Текст книги "Unsung"

Автор книги: Shannon Richard

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Текущая страница: 13 (всего у книги 20 страниц)

Chapter Fifteen No Going Back

Liam, what if someone looks up?” Harper gasped, her head falling back on his shoulder as he moved his fingers in and out of her in slow, delicious pushes and pulls.

The thought of someone seeing them was terrifying…and maybe just a little bit thrilling.

Dear God, these pregnancy hormones were getting a little out of control. Or maybe it had nothing to do with being pregnant and everything to do with the man who was currently working her over.

“Keep your eyes open.” His voice was ragged in her ear. “And if anyone sees us they’ll just think we’re watching the fireworks. They can’t see where my hands are.”

Okay…okay this was a good point. The wooden posts of the railing that ran around the porch were close enough together that it would be almost impossible for anyone to see. Plus, there was the added fact that the skirt of her dress was also providing some good camouflage.

So really she just needed to look like she wasn’t getting pleasured out of her mind…which would be about as easy as driving a semitruck through the eye of a needle.

And about two seconds later he made it five thousand times harder. His other hand was now joining the party and he was pressing his fingers to her clit. There was no way in hell she could stop herself from writhing against him, her ass pressing into his erection and the back of her naked thighs rasping against the denim of his jeans.

The sky in front of her exploded with colors. Green, blue, red, and white bursts filling the view before the sparks rained down in a sizzle. He moved his lips to her throat, opening his mouth and running his tongue across her skin.

“Liam.” His name on her lips was a plea as she reached for the railing, grabbing hold of it and giving herself better leverage to move.

“I’m going to need you to not move so much.”

“I—I can’t help it.”

“You’re going to make me come if you don’t stop.”

She turned and looked over her shoulder at him just as the sky lit up with a dozen blue rockets. “I don’t see why that’s a problem.”

“Because I’d rather be inside you.”

“Then why aren’t you?”

To say that Liam moved fast would be an understatement. He pulled his hands from inside her, grabbing her waist and spinning her around again. Within a few seconds he had her backed up into the very corner of the porch. There were about five feet of shutters on either side, creating a ninety-degree barrier around them and completely blocking them from view of anyone down below.

But barrier or not, if someone came up to this level now, there would be no hiding what was going on in that corner. A fact that had escaped neither of them.

“You know there is the possibility that we could get caught?” he asked as he hooked his fingers into the sides of her panties and shimmied them down her thighs.

“I do,” she said as she nodded.

He kneeled down in front of her, lifting first her right foot and then the left, and freeing her legs. “So if you want to stop,” he straightened as he put her panties in the pocket of his jeans, “speak now or forever hold your peace.”

She couldn’t help but smile at those words because they were the same he’d said their first night together…when she’d been reckless and wild just like this.

Apparently that was their MO.

“I’m objectionless.” But as her hands were now at the front of his pants, pulling at his belt buckle, her words might be a tad bit redundant.

She had the button out and the zipper down, before she gripped the sides of his jeans and slid them down his hips. Her hand wrapped around his cock the second it was free, stroking him from base to tip.

“Nope, inside you.” He pulled her hand away. “You’re going to need to hold on for this.”

Before she knew it, his hands were at her thighs, pulling her body up, her back sliding up against the wood. Her arms looped around his neck on reflex, her legs wrapping around his waist.

He pushed inside of her in one powerful move as the sky lit up. The brilliant white light illuminated his face and the intensity in his gaze was staggering. He moved in and out of her in sure, steady thrusts and her mouth fell open in a gasp…or a moan…or both. She couldn’t be exactly sure as the air around them was filled with the boom, boom, booms of the fireworks…that and she really didn’t care because it felt so good.

His mouth captured hers, his tongue pushing past her lips and claiming her fully.

What the hell was she talking about? He’d claimed her fully months ago. She belonged to him completely.

Entirely.

He brought her right to the brink of an orgasm before his hips slowed, keeping the release at bay. Which she was beyond grateful for because she wasn’t ready for this to be done. She needed more time. More time with the air erupting around them while he moved inside her.

