EFFA
Mercs weakly smiles as Kiera looks over at him, but says nothing. He looks down at me and shakes his head. “She was probably emotional about something. Seeing us all here might have brought up some old crap, but that’s not for us to worry about. She’s of no concern to us. All I care about is getting you back home and in bed… resting.” He smirks.
He definitely knows more than he’s letting on. But I’m sure he doesn’t want to talk about it in front of Kiera, or he doesn’t want to talk about it… period. Either way, I’m going to let it go for now. “Okay, let’s go home. Kiera’s had a big night, her eyes must be hurting.”
Kiera snorts and glances to me scrunching up her face. “Huh?”
“I think Raoul must have holes burned through him with all the staring you were doing tonight, girl!” I tease and she giggles.
“Shut up! He’s totally into me—”
“Fucking hell,” Mercs murmurs under his breath as he walks with us down the street toward the house as I giggle along with Kiera.
“Anyway can’t a girl have a little fun? He’s only in town for a short while then he’ll be gone. Think of it as a fling Kaden, not as a boyfriend you’ll have to watch over and beat up when he wrongs me,” Kiera jests making me grin so wide as Mercs rolls his eyes.
“If he touches you, I will Taser his balls! I am not kidding.”
Kiera bursts out laughing. I run my hand up his chest cuddling into him. “I like this protective side of you, Mercs, it’s kinda turning me on,” I joke leaning up and kissing his cheek, as Kiera grunts and detaches herself from her brother screwing up her face.
“Ewww, too much… too much…” She moves ahead of us.
The house is on the same street as the pub, so we walked. Gran isn’t too far behind us, as I look back to see her casually strolling along.
I cuddle into Mercs’ side, placing my arm in with his as we walk. It’s a nice night, the moonlight shining in silver streaks through the sassafras trees that line the streets. The gentle chirp of cicadas echoing through the silent air as a soft breeze tickles my skin. The mild fall time chill in the air sends my senses into overdrive as I snuggle closer into Mercs for warmth, not just for temperature but for comfort. Being with Mercs makes me feel safe, cared for, wanted. He makes me feel loved. And I adore that feeling.
He looks down at me with a soft smile and leans in kissing my temple. “You doing okay? The walk isn’t too much?”
“I’m fine, honestly. But you need to stop teasing Kiera.”
“Who’s teasing? I’m fucking serious. She shouldn’t be lusting over a guy in her condition.”
“Kaden, she’s sick. She should be spending her time doing whatever she wants, living life to the fullest, not being cautious and reserved. She needs to live every day to the max. Don’t you think? Have no regrets.”
A definite shudder runs over his body, and he swallows hard. I know that look. He’s thinking the worst. I didn’t mean to bring it to this point. So, I quickly change the subject. “Hey, how about when we get back, you take me to bed? I’m tired and want to lay in your arms for a while. Can we do that?”
“Yeah. Sounds like the best idea I’ve heard all night.”
We reach the steps of his home, Kiera’s already beaten us there, unlocked the front door and made her way inside the house. We step up the front porch and inside to see Kiera has already taken residence in the living room and plonked herself down on the baby blue sofa as she pulls the white throw rug over herself settling in for the night. The television flicks on to re-runs of The Big Bang Theory, and I chuckle remembering that was what she was watching when I first met her.
Gran enters the house and shuts the door behind her as we head for the stairs. “What a lovely evening,” she calls out, and I smile and turn to face her.
“It really was. Thank you so much for letting me stay here with you guys, Gran. It means so much.”
She waves her hand through the air walking toward us and steps in front of me with a smile. “Nonsense, I wouldn’t have you stay anywhere else. When Kaden rang and asked if it was a good idea to bring you and your crew down here, I thought it was the best idea in the world. We love having you here, sweetheart. Now you need to rest and recover. That’s the main aim in all of this.”
“Yes, exactly, and you’ve had a big day. So, let’s get you up to bed. Thanks for everything, Gran. We’ll see you in the morning,” Mercs urges leaning forward and kissing Gran on the cheek.
“Goodnight my loves.”
“Night, sis,” Mercs calls out, but Kiera doesn’t answer or move on the sofa. I think she’s already asleep.
Smiling as I look at her, I grab Mercs’ hand as we head up the stairs toward his room. He’s quiet, but I guess he would be. He’s had a big day too. As we approach his room he opens the door for me, I walk in and over to the bed plonking myself down on his mattress. The softness is like heaven beneath my butt, and I let out a small groan of delight. He chuckles as he moves over to our luggage and starts to forage about for our nightwear.
