Six months later
Emerson
“What about this?” I turn to look back over my shoulder just as Shannon holds up a lacy black negligee. “Or is it trashy?” Nic’s sister inquires.
“What part, the crotchless underwear or tassels on the boobs?” I try not to laugh at Gianna’s analysis but it is impossible the minute Shannon turns it around to face her, and her eyes grow wide.
“How did I miss that?” She begins twisting the piece from side to side just before wrinkling her nose in disgust and holding it out to Gia. “Here, this is more your style.”
I lose it, laughing my head off. Gianna takes it, shrugs, and tosses it into the small basket before her. “You’re right, Spence will love it. Easy access and all that.”
Shannon shakes her head as she goes back to scanning the racks for the perfect outfit. She’s been dating Detective Miller for close to four months. At first, big brother didn’t much care for the idea that his partner and friend was sleeping with his sister, but I ran interference until he learned to accept it.
Shannon has quickly become one of my best friends too, as well as Gianna. I adore her and her relationship with her brother. I’ve also grown quite close to Nic’s mother. She treats me as though I am her own, and I’ll admit I love having that mother figure in my life. I never had that motherly bond, but got that very thing from Nic's mom more in the last six months than the first twenty-four years of my life. For the first time in my life, I have a family, one that is so extended it feels never-ending.
“Okay,” Shannon says as she turns around once more to face me, now holding a light blue piece of lingerie. “This one has no tassels, the underwear is complete, and it seems more my speed.” She holds it out before her and I have to admit she is right. It is a babydoll nightie with matching panties. It is sheer, but only in the right places. A silk ribbon runs across the front just beneath the bodice and ties in the back.
“Very classy,” I tell her, and her smile widens.
“What about you?” she asks stepping toward me. “Have you found anything to bring my brother to his knees?”
I feel my cheeks heat as I try to hide the item I hold in my hand. I think I’m in the clear until Gianna reaches around me and snatches it from my hands. “Well, look what we have here.”
I blush another shade darker. I am sure my cheeks are the color of ripe tomatoes at this point.
“Hmm,” Shannon adds and I peek through my hair that has fallen around my face to find her looking over toward Gia. “I’ll admit, I didn’t think you had it in ya, but hey.”
“This one has it all,” Gianna includes as she continues to examine the piece she holds. “Crotchless, no tassels, but this little touch of leather sure adds a certain feel. And the garters—they scream ‘get over here and take me, you sexy detective’ for sure.”
“Give it to me.” I hold out my hand.
“What?” she challenges me. “I think Detective Vaughn has turned you into the wild child I was always trying to. I’m sorta proud of you right now."
“Now.” I ignore her as I wiggle my fingers out, indicating I want the garment.
“Shannon, you may want to cover your ears for just a second.”
“What, why?” she asks, stepping up behind me and looking over my shoulder at Gianna.
“Because I’m about to ask Emerson some filthy explicit things about your brother and I’m assuming there are some things you don’t want to know about him.”
“Yeah,” she steps back, “you’re right. Love ya Em, I do, but I’m out.”
I smile as she backs away with her hands held high in surrender. I turn back to face Gianna just as she holds out the sexy number I chose with a massive smile on her face. “I’m so glad you found Nic.” I expect her to ask me something dirty and intimate but instead she looks at me with glossy eyes and sincerity. “He loves you so much, and nothing makes me happier than to see you finally get the guy that I know without a doubt is going protect you forever.”
I feel my emotions rise within me.
“You too,” I tell her because she had once lived with a man who took her for granted. Now here she was giving love a second chance, and in my opinion, she found a winner, too.
“We’re both pretty lucky, huh?” She wraps her arm over my shoulder as she turns me toward the register. “Let’s get outta here and get home to our men.”
* * *
“Babe?” The sound of Nic’s deep masculine voice echoes down the hall and into the bedroom. I am just inside, leaning up against the wall, fully decked out in my alluring outfit. My hands shake with both nervousness and excitement.
I am unsure if this is the right choice because let's face it, I am more of a t-shirt and boy shorts type of girl. Yes, I wore cute skimpy panties and matching bras, but I’ve never worn something like I’m wearing now.
But, I also never had a man to wear skimpy outfits for either.
I look up when I hear him say my name once more just as he steps into the open doorway of our room. He scans the room and the moment his eyes land on me, I see them widen just a fraction. He doesn’t move toward me, but instead crosses his arms over his chest and leans his shoulder to the doorframe at his side.
“Hi.” I push off the wall, feeling adrenaline course through me. “How was your day?” I take extra care to ensure I don’t stumble as I try my best to be alluring.