She hadn’t told him she was right on the brink. She hadn’t been able to say anything even close to coherent. He’d just known. And why wouldn’t he? The man knew her body better than anyone ever had before.

But it was more than her body. So much more. He knew her heart…knew her soul.

He pulled his mouth back from hers, his erratic breath hitting her lips in bursts as he rested his forehead against hers. “You feel so good. I’ll never get enough of you.”

“Promise?” The word escaped her lips before she could think better of it, and not a second too soon as another round of rockets exploded, this time making everything glow green.

He pulled back and fully looked her in the eyes, his skin now reflecting the red and blue fireworks that had just gone off. And then his mouth was at her ear, the low, steady timbre of his voice blocking out everything else around them.

“I swear.”

And just like that the need for him was clawing at every part of her. She moved her hands to his head, making him turn to kiss her, while she used every bit of leverage she could gain from the wall to move up and down the length of his cock.

Liam moved, too. Harder and just rough enough to cause the perfect friction between their bodies. She was the one who found her release first, going off and pulsing around him. But before she could recover for even a second he had her detonating again. This time somehow even more powerful than the last.

He pulled his mouth from hers, burying his face in her throat as a groan erupted from his throat and vibrated across her skin. His hands tightened on her thighs, his fingers digging into her flesh in the sweetest sort of pain as he came inside of her.

The second they were finished, he turned around and she dropped her feet from where they were crossed around his back. He leaned against the shutters, sliding down until his ass was on the floor. She was straddling him, her body still wrapped around him in every way.

They sat there for a moment, looking at each other in stunned silence…well, silence besides the constant bangs from the fireworks that filled the air around them. But Harper barely heard the rockets exploding in the air over the sound of her heart pounding in her ears. Her hands went to his shoulders, bracing herself as she leaned forward and pressed her lips to his.

She wasn’t sure how long they stayed like that, but when they pulled apart the air around them was quiet, the fireworks show apparently over.

“We should get back down there.” He reached up, tracing her hairline. “Before someone notices we’re missing and comes looking for us.”

“I suppose you’re right.” She stole one last kiss—her tongue still tasting the whiskey that lingered in his mouth—before she moved off his lap and stood. She immediately felt the absence of him inside her, and by the sound of regret that escaped his lips she guessed he missed being inside her just as much.

He stood up, too, pulling his jeans back up and buckling his belt. He pulled her panties from the pocket of his jeans and handed them to her, but there was no point in putting them back on until she could sneak into the bathroom and get herself cleaned up.

When she made a move to start heading for the stairs he grabbed her hand and pulled her back until she was fully up against his body, both of this hands at the small of her back and holding her to him.

“I meant more than just sex, Harper.”

“What?”

“Me never getting enough of you. It’s everything that has to do with you.”

“Good thing you swore on it.” She grinned up at him. “Now that it’s out there, there’s no going back.”

“Honey, sooner or later.” He moved one of his hands to her chin and gently pressed up, tipping her head back. And then he was leaning down, his lips hovering just above hers. “You’re going to figure out there was no going back for me the moment I met you.”

He kissed her one last time before he reached for one of her hands. And as he led her back down the stairs to join everybody else, she knew it was neither sooner nor later…

She’d already figured it out, because there was no going back for her, either.

*  *  *

Sunday morning dawned much like Saturday, Liam waking up with a sleeping Harper in his arms. They went to Mass with her parents at the one and only Catholic church in town, and when Mrs. Laurence found out that Liam had been born and raised Catholic he got another couple of points without even trying.

After church they went to brunch at LaBella. Liam had been more than interested to see where Harper worked, and the high-end hotel and spa was a pretty fancy setup.

Besides the storm that blew in, Sunday night was a quiet affair. Just the two of them—and of course Luna, who jumped every time thunder rolled across the sky—curled up on the sofa with the newest episode of Ponce playing on the TV. Apparently Harper was a pretty big fan of the show, and she was also #TeamRosamund.

Liam took Harper to work on Monday, that way he could use her cruiser to get around town. Not only did she trust him with her vehicle, but she gave him a key to her apartment to come and go as he pleased. Both of these facts had him grinning like an idiot.

But she had that affect on him.

