All of Me (All Series Book 2) (16 page)

Don’t Feel It

“Not too much family overload for you today?” Phil asked on the ride home hours later.

“No. It was just right.”

He chuckled. It had gotten a little loud and crazy at one point. Their families were all expanding, but it was nice to get everyone together.

“Ben looks really happy. He seemed happy before, but never fully there, you know?” Sophia commented.

“Presley’s been good for him. And yes, I think he’s fully there now. She keeps him on his toes, but in a good way.”

“It was funny watching them together today. She gives it back to him as much as he gives it to her.”

“She can hold her own. She’ll need it with him,” Phil said, a tender look coming into his eyes. “She fits into the family well. About as well as you do.”

“I do, don’t I?” Sophia said proudly. “But then again, I’ve been around a lot longer.”

“Not like this.”

“Ben said the same thing earlier.”

“What’s that?” Phil said curiously. He didn’t know Ben had been talking to her alone.

“He welcomed me to the family. I told him I always thought I was part of it, and he said ‘not like this.’”

“What did you say?” he asked, wanting to know her response.

“Nothing. He didn’t give me a chance, just kissed my cheek and walked away.”

That sounded like Ben—say something cryptic and leave them guessing. “You know how Ben is.”

“Your mother mentioned she wanted everyone over for dinner tomorrow.”

“She told me she asked you.”

“I didn’t know what to say.”

He turned sharply. “Why?”

“I didn’t know if you wanted me there.”

He held back a wince. He didn’t want her to think that. That if the invitation didn’t come from him that he didn’t want her there. “I want you there,” he said softly. “I always have.”

She nodded once, glanced tenderly at him and looked back out the window.

He didn’t like the silence. It never bothered him before, but for some reason it felt uncomfortable to leave things with that last comment. He wasn’t sure what to say and blurted out, thinking about her comment in regards to Ben, “You look happy.”

She laughed. “Where did that come from?”

He fought the heat from creeping up his neck. “Just an observation. Of course, to be honest, I’ve never known you to be anything but happy.”

Shrugging, she replied, “I usually am. I have no reason not to be. I love my job, I enjoy my new house and the city I live in, and I have a pretty fantastic boyfriend.”

“You do, don’t you,” he joked, feeling fuzzy inside. He liked that about her. You always knew where you stood. He often heard Kaitlin say that Sophia adapted to any situation, even sometimes putting on an act to be accepted into a group. But he never saw that side of her. Ever. She was always so happy and cheerful around him. Her moods very rarely changed. The most he had ever seen was a bit of nervousness, or annoyance, but never any full-blown drama.

“You make me happy.”

Startled by her revelation, he was speechless. He wanted to make her happy. He’d never thought he would have the chance to do it, and often second-guessed if he was truly making her happy. If he was good enough for her, the type of man she dated, and if he could give her what she wanted or needed. He said the first thing that came to his mind—the truth. “I want to.”

Her eyes glowed, her head tilted to the side, and she smiled brightly. “That’s sweet. I hope I make you happy,” she said, hesitantly.

“More than I’ve ever been in my life.” Again, it was the truth. He’d always wanted to feel this type of connection with someone. This type of happiness. This type of love. He had looked for it for so long, and had pretty much given up ever finding it.

“Here we are,” he said, pulling his truck in the garage. “It’s going to rain tonight and into the morning. Why don’t you pull your car in the garage next to mine? Then when we load your stuff up tomorrow, you won’t get wet.”

“Sounds good to me.”

***

The next morning Sophia turned the water on in the shower, undressed and then climbed in. For once she was up before Phil and decided to shower and get breakfast ready for him.

Closing her eyes, she ducked under the waterfall showerhead and let the warm water flow over her. She was tilting her head back to push her hair out of her face when she felt hands on her hips. Opening her mouth to scream, she sucked in a mouthful of water and started to sputter and cough.

Stepping out of the stream of water, she turned her head and saw Phil holding onto the wall laughing hysterically. So much so, he was almost bent over with it. As much as she wanted to be mad—and she was annoyed—she pushed it aside watching his carefree laughter.

She’d never seen him like that before. So fresh, so open and so free. But she still wanted to get even. Without missing a beat, she grabbed the handheld shower wand, aimed it right at his face, and fired.

He came up coughing and sputtering. This time it was her turn to laugh hysterically. “That will teach you.”

