Breathe (23 page)

“Ah woman, we need to train those hips a little more.” I held her close while she gained control of her legs, enjoying the feel of her soft curves against me. She snuggled into my chest and I breathed in deeply, memorizing the feel of her in my arms, relishing the warmth and closeness of the moment. She pulled away too soon and looked up at me.

“Come to my house tonight. You don’t have to stay at the hotel, if you don’t want to.”

I looked down into her amber eyes what I was searching for I had no idea, but knew I wanted that more than my next breath.

“My grá, there is nothing I would rather do.”

She grinned then turned, grabbed my hand and pulled me to the elevator. As I repacked my bag she called Joey and Cora and let them know that I would be staying with her for the remainder of my time in New York and to ask them to bring my bike over. I heard her giggling and that made me smile. I loved that she loved my friends as much as I did. None of the other women in my past had ever gotten either one to warm up to them, even Lynn was kept at arm’s length. It was hard to keep Kathryn at arm’s length though, she was so warm and beautiful inside and out. It was hard not to love her, and clearly my friends weren’t immune to her heart. That would make the next 50 or so years much better.

I followed her out of the hotel room, my two bags slung over my shoulder. I checked out of the room in the lobby then wrapped my arm around her shoulder as we left together. The doorman hailed a cab quickly for us, helping me with my bags, before holding the cab door open for us. I thanked him then climbed in beside Kathryn as she gave the cabby her address before settling back against me. I pulled her close, kissing the top of her head as the cab pulled out into New York traffic. This is where she belonged, here in my arms, no matter where in the world we were. This was home.

(Kathryn)

I loved how his arms felt around my shoulders. I snuggled in close to his warmth, breathing in his scent and luxuriating in his presence. In these moments with him nothing else seemed to matter, and the world couldn’t touch us. I knew it was there waiting to intrude but when I was in his arms I could block it all out. It only took the cab a couple minutes to get to my townhouse. Josh came down the stairs to greet me as Daniel grabbed his bags and paid the cabby.

“Hello Ms. James. Welcome home.” He took my medicine bag and purse from me and walked ahead of us up the stairs to the front door. As soon as we walked in we were bombarded by Sasha and Michael as they rounded the corner being chased by an out of breath Tyler.

“Safe! We are safe!”

“Hey my mom isn’t base. She wasn’t here when we started. Doesn’t work.” He lunged at the two kids catching them both and tickling them as they all fell into a heap at my feet.

“Well that is one hell of a greeting.” Three sets of eyes looked up at me, laughing.  Then brown eyes caught sight of Daniel behind me and shuttered. Tyler climbed back on his feet and helped both Sasha and Michael up.

“Go help your momma finish packing up you hooligans. Dinner is almost ready.” Tyler turned to head back to the kitchen but I put my arm around his shoulder so I could walk with him.

“You cooked? Should I call pizza in?” He scowled at me but grinned.

“No, it turns out Nathaniel knows how to cook so Lily put him to work making some kind of pasta thing.” We walked into the kitchen where Nathaniel was stirring something at the stove and Lily was sitting on one of the stools at the island, talking his ear off. He didn’t seem to mind though, I caught him smiling as he listened. I cocked my head a little, very interesting.

“It smells amazing Nathaniel.” Daniel walked in behind me and took a seat next to Lily who grabbed him in a hug before finishing her one sided conversation with Nathaniel.

“Thank you. I picked up a few things over the years. Dinner will be ready soon as long as Lily actually gets up and makes the garlic bread.” We all laughed when she scrunched her pretty nose up and huffed as she stood up. I walked over to the fridge for a drink.

“Daniel you want anything to drink? We have tea, water, milk, juice, pop.”

“I bought some wine as well. If you want something a little more adult.”

I turned and grinned at Taylor who had just walked down the stairs, carrying her bags. My grin turned to a frown when I saw the bags. I had completely forgotten she was leaving today, I was so wrapped up in Daniel. I ran over and hugged her tightly.

“I am going to miss your face.”

She leaned back and grinned at me. “I am going to miss your face more.”

I pulled her back into a hug then pulled her to the island to sit next to me on the last two stools. We started chatting like we would never see each other again as Daniel and Lily helped Nathaniel with the rest of dinner and Tyler set the table in the large eat in area.

A few minutes later Nathaniel brought steaming pasta and sauce to the table, followed by Lily with her garlic bread in a bowl, and Daniel with a salad that he had thrown together quickly. Sasha and Michael ran down the stairs into the kitchen with their bags packed as soon as their mom called up to them. We all sat around the table, Josh and Christopher, Tyler’s bodyguard joining us as part of our large extended family.

