Bottom Line: Callaghan Brothers, Book 8 (12 page)

“Aidan?” she asked, her voice trembling along with her body.

“Hmm?” he mumbled against her belly.  Her skin was so soft, so fragrant.  He could happily spend hours just licking and tasting every inch of her.  Planned to do exactly that, as a matter of fact.

“Are you okay with this?  Don’t you want it, you know, fast?  And hard?”

“Not this time,” he crooned, surprised by how much he meant it.  “This time, I’m going to savor you, Mary.  I want to see your face when you come for me, baby.  I want to see your eyes when I’m so deep inside of you, you can’t think of anything else but me.”

“Ahhhh,” she said, her body relaxing, surrendering to his.  It was still submissive in nature, giving him whatever he wanted, and that was enough to satisfy the beast clawing within him.  Yes, the beast wanted to bite and claim, but even it seemed to realize that Mary was different.  It, like the man, needed to care for and protect her just as much as it needed to mark and possess. 

She tried several times to take him in her hands or her mouth, but he gently rebuffed her attempts.  This was his turn to serve her, to prove to himself as much as to her that this was about something more than sex.  He wasn’t quite sure what, exactly.  Didn’t really care at that point, either.  It was something he’d allow himself to analyze and contemplate later, when she wasn’t hot and writhing beneath him.

By the time he actually entered her, Mary screamed out in pleasure, climaxing around him even as he slid deep.  Her walls squeezed and massaged him, grabbing on and holding him with everything.  He pushed deeper, needing to feel her collapse around him, needing to be in her so he could feel every last shudder and squeeze.

Mary’s nails raked across his back, her heels dug into his ass, trying to pull him deeper, though his testicles already rested heavily on her ass.  Inside, his beast roared with pleasure and approval at this newfound ecstasy, all the more powerful because of its gentleness.

“Ah, no fair, Mary.  I wasn’t looking.  You’re going to have to do it again for me, baby.” 

Aidan gave her a minute or two, then began moving when she relaxed her inner muscles enough for him to continue without hurting her.  He gave her three more orgasms before he finally gave in to his own need, withdrawing at the last possible moment and ejaculating over her quivering belly with a force that literally left him too weak to support his own weight.

“Christ, Mary,” he breathed into her neck.  “What are you doing to me, woman?”

He felt her arms wrapping around him, thought she might have mumbled something, but he was already losing himself to the darkness. 

* * *

M
ary stroked his hair, so soft and silky beneath her fingers.  Felt his heartbeat, strong and steady, travelling through the walls of his chest and right into hers.  His arms held her close, like iron bands.  All around her, his heat, his scent, his essence cocooned her in something heady and amazing.

This,
this
is what those erotic novelists wrote about.  This feeling of soul-deep satisfaction, of having every want, need, and desire not only met but far exceeded.  If only it could last...

The room was dark.  That in itself didn’t mean anything.  At this time of year, daylight fled as early as four-thirty, but Mary’s internal clock told her that it was much later than that.  As much as she wished they could remain like this, she knew they couldn’t.  There were too many curious neighbors watching to see when he would leave.  Knowing them, they would probably call the sheriff to check on her.

As if on cue, Mary heard the low, distinctive rumble of Bill Toomey’s F150 pulling into her driveway.

“Aidan,” she said softly, caressing his face.  “Aidan, you have to wake up.”

“Don’t want to,” he grumbled against her breast, making her smile.  “Like it here.”

“I do, too, but I think the local sheriff is about to knock on my front door.”

Aidan lifted his head, instantly alert.  “Are you kidding me?”

“No,” she admitted with a quirk of her lips.  “I bet Mrs. Shaughnessy’s been calling him all afternoon, ever since you made Malcolm pee his pants.”

Aidan grinned unrepentantly.  “I did, didn’t I?”

“Yes, you did,” she said, cupping his face with her hands and kissing him.  “But you have to go now before they post a warrant for your arrest.”

“On what charge?” he asked, reluctantly pulling on his pants.

She didn’t hesitate.  “Stealing my heart.”

Aidan stilled.  “Is that what I’ve done, Mary?”

“No,” she exhaled.  She reached for her jeans, pulling them on hastily while she searched for her bra.  “I think it’s more a case of me handing it to you on a silver-plated platter.”

“Silver-plated?”

“Yeah, well, I’m a woman of humble means.  I can’t afford real silver.”