“What is it going to teach me?” he asked, challenging her. Then he wrapped his arms around her waist, pulled the handheld wand out of her hand and hung it back up. Turning her in his arms, he covered her mouth with his.

Hunger, another emotion she hadn’t seen from him. Raw, simple and hurried. His hands roamed over her back, down to her hips and cupped her behind, lifting her up on her toes.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, held on, and continued to kiss him as if it were the only thing she was capable of doing. Because at the moment, that was all she wanted to do. Feel him, possess him, have him possess her. It was her only thought.

He pushed her back against the cold tiles. The combination, next to her heated skin and the warm water, was another erotic sensation. He lifted his head, then trailed his lips from her cheek to her neck, with his teeth coming out to graze her skin roughly.

He lifted her higher and her feet came off the ground, so she hitched herself up and wrapped her legs around his waist, gripping his body tightly. With fast efficient motions, he shut off the water and carried her back to his bed. Soaking wet, he dropped her down, then reached over to the bedside drawer and pulled out a condom.

In one fluid motion he was ready and sliding into her. She hadn’t even thought she was prepared for him, but she was. More than ready. Rushed motions, fast, quick, and slick. Their bodies slipping and sliding in their haste to get to the end, neither of them caring in the least.

Fueled only by the rising heat within her body, the motion of Phil on top of her, and the coiled tension below, she started to crest faster than ever before. She had to get to the end. She needed him to bring her there. “Don’t stop. Just don’t stop what you’re doing,” she said, panting out each word.

“I won’t. I can’t.”

His hand slid into her wet hair, tangling and pulling against her scalp. Again she couldn’t care less about the pain, if anything it made the pleasure below even better. He kissed her again, feverishly. She lifted her legs, wrapped them around his waist and squeezed him tight, his hips pumping up faster, sending her spiraling into a world of ecstasy, following quickly behind him.

“Wow,” she said after she managed to suck in some air. “I never thought gulping down water in the shower would lead to this.”

He burst out laughing again, then moved off her and held out his hand to help her up. “Me neither. But I’m not complaining. Come on, let’s go take a real shower now.”

***

Early afternoon, he watched her pack up her clothes. He didn’t want her to leave. Not yet. But they were only going to his parents’ house for dinner for now. Then she would drive home and he would come back here. Alone.

She lifted her head and caught him staring. “What’s wrong?” she asked.

“Nothing.”

She stopped folding her shirt. He thought it was cute how she even folded her dirty clothes to repack them. “Are you sure?”

Without thinking, he said, “Why don’t you leave a few things here?”

“What?” she asked, her eyes slightly widening.

He grabbed her dirty shirt from her hand. “I’ll throw them in the washer and then put them away for you. Just to have a change of clothes here in case you ever want to stay last minute.” He wasn’t sure what to make of the look on her face. Shock for one, but maybe a little bit of hope. He prayed it wasn’t fear. Or worse yet, withdrawal.

She chuckled lightly and grabbed her shirt back. She was smiling, so that was a good sign. “There is no way you are washing my clothes. I’ve seen how you fold your own clothes. You aren’t touching mine.”

“Then you can wash them and leave them here,” he suggested, holding his breath.

“Why?”

“Why what?”

“What’s this really about, Phil?”

He saw her eyes searching his, the uncertainty clear. He wasn’t sure if it was uncertainty that he was moving too fast and she wasn’t ready, or if she really didn’t understand what was going on. If he couldn’t be truthful with her about this, then there was no hope for them. “I like having you here. A part of you to at least stay in the house. Don’t worry about it if you aren’t ready. It was only a suggestion.” He moved away and took a few steps back.

She looked at him a minute longer, then pulled her dirty clothes back out of her bag. “Do you have a basket for them so I can carry them to the laundry room? There isn’t enough for a full load, so grab a few of your color clothes too. I’ll show you the proper way to wash the laundry.”

“You mean by overfilling the machine and stripping the washer rings so it leaks.”

“Nice,” she said sarcastically. “I told you why I did that.”

“You did. I’ll make a deal with you. I won’t wash your clothes, if you don’t make my washer leak,” he said, a smirk tugging at his lips. He wanted to jump for joy regardless of how stupid it would look, but he didn’t care. He took that step, she accepted it and agreed.

“Deal.”

She dumped her clothes into the basket he pulled out of his closet. Then he watched as she walked back into his closet and came out with a pair of his jeans and a shirt. “What are you doing?”

