said, wrapping her hands in his.
She looked up at him. “It’s just all too much. I can’t take it,” she cried, resting her head on his chest. “I just can’t believe I lost years of having a relationship with my dad because he couldn’t fix his marriage with my mom. It seems so senseless. Over fifty percent of marriages fail, and somehow most people find a way to still be parents to their children.”
Neil wrapped his arms around her and held her tight for a long moment.
“Here, lie down and rest for a while. It might make you feel better.”
He pulled the covers back and then began taking off her shoes. Once they were off, he looked into her eyes. “I just want to hold you and make you feel safe.”
Kate got into bed and Neil joined her. She put her head on his chest and wrapped her arm and leg around him. She could feel his erection under her leg and she wanted to make love to him, but not in her cousin’s house where they might be overheard or possibly walked in on.
“Thank you for loving me so much,” she whispered to him, stroking his face with her hand.
“You’re easy to love. Don’t ever doubt that, my beauty,” he said, kissing her hair.
Kate drifted off to sleep while Neil held her. After about an hour, family members started arriving for the potluck. Kate awoke when the doorbell sounded. She got up to go to the bathroom and freshen up while Neil put on his shoes and suit jacket.
“I wish I’d thought to bring a change of clothes for after the funeral. Good thing I’m used to wearing a suit all of the time,” he said.
“Did you want to go back to the hotel and change?”
“No, it’ll be fine.”
Kate came out of the bathroom. “How are you feeling now?” Neil asked.
“I feel better. It’s just such a waste that he let his life fall apart, but I can understand after dealing with my own grief. The difference is that I dealt with it. I didn’t let it ruin my life and now I can move on with you.”
“You were smart enough to get counseling. Your dad probably wasn’t the type to talk to a professional about his feelings, so he had no way to cope,” Neil said, rubbing his hands up Kate’s arms. He pulled her body close to his and whispered in her ear, “I wish we were alone right now. I want you so desperately.”
“I want you too, baby, but there’s a house full of people upstairs,” she whispered back.
Neil released her enough to look into her eyes. “No matter where we are, I always want you. You have no idea what you do to me,” he said, leaning in for a kiss. Kate rubbed her hands down his broad shoulders and continued toward his chest. She continued over his washboard abs and found his belt buckle. Neil stopped kissing her and raised his eyebrows.
“Shh…” she said, lowering to her knees. She unzipped his pants and released his hardened shaft. She wrapped her hand around him and slipped the tip into her mouth. Neil let out a groan. She pulled him into her mouth and then began slowly sliding him in and out of her mouth. Neil’s eyes were transfixed, watching her. She looked up at him through her lashes. The sultry look on his face made her want to rip his clothes off, push him onto the bed, and straddle him. She knew that wasn’t going to happen since her family was upstairs, so she quickened her pace. Neil ran his fingers through her hair and then wrapped his hands around her head. Within minutes, he was coming in her mouth. “I feel better now. I just needed to do that,” Kate said cheekily.
“Anytime…baby…anytime. I’m always glad to oblige,” Neil panted out.
***
The family gathering was very pleasant with stories abounding about her father. Now since she’d decided to forgive his frailties, she couldn’t get enough of the stories about him. What had been a source of considerable pain earlier in the day now consoled her even though she never felt like a recipient of his love. Knowing he had the capacity to love his family so much made her have more compassion for his pain and loss. This had become a healing time and she was grateful for it. All these years she thought her mom still had feelings for her dad and had been broken-hearted over their break-up. She didn’t realize how it had shattered her father’s heart as well. She and her brother had been casualties of the whole sordid mess.
Neil seemed to be able to read her mind as she grew quiet. “You’re ready to go home, aren’t you? I could get us tickets to fly out tomorrow instead of Sunday. I’m booked on the same flight with you and your brother on Sunday. We can see if Eric wants to leave tomorrow also.”
“That’s a really good idea,” Kate said. “I need to see my mom on Sunday and learn more about what happened between her and dad. I feel like I don’t have the entire story. I need to deal with this as soon as possible.”
“Okay,” he said, taking out his cell phone. “I’ll call them.”
“I’ll ask Eric if he wants you to change his reservation too.”
Kate got up and walked over to Eric. When she told him about Neil’s suggestion, he agreed to leave early with them.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Kate
Neil and Kate walked in the door of their condo. The minute he shut the door behind them, he scooped her up in his arms. She knew he couldn’t wait any longer to take her to bed. He’d been hinting about what he wanted to do to her for most of the flight home.
He crushed his mouth to hers, pulling on her lower lip with his teeth and then invading her mouth with his tongue. She met him hungrily, knowing exactly what was coming next. She ached to have his hands and mouth roaming her body like he had so many times before. Nothing was better than making love to this sexy man.
