The hawthorne brothers a.., p.49
The Hawthorne Brothers: A Complete Billionaire Romance Collection, page 49
“I want to,” I say to them as I wrap my fingers around my gin tonic. “I do. I just…”
“Don’t want to get beaten to a pulp?” Asher finishes the sentence for me. He pats my shoulder. “Don’t worry. If you want, I’ll go with you when you tell him. That way, he won’t punch you.”
I shake my head. “He’ll still punch me. Plus he’ll think I’m a coward for bringing you along.”
“He’ll think of you as a coward anyway when he hears what you’ve been keeping from him,” Asher says.
“Asher,” Ethan warns him.
As usual, he doesn’t shut up.
“Or I could just wait in the car and bring you to the hospital when he’s done with you,” he offers.
I have to say that’s not a bad offer. I might need someone to bring me to the hospital when Joel is done with me. But the beating isn’t what I’m worried about the most.
“I just don’t want to lose my best friend,” I confess.
Asher says nothing. For the first time tonight, he seems speechless.
Ethan takes a sip from his glass of scotch. “Hopefully, you won’t,” he says. “Hopefully, after he’s done punching you and maybe after a few drinks, he remembers all the good times you shared and all the bad times you’ve been through together and he realizes that he can’t ask for a better man for his sister or a better woman for his best friend. And he’ll be happy for you just as you’re happy about him settling down.”
“Hopefully,” I say before bringing my gin tonic to my lips.
It would be amazing if that happened.
“But first, you have to get punched,” Ethan adds. “You have to tell him.”
“Can’t have the good without going through the bad,” Asher pipes in.
“Exactly,” Ethan agrees. “Look at me and Stella. We had to go through a lot to get to where we are now.”
I remember. I remember the pain on Stella’s face when I made her realize that she couldn’t be with Ethan, something I still regret to this day because I turned out to be wrong. I remember when Stella left Ethan and he looked like a complete wreck. I remember him punching Asher, too.
“Same here,” Asher says. “Violet and I used to fight all the time.”
I nod. “True.”
Violet hated him. I was afraid she would stab him in his office one day and disappear to Switzerland. Instead, she’s now engaged to him. They couldn’t stand each other and now they’re engaged.
Asher gives me a mischievous grin. “Do you want to guess what we do all the time now?”
“No,” I answer quickly.
“Neither do I,” Ethan says.
“Because it’s more exciting than what you and Stella do?” Asher teases him.
Ethan narrows his eyes in reply. “And where in the world did you get that idea?”
“Stella’s pregnant,” Asher points out.
“Exactly, which means her hormones are raging and she wants to have sex all the time. All. The. Time.”
I put my hands up. “Okay. That’s enough.”
Frankly, this ‘my fiancée is better than yours’ thing that’s been going on for the past few weeks is getting old. And ridiculous.
Stella and Violet are both incredible women. Pregnant or not, they’re both attractive and smart. And strong. They’re amazing women. In fact, I sometimes wonder what they saw in my brothers.
Of course, Claire is an amazing woman, too. She’s beautiful. She’s adventurous, fearless. She has a big heart. She’s an attractive, smart, strong woman.
“How about you tell us about this girl you’re willing to lose your best friend over?” Asher says as he leans towards me. “I bet she’s great in bed.”
“Asher,” Ethan warns him again.
This time, I don’t mind.
“She is,” I say.
Asher grins. “Then think of that when you talk to Joel.”
I give him a look of dismay. Think of having sex with Claire while I talk to her brother? No way.
“Just talk to Joel,” Ethan tells me.
I know. I’ve already known it all this time. I just needed to hear it from my brothers to get the resolve, the strength to do it. And now, I think I have it.
I know what I have to do. And I’m going to do it.
Chapter Eleven
Claire
“I’m going to tell Joel,” I tell Natalie as we sit in the car after a second trip to the bridal shop. “I’m going to tell him that this wedding is for both of you and so he has to share in the responsibilities, in the hard work, in the stress. You don’t have to shoulder it all on your own just because he has a job and you don’t.”