I sat back and watched as everyone talked and joked with each other. Even watching as Tyler grudgingly smiled a few times at Daniel’s stories. This was my family. We were only missing Joey, Cora, and their kids, as well as Jack, Taylor’s husband and it would be complete. I watched Daniel over the rim of my water glass. His sapphire eyes were sparkling with mischief as he teased Lily about something. She punched him on the arm, laughing at whatever he was saying and I caught the look on Nathaniel’s face as he watched her. I took a bite of the amazing pasta, very interesting indeed.

After dinner Taylor and I insisted on doing dishes and everyone else went into the living room to watch a movie. Once the kitchen was clean we all said good-bye to Taylor, Sasha, and Michael as they headed back home to New Jersey. I hugged each of them close.

“Be nice to your momma now.” They both looked up and nodded, grinning up at me as I made a face at them. “And momma, be nice to them.”

“I will. You know it.” She pulled me in close again and whispered against my ear. “Take care of yourself and be good to that man. He loves you.”

I nodded, a lump forming in my throat as I watched Josh help her load her bags into her small SUV, waving as she drove away. I wrapped my arms around myself as I stood in the doorway watching the lights of her car fading in the distance. I felt strong arms wrap around me and leaned back against Daniel’s chest.

“She is a sweet woman. Her kids are almost as insane as yours.” I grinned and turned in his arms to wrap my arms around his neck. He hadn’t shaved today so his face was even more scruffy and mouthwatering than usual.

“She is amazing. I wouldn’t know what to do without her.” He pulled me into his body and pressed a kiss to my forehead, then my nose, before pressing a soft kiss to my lips. He gazed down into my eyes for a long minute before he pulled away, taking my hand and pulling me back into the house so he could shut the front door behind us.

“Where is our bedroom again?”

I grinned then grabbed his bags that were still sitting on the foyer, leading him up the stairs to my bedroom.

(Kathryn)

“Okay woman. I didn’t say anything in front of everyone else but the headache conversation isn’t over.” I turned towards Daniel as he walked out on the balcony to join me. He handed me a glass of water and my medicine bag. I laughed and shook my head.

“I didn’t realize we were having a conversation.”

“Well we are. Now take your meds so I know you took them.” I rolled my eyes at his bossiness but took the medicine bag from him. I moved to sit down and lay back on one of my cozy lounge chairs beside the outside fireplace that he had lit as soon as he discovered it.

“Am I going to regret offering for you to stay here instead of the hotel?” I giggled at the sound of his growl as he sat in the chair beside me, facing towards were I was lying. I took the medicine quickly, putting the bag on the small table beside me. I sighed when I saw his face. He was determined to have whatever conversation this was going to be. “Okay Daniel, what do you need to know?”

“You have a headache every day?”

“Yes.”

“Even with those meds?”

“Yes. These meds help control the migraine headaches but I still have some form of headache every day.”

“Tyler said you have a high pain tolerance.” I looked at him waiting for the question but when he didn’t keep going I decided he wanted me to elaborate.

“When it comes to headache pain I guess I do. I can handle more pain then the average person. Most people with chronic pain do. They have to because they adjust to live their lives.”

“So that headache I had in Paris, when you rubbed my head and kissed it to make me feel better...the one that nearly killed me….that is your daily life?” I laughed and shook my head.

“You fell off a skateboard and hit your head. Completely different things! If you hadn’t been trying to show off for a piece of ass your head would have been fine.” I squealed when Daniel stood up and straddled me where I lay on the lounge chair.

“But it was such a hot piece of ass. And you liked that I was showing off for you.” I giggled, couldn’t deny the truth of that one. He had been so adorable trying to skate circles around me and then he fell.

“As I recall that was the first time your head was ever in my lap.” His eyes darkened with the memory and he leaned down closer, rubbing his nose against mine.

“It was such a warm delicious lap.” He moved his legs so they were between mine, pushing my knees apart, then reaching up and unzipping my jeans. His sapphire eyes looking deep into my own. I lifted my hips up to help him move them down my legs and then off. He threw them into the lounge chair he was just sitting in then turned back to focus on me.

I bit my lip and threw my head back as I felt his hands slowly move up the inside of my thigh, moving the crotch of my panties to the side, sliding slowly into my already moist slit. He groaned and his mouth moved to my ear as he slipped two fingers inside.

