“Always.” We headed for the bathroom, where we stripped and he cranked up the water. When it was ready, we got in and he soaped me up.
Hands slid over all the areas of my body he told me were extra-dirty and needed more attention. He stole my breath as desire brewed between my thighs. I hissed as his fingers worked their way over my nub and entered me. With the sensations evoked by his hands, mouth, and water, I lost myself completely to him. The orgasm I chased erupted in full force and I sagged against the cool tiled wall afterward. He held me with his palm and then lifted me in his arms, impaling me. I bit down on his shoulder so as not to scream. He drove in and out and I reveled in the pleasure-pain threshold as he slammed me against the wall with each thrust. Oxygen rushed out of me each time as I tried to catch my breath between strokes. When he reached between us, I knew he was close. There wasn’t a chance I would last once his hand touched me.
His skillful fingers set me off like a comet shooting through the sky. My inner muscles squeezed his cock and his deep groan let me know he was getting his too. I knew for sure when his warmth spread inside of me. I was amazed at his strength—there wasn’t a chance I could stand yet. He held me and peppered kisses up and down my neck.
“That was lovely,” he said in my ear in his husky voice.
“Yes, it was. But you forgot the condom again.”
“Shit. I adore sex with you so much, you make me forget. Your body is made for it.”
“As is yours. You weaken me.”
“Weaken you?”
“Yes, you give me pasta legs. They’re like spaghetti now. Not an ounce of strength in them.”
“I’ll take that as a good thing.”
“It’s much better than good. I’ll run by the pharmacy on the way to the hospital in the morning.”
He kissed me, taking possession of my mouth, as though he was seeking secrets that might have been hidden in there. We made out until the water ran cold.
He carefully dried me off and then we went to bed. We both crashed and didn’t move until my phone rang in the morning.
“English, I’m getting ready to go to the hospital. Are you ready? I’m headed over.”
Ugh, it was my mom and I’d forgotten to set the alarm.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Tristian
“Shit!” English hopped out of bed.
“Babe, what’s wrong?”
“My mom is on the way over. I forgot to set the alarm.”
“It’s fine. Calm down and get dressed. I’ll handle her when she gets here.”
She stopped hopping, smiled and went into the bathroom. I opened my suitcase and pulled on a pair of jeans and a T-shirt. Then I ran down the stairs and put some coffee on. I heard the horn honk, so I ran outside and told Sheridan it would be a minute or two.
I fixed English a large cup of coffee to take with her and by that time she was skipping down the steps and hunting for her purse.
“Over there.” I pointed to the sofa. “Here. It’s for the ride.” I handed her the coffee.
A smile reached her eyes. “Thank you.” She kissed me on the lips and ran out the door. What a morning. And the night before. With English gone for a few hours, I’d have some time to process.
First order of business was to email Beck explaining why I’d be late meeting him. Then I contacted the attorney to explain the situation with Stuart’s father.
His reaction was priceless. “You’re joking.”
“Not at all.”
“Let me get this straight. He came to the Bridgeses’, forced his way inside and threatened to take Easton away. When Mrs. Bridges wouldn’t give in, he railed on and on and then her father-in-law showed up and he punched him?”
“That about sums it up.”
“Please hold.” I heard him call for his admin. He asked her to run a search on any press releases from the governor’s office. Then he was back. “I hope they fire him, but I won’t hold my breath.”
“True, but how shall we proceed?”
“We’ll take out another order of protection and this time we’ll extend it to cover the entire Bridges family too.”
“This gets better and better. Is there anything else we can do?”
“You won’t have to. They just buried themselves.”
“That’s what I figured.”
“Don’t worry about a thing. I’ll get everything handled. If you and English are in agreement, I think we should sue.”
“I am, but let me check with her. And thanks.” I finished the call and headed over to see my brother.
My sister greeted me with cold eyes and a pinched mouth.
“Hello, Ravina. How’s the job hunt?” I asked lightly.
She sneered. “I imagine it’s the same as the wife hunt.”
“Is that so? Then congratulations must be in order.”
The sneer turned into a frown. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“I’m not on any hunt, so I guess that means you’ve found a job.”
“I’ve done no such thing. You know those… people”—she spat the word—“are beneath me.”
“I have one question for you. Whoever died and pronounced you queen?”
“Oh, you think you’re so special now that Dad made you the heir, don’t you?”
“Matter of fact, I wish he hadn’t. Then I wouldn’t have to put up with your surly disposition.” God, she was a pain in the ass. I climbed the stairs without another word.
My brothers were deep in work, the older walking on one crutch and the younger typing away on a computer keyboard.
“Hey, Tris. What brings you here? I thought you were headed to Vietnam?” Stanton asked.
“It was delayed for a number of reasons, one of which was I went to Vegas and got married.”
Both of them stared at me like I was a ghost.
“What?”
“Yep. I’m hitched to a gorgeous woman.”
“Congratulations?” Stanton asked.
“Hell, yeah. I picked the best of the best and can’t wait for you to meet her.”
“Well, damn, bro. Who is she?”
“Her name is English Bridges Baines.”
Stanton reeled. “Whoa. Is she any relation to Beck Bridges, your sort-of-boss?”
“She’s his daughter.”
Landry had been silent until now. “Dude, boning the boss man’s daughter…” He laughed.
My nostrils flared with his comment. “Landry, I don’t appreciate that one bit. It’s not like that at all. Her father gave us his blessing and you will treat her with respect.”
Landry’s hands instantly rose. “Hey, sorry, man. I didn’t know you had feelings for her. Won’t happen again.”
“Better not, or you’ll have more than my voice to answer to.”
“No worries, man. You have my word.”
I dipped my head and heard my older brother’s raspy chuckle. “I can’t believe it. My brother got himself chained to a woman. And from that reaction, it looks like you are actually in love with her.”
“Just for the record, I don’t consider it chained and it was worth it to me. And it sure as hell should be to you.” I avoided the comment about being in love. That wasn’t his business.