Mary quickly ran a brush through her hair in an attempt to tame some of the just-fucked look, but there was nothing she could do about the radiant glow she had going.  On her way out of the bedroom, she clicked on the television and inserted
Life of Brian
into the Blu-Ray.  With a few taps on the remote’s chapter button, it looked like they were halfway through the movie.

To further set the scene, she grabbed a couple of takeout containers and put them on the coffee table, along with some additional DVDs.  When Aidan walked in shortly thereafter (he looked perfect, as always), she told him to sit down on the couch and let her do the talking.

Aidan raised a perfect brow, but thankfully, did what she asked.  Confident that she had done all she could on a moment’s notice, she counted off several seconds after the doorbell rang while Aidan looked on in quiet amusement.

Max was at her side when she opened the door, but the moment he saw the sheriff, he positioned himself behind Mary’s legs and growled in warning. 

“Hi Bill,” Mary asked, doing her best to look surprised.  It wasn’t too hard; her neighbors might be meddlesome but they’d never actually called the sheriff on her before.  “What’s up?”

“I’m sorry, Mary,” Bill said, clearly uncomfortable.  “Esther won’t stop calling, and she’s got Molly all worked up.”  Molly Toomey was Bill’s wife, a sweet but easily excitable woman.  Thankfully, Birch Falls was a relatively uneventful place as far as criminal activity went.

“Esther’s convinced you’re being murdered in your bed.”

Mary felt her cheeks grow hot, wondering if there was any way Mrs. Shaughnessy had heard her screaming in the throes of passion earlier.  It shouldn’t be possible, but if Esther was outside “walking her dog” and just happened to wander toward the side of the house where Mary’s bedroom was...

Forcing a laugh, Mary said, “Well, obviously I’m fine.”

Bill nodded, but he made no move to leave.  “Do you mind if I have a look around?” he asked.

“No, of course not,” Mary said.  “Come on in.”

“I’m real sorry about this, Mary,” he apologized again.  “But if it’ll keep Esther from calling...”

“It’s okay, Bill.  Come on in so you and Molly can get some sleep tonight.”

She led him to the room where Aidan was sitting on the couch eating a spring roll, the flick paused on the flat screen.  “Bill, this is my friend, Aidan Harrison.  Aidan, this is Bill Toomey, sheriff of Birch Falls.”

Bill’s eyes went wide.  Before he could say anything, Aidan stood and offered Bill his hand.  “Sheriff.  Good to see you again.”

“You, too, Mr. Harrison.  I’m sorry.  If I had known it was you I wouldn’t have bothered you.”

“No problem.  I’m afraid we got caught up in a Monty Python marathon and lost track of time.”

“Yeah.  Yeah, of course.  Happens all the time.”

“Satisfied?” Mary asked, looking from one man to the other.

“What?”  Bill turned around, his expression one of mild shock and embarrassment.  “Oh, yeah.  I’ll, uh, just leave you to your marathon then.  I can show myself out.  Thanks, Mary.  Mr. Harrison.”

Mary followed Bill out to the foyer and slid the deadbolt behind him, wondering if she was the only person in Birch Falls who didn’t know Aidan.

She went back into the family room to find Aidan cleaning up.  “How do you know Bill Toomey?”

Aidan shrugged.  “I saw him at the Goddess a few times.”

“Why did he look at you like you were Kobe Bryant and Tom Brady rolled into one?”

“How do you know I’m not?” Aidan countered, slipping his arms around her waist and lowering his head to trail soft kisses along her jaw.

“Fine,” she said, tilting her head to give him better access.  “You can keep your secrets, just as long as you keep doing
that
.”

He chuckled against her skin.  “Are you really going to make me go home tonight?”

“Yes,” she said, though it was more of a moan than an actual word. 

“But it’s cold out there.”

“Yes, it is.  But if you don’t go, every one of my neighbors will be so scandalized I’ll have to move.”

“You’re a big girl,” he murmured, kissing along her jawline again, working his way up to nibble on her ear until her knees went weak again.  “You’re allowed to have a life, aren’t you?”

“Aidan,” she groaned.  “This is a small town.  If you stay, my reputation will be ruined.”

* * *

T
hat was enough to give him pause.  He pulled away.  Yes, he wanted to stay, but not if it would make things difficult for her.  Their relationship was still too new, and he couldn’t be selfish.  He, more than anyone, understood the need for discretion. 

“Okay,” he breathed reluctantly.  “But next time, I’m parking two blocks over and sneaking in.”