“But I quit my job so I could focus on the wedding,” Natalie says.
She turns her head away from the window to look at me.
“I mean, I told my boss I was quitting my job because I was going to move to California, but I also did it because I wanted to focus on the wedding. My wedding.”
“You mean you and Joel’s wedding,” I correct her.
Natalie says nothing. She just leans against the passenger seat and fixes her gaze on some distant point beyond the windshield, somewhere past the falling snow.
I place my hand over hers. “If you can’t work together on your wedding, how can you expect to work together on your marriage? It isn’t going to work unless the two of you work together.”
Natalie nods. “I know.”
I pull my hand away. “But you won’t talk to Joel?”
She sighs and meets my gaze. “I don’t want to fight with him, Claire. I’m too tired to fight.”
“But some things are worth fighting over, worth fighting for.”
She shakes her head. “A fight will only make things worse.”
“So you’re just going to shoulder all the stress and tire yourself out until you get a nervous breakdown and land in a hospital bed?” I ask her.
Natalie forces a smile as she squeezes my hand. “I appreciate your concern, Claire, but I’ll be fine. Really, I can do this.”
I’m not sure she can.
“I just… need a bit of a break,” she says. “I need to think about something other than the wedding.”
“Okay. What do you want to do?”
She touches her chin as she pauses to think. I offer her suggestions.
“Do you want to play paintball? Do you want to get a mani-pedi? Do you want to get out of Chicago for a few days?”
“No.” She shakes her head. “Nothing that major. I just want to relax.”
“What about some retail therapy, then?” I ask her. “We can look for shoes for the wedding.”
She frowns.
“Or just shoes, shoes that are not for the wedding. Or clothes. We can look at clothes and dresses that aren’t for weddings, maybe clothes that you can wear for your honeymoon, like a beach outfit or a swimsuit.”
Natalie’s frown turns upside down. “You know, I am so looking forward to the honeymoon, more so than the wedding, I think.
“Then let’s buy clothes for your honeymoon,” I tell her. “For that time when all this stress will be over and it will just be you and Joel and a piece of paradise.”
“A piece of paradise,” Natalie repeats with closed eyes. “That sounds heavenly.”
I smile. Good. She looks better now.
I grab her hand. “So, shopping for the honeymoon?”
She opens her eyes and nods. “Yes, please.”
I start the engine of the car.
“We’ll make you the sexiest newlywed yet.”
Natalie nods. “In that case, I need to get some lingerie.”
Lingerie, huh? I put my hands on the wheel and grin.
Maybe I’ll get myself a hot ensemble, too. Something Ryker won’t be able to resist.
~
“Well, what do you think?”
I rest my elbows on the kitchen counter as I stand in my scarlet chemise and wait for Ryker’s reply.
Right now, he’s just staring at me with narrowed eyes. Is he still in shock about finding me here in his apartment? Is he mad? He didn’t seem too happy to see me.
Or is it the chemise he doesn’t like? Is it too revealing? It barely goes past my hips, after all, and the lower part is open down the middle so I’m sure he can see my black panties. As for the upper part, it’s made of sheer lace so he can see my breasts as well. I did consider choosing something a bit more modest, but I guess there’s a part of me that’s still worried Ryker sees me as a child even though we’ve already had sex a few times, so I went with something mature. And daring. Arousing.
So why doesn’t Ryker seem aroused? If anything, he looks annoyed.
“Well?” I ask again as I cross my ankles.
If he doesn’t say anything soon, I’m going to be annoyed.
“How did you get in here, again?” Ryker asks.
Oh. So that’s what he wants to say? That’s what’s bothering him?
I cross my arms over my chest. “I spoke to your super. He’s old but agreeable.”
“Really?” Ryker crosses his arms over his chest as well. “And were you wearing that when you spoke to him?”
