Keeping Wicked (The Mitchell Brothers Book 3)

by Kathryn L. James

  “We should talk.” He was right behind me, but I knew that already. I felt his presence burning into my center core.

  “What’s there to say?”

  His presence consumed my senses, as they had at the cantina. It was like his DNA had melded itself into my cells causing me to lose all self-control. When I reached the front door, my fingers trembled as I slid the gold key inside the lock. He stepped in close, almost pressing his chest against my back. Holding onto the doorknob to keep my balance, I breathed in his scent of sin.

  “Open the door, Leah,” he whispered huskily.

  My stomach flipped and I sucked in a gulp of air, pushing the door wide open.

  “I would offer you something to drink, but everything is all packed.”

  “Where are you going?” He frowned taking in all the stacked boxes.

  “You’re bordering clinging.” I tossed my keys onto the table in the foyer.

  “I told you to wake me before you left.” He folded his arms over his chest and locked his dominating eyes on mine. For a long moment we stared at one another long and hard. I tried to keep the passion stirring between my legs at bay but failed miserably.

  “There wasn’t any use in waking you. We had a one-night stand. I’m certain somewhere along the road you’ve had one before.”

  “Don’t be a smart ass,” he growled and the wicked glint in his eyes branded me through and through.

  “Definitely being clingy, Chad.” I shook my finger at him playfully.

  “I don’t do clingy. I only wanted to make sure you were okay.”

  “I lost count at how many times you made me come. I think I’m better than okay.”

  “You’re not like any woman I’ve ever known.”

  I met his intense stare, playing with fire and knowing I was the one going to get burned, but it didn’t matter. I didn’t hear the warning sounds in my ears because I’d never been good with listening to sound advice. I didn’t see the bright warning lights flashing because all I saw was Chad Mitchell and how much I wanted him to take me in his arms.

  You’re definitely not like any man I’ve ever met—not even close.

  “Why are you here, Chad?” I broke the trance and took a tiny step backwards.

  “I wanted to see you again.” He moved in, so close his enticing breath on my skin.

  I was in unchartered waters, but my internal compass was on autopilot.

  In a maddening haste, our mouths locked together. His hands gripped my ass and he let out a low groan in approval. In a whirl he had me pressed against the hard surface of the door and heat spread through my body like liquid lava finally erupting after ash spewed for weeks.

  In a quivering eagerness, I hitched my left leg around his hip. Chad’s fingertips feathered my skin tugging the vintage black tee over my head and tossing it to the floor at our feet. Without taking his eyes off mine, he slid the lacy eggplant colored bra straps down my arms, freeing my needy breasts. Finding his tie, I feverishly began tugging at the knot until it lay on top of my shirt. One by one, I worked the buttons of his shirt loose and splayed my palms against his rippled chest.

  He dipped down, taking a hardened nipple inside the warmth of his mouth grazing his teeth over the impatient bud before making his way to the other taunt nub, giving it equal attention with his tongue. My head fell back, and I let out a whimper, pulling my bottom lip in between my own teeth as he ravished my body.

  “Are you sore at all?” he asked in a strained voice as if it took all of his strength to stop.

  “I’m good,” I panted.

  “I want you right here. Right now,” he breathed against my skin.

  Reaching between us, I unsnapped the button of my jeans and slowly rolled the zipper down. His feral eyes blazed, searing me inside-out. Then I moved my hands to the waistline of his slacks and began unfastening them. His hands pushed my pants down my thighs and one of his hands moved up my hip until he gripped my thong, tearing it from my body.

  He pushed one finger deep inside me before adding a second.

  “Shit, that feels so good,” I panted.

  His mouth found my neck, worshiping my skin while his fingers thrust in and out of my body.

  “You’re so damned wet and tight.”

  “Chad, I’m about to...”

  “Come for me. I want to watch you come apart on my fingers.” He ground his thumb against the swollen bundle of nerves and curled his fingers finding the oh-so-sweet spot pushing me to the tip of the iceberg of bliss.

