The Courage To Love

  ***

  “I feel like I’m eating dinner with a tree.”

  Sean dropped his slice of pizza. Next to him Mia sat and picked at her grilled chicken salad as a new action movie played on the flat screen television.

  “Sorry, I just have stuff on my mind tonight.”

  “When something bothers me, I find talking helps. I’m a good listener, Sean.” Mia put her salad down on the table.

  “Good to know. Do you like the movie?”

  Mia rolled her eyes. “Let me guess: this has something to do with your father?”

  The muscle in Sean’s jaw twitched.

  “Did you hear from him again?”

  “No,” he answered through clenched teeth.

  “Did your mom?” She knew that remained his number one concern.

  “He’s been visiting town. He stopped in to see the Quinns yesterday.”

  Sean’s voice remained unchanged, but she felt the anger emanating from him as if it were a tangible thing. She turned and swung a leg over his so she straddled his lap and began massaging his shoulders. Underneath her hands, his shoulders stayed tight as she worked to undo the knots.

  “What did he want?”

  The muscle in his jaw twitched again. “Who the hell knows?”

  She rubbed harder, determined to help him relax. “Maybe you should just talk to him. Find out what he wants and then maybe he’ll go away.”

  His shoulders shagged a little. “I reached that conclusion today, too,” he answered, sounding more resigned than angry now. “I emailed him earlier. Got an email back before you came up.”

  She heard the snap when Sean rolled his neck to the side and slid her hands up his neck to continue the massage there. “And?” Pulling teeth would be easier than getting info from Sean.

  “I agreed to meet with him next Saturday night in Boston.”

  She danced her fingers up and down his neck. “If we’re done filming for the day, I’ll go with you if you want.” She remembered his reaction when his father appeared the other night. A friend might be a handy thing to have around, especially afterward if things didn’t go so well.

  Sean pulled back, causing her hands to fall away. His brows dipped down as he digested her statement. “I thought you were out of here on Sunday?”

  His tone of voice told her so much more than his words alone. He knew she would be checking into her hotel in Boston that Sunday and would start filming on Monday, so he’d associated those events with the end of their time together. That was her fault. Evidently she hadn’t dropped enough hints about continuing their relationship. “I check into The Regency on Sunday, but I don’t see why we can’t keep seeing each other. Even if everything goes according to schedule, I’ll be in Boston for a month.” She leaned in, cupped his face with her hands and dropped the barest of kisses on his mouth.

  “I like spending time with you, and Boston isn’t far.” She kissed him again, this time with more pressure as she dropped her hands and looped them over his shoulders. “If you really don’t want to, I’ll accept that but—” She kissed him again, this time she traced the seam between his lips with her tongue until he opened to her, then she plunged inside. She let the kiss continue until Sean’s fingers tangled in her hair and then she pulled back. “I hope that’s not the case.”

  Sean pulled her mouth back toward his. “It’s not.” Without any further explanation, he took possession of her mouth again.

  Heat unlike anything she’d ever experienced before with a man exploded deep inside her. They were both still fully dressed and already her body quivered from the memory of his rough hands on her skin. It remembered every stroke and pet from the previous night. The rough pads of his fingers had teased her nipples before they sank inside her. During the entire experience he had once again been so gentle it had shocked her. She’d never expected a man of his size could be that gentle, yet he’d treated her as if she might break with one wrong move. Tonight, though, she’d make sure he knew that wasn’t the case.

  Breaking away from their kiss, she grabbed the hem of her top and pulled it over her head. She curved her lips into a seductive smile all the while watching Sean’s face. Reaching behind herself, she undid the clasp of her bra and tossed it onto the floor with her top. In front of her Sean swallowed and his erection grew harder against her.

  “We need to do something about this,” she whispered as she rubbed her hand across his bulging jeans before pulling at the hem of his T-shirt.

  Sean’s eyes swept across her bare skin. Then he grabbed his shirt by the neck and yanked it over his head. Circling his arms around her waist, he tried to pull her against him again.

  Placing a hand on his chest, she pushed him back. “These too.” She hooked a finger from her other hand under the waistband of his jeans and tugged.

  “You first,” he said, his voice low and husky.

  With a nod she slid off his lap. Slowly and deliberatly, she undid the button of her cotton shorts, teasing him as her gaze locked on his. She inched them down over her hips before letting them hit the floor. Kicking them away, she stood, her hands on her hips, and watched his eyes travel across her body. With each sweep of his eyes, her breathing quickened and the anticipation inside her built.

  “It’s your turn, Sean,” Mia said, surprised by how breathless she sounded.

  The corners of Sean’s mouth went up as he leaned toward her. Without a warning he dropped a kiss just above her navel. “You’re not done.” He hooked two fingers under the string holding up her thong and tugged.

  She allowed the strip of fabric to fall, then stepped out of it when it landed around her ankles.

  “Mmm, much better.” His hands skimmed down her sides before his right hand dipped between her legs. A shiver went through her and she grabbed onto his shoulders.

  Sean heard Mia moan and the lust raging in his body went from hot to all out inferno. The questions in his head about their relationship from a moment ago evaporated and he stood. Locking his lips on hers he started them toward the bathroom and his bedroom on the other side. His calf banged into the pizza box on the coffee table, but he didn’t pause to pick up the mess it created when it landed on the floor.

  The cool tiles beneath his bare feet sent a shiver through him as he led them through his bathroom. When they crossed into his room, the texture under his feet changed again. Without stopping, he continued until they hit the side of his bed. Gently, he pushed Mia onto the bed and then took a step back. Something akin to awe flashed through his head as he looked down at the woman on his bed waiting for him. His eyes never left her as he discarded the rest of his clothes and joined her.

  Content to just feel her naked body against his for a moment, he wrapped an arm around her waist and kissed her. Much to his surprise she pushed him onto his back and rolled on top of him. Then she looked down at him. “Right now I’m in charge,” she said, grabbing a condom from his nightstand drawer and sliding it over him. “Maybe next time you can have control,” she whispered before taking him inside her. “But just maybe,” she said with a wicked smile on her lips.