Watch Me, page 14
“Keefe.” Keric’s voice held a distinct warning.
“Well, I’m old-fashioned. I believe a guy should ask before a girl marries him, you know?” And if he didn’t do it soon, she’d go crazy.
“She has a point, Ker. Are you planning on asking her?” Keefe grinned. “Because if you don’t, then I will. She’s too cute to let her slip through your fingers.”
Keric stiffened.
Tiffy cuffed him. “He’s kidding.”
“I hope so, and if you say you’d consider it, I’m going to be an only child, because I’ll have to kill him.” He kicked the seat, making Keefe swerve. “No touchie. She’s mine.”
Tiffy leaned into him, nibbling on his ear. “Are you going to do some touching later?”
His hot gaze told her he’d do more than touch. Then he drew her hand into his lap, and she cupped the hard bulge there. Oh yeah, there would definitely be more than just touching.
“Would you really be happy living here?” His breathing had become more ragged.
“I’d love it.” She increased the pressure and he moaned. “But only if I get to live with you.”
“Wives tend to live with their husbands.” He gasped, drawing her hand away.
“Definite fail on the proposal front there, Bro.”
Keric kicked the seat again. “Mind your own beeswax.”
Tiffy sat still on the back seat, her mind a whirl of thoughts. He’d considered it? He’d thought about it? If he asked, and said they’d live here, could she leave everything behind?
“Tiff?”
She glanced at him, half elated, half afraid.
“Are you okay?” Keric tugged her closer, his voice low and intimate. He lifted her hand and kissed her fingertips. “You’ve gone quiet.”
Tiffy didn’t know what to say. The decision to come with him now seemed fraught with emotional danger. “I-I’m fine.”
“We’ll talk later. When big brother isn’t all ears.”
She dipped her chin in a nod.
Keefe drove up to a small two-story ranch house and swung the car into the drive. “Well. Here we are. Home sweet home.”
It was a sweet house, and she had trouble picturing Keric living in a place like this. “It’s...pretty.”
“Used to be my parents’ house. They left it to me when they died, with the stipulation that my brothers would always have a place to stay, should they need it.” Keric got out and inhaled deeply. “Man, I missed this air.”
“Keric?”
At the sound of a woman’s voice Tiffy turned to see a tall brunette cross the road.
“Oh my God, it’s really you!” The woman ran toward Keric and threw herself into his arms, kissing him on the lips.
If this clingy bitch didn’t stop kissing him, she’d claw her eyes out. And Keric...he seemed to like it. A touch on her arm made her look up.
“They’re just friends. Don’t make too much of it.” Keefe said quietly.
Anger flared even hotter. Friends? Yeah, that’s exactly what it looked like.
Keric set the brunette away and smiled sheepishly. “Annette, I’d like you to meet Tiffany.”
Tiffy wasn’t about to react. Instead she flashed a cool look at Keric and hooked her arm through Keefe’s. “So, are you going to show me the inside?”
He chuckled. “Getting me in trouble?”
“I’m sure you can handle your little brother.” She ignored Keric, whose expression had darkened considerably.
“I think he’d rather be handled by you.” Keefe withdrew his arm and lowered his voice. “It’s not what it looks like.”
Sure it wasn’t. She glanced at the brunette who looked from Keric to Keefe, then at her.
“Wait. You and Keric...are together?” Annette paled. “Oh shit, I’m so sorry.”
Tiffy frowned. Her apology sounded genuine enough.
“Oh man.” Annette walked over and stood in front of her. “I’m really sorry. I saw you stand close to Keefe, and I thought...never mind. Please forgive me.”
Keric joined her, leaving Keefe to carry the luggage inside. “She didn’t mean anything by it, Tiff.”
“I didn’t.” Annette agreed hastily. “It’s an old joke between us. He once proposed to me, and–” She broke off when Keric’s shoulders stiffened. “You know what, I’m going. I’m just screwing everything up.”
Tiffy watched Annette leave and didn’t say a word. So he’d proposed to the pretty brunette–but he claimed to love her. The two-faced rat. Why had she come? If he was one of those guys who had a girl in every port, she’d cheerfully finish what Thomas had started.