  “Oh God, yes.” I clutched his hair, tugging hard, while plummeting over the edge with his sensual strokes, gifting me with ripples of pleasure. Shockwaves crashed over me and as if in the most welcoming out of body experience, I panted his name over and over.

  “So, fucking beautiful,” he murmured in my ear.

  It took a few minutes to come down off the high and my body trembled all over in the aftermath. Then he picked me up and carried me down the hallway without asking for directions. Since the floorplan consisted of only two bedrooms, he had more than a fifty percent chance of finding my bedroom on the first try.

  Placing me on top of the pristine white comforter, he climbed in with me.

  His eyes roamed over me from head to toe and then back up before sliding himself over my body and pulling my nipple between his lips. His teeth gazed against the sensitive flesh and I squeezed my eyes closed. Writhing, my hands grasped onto his shoulders and arched upward in delight.

  “Tell me what you want,” he demanded in a husky whisper.

  “You! I want you to make love to me.” Our eyes met head-on.

  “Last night was an exception, Leah. I like to fuck, and I want to fuck you so hard, your neighbors will hear your cries.”

  I gripped the thick bedding at my sides and shivered uncontrollably. I craved the wildness and reached between his legs to stroke his long length. “What are you waiting for then?”

  He lifted his body and for a second, I thought he was having second thoughts, but then he retrieved a small foil packet from his pocket and ripped it open with his teeth. In a blink he teased my entrance with the tip of his erection, and I arched upward, inviting him inside.

  He complied and when pushed all the way in, I sucked in a gasp of passion. Last night didn’t compare to how glorious and perfect this very moment was. He filled me completely and stilled letting me adjust to his size. Slowly he pulled out and then shoved back inside all the way to the hilt.

  He pressed his forehead to mine and laced our hands together above my head, gently pulling out and then plunging in hard—just as he said. He fucked me hard and fast until it was the darkest light with billions of shooting stars.

  “Oh my God.”

  Splintering into shards, I drowned in the white-hot rush letting the magnitude subside as the ferocity of our climax together left us both sated.

  Chad stayed buried inside me and I had no idea how long we lay joined together. My entire body reveled in pure decadent tingles and it took forever for the last twinkle in my head to fade out. Leaning down, his nose brushed against mine and then he tenderly kissed my lips pulling my bottom lip in between his teeth.

  “I can’t stop thinking about you. When I woke up to a cold empty bed I was fucking pissed.”

  Fucking pissed.

  His words felt as though cold water dumped over me. When Preston held the searing hot buckle against my skin, he’d made sure to tell me how fucking pissed he was, because I refused to put out. He’d called me a cock-tease and screamed how fucking pissed he was over and over again, ignoring my screams as the sound of third-degree burns sizzled in the air.

  I felt emotionless as I lay there with a man who didn’t have a clue as to how fucked up I was. When he looked at me, I felt connected, but when the vivid memories of Preston flashed in my mind, I was empty.

  “Look I hate to run out, but I have somewhere to be and need to start getting ready in a few minut
es.”

  “Sure. You want to have dinner afterwards?”

  “No.” I left it short, sweet and simple. I figured if I were to the point, he’d get the message.

  “When can I see you again?”

  I shook my head and my heart rose in my chest. A magnetic pull tugged at my senses, but I pushed it back.

  Squash this shit now.

  “Look it’s been fun, but I have a date and this… was something that happened. I promised you I wasn’t going to be clingy and I meant it. I used you to lose my V card… that’s it. You were an exceptionally good fuck, that’s all.”

  I held onto my poker face as if my life depended on it while he slid out of the bed and dressed without saying a word or giving me a second glance. The door slammed and I knew he wouldn’t be back. And if he did, I would be long gone. First thing in the morning, I would be settling in my new townhome and he wouldn’t have any way to find me.

