Unbreakable Bonds (20 page)

She moaned and sat up. “God, it’s a good thing you can drive now or I’d be in the back of some taxi that someone probably had thrown up in.”

He hurried around to open the door for her. “Come on. I’m sure Heather would have driven you home. She didn’t drink.”

“She can’t. She’s pregnant.” She clapped a hand over her mouth. “Don’t tell. I am not supposed to tell anyone, so be surprised when she tells you.”

He nodded. “Right. I won’t mention it.” He led her up the steps, her movement slow and wobbly.

“Good. She’d be disappointed in me if she learned I blabbed.”

Laughing softly, he guided her through the house to her bedroom where it took him three tries to get her to brush her teeth. He didn’t mind undressing her, however—peeling back those tempting clothes was a highlight of his night. She put up an argument when he tried to get her to put on a nightshirt.

“No,” she pouted. “Don’ wanna wear it.”

“Your cousin is here, what if you walk out there naked?”

“Which cousin?” she asked sitting up, tempting him with her firm breasts. “I have so damned many of them.”

“Trent.”

“He’s okay. He won’t look. I’m not his type, even if we weren’t related. He’s batting for the other side.” She patted his cheek. “You may want to wear boxers.” Laughing at something only she understood, she flopped back. “It’s hot, I don’t want to wear anything.” Her eyes closed and he knew she had passed out again.

After shutting the bedroom door, he undressed and slid into bed beside her, gathering her against him. She didn’t stir and he willed his cock back under control. He might be horny as hell but he had no intention of taking advantage of her in this condition. She wiggled her ass against his groin and he groaned. This was going to be a long night.

* * * *

He woke alone and sat up instantly. Had she gone strolling out nude into the living room? Yes she had the right to do it but sue him, he felt more than a bit protective of her and her body. Cousin or not.

Climbing out he went to the bathroom where he found a note taped to the mirror over the double sink.

Went to Jessie Mae’s, back by nine.

He took care of his morning ablutions then padded back to the bedroom where he found himself standing before the book, which had yet to make it back to the store. For a moment, he just stared at it.
Unbreakable Bonds
.

Reaching out for it, he paused when Trent’s voice shattered into his little world.

“Ta-Mara! You down here?”

Pulling on some pants, he then went to the door and opened it. Trent had his hand poised to knock. His brown gaze scanned him from head to foot.

“Sorry, man. I’m looking for Ta-Mara.”

“She went to Jessie Mae’s, said she would be back by nine.”

“Okay. I’m off for my run. You can join me if you wish.”

Levi held up a hand. “No thanks. Not a runner.”

“Suit yourself.”

Trent headed off wearing nothing more than running shorts, socks and shoes. Levi didn’t get the concept of running for fun. Not something he had plans on doing. Instead, he went to the kitchen, brewed himself a cup of dark roast and added the creamer and sugar before heading out to the porch and enjoying the morning.

Ta-Mara returned shortly before nine.

“Hey, Ta-Mara,” he called out from where he was rinsing out his mug in the sink.

She grunted in return. He followed her into the bedroom and saw her sitting on the edge.

“You okay?” he asked.

“I drank too damn much.” She flopped back. “At least Reggie is opening the store so I don’t have to go in until noon. My God, I feel like death warmed over.”

He sat beside her and rubbed her temples. Her full lips parted to release a groan of pleasure. “So sleep. I’ll wake you later.”

“Where’s Trent?”

“He said he was going running.”

“That’s right, he enjoys torture. I need a shower.”

He ignored the visceral reaction her simple statement gave him. “Up you get,” he said, assisting her.

Leaving her alone in the shower was one of the hardest things he’d done in a long time. He pivoted on his heels and walked out despite all that luscious temptation he saw behind the glass door.

He readjusted his hard cock and continued back on his way to the kitchen where he brewed himself another coffee. Something, anything to keep his hands busy so he wouldn’t think about the woman standing under all that hot water, soaping up her body, touching parts he wanted to touch. Slick skin, wet skin. Her touch. Her scent.

“Damn it,” he growled, rubbing his aching shaft.

Cup in hand, he strode outside to her shed and got to work building the arbor she’d asked him to build for the party. Physical exertion. That was all he needed.