He carried her up the stairs, kissing her relentlessly along the way. Her excitement was bubbling up and she could feel the effects of his passion surging between her legs. She wanted him so badly, especially after all he’d done the past couple of days to demonstrate his love for her. He reached his destination and threw her on the bed. She squealed with delight as he began removing her shoes and socks. He then undid her jeans and shimmied them down her legs, revealing her black lace thong. At the sight of them, he growled.
He unbuttoned her blouse and, as he moved the fabric to reveal her breasts, his nimble fingers grazed her nipples, causing a delicious sensation in her sex. She’d worn a bra that hooked in the front on purpose, knowing that when they arrived home he would make love to her. His deft hands undid the clasp and her breasts were free.
He groaned as his eyes devoured her naked body. She continued to keep her eyes on his, anticipating what was about to happen. Neil slipped out of his shoes while he unbuttoned his shirt. Each button drew her closer to seeing his magnificent, muscular form. He slipped his shirt off his shoulders and let it fall to the carpeted floor. He rapidly unbuckled his belt and unzipped his pants. They were pulled down, along with his briefs, joining his shirt on the floor. At last, she w
as gazing at her naked man in all his glory. Taking in his ripped body only added to her anticipation, making her wetter between her thighs.
“You’re so sexy, baby. I love looking at your body,” she said with a naughty grin.
“Not as much as I love looking at your body, my beauty,” he replied, climbing on top of her. He began kissing her again, his velvety smooth tongue stroking hers with great force. He propped himself up on one elbow, partially covering her body with his. With his free hand, he began tantalizing her body. His hand started at her neck and moved its way down to her nipple. He swirled around it until it became a hard, rosy bud.
Then he journeyed down her ribs to her hips, making his way to her sweet spot. He slipped a finger inside of her and she groaned. She was ready for him to invade her body. He pulled his finger out and slid it up to her clit. She let out a soft moan when he began circling her clit with his wet finger. She involuntarily began moving underneath him as the pleasure began mounting. “Keep still, baby,” he commanded. She tried to do as she was told, but it was difficult with all of her nerve endings firing.
He continued playing with her clit as his kisses moved down to her chin, then her chest, and finally her breasts. His tongue swirled around her nipple in the same pattern as his hand did on her clit. She arched her back, feeling all of the tension rising at the apex of her thighs. His fingers continued. “Baby, I need you to come for me. I want to hear you screaming my name loudly as I pleasure your beautiful body. Show me how much you want me.”
With his command, she came. He moved his finger from her clit and slid two fingers inside her. Her walls pulsed with the intensity of her orgasm as he drove his fingers deeper into her.
When she settled down slightly from what he’d done to her, he moved between her legs and slid his hard shaft into her drenched slit. The feeling of him inside her was exquisite. She loved having his body on top of her, taking control of her. He began kissing her again and then found his way to his release, growling her name.
Kate was home, and it was bliss. This was what she needed after the turmoil she’d experienced in the last few days. She was elated to be home and in the arms of the man who made her feel more than she ever thought possible. Every time they made love she realized she wanted just that much more from him. She gazed into his eyes and reached up to kiss him as he looked back at her. Their kiss was pure ecstasy, and she knew then that she would be with this man forever. He was the one for her. He’d proven that by showing up when she least expected it and standing by her side through all of the drama. He’d proven his love for her over and over since they’d met. She didn’t know when the emotional roller coaster in her life would come to a screeching halt, but she knew Neil was on the ride with her and he would never let her go.
Neil moved over to her side and propped himself up on his elbow. He put his hand on her stomach and looked at her intently. “On Wednesday night when I realized you were angry with me, I got really scared, baby. I was afraid you wouldn’t be able to forgive me, that things were over between us. I would’ve done anything to make things right between us. You mean everything to me. I don’t ever want us to be apart again.”
“I don’t want to be apart from you either. Your dad gave you really good advice in telling you to come for me. I was actually considering moving out and living with Charlie and Mitch. I thought that perhaps things had been moving too fast between us. But when you showed up on my cousin’s doorstep, I realized the last thing I wanted was to be away from you. It’s been years since I’ve been happy,” she said, placing her hand on his face. “You make me feel more content than I ever thought possible. I love you, Neil.”
Neil pulled her into his arms. He held her for a long time without saying a word. Words weren’t needed because their genuine connection felt so right.
***
Kate woke up Sunday morning feeling like rattlesnakes were attacking each other in her stomach. Her anxiety about talking to her mother was so high. She and her brother wanted answers about what had really happened in their parents’ marriage. Specifically, how could their break-up have destroyed their dad and the relationship they should’ve had with him? What had John meant about their mother’s betrayal?
