Chapter 32

  Chapter

  Vivian

  * * *

  We returned to Houston still endorphin drunk—maybe pheromone drunk, too. The initial giddiness of our first weekend together was back—and it was all-consuming. I couldn’t get enough of Lennon, and based on his need to be near me, text me when we were apart, and kiss me senseless the moment he walked into the room, I knew he felt the same.

  The next night, Lola and I drove to the arena to watch the Wildcatters play hockey.

  “That expression looks good on you,” Hana said when she saw me. When she glanced down, her eyes and smile widened. “So does that ring.”

  I sucked my lips into my mouth as I raised my hand to the rush of voices surrounding us. Because we were in the stands, just behind the team, the players turned, too. When Lennon saw all the CATS surrounding me, Ida Jane jumping up and down and Naomi doing a dance, he smiled and winked.

  “Lemme see,” Keelie said, elbowing her way through the other women. She cooed over my ring. “So…loving a hockey player isn’t so bad, huh?”

  I thought back to Lennon’s proposal and what had come the night before, and I shivered.

  “Girl’s thinking about something smexy,” Naomi crowed.

  My cheeks warmed, and I couldn’t meet Lola’s laughing gaze. “I’m really happy.”

  Hana hugged me so hard, my ribs creaked. “You got your HEA, Viv.”

  I hugged her back. “Well, we’re working on it.”

  “I hope so,” Naomi said, waggling her brows.

  Ida Jane shushed her. “We’ll talk more about that later.” She motioned to the fans around us who were avidly leaning closer.

  Naomi pursed her lips. “Good call.” She met my gaze. “Later.”

  We settled into our seats—I had my very own now, a row behind Lola’s next to Hana. The game started with ice flying and bodies slamming into the walls.

  “Oof, this is going to be fast and hard.” Hana gave me a sidelong look. “One of my favorites.”

  “Stop,” I said, giggling.

  “Until later,” Hana said.

  I focused on the game, enjoying the players’ athleticism as they sprinted down the ice on their skates. They were graceful, which still shocked me since they were all big men. Goodness, my man’s moves turned me on. More than my man—my fiancé. Lennon was big. A bad ass. Mine.

  Thanks, Mom. I would always believe my mother had been the one to tumble my hat down the lakefront to Lennon’s towel. I glanced at the back of Lola’s head, noting the thinning hair and thinning skin. I sighed. She was doing well with the treatments, but she wasn’t in remission. We could lose her, and that would devastate Lennon. It would devastate me.

  Another thought formed: Would Lennon blame me for his mother’s death? I was the one caring for her, after all. An icy chill settled in my bones, and I struggled to pay attention to the game thereafter.

  Hana noted my silence, but after a couple of unanswered questions, she didn’t push me.

  I waited until Lennon and I were in his truck after a post-game celebratory meal to blurt out my question. “Will you still want me—still love me—if your mom dies?”

  He did a double take, then looked back at the road when a car honked. His hands tightened on the wheel. “Where the hell did that come from?”

  “It occurred to me tonight. I’m the one in charge of your mother’s health⁠—”

  “I’m interrupting you right there. You are not in charge of my mother’s medical treatment. Her team of doctors handles that. You administer their medications and handle her daily care. But you are not responsible for the outcome, Vivi.”

  I scrunched down in the seat, tucking my knees toward my chest. “But you said, when I first showed up, that you knew everything would be okay because I was your mother’s nurse. What if it isn’t?”

  He was quiet for a long moment, and I watched the lights dance across his strong visage. I liked that he’d chosen to crop his beard shorter. He’d probably always be self-conscious about the scars from the attack, but I enjoyed seeing his strong jaw delineated by the thick, dark hair there. Everything about Lennon made me yearn.

  “I’m scared,” I said, realizing what was driving my questions.

  “I get that,” he said quietly. “And part of the blame’s on me. I haven’t done enough for you to know that I love you, Vivian. No strings, no attachments, no qualifiers.” He glanced over at me, his eyes hungry yet soft. “I want you with me, at my side, always. My mom…” He signaled a turn into his parking garage. “My mom is sick. There’s no guarantee she’ll get well. I know that. I hate it, but I understand that. Just as I know that caring for my mom has to bring up feelings about losing yours.” He parked, turned off the engine, and turned toward me. He took both my hands, his much warmer than my chilled ones, and kissed each of my knuckles.