It was late that morning when Liam headed over to the inn to hang out with Adele, Logan, Abby, and Jace…and he brought Luna with him, too. What? The storm still hadn’t passed and the little dog was legitimately terrified. How was he supposed to leave her when she’d been shaking like a leaf and staring up at him with eyes that begged the question: you aren’t going to leave me, are you?

For the most part they just hung out in the more than spacious suite on the second floor. And everywhere he went, Luna was right by his side. Not only that, but the second he sat down she was immediately hopping up on his lap, circling once, and then curling into a ball.

“Wow,” Adele said in mock shock. “Winning over her canine? It’s a good sign when her dog loves you, too.”

His hand that was scratching the top of Luna’s head paused as he looked over at his sister. She was sitting at the opposite end of the sofa. Her hair was all pinned up in her customary curls, a purple bandanna tied to the side acting as a headband. That was all he saw of her as she was wrapped up in a throw blanket. The dark gloomy weather and blasting air conditioner were making for perfect snuggling conditions.

“Too?” he asked.

“Don’t be dumb. That girl’s in love with you just as much as you’re in love with her.”

“That so?”

“Oh, so you guys haven’t had that conversation yet.” She didn’t even attempt to keep the surprise out of her voice.

Nope, they weren’t discussing that at the moment. It was true he and Harper hadn’t had that conversation…yet. He wasn’t all that ready to rock the boat. Things were going well…really well in their journey to catch up.

“Speaking of winning over a woman’s canine.” Liam didn’t hesitate in flipping Adele’s line of questioning on her. “Where is your dog?” But his question wasn’t a necessary one as they both knew exactly where Katharine Hepburn—Adele’s dalmatian—was currently hanging out.

Even from the living room of the suite, the telltale noise of the dog’s nails hitting the tile in the kitchen could be heard. Adele’s eyes darted over and landed on Jace who was currently making a sandwich for his on-the-hour snack. The guy ate like a Hobbit, had about ten meals a day.

“Katie is just hoping he gives her something.” Adele shook her head.

Okay, so it was true that the dog would never turn down a treat, and yes she did follow Jace every single time he went into the kitchen. But this weekend wasn’t the first time Liam had noticed that Katie was at Jace’s side almost as much as she was at Adele’s.

And the man treated the dog like she was his, too.

“Fess up, Del.”

“Fess up about what?” she asked with an air of obliviousness that in no way fooled him.

“You’re not the only one in this family who’s observant. I see the way you look at J—”

Her foot shot out, kicking Liam hard in the thigh. “Shut up,” she hissed at him.

“No, you better start talking before he finishes making his fifteen-layer club.” Liam nodded to the kitchen with his chin.

Adele sighed, taking a moment before speaking. “Nothing has happened.”

“And do you want it to?”

“There’s nothing to happen, Liam. We’re just friends. Besides”—she shrugged like it didn’t really matter—“he’s got plenty of other women to occupy his brain and his bed to not think about me that way.”

The plenty of women statement was true. Jace filtered through them faster than a person could blink. A playboy at heart with a charming smile, shaggy dark-blond hair, and aquamarine eyes. He was the king of a one-night stand, which was one of the reasons Liam wanted his baby sister to stay away from him.

And okay, so Liam might be a bit of a hypocrite as he’d gotten Harper into bed on that first night, but as was evident, that hadn’t been a one-night stand.

But Liam didn’t get a chance to ask any more questions as Jace came into the room, Katie at his side.

“Look, I taught her a new trick.” He set his plate on the coffee table, grabbing a carrot before he stepped back and faced Katie.

“Sit,” he commanded the dog, and she fell onto her haunches instantly, her tail wagging erratically across the floor like a windshield wiper.

“Still,” he told her, holding the carrot up high, and Katie’s tail stopped moving.

“Stay.” He reached forward and set the carrot on top of Katie’s snout. “Stay,” he repeated as he stepped back. Katie’s eyes were entirely focused on the carrot, her body not moving as she waited for permission.

“Get it,” Jace told her.

Katie threw her head back, the carrot popping up into the air for just a second before it landed in her mouth.

