Legacy and Lovers (Untouchable Book 11), page 10
“The very best. Then when we started dating, he was more than just always there. He moved in, he shared my days, my nights, my weekends, my hopes, my dreams, my holidays—my love for others.”
“Wow, this guy sounds a little too good to be true. What flaw does this paragon of virtue possess?”
I smacked his chest once and he grinned. “He’s a brat,” I pointed out. “He also thinks he’s a funny guy.”
“Hysterical,” Coop assured me as he began walking me backwards. “Class clown.”
I snorted. “The point,” I emphasized the last word. “I was trying to make is, that I was very spoiled with you always being there. This year—everyone is so busy. I don’t want to drift apart.”
He stopped in the doorway separating the sitting room from the bedroom. Lifting his head, he studied me. “Beautiful, are you really worried that we’re going to think you—that I am going to think you love me less because I’m not seeing you as much because of competing schedules?”
“Well, when you say it like that…”
“Hey.” He ran his hands up and down my arms. “This is important. I’m having an amazing time with the woman that I love because she wanted to make my birthday special. What you need to remember is that you make every day special. I know the new schedule is hard. I miss you when we’re apart. I missed you when you and Bubba were doing the tour.”
I bit my lip.
“But you knew I supported you on that, right?”
“Yes, I absolutely knew you did. You guys were amazing about that.”
“And you’re amazing about my schedule. You’re just as busy as I am, you’re juggling school, music, learning the business, and trying to be there to support all of us, and we’re all going in different directions. But there’s not a shadow of a doubt in my mind that you don’t have my back. That I can’t pick up the phone and call you or any of the guys. You’d be there. Just like we’re there for them.”
“Yes, exactly like that.” So, I’d been worrying for nothing. “I just need you to know you’re important to me and that you matter. I want to be there for you. I want you to succeed, even if it means we have to schedule time—like this.”
“This isn’t so bad,” he told me and I smiled. “This is pretty damn great, but all I really need to know is that you’re waiting for me when I come home or coming home to me. That’s all I’ve ever really needed. We’re navigating all the messy stuff and we’re juggling schedules. There’s gonna be hard times and easier ones. But I trust you to get through them with me. With us.”
Wrapping my arms around his neck, I hugged him tightly and he scooped me up, picking me right off the floor to return the fierce embrace. “You were really worried about this, weren’t you, Beautiful?”
“A little,” I admitted, tucking my face against his throat. “It’s stupid…”
“No, it’s not. You’re entitled to your feelings, but I’m really glad you told me.” He pressed a kiss to my hair and carried me into the bedroom. “We don’t talk about the future that much. We’re always so busy dealing with today.”
At the edge of the bed, he paused and I lifted my head to meet his gaze.
“Maybe we should make time to talk about it,” I suggested. Because I wasn’t the only one in this relationship. “I don’t want you guys worrying about me.”
“Eh, too late for that,” he murmured as he set me on my feet. “We’re always going to worry, but yes, we should make a point of checking in with each other and seeing where we are. You and Bubba talk to us about plans for Bound Hearts all the time, make sure we’re all on the same page. I think it’s a good idea for all of us.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah,” he said, then traced his fingers up my neck to cup my nape. “You know what else I think is a good idea?”
“Getting me naked so you can have the rest of your present?”
“Wait,” he said, pausing as he released me and stepped back. “You mean I get more?”
I laughed. “Smart ass.”
“Yes, I am. But I’m good with sitting here and talking about whatever you need, Beautiful. This has been a damn good birthday as far as I’m concerned.”
“Oh,” I said slowly. “Well, if you don’t want…”
I didn’t even make it two steps before he caught my arm and tugged me back, we landed on the bed together with a bit of a bounce before his mouth closed over mine. The kiss held every bit of promise and affection, but it also held lust, laughter, and yes, chocolate.
