Page 17

The drive to my place was quiet. Keeley was relaxed and gazing absentmindedly out the window. I didn’t want to disturb her, so I kept silent. It was about a twenty-minute drive from Sean’s house to my apartment. Actually, it was more of a townhome. I lived in one-half and someone else in the other. Our neighborhood was full of single homes and townhouses rather than an apartment complex, which I preferred. It gave me a sense of being in a house without the upkeep or excess space for a single person.

As I pulled into the driveway, Keeley scanned the house and area. It was two stories with a single attached garage on each side. It was oversized, so I could fit not only my SUV that I’d had dropped at the airport but also my tools and bike into it. Once the door opened, she appeared curious as I drove into the garage. Shutting it off, I got out to open her door. She got out and turned to look around us. She spotted my bike.

“You ride?”

“I do. It’s kinda a given when you associate with the Warriors and want to go on rides and stuff with them. Plus, Undertaker, Gabe, Sean, and Griff also ride. Sometimes, a group of us go together. Since it’s getting dark, I’ll show you the outside and neighborhood tomorrow. I know you’re tired after the night and day we had. Let’s go inside and relax.”

She moved with me, so I took that to mean she agreed. I grabbed our bags from the backseat and led her inside. I had a laundry slash mudroom, a kitchen with a nook, a living room, and a half bath downstairs. Upstairs were the master suite, another bedroom, and a full guest bath. I had the second bedroom set up to be my office. Since I typically visited Bryony in Dublin Falls, I hadn’t had to worry about the pull-out not being enough. Since Keeley had slept with me last night, I figured she’d be doing the same here. It was hell to lie so close to her and not do anything more than cuddle her and exchange a few kisses, but I’d take that rather than nothing.

I set the bags down in the living room so I could give her the tour. I wanted her to know where things were and to make herself at home while she was here. After I showed her everything, I went back to get our bags. She came with me, and when I took them into the master bedroom, she didn’t object.

“The first thing I do when I get home is unpack. It makes me feel better when that’s out of the way. I won’t take long,” I promised as I unzipped my bag.

“I’ll do the same. Is there a place I can lay out my clothes so they won’t wrinkle as much?” she asked.

“Here, you can put them in here.” I opened the closet and shifted my clothes so she had plenty of room.

My clothing hardly filled it up. When she saw that, it earned me a smile and a swift kiss. I could’ve stood there kissing her all night, but she didn’t linger and got to her unpacking, so I did the same. While we were there, I’d do laundry and then pack new clothes to take back with me. About ten minutes was all it took to have our things out of our bags and put away. Back downstairs, I asked her what she wanted to drink and got something for us.

As we sat on the couch together, she snuggled close and asked, “How is it that you’ve been gone for days, and nothing is rotten in your refrigerator? In fact, it looks as if it’s been recently stocked. And the house doesn’t have a speck of dust.”

“I could say it’s magic, but that would be a lie. I have a lady who comes in to clean every other week. As for nothing rotten and the fridge being stocked, when I know I’m about to return, I place an order for groceries. My neighbor is kind enough to put them away for me and to remove anything that’s gone bad. I do the same when it’s the reverse.”

“Wow, that’s a good neighbor. I know I live in the middle of nowhere, but even if I didn’t, there aren’t many people I know who would do that back home. Of course, it might be because Dad was always suspicious of people and looked at everyone like they were out to get him.” She chuckled.

I was laughing at her comical expression when the doorbell rang. I got up and went to the door while she remained on the couch. Checking who it was, I wasn’t surprised to see my neighbor from the other half standing out there. I swung the door open, smiled, and greeted her.

“Hi, Constance.”

“Hello, Beau. I came to see if everything was alright when you got home. I hope I didn’t forget anything,” she said cheerfully.

“It was great, as usual,” I assured her.

“You got your mail?”

“I saw it on the counter, thanks.”

“Hopefully, you’re home for a while. You’ve been traveling a lot lately. I feel like I never see you anymore,” she said.

Not wanting to have her stand on the doorstep after all she had done, I moved back and gestured for her to enter. Typically, when I’d return, and she’d come over to check that everything was good, we’d sit and have a drink together. As much as I wanted to be alone with Keeley, I wouldn’t be rude to Constance.

“It’s good to be home. Why don’t you come in and let…” I cut off my suggestion when I saw Keeley cautiously walking toward us.