Fucking her into exhaustion could, and would, be considered physical exertion. He shook his head, refusing to give into the devil riding his shoulder, hard. Time to work off this erection or it would drive him crazy.

* * * *

Ta-Mara rubbed the towel down her legs as the heat lamp above her helped to dry her. She could feel some wet strands on the back of her neck but for the most part, she’d kept her hair dry. The pounding in her head had receded a tiny bit. Not enough for her to be pleased but enough that she no longer wanted to kneel before the porcelain god. Which in her case was a blessing.

After hanging up her towel, she made her way from the bath to her large walk-in closet then searched for something to wear into work today. She picked up her shirt and found some shorts then went to grab some lingerie—choosing a peach lace bra and matching lace trim Cheeky panties from Victoria’s Secret.

It didn’t take her long to apply her lotion and draw on her shorts. She loved these shorts—cut off blue jeans that rode low on her hips. She didn’t trim off the frayed edges either. Tugging her shirt on over her head, she turned a three-sixty in the mirror and checked out her appearance. Her black shirt had a burnout pattern all over it, and on the back there were silver seraphic wings. One of her favorites as well.

She brushed her hair and left it down then headed out of her room. After making a cup of coffee, she took the filled mug with her as she followed the sound of hammering out to the back. Levi worked by her shed on the arbor.

Even though it was relatively early in the day, he’d already stripped off his shirt. His jeans didn’t hide anything from her hungry imagination. He wore a tool belt that hung low. She licked her lips. “Damn,” she muttered watching him sweat as he cut, sawed and measured.

“Hey.” She went down the steps and approached.

Levi looked up and grinned at her. “Feel better?”

“A bit. Coffee’s helping for sure.” She gestured with her mug. “How’s it coming?”

“Good. I’ll be done by the time you are finished with work. If Trent is around, I’ll have him help me move it to where you want it.”

Levi had seen her looking at an arbor in a catalog and said he could build it for her. She’d wanted one for a while now to put before entering her garden area. So she’d jumped on his offer.

“Wonderful.”

He put down the measuring tape. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

“Missed you in the shower,” she said with a grin.

“You needed one without me interrupting.”

“I like those interruptions. I’m going to get some work done in my office, yell if you need me.”

He gave her a nod then turned his attention back to his job. She stood watching him for a bit longer before she turned and went back into the house. In her den, she powered up her computer then answered emails as she drank her coffee and willed her hangover away.

The willing didn’t work, but at least she finished cleaning out her inbox. A lot of her friends—okay, most—were hooked on this having their smart phones, while she had no desire to get one. She didn’t need the Internet at her fingertips twenty-four hours a day. She liked getting away and being unreachable. They might think her crazy but hey, she also lived somewhere she didn’t have to lock her doors at night either, and if that was being crazy, she was proud to wear the title.

When the time came to leave for work, she brewed another cup and filled her travel mug. She went back out to say good-bye to Levi. Damn if the man didn’t look better than when she’d seen him before.

“You sure you’ll be fine?”

He brushed a kiss over her lips. “I’m good. I’ll see you when you get home.”

Raking her gaze over him once more, she sighed. Oh, the things they could do if she didn’t have to work. “See you then.”

She waved at him as she headed back inside. Trent showed up as she opened her car door.

“Long run?” she asked him as he stretched out.

“It was. You heading for work?”

“Yes. Levi is in the back building my arbor. I’ll be back in time for dinner. There’s plenty of food in the fridge, so y’all will be fine.”

“I’ll take care of him, cuz. Don’t worry none.”

“I don’t need him taken care of, especially not with that tone, Trent. Y’all be nice.”

His grin didn’t exactly set her at ease. “Always.”

“Yeah right,” she muttered under her breath. Always, her ass. Trent was one of the most protective of her cousins. And she had a lot of them. Mostly male. She got in and went to work.

“Hey, Reggie!” she called out entering the store.

“Hi.” He waved at her before returning his attention to the person he was currently helping.

She stored her things and smiled at some wanderers before slipping behind the counter and helping a woman who walked up. A while later, it was just the two of them.

“How are you doing, hon?” he asked.

