Leaning against a pillar, I watched him set up his shot, following the sight of his ball after he hit it. I knew my mother had consulted with Gary many times regarding business ideas and propositions, it’s what successful people do. Was Portia jealous of my mother? The thought seemed silly to me.
“Good thing I don’t have a girlfriend,” I lied, although I wished like hell I could tell him I couldn’t fucking stand Mindy.He glanced at me, a small grin crossing his lips. I ignored it by changing the subject. “Did you tell Portia you agreed to dress like Santa Claus for the children’s hospital fundraiser? That will get her back here and in your good graces.”Gary smirked and shook his head. “She just might. I’ll have to call her and tell her that. Did you know they’ve rented two suits?”I scowled and crossed my arms. “I haven’t decided if I’m going to volunteer.”KelseyMack and I mingled throughout the party in our costumes. He put on a smile for the most part, only scowling a few times when the random co-worker would gasp at his appearance. His stare silenced them, then he’d shoot his daggers my way. I merely smiled sweetly, not wanting to let on that this elf was indeed seething on the inside. Why was he being such a poor sport about this? Was he mad that I denied him upstairs in the room where we were preparing for the evening? He knew the point of tonight. His grumpy attitude was causing me to itch, and he needed to turn around his mood before we went to see the kids. My hope for him to change his grumpy demeanor became non-existent when we went back to the room to switch with Gary and Mindy. Mack chucked his Santa hat and fake beard on the chair. “I’ll never hear the end of this!” I rolled my eyes. “It wasn’t that bad.” Mack glowered at me. “I didn’t know so many of my employees were going to be at this
He was grinning against my lips at first, searching with his hand for the doorknob. I helped him close it, then held him against it to keep any intruders from entering.“What’s gotten into you?” he asked between kisses, both his hands skimming up my thighs and under my elf skirt.“You’re so attractive right now,” I groaned, hastily unfastened his sash and opening his coat. I frowned when my fingers found his t-shirt instead of skin.He began working on the buttons of my shirt while I clawed at his, yanking down the red, fluffy, jacket and tugging on his shirt. He helped, tossing it over his head until his chest was bare to me. The small matting of chest hair against his rock-hard pecs was sexy under my palms, and I couldn’t help but explore down his abdomen with my fingertips. I was still amazed at how good of shape he was in for sitting in his office a good portion of the day. His rigorous morning routine kept his body so sex
KelseyMack’s hand fell from my waist. “Finished at the party already?”Gary’s scowl deepened at Mack’s response.My face was flushed as red as their Santa suits, and as much as I willed myself to look up at them and make up an excuse, I couldn’t move my eyes from the bells on the tips of my slippers. I have no idea how Mack remained calm and collected as if we weren’t just fucking in one of the janitor’s closets.“Well?” Mindy prodded.Mack stepped past me. “Well, what? I was looking for a wipe to clean off my sleeve. A kid got crushed up candy cane all over me.”He held up his wrist, and sure enough, there was a sticky mess. I stared at it along with Gary and Mindy, slightly surprised he hadn’t already complained about it. Mack wasn’t one for messes, and threw fits if things weren’t tidy and in order to his standards.Gary’s face softened some,
MACKWhat was with this woman?Never, in my life, was I the one so invested in beginning a relationship. Women had thrown themselves at me, demanding I settle down and make a commitment, but not the one I so desperately wanted to call mine…well, she is mine, but the need to shout from the rooftops that she’s mine was consuming me.Kelsey Neely was as hard of an egg as I was, and just when I thought I’d cracked her shell, she’d put up a wall again. I tried to brush it off as if it didn’t bother me, but deep down, I wanted to claim her publicly. I needed her by my side, otherwise I was going to go insane.But something inside of me broke tonight when I heard her speaking so negatively about me to Mindy. I knew it was for show, but why would she be so defensive when it came to having a relationship? Behind closed doors, we were as devoted to each other as a married couple.I’d nearly slipped out the L word on her whe
She was vulnerable to me then as I had been to her, naked and skin on skin, lying underneath me with more than just lustful intentions.Now, it was as if she wasn’t sure what she wanted. What happened to the doughy-eyed Kelsey, who wanted me to make love to her bare? Who trusted me enough to pull out of her when her pill consumption wasn’t taken accurately.Biting my lip, I stomped on the gas pedal, speeding until I was home and at my condo.It was empty whenever I was there without Kelsey. She didn’t come over often because our schedules were so busy, but the open space didn’t seem as lonely when her laughter filled it.What was she so afraid of anyway? I broke down my walls for her. I thawed my icy heart over and over for her, yet she can’t take the next step? I was over her excuse of coworkers thinking she’d slept her way to her position. Anyone who worked closely with her knew she was talented at belonged in h
