Deadly Ever After (Hardy Brothers Security Book 6) (4 page)

“You are indeed,” Mandy agreed, giving him another quick kiss and then focusing on his shoulder. “So, I’m going to take this bandage off now.”

James waited. He knew she was working herself up to the task. He figured letting her move at her own speed was the wisest course of action.

Mandy’s fingers were unsure as they peeled the tape away from his shoulder. She inhaled deeply through her nose, steadying herself, and then pulled off the gauze. Yesterday, in the hospital, she hadn’t focused on the wound too much out of fear. Now, in the safe environment of their home, she had nothing else to focus on.

The truth was, she’d expected a lot worse. The wound wasn’t big. It was located high on his shoulder, merely glancing off the top of his collarbone. It had only taken a few stitches to sew it up. The skin around it was angry and red, but it was still small. Mandy exhaled shakily.

James watched her the entire time. “See, it’s not so bad.”

“No,” Mandy said. “It’s not as bad as I thought it would be.”

“That’s why I waited for you to do this instead of letting Grady,” James said.

“I’m glad you did,” Mandy said, resting her fingertips against James’ collarbone. She leaned forward, kissing the spot next to the stitches softly. James rubbed the back of her head affectionately. “You’re okay.”

“I am,” James said. “Are you okay?”

“I am.”

“Does this mean you’re going to give me sympathy sex?”

Mandy considered the question. “No.”

James’ eyebrows shot up. “No? Come on.”

“Well, maybe.”

James waited.

“Fine,” Mandy said, securing a new gauze strip into place. “But I’m the one who is going to do all the work. You’re just going to sit there and rest.”

James chuckled. “That sounds like the best offer I’ve had all day.”

Mandy ran her hands down James’ cut torso, relishing the feeling of his hard muscles as they tightened beneath them. She lowered her mouth to his abdomen, kissing her way down to the lip of his boxer shorts. James groaned appreciatively, his nerves tingling.

Mandy’s fingers slipped beneath the waist of the boxers, tugging the light fabric down his strong thighs and discarding it on the floor. She kissed the inside of his thigh, causing him to tense.

“What are you doing?”

Mandy ignored him, moving her mouth to his other thigh.

“Baby,” James murmured.

Mandy massaged the inside of his thighs, pushing her way between them and blowing a warm breath out on James’ rigid member, which jerked in response. She teased him with a series of pointed licks, and then she engulfed him in his entirety.

James cried out when he felt her warm mouth cover him, his hand tangling in her hair. Mandy expertly moved her mouth up and down his length, her hands continuing to rub the inside of his thighs. It didn’t take long. James exploded moments later, moaning in ecstasy as his high receded.

When she was sure he was done, Mandy pulled away, smiling at him smugly. “Now you can rest, right?”

James narrowed his eyes. “You’ve got to be joking.”

“No,” Mandy said, moving to stand. “You need to rest.”

James snagged her by the waist and pulled her over to him. “Where do you think you’re going?”

“You need to rest,” Mandy repeated.

“I’ll rest later,” James said. “I’m nowhere near done with you.”

“You can’t … .”

“Oh, yes I can,” James said. “It’s my turn.”

James’ hands roamed over Mandy’s fuzzy pajama pants, pulling them down and sighing when he realized she was bare underneath them. He shifted on the couch, refusing to let her pull away and think better of what he was about to do. He pulled the pants off her and positioned her near his face, her knees spread on either side of his neck.

“I’m not sure,” Mandy said, desire warring with worry.

James ignored her, grabbing her rounded rear with his hands and pushing her warm mound to his mouth. “Shut up.” His tongue slipped between her folds, exploring. Mandy gasped, gripping the top of the couch to keep her balance.

“James,” Mandy moaned. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

James flicked his tongue out again, causing her to arch her back. He refused to let go of her, kneading her rear with his fingers as he attacked her with vigor. He knew her body so well now, he was aware the second she let go and careened over the edge, her ardent cries filling him with delight.

When he was sure she was done, he let her go so she could glide down his body, her warm core easily sliding over his ready erection. Mandy leaned forward, placing her hands on the armrest above his head to give herself leverage to move her body.

James’ hands rested on her slim hips before slipping underneath her T-shirt and cupping her naked breasts. He wanted to yank the shirt off, leaving nothing between them but skin, but he also didn’t want to interrupt her rhythm. He leaned his head back so he could accept her kiss, meeting her downward thrusts with powerful upward ones of his own.

It didn’t take long until they were tumbling together again, Mandy collapsing on the side of his chest that wasn’t covered with gauze when every bit of pleasure had been squeezed out of both of them. James tangled his hand in her damp hair and pressed a kiss to her forehead.

“I love you, baby.”

“I love you,” Mandy murmured. “I … .”

“Go to sleep,” James ordered, pulling the blanket from the back of the couch and covering them with it. “You need sleep. You can make me feel better again in a few hours.”

“I would argue, but I can’t find the words.”

