He kept stroking, fucking his fist as she watched, lying on the table they’d be eating dinner at in a few hours. Christ.
She made him so fucking hot.
“I’m going to jerk off and come all over your belly.”
Hey eyes widened and she whimpered. Not a bad whimper. No, Mary Whaley got off on what he just said.
Which was good because he sure as hell did too.
“While I was on the road all I could think about was you. Being in you. That soft little squeal you make when I first get my dick inside you all the way. God, I love that.”
“I could help, you know. With that.” She tipped her chin to his cock.
“That so?”
She slid off the table to her knees, licking around the head as he fisted down to the root.
He cursed under his breath at how good that felt. She did it again and again before kissing and licking over his balls.
“Fuck yes.”
Then she kissed back to the head and slick fingers brushed against his asshole. Slowly, with just the right amount of pressure.
He breathed out slowly, but she made it impossible not to rush toward orgasm. The balls of his feet began to tingle, his scalp, even his teeth. And then she pushed in just a little and he grunted, speeding his pace as she licked over the head and crown, keeping him wet.
Over and over again, dragging him into climax and then tossing him over the edge as he began to come. He pulled back and let go on her tits and down her belly. She gasped, arching into it, which brought a second aftershock round to his orgasm until he had to stumble back to the chair to sit or he’d have lost his ability to stand.
She got up. “I’ll be right back.”
He watched her sway down her hallway and knew he was a total goner.
After pulling his pants back into place, he drank the rest of his coffee and let himself enjoy the quiet for a bit. After the chaos of the road, he’d learned to appreciate the silence. And that he also had a pleasant, post-orgasm buzz was icing.
Some minutes later, he heard the shower turn off and stood, stretching before heading for his phone. While he still had a quiet moment he figured he’d check in back home to be sure everyone got in safely the night before.
He called the main house and his mother answered.
“Hey, Momma. Everyone get back okay last night?”
“Hello, darlin’. I haven’t seen either one of your brothers but I know they got in all right. Vaughan’s car is in his driveway and Paddy came to collect his mail while we were still asleep. How are you? You’re with your Mary?”
He smiled. He’d talked some with his mother about Mary. About how she felt different than the other women.
“I’ll be here for another day or so. I’ll come home this weekend.”
“Take your time. Bring her if you like so we can meet her.”
“She’s got a business. A successful one, remember? She even worked yesterday morning before coming out to the Gorge. She’s got today off but she runs a supper club thing and I’ll go to that tomorrow night. Her friends are a little wary, I think.”
His mother sighed. “Well, sweetie pie, you have a reputation. I’ll refrain from telling you I told you so. You’ll just have to prove them wrong. Put in the time.”
“I know. It’s all right. Give everyone my love. I’ll see you this weekend.”
“Love you too.”
There was a knock at the door but Mary was still in the bathroom, so he went to look. It was the blonde, Jules, so he let her in, pulling on a T-shirt as he did.
“Mary’s in the bathroom. Come in.”
She looked him over. “What are your intentions with Mary?” Jules demanded.
“Um. What do you mean?”
“She’s not some skank groupie, you know.”
“I know. What makes you think I’d believe otherwise?”
“Oh, I don’t know. Let’s say, fourteen pages of Google results with you with your face in one floozy after another’s cleavage. Usually holding a glass of something alcoholic. I know about you.”
Mary came out, starting when she caught sight of Jules.
“What’s going on?”
“Nothing. Jules here just came over and I let her in.” Whatever her friend’s deal, he wouldn’t solve it by involving Mary.
But Mary wasn’t a dummy.
“Jules, I need to get dressed. You can come with me.” She pointed to the bedroom, a storm brewing in her beautiful features. Jules skirted past him and into the bedroom.
“I’ll be out in a few minutes. If my brother comes to the door, don’t answer it.”
He took her hands. “Is everything all right?”
She smiled. “Yes. Yes. Small town. Nosy friends. It’s fine. She didn’t say anything offensive, did she?”
