Open Your Eyes (11 page)

“If I lay my hands on those scumbags, I think I’ll knock their heads off,” Josh said. “You can count on us to protect them. I was bored in Europe anyway, so it was a good reason to come back.”

We discussed the telephone conversation I had with Tom White
; I filled them in on everything I had learned so far. Josh slammed his fist down on the counter when he learned it was Jonathan who was behind it. “When is that low life going to butt out of this family? Doesn’t he know he’s not wanted?”

“That’s exactly it,” I said calmly. “He
realizes he doesn’t have a place in this family anymore and it’s infuriating him.”

I felt a lot better now
that the guys were here. At least the young ladies were protected when they went out and I could focus more attention on Natalie. Our time together was running out fast. Panic gripped my throat when I thought of letting her go back home. There was still so much I wanted to know about her. So much I wanted to do to her.

I must have had a sixth sense where Natalie was concerned, because I turned as she walked into the kitchen, dressed in jeans and boots and a
blue cashmere top that made her eyes glow, looking lovely as usual. I swallowed hard. How could I ever let her go now that I’d found her? She was scheduled to return to Australia in just over a week’s time.

If only I could find a way to let her stay.

Chapter
Nineteen

Natalie

Nick introduced me to the two young men in the kitchen. Josh looked a lot like Sarah: blond hair, tall and slender. He was handsome, with Nick’s Romanesque nose and the same cupid’s bow on his upper lip. His jaw was strong and angular, like Nick’s, and his piercing blue eyes were set under thick brown brows, just like Nick’s. It was clear they were related; and I had a better picture of what Nick must have looked like in his twenties. Except that Nick’s eyes were green and his hair dark, one could easily mistake them for father and son.

Nick quickly pulled me to his side. Had he noticed I was staring at Josh? I giggled at the thought that he may be jealous of me ogling the younger man. He didn’t
realize it was precisely the fact that Josh looked so much like him that had me gawking. The alpha male ego!

Josh seemed to warm to me too, seeing his uncle place his arm around me possessively caused his eyebrow to quirk and drew a smile from his lips, a knowing look in his eyes.

“Stop smiling at my woman,” Nick growled playfully as he kissed my brow. “Just wait, a carbon copy of her is coming home soon. I think you will be pleased to meet Natalie’s daughter, Olivia.”

How would Josh and Olivia get along?
Nick seemed relieved to be introducing Josh to my daughter. How could he even think I would be interested in a twenty-five-year-old man?

Connor was equally as handsome and virile. He was the exact opposite of Josh, shorter and stockier in build. His dark olive complexion and black hair
alluded to a Mediterranean bloodline. His cinnamon brown eyes were rimmed with thick black lashes and his cheeks dimpled when he smiled. He had a day-old beard that, rather than looking scruffy, made him look very sexy.

Which of these two guys would
Olivia prefer? If she was like me, she would be drawn to dark-haired men, and Connor definitely was very good looking. But Josh had traffic stopping features – he was gorgeous beyond words.
Just like his uncle.

We were enjoying a second cup of coffee when Hank delivered
Olivia and Sarah home. This was going to be interesting. They bounced into the kitchen, shopping bags over their arms, laughing. Sarah saw her brother and dropped her bags on the counter. She rushed over and placed her arms around his neck, kissing and hugging him joyfully.

She turned to Connor and gave him a shy smile.
Hmm, there is something going on here.
Connor grinned broadly, his dimples deepening.

Olivia
had come to a halt and stood awkwardly at the counter. Even though she always appeared super confident, she had a shy side to her, especially when meeting strangers.

Sarah waved her over. “
Olivia, this is my bossy older brother, Josh,” she said, her pride in him belying her words.

“Hi
, Josh,” Olivia said, reaching out her hand to him.

“Uncle Nick was right, you are a c
lone of your mother,” he said, his lips curled into a wicked smile as he shook her hand, slowly looking her up and down.

Olivia
withdrew her hand as if she was touching hot coals. She turned to the dark stranger, a question in her eyes.