“Truth or dare,” he murmured in between kisses as he slid warm hands up my bare legs to find a second secret. Jerking upward, he stared down at me even as he teased a finger along the seam of my pussy. “Frankie, you went that whole evening, dinner, car ride, sex chocolate—and you had no panties on?”
I grinned. “Happy birthday, Coop. Dare me to do whatever you want.”
His fist pump lasted all of a second before he claimed my mouth again.
The press of his lips on mine was both sensuous and silly. He grinned and I laughed. Then our teeth clacked and I cracked up harder, until he pushed two fingers into me and then I was groaning.
“Dare,” he murmured, placing little nipping, biting kisses along my jaw to my throat as he skated his thumb over my clit. Okay, the challenge was to respond while he drove me crazy.
“That’s what I said,” I replied in a breathless voice as I carded my fingers through his hair. It was so damn soft under my hands. He pressed his lips to my pulse point and sucked against the skin. I squirmed at the pressure he added both there and with his thumb as he curled his fingers inside of me.
What was it with these guys and not even taking off their clothes before they had me coming? That thought fractured on the crest of the orgasm that shoved me over the edge. My little scream seemed to entertain him as he chuckled against my throat, before he traced his tongue over the hickey he had to have left.
“That sounded like I needed to work a little harder,” he teased. My inner muscles were still spasming around his fingers as I fisted his hair. He lifted his head with a teasing grin. “Oh, right—dare.”
I groaned because he was teasing my clit again and there was nowhere to go to escape the overstimulation.
“Aww, Beautiful, you don’t have to whimper.” His grin grew wicked.
The growl I released just made his grin grow even happier as he pressed a hard and fast kiss to my lips before sliding down half of the bed. He paused to press a kiss to my belly button and the piercing there. A whisper of his lips teasing the skin around it before he glanced up at me.
I pushed up on my elbows, but he gripped my bare legs and tugged me to the edge of the bed and my ass was barely balanced with my thighs over his shoulders.
“Remind me not to hurt this dress,” Coop said as he eased his fingers out of me and then palmed my ass like he planned to massage it. “Since we came here for some French and dessert, I don’t want to get too carried away.”
Grinning, I pushed the hair out of my eyes so I could lock gazes with him. “And my dare?” Because my heart raced and the tease of his breath against my skin promised all kinds of distractions in a minute.
A slow smile spread across his face just before he licked his lips. The pressure of his hands against my thighs and his thumbs on my folds pressing me wider, was enough to almost make me inhale spit.
“I dare you,” he said in a deep voice that had my belly bottoming out. I fisted the comforter on the bed because he was so close to my pussy that the next movement of his lips teased the soft flesh there. “To sing the French national anthem while I indulge myself in this dessert.”
The… “La Marseillaise?” Shock rippled through me. “Are you se—” I choked as he licked me from entrance to clit before he thrust his tongue and added pressure to my clit with his thumbs.
My brain short-circuited at the rush of heat and tension coiling tightly within me. Coop alternated thrusting with his tongue, to sucking against my clit, to thrumming it with his thumbs. The swift changes shattered my focus, an effect he enhanced by chuckling, teasing my clit.
The vibrations sent little shocks that had me rolling my hips and I wasn’t sure whether I was writhing to get away or to get closer. But the squeeze of his hands on my ass helped. I caught him staring up at me and I flushed as I tried to cobble together what the hell the lines of the song were, much less the tune.
It came out warbly at best. I made it through the first refrain before the orgasm crashed down on me. The last note came out on a scream and he lifted his head, the dampness shining on his chin and lips. The delight in his eyes was both reward and teasing enticement to continue.
Clenching my ass, I tugged him back toward me as I crossed my ankles behind his back. At his raised eyebrows, I began the second refrain. No lie, it came out on trembling notes as I fought for some semblance of breath control.
“Fuck, I love you,” Coop said before he went to work devouring my pussy like it was his favorite sweet treat. Somehow, I made it through the whole damn thing, but I was a shaking, half-sobbing mess by the time I finished.
