Lori

"I get now why planners charge three times their normal rate for celebrity events. It's because you do three times the work," I told Hailey the second she picked up. I was driving home from the birthday party, and she'd asked me to call after the event was over. "But it was exciting."

"Exciting enough to do it again?"

"Absolutely. But I'm going to rethink my rates."

I'd been running around like a crazy person ever since I took on the event. I'd realized this birthday party would be more work than even a wedding from the first meeting. By the time they changed the theme for the third time, I understood why the previous planner had bailed. I wouldn't lie; the thought crossed my mind too. But I didn't want to put Hailey in a bad position, and I made a point of seeing through what I started. Besides, if I wanted to work more celebrity events, I had to get used to the grind. Now, however, I was ready to sleep for a week.

"Do that. I told Cameron you've given us an introductory rate anyway, so he's going to expect a price raise."

"Okay. Thanks."

"I'm so happy I found this job, Lori. I'd forgotten what it was like to actually live in my house. I'm planning some changes around here."

"Oh?"

"A new coat of paint. A shoe closet."

"Wanna organize a Connor day at your house? We can bring sandwiches and do a group job of it."

"Nah, job is not that big. Though I was thinking about calling our brothers. Not sure which one to torture." 

"How about all three?"

"Oh, you're giving me dangerous ideas."

"That's what older sisters are for. What are you up to tonight?"

"Netflix and a glass of wine. Not like others, who've got a sexy man waiting for them at home. Enjoy him."

"Oh, I will. And I plan to be very thorough about it."

I arrived at home shortly after finishing the conversation with my sister. Just seeing Graham's car parked in front of my house made my insides flutter, even though it scared me how much this felt like we were a family. What scared me even more was how much I wanted it. 

When I opened the front door, my jaw dropped. There was a tent in my living room. A tent. I swept my gaze around the room, almost afraid of what else I'd find, and my chest warmed when I saw both Graham and Milo sprawled on the couch, sleeping. They looked so cute that I wanted to wake them up just to snuggle them. Tiptoeing around the room, I started picking up some toys that were sprawled around.

"You're back," Graham whispered, startling me. He glanced at Milo, who seemed sound asleep. "Let's not wake him."

"I'll carry him to his room," Graham offered. Milo slept like a rock while Graham took him in his arms. We tucked him in together, then returned to the living room, where I came face-to-face with the tent again.

"How did this happen?" I inquired.

"Simba's."

"Oh, God. What else did you buy?"

"Just superhero figurines and the tent. And a truck... and a fire truck." He was so sexy, walking barefoot around my house. His jeans were low on his hips, and a white T-shirt with short sleeves covered his torso. It was the kind he wore under his shirts—snug enough for every delicious inch of him to be on display. I had a prime view of his mouth-watering oblique muscles. Devouring him had to wait, though.

"You have to learn to tell him no. He's playing you."

"I know. But by the time I realized it, it was too late. And where's the fun in saying no?"

"So how much fun did you have, exactly?"

"We went crazy at Simba's, came back to build the tent, did some math homework, and went for ice cream."

"Wait, math?"

"Yup. Had to search for tutorials on the Internet. Haven't felt so stupid since I failed introductory engineering in college. But the Internet saved my ass."

Wow. I was too stunned to say anything more than, "Thanks for spending time with him."

"I loved it."

"Well, now I am going to look after you."

I felt him wrap his arms around me from behind. He spun me around until we were facing each other. I rose on my tiptoes and kissed his chin. On a feisty whim, I scratched him with my teeth a bit. Graham pulled back, then crushed his mouth to mine. I couldn’t even begin to describe the feelings I had for this man, but I planned to show him, and to make him as happy as possible.

"I'm so lucky to have you and Milo in my life," he whispered in between kisses. That caught me off guard because as far as I was concerned, it was the other way around.

"That's true for us too."

Graham had slipped so easily into our lives that I was afraid he'd slip out just as easily, and my feelings for him were stronger every day. I'd never stood a chance. Who would? Look at those dimples, and the baby blue eyes. And that smile, huh? Who wouldn't fall for that? Well, I hoped that no one other than me did, because I was not going to share him. Nope, Graham Frazier was all for me. Anyone wanting a piece of him would see me in full catfight mode. I went to set my phone on airplane mode, so no messages from bridezillas or other customers would interrupt our time together. I groaned when I noticed an e-mail from Jeff.

From: Jeff Finn

To: Lori Connor

I’m in LA next week. Let’s meet for dinner.

“What’s wrong?” Graham asked. I showed him the e-mail, and his nostrils flared when he read it. 

“I’m going to give a friend of mine a quick call, okay? She’s a lawyer and I want her take on this.”