He shrugged. “It’s fine. She’s concerned for you, and I do have a reputation.”
She cursed under her breath.
“I’ll be back out in a bit. There’s coffee. I have cable. Music is over there.” She tiptoed up and he bent down, meeting her mouth in a kiss.
She stomped off and he didn’t envy Jules one bit.
* * *
“Why are you here?”
“You didn’t call me back.”
“So you came here to insult him? What the fuck is wrong with you?”
“Before he came around you never said the F-word very often.”
“Yes, well, my friends were sane then. You are out of line, Juliet. This is none of your business. You’ve been really rude, not only to Damien, who is my guest, but to me. I expected better of you.” Mary quickly got dressed, catching her hair back from her face.
“I came over to apologize.”
When you had been friends with someone since kindergarten, you knew how they did most things. Jules knew when Mary was sad and trying to hide it. Mary knew when Jules was upset too. But they also knew how the other fought. She fought with Jules right then knowing that no matter what, they’d be friends when it was over. But that didn’t mean she wasn’t going to give her friend a piece of her mind.
Mary put her hands on her hips. “Well then, A-plus effort. You are a total dookiehead, Juliet Lamprey. I like him. He likes me. What the hell is your deal? I helped you when you were struggling with the whole Gideon and Cal thing. I never, ever tried to make you feel guilty or bad. I accepted what you wanted and I helped you make it happen. I don’t think it’s too much to ask that you stop acting like a self-centered dumbass and realize I’m not stupid.”
“I never said you were stupid.” Jules slumped, sitting on the bed. “I worry about you. Have you searched this guy online? He’s got quite the reputation. I want to protect you from that.”
“I know what he is. I know what he’s done and I know what he is to me. Last I checked Cal had a reputation too. Also, in case it’s escaped your notice, I’m a grown woman. I am absolutely capable of making my own decisions, so step back. What he has done with other women before me doesn’t matter as long as it was consensual and all that. Otherwise it’s not my business as long as he’s not treating me that way. And he isn’t. He’s respectful of me. Of my job and my life. We’re having a good time, not planning a wedding. Back. Off.”
“Is that so wrong? Am I bad because I care?” Out came the eyes and Mary’s anger wisped away into amusement.
“You look like a Precious Moments figurine. I’ve known you too long to be swayed by your game. You’re wrong. Admit it. Really be sorry. Apologize to him for being rude and we can move on. Otherwise, you need to leave. He’s a guest in my home and I’m not going to let you make him feel bad. He’s a nice guy, Jules. You should give him a chance.”
Jules sighed. “I want him to be perfect.”
Mary laughed; she couldn’t help it. “Oh Jules, what man is perfect? Huh? He makes me happy. I like him. He likes me. That’s really it. There’s nothing more complicated here than that. Be a big girl and own your shit or get the hell out of my house.”
?
??You’re mean.”
Mary put on some moisturizer, waiting Jules out. Jules wouldn’t leave without doing the right thing. That’s why she’d come over to start with. She was a good person and in the end, she’d do what she knew she should.
Heaven knew she’d been on the other end a time or two. That’s what friendship was. Give and take. And when you messed up, you made it right.
“Fine. But only if we get to come to dinner tonight.”
“I should disinvite all of you for this petty bullshit. In fact, I want to go to dinner. I’m not making anything here.”
Jules got up, moving to Mary and taking her hands. “I’m sorry. I was a bitch. I won’t make excuses. I called Daisy because I hate it when you’re mad at me. Anyone else and I can deal. But you? I just can’t. She didn’t go around you, I swear. She only told me about dinner because I said I was going to come over here. Please forgive me? I’ll be your best friend.”
Mary rolled her eyes. “Honestly, you’re so full of shit. You owe me. And you owe Damien a real apology. You guys can come to dinner.” She held up a hand to silence Jules. “But only if you tell my brother that if he so much as gives a mean look I am really, truly, pinky-swear going to cut him off. This is not all right. I mean it.”
