Around the World in 80 Men Series: Boxed Set 21-30 (78 page)

Morgan's
hand moved to the back of his neck as he spoke. It was so warm,
comforting. She adjusted in her seat as a surge of desire ran through
her body at his simple mention of being alone in the home all day.
She nodded again and curled her fingers in his thick hair at the nape
of his neck.

“And
I plan to fuck you on this couch, that table, that chair, that
counter,” he told her, nodding his head toward various pieces
of furniture. “On this carpet, on my bed, in the shower....and
maybe the back porch.” Morgan actually giggled, even though
Robbie's voice held no humor.

“You
think you're up for all that, big guy?” Morgan poked a finger
at his chest with her free hand.

“Yes,
ma'am.” He nodded, and a smile finally formed across his full
lips. “Are you?”

Morgan's
stomach growled loudly and they both looked at her abdomen in
response. She nodded and smiled with him. “Right after
breakfast.”

*****

“Oh
my god, Robbie. That was amazing.”

“Wait...why
didn't I get that kind of reaction?” Robbie brought his brows
together and gave Morgan a look of question.

“Because
you're not roast!” Morgan got Robbie's knuckles dug into her
rips for her response and she laughed until she couldn't breathe as
he tickled her.

“Uncle.”

“No!”
Morgan protested, still trying to wiggle free.

“Say
it!” His knuckles dug deeper into her side and she fell over,
but he caught her, only to tickle the other side.

“Okay!
Okay! Uncle, uncle, uncle!” Morgan sat up and flattened her
hair, then gave Robbie the best hairy eye she could conjure, then
pushed her plate to the middle of the table and out of the way of
potential friendly fire. “But seriously,” she looked to
her empty plate, then back to Robbie. “That was delicious. I
really wish I could cook like that.”

“She
is a fantastic cook,” Robbie agreed, but still shot Morgan a
playful glare of his own.

“Fine,
you're amazing too!” She giggled more and quickly stood from
her chair and dodged when he lunged for her. She wasn't quick
enough.

“Gotcha!”
His lips came down hard on hers.

“If
that's my punishment, then I...” He kissed her again, and
Morgan melted into his body. They'd already completed half of
Robbie's list, at least the living room parts, but in seconds, both
of them were ready for more.

Later
that evening, Loraine walked in to find the pair cuddled on the sofa
just as she had the night they returned home from the pub. It was a
comforting feeling, knowing that Robbie was enjoying himself as much
as he was. The older woman even had to admit to herself that Morgan
wasn't bad for him after all. In fact, she thought as she walked to
the kitchen, she was most likely exactly what the man had needed. No
strings, no drama, and a definitive end to their
relationship
.

Morgan
stirred when she heard the other woman drop her keys on the counter.
The sun had already set and she couldn't grasp what day it was, let
alone the exact time of day. “Robbie? Should we get up?”
She nudged his arm and smiled when he shook his head back and forth
like a stubborn child. “Okay,” she nestled her head
back to his chest and yawned loudly, “we've probably had enough
sex anyway.” She smiled into the bare skin that was exposed by
the opening in his shirt, and her head bounced as he began to laugh.

“Love,
there could never be enough sex with you.” He pulled her
closer and kissed the top of her head. She reached up and ran her
fingers along his bottom lip, and he looked down when he heard the
soft metal of her charms moving against one another. “This is
pretty. What are they for?” Her eyes went to her wrist as
well, and she smiled widely.

“They're
for.... me.” She sat up a bit and looked at the man while she
explained what each charm meant, and briefly who they were from.
Robbie listened, and felt his competitive nature come to the surface.
He knew that he didn't have Morgan's heart as some of her friends
clearly did, but he definitely wanted to be remembered as much as he
would remember her.

“Okay,
get up. We're going to town.” Morgan shook her head because
she understood where that was heading. She always felt uncomfortable
when a client felt as if he had to buy her something. Her bracelet
was special, it wasn't as if she needed a charm from every man that
she was with.

“How
about we just take a long bath together..I think we both need it.”
She wrinkled her nose at the imaginary scent of the two of them, but
he just shook his head and pulled her to her feet. “Okay...okay.”
They both laughed as they ran to his room, and were still giggling
twenty minutes later when they were presentable enough for the public
eye.

Loraine
heard the exchange between the two of them, and had already put her
shoes back on to drive them to the jewelry store. The old woman, as
well as Morgan, agreed that Robbie shouldn't do something as personal
as putting a charm on her wrist, but she kept her thoughts to herself
as she drove the giggling pair to the nearest jeweler.

“This
will do, come on.” Once again, he grabbed Morgan's hand and
nearly dragged her inside. “Pick one... whatever you want.”
He didn't know at the time, but he had just spoken the words that
would stop Morgan completely.

“Robbie,”
she pulled her hand from his and crossed her arms over her chest,
facing away from him, “it doesn't work like that.” She
tried her best to explain that a gift is one thing, but just trying
to throw something on her chain because other men did it was quite
another. She ran her fingers through her hair and turned to face him
as she continued to speak.

“Oh
my...god.” Robbie's eyes grew wide and he put his hands on her
shoulders. Morgan stopped speaking and tilted her head in question.
“I... I can see you. Morgan...you're beautiful.”
Morgan's eyes narrowed and she tried to understand what was
happening.