“Thank you,” she whispered.  Mary wrapped her arms around his neck and went up on her toes, pressing her lips to the underside of his jaw.  “If it makes you feel any better, I’ll probably be dreaming of you all night.”

He groaned.  He wanted to be there when she dreamed about him, so he could make those dreams an instant reality.  “When can I see you again?  Tomorrow?” he asked hopefully.

“Sundays are usually pretty busy for me,” she said, shaking her head.  “Max and I spend the day at the retirement home.  Want to do something next weekend?”

“Too far away,” he grumbled.  He couldn’t wait that long.

“I have an appointment in Pine Ridge on Wednesday.  Can you get away for lunch?”

Wednesday? 
It was only Saturday!  What the hell was he supposed to do between now and then?  “I guess,” he said, but he was disappointed.   

“Lunch it is then.  I’ll call you with a time, okay?”

“Okay.” 

Aidan leaned over and kissed her, ensuring that he left her with a very vivid memory of what she could expect the next time they saw each other.  Before she released him, she buried her face into his neck and inhaled deeply.  It wasn’t the first time she’d done that, he’d noticed.

“Why do you do that?” he asked softly.

“Because,” she said, blushing, “you smell wonderful.  I just need a fix to hold me for a couple of days.”

A
fter spending the day with Mary, Aidan knew he wanted more.  Sweet, intelligent, and caring, she had even managed to soothe the dark beast within.  Dare he hope that she was the one he had been looking for? 

All indications pointed that way.  Of course, she thought he was just a regular guy working at the Goddess.  Would things change once she learned the truth?  Money changed people.  It was a sad fact of life.

Aidan didn’t get where he was by throwing caution to the wind.  He put a lot of stock into his instincts, but preferred they be backed up by something more substantial.  Granted, his feelings for Mary were strong, but this wasn’t just about him.  There were plenty of other things to consider, too. 

Making a mistake in his personal life was likely to cost him more than a broken heart and a bruised ego.  The Goddess franchise alone was worth millions, and hundreds of people depended on him to keep things running smoothly and ensure that they kept their jobs and their benefits.  He’d need more than one day – no matter how great that day was – to make a decision like that.

“So?” Lexi asked first thing Monday morning.  She was waiting in his office, fresh imported coffee in hand.  “How’d it go?”

“Great.  You really outdid yourself, Lex.  Mary loved the food.  Told me I shouldn’t spend so much money on her, though.”  He grinned at that. 

“She sounds like a keeper.  When can I meet her?”

“Not yet, Lex.  I’m not ready for her to know about all this.”

“Why not?”

“If she knows, it might change things.”

Lexi nodded.  It was unfortunate, but true.  “Well, what if we did a double date or something?  You know, do it up old school with dinner and a movie?”

Aidan considered it.  It sounded like a great idea.  Lexi promised to talk to Ian and arrange for someone to watch the kids, looking more excited than Aidan had seen in a long time.

Before she left, Aidan stopped her.  Something Mary had said kept niggling at the back of his mind.  “Lex, can I ask you something?”

“Sure, shoot.”

“Do I, uh, smell good?”

A slow smile began to grow on her face.  “Oh, yeah.  Like great sex on a stick.”

He rolled his eyes.  “Cut it out, Lex.  I’m serious.”

“So am I.  Geez, Aidan, you mean you really don’t know?  All these years I thought you were doing it on purpose.”

“Doing what on purpose?” he asked, bemused.

Lexi leaned in, closed her eyes, and inhaled.  “Your scent,” she said, leaning back.  “I’ve never smelled anything like it.  It’s fantastic.”

“You’re kidding, right?”

“Nope.  Ask any woman.”  She got a mischievous look in her eye.  “Wait.  If you don’t believe me...”  Lexi pulled out her cell phone.

“What are you doing?”

“Sssshhhh,” she shushed him.  “I’m going to put it on speaker.  Just listen.”

“Hey, Lex, what’s up?”

“Hey, Taryn.  Just a quick question.  Have you been able to figure out what Aidan’s cologne is yet?”

“Fuck, no,” Taryn answered, “and it’s driving me crazy.  God, that man smells delicious.  If Jake wore that I’d be climbing him like a set of monkey bars 24/7.  Well, more than usual anyway,” she laughed.  “Hey, maybe if you can swipe one of his shirts or something we can get Nicki to run it through some kind of analyzer or something...”