“So… Lilah,” I murmur.
He halts his movements briefly but then continues, pulling out my lace nightgown. Moving over, he sits down on the bed beside me and shakes his head. “I don’t want to fucking talk about her… ever.”
I snort and grab my gown from his hands placing it beside me as I move my hands to my top to pull it over my head. “We have to talk about her… sometime. She was a big part of your life.”
“But she isn’t a part of my life anymore, nor will she ever be again. Effa you’re my life now, so why bring her into it?”
Placing my shirt on the bed, I nod and reach around to unclip my bra. I can’t help but notice his eyes shift to my breasts as they reveal themselves. “Are you going to tell me what happened with you and her at the pub tonight?”
He stills and runs his hand through his short hair. “I might have had some choice words with her.”
Smirking, I raise my brow as I stand to face him and unbutton my shorts. “Might have?”
He looks me up and down, I choose to ignore the slight bulge in his jeans as he rearranges his crotch and focuses his eyes on mine. “She came to me in the hall and starting mouthing off about you and the rest of the gang bringing drugs into town. I set her straight. Told her you didn’t overdose but were drugged, and then politely told her to… go away.”
Bursting out laughing, I slide my shorts down my legs, kicking off my ballet flats. “So she was crying and rushed out of the pub because you were… polite to her?”
His hands move out embracing my hips, the warmth in his hands ignites a fire inside me as I chuckle looking down at him. “Effa,” he warns.
“Mmhmm?” I murmur stepping closer to him.
“Get dressed before I can’t help myself.” His fingers slide up and down my hips as I lean forward and grab the thin lace. The short gown slips over my head and positions itself against my skin. His hands are still on me, under the nightgown as he pulls me forward. I gasp as I fall, my legs dropping either side of him on the bed, so I’m straddling him. My chest lining up with his face as I look down.
A deep throaty growl erupts from him, his hardness pressing into my pussy from beneath his jeans as he looks up into my eyes. “You’re supposed to be resting, that’s the only reason I’m not going to take this further with you tonight. But don’t think I don’t want to. I want you. So bad. But the time will come, Effa, when you’ll be screaming my name again... I will make sure of it.” He leans up, his hand leaving my side, running up my back and into my hair. Mercs’ fingers lace through the tendrils as he clenches his fist pulling my head down to his, his lips attacking mine forcefully with such need it knocks the wind from me. A tingle shoots all the way through me, and I love he still has the power to do this to me. Every. Single. Time.
Grinding my pussy down onto his cock, I groan into his mouth as his tongue dances with mine. Taking possession of me for the first time since I woke from the coma. His kiss is hungry, full of need, full of want. It’s nice to know his desire for me hasn’t waned. His teeth grab hold of my bottom lip clenching down on it, not hard, but forcefully enough to send a jolt of pleasurable pain right through my body as I clench my eyes tighter in desire. My hands run up into his hair as I rock on him, grinding myself into his crotch as he moves back in, kissing me full of passion.
His hand grips tighter in my hair, while his other firms on my hip and suddenly he stands, lifting me. I squeal as he flips me over and lands on top of me as he throws me to the bed. Both of us bouncing as we fall to the mattress. I giggle against his lips as he continues to kiss me, his body moving in between my legs as I wrap mine around his waist as he nestles in on top of me. I like where this is headed, but he seems to be slowing the kiss. He pulls his head from mine and looks down into my eyes, his hand coming to the side and wiping a strand of hair away from my face in a more subdued, tender moment.
“You need to rest!” He sighs as he leans in kissing the tip of my nose.
I huff and run my fingers through his hair as we stare at each other. “We’re really going to stop this?” I ask, and he smiles at me.
“Yes, we are. Because you’ve only been out of a coma for a week, and I won’t be responsible for delaying your recovery. So, no… no sex tonight—”
“But what if I just lay here and let you do all the work? I won’t exert myself… promise,” I tease and he groans as he hoists himself up and off me.
I frown exaggeratedly as he jumps up from the bed pulling his shirt up over his head. His abs looking in fine form as his tattoos stand out against his barely tanned flesh. “Just get in the bed already, Miss Trouble Maker.”
“You’re no fun,” I berate only half joking.
He chuckles pulling down his jeans as I slide into the bed. “Stop it, or I’ll have to punish you.”
Opening my eyes wide I smile. “Oh, promises promises.”
He slides into the bed next to me. “I can’t fucking win with you woman,” he grumbles as he moves in beside me pulling me into his arms.