He looked so damned pleased with himself as he eased away from my shaking legs. After he wiped his face on the comforter, he half-picked me up and then helped me out of the dress.
“Totally naked under all that beautiful lace,” he murmured as he stared down at me. “You know opening presents used to be my favorite thing.”
“Not anymore?” I asked, still looking for a few unscrambled brain cells to put back together.
“Nope,” he said, unbuttoning his shirt with purpose. I had the best view in the whole place as he stripped out of those nice clothes, his grin unwavering. “Playing with my present will always be my favorite thing.”
His dick bounced against his belly, thick, proud, and reddened at the top. The gleam of silver there would never not make me catch my breath. A year, he’d had that piercing. A year since he’d revealed it to me on his last birthday.
“I love you,” I whispered as he crawled over me and settled his hips between my legs even as he braced himself on his elbows.
“Yeah?”
“Oh yeah” Still shaking or not, I reached down to wrap my hand around him. I swore he pulsed against my palm and he gave a full body shudder. “I love all of you from the top of your head to the tips of your toes to this beautiful pierced dick.”
“I like the sound of that,” he whispered as I caressed his length in firm, slow motions, and took my time tracing the tip. “You did beautifully with the anthem by the way.”
I giggled. “Truth or dare?”
“Truth, Beautiful, I don’t know if you can handle any more dares. You already sound a little hoarse.”
“Well, I guess we should stop…” I let out a little forlorn sigh. “I hate to think we’ve gotten so out of practice.”
I let my lashes dip down, hiding my eyes.
“You did not just…” Coop fought a smile despite the scandalized tone.
“Well, we’ll just have to work our way back up to it.”
His little growl was just delightful. “Dare, Beautiful. Dare me. I dare you.”
“That’s not how this works,” I said with a chortle as I angled him against my pussy, and began to tease the tip along my slit. “I do the daring, you just tell me whether you’ll take a truth or a dare.”
His gray-green eyes darkened with both humor and lust. “Dare.”
“It would serve you right if I said you had to sing the French anthem all the way through while not losing your rhythm or finishing before you finished the song…”
“Challenge,” he began as he thrust forward. The first long push was always breathtaking as it pushed the air out of my lungs. The stretch to accommodate him bordered right on the edge of pain but I always craved it. The piercing just added to the rush of pleasure.
Still, I managed to press a finger to his lips before he finished accepting the dare. “That’s not my dare,” I said on what little air I managed to suck back in.
He bit the tip of my finger and the look on his face said get to the point, even if he continued to fight his smile.
“I dare you to get us to twenty-one orgasms for twenty-one years—between us.”
Shock registered briefly before his whole expression turned positively jubilant. “Do the three I already got out of you count?”
I considered it. “Yes.”
He gave a little rocking motion and I swore the angle was perfect because it struck sparks across my already sensitive nerves.
“So, three down,” he whispered, before narrowing the distance until his lips brushed mine with each word. “Eighteen to go.”
“Uh huh.”
“I hope you don’t have plans tomorrow, Beautiful,” he murmured before he nipped my lower lip. “Because I don’t think either of us is going to be walking.”
Wrapping my arms around him, I arched upward to meet his lips for a real kiss, whispering, “Challenge accepted.”
CHAPTER TEN
PLAYING ALL THE OLD FAVORITES
ARCHIE
I glared at my watch. Dammit, I was late. Again. Not that staring at the digital face did a damn thing to change the time on it. The smartwatch also indicated missed messages on my phone. I tilted my head back and turned my stare on the ceiling of the subway.
There were any number of ways for me to get back from Brooklyn. I could have called a car. I could have driven one of the three cars I had parked there currently. Hell, I could have taken a damn cab. No, I’d walked the half-mile to the nearest subway entrance and then endured the two train switches to get home.
Why?