He nodded curtly. I felt him pace the room while I called my friend Bridget, expelling a relieved breath when she answered. In quick words, I told her about Jeff’s past e-mails, and asked if she thought meeting with him was a bad idea.

"In my experience, these types of calls come when the party is regretful or looking to make amends. I think you should meet him and keep an open mind."

“An open mind?” It sounded easy in theory, but he’d hurt us both so much.

“Yes. Go to that meeting; see what he wants.”

"Okay, I'll arrange a meeting via e-mail. The least contact I have with him, the better."

"Let me know if there is anything else I can do."

After hanging up, I tossed the phone on my couch and massaged my temples. Graham was watching me intently.

"Lori?"

"My lawyer thinks I should meet with Jeff."

I paced around the living room, trying to shake off the growing unease.

"Lori, talk to me. I want to know what's going through your mind right now."

"I don't even know."

"What are you afraid of?" he asked softly.

"What if he's interested in Milo after all this time? Could he take him away?"

Logically, the fear was irrational. But I wasn't feeling rational. I was scared.

"No! Hell no, he couldn't. We wouldn't let that happen."

We.

"I mean, he's never even paid child support, so I can hold that over his head."

"I'm coming with you to meet him. We'll go together and see what he has to say."

"That isn't a good idea. You don't know each other."

"So what? When someone bothers my girlfriend, I want to be by her side. Unless you don't think I belong there." Graham's eyes were steely with determination, his jaw clenched. God, the last thing I wanted was to hurt him.

"Of course you belong there."

He looked at me like I was his to protect. Like he wouldn't take no for an answer. He came right up to me, wrapping me in those strong arms. Feeling him pressed up to me melted away some of that anxiety.

"We'll go together," I said.

He tightened his arms around me and brought his mouth down on me. His tongue teased my lips, and I parted them instantly, welcoming his heat. The contact electrified me to the tips of my fingers and toes. I braced my palms on his broad shoulders, then smoothed them down his chest, tracing the dents between his muscles. Would I ever be able to be around him and not touch him shamelessly? All evidence suggested the answer was hell no.

"I have something for you," he murmured when we came up for air.  He let me go, went to the foyer, and returned with a calendar. I held out my grabby hands when I realized it was the team's calendar.

"Gimme, gimme. I didn't know it was out. Which month is yours?"

"March."

I flipped to March, and my knees went weak. He looked absolutely mouth-watering. With his shirt off, held in one hand over his shoulder in a casual way. His chin was dipped slightly, his gaze cast in the distance.

I groaned. "Now the whole country will know how hot you are."

"No worries, baby. You're the only one who can touch me."

"I should get started on that, right? Why salivate at the photo when I have the model in front of me?"

"As I said, I like how your mind works."

I took one last look at the calendar before tucking it away on a bookshelf. I smiled when I felt Graham's hands on my hips, turning me around to face him.

He took my face in his hands, whispering, “I love you, baby.”  

***

Graham

I felt her tense, and my gut clenched. I hadn't premeditated saying it, but now that I did, I didn't want to take the words back. But my gut clenched tighter when Lori looked at me with uncertainty. Had this been too fast? Damn it, that was how I felt, and I saw no reason to hold back. I took it as a good sign that she wasn't pushing me away, but I didn't like the stiffness in her posture. "You're amazing, and I feel so close to you that I don't want to be without you."

"That's so sweet." She swallowed, and I could swear I felt her becoming tinier by the second, like she was folding in on herself. I kissed her hard, hoping she felt the same way about me. I wanted her love—I needed it. There were no two ways about it.

"Can you say it again?" she whispered when I moved my lips to her cheek.

It dawned on me that she wasn't used to hearing the words—at least not from anyone she wasn't related to.

"I love you, Lori Connor." I peppered her neck with kisses. "You deserve to be loved." I moved to her cheek, and repeated, "You deserve to be loved." I took a deep breath and went on. "If you don't feel the same, I don't want to rush you. I'm okay with whatever you can give me right now. But I at least want to know if you imagine you could love me one day."

I wasn't sure what I'd do if she said no. Part of me wanted to take anything she had to give me, but if she didn't see this going where I did....

"I do love you. I just... I hadn't expected this."

She ensnared me in the circle of her arms, crushing her lips to mine. Something seemed to expand in my chest as relief and joy overwhelmed me. I felt Lori smile against my lips while I was kissing her, like she couldn't contain herself. Life couldn't get better than this. She loved me. I wanted our lives to be so entwined that she'd never be able to shake me off. I thought I couldn't get involved emotionally anymore, but I'd been wrong.

"Hey, want to see my bedroom?" she whispered. We were still standing in the living room, wrapped in each other.

"You want to take advantage of me, Ms. Connor?"