“Tiff, she’s just a friend.”
Keric touched her arm but she pushed him away. “I think I need to be alone for a bit.”
She went around the house, into the backyard and sat on the porch steps there. Moments later Keric joined her.
“I said I want to be alone.”
“Yeah, you did. And I need to explain before you come up with all sorts of weird scenarios.” He dropped on the step beside her. “I did propose to her.”
Tiffy glared at him. How could he just admit it?
“It was long before I met you.” A smile twitched on his lips. “I was seven, Tiff. Annette was nine, and her rejection was quite a blow to my fragile male ego.”
Seven? Tiffy glanced at him. “I don’t remember what I did when I was seven.”
His smile became rueful. “Yeah, well. You didn’t grow up with Annette. Believe me, not a day passes where she doesn’t remind me. She’s a good friend, and we laugh about it. I swear the kiss meant nothing. She does it to tease me.”
He could reason it away as much as he liked. “You didn’t exactly fight her off, did you?”
“I was surprised.” Keric reached for her but she edged away. “I’m sorry.”
The porch door opened before she could respond. “I’m heading over to Summer’s house, and I’ll stay at Rudi’s tonight. You have the place to yourself.”
Keric just lifted his hand and remained quiet while Keefe stomped off the porch and disappeared around the corner. After a long while, he sighed. “Come inside. Let’s talk.”
“We can talk here just fine.” Truth be told, she liked it here. His property backed onto a small wooded area and no neighbors could see them.
“Sure. Then let’s talk. Right now you’re freezing me out for something I didn’t do. I didn’t kiss her back, Tiff.” Once more he moved closer. “I don’t love her. I love you.”
She believed him. Maybe she was a fool, but this was the man who’d jumped in front of a bullet for her. “I love you too.”
“Then why are you making it so damn hard for me to work up the courage to– Never mind.” He turned away with a frustrated sigh. “Come in. I’ll–”
“Courage for what?”
Keric’s restless movements ceased. His expression became harsh, drawn, and there was a worried glint in his gray eyes. “To ask you to marry me.”
Tiffy stared at him, noting he began to shift around once more. As far as proposals went, this one was a shambles.
“Say something,” Keric ground out, jumping to his feet to restlessly pace the porch.
Tiffy bit back a smile. “What would you like me to say?”
“Yes, would be nice.”
“Did you actually ask me? I didn’t hear a question.” This time she had even more trouble to keep a straight face when he began to squirm.
“Shit.” Keric raked his hands through his hair, making it stand out at all angles. “I totally screwed it up, didn’t I?”
“Yep.”
“Pretend you didn’t hear me. I was going to ask you over a nice meal, wine, candles...you know, do the whole romantic thing.”
She’d have liked a romantic dinner with candlelight, but seeing him at a total loss was even better. “After a nice chocolate cake?”
“Definitely no chocolate cake.” He narrowed his eyes at her. “Are you making fun of me?”
“Yeah. It’s kind of cute how clueless you are.” She grinned. “The answer to the question you didn’t ask is yes.”
“You’ll marry me?”
“Yes, I will marry you. Why did you even doubt it? I told you I love you.” Tiffy got up and went into his arms.
“I don’t know. Maybe because you chewed me out over that stupid kiss?” He lowered his voice. “Am I forgiven?”
If he didn’t kiss her soon, she’d have to pounce on him. “Yes. Now will you kiss me already?”
She didn’t need to ask twice. Keric caught her lips with his, deepening the kiss the second she opened to him. He moaned, and the sound tightened her stomach into a tense ball, sending shivers of anticipation down her spine.
“God, I love you. I don’t care about anything, as long as you’re with me.” Keric nibbled on her lower lip, sending sparks through her body.
“I feel the same way.” Tiffy tunneled her hands beneath his cotton shirt and purred when she encountered hot skin. Letting her hand drop, she went straight for his crotch, delighted to find him hard. “I think we should go in and seal the deal.”