“It was okay.” I notice how his hands fist before slowly releasing. “But I’m thinking it’s about to get a whole lot better.”
“You like?” I ask as I pause and turn my body just enough to give him the full view from side to back and back to front again. “Just a little something I picked up today.” Looking at him through the hair that has fallen around my shoulders, I find him gripping the doorframe, almost like he is fighting the urge to charge forward.
“Like.” He shrugs, giving me back a little of the teasing I am offering.
“Well, I could change.” I flip my hair as I reach up to push it back behind my shoulder. In the process, I extend my chest out and his nostrils flare. “If you’d like me too.”
“No.” I almost laugh at the strenuous way his voice says the word. “It’s good, we’re good.” He nods. The muscles in the side of his neck flex, and his hand slides down along the trim around the door.
I lift my hand, placing my finger against the exposed skin between my breasts and carefully trace over it, his eyes following my movements. “Wasn’t sure if you’d be too tired to…” I pause, loving the way his throat bobs as he swallows hard.
“Not tired,” he ensures me, and I can’t control the smile that creeps over my lips. “I suddenly feel very, very awake.”
I lower my gaze and his hand follows, just as he places his palm over his growing erection and pushes downward. Then he is moving, one long stride after another until he is standing less than a foot away from me. Tilting my head back, I look up into his lust-filled eyes and adding to the moment, I trace over my lower lip with my tongue.
Immediately he grips the back of my neck, pulling me forward with purpose, covering my mouth with his. With hungry, maddening kisses one after the other, he wastes no further time.
I work his belt loose and lower his zipper, but the idea of releasing him from his boxers is lost when I feel him slide his hand around my back and reach forward between my legs. The second his finger grazes over my wetness I feel my knees weaken.
“I love this,” he assures me just before he pushes the tip of his finger inside me. “Nothing stopping me from touching you right here.” Sliding farther into me, he bites my lower lip and thrusts his hips forward.
“Fucking perfect,” he growls, and before I can say anything in return, he is gripping my waist and lifting me. Using the weight of his body, he pins me to the wall behind us, and I immediately wrap my legs around his waist for extra support.
“You make me crazy, baby.” I love when his movements grow demanding, and his actions quicken. It is the need I know he holds at that moment that makes me feel so alive, like he can’t wait to touch me, like if he had to wait for a second longer he’d lose his mind.
I lift my hips enough for him to continue to pull his cock free just before he finds my wetness. I take away his effort to enter me when I slam down, taking him entirely inside as I moan his name. It isn’t lost on me that we have foregone a condom, but at this point it no longer matters. I am protected, but if by some chance it falters I would only be given yet another piece of this man who I love uncontrollably.
“Fuck.” He bites my shoulder as he grips my hips tighter and uses them as leverage to shift my body up and down against his own. With each thrust, I feel the tension inside me grow. My head grows hazy and though I hear his husky whisper saying words over and over in my ear, I can’t comprehend them fully. It feels too amazing; we feel too good.
* * *
I can’t keep the laughter hidden any longer as I lift my head from the floor to look around at the space we just destroyed. The sheets and blankets that were once on the bed are now in a wadded pile on the floor. Pillows were strewn all over in the heat of the moment along with a lamp that had once been on the nightstand near the bed. It was now lying on its side. Well, more like upside down, really.
“What’s so funny?”
I look in Nic’s direction and find him lying flat on the floor at my side, naked. His head is turned to the side, but his voice still sounds muffled from the way his mouth presses against the carpet.
“I think we broke the lamp,” I say. He only shrugs, still unmoving. “Did we break you too?”
“Not broken,” he corrects, “just completely satisfied.”
I don’t press more because I know exactly what he meant. But it isn’t only that I am sexually satisfied, it is so much more. I am complete.
My father was sentenced to spend the next thirty years in prison. He did make one attempt to reach me during his trial, but I ignored his request. I want nothing to do with him or that life. So much has changed because I finally feel like I found the real me.
I am able to do a lot of volunteer work, both with the younger and older crowd. I go to the children’s center once a week and the retirement home every Tuesday and Thursday. I’ve also taken a part-time position as the coordinator of events for the city. It isn’t about the money, not anymore. Nic has a way of making me feel good with every little thing I do, and he ensures I have the freedom to do the things I love.
He was right when he told me six months ago that I was moving in with him. From the day I left Gianna’s and came here I’ve never left. His home is my home now, but any home would be a home as long as I shared it with Nic. He is my comfort and my solace; not the four walls that surround us.