Jules hugged her. “I love you. I’m sorry.”
“Mm-hm.”
“I am. I never, ever wanted to hurt you. I did it all wrong. I told your brothers how smart and awesome you are and how you can manage your own life and sex life and stuff, and then I went and did this and undermined everything I said. I don’t think you’re stupid. Not by a long shot. And I know you can handle your own life.”
Mary opened the door and jerked her chin. “Go on. You have an apology to give.”
True to her word, Jules went out to the living room where Damien had settled in on her couch, listening to music and reading a magazine. “I was pretty rude to you just now. I’m sorry. I promise I’m not normally like this. I’d really like if it you could forgive me.”
Damien worked hard to keep a straight face. Which only amused Mary more. “Apology accepted. You wanted to protect your friend. As it happens, I like Mary a whole lot too. So I get it. We can hit the reset button.”
12
He wasn’t one of her kitchen assistants, he’d been told. So she sat him down at the table always reserved for friends and family—which he did like—and marched away back to her kitchen.
Tart, the place she held her twice-weekly supper club, was small, but not claustrophobic. It was intimate. Pretty lights twinkled and candles flickered in the chandeliers dotting the space. But even they fit the space. They were elegant without being too much. The candles took them away from formality.
“The chandeliers were her idea, weren’t they?” Damien asked Daisy.
Daisy grinned, nodding. “Yeah. She found them at a warehouse sale place. They totally work. I want some in my house.”
Levi just looked amused.
Gideon came in with Jules and Cal. Gideon tipped his chin in Damien’s direction in greeting. He knew they all had reservations. Fueled by all the idiot stuff he’d done and been dumb enough to have been photographed doing. He knew he had to prove himself.
He did like that she’d taken Jules aside and spoken with her. He had no idea what was said, but Jules’s apology had been genuine and when they’d had dinner at Mary’s the night before, they’d taken some tentative steps toward getting to know one another.
If she hadn’t been . . . well, so wonderfully Mary, he wouldn’t have made the effort. But she was. He needed to have a long talk with Ezra about it when he got home. Ez would have great advice, would listen without judgment and wouldn’t ever let him weasel out of anything.
Gillian and Adrian came in with smiles for everyone.
“Didn’t expect to see you guys tonight.” Jules waved at them, coming to sit, a drink in her hand.
“Miles is at the movies with his friends. He’s a little sad now that they’ll be here at the high school and he’ll be in Seattle. But they’ve all pledged to keep hanging out so he’s off for pizza and movies.” Gillian smiled at Damien as she sat. “Hello, you.”
“Evenin’, Miz Brown. Hey, Adrian.”
“Hey, Damien. What’s on the menu tonight?” Adrian picked up the card on the plate. “Fuck yeah, fried chicken. Mary’s fried chicken is so good. I hope there’s extra because I could eat eight pieces.”
Gillian laughed, leaning into his arm. “The crime is that you could and it would never show.”
He turned to her, tracing over her bottom lip. “English, you know how much I love your body. Eat as much fried chicken as you want; I’ll keep loving your body.”
She ducked her chin, blushing furiously.
Mary came out with one other server and began to place things on the tables. There were fifteen tables in the room, seating a maximum of four people. And their table, which seated ten. Seventy people maximum, she’d told him. She wanted to keep the feeling intimate and the quality of the food high.
“Smoked salmon dip with vegetable chips.” She smiled at him before she looked at anyone else. “And a quick vegetable pickle.”
“She’ll sit with us once the main course is served. But for now she’s going to get the salad course set up,” Daisy explained as everyone began helping themselves, passing things up and down the table, pausing to hum their delight.
He wished she was with him right then, but he also liked this chance to watch her at work. She moved surely, confidently. This was her world and she was in charge. Hot.
He broke his gaze away from where she’d just disappeared into the kitchen and turned to Adrian. “Saw the news this morning. Triple platinum. Damn. Congratulations.”