Resting my head on the nook of his shoulder and neck, I take a deep breath. “Nope, I’m too headstrong. You’ll never win with me, Kaden, best to just admit defeat now while you can.”
His hand moves in to caress up and down my arm in a soothing way, and I smile at our closeness. I like this, in his childhood bed, in his hometown, us, together. It’s nice. It’s how it should be.
“Babe, I’m the fucking winner here… I have you, you’re alive, and we’re together. There’s no defeat in that.”
My stomach flutters and my chest swells with pride as I glance up at him, a huge grin on my face. “Well, fuck! When did you become a sweet softy?” I ask, and his lip turns up in a sly smile.
“Never!”
I chuckle and shake my head, grabbing his hand and placing it on my boob making him smirk as he squeezes, massaging it tenderly.
“Mmhmm, keep telling yourself that, lover boy… while you play with my boob,” I demand and he chuckles tweaking my nipple through my lace.
“You know, I think I’m gonna like having you here.”
I snort and raise my brow. “Well, I should hope so, you’re kinda stuck with me.”
He nuzzles his nose into my hair. “Good. Now sleep.”
“You’re so bossy,” I tease.
“Deal with it. Sleep. Now!”
Smiling, I look up at him and lean in pressing my lips to his tenderly. That all too familiar spark filters through me as I kiss him. I nuzzle back down and get comfortable ready for sleep. Pulling the covers up over me for warmth, there’s a chill in the night air, and the comforter is just what I need to keep me warm.
“Goodnight, Kaden.” I kiss his chest and close my eyes as he wraps himself around me. The bedroom light flicks off, and my muscles relax feeling at ease. I love this place and feel like if I ever wanted to settle down somewhere here in the States, Ligonier could be the right place for me.
A heat so scorching hot devours me, invading every inch of my body. I gasp for air as I open my eyes wide needing some semblance of coolness to drown out the heat. I pull back from Mercs, I’m dripping with sweat as I throw back the covers and groan. I have no idea what the time is, but the room is dark, letting me know it’s still night as a slight trickle of moonlight slides in from behind the curtain.
Mercs shifts, turning with a slight grunt to open his eyes and look at me. “Hey… you okay?” he asks.
I sit up and fan myself with my hands. Shaking my head, I wipe my brow and puff out a gust of air. “Is it hot in here?” I ask, and he rolls on to his side facing me and furrows his brows.
“Umm… no. It’s actually freezing.” He sits up next to me and places his hand on my forehead as if he’s taking my temperature and screws up his face pulling his hand back. “You’re dripping with sweat.”
“I know, it’s freaking boiling in here,” I clip standing up from the bed. I begin pacing around the room trying to get some much-needed air as I pull back and forth on my gown to fan my body.
Mercs stands from the bed and moves to the window opening it, and I breathe a sigh of relief when a slight breeze wafts in from outside. “Oh, praise Gaia….” I move over to the window standing in front of it as Mercs looks me over suspiciously.
“Do you think you’re getting sick?” he asks, running his hand up and down my arm as he looks all over me cautiously.
Shaking my head, I turn up my nose. “I don’t think so. I don’t have a sore throat or anything. I’m just crazy hot, almost like a wave of heat flashed over me. It’s the strangest thing. Though, I am starting to cool down now.”
He nods and swallows. I look at his skin seeing it prickled in goosebumps. Furrowing my brows, I shake my head. “Are you cold?”
He weakly smiles. “It’s the middle of the night, in Fall, and I’m only wearing briefs. It’s a little chilly, baby. You gotta admit a hot flash right now is a bit strange.”
Tilting my head, I let out a small huff as I chew on my bottom lip. “Probably just something to do with my recovery. I’ll call the specialist tomorrow. I’m sure it’s nothing. Go… jump back into bed. I’ll come back when I’m cool enough. Don’t want you catching something.”
He screws up his face. “I’m not going to leave you here, Eff.”
I roll my eyes. “I’m like five feet away from you. I can cool down by the window, and you can warm up in bed. Please, I’ll just worry about you if you don’t.”
He sighs but leans in kissing my temple as he spins and heads back to the bed. He climbs in but sits up under the covers watching me intently. I stand by the window letting the cool night air waft over my skin, the breeze tickling the hairs on my arms as I let it cool me down from the heat that overtook me. I’m not sure what the hell caused it, but I know it wasn’t normal. It has to be something to do with the anoxic brain injury. Either way, I’ll have to talk to the specialist tomorrow, to make sure it’s nothing to be concerned about.
I’m sure everything’s fine, but better to be safe than sorry. Right?