“Good,” James said, snuggling her close. “I’ve been shot. I’m going to need you to make me feel better every few hours. I think I’ve earned it.”

“You’re unbelievable.”

“Just wait for round two.”

“I think you’re trying to torture me.”

“I love you, why would I want to torture you?”

“Because you’re getting off on playing nursemaid – and interior designer,” James said, frowning as Mandy shoved another catalog in his face. “What am I looking at now?”

The duo was sitting on the couch in the living room. It had been three days since he was shot, and James was starting to chafe under Mandy’s constant ministrations. She meant well, calling in sick to work to take care of him, but he was over the initial thrill of watching her wait on him. Now he wanted things to return to normal.

“Those are bookshelves that I like,” Mandy said. “What do you think?”

“I think whatever you want, I’m fine with it.”

Mandy made a face and pushed her blonde hair out of the way as she leaned closer to him. “This is our house.”

“I know that.”

“That means we should be decorating it together.”

“I don’t care how it’s decorated,” James complained. “I just care about living there with you. Why can’t you just accept that?”

“Because that’s not how things work.”

“That’s how they work in my world,” James said. “You do the picking, and I’ll be happy with whatever you pick.”

Mandy narrowed her eyes shrewdly. “Really?”

“Really.”

“And you won’t complain?”

“Not even once.”

Mandy smiled widely. “Good, because there’s this bohemian set I really want for the living room.” Mandy rifled through the catalogs until she found the one she was looking for. “I’m so glad you’re on board with this. I’m going to order these right now.”

James couldn’t help but stare at the open page on her lap. He couldn’t be sure, but he was fairly certain that the furniture Mandy was so in love with looked like it had been pieced together by blind people. The colors were bright, but the chairs looked like they had been made out of at least eight different fabrics – none of which matched. “You want to do furniture like that in the living room?”

“I do,” Mandy said. “I love it. It’s colorful.”

“It’s definitely colorful.”

“I’m so glad you agree.”

James shifted on the couch. “Shouldn’t there be a couch in the living room? Those chairs look small.”

“Here’s the couch.”

James watched as she flipped the page, his forced smile tipping down into a frown. The couch was just as loud as the chairs – and not much wider. “We can’t even sit on that together.”

“Why does that matter?”

James gestured to the couch they were currently resting on. “We can do everything on this couch. We can stretch out. We can cuddle. We can have sex. We can’t do any of those things on that couch.”

Mandy placed her tongue in her cheek, considering. “So, you’re saying you do care what furniture is in the house.”

James scowled. “You did that on purpose.”

“Can’t you just look through the catalogs with me?” Mandy whined. “It’s a bonding exercise for us.”

“Bonding exercise?”

“Yes, bonding,” Mandy said, her blue eyes widening. “It lets us know how well we mesh.”

James chuckled. “Baby, if we were any more bonded, we’d be fused together at the lips … and other places.”

“That’s not what I’m talking about,” Mandy complained. “I’m talking about being bonded on a mental level. I know we’re bonded on a physical level.”

“You don’t think we’re bonded mentally?” James was confused.

“I do,” Mandy said. “I just want us to be more bonded.”

“You just want me to shop with you,” James corrected. “Let’s not play games here.”

Mandy sighed dramatically. “Is that so wrong?”

James tilted his head to the side, the sight of her pronounced pout and bright eyes pushing him over the edge to surrender. “No, it’s not wrong,” James said. “If making me look at an endless stream of catalogs makes you happy, then I’m happy.”

“You’re not happy.”

“I’m happy,” James said, slipping an arm around her shoulder. “I’m going to be so much happier once we’ve bought a hundred pieces of furniture and this is all over with, though.”

“You don’t have to pick,” Mandy said. “I’ll do it. Maybe you should go and rest in the bedroom. You’re obviously too tired for anything else.”

She was pissed. James could feel the anger and disappointment wafting off of her. “I’m not tired,” James said, grabbing the Pottery Barn catalog from the pile on the other side of her and flipping it open. “I’m really looking forward to picking out furniture.”

Mandy moved away from him slightly, putting distance between their bodies. James immediately regretted his reticence.

“I’m sorry,” James said. “It’s just that shopping is not as important to a man as it is to a woman.”

“Fine.”

“Furniture is important.”

“It’s fine.”

James tried again. “I love you, and I’m ready to pick out furniture.”

“You don’t have to.”

James sighed, running a hand through his shaggy hair. He made a mental note to get a haircut before the wedding. He hadn’t realized how out of control it had gotten. “I want to,” James said, pulling Mandy’s tense body back against his. “Now, let’s take it room by room.”

Mandy snorted. “I told you that you didn’t have to.”

“I’m thinking that a sectional couch in the living room is the best way to go,” James said, ignoring the mistrust in Mandy’s eyes. “That room is big. We should have a big piece of furniture as the focal point.”

Mandy flipped forward in the catalog he was holding and pointed. “I was thinking the same thing. Do you like that one?”

James peered closer at the page. “Actually, I do. What color were you thinking?”