Fuck if I knew. I raked a hand over my face. Then shifted my weight as we reached the stop closest to home. My phone buzzed in my back pocket.
Fuck.
Fuck.
Fuck.
I was either pissing her off or worrying her. I pulled the phone out as I headed for the exit stairs. It was a busy time of day, so I kept a solid half of my attention on my surroundings so I didn’t crash into someone.
The messages on the screen were not from Frankie. Well—one of them was. But not all of them.
Bubba: C’mon, Arch, pick up the phone and let her know you’re fine.
Coop: Dude, not cool. You were supposed to be home an hour ago.
Jake: You’re a lucky asshole that she loves you. Stop pushing it.
Well, that boded well.
The last message stopped me dead at the top of the stairs and I took the hit against my shoulder as someone ran into me. I muttered sorry but they were already moving away. One hand automatically going to check my wallet was still where it should be—my front pocket right now—I stared at the message.
Edward: If my presence is a problem, I’ll go. Frankie invited me, but I don’t want to be an issue between the two of you.
Right. I was an asshole.
Me: Stay. I’m almost there. I just need to change and we can go.
Next, I skipped the guys’ messages and went straight to hers. I damn near laughed at the message waiting for me.
Frankie: Reservations are for 8. I invited Eddie, but he offered to leave after drinks and an appetizer. After, we have a suite at the Glen if we want it. You can be late, but you have to show up. I love you.
I did not deserve her.
Me: On my way right now, Babe. Be home in ten minutes.
It took me seven. He must have been watching for me because Jeremy opened the door before I even reached the steps. Braced for his disapproval, I climbed up to where he and not so little Miss Abigail waited. She thumped her tail, but sat patiently beside him.
“I’m late,” I told him. “I know. I’d say I lost track of time but…”
“I understand. Miss Frankie has made all the arrangements and I pulled out a suit for this evening and set it out for you. The car is due here in an hour.”
Oh.
“You have time to shower,” he continued and that didn’t sound like a suggestion but an order. “Then come down and join the others for drinks and cake before you all leave.”
“Sounds like a plan.” I reached out to give Miss Abigail some ear scritches as Jeremy let me in. “Thanks, Jere.”
“You’re more than welcome, Mr. Archie. Might I also recommend a shave?”
“You got it.”
Conversation drifted from somewhere near the backyard. They might be out in the garden, allowing me time to come in and get changed without running into anyone.
“Happy birthday, Mr. Archie.”
I paused on the steps heading upstairs. “Thank you, Jeremy. For everything.”
He held my gaze for a moment, then nodded firmly. Some of the tension in my gut relaxed. It wasn’t disapproval or even disappointment in his eyes, but concern. Turning, I hurried up and threw myself through a shower. I made quick work of shaving and scrubbed until I couldn’t smell the oil on my skin anymore.
Fifteen minutes later, I knotted the tie properly. It was brand new, red and gold, and matched the pocket square. There were new cufflinks too. Someone had been shopping.
After giving myself the once over, I turned and found Frankie standing in the doorway. All the breath knocked out of me. She wore a strapless cocktail dress, in the exact same deep burgundy red of my tie, and the charm bracelet and necklace I’d given her. She wore the class ring Jake had given her. The only other jewelry was a pair of simple red earrings that I’d given her for Christmas.
“How much trouble am I in, Babe? Because you look like fifty million bucks.”
Pushing away from the door, she strolled toward me with a gentle smile. “You’re not in trouble at all.” Okay, that actually made me feel worse. She smoothed her hands over the front of my suit jacket. “Stop beating yourself up. I planned for you to be running a bit later because you’ve been losing yourself in your work.”
I sighed, covering her hands with mine. “Babe, you shouldn’t have to make considerations…”
At the arch of her brows, I snapped my mouth closed. Yeah, I knew that look. She nodded and then reached up to kiss me lightly. The sweet jasmine and vanilla lingered on her. Oh, the perfume I gave her for her birthday because it reminded me of her.
