Chapter 12
Piper
My body feels everything from last night. I run all the time, but this ache in my muscles is so different. I stretch out, my arms above my head and my legs wide with my toes pointing forward. It feels so good, but I notice the bed is empty beside me. I open my eyes and look around the room. Standing at the foot of the bed with a cup of coffee in his hands is the sexiest man in existence. I’ve waited so long for him, fantasized, and dreamed of us. “See anything you like?”
“I love it all.”
“Why are you out of bed?” I whine a little.
“Because it’s almost eleven. I’m glad we’re off until the day after Christmas or we would be really late. Besides, I need to feed you before you get grumpy.”
“Finally learning,” I tease. Many of the nights we worked together he would catch my stomach growl. So he’d order something for us. After a while, he’d just have it ordered before we started working.
“Oh I learned, but the time used to slip past me because my mind was on you.”
I stand up and feel awkward that I don’t have panties on. “I need some clothes,” I tell him.
“I think you need fewer clothes,” he says with a smirk, raking his eyes over my body. A shiver of delight washes over me, and I feel it center over my core.
“Well, after you feed me, then you can undress me, but until then, I need some sort of bottoms. I’m feeling a little freer than I’d like to be.”
“Sure,” he says, walking into his closet and going into his drawers. He brings out a pair of boxers. He hands them over, and I slowly slide them up my body. His eyes don’t move away from what I’m doing. I’m glad my ass is round, or these would have to be rolled up a lot.
“Did you get enough or should I spin around?”
“I got enough for now. If I steal another look, we won’t make it downstairs.”
“Then let’s go. You know how moody I get when I don’t eat,” I remind him.
“That I do. You know I was so damn tempted to kiss you after you threw that file at me.”
“That’s a strange kind of kink,” I mock.
“No, it’s just overdue lust set off by your passion,” he grumbles, sliding his hands around my waist.
“Wow, I was really blind,” I say as I push away and head out of the bedroom and down the stairs. I don’t know where I’m going so I stop only to feel him wrap his arms around me.
“The kitchen is this way,” he whispers in my ear before kissing my neck. I take his hand, and he goes to the left. When he opens the door, I’m surprised how massive the kitchen is. It’s almost as big as my apartment.
“Do you cook a lot?”
“God no. Becca used to do all the cooking around here. She could tell you about my many attempts to make something. I had this made for her.”
“I hope she’ll like me.”
“She will, but if you can’t cook, then we can always order out or hire a chef.”
“I can cook. My grandma taught me almost everything she knows. Some secrets she’s taking to the grave. The woman is amazing in the kitchen.”
“I can’t wait to meet her and your grandfather. We should go there as soon as we can. I can get us a flight tomorrow.”
“They’re supposed to be coming here the day after Christmas. They’ve never been here, so I planned on showing them the magic of the city.”
“Great. Then they have to stay until new years because that’s when we’re getting married.”
“Really? You’ve already decided?” I ask, loving that he doesn’t want to put it off. I wanted to marry him for six months now. Less than two weeks seems like an eternity away.
“Well, I don’t want to wait. And well, you know I’m flying to Ireland to handle the company transition.”
“Oh, I forgot about that. How long will you be gone?”
“You mean…how long will we be gone? You’re coming with me. There’s no way I’m letting you out of my sight for even a day. I don’t ever want to go to bed alone again.” He cups my chin with his strong hand, his thumb brushes over my lip, pulling it down softly before he takes my breath away with a kiss so deep and consuming that I fall into his arms. My hands slide up his chest and over his strong shoulders, squeezing them just enough to feel his raw power. I’m so in love with him. Half a year of being hopelessly in love to finally have it all. I’d do anything to stay by his side. “Besides, you may be pregnant by then. Or at least I’m hoping so.”
“Me too. I can’t wait to have your babies.” I start digging through the fridge and getting what I need, but there are only half the ingredients and no butter or oil.
“Um…it looks like we need to eat out. How about we go to my apartment, and I change then we go somewhere to eat?”
“That works for me. I’m glad I didn’t rip your dress.” I start to go back upstairs only making it to the fourth step when he calls out, “Wait. Is your friend still there?”
I come back down then answer, “No, he sent a text. He split this morning and left my spare keys on the kitchen counter.”
“So what’s up with that. You and him?” I love how jealous he is, but he has nothing to be jealous of. I’m all his and only his. Sexy, silly man.
“Nothing more than friends. I swear. He has a crush on the same girl since we were in high school, but she moved away senior year and well, he hasn’t gotten over her.”
“Wow, I feel bad for him, but it’s great for me. Did he just come to visit you?”
“No, he was here to do some marketing for his ranch.”
“Really? Do you know where?”
“No. I didn’t bother to ask. Why?”
“My brother-in-law owns a marketing firm.”
“Oh well, oops. I can check with him later.”
“Okay, go get dressed.”
“Yeah, yeah. I’m going,” I say, rolling my eyes before marching back up the stairs. I put my clothes on and meet him in the living room.
“Damn you’re so beautiful,” he growls inching toward me.
“No, no, no. Keep your paws off me. I’m hungry.”
“Just one kiss,” he says, sliding one arm around my waist and dragging me hard to his chest. We share a deep kiss then he lets me go, and we head out.
***
We stopped on the way to my apartment at McDonald's and grabbed two breakfast sandwiches and coffee just to hold us over. The drive to my apartment takes about an hour. As soon as I get inside, I see the keys in a box of chocolate with a note. Hey Piper, thought you'd enjoy a little chocolate. I'm going to miss you have a happy Christmas and tell your man that if he fucks up, I'm coming for him. Best wishes Donovan.
I hand over the note to James who looks a bit too interested. "Okay baby go get dressed so we can go,” he says with a chuckle.
It takes me about fifteen minutes, but I manage to get dressed and ready to go before James has to come in and drag me out. I put on a pair of jeans and a cute sweater perfect for the holiday season. I can't believe I got my Christmas wish early. But when I step out, he's on the phone, and his face looks grim. He hangs up with a “Thank you, and I'll take care of it.”
What's wrong?" I ask, catching his attention.
"It seems that we weren’t Dow’s first victims yesterday. The police went to search his house and found his wife beaten and the kids crying and hungry. She was taken to the hospital, and they say she's going to be fine. Feel like this is all my fault,” he huffs out the last part.
I step up and hug him. He wraps his arms around me, holding tightly. "It's not. I'm guessing this is probably not the first time he's hit her. He has that way about him that makes me think. He’s used to doing things that aren’t right. Do you think we should go down there and see her and check on the kids?" I ask, wondering if we can fix some of the damage he caused.
He bends down and kisses me hard and fast then smile and says, "God I love you. It's exactly what I was thinking. Christmas is a few days away, and I've just fucked it up for them."
I shake my head, but I can’t blame him for feeling this way. Dow was harassing me, so he got the axe. "I'm telling you. You didn't do anything but the right thing. What were you supposed to do?"
He shrugs and steps away. "I don't know, but maybe I should have checked on his family."
I reach for his hand and stop his movements. "And what? Tell them the real reason he got fired? I bet he lied to her about why he got canned. Probably said some company restructuring thing."
"Well at least we can do is try to help."
“Yes, that’s all I’m saying.”