Chapter 24

Reid had lost his zest for life. Friday afternoon at work, he went through the motions. Naomi’s PR campaign was working. They had clients out the ass. Smith, surprisingly, fit in, and he now had a dream team.

He’d partnered teams up, and Smith went out with either Jordan or Hector each time. Cash pretended not to care, but Reid knew his brother hated when Jordan and Smith went out together.

Since the big bastard had stopped bugging him about Naomi, Reid figured he’d cut Cash some slack and stop assigning Jordan and Smith together. Petty yet satisfying. And he’d finally gotten Cash to leave him the hell alone.

He knew what Naomi thought. That he was being a passive-aggressive asshole because she’d taken too long to realize she loved him. But that wasn’t it at all.

He loved her too much. Like Charles had loved Angela. No matter how much his mother retreated from the world, his father had remained close by to do whatever she wanted. Reid worried he might have a little too much of his father inside him for any woman to handle. Especially if that woman didn’t love him like he loved her.

Because when the love wasn’t there, children suffered. And why the hell was he even thinking of kids with Naomi when the woman didn’t know how she felt about him?

Fuck. Okay. I’m hurt and pissed and bitter. I’m entitled.

His arm hurt all the time, and he hated the damn pain meds because they made him groggy.

Did she really expect him to just accept that she now loved him? What had changed?

He sighed and let himself in the house, taking an early day. The June weather had warmed nicely, and because running jarred his arm inside the cast, the pressure too much to bear just yet, he wanted a long walk.

After he’d taken a cold shower because, as usual, thoughts of Naomi got him hard despite his heartache. The red-haired, gorgeous, smart little witch.

He rubbed his eyes, tired of the sting making them water. He just couldn’t accept Naomi’s sympathy masked as love and run with it. He was too greedy. Wanted too much, buying into the dumb idea of a happily ever after.

Reid decided to take a nap. He roused a bit later and saw Cash leaning over him.

“Hey, man. I have to go talk to Mac. I owe him and Gavin a few beers for us messing up the gym. But we’re square. Mac’s a good guy. And Gavin, when he stops fucking talking, isn’t bad either.” He smiled, then sighed. “I have to go to Mom’s place too. I wish you’d help me clear the rest out, but with that injury, it can wait, I guess.”

Reid must have mumbled something. Cash eventually left.

He woke again, this time flat on his back and…tied to the bed? He tugged at his bad wrist and saw it lying on a pillow, his arm loosely tied to the headboard by the elbow. But his other wrist and ankles were spread and bound by silk scarves.

What the hell kind of kinky dream was he having?

“I know you’re awake.”

At the sound of her voice, his entire body came alive.

Reid gaped to see Naomi staring down at him. She wore a short pink nightgown. A sheer nightgown, because he could see her pretty nipples and the hint of her pussy.

He hardened as expected. Then a rush of cool air breezed by, and he realized he wore no clothes.

“Whoa. What the hell—heck?”

She laughed. “There’s my Reid.”

“Naomi, what are you doing?” His body wanted more, but his mind needed answers. Stupid mind.

“I’m done with you, Reid.”

The hurt followed. “I’m done with you too.”

“No, you’re not. I’m done with your excuses, tired of you putting up obstacles because you’re scared. We’re all scared of committing, of loving someone who might leave or cheat or fall out of love. Hey, it happened to me. And yes, it happened to your mom and dad. But you and I aren’t them.”

“Maybe I am. Maybe I’m just like my dad.”

“You aren’t. You’re funny and sexy and sensitive. And so smart. I love you, you big idiot. I have for some time. But of course you had to overhear at the party, when I was in no condition to talk about my feelings.” She paused. “So you avoided me for days. Maybe I should do the same back to you. Leave you all tied up because of me.”

“So go.”

“You wouldn’t care?” She closed the distance between them and ran a long fingernail from his navel to his left nipple.

His dick bounced on his belly, his need for her fierce.

“I’d care, but you have to do what’s right for you.” He swallowed.

“So you’re not going to fight for me at all?”

He wanted to shout but instead gritted his teeth then said, “I’m not playing a fucking game. You want to go, go.”

“But I don’t want to leave you.” Her fingernail moved back down again, passing his belly button to graze his shaft. “I want to love you.”

He wanted to argue, but he’d missed her so much. “You have to really love me, Naomi. I can’t do maybes or not sures. I need to know.”