  And I would be back in safe territory—alone and starting over.

  Chapter 8

  Laughter filled the spacious gathering room at my dad’s luxurious estate overlooking lush landscaping and the best golf course in all of Texas. The entire Lonestar team with gorgeous dates, some wives or girlfriends, others a trophy, stood around talking.

  Inside the foyer, I scanned the area for the head coach. Finally spotting him in a typical fashion, he was in his element shooting the bull with one of “his boys”. It was so easy for him to express his emotions with the guys. Watching him squeeze one of the players shoulders and laughing out loud was almost too much for me to handle. I could count the number of times he’d given me a loveable fatherly touch on one hand.

  As soon as he cast his gaze in my direction, his mouth stopped moving. He raked his disapproving glare over my dress of choice. I’d intended on wearing something a bit more modest, but the body-con style red dress welcomed the bold Leah back in full swing. It molded against my curves and showcased my legs, plus it matched the signature baseball jerseys in color.

  He made up an excuse and bolted across the room until he stood directly in front of me. The fake smile on his handsome face was all for show, and I reached up and kissed his cheek to play along.

  “What the hell are you wearing?” His grumble almost roared.

  “It matches the team, Coach,” I winked, rubbing my thumb across his face to wipe away the scarlet lipstick stain. “Plus who knows? There may be a hot single guy here tonight.”

  “Off-limits.” His voice held a force of warning.

  “You’re looking handsome as always, Dad.” I pretended to straighten his perfect red tie and ran my fingers over the black suit like an affectionate loving daughter.

  He didn’t look a day over thirty-five and certainly not anywhere near forty-eight. There wasn’t a wrinkle or a trace of silver hair in his jet black inky messy hair. He often worked out with the guys or you could count on him running five miles on the treadmill before the sun rose each morning.

  “It’s too short and never mind too revealing, Leah.”

  “I’m not five anymore. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to find Anita.”

  Before he could spew another negative comment, I brushed through the jovial crowd and into the kitchen. Anita meant more to me than anything in the world and I knew these parties had her running around like a crazy person. She meticulously layered meats and cheeses along a silver tray. When I cleared my throat, her eyes shot up at the trespasser in her kitchen.

  Her smile faded and her eyebrows narrowed, “Darling, your father must not have seen you or I would have heard the bellowing.”

  “He saw.” I made a slow turn showboating the way it hugged my every curve.

  “Were you trying to throw a curve ball in his party or shock the hell out of him?”

  “Neither. I wore it because it makes me feel… like me.”

  She walked around the large island and crossed her arms taking me in from head to toe. “You my dear are stunningly beautiful and this dress is perfect for you.”

  “Thank you.” I reached up and kissed her cheek.

  “Is there a special someone behind… this change?”

  “Nope.” I popped the sound on the p.

  “Your eyes give you away, sweetness.” She waltzed back to her work, placing a few more cubes of pepper jack to the variety of cheeses to the tray.

  “Did I tell you Carli broke her arm?”

  “Oh, my goodness, no! Is she okay?”

  “She’s fine. I let her talk me into filling in her spot for a charity event and ended up going on a date. Stop smiling, it wasn’t like that. It was a onetime thing, but it did help me realize that my past doesn’t own me, and that stupid scar doesn’t get a say in my happiness.”

  Tears filled her eyes and she wiped her hands on her apron before wrapping her arms around me. “This makes me so happy. I owe the mystery man a kiss on his cheek if I ever get the opportunity to meet him.”

  “Hate to break it to you. There isn’t a chance in hell that’s going to happen. Really, it was a onetime thing.”

  “Maybe. Maybe not. It all depends on what’s written in the stars.”

  “Oh, stop it, Ms. Hopeless Romantic.”

  Loud laughter erupted from the gathering room and Anita started stacking olives to the side.

  “Your dad is going to have my next paycheck if I don’t get these platters out on the serving table. Promise you’ll stop by for a tea party tomorrow. I want to know more about this not-important-date.”

