Indulgence (41 page)

“You know it’s not physical?” I started to assure him.

He tipped his head back and laughed, still holding me close.
“Of course I know that. But love is love and I take Oliver’s love very
seriously, and I know you do, too. So I’m warning you: That big lug is smitten.
You better figure out soon what it is you want out of your time with him, or
you may miss the boat.” My best friend’s boyfriend was giving
me
a love
lecture
.
There was something oddly dysfunctional about that.

“I’m falling, too.” The words left my mouth so swiftly that
I wasn’t sure I’d even said them.

“I know. Oh, honey, I know. You look at Hank the way I look at
Oliver. It’s unmistakable. Only the two of you are blind to it.” He smiled and
I hugged him tightly.

“Hey now! You trying to steal my girl?” Hank said from
behind us. My father must have moved on to another group. Probably telling
everyone at the party about how his daughter’s boyfriend decked a congressman’s
son.

“Sharing is caring, Hank.” Dean’s mouth twitched but his
face stayed serious.

“The hell it is. Didn’t you get a gander at the other fella
that talked about my Angel? Want to join him?” He hooked a thumb behind his
back for emphasis.

Dean couldn’t hold it in any longer. They both started to
crack up. Hank brought over a beer for the man and a new glass of wine for me.
It was startling how quickly these two men had bonded.

Just a moment ago I was getting the “watch out for Hank’s
heart” lecture from
my
friend, a man Hank met only a few hours ago! I
felt like I was in the Twilight Zone. Nothing in my perfectly calculated and
planned out world continued to add up. Everything was spinning out of control,
specifically circling around a man well over six feet tall who controlled me
and my lady parts with just the sound of his breath against the open skin of my
neck.

My mother had Grant’s passed out body taken to one of the
guest rooms. I was certain she’d have one of the many doctors in attendance
look him over. The group settled back into an easy commentary after the
spectacle though I didn’t participate.

So much of my life was out of whack. Ever since Hank
entered, things have been off balance and messy. Though the last three weeks
had most certainly not been predictable, I’d still never been happier.

It dawned on me that maybe I was trying too hard to keep
every facet of my life the same. Trying to fit Hank into my everyday life was
like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. Yes, Hank would have to
adapt to my obligations with work and up his social grace, but it didn’t mean I
wanted to change who he was. I adored him.

I looked over at Hank, a huge smile was plastered across his
face. A five o’clock shadow just grazed the surface of his chin, making him
look more rugged and handsome by the second. His green-brown eyes darted
between my friends. I realized while watching him how perfectly he fit in with
the only people in the world who actually mattered. He even was getting along
more easily with Oliver, and it warmed my heart to see them joking with one
another. Could I see myself with him in the long run? I didn’t know. We needed
more time. Three weeks was hardly enough to determine what the future would
hold.

Hank leaned back in his chair and laughed at the story
London was telling about how her current clients wanted a stripper pole in
their master bedroom. She was completely against it but had one put in because
the wife was adamant. The first time the female client tried to use the pole
she fell off and broke her wrist.

Needless to say, the pole was removed the next day and the
client was now letting London make the decisions about home décor. Hank gripped
my hand, picked it up, and brought it to his lips, never swaying from the
conversation before us. He kissed each one of my knuckles, then placed a warm
kiss at the center of my palm. My entire body shivered and ached with desire.

I pulled both of our hands down to my lap. He surprised me
by placing his large hand over my thigh and inching up my skirt, just enough so
that the act wasn’t indecent. His fingers toyed with my nylons and made endless
circles over my knee and around the tender skin just above. He looked over at
me; his full lips displayed a small smile before he sent me an air kiss.

The man was full of surprises.

Punching out Aspen’s ex-boyfriend in the middle of a forced
family fun event was not my best moment. The dick had it comin’. He was
downright disrespectful to my Angel, and someone needed to teach the pretty boy
a lesson about respecting a lady. Especially if said lady was on my arm.