She didn’t answer, though he hadn’t expected her to. But he couldn’t have anticipated that she’d take him in her mouth and blow him until he lost his ever-loving mind.

As pent up as he was, it didn’t take long. All the light scratching with those nails, the way she rubbed her tits over his legs as she sucked him dry, had him coming so damn hard.

After he’d released down her throat, she pulled back and wiped her lips. “Hmm. How was that for convincing you?”

“I…I… Fuck. Naomi…”

“I plan to when you’re ready to go again, sweetie.”

He could only stare at her in awe, his goddess. “What if I say no?”

“Then I keep you and convince you to say yes.”

“Why me?” he asked, no longer playing.

Then neither was she. “You’re mine, Reid. You get me. You’re smart and funny and handsome and brutal. You protect what’s yours, and you love unconditionally. No matter how badly your parents treated you, you still loved them. And you’ve stuck by Cash through everything.

“I want that in my life. I need that. A man I can call my own, who’ll stand by me, and who I can love, respect, and trust. That’s you.”

“Naomi. Are you sure? Once you commit to me, that’s it.” His voice cracked. “You can’t take it back.”

The little boy appeared and disappeared as quickly, that vulnerable aspect of Reid all too aware he needed protection. He hated it, but he couldn’t help feeling that way.

“Oh, baby. I love you, Reid. With everything I have and am. What you see is what you get. I’m a neurotic overachiever with mommy issues.” She kissed him on the mouth, and he tasted himself on her lips.

Hope lightened him, but he tried not to give into it yet. “Well, I’m no prince. I have a temper, though I’m slow to boil. I love hard and deep, and it doesn’t go away. I’m loyal, but not like a dog. You kick me one too many times, and I’ll bite back. I have no family but Cash and Evan, well, and Aunt Jane too. But Naomi, Cash and I are a pair. Together. You can’t have me without him in our lives.”

“I know.” She stroked Reid’s hair and kissed him again. “He’s part of you. And he needs you. My family is full of can-do people. And I have a cat who sleeps around. Can you handle that?”

“I’m pretty sure I can.” Reid smiled. “One more thing.”

“Yes?”

He tugged at his restraints. “I don’t mind this, but I’d much rather tie you up and have my way with you. I’m getting there.” He glanced down at himself.

She smiled. “That could be arranged, I suppose.”

“What’ll it cost me?”

“Will you marry me, Reid? We’ll have a long engagement, but when I see something I want, I take it. And I want you.”

Reid stared. “You’re asking me to marry you while I’m tied up and naked?”

“Yep.” She sat by him and smiled. “And if you give me the right answer, I’ll let you make love to me all night long.”

“Hmm. I wonder. Do you want me to say yes or no?”

“A hint for you. I like my men easy.”

“A yes it is.” He grinned, so damn happy. And so confused at how she’d gotten him to give in so soon. “I was trying to be good and do the right thing by giving you space.”

“You were being a martyr for no good reason.”

He grinned. “Understood, ma’am.”

She laughed. “I love the way you salute, Marine.” She fondled him, and he sighed with pleasure.

“Great. Now before you untie me, how about you come sit on my face? Then I’ll tell you about the talk I plan to have with Tanner about leaving you alone. He can work with you, but he can’t fuck with your head. I’m civilized, but not that civilized.”

She shook her head. “You have nothing to worry about with him.”

“I know. And neither do you.”

She removed the nightie and crept over him, her curves and heat bathing him in lust and affection. “I love you, Reid Griffith.”

“Not half as much as I love you, Naomi Starr.” He felt himself come back to life, one heartbeat at a time. “Now be a good girl and sit on my face.”

“That’s my heart and flowers Marine.”

“Oh yeah.”

“I thought you guys said oorah.”

She climbed over him and sooner rather than later found out that oorah and oh yeah could sound very alike, depending on how one said it.

Sometime later, Reid hugged her to him, no longer restrained, and sniffed at her neck. Yep, the scent of his woman smelled oh so good. “So what do you think about changing your name to Naomi Griffith at some point?”

“Griffith PR?”

He cradled her to him, his precious fiancée. “Nah. Starr PR, headed by Naomi Griffith.”

“Hmm. I could grow to like it. But first a long engagement. We’re not rushing us, Reid.”

“Exactly. Though you wouldn’t be opposed to another sex marathon with your as-yet fiancé, would you?”

“I’m not an idiot.” She grinned at him, her blue eyes shining.

“No offense.”

“None taken.”

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