KelseyThe nerve of him for thinking he could persuade me with his penis. So what if it was big and fit inside of me better than a vibrator. He was throwing a fit about my wishes to keep our life private from our co-workers. It was more than irritating, and I had too much pride to give in to his tantrums.When I walked into my tiny apartment, it felt big and lonely. Flipping all the lights on normally made me feel cozy, but now I just felt split open. What was going on with my insides lately? I knew Mack was bringing on those foreign feelings, and we were going to explore them, but why did it feel like we were racing at a Nascar pace? Relationships were supposed to take years to perfect, not months. My heart pounded rapidly when I thought about my future, even more so when I pictured Mack in it.Needing a shower, I tugged off my outfit and hopped in, standing in the steam to help clear my thoughts. It didn’t help when I went to wash myself, feeling the stickin
MackI laid in bed for fifteen minutes before deciding to go to Shamrocks. A drink with Cody might help calm my thoughts. Cody had an easy way of solving problems, and although his first instinct was to flee or disregard serious decisions, sometimes I wish I could decipher my thoughts as easily as him.Putting on jeans and a Guardian’s T-shirt, I grabbed my jacket and headed for my car. I debated calling Kelsey on my way to the bar, but her stubbornness was driving me crazy, and I’d most likely put my foot in my mouth for the umpteenth time.The bar was quiet for a Saturday night, and the moment I opened the front door, my body stiffened. There she was, my sexy little vixen, sitting with Mindy at the bar top, holding a glass half full of clear liquid. Was she drowning in her sorrows over me? Did she ache to be reunited as badly as I did?Without thinking, I paced toward her, keeping both hands in my jacket pockets. If I didn’t find a spot for
KelseyMack hadn’t texted me since walking out on me at Shamrocks almost two weeks ago. He was cryptic with his words, and I didn’t know how to take his interaction. After he left, I couldn’t help but wonder if he thought I was the one who should be apologizing.I found myself constantly checking my phone throughout the week, curious why he hadn’t sent me anything crude as an icebreaker like he always did.I’d be damned if I texted him first. He was in the wrong, not me. Yet, I was losing sleep over the agony of not knowing what was going through his mind.“What’s up with you?” Mindy asked, bringing me my favorite coffee. It was Friday morning, and I was itching for one-thirty to strike the clock. That would be when I’d get to see Mack, and maybe he’d apologize for being such a douche.“I’m just tired.”She nodded her head. “Tell me about it. Christma
The telltale sound of his zipper sent a shiver down my back. He blew air through his nose, and I knew he was stroking himself. I wanted to spin around and help him, but he kept a firm hand on my hip, then skidded it to the front of my thigh, urging me to sit back on him. Both his arms stabilized me now, steadying me while I hovered over his shaft.The tip of his cock brushed against my clit and I shifted backward, engulfing his length between my folds. I found a rhythm that rubbed the sensitive bud perfectly.“That’s it baby, move how you like,” he murmured, keeping himself from driving into me, but encouraged the gyration of my hips with his palms.My hands were set on his desk, leaning as far forward as I could, giving me the leverage I needed to keep a steady pace.He groaned, palming my belly. I covered his hand, feeling a bond between the four of us. If I were out of the moment or trying to explain it to someone, they wouldn’t get it,
Seven Months LaterKelsey“Mrs. Craft, you’re glowing today!” Ms. Carmichael greeted, standing from her seat. She paced around her desk, taking me in from head to toe.I hadn’t been in the office in over a month due to the doctor’s orders. After our dash of a wedding with only a handful of people in attendance, bedrest was requested, and sitting around the apartment was causing me to go stir crazy.Ms. Carmichael crinkled her nose. “Does Mr. Craft know you’re coming to visit?”Holding up a container, I said, “No, I thought I’d bring him some lunch.” She chewed on her bottom lip, and I laughed. “Don’t worry, if he’s grumpy it’ll be geared towards me, not you.”She laughed, but the tension around her eyes proved she was timid toward calling him. I’d help with that. His eight months pregnant wife could interrupt his work.When I came in, the
MackThe day I had been planning for the past month was finally here, and although it didn’t go into motion until a month ago, I had imagined it happening since November. I’d dropped a pretty penny to make my vision become a reality, and with the help of Portia and my mother, Kelsey would be in awe and left speechless, and hopefully even more full of joy than she already was.I buttoned my light blue dress shirt while I stared at my sun kissed face in the mirror, still wondering if the past year had been a dream. It was on this day a year ago that I took the chance and closed the space between us in my office, opening a whole new world that neither of us expected to unravel. I was still just as hungry for her now as I was then, but now, I couldn’t live without her, and I was ready to take the final step to becoming fully committed.Kelsey came behind me, wrapping her arms around my waist and resting his head between my shoulder blades. &ldquo