Sarah stepped in front of
him, effectively blocking Olivia. “This is Josh’s friend, Connor. I’ve known him since I was five.” She smiled sweetly at him. “Connor, meet my friend Olivia. She’s from Australia.”

Connor grinned sheepishly, again displaying his winning smile and dimples. “Hey
, Livia, welcome to the Hamptons,” he said warmly, stepping around Sarah to take Olivia’s hand in both of his.

Sarah’s eyes narrow
ed at Connor’s warm greeting and her smile disappeared. Was she jealous? Was she trying to claim Connor for herself? I spotted trouble brewing if both Sarah and Olivia ended up liking Connor.

“Well
, brother, you and Connor are the luckiest guys in the Hamptons. You get to take us to the New Year’s Eve party in town. We even bought new dresses today.” She pointed to the bags on the counter.

“We’d be delighted
.” Connor grinned. “I have been looking forward to it since Josh told me on our way over.”

“As if I don’t have a life of my own – rather than babysitting my little sister and her friend…” Josh said, knitting his brow. “Anyway, what’s for lunch
? We came directly from the airport and we’re starving.” He turned away, completely ignoring Connor and Olivia.

“You
’re always hungry, Josh; I don’t know how you stay so damn skinny. But please let’s not have a repeat of the pasta episode.” Sarah burst out laughing as she eyed Nick and me, oblivious to her brother’s sudden crankiness.

“Goodness, wonder what’s burning his ass?”
Olivia whispered as she followed me to the pantry.

Nick whipped up a green salad while I made my special potato salad.
Always a winner back home, I hoped these Americans would like it too. Olivia poured drinks while Sarah set the table. The guys had gone to get their luggage from the car.

Josh walked back into the kitchen
, holding a few bottles of wine in his hands. “Brought these from Bordeaux, France. Merry Christmas.” He smiled as he handed them to Nick.

“Ah, my
favorite winery and vintage.” He grinned, patting Josh on the back before taking the bottles from him.

Chapter Twenty

The
big house was silent; it was only 7:30 am. I assumed everyone was still asleep.

Quietly,
I padded my way downstairs to the kitchen. It was time I had a turn at preparing breakfast for everyone. After scanning the fridge, I decided on a frittata, it would feed the many mouths now that Josh and Connor had joined us.

I popped the frittata into the oven to cook while I made myself a cup of coffee.
As I looked up toward the doorway, Nick came sauntering in, only wearing his pajama pants. They hung off his hips in a way that made my insides unfurl, the path from his navel going south covered by a thin line of dark hair, his well-defined abs opening up to a glorious chest with a smattering of dark hair begging to be touched.
Oh my! Nicholas Gallagher definitely works out.

His
sleep-mussed hair was sexy as hell, and the dark shadow from his stubble gave him a rugged appearance. He saw me and instantly his lips curled into a killer smile, his green eyes smoldering beneath his dark brows. My belly pulled tight and I had to squeeze my legs together to ease the itch that settled between my legs. God! He was mouth-watering.
I would love to let that stubble scratch my itch.

“What a lovely surprise
.” He stood behind me and pulled me into his hard chest, his stubble scraping my neck as he planted a warm and wet kiss on my skin. Then he turned me around and before I knew it, he’d lifted me onto the kitchen counter. He pushed my legs open and positioned himself between them, cupping my face in his big hand.

“
You look so sexy,” he breathed, peering at me from under his thick black lashes.

“You don’t look too bad yourself,” I said as I messed his hair even more with both my hands. My fingers could not keep still, they had to touch him.

“Breakfast smells good. How long before it comes out of the oven?”

“I only just put it in. Another thirty minutes…”

“Hmm,” he groaned as his mouth found mine, “no time to waste.”

H
e slid his hands over my shoulders and found my breasts. He squeezed them in his warm hands, before rubbing his thumbs over the tight nubs. His touch sent bolts of electricity straight to my groin. Heat pooled between my legs. My panties dampened against my skin.

H
is hands trembled lightly as he skimmed them over my ribs, and the curve of my hips, till he found the hem of my nightdress and pushed the silky fabric up my thighs, exposing my apex. Next he slipped his fingers under the lace of my panties, into my slick wetness. I drew in a sharp breath, the feel of his finger exquisite on my swollen flesh.