“Good girl.” Jace rubbed her head affectionately. “Smart girl.” He handed her another carrot before taking a seat in the chair, grabbing his plate and digging into his sandwich.

Liam’s gaze went back to his sister for just a second, a longing in her eyes that said quite clearly she wanted to be the girl on Jace’s mind. Her eyes met Liam’s and that longing was gone in an instant. A wall slamming down to hide how she felt. A wall that was not the norm for his sister.

She might be intense, might be intimidating, might be scary as hell sometimes, but the girl loved with her whole heart. She was kind and witty and had more brains than Logan and Liam put together.

Any guy would be lucky to have her…but would Jace be good enough?

Maybe…maybe not.

But as Liam learned full well, there was no controlling who you fell in love with. And his sister was in love with Jace. Damn.

Adele’s eyes widened in horror, seeing the knowledge in Liam’s face, and she gave a slight shake of her head in denial. A denial he didn’t believe in the slightest.

At that moment the front door opened, and Abby and Logan walked in with their hands filled with grocery bags. Adele shot off the sofa. “You guys need help?” she asked almost sprinting across the room.

Yeah, Adele could run all she wanted. It was going to catch up to her sooner or later.

*  *  *

By some miracle there was a lull in the downpour that had been going on all day, and it lined up perfectly with Harper getting off work at six o’clock. Liam picked her up when she finished and about ten minutes after they got to the inn, the sky opened up again and let loose with full force.

Though the evening promised to be a much less involved endeavor than the Fourth of July, it still wasn’t all that small.

Abby was in town so it was a given that Paige, Brendan, and Trevor were there. Grace and Mel weren’t going to miss any opportunity to get to know Liam, so they’d come with their husbands in tow. The giggling Rosie Mae wasn’t going to be left out of the evening’s festivities, nor were Dale and Hamilton. And last, but certainly not least, Shep and Hannah were there as their kitchen and dining room were the ones being occupied. It was the optimal cooking space as all three of the Jameses were in charge of making the Spanish-themed cuisine.

Apparently cooking was a talent that all three of them enjoyed. The table was now just a resting place for all of the empty dishes, and everyone was sitting around talking and laughing. Liam had his hand on the back of Harper’s neck, his fingers tracing the very top of her spine.

His hands on her felt so good that she couldn’t bring herself to pull away, which was a problem as she’d had to go to the bathroom for a little while now. The full bladder thing was no joke during pregnancy.

“I’ll be right back,” she whispered to Liam. He nodded, gently squeezing the very base of her neck before he let go. She pushed her chair back and headed down the hallway.

On her way back she spotted Luna and Henry—Hannah and Shep’s gray cat—playing in the living room. Henry was more like a rambunctious little dog himself, and the two of them were wrestling in between playing tug-of-war with an old sock.

Adele’s dog Katie wasn’t having any of those shenanigans. When they bumped into her comfortable lounging position on the rug, she gave them a somewhat disdainful look—well, as disdainful as a dog was capable of—before she got up and headed to the dining room with the adults.

Dale and Hamilton were in the kitchen with Mel and Bennett, stacking dishes on the counter. Harper veered off and headed in that direction instead, stationing herself at the sink and turning the faucet on. As the water heated up, she grabbed the massive glass bowl that had held the paella, wiping away the tiny remnants in the trash before putting it under the steady stream of steaming water.

When she reached up for the soap on the windowsill, her eyes caught on the porch on the other side of the glass window in front of her. Her mind automatically flashed back to last Saturday with her and Liam two floors up, her legs wrapped around his waist while he moved inside her…

Hands landed on her hips making her jump, and Liam’s mouth was at her ear. “This doesn’t look like you coming right back.”

“I’m just trying to help.”

He reached up and he hit the handle on the faucet, making the stream of water stop. And then his hands were at her hips again, turning her around.

“You aren’t cleaning up, Harper. Not going to happen.”

“Liam, I’m more than capable—”

“I know you are,” he cut her off. “But you aren’t going to. Know what you can do though?”

“What’s that?” She looked up at him as his palms moved up along her sides.

“Tell me what you were thinking about that has you all flushed?”

“I’m not flushed. It’s the hot water.”