“You are always so god damn hot for me.” My hips pushed against his hand, begging for more and he leaned down to nuzzle my neck. “I am going to make you scream my name as you come.” His hands swiftly tore the tender fabric of my panties and his mouth was there against me before I could drag a breath in. I cried out as his tongue lapped up my juice and he moaned against my clit.

“You taste better than anything else I have ever had in my mouth.” He looked up at me, his dark sapphire eyes glittering in the light from the candles and with his passion. His lips were slick from my juices and he grinned at me wickedly, running his tongue over his lips before returning to my pussy in earnest. My hips rose to meet him, his hands grabbed my ass, pulling me closer and holding me to him. I went wild, grabbing his thick hair in my hands, rising up, begging for him to end the torture, to make me come. His beard scraped the insides of my thighs deliciously as he tried to hold me still. His mouth fastened on my clit and he slid two, then three fingers into my hungry pussy, slamming into me over and over until I exploded into his mouth. My legs stiffened and my hands grabbed his hair holding him against me as the tremors shook me and I cried out his name over and over again. He licked my clit slowly as I came down off the orgasm and loosened my hold. He grinned up at me, chuckling when he saw how exhausted he had made me.

“Ah grá, let’s get you to bed.” He picked my limp body into his arms and walked towards my bed. He stripped me out of my clothes slowly; lying me down once I was completely naked. He stepped back, turning off all the lights in the bedroom except the light from the bathroom. He stepped into that light, and stripped his clothes off slowly making sure my eyes followed his movements. Then he moved slowly towards me, his body telling me without words what he wanted. When he got to the edge of the bed, I reached out pushed back the covers and held out my arms. He chuckled as he joined me, pulling me close against his body and his erection.

(Daniel)

I pulled her close hearing her gasp when she felt my hardness against her hip. I chuckled when she arched her hip against me then moaned when her hand came up and circled my erection. She looked up at me through her lashes and grinned. She pushed me to my back then leaned over. Her long hair brushing against my over sensitized skin made me groan and my eyes closed.

“So you like that do you?”

I looked up into her amber eyes and grinned. “I love everything you do to me woman.”

“That’s good cause I am about to give you the ride of your life.” With that she leaned down and circled my nipple with her tongue. I moaned again, running my hands through her silky hair as she explored my chest slowly. She worked her way down to my stomach, dipping her tongue in my navel the same way I had done to her. She quickly positioned herself between my legs, pushing my thighs apart so she could sit between them. She paused and looked up at me. I watched as she licked her bottom lip and grinned at me. I caught my breath watching her work her magic on my body.

Never before had I reacted as strongly or as quickly as I did with her. I couldn’t get enough of her hands on me, her lips on me, or my cock inside of her warm, tight pussy. I groaned as I felt her hands cup my balls then arched up, her name leaving my lips in a shout as she took the tip of my erection in her mouth and sucked. She ran her tongue up my length, her eyes never leaving my face. The sight of her sweet mouth around my cock was almost my undoing. I grabbed her hair in my fist and yanked her up against me. I devoured her mouth, reaching down and feeling the wetness that was already leaking down her thighs. I grabbed her hip, lined my cock up then took her in one hard thrust.

She arched back, her hands working up through her hair as she started moving slowly, then faster. I let her set the pace, laying back and watching her. Her perfect breasts bounced as she continued to move up and down on my cock. I grabbed them in my hands and squeezed causing her to gasp and moan my name. I felt my orgasm start to build and knew she was close as well. I grabbed her hips, flipping her to her back, thrusting in hard and deep until she screamed my name. I gritted my teeth and slowed my thrusting, determined to bring her to at least one more orgasm before I gave into my own. When she gazed up at me with pleasure filled eyes I couldn’t stop, I leaned back and pounded into her over and over again until she was screaming my name again. I felt her pussy tighten against me and the pulsing sent me over the edge with her. I thrust once, twice, then three times, filling her womb before I collapsed on top of her. I gazed down into her eyes, and brushed her hair away from her face, leaning down to press a hard kiss to her swollen lips.

“You are insatiable.” Kathryn whispered against my lips.

I rolled off and laid down next to her, pulling her back against me, not able to let her move away. She snuggled against me, breathing deeply. I closed my eyes and felt myself drifting off quickly.

“Only with you my love. Only with you.”

I jerked awake and sat up, looking down into her face but she was already asleep. I kissed her softly before settling down beside her.

“One of these days you will say that when you are awake damn it.” Then I drifted off beside her, pulling her close, never wanting to let her go.

