Indulgence (255 page)

“Okay, I thought I might like a little bit of girl time with
Liz to tell her my problems, but apparently my big brother is going to butt his
way into the conversation.”

“Honey, we can go somewhere else if you want,” Liz said,
giving her hand a squeeze.

“No, that’s all right. You’ll all know by Monday anyway.
Carrie quit Enwright. She broke up with me, and she’s moving back to Iowa. She
didn’t like the deal with Ashford. She said she didn’t like that we were in the
middle of all of the guns and physical security work. Hell! That’s how we met
in the first place. How was I supposed to know it bothered her?

“Anyway, she said either we both quit Enwright or she was
leaving. After that there was nothing left to say but good-bye.” Jo gave a
shrug of her shoulders, but Liz knew it hurt.

“I’m sorry, Jo. She had to know you wouldn’t quit, though?”
Liz said.

“Oh, she did. It was just an excuse. We didn’t exactly see
our relationship going the same places.” Jo smiled a genuine smile at last and
looked at Michael. “The lease was in her name, bro. I moved in with her. Looks
like I need to come back home for a while.”

Liz sucked in a breath at Michael’s dazzling smile. He was
genuinely happy to have Jo here with him again. She loved the relationship
between brother and sister; it made her wish her own family had been more
normal. As the only child of divorced parents, she was usually forced to play
the role of volleyball.

“The timing couldn’t be more perfect. In fact…I want you to
take the casita. I’d planned to offer it to you anyway, but this is just
perfect.”

“Three bedrooms all to myself? Heavenly! Thanks, Michael. I
accept!”

Michael thought it was going to work. It just had to. Jo
taking the casita was the first step in bringing his loved ones closer. He’d
thought it might be a problem with Carrie but with Carrie gone, Jo was more
than willing to come home. He also knew with Jo in the casita he could no
longer offer it as a place for Graeme to stay. He prayed the gamble paid off.

With a grin, he continued, “If everyone can hold off dinner
for a few more minutes, I have a proposition for all of you. First, a little
history. I started Enwright Securities on a shoestring, doing most of the
design work and hiring new security operatives as each new job came in. It was
a heady time, but I worked like a dog. When Jo came along, I thought I might
take a break but instead, we just worked harder.

“This last month has been a painful lesson in love and loss.
We’ve all experienced both, and I want to make some changes in my life to
reflect what I’ve learned. Having Jo closer is just one of those changes. I
know I’ve said I have a surprise for you all. I hope you see it as a positive
development.

“I’ve decided to diversify the management at Enwright. Jo,
I’ve unfairly called you my right-hand man for years, in lieu of giving you a
proper title that reflects the importance of what you do for the company, for
me. As of now, you are the vice president of electronic surveillance. All
requests for electronic support go through you. You manage the team, design the
plan, make the decisions.”

Jo leaped at him, nearly spilling his drink in the process.
“Oh my God! Wait, that’s too girly. Holy fucking shit! I accept, Michael. Oh
shit. Yes, I accept!” Then to his complete astonishment, she danced around the
room before flouncing back in her chair with a grin.

She looked around the room, “Sorry, just needed to do a
little happy dance.”

Everyone laughed.

“Good, now on to other business. Lizzie, my love, you are a
very capable businesswoman, as is evidenced by your rise to VP of operations at
Brooker Tech. I want to steal you away from your current employer and ask you
to take on a similar position here. It won’t be easy,” he warned. “We need to
reorganize into four branches. It will mean working with my attorneys, the rest
of the management team, and the press. I—”

“Yes! Now stop talking, Michael, before you talk me out of it.
I say yes. I don’t need any more details for now. This is exactly the type of
challenge I enjoy. The bonus is I get to work with you and Jo. Yes, yes, yes.”

He glanced over at Graeme and saw he’d pulled on his cop
face, the one designed to keep people from knowing what he was thinking.
Michael wanted to comfort him, take the closed look from him, and see the man
inside. He hoped he wasn’t overdoing things tonight by making these
announcements on Graeme’s first night back. Michael pushed that worry aside for
now.