I couldn’t determine if she was uncertain or not. She looked curiously at Constance, who, I noted, appeared surprised to see Keeley. I guess she would be. I never brought women to my home. The only ones she’d ever seen here were my sister or the Dark Patriots’ wives, and she’d been introduced to all of them.

I walked over and put an arm around Keeley’s waist. I smiled as I introduced them. “Sorry I took so long. This is Constance. She’s my neighbor, the one who takes care of me. I was bringing her in to have a drink. Constance, this is Keeley. She and I are seeing each other. We were unwinding.”

By the time I was done with introductions, we were in the kitchen. They exchanged short hellos. I went to the cabinet and got a wine glass. I asked, “Constance, do you want your usual?”

“Beau, you know me so well. Yes, I’d love it, but I know my way around. I’m here enough. I can get it.” She laughed as she came over to get the bottle of wine from the fridge.

She must’ve noticed there wasn’t one in the fridge when she stocked it earlier and put one in to cool. I wasn’t much of a wine person, but I kept it around for her and the occasional guest. She brought it to me so I could open it. While I poured her the wine, Keeley wandered into the living room. She came back with our drinks. Mine was a beer, and she had a glass of water.

“If you don’t mind sharing, I’d love a glass. It’s not one I’m familiar with,” she said as she poured out her water and set the glass in front of me.

“Absolutely, you can. It’s not bad. I’m not a wine connoisseur, but Constance likes it. I keep it around for her, or sometimes Sloan or the others want a glass.”

“I can see Sloan and the girls enjoying a glass of wine and relaxing,” Keeley admitted.

“Oh, you’ve met Sloan, Cassidy, and Gemma?” Constance asked.

“Yes, and don’t forget Hadley. We spent the day with them. It was fun to hang out with them and have family time,” Keeley said. I thought there was a bite to her voice, but when I looked at her, she was smiling sweetly.

“How nice,” Constance said.

With all of us taken care of, I hooked Keeley’s hand and led her and a trailing Constance to the living room. I sat on the couch with Keeley next to me. Constance took a seat in the chair across from us.

“So you take care of Beau’s place when he’s gone, he said. It’s awfully nice of you to do that. I don’t have neighbors, but if I did, I’m not sure they’d do that for me. He’s gone a lot, I know,” Keeley said before sipping her wine.

“He’s gone too much. I tell him he needs to stay home more. It’s so quiet and a bit scary when he’s not here. I always love it when he calls and lets me know he’ll be home. I admit. I’m spoiled. I love our time together after he comes home.”

If I hadn’t been right against Keeley, I wouldn’t have noticed her stiffening. Her pleasant smile never slipped, and I wondered why she was tensing up. I had an arm around her shoulders, and I rubbed her arm. She flashed me a quick smile but focused back on Constance.

“Yes, you do say that. Thankfully, after this assignment, I’ll be home more. I’ve decided that spending that much time away is too much. It barely feels like this is home, and I don’t like not feeling centered,” I admitted.

“Oh, that’ll be wonderful. Do you know how long this assignment will last? I assume that’s how the two of you met, or am I wrong? I bet you’ll hate to see him go,” Constance said to Keeley. The air was rife with tension, and I felt it coming from both of them.

Not wanting to say the wrong thing, I only half-answered her question. “I’m not sure how much longer it’ll be. We’re hoping it’ll be short, and we can finish it quickly.”

“Really. Mind if I ask what it is you’re doing, or is it one of those hush-hush jobs? He has the most interesting work. I love it when he shares those stories with me. Of course, he’s good about keeping the secret stuff secret.” Constance shot a smirk at Keeley.

Well fuck, it seemed that there was some kind of dislike or something happening between them. I didn’t know what caused it, but I thought getting Constance out of there as fast as possible was wise.

She hung out for fifteen or more minutes, each moment painful. I tried to steer our conversation toward things they wouldn’t find irritating, but I didn’t think I was very successful. Finally, Constance sighed and stood up.

“Beau, I’ve got to run, but we’ll catch up more later. Keeley, it was nice to meet you. I hope you enjoy your brief stay here. I can only imagine how much you love and miss Montana. I’ve never been there, but I hear it’s beautiful. No, no need. I can put it in the dishwasher,” she said to me as I went to take her empty glass.

After she sashayed over and did that, I walked her to the door. Keeley stayed behind. At the door, Constance crowded close to me. It made me very uncomfortable. I’d never felt that way around her before.

“Beau, welcome home. I do hope you’ll stop traveling so much. You and I need to talk once you’re here. I have something important to talk to you about. Until then, take care of yourself,” she said.