“Ah
God, so wet,” he moaned. “I need to taste you.”

I don’t know whose need was greater, his to taste me or m
ine to have his mouth on me. He pushed a finger inside me, making me squirm on the kitchen counter.

H
e slowly withdrew his hand, all the while staring into my eyes. I groaned loudly, protesting against the departure of his hand. My breath hitched as I watched him suck on his finger. “So sweet. So delicious,” he growled as he pulled my panties down my legs.

W
ishes do come true
– his stubble scraped the soft flesh between my thighs, burning me alive. His tongue lavished my hard bud; I leaned back on the counter, my elbows supporting me as I threw my head back. He coaxed and licked and sucked the sensitive bundle of nerves, driving me to the edge. I struggled to control my breathing so as not to cry out as his fingers plunged into my warm core and his lips kept their assault on my clit.

“More…
I want more,” I rasped, my own voice sounding strange in my ears.
Am I really begging him for more?

His mouth left me for a few seconds, which only made the aching worse.
“Tell me what you want, Natalie.” I arched my back and pushed my mound up toward him, offering myself up to him.

“I want you – inside,” I choked the words out.

“And?”

“I want to feel you move inside me.”
I can’t believe I just said that.

“Do you now?” he hissed, fire burning in his eyes.

The thought that someone could walk into the kitchen at any moment sent my heart thundering in my chest. What if Olivia walked in and saw us here – like this?

B
efore I could say another word, Nick lifted me off the counter and carried me toward the kitchen table, which was lower than the counter. With one swoop, he cleared the cookbooks off the surface and placed me on the table. He quickly stepped out of his pajama pants.

Nick
was magnificent. His large cock throbbed, thick veins protruding on the surface. His lean legs were strong and muscular, covered by the same dark hair that covered his chest. And his ass was divine – round and tight.

A drop of pre-cum formed on the thick tip, gleaming in the morning light.
Transfixed by the image, I licked my lips involuntarily. I wanted every inch of him inside me.

“What…what if someone walked in and…saw us?” I stuttered inc
oherently, barely able to think straight.

He grabbed my hips and pulled me to the edge of the table. “Hold on
, Natalie, this is going to be over quickly. I want you so badly…” His voice was rough with need.

I placed my arms around his neck, my legs wrapped around his hips. He kissed my breasts as he rubbed his tip between my wet and waiting folds.

“Nick,” I breathed against his neck as he pushed a few inches into me, his hands under my buttocks, holding me firmly.
All reason flew from my mind. I could only think of having Nick inside me.

“Fuck, you are so tight,” he bit out as his chest heaved
with exertion.

“I want all of you,” I moaned, my voice strangled.

He obliged, pressing slowly into me till he completely filled me.

F
or a few seconds he stood like that, throbbing inside me. “You feel so good.”

Slowly he stroked inside me, building the pace and the deepness of his thrusts, till I felt like I could hold
back no longer.

“Come with me,” he coaxed
. I let out a deep breath and squeezed my core as I exploded around him.

“I feel you
…
baby
,” he rumbled from his chest as he came in hot thick bursts.

He kissed me passionately, prolonging my orgasm as I milked every last drop from him.

“God, that was good,” he said as he brought his eyes to mine. “I've waited
so long
for that.”

“Yes, you have
.” I smiled, remembering all the interruptions.

“I thought
I would lose my mind – my balls were going to explode, getting so close with you every time…”

“You’ve been very patient,” I agreed.

“I have plans for tonight.” He smiled wickedly. “I'm going to make love to you all night long.”

Ooh.
I let out a deep breath. My insides clenched around him once more.

“I felt that, you’re excited too
.” He smirked.

“
Oh yes.” I smiled up at him. There was no point in lying; he could see into my soul, he could see all I was and all I longed for in my eyes. I was open and exposed to him in more ways than one.

There was nowhere else on the face of this earth that I’d rather be than in Nick’s arms, him buried deep inside me.
Overwhelmed by the enormity of this feeling, I hid my face in the crook of his neck.