Skyscrapers & Camelot (Renovate Book 1) (19 page)

I hear her whispers to Kaleb, no doubt telling him exactly what she told me.

I toss and turn most of the night, giving up sleep around three a.m. and pulling out my Kindle to read. I foresee a very long day tomorrow.

I debate calling in sick, but there is no way Reese will allow me to sit at home alone all day.

The next day, I am beyond exhausted as Reese places a cup of very strong coffee in my hands when I emerge from my room. Kaleb isn’t anywhere to be seen, and when I ask about him, she tells me he left last night to go over to Keegan’s.

I get myself ready for the workday and paste on a smile. Last night was a nightmare, yes, but today is a new day, and I am prepared to grab it by the horns and make the very best of it.

Chapter Eighteen

Surprisingly, my day wasn’t bad. I was able to focus on my deadlines for my upcoming articles. Ever since Keegan’s interview was published, our readership has increased dramatically. I couldn’t be happier for Olivia. This magazine is her baby, and I’m proud to be a part of it.

Reese checked in on me throughout the day to make sure I was all right before she had to head to Central Park to take pictures. Things did look better today, and maybe I over-reacted and should have let Keegan explain. I guess I’m just waiting for things to fall apart. When it comes to us, nothing can be guaranteed. I’m afraid of being with him, but also of not being with him. After all, what’s next when you have everything you have ever wanted? I wish I had a crystal ball that could give me all the answers I’m looking for.

Walking out of work, I get ready to hail a cab when I hear my name. Turning around, I catch sight of Keegan leaning against a building, and he looks beautiful in his navy blue suit.

He walks over to me, everything happening in slow motion in my mind and my heart beating out of my chest. My instincts say run to him, but I don’t. I only stand still, staring at him.

When he reaches me, everything around us fades away. Sounds of the passing traffic disappear. It’s only us.

“Hi,” I say in a whisper.

“Hi,” he whispers back in his husky voice, his eyes looking tired and sad.

I’m done for. I can’t deny him or what he’s asking me with those beautiful blue eyes.

“Can I take you home?”

I nod, and he lets out a long breath. Then he grabs my hand and leads me away to the side of the building where his Range Rover is waiting with Andrew in the driver’s seat.

As soon as we are seated, he grabs a hold of my hand again and whispers in my ear, “Thank you.” His warm breath on my ear gives me a flutter in my stomach.

We are silent the entire way back to my apartment. I keep my eyes focused out the window, too afraid to look at him.

The car slows to a stop in front of my building, and Keegan steps out and runs around the car to open my door, grabbing my hand to help me out. I look into his eyes and give him a curt smile to thank him.

“Can I come in?” he asks.

“Yes,” I answer, and he lets out another long breath.

Once we enter the apartment, he grabs me, and I relax into his embrace.

“I’m so sorry for last night,” he apologizes.

“I’m sorry, too, for not staying and letting you explain.”

“You have nothing to be sorry for, Aimee.” He grabs my face and kisses me with everything that he’s been holding in. If this kiss is his apology, I will take a million of them.

I grab his head so our bodies are touching. Everything I’m holding—purse and briefcase—falls to the floor. He picks me up bridal-style, not breaking our magnificent kiss, and takes us back to my room where he sets me delicately on my bed. Then he backs away, staring at me as he removes his suit jacket, loosening his tie, and slowly pulling it off.

Kicking off his shoes, he saunters to me and removes my own shoes then hovers over me, placing soft kisses down my neck. Running my hands down his back, I feel his hard muscles.

When I begin to unbutton his shirt, he helps by pulling it off, and his undershirt follows. I run my hands down his chest and undo his belt. I can feel his erection through his pants as I undo the button. I grab his long length through his underwear, knowing he enjoys my assault when I hear his moan, and he quickly stands, removing the rest of his clothes.

Returning to me in record time, he caresses my breasts. “You’re wearing too many clothes.”

I start unbuttoning my top and throw it to the floor, followed by my bra.

“Here, let me help you.” He pulls off my skirt and underwear in one swift move.

Both fully naked, our hot bodies touch, and everything I have been feeling lets loose. This is make-up sex at its finest. We are both apologizing with our bodies, and I plan on it to count.

Kissing me hard, he slips his tongue in my mouth as his hand moves down below my stomach until he finds my clit. I arch my back, letting out a loud moan.

“That’s what you like, Aimee? I can tell because you are soaking wet. I can’t wait to be inside of you,” he whispers.

“I want you inside of me, Keegan.”

He separates himself from me and locates a condom from his wallet. I watch as he tears the package open then throws the wrapper on the ground before rolling the rubber on without taking his eyes off me. It’s as if he’s making love to me with his eyes every time he looks at me.

I spread my legs for him, and he places himself at my entrance then pauses for a moment before entering me. Simultaneously, we both let out a moan of pleasure.

“Aimee, I could live inside of you.”

I lift my hips so he can sink deeper inside of me. Then we start moving together slowly, our gazes locked. He has me in a lustful trance I wouldn’t want to be snapped out of.

“Keegan,” I moan.

“Say my name again, Aimee,” he demands.

“Keegan, Keegan, Keegan,” I repeat for him, hoping it’s enough. It must be because he starts moving at a quicker pace.

I’m lightheaded, but in a good way. I run my fingernails down his back, breaking his skin, which makes him pound into me even harder. If I died right now, I would go happy.

He grabs my ass and rolls us over so I’m on top of him, never losing our connection. With my knees on either side of him, I lift myself off his body, bracing myself with my hands on his muscular chest. I ride him anxiously as he massages my breasts. Then he does something unexpected and pinches my nipples, and that is the beginning of my undoing.

