Restoration & Forgiveness (Renovate Book 2) (19 page)

"I'm going to remind you to never run away from me again."

My body concedes, and I'm more than glad to have him show me. I'm gently lowered to the bed, and I'm aware of the soft, cool sheets on my back. Keegan spreads my legs apart, and I can feel cool air on my center. It sends a thrill through me. When he runs his erection along my slickness I moan in a voice I don't recognize.

I run my nails down his back, down to his ass where I squeeze him closer. I'm ready for him, and this foreplay is torture. It's evident that he has much more control than I do.

"Please," I beg.

"What can I do for you, sweet Aimee," he whispers huskily.

"I need you inside of me," I whine.

He presses himself harder along me, and I'm ready to explode. I decide I won't be able to forgive him if I orgasm without him in me.

"And I need you around me." He pushes into me, and I arch my back as he begins his slow, hard pumping in and out of me. I meet his thrusts, pulled in to his eyes. He's not only making love to me physically, but also to my heart. Staring into the deep, dark pools of blue, I see forever, and the life he's promising me with him.

As he plunges into me at a rapid pace, I can no longer hold back. My climax takes over, and I'm soaring higher than I have ever before. My release drives him over the edge; he pushes into me one more time before he is pulsating in me.

His body is heavy on top on me, and I don't even care that he's crushing me. Once his breathing has slowed he lifts up enough so I can finally catch my breath. He assaults my face and neck with quick playful kisses. Once he's had his fill, he plants one last long and passionate kiss on my lips, and reminds me that I still want more of him. I want to feel our complete connection again, as soon as possible.

He rolls off me, and I whimper at our loss of contact. It's a complete loss when he's just filled me with so much. He pulls me over to him, and I close my eyes as I rest my head on his warm, hard chest. The duvet is pulled over us, and for as much energy that I just had a few minutes ago, I can't seem to keep my eyelids from closing.

The last words I hear are, "You win." He brushes my hair aside and kisses my temple. I fall asleep with a lazy smile on my face. It's a good thing he's my forever, because there is no doubt I've just been ruined for any other man.

***

I open my eyes to Keegan's. I'm still wrapped around him, and I'm surprised I've slept latched on to him. I blush when I realize that I've held him hostage all night.

I feel the stiffness in my body as I free him from my hold. I stretch, and he runs his finger down my side. His featherlight caress tickles, and I giggle as my body reacts.

"Morning, beautiful."

"Morning, Mr. James."

He smiles at my greeting, and I kiss the corner of his mouth.

"You know what I can't wait for?" he asks.

"What's that?"

"For you to have my last name."

The sweetness he brings to me this morning has my heart leaping, and no matter what my day brings, I'll think back to how perfectly it started, here, in bed, with him.

"Well, about that, I was thinking of keeping my maiden name. I've just grown attached to Brennan," I say with a straight face. I hold in my laugh at his shock.

"I don't think so, woman! You will take my name, and you will love it, just like that ring on your finger." He pulls me on top of him.

"I suppose, for you," I say, and laugh. Instant relief spreads across his face. Even though I was just teasing, I feel bad.

"I wouldn't want any other last name but yours," I admit. He smiles, tucking a loose strand of my hair behind my ear.

"I love you."

"To the stars."

"Absolutely."

"One day soon, I want to spend the entire day in this bed."

"That can definitely be arranged."

"Soon."

"Soon." We are in agreement.

Our evening took a different turn, instead of watching the sunset, and looking at the stars under the moon, I saw different stars, and rose with the sun.

"What are you thinking?" he asks.

"That no matter what, I'm happy here, anywhere, as long as I'm with you."

He looks away for a minute, trying to hide his embarrassment. He's not the only one who can be poetic. I wish I could make him feel as special as he does me.

"So tonight, I will pick you up at your apartment. Panties are optional, as always." I push him away, faking being appalled, but I like the dirty talk more than I admit.

"So this is a fancy function, black tie?" I inquire.

"Yes, there will be photographers as always. Just so you know, the fundraiser is for cancer research, and I know how important that is to you."