  She lifted the filled tray and headed for the arched entry. Anita worked hard and never complained when my dad threw parties. Thinking about, I didn’t think I’d ever heard her complain about anything.

  “See you tomorrow, nosy!” I called to her back. I knew she heard me and even though I couldn’t see for myself, I knew she wore a big-ass grin.

  Tea Party.

  It was something she and I had shared since my early childhood, probably since before I could even remember, and the time designated for “girl talk” followed on into my teenage years. Tea served in a dainty china cup with tiny pink flowers printed around the rim made everything better; that was her philosophy. I loved the woman who wore the shoes of a mom without a sliver of shared DNA.

  A few minutes later, I mingled back into the sea of people. A group of the guys stood next to the table covered with assortment of appetizers chattering about a promising winning season and taking the World Series in a sweep. Most I recognized because their faces filled my feed on Facebook and only a select few I knew by name.

  “Hey Leah, I haven’t seen you since last season,” Kevan McWhitten, the first baseman, called out.

  One of the few times I’d stepped foot inside the stadium, I tripped over my own two feet, spilling soda all over the front of his practice jersey. He laughed it off, and the two or three times I’d seen him later, he never let me forget that clumsy accident.

  “Hey there. How’ve you been?” I reached for a fluted glass of champagne from the table as he playfully scooted away in case I made another complete fool of myself.

  “You sure you can handle an adult drink and walk at the same time?” He cast a handsome smile and winked.

  “Watch it, or I’ll tell Dad that you’re a jerk. He may keep you in the dugout for the next game,” I teased back.

  I took in his shaggy brown hair and eyes the color of the bright blue sky. By all standards, any female on the planet would be attracted to his sexiness, but he didn’t do anything for me. I took a sip of the sweet bubbly, wondering why his thick neck, broad shoulders hidden underneath a black dress shirt and chiseled smooth jawline didn’t increase my pulse in the least.

  He didn’t do it for me.

  “Coach said you were about to graduate college. Congratulations.”

  “Thanks, I’m pretty excited.”

  “A teacher, huh?”

  That information had to have come from Dad. Surprised that
he’d been talking to “the boys” about me, I took another sip to hide my expression from him.

  “Yep.”

  “Every kid in the school is going to have a crush on you,” he chuckled.

  A tall, slender red headed woman strolled by wearing six-inch heels and a beautiful short dress the color of shimmering gunmetal, “Hi, Leah.”

  “Hi.”

  When she was out of hearing range, I whispered, “Who was that?”

  “Jericho’s wife.”

  “She’s gorgeous, but I don’t know how she knows who I am.”

  “Jericho probably pointed you out.”

  “I never hang out at the field. It’s surprising, everyone seems to know who I am.”

  “Are you kidding? Have you ever been inside your dad’s office?”

  I hadn’t.

  Not once had I been there.

  “No. Why?”

  “There are pictures of you everywhere. And no matter what we are talking about, he mentions your name at least twice.”

  I cleared my constricting throat, feeling the unexpected sting in my eyes. Before he had a chance to realize my reaction, I quickly turned around for a couple of crackers on the tray.

  It took all of my willpower to not ask more about the pictures or what he’d said about me.

  I’d never once considered I ranked a spot in his kingdom.

  “You look…very beautiful tonight, Leah.” His husky tone made it obvious there was more than a compliment in his words. It had attraction written all over it and I let out a sigh because there wasn’t one single butterfly dancing in my belly.

  “Thank you.” I scanned his face trying to search deep for any sort of connection.

  Try to be normal, Leah.

  “Are you seeing anyone?”

  “No,” I whispered.

  It’s because I’m rusty at all this shit.

  “Have dinner with me next Friday.”

  I let my eyes roam to his mouth, almost the same way I’d searched Chad’s—except this time it was forced, and with Chad it had been totally natural.

  It’s not fucking there.