One Month LaterKelseyI inhaled the fresh salty air, basking in the warm sun I’d desperately longed for. Winter in Ohio was rough, and when Mack surprised me with tickets to a resort in the Florida Keys, I was ecstatic.My skin was smooth and hungry for the rays while I laid on the cozy outdoor lounger next to our private pool that overlooked the beach. Mack had jumped in the pool to cool off, and I was enjoying the view of his defined shoulder blades and biceps while he swam.I’d been exhausted the past three months, and found a new bundle of energy when he’d given me the airline ticket. I was going to take advantage of our alone time, and the pulse that awakened between my legs was going to make up for all the nights I’d fallen asleep before getting lost in him.Mack never complained, if anything, he was coddling me, and I was eager to take care of him, and soon. He climbed out of the pool, his forearms flexing alon
Small sized single showers weren’t intimidating to Mack Craft when he wanted sexy time together. You’d think I’d be gun shy when it came to shower sex considering I slipped and gauged my head the last time we messed around, but I was more than ready to have his hands on me. The close proximity made our time together all the more better.We crawled into bed after our thorough shower, Mack in sweats and me in one of his t-shirts, the heavy, Aztek designed quilt covering us both. Mack pulled me to his chest and tangled our legs together.He ran his fingers through my damn hair, taking turns between stroking and massaging. A softness was laced with his gaze, his brows relaxed as his eyes took me in. “Tell me about your day with my dad,” I asked him, wondering if the time he spent with him was partly why his temperament was easy.“It was eye-opening and much needed. I didn’t realize the reservations were so poverty stricken.&
She met my grin, and did as I asked, rolling to her side as I climbed off her, then continued unpacking.Kelsey must have been tired because her breathing had changed within minutes of closing her eyes. I loved watching her sleep. Something about her relaxed state was soothing and brought me comfort knowing she felt safe and cared for to sleep soundly.***Lunch with my mother came in what felt like the snap of my fingers, and I found myself sitting in my car giving myself a pep talk before joining her at her favorite restaurant. Normally we’d sit outside, but the weather was bitter cold and snow was still on the ground.“Don’t overthink this,” I murmured to myself, my hands sliding around the steering wheel. Taking another deep breath, I shut off the car and headed into the café.She was sitting at a table when I arrived, her back to me. Her dark hair was tied back into it’s perfect bun, her j
“Has Kelsey been hunting with you?” I asked as we sat on logs near the lake. Amos had started a fire and had butchered parts of the elk. I wasn’t expecting him to pull out cooking utensils and seasons from his backpack, prepared to roast whatever animal we’d come across for dinner.He took a long drag of his cigarette before answer. “No, she hasn’t. I wish I had taught her, but it’s not my people’s way. Hunting is meant for the man, not the woman. I know that’s a stereotype the world doesn’t like to hear, but it’s our culture, and if our people don’t like it, they don’t have to do it. We don’t hold our own kind hostage.”I rested my elbows on my knees. “You don’t like that she has a career and lives in the city, do you?”Amos kept his eyes on the flames, watching the piece of meat cook. “I wish she were closer to home. I’m glad she’s foun
I found myself getting into Talon’s basketball game. He was pretty athletic, and ran the court with assertiveness. I wasn’t surprised, the kid had a strong disposition, and leadership would be in his future if he kept it up.Carsyn sat on Kelsey’s lap for most of the game, talking her ear off until she gave him her phone to play with. I didn’t mind that he was chatty, he didn’t require answers from me or Amos, so we were able to focus on the game. Amos was more interested than I would have predicted, and even cheered for his boy. Simon was on the end of the bench as one of the assistant coaches, the one who made sure they were all hydrated and encouraged.“You’ll have fun,” Kelsey said while Simon mingled with some of the other parents just outside of the gym in the parking lot, and Amos gave Talon his fatherly recap of the basketball game. “My dad is a big teddy bear.”I touched her cheek. “I&rsq
“Sorry I passed out last night,” Kelsey said when I emerged from the bathroom. I’d woken up a few hours earlier, unable to fall back asleep, so I plugged in my computer and ran through some emails while she continued to sleep. As badly as I wanted to wake her for a shower, she needed her rest.“I was tired too,” I admitted. My eyes closed nearly as fast as hers did.I’d woken up when she had her first round of morning sickness, but didn’t want her to realize I’d heard her. I knew she felt awkward when I’d try to comfort her, and I also knew if I started to move around, she wouldn’t be able to fall back asleep. She needed to rest more now that she was growing two babies.She stood from the bed and stretched, her hips showing when her arms rose into the air. She’d thrown on one of my white undershirts, and like normal, her nipples were poking against the thin fabric to say good morning. Reaching out