“Good. You’re coming to Jasmine’s party right?”

“You actually got her to agree to one?”

“Not hardly. I’m lying to her to get her there. Telling her we’re meeting at my house for drinks before we go out, so we can give her our gifts. We did it last year so she’s not suspicious. But the party is at the house. Last year we let it go but this year, it’s not happening.”

“Sure, I’d love to come. Can I bring anything?”

“Nope, not a thing. It’s all planned, just show up and be prepared to have fun.”

“Karaoke?”

“Of course. Wouldn’t be a party without that.” She laughed, well aware of how much Reggie enjoyed his karaoke.

“Sounds great. Remind me the day of.”

“Will do. Everyone’s parking down at Jessie Mae’s and coming through the woods so she doesn’t see the cars.”

“You’re sneaky.”

“Have to be with her.” She shook her head in mock disgust. “If she would just let us celebrate her birthday, it wouldn’t be such a big production.”

“I think she secretly enjoys the attention.”

After reaching for a stack of books, she began cleaning off the stickers. “I’m sure she does but…she’s Jasmine.”

“Very true. All right, I’m out. Have a wonderful rest of the day. We got in three more boxes, they’re in the back. No rush on them. You look like you could use an easy day.”

“Bite me,” she snipped, knowing he spoke of her hangover. Damn man, he knew how she looked when she had one.

He snapped his teeth at her. “Time and place, baby.”

“Get out of here.” She rolled her eyes.

“You know if I wasn’t leaving and the owner, I may just take offense at that.”

She ignored him, focusing on the book before her. His laughter trailed him out of the door and she grunted as she worked on. The day seemed to pass in a blink. Amazingly enough, her hangover had disappeared by the time she had to leave for the night. She closed up quickly and made the night deposit before heading home.

The setting sun blazed upon the house when she pulled up and when she entered, she heard a mix of feminine and masculine laughter. Levi walked in as she left her bedroom, a plate in his hand.

“Company?” she asked.

His smile melted her heart. He kissed her and nodded. “Jessie Mae and Susie are here. Trent went and got her and we called Susie to come here after work.”

Ta-Mara went to the fridge and filled a glass of tea, adding a lemon slice as Levi grabbed a few more beers after putting the plate in the sink. She followed him out there, a smile of her own filling her face as she saw her friends in the backyard. Trent was manning the grill, and there was laughter all around.

Chapter Thirteen

“Hey, come on in.” Ta-Mara hugged Jasmine and Rachel as they entered her house. “Where’s Heather?”

“Not sure, she just said she would be coming later.” Jasmine glanced around as if expecting something to jump out at her.

“Wow, you are really suspicious, Jasmine. Maybe they’re all hiding under my bed with their cars.”

“A girl can’t be too cautious.”

“Whatever. Let’s get a drink and see if Heather shows up before we finish. Maybe her boyfriend is dropping her off.”

“Ohh, yeah, he’s fine as hell. You’ve not met him yet, have you, Jasmine?” Rachel asked.

“Nope. I’ve heard about him but I haven’t met him yet.” She opened a bottle of wine. “Speaking of hot ass men, where’s your man, Ta-Mara?”

“My man?”

Both her friends looked at her as if she had lost her ever-loving mind. “Yes, you know that hottie with the amazing blue eyes and a body which doesn’t quit.” Jasmine flipped her hair over her shoulder.

“Oh, Levi.”

Jasmine glared at her. “You have someone else lying around?”

Wine poured, she lifted the glass to her lips. “Not that I’m aware of. But to answer your question, Trent is here and they went out. Didn’t want to get in the way of our soirée.” She lifted her glass. “Happy birthday, Jasmine.”

The women clinked glasses and sipped the wine. As Rachel and Jasmine talked, Ta-Mara called Heather.

“Hello?”

“You on your way, Heather?”

“Just pulling in the drive now. Sorry I’m late. I was…sick.”

“Okay,” she said so the others didn’t ask about the sickness. “We’ll see you in a few.” She snapped the phone shut. “She’s just coming up the drive now.”

Sure enough, soon Heather joined them and had a glass of wine before her—which Ta-Mara switched out with non-alcoholic wine the moment she could. Heather flashed her a grateful smile.