Keric swept her up and carried her inside, not giving her any time to change her mind. She barely had time to take a look at the interior, before he hurried up the stairs and kicked open the door to his bedroom.
It was a plain bedroom. His bed had seen better days, the frame battered and scarred from claws and sharp teeth. She guessed he’d taken his anger out on the frame, but didn’t comment. The sheets were fresh and she wondered why he gave them a look of confusion. There was a balled-up pile of bedding in the corner. Keric laughed and put her down.
Tiffy plucked at the sheet. “Keefe?”
“Probably. He’s a sly dog sometimes.”
“Sly enough to leave me some ropes?” She winked at him.
“God, please never mention that to him.” Keric came down on top of her, resting on his elbows. “Are you sure you want to marry me?”
“Yes.” She reached up and stroked his hair. “A thousand times yes.”
He paused. “I can’t live with your pack, Tiff.”
“I know.” Unfortunately, she could imagine how living at the compound would work out for him. Thomas was just one of many who would hold his bloodline against him. Ultimately, he’d be an outsider, and before long she’d suffer the same fate. “I like it here. If your pack will have me, I’ll stay.”
“They’ll love you.” Keric kissed her nose and went on to other delights.
Her shirt sailed out of bed before she even knew he’d stripped it off. His own followed. Every bit of clothing fell victim to his determined hands and the pile on the floor grew, until they were both naked.
Kissing him, she stroked her hands up his chest and tangled in a leather thong he wore around his neck. Her eyes zeroed in on the pink skull pendant.
“Where did you get this?”
“Hm?”
“That’s my earring.” She lifted the little skull and crossbones.
“Yes.” Keric smiled and wrapped his hand around hers. “My good luck charm. You must have lost it back then. It got tangled in my fur.”
“That was years ago!” It amazed her. Humbled her. She’d accused him of so many things, and all this time he’d held on to the little skull.
“I thought they were cute, and it reminded me of you.”
God, she loved him. Tiffy lifted her mouth to his and put every ounce of that love into her kiss. She’d never doubt him again.
His kisses became demanding, his hands firm as they stroked every inch of her body. Tiffy stroked hard muscle and reveled in the strength of his body. She wanted to explore and kissed every bit of skin she could reach. He stilled and caught her hand before she could wrap her fingers around his erection.
“Too much right now, Tiff.”
“I’ll save it for later.” She pulled his head down and kissed him, arching up into his body. “But I want you. Right now.”
Keric slid inside her with one hard thrust and groaned. “Damn. You have no idea how good that feels. Like coming home.”
It did. He made her whole. She didn’t want to be anywhere else, or with anyone else.
He set a slow, deliberate rhythm and she echoed every move. Soon it wasn’t enough and she tugged on him until he was on his back.
His gray eyes glittered with anticipation. “Ride ’em, cowgirl.”
Tiffy laughed and took him all the way to the hilt, watching his face the entire time. “Yeehaw.”
A low, rumbling laugh made his chest shake. “You’ll fit right in, here in Wyoming.”
“As long as I fit with you, I don’t care.” She lifted her hips until she almost lost him then sank down again with a moan on her lips. “Fits just fine.”
“God, yes.” Keric thrust up, his hands on her breasts, tormenting her nipples. “You drive me nuts.”
He took over, even though he was on the receiving end, guiding her movements and encouraging her with whispered demands, his voice rough and so sexy, Tiffy was turned on just hearing him speak.
“Can’t take this. Need more.” He gasped when she took him deeper, his entire body tense and ready. “No. Like this.” Keric withdrew and flipped her on her belly. “Tell me if I hurt you.”
She allowed him control, and he pulled her to her knees then buried himself inside her. Tiffy cried out, clawing the sheets. She arched her back, wanting more and Keric obliged her. Gone were the soft whispers, the tender caresses. He was rough and demanding, telling her exactly how he wanted her, his hands on her hips steering every move. Tiffy had never felt anything like it. The friction, the delicious sweet pain building inside her was almost too much. She bucked her hips, moaning into a pillow, and felt his entire body come down on her. Teeth clamped on the sensitive muscle between her neck and her shoulder, Keric drove hard into her. He bit the vulnerable spot just to the side of her jugular, and all her senses went into overdrive. She screamed her release and heard Keric’s shout of satisfaction at the same time.