“Graeme, I know it’s going to be a while before you’re ready
to work full time, but I thought you would be perfect to help me work through
how to set up the new branch of physical security. It would include our
bodyguard services, police liaison work, and I’m adding private investigation
to the official line, although we’ve done it for select clients for years. Once
you’re fully ready to return to work, I’d be honored if you’d serve as the VP
of that branch.

Graeme scowled. “I’m a cop, not some private security mall
guard.”

Michael quickly agreed. “You are a cop, and a damn fine one.
It’s why I think it’s so important to have you in this position. I need someone
who thinks like a cop to direct operations like the one involving Ashford, who
can work with the locals without getting shut out, who can keep our clients
safe.

“You don’t have to answer about the permanent job for now.
Will you let me pick your brain while you’re recovering? Help me get it
organized so that I can hire someone else if you won’t take it?”

Graeme’s lip twitched, and something looking suspiciously
like a smile tried to break through his stern expression. “You’re a tricky
little bastard, aren’t you? I’ll have to remember that. Yes, I can help. But if
you farm out all these jobs to others, what in the hell will you be doing?”

Michael laughed. “I’ll retain the title of president and
CEO, but I also plan to spend most of my time working in research and
development. It’s where my real roots are. I’m just a geek at heart,” he said
to a room full of smiles.

*****

Graeme felt gray with pain and weariness. He’d enjoyed every
minute of dinner, but suddenly he was done. Before he could say a word, Michael
was by his side, helping him to his feet.

“Jo, thanks for sticking around, but I think we’ve done
enough planning for tonight. I need to get Graeme his meds and get him to bed.
See you tomorrow.”

Michael helped him to back of the house and to an elevator
he hadn’t even known existed.

“Hang on, Graeme, you’ll be in your room soon.”

Lizzie slid in behind them and gently slid a hand over his
back while he leaned heavily against Michael.

“I’m sorry, Graeme. We did too much," Michael said
"I’m just so damned relieved to have you here.”

The doors slid open, and Graeme was aware an enormous living
room with floor to ceiling windows that looked out over the city lights. He had
a brief impression of tasteful and expensive furnishings, but he’d be damned if
he had any brain cells left to process what he was seeing. He needed to lie
down. A short corridor led to a set of double doors, and Michael steered him in
that direction.

“I’ve never been down here before. Where are we, Michael?”
Lizzie asked.

“Home,” was all he said.

Michael opened the doors to reveal a giant bedroom. This
time, Graeme’s brain did wake up enough to take note. There was a king-sized
four poster bed set against one wall and a seating area with a fireplace in an
alcove near the windows. All the furniture was leather and dark wood, but the
room had splashes of color in the curtains, bedspread, and pillows. The
flagstone floors of downstairs had given way to dark wooden floors and throw
rugs. It reminded Graeme of his cabin.

“Oh my God, Michael! What have you done? The room we shared
downstairs was beautiful, but this is magnificent.”

He beamed at her even as he continued to steer Graeme to the
door on the left.

“Lizzie, your suite of rooms is to the right. Graeme, yours
is this way. They can be accessed through the hall if you don’t want to come
through this bedroom. Each suite has its own bed, bath, and closets. Of course,
I’d prefer we all stay together in this room, but now you each have your own
place of privacy. No strings attached, unless you want them.”

Graeme was grateful for Michael’s firm arm guiding him
through the rooms. He was shocked to see it was only a slightly smaller version
of the first bedroom. Tomorrow. He would look around tomorrow. He was fading
fast. Michael helped him sit on the edge of the bed and knelt to remove his
shoes and socks, before disappearing into the bathroom.

He heard the water running in the tub; then Michael emerged
a minute later with a bottle of water and handed Graeme his pills.

“Do you feel up to a bath? The warm water will help.”

Graeme swallowed the pills and knew he had about fifteen
minutes before the meds would take the pain away and maybe let him sleep for a
while. He just nodded and let Michael take charge of him.

*****

Michael had forced himself to be casual about the changes in
Graeme’s body. He’d remained businesslike when he’d handed Graeme a washcloth
and soap.

“I’ll be right back to help you out,” he said. He’d left the
room to give Graeme some privacy and to confer with Liz.