“Bringing some of your stuff to my house. Fair is fair, don’t you think?”

“Yeah. Yeah, I do.” He walked over and wrapped his arms around her waist, leaned down and placed his lips over hers—just a soft gentle kiss—and held her tight. “Sophia,” he said softly.

“Yeah,” she said, letting out a tiny breath. He tucked her head under his chin and shook his head, but he knew she felt it and pushed him. “What did you want to say?”

Placing a kiss on her forehead, he whispered, “I can’t say it right now. But it doesn’t mean I don’t feel it, or don’t mean it.”

She ran her fingers across his cheek. “Why can’t you say it?”

“I don’t want to scare you.”

“You won’t.”

But he held his tongue. He didn’t think it would scare her, but it scared him. He kissed her again and held her tight, savoring the feel of her body against his.

She exhaled, then said, “I
won’t
say it right now then. But it doesn’t mean I don’t feel it or don’t mean it.”

Harper Thing

They walked into the front door of Phil’s parents’ house, shaking the raindrops from their heads and removing their shoes at the front door. Phil stopped in the living room with Ryan, Alec and his father, Sophia continuing on to the kitchen where Isabel and Kaitlin already were. “What can I do to help?”

“Nothing,” Isabel said. “Take Kaitlin in the other room and make her get off her feet. Presley and Ben will be here any minute.” She paused, then said, “And there they are. Presley, darling.” Isabel gave her a kiss on the cheek when she walked into the kitchen. “Talk some sense into Kaitlin and tell her to get off her feet. She was on them too much yesterday as it was.”

Presley chuckled and ordered Kaitlin out of the room. “Let’s go to the sitting room and leave the boys to themselves. I need a break from Ben—he’s driving me insane.”

Sophia laughed. She really liked Presley. You always knew where you stood with her—she pulled no punches.

“What did my brother do this time?” Kaitlin asked.

“I didn’t want to stop unpacking. I took a long weekend so I could get it all done. I can’t stand having boxes everywhere and he wouldn’t let me finish up. Said he would do it when I’m at work this week.”

“What’s wrong with that?” Kaitlin asked.

“He won’t put things where I want them. Then I’ll have to find everything and move it,” she said, disgruntled.

“I’ve moved more than all of you together. Well, maybe with the exception of Alec. But still, a piece of advice,” Sophia started to say. “Put everything away that is important to you first. The stuff that you don’t use often or don’t care about so much, leave for him. Honestly, he probably knows the best place for it.”

“I know,” Presley said, sighing. “I’m not used to having anyone do anything for me. Or touch my things. But you’re right, and I did put all my clothes and kitchen things away already. That was the most important thing. Ben already rearranged the few furnishings I brought, nothing major.”

“Then what’s left?” Kaitlin asked.

“Just a few photos and personal items. Not much more than that. Probably three boxes tops. I don’t even know what to do with them.”

Ben walked past them to get a beer and heard what Presley said, stopped and gave her a quick kiss. “I didn’t say I would go through your stuff. I said I would move the boxes out of the way for you to go through them when you’re ready. There’s no rush right now.” Then he walked out the door before she could reply.

“All settled, then,” Sophia said, watching the exchange and feeling a little jealous at the love between Ben and Presley. She could see how much Ben cared for Presley and it warmed her.

Kaitlin brought her hands to her belly. “They’re horsing around. Want to feel?”

More than anything. “Are you sure? I know how much you hate people feeling your belly.”

“This is different. You’re both family.” She grabbed Sophia’s and Presley’s hands and placed one on each side of her belly.

“Wow, that’s amazing,” Sophia said, smiling brightly. “My little niece is kicking some butt.”

“She is going to have to be tough if her brother is anything like Ben told me he and your brothers were growing up.”

Kaitlin’s lips twitched. “They were pretty rough. Always pushing, fighting and throwing things at each other.”

“How badly did they gang up on Phil?” Sophia asked. Phil was the quieter of the bunch and she figured he got the brunt of it.

Shaking her head, Kaitlin explained. “It was all pretty fair. They never ganged up on one more than the other. Besides, Phil may be quiet, but he’s tougher than you think. He knows what he wants, fights for it and stands his ground until he gets what he wants. He always has.”

Sophia blinked back a few tears.

“What? What did I say?” Kaitlin rushed out.