He's referring to my mother's battle with the disease, and the reason we met in the first place. If she hadn't died, I wonder would we have found each other? Would we be where we are right now, or would we have lived without the parts of our hearts that belonged to the other.

I'm pleased to find out about the charity, and even though I'm healthy, it's always in the back of my mind that I'll be dealt the same sentence as she was. I want to grow old with Keegan, watch our children grow into adults. See them fall in love. We just have to get to the part where we can make that possible, and I'm afraid Gretchen may drag things out so that won't happen. I don't want to build a family with her looming in our lives.

Chapter Nineteen

"I'm so fat, nothing fits," I hear from a frustrated Reese. Clothes are being tossed out of her room. I was just sitting on our couch trying to unwind when her obvious freak out began.

I haven't noticed her gaining any weight; she looks exactly the same to me. I offered for her to wear something of mine, and she started crying. I'm trying not to take it personally. My wardrobe isn't that bad; I have a few nice designer pieces that I'm sure would look great on her.

"What are you wearing tonight, Aimee?" She asks as she walks out of her room looking disheveled. I'm thinking it's going to take a lot of coaxing and prepping to get her out of here. Kaleb is the only one who can make her feel beautiful when she's like this. He's like a miracle worker.

"I'm wearing my black cocktail dress that ruffles at the bottom, with my sparkly Jimmy Choos that Keegan gave me."

"You're so lucky; all my fiancé gave me was a little alien."

She's really upset, so I decide to be proactive and help her find something.

"Reese, you look fantastic. I'll help you find something."

She hugs me excitedly. "Thank you, thank you, thank you. You are the best friend in the whole world."

"Don't thank me yet, but we'll find something that will knock Kaleb's socks off."

An hour later, after literally going through every dress that she and I own, she finally decides on a pale pink sheath dress that hugs her figure. It fits her perfectly, and the only weight change I notice is in her breasts, which I'm pretty sure is the only place a woman wants to gain weight.

I help her fix her hair and make-up before I go to get ready for my own prince charming. I'm on a time crunch since it took Reese an eternity to decide on a dress. I also picked up all her clothes so no one would break their neck tripping over them. I'm not sure a trip to the emergency room is on my agenda tonight.

I take a quick shower, get dressed, and fix my hair, curling it so it falls in soft waves and pinning my bangs back. They have grown long in the last couple weeks. I can hear chatter in the living room. I check the time, and hurry to put my make-up on. My door opens slowly while I spritz some perfume on my wrists.

Keegan appears in my mirror, and I have to catch my breath at him in a tux. It's not the kind with a bow tie, but a silk black tie. He's a vision if there ever was one. He nuzzles my neck and places his arms around my middle. He inhales, and sighs.

"You are a vision," he says.

"Funny, that's what I just was thinking about you." I smile, looking at our reflection in the mirror.

"Here, let me." He grabs my star necklace from my dresser and fastens it around my neck, turns me around, kissing me on the lips and grabbing my hand. I grab my black clutch before he pulls me out of the room. When we reach the living room I'm surprised that Kaleb has Reese pushed up against our kitchen counter. He's hiked up her dress, and I'm happy that he's blocking most of her, because I don't want Keegan and me to get a free show.

Keegan clears his throat, but Kaleb doesn't stop until Reese pushes him off her. She pulls down her dress and smooths out her hair. I'm going to be really ticked if her dress is messed up. I give him my evil eye, and he winks at me. Typical for him to play with me. I'm already nervous as it is. I need them both to be on their best behavior tonight, though it's kind of sweet that they can't keep their hands off each other.

"Are we ready?" Keegan says behind me. I let out a giggle as Kaleb has to adjust his pants to hide his erection. I've been around these boys for most of my life, so it's nothing I haven't seen before.

"Dude, can you be a little less obvious?" Keegan points to his brother's crotch.

"You're just jealous," Kaleb argues.

"Guys, if we don't leave now we are going to be late," I tell them, ending their confrontation. We head out for the hotel, hand in hand. Looking at us, you would think we were the perfect couples.