“The hot water making your eyes dilate, too?” He shook his head, calling her bluff. “You know I’m sure we can sneak out there if you want. Have an encore performance.” He indicated the porch with his chin, his eyes not leaving hers.

“The rain is blowing in sideways. We’d get soaked.”

Something downright wicked flashed in his eyes and he leaned down to her ear. “I think you’re going to have that problem regardless.”

“You’re terrible,” she said, laughing as he pulled back, his mouth split in a massive mischievous grin.

“I am.” He waggled his eyebrows. “Now, no washing dishes for you.” He pressed his lips to hers in a quick kiss before he stepped back and gently pulled her away from the sink. “I got this.”

“And what am I supposed to do?”

“Keep me company,” he said as he turned the water on again and finished washing the bowl that Harper had started. “Tell me about your day.”

“I can’t guarantee that it will be all that interesting.”

“It was your day, of course it will be interesting.”

She leaned back against the counter, the grin on her face not to be helped, as she started talking.

*  *  *

Liam spent Tuesday at the inn as well, Dale and Hamilton joining them. As both boys had requested more music sessions, Liam was happy to comply. It hadn’t taken him very long to figure out why his brother had gotten so close to the two teenagers. They were great kids and Liam found himself enjoying their company more than he could’ve ever anticipated.

On Wednesday, they all went out to the horse farm that Shep and Finn’s aunt and uncle owned. It had been years since Liam had gone horseback riding, and when he was finished up he was feeling it on every inch of his body. Luckily, Harper took pity on him and she spent the evening showing him just how good her massage skills were…and after that she showed him just how good her riding skills were.

Thursday was way less exhaustive. Liam, Logan, and Jace indulged in a tour of the Sleepy Sheep’s new brewing facility and an afternoon tasting of Shep’s beer. The evening was again spent in Harper’s apartment, with Liam making her dinner. Pretty much any opportunity he had to get her alone, he took advantage of it. Yes, he wanted his friends and family to spend time with her, and he wanted to get to know all of her friends and family, too. But as he was about to be leaving her for two weeks, he was getting just a tad bit stingy.

And besides that, the Jacksonville crowd still had another few days left in Mirabelle, and he knew for a fact that Adele and Harper were hanging out when he was gone. So he didn’t feel all that guilty. Actually, he didn’t feel guilty at all.

By Friday he was settling very nicely into their routine. Had it really only been a week since he’d been in Mirabelle? It felt like it had been much longer, like they’d been part of each other’s everyday lives for years now…and would be for the long haul if he had anything to say about it.

It was something that he just knew, and something that was confirmed more than ever when they went to her doctor’s appointment that afternoon. Beth had worked them in for the last slot at the end of the day, and as they sat in that waiting room he found that he was just a little bit anxious.

And why wouldn’t he be? They were going to hear their child’s heartbeat. He would put money on the fact that he’d never been so excited in his life. And though the anticipation was overwhelming, it was nothing to how he felt when it actually happened.

He was sitting on a stool right next to her, his hand in hers when the steady rhythmic beat filled the room. Never in his life had he heard a more perfect sound.

He could barely breathe, could barely move, couldn’t get over the fact that he and Harper had created something. They’d made a life. Together. Just the two of them. It was the greatest thing he’d ever do.

Ever.

So yeah, he was in more than a daze for the rest of the evening. All through dinner with her parents…and dessert…and then during their drive home, him behind the wheel of Harper’s Cruiser as he was more than familiar with how to get around town at this point. He’d been driving most of the week after all, dropping Harper off at work in the morning and picking her up in the evening.

Their little daily routine.

It was more than he could’ve ever imagined. She was more than he could’ve ever imagined.

*  *  *

Saturday morning was the first since Liam had been in Mirabelle that Harper woke up alone. It wasn’t the best feeling in the world…actually it really sucked. But as he was leaving in, oh, six hours to go on tour for two weeks, she was going to have to get used to it.

And when it all came down to it, this was how it was going to be with a life with him. He was a musician and his career was only getting bigger. How they were going to figure this out was a question that she was trying not to worry about. It was too soon. It had barely been over a week since he’d been there, three since they’d found each other again…and about two months since they’d met.