Eric had crashed at a friend’s house and they were going to meet in front of her mom’s condo and go in together. Kate was dreading this conversation. She’d never been very good at standing up to her mother, but she wanted answers and wasn’t going to relent until she got them. For most of her life she’d submitted to her mother’s ways at the expense of her own happiness. Walking on eggshells had been a way of life until she moved in with Charlie. David had been the only person in her life she was willing to defy her mother over. But, due to cruel fate, her mother had gotten her way in that situation too. Kate was determined to be stronger this time.
It was just after eight when Kate slid out of bed, quietly left the bedroom, and closed the door behind her. What better way to thank Neil and show her love than to make breakfast in bed for her man? After she brewed the coffee, she took out all of the ingredients and began making pancakes and eggs. They would have banana pancakes and scrambled eggs with turkey and cheddar cheese. As she really wanted to surprise him, she hoped she could make it all and deliver it before Neil woke up. He needed spoiling, and she wanted to spoil him. Actually, she could see clearly now, that she wanted to…marry him.
She put their covered plates and drinks on trays, along with napkins and silverware, and carried his tray up first. When she slowly opened the bedroom door, he was still sleeping. She set his tray on the dresser and quietly hurried to get her tray of food, arriving just as he was beginning to stir. The smell of coffee seemed to jolt his senses and he was starting to sit up as she entered the room.
“Good morning, baby,” she said with a loving smile.
“Good morning to you too. What have we here?”
“Breakfast…in bed.”
“I definitely like the ‘in bed’ part,” he said, removing the covers and getting up to greet her in all his naked glory. He kissed her and then picked up his tray. They both carefully got back into bed. Neil picked up his coffee and lifted it to make a toast. “Here’s to many more Sundays with breakfast in bed.” Kate kissed him on the cheek and they clinked their mugs together. “This is perfect timing. I’m starving.”
“Me, too. I thought this would be a nice way to start the day. I wish I was spending the entire day with you, but I have to get answers from my mother.”
“I know, baby. Do you want me to come with you? I would be good moral support.”
“You would be great moral support, but I need to do this on my own. It’s time for me to stand up to her. She’s no longer in charge of my life. I’ve needed to do this for a long time. I’m just not sure how she’ll react when I ask for answers. She tends to withdraw when things aren’t going the way she wants them too. Plus, I’ll have my brother there for backup.”
“Well, I’ll be here waiting for you when you come home.”
***
Kate met her brother in front of their mom’s condo. She was nervous, but her brother seemed to be at ease.
“Are you okay? You look like you might be sick,” he said, putting his hand on her shoulder.
“I hate confrontations and somehow I just feel there’s more to the story than what we know,” she said with a sigh, “but I know this is necessary. At least I don’t have to live here. Are you moving out soon?”
“Yeah, I’ve been saving up. I was hoping to have a couple more months, but my buddy Tony said I can move in with him. He has a two-bedroom and lives by himself right now. His roommate moved out a few months ago.”
“That’s a relief. Let me know if you need help packing or anything.”
Her brother nodded. “I think I’m going to pack a bag and leave today. I’ll come back when mom’s at work and get my stuff during the week.”
“Sounds like you’ve got a good plan. Ready to go in?”
“Yes…af
ter you,” he said, motioning for her to go ahead.
Kate unlocked the door and they walked in. Their mom was surprised to see them. She got up to greet them with a hug. “I wasn’t expecting you to be home this soon. Did you catch an earlier flight?” she asked.
“Yes, we did,” Kate said, giving her mom a half-hug. “We need to talk to you about Dad.”
“Sure, let’s sit down and talk. How did everything go?” she asked.
“The funeral was fine. It was what we found out afterward that’s bothering us,” Eric said, his voice more stern than usual.
Their mom raised her eyebrows, but said nothing.
“We know dad was so broken-hearted by your failed marriage that he couldn’t be in our lives. What exactly happened between you two? You always said I needed to be older for us to have this conversation when I asked you as a kid. Well, now we’re both old enough,” Kate exclaimed.
Her mom sat there gazing at them. Her face was devoid of emotion. “What happened between your father and me is my business. I don’t want to talk about it,” she said, folding her arms over her chest.
“The only reason you wouldn’t want to talk about it is because it was your fault, wasn’t it? You’re the reason our family fell apart,” Eric said, practically shouting at her.
“Your dad and I had marital problems and that’s all I want to say about it. It was a long time ago and I’ve moved on with my life.”
“Seriously?” Kate said in the calmest voice she could muster. “You’ve moved on with your life? Why won’t you just be honest with us? We deserve to know the truth about our own lives, Mom. You owe us the truth.”
“All right,” her mom snapped. “You want the truth? Your dad cheated on me and blew up our lives. I hired a detective to take pictures and told your father I would use the pictures to destroy everything he held dear. I did what I had to do to keep you with me. I was the better parent. Your father wouldn’t have raised you right. I’m not going to apologize for protecting you from an adulterer.”
Taken by You (Killer Next Door #2) Page 11