  “I love you, Vivi. I want a life and a lifetime with you. I want a family with you. I want to grieve with you, which I hope isn’t too often, and I want to laugh with you, which I hope is most of the time. Because I love you, and I need you.”

  The yearning settled in my belly, warm and insistent, as we headed up the elevator to his condo. My nipples peaked and my skin flushed, sensitized to the warm, rough pads of Lennon’s fingers. He made me so unbearably hot—so needy. Until Lennon, I’d worried there was something wrong with my libido. Now I knew I felt just as much desire as any other woman. I’d simply needed the right man.

  Once inside his home, I led him to the bedroom. “Please, Lennon. I need you. I want you inside me.”

  His breath hitched as his lips parted, those dark eyes even darker as the pupils seemed to swallow the brown of his iris.

  “Fuck, Vivi. I’m not sure I can go slow. Be gentle.”

  I unzipped my skirt and let it slide off my hips. I stood before him in my purple-and-black polka-dot satin panty set, unselfconscious about the slight swell of my tummy between my hip bones or the jiggle in my thighs. When Lennon looked at me, I felt sexy—I was sexy. That was all that mattered.

  “I don’t want gentle.” I took a breath. “And I don’t want to be in control. I want you to take me, Lennon.” I spread open his hand and placed his palm on my chest so he could feel the steady thud of my heart.

  We needed to work through this issue, just as I’d needed the reassurance that he’d still love me. If we were going to be partners, we had to trust each other and respect each other—and, in this case, give and receive pleasure. I was primed, more than ready. My panties dampened against my slick thighs.

  Lennon hesitated, still holding himself back. That wouldn’t do. I laid my palms on the swell of his pectorals before I rose on my tiptoes. Keeping eye contact the entire time, I nipped his lower lip into my mouth. Dragging my teeth back slowly, I licked the abused flesh.

  “Fuck me, Lennon. Hard, so I can feel where you’ve been for days.”

  The flare in his gaze excited me. His big hands grabbed my hips, and I was airborne. I slammed against his chest and wrapped my arms and legs around him. Lennon leaned in so his beard tickled my ear. “You asked for this.”

  “I did, so give it to me.”

  His chuckle was decadent—nearly as decadent as his lips and beard on the sensitive swell of my breast. He laid me on the silk duvet, and the coolness against my back made goose bumps explode. He yanked my bra cup down and took my nipple into his mouth, suckling hard at the firm bud. I arched into him, my hands sliding into his hair. He switched sides, kneading my damp breast while he feasted on the other one.

  Back and forth he moved, pushing my need higher. My hips shifted, seeking friction. But Lennon remained out of reach, driving me utterly crazy. He slipped my bra straps off my shoulders as he kissed my tummy and massaged my butt. With a tug, he slid my panties down my legs. He pressed his cheek to my belly as he inserted two thick fingers into my entrance. They slid in and out with ease, coated with the evidence of my desire.

  He nipped and licked at my hip bone, my outer thigh. My moans grew louder, and I clutched him tighter.

  “I want… Lennon, I want…”

  He pulled back, away from me, and I cried out, desperate to get closer, missing his fingers. But a moment later, his hot erection pressed to my slit, splitting my plump lower lips, filling me up.

  I gasped and shook, shocked at the pleasure of his slow, merciless progression. He didn’t stop until his balls nudged my bottom. Still I wanted more, needed more, and I shifted restlessly against him. “Ah, Vivi. You are amazing.” He pulled back and slammed into me. I gasped and clutched the duvet.

  Drag out, slide in deep. Over and over, he kept the pace steady and slow—too slow to create the friction I needed for release. I tossed my head back and forth, gnashed my teeth, and took what he gave me.

  He slid one arm under my back, then brought it low to the base of my spine, tilting my hips up to better receive him. My thighs shook with the effort to remain passive. I wanted to take him, but Lennon needed this moment, needed to be in control.