Then she pressed her lips to my cheek. It would’ve landed on my mouth if I hadn’t turned my head at the last second. She gave me a pout as she moved away and then walked across to her half.

Swallowing a knot that formed in my throat, I closed and locked the door. I didn’t want any more disturbances. Keeley and I had plans. I walked back into the living area, only to find it empty. Where was she? I quickly made my way around downstairs. She wasn’t there, so I headed upstairs. I called out her name.

“Keeley, where are you?”

I saw the light on in my office. Walking into it, I found her removing the seat cushions on the pull-out I had in there. I’d told her earlier that it contained a bed if anyone stayed. I rushed over to her.

“What’re you doing?”

“I’m seeing how this bed is set up. I wanted to get it prepared. I’m tired, so I don’t think it’ll be long before I hit the hay. I wanted to put clean sheets on it. If you show me where they are, I can do it.”

She said it calmly, but there was a slight edge to it that told me she wasn’t happy. I wasn’t either. No way was I pleased at the prospect of sleeping alone. I needed to figure out what the problem was between her and Constance and then how that had translated to one between us. The only thing that changed from earlier was Constance’s visit. I grabbed Keeley’s hand to prevent her from yanking another pillow off. I turned her around to face me. I had to tip her face up so she’d look at me. She gave me a raised eyebrow.

“There’s no need to sleep in here. What happened? A while ago, you were fine with sleeping with me. We did it last night, and the night we camped under the stars. Why the sudden change?”

“Those were mistakes. I didn’t have the full story then. I do now. In fact, maybe it’ll be better if I stay in a hotel while we’re here. Yeah, that’ll be best. I’ll repack and then get a cab. That way, you don’t need to leave.”

As I stood there stunned and scrambling to think of something to say, she pulled away and walked toward the door. I followed after her. When she reached my bedroom, I finally got my act together. I grabbed her before she could open the closet. She scowled at me and tried to push my hand off her arm.

“Beau, let go. I don’t appreciate being pawed.”

“I’m not pawing you. I want to know what the fuck is wrong. What is this bullshit about staying in a hotel? And what was that downstairs with Constance?”

“I’m removing myself from a situation I don’t want to be a part of. As for Constance, I think you should go see her.”

“See her? Why?”

“Because undoubtedly, she’s gotten the wrong impression and is very upset. I know I would be.”

“What impression is that?”

I was beginning to catch a clue as to what was going on, but I wanted to hear it from her. I’d been an idiot not to see it sooner. Maybe it hadn’t occurred to me because I’d never thought of anything happening between me and my neighbor. We were friendly and helped each other out, but that was it.

“That you’ve brought a strange woman home who you plan to allow to stay with you. I can’t see her being alright with that. Or does this happen a lot, and you two have an agreement? You know, a friends-with-benefits kind. Well, you might, but I don’t. I wish you’d told me you had someone semi-steady. If you had, I wouldn’t have clouded the issue. I’m a little pissed that you wanted to get something going with me while you have this neighbor you’re sexually involved with.”

The more she spoke, the brighter the fire grew in her gaze. I shook my head. “Keeley, babe, it’s not what you think between me and Constance.”

“Oh, so she’s not the one to make sure your home is ready every time you return from a trip? Or the one who comes over here after you get home? Or has her brand of wine in your fridge?”

“Yes, she does all those, but we’re just friends.”

“Just friends don’t look at you like she does. Just friends don’t want to scratch your female guests’ eyes out. Just friends don’t have to hold themselves back from yelling that you belong to her,” Keeley snapped.

I chuckled, which I knew was the wrong thing to do. I had a sister and had been around enough women to know not to do that. However, I did because it made me feel good that Keeley didn’t want another woman staking a claim on me. She growled and then punched me in the stomach. It was a hard punch that doubled me over since I wasn’t expecting it. Air rushed out of me. As I gasped to regain my breath, she moved away and opened the closet door.

The first thing she brought out was her bag, which she sat on the end of the bed. As she went back to the closet, I fought harder to get more air. By the time she came out with hangers in her hands, I could breathe enough to put a stop to this nonsense. I didn’t bother to explain. Instead, I wrapped her up in my arms and quickly pinned her to the bed when she reached it and put the clothes down. I knew better than not to contain her arms and legs. She let out a frustrated mini-scream and immediately tried to get loose.

“Beau, I swear to God, if you don’t let go of me, I’m going to remove your ability to father children one day. And if that’s not a threat, I’ll make you a eunuch. I know that matters to you,” she hissed.

