LAUREN

 

 

 

We spent the remainder of our time together naked, twisted in each other’s arms, a delirious combination of leisurely love-making, lazy eating and lingered conversation. The time for him to leave came all too soon again. I found my throat tightening as he packed his scattered clothing and collected his toothbrush from the bathroom.

I huddled into his chest when he pulled me close and breathed in his scent. Mint and musk. “I don’t want you to go,” I said.

“Come with me.”

I looked up into his steel-grey eyes. There was no demand there, only a plea. “I can’t,” I stammered. “I’ve got shifts this week.”

“Quit. Work for yourself. Work for me. Do anything you want, just move to the city. Live with me.”

I pulled away as a car rolled into the driveway. I frowned when I noticed the dark station wagon and moved to get a better look. My sister, Morgan, got out of the front seat, pulling a large bag with her.

“What is she doing here?” I whispered even though there was no way she could hear.

“Who?” Tyler joined me to peer out the window.

“My sister. Shit,” I cursed.

Tyler raised a single brow. “Not pleased to see her, I take it?”

“Shit,” I said again, running my hands through my messy hair. “Shit, shit, shit.”

“Am I missing something?” Tyler looked out the window. “She’s almost at the door.”

How did I tell him that my family still thought I was with Gabe? That I never plucked up the courage to tell them that we broke it off, or that I was now dating his brother.

Morgan banged on the door loudly. “Lauren?” she called out, not giving me the time to answer.

I reached for the handle of the door and froze, looking over my shoulder at Tyler and wincing. “I’m sorry,” I said.

Tyler narrowed his eyes. “For what?”

“I haven’t told my family about you.”

Disappointment hovered across his features for a fraction before he covered it with a tight smile. “No time like the present.”

Taking a deep breath, I pulled open the door. “Morgan!” I embraced her. “What are you doing here?”

Morgan stormed past and dumped her bag onto the floor. “It’s over,” she said. “I’m done.”

I glanced over at Tyler. She hadn’t noticed him yet. “What’s over?”

“My marriage. I’ve left him.”

“What?” Surprise skyrocketed my eyebrows. “But—”

“It’s okay if I stay here a few days, isn’t it? If I have to look at that pathetic face of his for one minute longer I think I might end up strangling him. Do you know what he said to me?”

Tyler moved and it caught Morgan’s eye. Confusion flashed, then curiosity, which was quickly followed by the twitching of the corners of her mouth. “And who do we have here?” A light bulb smile spread across her face and she walked over to Tyler, hand extended.

“Tyler Thornton.” He shook her hand firmly.

Morgan looked back at me, her expression a mix between a question and a smirk. “Thornton?” she repeated. “Any relation to the gorgeous Gabe Thornton?”

Tyler cleared his throat. “My brother.”

“Oh.” The word was littered with intent. “His brother?”

I pulled her away from Tyler and she stumbled after me, a stupid grin on her face. “What happened?” I hissed.

“Who is he?” she hissed back, her eyes still stuck on Tyler. “He’s gorgeous. I mean, I thought Gabe was divine and believe me he is, but this guy?” She let out a low whistle. “Is he single?”

I whacked her arm. “Stop it!”

“What?” she said innocently, but still with a coy smile on her face while staring at Tyler. Unsure what to do, Tyler pulled out his phone and started tapping on the screen.

“Tell me what happened?” I said again.

“Don’t get your knickers in a twist. He thinks I’m just down visiting for the weekend. I haven’t actually done anything yet.” Her eyes moved back to Tyler. “But I’ll tell you something I would like to do.”

“Morgan!” I tugged her arm again to get her attention back, but she sauntered away from me, her focus firmly set on Tyler.

“So tell me, Tyler Thornton, what are you doing here?” She ran her eyes over his body, not ashamed as she blatantly ogled him.

Tyler merely looked over at me.

Morgan spun around, narrowing her eyes. “Where’s Gabe?” It was said as an accusation.

“Gabe and I broke up,” I said quietly, meeting Tyler’s eyes over the top of her head.

“And?” Morgan prodded.

“And now I’ve got to take Tyler to the airport.”

Morgan crossed her arms. “Great. You can fill me in on the way.”

Tyler’s eyes burned into mine across the room. “Lauren and I are together,” he said, his gaze never slipping from mine. “She and Gabe broke up a few months back and now we are together.”

Morgan’s eyes grew round. “You moved from Gabe to this?” Her thumb jutted in Tyler’s direction.

“This?” Tyler and I said at the same time.

Morgan turned to Tyler. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I didn’t mean to refer to you as an object, but you are, well…” She paused. “Quite delightful.”

