His laugh cuts through the quiet night. “When have you boys ever taken my advice? Besides, that was the worst piece of wisdom I ever imparted.”
“Shouldn’t you tell the rest of them that?”
He laughs again, crossing his legs and resting his ankle on his thigh. “They know, son. Just like you did, they know.”
Chapter
Sixty-Nine
NATHAN
She pours us each a mug of coffee and sets it on the kitchen island, bumping her hip against mine and giving me a huge smile that makes my heart skip a beat.
Jesus, who the fuck am I? Having this woman in my life has turned me into a goddamn Teddy bear, but I’m fucking here for it.
“Are you looking forward to going back to work today, corazón?”
She nods, her eyes shining with delight. “I am. They’ve all messaged me this morning being super sweet and supportive. We’re getting jelly donuts for breakfast to celebrate my return.” She bounces on her toes.
I rest my lips on the top of her head. “You and your jelly donut addiction.”
She giggles. “I know. It’s my one vice.”
“Remember you need to leave early today. I already squared it with your boss.” She sighs, and I put down my coffee and wrap my arms around her. “You don’t have to be there if you don’t want to be, corazón.”
She looks up at me, her green eyes so full of trust and love. “But you think I should be, right?”
“I think it’s probably good for you to get some closure. You have nothing to fear. If he even looks at you in a way that makes you the slightest bit uncomfortable, I’ll break his jaw, then whatever other bone you’d like me to.” I hate her brother, but I will always be grateful for the fact that he brought her into my life. So I will respect her wishes not to kill the piece of shit, even if I’m hopeful she’ll change her mind someday.
“I’m not afraid of him anymore.”
“No, because he’s a fucking coward. And he’ll get more than a letter opener through his hand if he ever lays a finger on you again.”
She gasps, and I remember she doesn’t know about that. Shit. “What do you mean? Did you … Nathan.” She admonishes me with a firm look.
I snarl at the memory. “Elijah told me what he did to you, Mel. He’s lucky he’s still able to walk.”
She blinks. “But you and I … we weren’t even … You did that for me?”
I brush back her hair and press a soft kiss on her lips. “I would die for you, corazón, so I’d sure as fuck kill and maim for you.”
A giggle bubbles out of her and makes me smile. “I really shouldn’t laugh at you stabbing my brother, but …” She presses her lips together. “It’s no less than he deserves.”
I hum my agreement, dusting my lips over her jaw and down to her neck. She purrs contentedly, throwing her head back and allowing me full access to her throat. My dick stiffens in my pants, and she rubs herself against me. I growl with need. It’s been three days since I asked her to stay, and I’ve barely been able to keep my hands or my mouth off her for a single second of them.
“I have to go to work,” she moans.
I check my watch. “We have a little time. You’ll be thirty minutes late at most.” I trail my teeth over the sensitive skin of her neck and she shivers.
“I can’t.” She plants her hands on my chest like she wants to push me away, but she also grinds her hips over my aching cock. “It’s my first day back.”
“Maybe you should give up your job and become my twenty-four-hour fuck-toy. Always on call whenever I need you.”
She laughs. “Or maybe you should be mine.”
I nip at her skin. “If that’s what you want, corazón.”
“Mmm, tempting,” she purrs.
With a deep sigh, I stop kissing her neck, give her a hard slap on the ass, and go back to my coffee. She grins at me in triumph, and I narrow my eyes. “Wait ’til I get you alone later, Mrs. James.”
She flutters her eyelashes. “I can’t wait.”
My secretary pops her head through the open door of my office. “Your guests are waiting in the boardroom, sir.”
I dismiss her with a nod and take hold of Mel’s hand, squeezing gently as she perches on the edge of my desk. “You ready, corazón?”
Her eyes shutter closed, but she offers a faint nod.
“I’m right here with you.”
She opens her eyes and gives me a tremulous smile. “I know. I just hate being in the same room as them. Especially him.”
“This is the last time you’ll ever have to share the same air as either of them.”
“You promise?”