  He pulled out with a tortuous slowness that was driving me out of my mind, but he shoved in much faster this time. His pubic bone slammed into my butt. I tried to wrap my legs around him, but Lennon pressed against both thighs, opening me. He stared down at where he powered in and out of me, his strokes strong and sure. He picked up the tempo and the force, and then again, until he was pounding into me.

  I loved it. He didn’t hold back, instead using his strength to level his hips against mine. I screamed, and he shoved in even harder. This was visceral, deep, all-consuming. I could feel how much he wanted me—needed me. Desire coiled inside, winding me ever tighter.

  I clenched my inner muscles, trying to give as good as I got. Lennon seemed to redouble his efforts, pounding me both into and up the mattress. Sweat bloomed over my skin, and my breathing turned ragged. Still he continued forcing me to take him, to accept his pace in the best possible way. The tension rose, rose, rose—higher than I would have imagined possible, pulling my muscles taut.

  Lennon lifted my hips and rose to his knees, spreading them so my clit rubbed against his abdominals with the next pump.

  I detonated. My mind ceased to take in stimulus as my body shivered and convulsed, sucking at Lennon’s hard dick. I screamed and panted, the pleasure so intense it was nearly painful.

  His pace faltered as my orgasm blew through me. He gritted his teeth and chanted my name over and over. His palm settled on my knee, and he fell forward as his cock expanded and his balls jerked, pressed tight to my sensitive skin as his seed erupted, bathing my insides in a thick, warm spray.

  After, he continued to rock into me, his breathing as ragged as mine as he collapsed his shoulder beside me. And still, he fucked me. Slowly now, softly, as everything was so sensitive.

  He eased to a stop, buried in my channel. He placed a hand on my breast, over my heart. “That was incredible,” he said.

  “Mmmm,” I agreed.

  “I wasn’t too rough?”

  “No. You should do that again.”

  He chuckled. “Give me five or ten, and I will.”

  “Delightful.”

  We rested, sweat cooling our skin, our muscles jumping occasionally. The room was dark and quiet, our breathing the only sound.

  “I really do adore you, Vivian.”

  I smiled. “I know. And I adore you, too.”

  Chapter 33

  Chapter

  Lennon

  * * *

  We spent the next morning at my mom’s, enjoying a nice brunch my sisters brought over. I loved how well Nina and Mia got along with Vivi—how seamlessly she fit into our family dynamic. Satisfaction reared up, and I must have looked smug because Vivi rolled her eyes at me.

  “What do you two have planned this afternoon?” Mom asked.

  I shrugged. “We could play some games⁠—”

  “You have this one day off and you want to spend it with me? No, you are young and in love. You two need to go out and live a joyful life. My boring daughters will stay with me.”

  “Oh, we will, will we?” Mia asked, hands on hips. “I think you’d better ask nicely.”

  Mom played along, her eyes shining even as she stuck out her lower lip in a pout. “Please, my darling, please stay with me so I’m not alone in my invalid state.”

  Nina kissed Mom’s cheek. “You are a menace.”

  Mom cackled. “I love having adult children.”

  “You liked us little, too,” I said.

  “Well, I’ll love my grandbabies even more. Now, you two, scoot!”

  She hugged Vivi and me, and we ended up in the driveway. I let Belladonna into the backseat before holding out my hand to Vivi to help her into the front.

  “Your truck is huge,” she said.

  “I fit well in it,” I said with a wink.

  “Something like that,” Vivi replied. She settled in and buckled up, seeming pensive as I started to drive.

  “You okay?” I asked, glancing over.

  “Yeah.” She sighed. “Just missing my mom. I wish…” She bit her lip as she turned to face me. “I wish she could have met you.”

  “I wish that, too.”

  Vivian closed her eyes. “It just hit me—that I’m all alone.”

  “Vivi, you are the farthest thing from alone.”

  She offered a faint smile, but I saw the shadows in her eyes. She really believed that. I tightened my hands on the steering wheel. That wouldn’t do. At all. “Let’s take Belladonna ice skating,” I said.