“No,” I answer firmly with an expression of disgust.
How can he even think that? Of course I don’t go walking around in lingerie.
Wait a second. Is he jealous? Is that what this is? The jealous boyfriend act?
“And how did you even know I live here?” Ryker asks next.
I shrug. “I asked Joel where you live.”
His eyes grow wide. “You asked Joel?”
“You didn’t tell me where you live,” I point out. “And we can’t always do it in my apartment.”
“You asked Joel?”
I let out a sigh. “Yes.”
“You didn’t think he’d find out about us? Have you forgotten what we said about keeping this a secret?”
“I was very discreet. Trust me, Joel doesn’t know a thing about us. Actually, he doesn’t know a thing about a lot of things.”
Ryker doesn’t look convinced. He shakes his head and scratches the back of it.
Now I am annoyed. I straighten myself up and make my way towards him with a frown.
“You know what? You’re a jerk,” I tell him. “Here I am dressed in lingerie just for you, and I’ve been waiting here a good while, too, and you won’t even look at me because all you can think about is Joel. What happened to not caring, huh?”
He doesn’t answer. That’s fine. I’m heading out anyway. But not before I say one last thing.
“You’re right. You are a disappointment.”
I take a step towards the door. Ryker grabs my arm. His narrowed eyes meet mine.
“And you’re still a child.”
My eyebrows furrow. “What? How can you say that when I’m—”
The rest of my sentence vanishes against Ryker’s lips. They crush mine as his hand grips my hair. I can’t breathe.
He pulls away and looks into my eyes. His burn intensely, but I can’t tell if it’s out of lust or out of anger and frustration.
Is he mad at me or does he want me? Is it both?
He cups my face and kisses me again. This time, his tongue slips between my lips. It brushes against mine and my temper dissolves. A shiver goes down my spine.
He wants me. I’m sure of it. And I want him. That’s all that matters right now.
I place my hands on Ryker’s waist and push my tongue against his. He pushes it back as his hands wander over my shoulders, my sides and the exposed skin of my upper back. He cups my ass. As his fingers dig into the mounds of flesh, a moan leaves my lips. Heat swirls in my belly.
I don’t know what it is, but something is different about Ryker today. He’s… wilder. Rougher.
I can’t get enough of it.
He turns me around so my back is against him, then pulls me against his chest. His mouth finds the side of my neck and remains there as his hands cup my breasts through lace. His fingers trap my nipples and pinch them gently. I throw my head back against his shoulder and gasp.
Ryker licks my neck as he plays with the stiff peaks of my breasts. He twists them, tugs on them, flicks them with his thumbs and rubs them through the lace. The exquisite friction sends ripples of heat beneath my skin as more moans escape from my throat.
His mouth moves to my ear. He traps the lobe between his lips as his hand wanders lower. It slips between the flaps of my chemise and slides over the bare patch of skin under my belly button to reach inside my panties. His fingers brush against the entrance to my molten core and I shudder.
He rubs that entrance as he licks my ear and my legs grow weak. He slips a finger in and I turn my head so I can moan into his mouth. I stroke his hair as I move my tongue against his. His thumb brushes against my nub and I break the kiss to let out a gasp. My knees tremble.
Ryker slips another finger inside me. Before I can react to it, he pushes two fingers past my lips. I suck on them and moan around them as the fingers inside me delve deeper into my heat. He hisses.
He’s enjoying this, isn’t he? He likes it when I suck on his fingers, something he’s never let me try before. I suck on them harder as I push my ass against him. The stiff rod of flesh poking my back tells me I’m right. I grin.
Maybe next time, I’ll suck on his fingers before I suck on his—
My thoughts scatter as Ryker pulls all of his fingers out of me. I whimper and rub my body against his erection. I’m about to turn around but then he pulls my panties down so they’re hanging between my thighs. Both his hands reach between my legs. Wet fingers find my nub as others enter me once more, stroking me inside as he rubs my nub outside.