“Something neutral,” Mandy said. “I like either the cream or the gray.”

“I like the gray.”

“The gray it is.” Mandy recorded the numbers on the notepad she was holding and then pointed to the matching chairs. “I was thinking two of these for the far wall with that end table right below would pretty much finish the room except for an entertainment center and a few accents.”

James liked the chairs. They were big enough to get comfortable in – even if he wasn’t alone. “Sold. What’s next?”

“Really? You’re that easy?”

“Anything is better than that other stuff you were showing me,” James said.

“Oh, I’m still getting that,” Mandy said. “Just not for the living room.”

“Where are you putting that?” James tried to hide his horror.

“In the room next to my studio,” Mandy said. “You said I could do whatever I want in that room.”

“You can,” James said. “I didn’t realize you were planning on making it ugly.”

“That furniture is not ugly.”

“That furniture looks used.”

“It’s Bohemian.”

“Is that another word for used?”

Mandy growled, causing James to brush a quick kiss against her furrowed brow. “It’s your room. Do what you want.”

“I’m just making it an extra bedroom,” Mandy said. “I just want that furniture – the chairs, not the couch – to finish it off. I like it. It makes me feel creative.”

“It’s yours then,” James said. “How big of a bed do you want in there?”

“Well, actually, I was thinking of putting the bed from my old apartment in there,” Mandy said. “It’s just sitting in your storeroom, and it would fit perfectly.”

James studied her face. “If you want, that sounds good.”

“I just … we don’t need to spend extra money when we already have a bed,” Mandy explained hurriedly.

“That’s not why you want that bed in there,” James said, smiling knowingly.

“Yes, it is.”

“No,” James said. “I couldn’t figure out why you wanted to keep that bed when it was only a full-sized mattress until I realized that was the first place we ever … .”

“That’s sappy,” Mandy said, averting her gaze.

“That bed is where we fell in love,” James said. “It’s not sappy. I wouldn’t let you give it up, even if you wanted to.”

Hope flared in Mandy’s eyes. “Really?”

“Really, blondie,” James said, tugging on a strand of her hair. “Putting that bed next to your studio – where we can revisit it often – is an inspired choice.”

“Thank you.”

“No thanks are necessary,” James said. He leaned back, studying her profile for a second. “Can I ask you something?”

Mandy nodded.

“How come you’re having such a great time shopping for furniture for the new house, and yet you haven’t even mentioned shopping for anything for the wedding?”

Mandy’s shoulders hopped up. “I don’t know.”

“Are you not excited for the wedding?”

“I’m excited to marry you,” Mandy said. “I just don’t need a big wedding. I want something small and intimate, that’s why I suggested doing it in the backyard of the new house.”

“You don’t want a big church wedding? A big party after?”

“No.”

“Are you sure? Because, and I’m not trying to cast aspersions on your gender, pop culture has taught me that weddings are a big deal for women,” James said.

“Weddings are a big deal for
some
women,” Mandy corrected. “Emma and Ally are the types of women who want big weddings – and huge dresses. I’m not.”

“And you’re saying Sophie isn’t either,” James mused.

“If anything, Sophie is the kind of woman who wants to go to city hall and call it a day.”

“I can see that,” James said. “She’s a minimalist. You’re not a minimalist. You love movies. I thought you would want a big wedding – like in the movies.”

“Well, I don’t.”

James wasn’t convinced. “This isn’t about money, is it?”

“What?”

“I have money,” he said. “
We
have money, I mean. We can afford whatever wedding you want.”

“What kind of a wedding do you want?” Mandy’s eyes were curious. “I mean, when you imagine it, what do you see?”

James considered the question. “I just see you in a white dress and a big smile. I don’t really see anything else when I imagine it. That’s why I want you to be happy. I want you to have everything you want. We’re only doing this once, so it should be everything you’ve ever wanted.”

“As long as you’re there, it is everything I’ve ever wanted,” Mandy said truthfully.

James leaned down, kissing her sweetly. “I’ll definitely be there.”

Mandy sighed, rubbing her face against his shoulder and then coming back to reality. She tapped the catalog again. “The faster we pick everything, the faster we can go and be happy together in the other room.”

James smiled. “Let’s shop. What’s next?”

“We need tables for the dining room and kitchen.”

“Oh, anything I can lift you onto comfortably works for me,” James said.

Mandy smirked. “You plan on christening every piece of furniture in the new house, don’t you?”

“Even those ugly chairs,” James confirmed. “That’s going to take some thought – and some unique navigation – but I’ll figure out a way.”

“You’re nothing if not dedicated,” Mandy agreed.

“I have a gift.”

“You’re my gift.”

James read the look on her face and grabbed the catalog from her hand, tossing it to the floor. “Come and unwrap your gift, baby.”

“What about furniture?”

“After,” James said, kissing her. “We’ve got the whole night. I want to shop for something else right now, and I think it’s under all these clothes.”

Mandy leaned back, relaxing as he crawled on top of her.
Who needs furniture?
They could just eat on the floor.