“Nothing,” Sophia said, shaking her head. She didn’t want to talk about it—didn’t even know why she was getting emotional about it all. It was the comment about Phil knowing what he wanted and fighting for it. Yet he couldn’t even tell her how he felt, not fully. Even though he repeatedly said he’d waited long enough for her.

“Stop acting like it’s nothing, Sophia. This is me you’re talking to. I know you better than anyone.”

“Everyone can see how much Phil loves you, Sophia,” Presley said.

With a humorless laugh, she asked. “Then why won’t he say it?”

“Must be a Harper thing,” Presley said.

“What does that mean? Remember, I’m a Harper, too,” Kaitlin said defensively, but without bite.

“You’re not a Harper anymore,” Sophia said with a little watery grin. “But unlike how you were, Kaitlin, I know what I feel and know how your brother feels too. Only he won’t say it. You and Ryan never let on to your feelings and left the other guessing the whole time.”

“Sounds like Ben and me,” Presley said. “He couldn’t say it either for some reason. Then again, I had a hard time, so I can’t judge. But we knew and even had a little code for what we felt.”

“A code. Are you kidding me?” Kaitlin asked, laughing.

Interesting, Sophia thought. Maybe the brothers were all more alike than she realized. “What was it?”

“One night when I thought Ben was sleeping, I whispered to him to not break my heart. Weeks later, he told me he wouldn’t break it. For a long time that is all we would say to each other. We wouldn’t break each other’s heart. We were both afraid to take that step and say we loved each other.”

“Definitely a Harper thing,” Sophia said.

“Why? What did Phil say to you?” Presley asked.

Unsure if she wanted to talk about it with Kaitlin and Presley, Sophia hedged and then finally decided to say it. What could it hurt? She trusted them both. “He told me he couldn’t say it, but that didn’t mean he didn’t mean it or feel it.”

Annoyed—Sophia hoped with Phil—Kaitlin asked, “What did you say back to him?”

“I told him that I
won’t
say it, but that didn’t mean I didn’t mean it or feel it.”

“That a girl,” Presley said. “Don’t let him off the hook.”

“I won’t,” Sophia said, knuckling a tear from her eye. “But until he says it to me, he might not be ready to hear it either. He knows how I feel.”

Phil walked past them as she was wiping another tear from her cheek while smiling at Presley now. He rushed over. “What? What happened? What did you two say to her?” he asked, staring at Kaitlin.

“Nothing,” Kaitlin said, pinning him with a glare she normally reserved for when she was mad at her brothers.

“What did I do?” Phil asked. “Why are you looking at me like you do when you’re mad at Ben? I’m the nice brother.”

Kaitlin held her hand out for him to help her up. Then she stretched up and gave him a tap on the cheek. “You may be the nice brother, but you’re just as stubborn as the others.”

“What does that mean?” he asked, obviously confused.

“Figure it out,” Sophia said, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

***

After dinner and dessert were cleaned up and everyone was relaxing in the family room, Sophia turned to Isabel. “Sorry to leave first, but I really need to get some work done before tomorrow.”

“No problem, dear. We’re glad you could make it.”

Phil stood up when Sophia did. “Do you want some company?” he asked, hedging. This was the most time they’d spent together, two nights and three days. He wasn’t sure if she wanted some space. Normally by now he was climbing the walls himself, but he wasn’t.

She looked at him slyly. He wasn’t sure why or what her look meant, but she grinned and said, “Sure. And you even have a change of clothes at my house if you decide to stay the night last minute.”

He caught her smirk at Presley and the wink Presley sent in return. For the life of him, he didn’t know what was going on between the two girls, but he didn’t miss the look exchanged by his brothers either. His family knew he had never, ever, left clothing or personal items at any woman’s house and detested when women left stuff at his house.

Surprisingly, he was okay with her announcement and decided to have a little fun with her. He hadn’t missed the teasing glint in her eyes, and he didn’t want her to get away with it. Not when he loved picking on her so much—another side his family very rarely saw from him. “True. As long as you don’t overload the washer again and strip the ring when you clean my clothes.”

Alec’s eyes went wide. “I knew it.”

Phil chuckled and looked at his twin. He wasn’t sure if that statement was due to the washing machine leaking when he covered for Sophia, or the fact that his brother knew better than anyone what it meant that Phil was breaking all the rules he had with other women.