“They both matter greatly to me, but I’m not letting you up until you swear you’ll sit calmly and talk about this. You’re upset over nothing.”

“I’m upset over being a fool. I knew I shouldn’t have trusted you. You have slick, woman’s man written all over you. I should’ve listened to my instincts,” she snarled.

“You aren’t a fool. I’m not trying to pull anything over on you. Remember, we talked, and you agreed to give me a chance.”

“That was before I knew about the hot-to-trot Constance next door. Why do you want me? You have her! And probably half of Virginia,” she half-yelled.

She was fighting to get loose, but I had her pinned in a way she couldn’t. After our prior fight match, I knew she had skills. I wasn’t stupid. I nuzzled into her neck and nipped her earlobe. She cried out in surprise. While I knew this wasn’t the right time for it, her wiggling was causing me to grow hard. Her lush curves were rubbing against me. I was having thoughts of subduing her, bending her over the bed, stripping her pants down, and pounding into her from behind. I flexed my hips, driving my erection into the crack between her cheeks. I groaned. She froze.

“Beau, stop, don’t do that. It’s wrong,” she ordered, but I heard the underlying throb in her voice. She might not want to admit it, but she was turned on.

“Don’t do what? Get hard from feeling you go all wild cat underneath me? Get hard from you being upset over someone you have no reason to be upset about? Constance is my neighbor, period. I’ve never had sex with her. I’ve never wanted to sleep with her. If she wants more than friendship, that’s her problem. I didn’t lead you on or lie to you.”

She squirmed, rubbing that ass over my raging cock. I moaned, then thrust hard, driving my bulge between those ass cheeks. She whimpered. Her face was resting on one cheek on the mattress. It was filled with passion. The entire time, I rubbed and thrust my pelvis against her. I was rock hard, and the urge to peel down my pants and hers, then thrust my aching cock into her pussy and fuck her hard and fast, was climbing. I’d never been this horny and desperate to have a woman.

I licked and kissed my way up the side of her neck. When I got to her ear, I nibbled again before whispering, “The only woman I want in my bed is the one underneath me. The one who has me so hard and dripping with need that I can hardly think straight. The woman who I want to grow something meaningful with, not just fuck once or twice and done. I want Keeley Mills with her pants around her ankles right now as I drive my cock in and out of her tight pussy and fuck her until we both explode and then do it again and again. Maybe after ten years or so, I might be able to think about you without getting hard or be in your presence for more than a minute without thinking about sex or dying to be buried in your snatch. Maybe,” I panted, then groaned.

She had thrust her ass back and then rubbed it in a circle over me.

“Don’t. Not until we get this ironed out between us. Then, if you want me, we can make it happen,” I warned her.

“You want to prove to me that I’m all you want and need?”

“Yes,” I said immediately.

“Then give me your cock and show me. Let me see how desperate you are for me, not just any woman. I want your big cock inside of me, Beau. Let me feel what it’s like to have a man who wants me desperately. So out of control, he’ll fuck me until I scream and come. I’ve never come except using fingers or toys. I want to know what it’s like if it’s possible,” she panted loudly.

Those words turned me into a desperate beast. All I could think about was getting her pants and panties off and my cock free so I could sink into her and pound her pussy raw. Her admission that she’d never had an orgasm during sex made me worse. I’d have her screaming my name and coming on my cock as I filled her pussy with my cum. And I’d make her scream it loud enough that Constance and anyone nearby would hear. There would be no doubt when I was done that Keeley would know who wanted her and who she belonged to, and Constance would realize she stood no chance with me.

I stood up long enough to undo Keeley’s jeans, and then I shoved them and her underwear to her ankles. She stepped out of them. I wanted to explore and give her lots of foreplay, but we were too far gone. I slid my fingers between her legs and found her soaked for me. She wailed and bucked as I teased her hard clit.

“Hurry, hurry,” she chanted.

I stopped long enough to undo my jeans and shove them to my knees. I fisted my cock with the angry red head covered in precum. I stroked it a couple of times. She was looking over her shoulder at me. Her gaze was glued to my cock and what I was doing. Desire burned in her eyes. She moaned and wiggled her bottom at me. Then she reached back and spread those cheeks and her legs. She closed her eyes.

Growling like an animal, I gripped the base of my cock, found her opening with the head, then powered into her. We both moaned long and hard. She was unbelievably tight, scorching hot, and so wet. I swore my eyes crossed at the feeling. She was squeezing the hell out of my cock. I snapped my hips back and then sank into her again.