They collapsed, breathing hard, Keric’s body trembling on top of hers and she could barely move, let alone breathe. It was heaven. Complete and utter bliss.
She’d have to call Lucia once she was able to move again, but right now she was content to lie here, with Keric wrapped around her like he’d never let her out of his arms again. Life was good.
Chapter 16
Keric padded into the kitchen and pulled the fridge open to see if there was anything edible in it. As he’d suspected, it was pretty bare. A lonely jar of mayonnaise sat on the top shelf, and tomorrow he’d throw out the two eggs he found. God only knew how old they were.
Footsteps sounded on the stairs and it made him smile. He looked over at the door and found Tiffy leaning against the frame, barefoot, wearing one of his t-shirts as a nightgown. “Nothing to eat I’m afraid.”
Her stomach rumbled and she grimaced. “We should have gone for groceries.”
“Groceries are on the porch.”
Keric spun around, wondering how he’d missed Keefe, sitting at the kitchen table. “Damn. What are you doing, sitting here in the dark?”
His brother shrugged.
“I thought you said you’re staying at Rudi’s?” Something was off, he’d bet his head on it. “Did something happen?” Shock tore through him. Keefe had also said he’d go over to Aunt Summer’s house. “Is Summer all right?”
“She died yesterday.” Keefe buried his face in his hands. “I didn’t know it was that bad. I had no idea.”
She was gone. The woman who’d always been there for them, the one he’d gone to for advice and support, the one he’d wanted to tell he had found the love of his life...was gone. He’d come home too late. He felt Tiffy’s hands slip around his waist, felt her leaning her face against his back. She didn’t say a word and he was grateful for it.
Grief and guilt warred inside him. If he’d just called, at least...it was too late now. “I should have come home sooner.”
“Yeah,” Keefe snarled. “You should have.”
“Hey. He didn’t know.” Tiffy cut in. “And neither did you. Don’t blame Keric.”
“You can shut up, too.” Keefe got up and left, slamming the door behind him.
“He hurts. He didn’t mean it.” Keric tried to reassure her, but it felt like a lie when he felt exactly the same way Keefe did. It was his fault. He’d stayed away so long, and Keefe had come to find him. If he had called, or gone home, they could have been here in time. They both could have said goodbye.
“Oh he meant it. But it’s okay.” Tiffy’s voice turned sad. “I know how it feels when you can’t say goodbye.”
“I wanted her to meet you. She looked after us after our parents died.” Keric drew her in front of him and held her close, glad she was here. “She’d have loved you.”
“I’m so sorry, Keric. I’m sure I’d have liked her.”
He nodded, incapable of speaking. One word and he’d crack. The last thing he wanted was to break down in tears in front of Tiffy. Instead of pushing him to talk, she just held him, stroked his back and allowed him to come to terms with his loss. Her words about not being able to say goodbye brought another pang of guilt. She’d lost her father because of Kell.
“I need to call Lucia in the morning and tell her where I am. Is that okay with you?”
Once more he nodded.
“Do you want me to leave you alone a while?” Tiffy kissed him gently. “It’s okay if you want to.”
Yeah, but he didn’t want to be alone. He’d never wanted to be alone, and yet it always seemed to work out that way. “Stay.”
She did, and they stood in the kitchen for hours, not talking, just holding on.
* * * *
Tiffy was at a complete loss. She didn’t know a soul, and Keric kept being monopolized by everyone. Well, Keefe too, but he seemed to handle it better. She should have stayed in Keric’s bedroom, but she hadn’t wanted him to face the funeral and wake by himself. Even if it meant she’d be uncomfortable, she’d stay by his side as much as she could.
Keric had been quiet and withdrawn for days now. She knew he blamed himself, but nothing she did shook him out of the grief he experienced.