We arrive at the fundraiser, and everything is lit up. There is a pink carpet where a red one would be, and we pose for pictures. We take some serious ones along with a few silly ones. The event is being held in the ballroom, and when we enter, there are tables set up around a dance floor. The tablecloths are different shades of pink. Waiters are walking around serving flutes of champagne. Keegan hands me one as we find the table reserved for us. There are place cards, and the first thing I notice is Gretchen's placed next to Keegan's. I consider ripping it up and tossing it in the trash, but I'm not sure how that would go over. This is an event for charity, and the last thing I want is to act like a brat. Instead, I take a huge gulp of champagne to give me the courage to behave. The bubbly beverage is sweet as it touches my tongue. I need to be prepared to see this woman, and I intend to act gracefully this evening.

Reese and Kaleb disappear when we arrive, and I don't even want to guess what they are up to. They continued to make out on the ride over, and I could tell that even Keegan was uncomfortable with the display.

Keegan and I walk around the room, saying hello to a few people. We follow a group of partygoers to the rooftop terrace for some fresh air. The rooftop living room is packed. Squeezing our way through the crowd, we find an opening near the railing. I love the view of Manhattan in front of me. I'll never become sick of the cityscape at night.

The wind blows against my face, and I take a deep breath and close my eyes. It helps relax my nervous stomach.

"I have a surprise for you," Keegan whispers in my ear.

I open my eyes, he's smiling at me. "Does the surprise fit in your pocket?" I put my hands in his jacket in search of said surprise, but come up empty.

"No, you don't, but you have to be good if you want to find out." He gives me a stern look.

"I'll be good, I promise." I pout, knowing he can't quite resist that.

"We aren't going back to your apartment tonight, or mine."

"We aren't sleeping on the subway, are we? I'm not quite dressed for that."

He lets out his deep penetrating laugh. Hearing it makes my knees a little weak. No matter how many times I hear the sound it always elicits the same reaction from me.

"Not the subway." He pulls out a key card with a giant W on it.

"You got a room here?"

He nods and lets me take it and look it over. I'm not sure what I'm looking for, but this is something reminiscent of a prom date. A fancy party, a room for the night. He never ceases to amaze me with his thoughtfulness.

I put my arms around him and rest my head on his chest, squeezing him tight.

"You, Mr. Keegan James, are so going to get lucky tonight."

"I'm already lucky, but I'll take all that you are willing to give. Even if the luck extends all night long," he says in a low sexy voice. I can feel the effects at my core, and look forward to the end of the night.

"I'll keep that in mind." I lift my head and shoot him a wink.

We weave our way back to the ballroom. More people have arrived, and my heart drops when I spot the one person I wish I didn't have to ever see again.

I make eye contact with her, and she smiles. I can't imagine why she's smiling; I'm not happy with her. When I look over at Keegan, the look on his face tells me that he's not thrilled either.

He pulls me closer as Gretchen slithers over like a reptile. She's wearing a gold skintight strapless mini dress. It looks more like a bathing suit than a dress. She's also wearing a gold star necklace encrusted with diamonds. I look down at mine, and wonder if this could have been a gift from my fiancé. The thought makes me ill.

She stops right in front of Keegan, running her red manicured finger down his chest.

You have got to be kidding me. I go to pull her hand off him, but the scene in my head has me pulling her by her hair outside for a little chat. Chat meaning rearranging her face and breaking her hands. I'm fuming, but Keegan backs away from her, pulling her hand off him. He's got anger in his eyes, and her display has definitely not given her the reaction she wanted.

"Gretchen, keep your hand to yourself, please," he whispers. He's avoiding a raised voice and the scene she expects. I'm guessing she was looking for a reaction from me, and I was this close to giving her what she wanted.

"What's wrong Keegan? You don't have to put on a show for Amanda's benefit."

"You know my name is Aimee, and the only one putting on a show is you."

Reese and Kaleb pick the perfect moment to join us. I'm pretty close to blowing my top. Reese links her arm through mine.