He found her waiting in the big bedroom.

She wrapped her arms around him and held him tight for a
minute. “Michael, I don’t know what to say. This room, the private suite, it’s
too much. It’s just too much.”

“Sweetheart, there isn’t anything I wouldn’t give you or
Graeme. You know that. You’ve been here nearly a month, it’s time you had your
own space. I thought the three rooms together would be better than assuming
we’d all share one room or putting Graeme in a separate room. Is it okay? Do
you like it? Because if not you can redec—”

It was as far as he got before she stopped his words with a
kiss.

“It’s just perfect, Michael. We can talk more about it
tomorrow. Is Graeme already asleep? I thought he might want a little privacy
when he undressed, but I was hoping we could cuddle. Should I go in now or are
you bringing him in here?” she asked.

“He’s taking a bath. Oh God, Liz, he was hurt. He still
hurts.”

“He’s healing. He’s home. We can all beat the fear and pain
back better, now that we’re together.”

“Yes. I know. I do believe that. It’s just hard to see what
was done to him. Mostly to his legs. His ankle is badly scarred. I need to get
back in there and help him out of the tub and get dressed. Then I’ll let him
decide where he wants to sleep. Either way, will you stay with me in here
tonight, Liz? Unless he wants you to stay in there with him, of course.”

“I wouldn’t be anywhere else. Now go take care of Graeme.
I’ll wait for you.”

*****

Graeme closed his eyes, savoring the feel of the satin
sheets against his skin. Michael had seemed embarrassed by them but had
admitted he’d asked the physical therapist for advice and been told now that
the wounds were healed, satin and silk would feel soothing to Graeme’s skin.

“Turn over, Graeme,” Michael said, nudging him with a knee
to the hip.

Graeme turned onto his stomach and wondered what Michael had
in planned. Several things came to mind, all of which involved strenuous
activity and as such were strictly forbidden.

“You do remember that I’m supposed to take it easy, don’t
you?”

Lizzie laughed, and it was a definitely naughty sound. “Get
your mind out of the gutter, Kennedy. The therapist told Michael it would feel
good if we rubbed a little vitamin E oil on your legs. Don’t expect treatment
like this all the time, though. In fact, I think you’ll be perfectly healthy
soon enough, so I want it known that I get to be the next one for the massage
treatment. By the way, I took a peek at your medical record. I see you’re
clean. So are we. Since I’m on the pill, we can go condom-free from now on.”

“Oh God.” He half laughed and half moaned as the oil was
massaged into his sensitive skin by two pairs of hands. Hands that started at
his feet and worked their way up to his calves. One pair large, the other
small, gentle hands with a firm touch, hands that stroked him with love.

The bed shifted as Michael knelt between his legs while Lizzie
moved to rub his shoulders. She worked at his neck and back, finding the knots
and loosening them. Michael kept working on his thighs, moving up until he was
massaging Graeme’s ass. He felt the warm drizzle of oil between the cheeks of
his ass, then Michael was sliding a finger in the crevice, while the other hand
reach under him to cup his balls.

A finger pressed against his anus, pushing lightly,
spreading the oil, and he opened his legs even further, inviting the touch.
God, his cock was hard as a rock. It had been a long time since someone had
touched him there, and he was tight. Michael was gentle, his finger pushed, and
Graeme forced himself to relax. Michael worked him carefully, adding a second
finger, spreading him, fucking him with his hand.

Graeme lifted his head to find Lizzie kneeling by his
shoulders, still gentling him with her touch.

“Touch yourself, Lizzie, then let me taste,” he told her.

She came up on her knees near his face, spreading her pussy
lips, making sure Graeme could see. She slipped inside with a moan and took her
time, sliding her fingers in and out. When she spread her own juices and rubbed
her clit, both men moaned. She brought the creamy fingers to his mouth, and he
sucked greedily.

Michael leaned over him, bare chest against bare back.
“You’ll have to follow the doctor’s orders, no strenuous activity. Let us do
all the work.” He groaned long and low when Michael slipped his fingers out,
leaving him empty and ready to explode.