  “She ice skates?” Vivi asked.

  “Loves it. She needs some exercise. It’ll be fun.”

  “I can’t ice skate,” Vivi said.

  “Well, little grasshopper, you’re about to learn.”

  The practice arena was quiet, as I’d hoped. I grabbed my gear, then realized I didn’t have skates for Vivi—an oversight I should have considered.

  “It’s okay,” she said. “I’ll watch you.”

  “No way. I want to skate with you.”

  I dialed Cormac’s number, and he gave me permission to use Keelie’s skates. Thankfully, Vivi and Keelie wore the same size shoe. Once I got her into the footwear and laced up mine, I opened the gate. Belladonna had been sitting, ears perked, ready to go. She bolted onto the ice, her nails skittering across the surface.

  “You weren’t kidding,” Vivi said, watching the dog.

  I stepped out first, then turned and took her hands in mine. Her skin was cool and soft, her eyes filled with that faintest hint of sadness, as well as trepidation.

  I looked into her eyes as we poised at the edge of the ice. “I’ve got you, Vivi. I won’t let you get hurt.”

  With a gulp, she stepped forward. I eased backward. She wobbled, and I steadied her. Belladonna raced around the rink on the other side, yapping as she tried to catch the shards of ice she flung into the air.

  I released one of Vivi’s hands, and she yelped as she stumbled, but I caught her around the waist and tucked her against my side. “Long glides, like this.” I showed her, and she slowly improved from her tiny fumbling steps. “Good.”

  We made two laps around before she gained enough confidence to take her gaze off the ice. She smiled up at me. “This is fun.”

  I smiled back. “It is.”

  I leaned down to kiss her cool lips, enjoying her taste. I shifted to skate backward, with her front snuggled to mine, as I deepened the kiss. I kept Vivi with me as we made a lazy tour of the ice, all while I devoured her mouth.

  A moment later, something slammed into my calf like a damn torpedo, and I went airborne. I tore my lips from hers as I wrapped my arms around her, tensing for the impending crash. From the corner of my eye, I saw Belladonna slinking away.

  The impact started in my left shoulder, then traveled down my ribs to my hip. Vivi’s weight was pinned to my chest, but her pelvis slammed into mine, causing me to groan.

  Belladonna skittered over to me, sniffing and whining as I tried to regain my breath.

  “Not the best landing.” I heard Maxim’s voice.

  “I give it a two,” Stol said.

  I still hadn’t managed to get my breath back.

  “Nah,” Cormac said. “He was at a ten with that kiss move, and the dog fucked his game. I think he deserves a seven because he took the brunt of the fall.”

  “Fair,” Naese said. “Looked like it hurt, even if he did land properly. That’ll bruise. Poor bastard.”

  “You okay?” I gasped at Vivi. The pain in my dick had receded enough for me to get the words out.

  She nodded, her eyes wide. “Are you?”

  I laid my head back on the ice. “I’ll be fine. In a minute.”

  “Oh. Oh!” She shifted, no doubt to clamber off me.

  I groaned as her hip grazed my crotch and gripped her more tightly. “Don’t move. Just…give me a minute.”

  “Aw. He’s injured. We gotta help him,” Stolly said.

  I gritted my teeth. He was such a dick.

  Belladonna licked my cheek. I opened my eyes and found Vivi’s filled with concern. I turned my head and noted Belladonna lying on the ice, her nostrils half an inch from my face. She whined and rested her muzzle on her paws.

  “I’m fine. Nothing’s broken.”

  “You sure, man?” Cormac asked. “That was a nasty fall.” He crouched. “Don’t listen to Stolly or Naese. They’re young and dumb.”

  “I heard that, dick,” Naese muttered.

  “Cormac is correct. You are often quite stupid,” Maxim offered. “May I?”

  He gestured toward Vivian, who blushed as she realized she was sprawled on me while the guys looked on.

  “Erm. Yes. Oof!”

  Maxim gripped her waist and settled her on her skate blades in an easy move.

  “Careful,” Stolly said as Vivian’s feet came out from underneath her. “Why don’t I hold you up as we skate to the benches?”