(Kathryn)

I stretched, feeling my thigh muscles protesting any movement. I grimaced and instantly stopped stretching.

“Having some issues?” I glanced over into laughing blue eyes and scowled.

“No thanks to your damn motorcycle. Now I remember why I hate those damn things.” He grinned unrepentantly. He leaned over and kissed me on the nose, then smacked my ass as he rolled out of bed.

“Well I would love to stay and remind you of the pleasure you get from riding astride but I have a meeting with my assistant and the producers to get my schedule for the next week and an afternoon of interviews to get through.” I turned over and watched him unabashedly as he got dressed. I moaned in disappointment when his jeans covered his ass. He chuckled then reached for a tee shirt out of his bag, pulling it over his head. He yanked it down over his stomach and I moaned again. He walked over and crawled up onto the bed to lean over me. I rolled onto my back, gazing up into his clear blue eyes.

“Miss me?” I whispered.

“Of course.” He leaned down and placed a soft kiss to my lips. I reached up, weaving my hands through his thick dark waves, loving the silver flecks that were showing, and pulled him closer. He groaned and deepened the kiss, thrusting his tongue to stroke mine. I poured the feelings I wasn’t ready to speak into my kiss, and he growled deep in his throat, making my pussy clench. He finally pulled away and dropped his forehead against mine as he struggled to catch his breath. “Jesus woman. I love waking up to you.”

He pressed another quick kiss to the top of my head then pushed himself off the bed. He pulled a hoodie out of his bag and yanked it over his head, ruffling his hair even more than my hands had. I grinned over at him, rolling over and pulling the sheets up over my naked body then resting my head against my hand as I watched him grab his phone, and keys. He turned and gazed down at me for a few more seconds. He shook his head and walked to the door stopping by the chair to pull his shoes on.

“Seriously, woman I have to go.”

“Do you know what time you’ll be back?”

He shook his head. “I will call and let you know, if that’s okay?”

I nodded. “Of course. Lily and I are going shopping after she does her rehearsal and then taking a class at the gym afterwards.” He stood up and stood by the door for a few more seconds.

“I will let you know and I can grab dinner on my way home.”

I nodded then looked down at my hands before he could see the tears from him using the word home. “See you later my grá.”

I waited until I heard the front door open and shut before I climbed out from between the sheets and ran to the window. I made sure my body was covered by the curtains as I looked down at the sidewalk where Daniel was talking to Josh. He must have sensed my eyes on him because he glanced up and blew a kiss up at me. I caught it like he had done back in Paris and returned it just as a town car pulled up and he climbed inside. He winked and waved one more time before he shut the door and the car pulled away from the curb. I watched until the car was out of sight before turning to the closet to get ready for the day.

(Daniel)

I sat through several interviews, answering when asked something directly but pretty much zoning out the rest of the time. I had enjoyed my few days off but it was clearly not enough time. I was ready for this promotional tour to be done so I could relax for a little bit before the next project started. I had been working nonstop for the past three years, and I was ready for a break. My phone buzzed on the table beside me between interviews and I grinned when I saw Kathryn’s gorgeous face flash on the screen. I ignored my assistant’s frantic head shaking and pulled up the message.

              K: Hey handsome. How is your day going?

              D: Mind numbing. How is shopping with Lily?

K: She just got done so we are foregoing shopping so we can hit the Krav Maga class at the gym.

D: Krav Maga huh? That is pretty hardcore missus.

K: We have both taken kick boxing and I think we should step it up. You know just in case.

I frowned down at the phone, hating that she was worried like that. Krav Maga was some serious self-defense but if it made her feel safer in any way I would find out a way to be okay with it.

              D: Well you two be careful, and stretch!

              K: I will, I am still sore from yesterday. :-)

              D: Well I will give you a long hard rub down once I get home.

              K: Seriously love that you call my house your home. x

D: Home is wherever you are my grá. Got to run the next interviewer is here. Miss your face. xx

I looked up at the next group of people coming in the room, sighed silently and glanced at my watch. Another two hours and I could head home, home where Kathryn would be waiting for me, maybe I could slip out a little earlier and meet her as she was coming home, sweat still glistening on her pure skin, I could carry her into the shower and wash the sweat off her body, then take my time rubbing her muscles. Suddenly the room seemed too warm and my pants were way too small. I forced myself to focus on the reporters in front of me and to answer the questions they had, repeating myself at least ten more times before I could finally escape. Thirty minutes past the time that I had originally told Kathryn. I cursed under my breath as I waited impatiently at the curb for the town car to pull around.