Growing up I’d gotten into my fair share of trouble,
stealing Farmer McMann’s tractor on account of a dare from my brother. Old Man
Henry let me stay a full night in the local clink for that. It was never
reported, though, because my father was friends with both Farmer McMann and the
sheriff. I ended up doing a months’ worth of hay baling and cleaning up pig
shit for that offense.

A few other times I’d gotten into a raucous fight with a
couple of jocks, then again when I beat up my girlfriend’s cousin for touching
her inappropriately. Hell, now that I looked back on it, I’d gotten in a heap
of trouble. I’d just hoped that my pattern of solving problems with my fists
wouldn’t push Aspen away. For her I could find a way to keep my cool. At least
I’d try my damnedest.

“So, I hear your new beau took out Grant this evening.” A
fella with a very smart suit and a slutty-looking filly attached to his arm
spoke over Tripp’s current tale.

Aspen rolled her eyes. “Good to see you, too, Rio.” London
jumped up and hugged the man, picking the tart off his arm so she could hug him
more fully. Rio smiled a slick grin at London and the filly frowned.

“London, dear sister, how are you?” he asked. The tart’s
smile returned. So this was Rio. I could see the resemblance to their father,
but his demeanor said smarmy—nothing like London’s carefree nature and Aspen’s
quiet elegance. No, this man thought his shit didn’t stink.

Aspen rose and hugged her brother patting him lightly on the
back. I could see their bodies didn’t even touch. Nothin’ like back home. Ma
would strangle a family member until they couldn’t breathe when she hugged. I
stood and put out a hand. “Hank Jensen. Good to finally meet you, Mr.
Reynolds.”

“Rio, please. May I call you Hank?”

“It is my name,” I smiled, hoping to get a reaction out of
him. A smile, anything. It didn’t work.

“So tell me, Mr. Jensen, what on earth would make you raise
your fists to Mr. Campbell? The rumors are spreading like wildfire. I thought
it best to come ask the source.” Rio leaned against the back of London's chair.

“Well, I don’t take kindly to people disrespecting my girl.
That includes stuck-up, rich pretty boys like Mr. Campbell. ‘Sides, he wasn’t
good to your sister when they were datin’. That alone was reason enough.” I
couldn’t figure out this guy’s angle. He showed no facial expression
whatsoever. He must have practiced the stink face for hours on end to perfect
it the way he had.

“Such strong provocation for someone so new to the fold.”

“Let it go, Rio. It’s really none of your business,” Aspen
jumped in.

“Father is going on and on about how ’Hank the Hero‘ knocked
out the little prick. It’s becoming legendary. At least now I can say I’ve met
the man and heard the legend firsthand.” Aspen rolled her eyes and huffed. “It
will be entertaining reading about it in the papers tomorrow.” He turned to his
date. “Shall we?” He gestured to the barely dressed brunette. “Until next time,
ladies, gents.” His arm candy followed him blindly.

“What’s he mean, he’ll read about it in the papers?”

Everyone looked at one another until Oliver spoke. “Hank,
the entire scene will be front page news in the society pages. Don’t worry
though; our lawyers are already handling it. You’ll come out on top and Aspen
will take care of any reparations.”

“Reparations. What’re you gettin’ at?” I could feel the
anger rise through my chest and out my arms.

“She will compensate Grant for any damages.”

“Are you kidding me? You’re going to pay that bastard off
because I hit him?”

Aspen’s eyes went wide. “Hank, we can talk about this
later.”

“The hell we are. We’ll talk about this now!” I pointed a
finger hard onto the crisp linen tablecloth.

Dean leaned over and gripped my forearm. “Hank, now is not
the time or the place to have this conversation. Once again, people are
starting to stare. This does not look good for Pen or her family.”

I looked around the yard and several people were staring,
probably waiting for the next show to start. I nodded and stood.

“Darlin’, you ready to blow this popsicle stand?” I held out
a hand to her. She took it and allowed me to lead her. The guys stood and
followed us.

“Never a dull moment with you, Stud.” She leaned into my
side. I could tell she was trying to lighten the mood but I was good and
pissed. Unfortunately, her shoulders were stiff, held back into a perfect
arrow. I’d relax her nice and good back home. A few well-given orgasms and
she’d forget all about tonight’s happenings.