I heard her chanting, “Yes, oh God, yes. God, Beau, it feels… Oh goddamn it, don’t stop. Please. Harder. Fuck me, baby.”

I gripped her hips and used that as leverage to slam her on and off my cock. I’d get to the end with only the head still inside of her, then I’d yank her back onto me. Keeley was bucking and thrusting back to meet me. Every once in a while, she’d clench her inner muscles, taking my breath away.

“Fuck, Keeley, this is too good. I’m not gonna last, baby. Not as long as I wanted. I promise I’ll make it up to you,” I growled. My balls tightened, and tingles shot from my feet up my legs to center in my balls. I was about to blow, and when I did, I had no doubt it would be the most intense orgasm of my life.

“Beau, wait, please, oh fuck, I’m close,” she wailed.

I gritted my teeth and fought back my orgasm so she’d come. A few strokes more, and she screamed my name and clamped down on me like a vise. I roared her name as I came moments later. I blasted my cum inside of her like a firehose. The realization that we hadn’t used a condom came and went. I didn’t care, just as I didn’t care if she wasn’t on anything or if I knocked her up. She was mine, and the sooner she was pregnant, the better. It would be another way to show she was mine.

By the time I stopped coming, she was limp underneath me, and I was barely able to stand. The fluttering sensations her pussy was making sent darts of fire through me. I was a weak, panting mess, and I couldn’t wait to do it again and again. I couldn’t imagine letting her out of bed for a year at least.

When I was able to move, I tumbled onto the bed next to her. Then I rolled her over so she was lying atop me. I placed a kiss on her damp brow, then one on her lips. I kissed her thoroughly and took my time doing it. I released her reluctantly when she eased away.

Her face was flushed, and she wasn’t meeting my gaze. I lifted her chin so she had to. “What’s wrong?” I asked softly.

“I can’t believe I acted like that. I’ve never begged a man to… oh God, what have you done to me?” she muttered. She gave me a shameful look.

“Babe, don’t look like that. You have nothing to be embarrassed about. We both were out of control, but I don’t regret it. Do you?” I was afraid to ask. What if she said she did?

She didn’t answer me right away, which made me nervous. When she did, she gave me a sheepish smile. “I don’t regret it, though I probably should. I didn’t know what to expect, and then I just kept getting crazier. If that’s what it’s like for you all the time, how do you ever get any work done?”

I laughed, which made her thump me lightly on the chest with her fist and glare at me. “Hey, calm down, tiger. You’re too adorable. It was spectacular for me, too, and I was just as wild as you were. However, it’s not ever been that intense for me, Keeley. I’ve always more than enjoyed sex, but nothing compares to what just happened with us. I think that shows clearly we’ve got something special. Did you mean what you said about never having an orgasm during sex?”

“I did.”

Now that I was calm, I thought about what we should’ve discussed before letting this happen. I’d tried not to think about what happened to her when she was a teenager. It filled me with fury when I did, but it was a factor even this many years later. What if there were things she hated or was scared of? I’d been rather rough with her. I didn’t ever want her to be afraid of me.

“Honey, I’m sorry. I hope you know I don’t ever mean to scare you. If you wanted to stop, all you had to do was say so adamantly. I know I was rather gone, but I would’ve stopped. I’ll never hurt you or force you to endure something you don’t want.”

She pushed her upper body up and frowned down at me. “Beau, we might not have known each other long, but I know you wouldn’t hurt or force me. I wasn’t scared of what you were doing. I did wonder if I might die from the pleasure of it. The orgasms I’ve had by hand or using toys don’t come close to that intensity. I’ve never been able to obtain one with anyone else.”

A tiny growl slipped out at the mention of others. “Do me a favor. Don’t talk about you and other guys while we’re naked and we’re in the midst of postcoital glow. However, I’m thrilled no one has ever done it but me.”

She giggled. “Postcoital glow? That’s a different description of an orgasm coma.”

I yanked her down so I could plant another kiss on her. This time, when we separated, she sighed and wore a dreamy expression.

“I think we should go get cleaned up. Would you be opposed to showering with me?” I asked.

“I’d love to shower with you. Let’s go,” she said as she wiggled off me and then off the bed. As she stood up, I got up. She’d taken only a few steps before she gasped and whirled around to face me. Her mouth was open, and her eyes were wide open. An edge of panic was visible. She’d realized what I had.