Adrian grinned. “Awesome, isn’t it?”
“Reg Thorne did an amazing job, but it’s the songwriting that really pushed it over. You and Erin are such a solid team.”
Gillian made a little hum. “Even though they fight like cats and dogs sometimes.”
Adrian laughed. “If you think Erin and I fight, you should see the Hurley boys throw down. Didn’t Paddy break your nose once?”
He snorted. “Twice actually. Vaughan sort of stays out of it. My mom says it’s because Paddy and I are so close in age, only ten months apart. I say it’s because Paddy is a control freak and a dick. But he plays guitar like nobody’s business, and he can sing better than the rest of us, so we let him stay.”
Gillian laughed, reaching out to pat his hand. “Oh, that’s all talk. You three love each other very much. I saw how he reacted when the photographer tried to take that shot of you and Mary.”
Cal leaned forward to listen. “What’s this?”
Damien hadn’t meant to have that brought up. Mary didn’t know about Paddy’s defense of her and how he’d nearly ended up in jail over it. Damien knew his brother wouldn’t want her feeling guilty. “She doesn’t need any of that stuff.” Paddy had been so enraged that the photographer had invaded their privacy and was threatening Mary that he’d nearly gone to jail over it when the photog called the cops. Luckily, the guy had been trespassing and had made a threat to Paddy first. “Look, Mary doesn’t know about it. He’d be embarrassed about it and I don’t want her to worry. At the Gorge, the photographer climbed a fence and Paddy caught him with his camera and high-powered lens pointed at Mary while she was backstage. My brother, um, physically removed the guy, who tried to call the cops to press charges. But people saw him threaten Paddy first and he’d been trespassing too. We sign on for that crazy. People like Mary don’t.”
“Thank you. For, you know, getting her back. Thank your brother too.” Cal tipped his chin in Damien’s direction.
He shrugged, feeling awkward.
More food came, including the famous fried chicken, and she finally sat at the table, right next to him.
It was indeed so good he could have eaten eight pieces. She seemed to glow when people loved her food and he knew it was because she loved to take c
are of people. Loved it when what she created made folks happy.
He wanted to help clean up but she refused. He sat around with her friends drinking beer and chatting while she and her crew got things ready for the following day.
Adrian watched Gillian as she laughed with Jules and Daisy. “Hard to break in to a long-term group.”
They were letting their guard down around him. He should probably send flowers to Gillian for that story she told about Paddy and the photographer. Until that moment they’d only known him as the guy with a beer in his hand and his face in cleavage.
Damien shrugged. “They don’t know me. I get it.”
“Doesn’t make it any easier while you’re dealing with it. They’re good people. Close to each other. You’re doing fine. Mary is an awesome woman. You have good taste. If it helps, they didn’t like me much at first either. I was a dick, handled things wrong. But they want her to be happy and from what I can tell, you make her happy. They’ll relax once they get to know you.”
“I like her. She makes me smile. How’s Miles liking his new school?”
“So far it’s just been orientation stuff. He starts for real on Tuesday. But already the Kid’s kicking ass. He’s not the only son or daughter of a musician there, which makes it a little easier. The school knows how to deal with security in a way his other school wouldn’t have. Not that it was bad, just not their norm. I feel better with him there. Safer. After this tour he’s thriving in a new way. Making music is now a much larger part of his life and he digs it.” Adrian paused. “You were right to suggest it. Right to suggest he get more specialized education.”
“Your kid has mad talent. No surprise really, given who his parents are. I’m glad it worked out.”
“He’ll miss his old school, I know. But I’m thinking this is a good new start for him.”
“How’s life now that the tour has ended?”
“I’m still getting used to it. I mean, we had the house built, I made a record, we got married, had a short honeymoon and went directly on tour for a few months. It’s really only now that it feels real. I’ve seen a lot. Done a lot. But when I’m with Gillian and Miles, I’m home.”