Home.

Without realizing it, her penthouse was becoming more like
home to me than the ranch. My men were still here on the job and I was
improving quicker than expected. Doctor said I’d be back to work in two to
three more weeks, at least doing desk duty. Maybe then I wouldn’t feel such
restlessness.

We made good time back to the city from her parent’s
mansion, but the ride was quiet. I could feel the tension in Aspen’s shoulders.
She stared out the window the entire time. Every so often I’d catch a glance
from Oliver or Dean.

Once back home, Aspen went straight to the bathroom and
started the shower. I sat on her bed thinking about my next move. She was
quiet, not exactly mad. She seemed … sad. Of all the things I’d seen her feel,
sad hadn’t been one of them. I didn’t like it one bit.

Deciding to eat crow, I ventured into the bathroom. She was
standing under the spray, her body porcelain and perfect through the clear
glass. I removed my clothes and entered the shower. She barely registered my
presence. Her shoulders sagged and her head tipped low in defeat.

I kissed the warm skin between her shoulder blades. She
sighed. I slowly started to massage her neck, working out the kinks and knots I
found there.

“You going to talk to me, Angel? You’ve been pretty quiet.” I
continued to knead her muscles and smooth my hands down her back.

“It shouldn’t be this hard,” she whispered.

“What shouldn’t be, Darlin’?”

“This. A relationship. We’re so … ”

“So what, Angel?” I pulled her back until her slick body
melded to mine.

“Different,” she finished on an exhale.

I slid my hands up her wet body; one hand cupped her breast,
the other her neck. I tilted her chin to the side and trailed kisses up the
white column from behind. She moaned when my fingers rolled her nipple,
elongating the tender flesh.

“Different can be good,” I told her, my hands continuing to
caress and stroke.

“You think so?” Her response was almost lost to the sound of
rushing water as it poured over our bodies.

“I know so.” I slid my hands down her body and pushed my
knee between her legs, encouraging her to widen them. Leaning down, I lined up
my cock with her entrance. In one thrust I was embedded deep inside her slick
heat.

“Oh God, Hank!” she cried out.

“See, Angel.”
Thrust.
“Has it ever—”
Thrust.
“Been like this—”
Thrust.
“Before?”
Thrust.

She shook her head, bit her lip, and clenched me internally.
“I’m going to come,” she whispered.

“Yes you are, and I’m going to make it happen again.”
Thrust.
“
And again. Until you know damn sure that no man will ever fulfill you
physically or emotionally like I do, Angel.”

After that last statement I pounded into her. Her hands
slammed against the wall in front of her as I took her roughly from behind. I
had a point to make. She came over and over again as I hammered into her core.
“You feel that? You feel your body succumbing to it. Let it happen, Angel. I’m
here. I’ll always be here.” I wanted her to beg me to stop. Beg me to never
leave.

“Hank, I can’t, I can’t, no more,” she cried, then moaned as
I reached around and found her clit.

“Another. Just one more. I want you to come with me, Angel.”
That did her in. Her pussy clamped down around my length so tight it sucked all
the air from my lungs. My cock jerked, pouring my seed into her.

We both tumbled into a heap of naked limbs and arms to the
floor. I caught her listless form as she slid into my lap. My shoulder screamed
like hell, but I didn’t care. That was one of the most intense experiences of
my life. I knew at that moment that we could never be apart. She was it for me.
There would be no other like her. Now I just needed to convince
her
of
it.

Something about Hank was off. All week he’d been less
demanding of my time, more attentive to what he perceived were my needs.
Instead of rushing to bed, he wanted to talk each night. Really talk about my
day, about life, about random things. It was nice, normal even. We watched
movies together, went for walks, got ice cream, he even went so far as to make
me breakfast in bed one morning. I doubt Gustav was thrilled with that. The
Swede didn’t take kindly to anyone cooking in my kitchen but him.

Even the sex was different this week. I couldn’t put my
finger on exactly what it was, but it seemed as though it held more meaning.

I wondered briefly if it had anything to do with the fact
that his mother was coming into town this evening and would be here for a few
days.