I bounce up and down on him as hard as I can, feeling my impending orgasm building more and more. He removes one hand from my breast, touching my clit.

“Come, Aimee. Now, come for me now.”

My body obliges in what I can only describe as a euphoric orgasm, exploding around him, and as my muscles contract, he follows me into bliss. Afterward, I fall on top of him and listen to his strong heartbeat as my breathing slows.

He runs his hands soothingly down my back. “I love you.”

“I love you to the stars,” I return.

He lets out an infectious laugh.

Lying on him, I begin to doze off, but he slips out from under me so he can discard the condom, throwing it in my trashcan. Then he returns and pulls me to him so his arms are wrapped around me with my head placed on his chest.

Running his fingers through my hair, he says, “That’s not what I planned. I had every intention of just talking.”

“Are you disappointed?”

“Not in the slightest.” He kisses the top of my head.

“Do you want to talk now?”

“I just wanted you to understand that Gretchen doesn’t normally shower at my place or wear my clothes. We were having a quick, celebratory drink, but the fucking bottle exploded. The cork almost took my eye out. We were soaked, so we took two showers, separately. I swear to you nothing happened. Gretchen is just a friend, and I only want you.”

I hold my tears back. “I know. I’m sorry for being stupid. It’s just, she’s so beautiful, and you spend all this time together. There is also the fact that she hates me.”

“She doesn’t hate you. How could anyone ever hate you? And her beauty doesn’t even compare to yours. Her problems are with me, not you. I’m sorry if she’s given you a hard time, but you’ll tell me if she ever says anything that makes you uncomfortable
, right?”

As he looks at me with concern, all my insecurities fade away, so I nod. However, I don’t think he’s satisfied with my answer or lack thereof, because he continues.

“She’s my assistant; it’s just work. She doesn’t get the part of me that I give to you. I get to be the real me when I’m with you. I don’t have to worry about deadlines or specs for buildings. I can just be me with you.”

I don’t know why he feels like there is anything wrong with the person he is. He was wonderful when we were kids and even more wonderful now. He has matured into the man I always knew he would.

I kiss him on his chest. “I wouldn’t want you to be anyone else. The real Keegan you’re referring to is the person I have always wanted to be with. There’s nothing wrong with him. He’s just mine, and I am his.

“This is still new for both of us. I know you have commitments that I may not understand or even like, but I am so stinking proud of you, Keegan James. You followed your dreams and grew your vision into something real and full of passion,” I tell him from my heart.

Keegan lets out a long exhale, one I can feel in my hair without responding, but he doesn’t need to. I said my peace. I simply want him to know how special he is. This was only a small bump for us, and I’m sure there will be plenty. Well, I know there will be. I have a tall blonde who is trouble to keep an eye on. However, we found our way back to each other, and that means something. I know it does.

“How come every time we are together is better than the last?”

“I’m pretty talented,” he teases.

I give him a friendly slap on his chest, and he acts like I wounded him. It’s absolutely adorable, especially when I get to see his smile.

“That, you are. I’m sure there are women all over the world weeping because you are no longer Mr. Eligible Bachelor,” I say before realizing we haven’t talked about what we are. I have called him my boyfriend, but is that what he is to me, or is this just something that is unspoken between us?

“Aimee Brennan, will you go steady with me?”

I am dying with laughter at his question. He reads me so well.

“Well?” he asks when I don’t answer right away.

I look up at him. “I would love to go steady with you, Keegan James, on one condition. Do I get your letterman jacket?”

“Oh, I think that can be arranged,” he tells me.

Keegan gave his letterman jacket to his girlfriend in high school, and I would always get mad when I saw her wearing it. She didn’t care about him or how he got his letter. She only wanted to date the captain of the baseball team. I went to every single one of his games and practices, not her. They broke up shortly before his senior year over something stupid, like him not taking her to the junior prom. He took me, now that I think about it, and we had made a pact that we would be one another’s dates to our senior proms. I was his, but he wasn’t mine. I always thought high school dances were stupid, anyway.

My stomach growls loud enough for Keegan to hear.

“I think I need to feed you.”

I hide my face in my pillow, embarrassed, but he pulls me up so I’m standing. Picking up his shirt from the floor, he gives it to me to wear then turns around to grab his pants off the floor, and I sneak a sniff of his shirt, inhaling deeply. It smells just like him. When Keegan turns around, smiling as he pulls on his pants, I put his shirt on and button it. The shirt falls to just above my knees, the material cool on my skin, soft and luxurious.

Grabbing my hand, he pulls me with him to our kitchen where he motions me over to the dining room table to sit. I watch him open the fridge and pull out a few things then begins searching for pans, finding what he’s looking for. I love watching him, and it certainly doesn’t hurt that he is shirtless. I hope he doesn’t catch me drooling.

He whistles while he works on our meal, sneaking glances at me when he can.

Placing two plates down at the table when he’s done, I see he has made us sautéed chicken and vegetables. He sets down two glasses of white wine, and then we eat in silence. I’m still feeling high from our lovemaking. This man is a dream, and he’s all mine.

After finishing dinner, we both work on the dishes together, which feels so domestic. I’m drying the last dish and putting it away when I feel him step behind me, wrapping his hands around my middle. He places his chin on my shoulder, giving me goose bumps with his course stubble against my cheek.

“Aimee, you are so sexy, and you smell so good.”

I lean into him, completely turned on, and he begins kissing my neck. He’s insatiable and talented, so talented. I let out breathy moan.

“I love the sounds you make.” He turns me around to face him and lifts me up on the counter, wedging himself between my legs so I can feel his hard length.