Two months? Really? How had it only been that long?

Okay, she wasn’t going to spiral this early in the morning. She needed to find Liam, and as she heard a pan hitting the stove in the kitchen, she had a pretty good idea of where he was.

A quick trip to the bathroom was a must. Again, full bladders weren’t to be messed with. After brushing her teeth and washing her face, she grabbed her robe on the back of the door before heading out into her apartment.

Liam was at the stove, the only article of clothing on his body his gray boxer briefs…and one of Harper’s aprons. She had two, one black with bright pink frills on it. The other blue and green stripes. He’d picked the black frilly one.

Of course he had. It took everything in her not to laugh as she leaned against the door frame and watched him while he talked to Luna.

Yes. Talked to Luna. The dog was sitting at his feet, looking up at him with imploring eyes and no doubt waiting for him to drop a piece of bacon…or cheese. That dog would do backflips for a piece of cheese.

“Listen,” he said, waving the tongs at the dog. “I know that you have fun with Henry, understandable. He’s a fun little guy. But that’s the point, Luna. He’s a male. And men are dogs, which I’m sure is confusing to you as he’s a cat. But you get my point.”

This time Harper couldn’t stop the laugh that bubbled out of her chest. Liam spun around, and Harper was able to get the full picture of him in that ridiculous apron. And the small laugh morphed into a full-on belly laugh.

“What?” he asked, setting the tongs on the stove before he walked over to her.

“You look ridiculous.”

“Hey, black is slimming and way more flattering than stripes.” His hands landed on her hips before they moved to the belt at her waist.

“Whatever you say.”

“This one has better coverage. And you were supposed to sleep in. I was going to bring you breakfast in bed.”

“What is it with you and eating in bed?”

“At least this time it was going to be food.” His eyes left hers as he slipped the belt loose, the two sides separating and his hands sliding down to her bare thighs. She was only wearing a tank top and a pair of panties. “I take it back.” He shook his head as he reached up and ran his fingers across her nipples, the thin fabric doing nothing to lessen the sensation. “I want you for breakfast.”

“I think your bacon might burn.”

“How many times do I have to tell you to stop worrying about my bacon?” He started kissing her a second before he reached down in a quick move, grabbing her thighs and picking her up.

She gasped against his lips as he carried her across the room, and then he was setting her down on the counter. His mouth lingered on hers for a moment or two before he pulled back and went to the stove, flipping the bacon.

Then he went to the fridge, pulling out a carton of cranberry juice and pouring her a glass. It was the first thing she drank every morning, and it had taken him no time at all to remember that fact.

It had taken him no time at all to remember a lot of facts. Like that she liked her bananas the most when they just started to get spotted. Or that even though her nausea wasn’t nearly as severe, all things poultry still weren’t agreeing with her. Or that she preferred prime numbers when it came to just about anything…like grocery store lines or the volume on the TV. Yeah it was, weird but he just went with it.

He went with everything.

Her throat constricted as she stared down at the juice glass in her hand. Her head came up and she looked back over to Liam who was at the stove, flipping the knob and turning off the burner. The tightening feeling in her throat was now accompanied by the burning at the corner of her eyes.

“You want some of my Potato Sensation?” Liam asked as he grabbed plates from the cupboard next to him. “I made toast, too.”

She couldn’t stop the sniffle that happened next, either. It seemed to fill the kitchen, bouncing off the tile. She bowed her head, running her thumb up and down the glass.

“Hey, hey now.” Liam was back to her in an instant, pulling the juice from her hand. He touched her chin, pushing her head up. “Honey, what’s going on?”

“I don’t want you to leave.” And just like that she burst into tears.

It was something she wished she could blame entirely on the pregnancy hormones, and though those no doubt had something to do with it, they weren’t the only factor.

He pulled her into his chest, his hands moving up and down her back. “I know. I don’t want to, either. I’ll be back in no time at all.”

“And then you leave again.”

He took a deep breath, letting it out slowly before he leaned forward, resting his forehead against hers. “We’re going to figure this out, honey. We are.”

“Promise?”

“I swear.”

The certainty in his voice was a small relief…she just wished she felt as certain.