“It's
bright in here. All jewelry stores are bright, it makes the
merchandise look better.” Loraine offered her bit of wisdom as
she passed them to ask about getting a battery for her watch.

“You...you
can totally see me?” Robbie nodded, his expression still
filled with awe. He could, he could finally see every detail of her
face, down to the small smudge of mascara under her left eye. She
was breath taking, and he was sorry to have missed such a sight all
week.

His
hand came up slowly to her face and he ran one finger from her brow
to her neck. He watched her expression as she enjoyed his touch, and
took a deep breath when her eyes closed for just a moment when he
reached her neck. It was the smallest of things, and he had probably
never noticed them in a woman before then, but it was exquisite to
see in Morgan.

A
charm wasn't purchased that day, but the two spent nearly an hour in
the jewelry store so that Robbie could enjoy the sight that he had so
longed to see. The sight of Morgan.

“You're
so beautiful,” Robbie said for at least the fifth time, as the
three of them made their way back to his home.

Morgan
felt her face heat, as she had every time before. “You really
should have taken a good look at yourself, Robbie. You're gorgeous.”
He shook his head and grabbed Morgan's hand, then held it on his lap.

“I
can't believe I almost canceled all of this,” he told her
before bringing her fingers up to his lips for a soft kiss. “Thank
you.”

“No,
don't be doing this now. We still have...” Morgan looked at the
time on her phone, “we still have a day and a half before we
need to be getting all mushy with each other.” She laughed
first, and he joined her with a nod.

That
night, Morgan, Robbie and Loraine all sat around a roaring fire,
telling stories and playing checkers and Morgan got to learn more
about her client. Morgan had been curious about how Robbie had come
to know Loraine, especially being that she was also an American. The
story unfolded with a sweet tale that began twenty-four years prior,
which would have made Robbie, six. Loraine had been his neighbor
while he'd grown up, and also Loraine and her husband had been the
best friends of his parents.

“Oh,
I used to watch this boy from when he was this big,” Loraine
had held her hand up to her chest, demonstrating a younger, and much
shorter, Robbie. “He'd climb up on those big horses, not a lick
of fear in his body and ride and ride and ride. I remember his mama
would get so mad when he wouldn't come home for dinner, but everyone
always knew where to find him, so we never worried.”

When
Robbie was seventeen, Loraine and her husband got divorced, and after
a car accident left her in bad shape, Loraine was no longer able to
take care of herself or her home. While she took the two years to
heal a broken hip, six ribs and her collar bone, Robbie had stepped
up and took care of her. Every single day, before and after school,
he took care of her. Made her dinner, did grocery shopping, took her
to doctor's appointments, cut her grass and even took care of her
cats.

At
twenty, Robbie's father was offered a job opportunity in Germany and
asked if Robbie would join them. He declined and stayed behind to
make sure Loraine was alright. They'd formed a special bond, and as
Loraine told it, he was the son she'd never had.

It
wasn't until Robbie finished college, started making wise investments
and had the means to travel, that he decided to take his love of
jousting to the next level. After winning dozens of tournaments in
the United States, he decided to go on to bigger events. One year, he
saw there was one in Germany and decided to make the move. He worked
everything out for him, Loraine and his horses, and the four of them
made their way to Munich.

Life
was perfect. He was with his family again, had his Loraine at his
side, even had a gorgeous woman in his heart, and was doing what he
loved most, competing in jousts. That was until three years prior.

When
it rained, it poured. Robbie's eyesight started to decline. At first,
he thought he needed glasses and contacts, and it even helped for
while. He still rode for another year and did very well, but then his
parents decided to move back home and his eyesight grew worse. He
took it hard, going from the superstar athlete, to what he felt was
less of a man. His temper would flare when he became frustrated and
he refused help from anyone. One day, he took his anger out on his
fiancee through a screaming match that she would never forgive, and
she left. Robbie grew more distant, reclusive almost, but it was
Loraine who brought him back to life.

She
decided that he needed changes in his life, after some research, they
moved to Hamburg. A quiet city, but still so full of life. He found a
house that suited them, and Loraine helped with the little details
that would make his life easier. Large bay windows in every room,
bright lights from every ceiling, no unnecessary steps or thresholds.
She would make sure everything stayed in the same place in the
refrigerator, cabinets and his drawers. She made his life easier,
which also made him feel more independent. Soon, he felt happier and
over time, he became more of who he was. There was only one thing
that Loraine couldn't do, and that was make him feel like a man. She
had been afraid of him getting hurt, but all along, she should have
allowed him to make his own decision.

When
Robbie fell asleep that night, Morgan left the bedroom to help
Loraine clean, and it was then that the red haired woman gave Morgan
her gratitude. “I don't know what you did, but I haven't seen
him this happy in years, Morgan. Thank you. Thank you for treating
him like...well....thank you.”

Morgan
placed her hands over Loraine's and watched as a single tear formed
in the corner of her deep blue eyes. “He's a good man. I'm glad
you didn't give up on him.”

The
two women exchanged a few moments of silence, then a small smile and
they went they're separate ways. Loraine to her room, Morgan to grab
her laptop and return to the living room. There was a simple thing
understood between them.
Everyone needs a little help sometimes.