Tyler smiled at her though his eyes remained hard. “Well, it is delightful to meet Lauren’s sister.”

I opened the door wide, indicating for Morgan to walk out so we could drive to the airport.

“Where do you find these men?” she whispered as she passed. “And where can I get one?”

During the trip to the airport, Morgan peppered Tyler with questions from the backseat, leaning forward between us so she could engage him in conversation. Tyler kept his answers short, but polite. His hand slid between us to rest on my thigh. When Morgan sat back in the seat, no longer invading the space between us, he slid it between my legs, working his way up until he brushed over the material of my underwear. Morgan continued to chat from the back, complaining about Alistair, updating me on Madison’s life.

I told Morgan to stay back when it was time to say goodbye. Tyler had been quiet. Quieter than usual, which was almost impossible. He pulled me to him and planted a kiss onto my scalp, inhaling deeply.

“When will I see you again?”

“I’m not sure.” My reply was muffled into his shoulder.

“I hate leaving.”

“You’re not annoyed with me for letting my family believe I was still with Gabe?”

He kissed my head again. “Yes, I am.”

I pulled away, tears immediately welling to my eyes. I blinked rapidly, annoyed with myself. “It wasn’t intentional. It was just because—”

“Do you know the worst thing about being annoyed with you?” His voice was low. “All I want to do is be inside you. Claim you. Remind you who you belong to.”

“Belong?” Even as the word rubbed against my conscience, it excited me.

Tyler looked around the crowded airport as the intercom buzzed with the final boarding call for his flight. Placing a finger under my chin, he tilted my head upwards, lowering his until our mouths met in a blinding kiss of passion and urgency. “Don’t make me wait too long,” he said, and then he was gone, the door left swinging in his wake.

I lifted a trembling hand to my mouth, running my finger over my crushed and bruised lips, relishing the relived memory of him.

I was jolted out of the reverie by the door banging against the wall and a gleeful Morgan holding it open.

“Start talking. Now,” she demanded.

On the way back to the house I explained, in the briefest way possible, what had occurred between Gabe, Tyler and I. Morgan devoured the information like she would a soap opera, eyes wide and wicked, hands clasped in enthrallment. When we walked back inside the house, she threw herself onto the couch dramatically.

“Well,” she said, eyes glittering with the scandal of it. “Your life has certainly got a lot more interesting.”

“You could say that,” I agreed.

“You could say that?” she mocked. “Have you seen the man you are currently bedding? He is panty-dropping gorgeous, Lauren.” She said it as though it was something I was unaware of. It wasn’t. “And those eyes! Have you seen those eyes?” She held her hand to her chest, clutching at her heart. “How they burn!” She sat up suddenly. “Are there any more Thornton brothers? Can I have one?”

“Morgan,” I admonished.

“What? As I said, I’m done with Alistair. If I have to see the stupid expression that crosses his face as he grunts on top of me one more time, it will be too soon.”

I covered my ears with my hands. “Morgan you’re my sister,” I said loudly, emphasising the fact that I didn’t want to hear what she said. “Alistair is my brother-in-law. I do not want to hear what he is like in bed.”

“But seriously,” Morgan said. “Is there?”

I cautiously removed my hands. “Is there what?”

She rolled her eyes. “Any more brothers?”

“For goodness sake, Morgan!”

Her eyes lit with realisation. “There is, isn’t there? Spill. Tell me all the details now. Is he older? Younger? Like Gabe, young, carefree and beautiful, or like Tyler, dark, intense and brooding?” She shuddered. “I don’t know which I’m hoping for more.”

“Jake is nothing like his brothers. He’s not long returned from a stint with the army, though he looks more like a caveman than a soldier.”

“Oh,” Morgan rubbed her hands together. “A wild one.”

“You seriously need to stop this. You’re freaking me out. You can’t leave Alistair. What about Madison?”

Morgan waved my concerns aside. “I’m not leaving him, drama queen. I’m just taking a break for the weekend. I need a few days off from the monotony of my life. Call Peta, tell her we are hitting the town tonight.”

“I’ve got work tomorrow.”

“So?”

“So, I’m not twenty anymore. I need sleep.”

Morgan let out a snort. “Nonsense. It’s one night and I need this, Lauren. Don’t make me get on the phone and tell Mum about your change in relationship status. I’m sure she would be all too pleased to keep you on the phone, lecturing you on the loose morals of your lifestyle.”

Frustrated, I groaned and flopped onto the couch beside Morgan after reaching for the phone. “Fine. But you owe me.”

Morgan clapped her hands together and let out a small whoop of happiness. “I promise I will return to my normal life after this, but for now, this mama’s going to party like it’s nineteen ninety-nine!”

I groaned again.