"Why, no. Of course not. I'm a lady. I was rather hoping you'd take advantage of me, Mr. Frazier."

We broke out in laughter. Lori tried to shush us.

"We'll wake up Milo."

We did our best to keep our voices down as we hurried to her bedroom.

"Wow!" she exclaimed once I'd closed the door. I'd arranged scented candles throughout the room. Fishing the lighter out of my pocket, I lit up each one, then turned off the lights.

"Any other surprises planned?" Lori asked in a husky voice.

"Lie down and you'll see."

She tilted her head. "Want me naked?"

"Very naked. And on your belly."

I watched her take off her dress and underwear then remove the cover on the bed. She cocked a brow at the large beach towel I'd laid out.

"Lie down on the towel on your belly," I instructed.

When she was flat on the bed, I took out the massage oil from the nightstand, poured some in my palms, and then worked her upper back, pressing on her shoulder blades. Then I moved onto the middle her back, rubbing along her spine. 

"Mmm... you're so good at this. Why do you have to be so good?"

"To drive you crazy."

"When did you think all this up?"

I lowered my hands to her ass, kneading each cheek with great care.

"Last week, when you were running around on adrenaline. Thought you could use some relaxing once it was over."

"Are you even real?" she whispered.

I slipped a finger between her folds until I reached her clit, to prove how real it all was. She gasped.

"How was the event?"

"You want me to talk now?" she protested.

"Why? Is something distracting you?"

I pushed her ass in the air and strummed my fingers on her clit. When she bit into her pillow, I undid the buttons of my jeans. Watching pleasure consume her was the best foreplay. She came so hard that her entire body spasmed. 

I held her until she calmed down, then flipped her on her back. I was so hot for her that I could barely see straight, so I kicked off my clothes and underwear. Lying on top of her, I explored her mouth. I was controlling the kiss, and in the slow dance of our tongues, I showed her how I was going to love her tonight. She fidgeted, rubbing her soft skin against me.

I turned my attention to her breasts, flicking my tongue over one nipple, then the other. The skin on her breasts turned to goose bumps. Her arms were covered too. I slid my hands to cup her ass and found some there as well.

"Do you have goose bumps on your pussy too, babe?"

"Why don't you check?" she rasped out.

The answer was a resounding yes.

"Graham," she whispered when I descended to explore her body. I brought a hand to her pussy, and my eyes crossed when I felt how wet she was. I feathered my thumb in circles over her clit, feeling her press her feet deep in the mattress. She pressed her forearm over her mouth, but I still heard her groan. 

"Oh, God. Graham." Her muffled voice set me on edge. I was dying to be inside her, but I wanted a taste first, so I settled my head between her legs, focusing on her clit with my tongue and my thumb.

Lick. Stroke. Lick. Stroke.

I licked her until her legs trembled, and then I couldn't wait anymore. But when I reached to the nightstand for protection, Lori shifted into a sitting position.

"Not yet."

She gripped my erection, and my hips buckled. Lori took her hand away, clamping her lips around the tip then lowering her mouth on me.

"Lori, fuuuck. Stop or I won't last."

She showed no signs of stopping, but I pulled back when my balls tightened almost painfully. I slid protection on and then positioned myself between her legs, teasing her by rubbing the crown against her inner thigh. Pleasure pulsed through me, and I wasn't even inside her.

"Graham, please."

I moved the tip down to her entrance, sliding it in an inch before pulling back and dragging it up to her clit. Lori brought both hands to her breasts, touching her nipples. I leaned over and licked where she'd touched. At the same time, I buried myself inside her to the hilt.

She gasped. "Graham, I need—"

"I know what you need."

She was tight and warm around me, and I knew I wouldn't be able to go slow. We both needed it hard and fast. She pressed her heels just under my ass cheeks as we both moved ferociously. We kissed each other's groans until the very end. In that moment, I wasn't sure I even knew my own name, let alone if we'd been loud or not.

We held onto each other until our ragged breaths turned to laughter. Lori pressed her forehead against my shoulder, speaking into my chest.

"That was intense," she murmured between fits of laughter.

"You could say that."

After we cleaned up, we slipped under the covers, and I could tell Lori was going to fall asleep in a matter of minutes. I, on the other hand, felt wide-awake. She blinked slowly, clearly making an effort not to drift away.

Kissing the tip of her nose, I said, "Go to sleep, Lori."

"Aren't you tired?"

"No."

I shifted her so that she could use my chest as a pillow. She sighed contentedly, shifting even more, half straddling me. 

"I've always had troubles falling asleep," she murmured. "But not when I'm with you."

"Then go to sleep. I'll hold you."

She was out in seconds, and her shallow breath was tickling my chest. This, right here, was all I needed to be a happy man.