I lose my mind. Moans and gasps leave my lips as my knees shake. My heels rise off the floor and my back arches. My toes curl.
“Ryker!”
I cry out his name and dig my fingers into his thighs as waves of pleasure wash over me. My thoughts go blank.
Vaguely, I feel Ryker leading me somewhere. I don’t know how I’m still standing when I can barely feel my legs, but somehow I find myself draped over the kitchen counter. The marble feels cold against my scorched nipples.
Wait. Counter?
I’ve hardly managed to regain my senses and catch my breath when Ryker’s hands grip my waist. A moment later, I feel something firm and coated in rubber poking me from behind.
Already? Wait. I—
Ryker enters me with one thrust. My mouth gapes. My thoughts turn into mush once more.
He moves and I grip the edge of the counter. Each time he shoves his cock inside me and rubs those hidden bundles of nerves, I gasp. Each time he slides out, the heat from the friction spreads like wildfire in my veins and I moan.
“Mmm. So… good. God…”
“You like that?” Ryker gives a particularly hard thrust.
“Yes!” I cry out. “More. Give me… more.”
I push my hips against him. He hisses.
“Fuck.”
He grabs my arms and pulls me off the counter. He wraps an arm around me and grips my chin so that I’m facing him. Then he pushes his tongue into my mouth. I barely have the strength to kiss him back.
He pulls away and puts his hands on my breasts as he continues moving, faster this time. I try to match his movements but fail to keep up.
It’s too fast. My head is spinning. Spinning. Everything’s a blur.
Ryker grips my arms once more as his pace becomes erratic. Then he buries his face in my hair and groans before shoving his cock deep inside me. I push my hips back against him as the flames beneath my skin roar to life once more. Cries spill out of my lips along with my supply of oxygen. Tears form in the corners of my eyes.
Ryker shudders behind me and then goes still. His grip on me loosens. After a moment, he starts gasping for air. Then he releases my arms. They fall limply at my sides.
He pulls out and I fall forward on the counter. I hug it because I can’t stand. Not yet. My lungs still feel empty. My heart is still hammering inside my chest. Now that the fire in my veins has been extinguished, I feel like a barren forest. If a strong wind blows, I might just crumble into ash.
Behind me, I hear the plop of something being thrown into a trash bin. I hear a rustle of clothes and zipping.
“Are you okay?” Ryker asks.
I manage to recover enough strength to push myself off the counter. I pull my panties, which have reached my knees, back up. Then I turn around and face Ryker with a grin.
“I guess you do like the lingerie.”
He says nothing, nor does he smile. I don’t even know if he’s looking at me or somewhere beyond me. Something sad flickers in his eyes.
Renewed frustration? Dissatisfaction? Regret? Is he regretting the fact that he was a little too rough with me?
He shouldn’t. I don’t.
I step forward and lift my arm to touch his cheek. “Hey. It’s all good. It was good. Very good. And I’m fine. More than fine.”
Still, he says nothing. I frown.
“Hey.” I cup his face. “I’m sorry about what I said earlier. I didn’t mean it.”
I give him a quick kiss.
“And I’m sorry for coming here without telling you, but I promise, everything is okay. Everything…”
I stop as I hear my phone ring. I didn’t turn it off?
I ignore it, and eventually the ringing stops. I focus my attention back on Ryker.
“Come on. Say something. I…”
Again, my phone rings. Shit. Who can that be?
Ryker plants a kiss on my forehead, which makes me smile in relief. Then he takes my hands off his face.
“You should answer it. It might be important.”
I nod and run to where my phone is. Where is it again?
Ah. On the coffee table.
I look at the screen as I pick it up. It shows Natalie’s picture, so I answer the call.
“Hello.”
“I told him,” Natalie tells me.
Judging from the sound of her voice, she’s been crying. My chest tightens in concern.
