Finally Home (Home Series) (27 page)

He pulled back, looking deep into her eyes, then lifted her into his arms and carried her back to the bed, laying with her snuggled close against his chest.  Lainey twined her arms around his shoulders, pressing close against him, not in a sexual way, but in what she hoped would be comforting.  It broke her heart to think of what he'd suffered through; to know that he was still suffering.  She wanted so badly to talk to him.  Riley had come to her and she'd helped him navigate through the worst of his demons enough so that he could find peace in his mind; she knew she could do the same for Mike if he'd only let her.

"Give me your hand,
cara mia
," he said, and wordlessly, she complied, slipping her left hand from around his shoulder and placing it in his outstretched one. He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed each fingertip one-by-one.  "
Si tiene il mio cuore nelle tue mani, bellisima,"
he whispered, placing a kiss to her palm. 

Lainey held her breath. 
You hold my heart in your hands,
he'd said.  How was she supposed to not react to that?  She squeezed his hand and snuggled closer to him, inhaling deep and loving the fragrance that was uniquely him.

"You sing really well," he said, pulling her from her thoughts.

She smiled against his chest.  "You think so?  You're my first solo audience."

He chuckled.  "My mother used to sing
Love Me Tender
to us when we were little."

"My mother sang it to me, too...it's always comforted me.  I know you don't want to talk about your dream now...but, just know that if you do ever want to tell me about it, I'm here for you...and I can handle it."

He kissed her brow.  "I know that,
cara mia.
  Maybe someday."

"I'll hold you to that, Commander."

"Understood," he replied.

"Think you can fall back asleep?" she asked.

"I'll try," he said, kissing her fingertips.

She let her fingers of her free hand comb through the hair at his nape, hoping to lull him to sleep.  Her heart ached for him.  The pain she'd seen in his eyes and in his body as he was pacing after the dream tore her to shreds. 

Mike wasn't sure how long they lay there before Lainey's hand in his hair went slack and he knew she was asleep again.  He didn't dare close his eyes; he didn't want the dream to return, didn't want to relive the horror of seeing Abdul torturing her, even if he knew it wasn't real.  He was going to allow himself this night with her, holding her, but then he knew he'd have to pull back and put some space between them again.  She was coming to mean more and more to him every day.  He couldn't chance letting his emotions getting in the way of keeping her safe.  When they returned home, he'd have only a week to prepare the security at the Adtkisson Estate for the Founder's Day Ball. That was a huge event that, if all ran smoothly, could set Orion Securities as the premier security firm in the state of Texas and have it well on its way to becoming tops in the nation.  Not only that, but keeping Lainey safe was paramount.  He didn't want Charles Conroy taking advantage of lax security and slipping in to take a shot at grabbing her.

His mind drifted to earlier, when he'd had her at his mercy in the bed.  He knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that he could have taken her tonight.  It would have been so easy to just let go and let hormones take over...but he owed her more...and he owed Riley more.  Riley had come into his life at a time when he'd desperately needed a friend and they'd been inseparable since.  Mike would gladly lay his life down for any of his men, but it went double for Riley.  And now, knowing that Riley had wanted Lainey for him all along...he owed Riley more than he could ever repay, and because of that, he would not take advantage of Lainey just because it was convenient.

He thought of her kisses, and her total submission to him.  She'd wanted to touch him, had begged to be allowed to...but just the threat of his absence had kept her hands where he'd told her to keep them.  And when she'd mockingly thrown that saucy "Yes, sir" in, that aroused him unbearably as well.  He'd been truthful all those years ago when he told Riley he wanted someone to worship, but he also knew himself.  Knew he needed some level of control in all things, especially in the bedroom.  He'd loved having her hands on him through his pants...but he was heavily scarred in that area.  While he did believe Lainey was strong enough to handle it, he didn't know what having her see him would do to him, or what having her hands on his bare flesh would do to him.  So, he needed that control.  He needed to know that if he told her to do something or not do something, she would obey for fear of him walking away. 

Obedience was not something that would come easy to her, either.  As an only child, and the only girl in a family of guys, she'd been naturally a bit spoiled.  Even Riley talked about how they all indulged her.  She was the baby her parents thought they'd never have and
, as such, they showered her with love and attention, and pretty much let her do whatever she wanted.  She wasn't spoiled in a bad way.  But she was headstrong and independent in a way that both thrilled him and frustrated him.  Just as her assertion that he better not expect her to say 'Yes, sir' to him outside of the bedroom had shown, she was not one to be walked over...and that was fine by him.  He didn't want a door mat.  He wanted her just the way she was...and willing to compromise in the bedroom.  So far, he believed he was getting that.

She sighed in her sleep, drawing his attention.  She did look like the pixie her cousins named her for. 
Petite yet full of feminine curves.  He loved that she wasn't fashion-model thin.  She had full breasts, a small waist and luscious hips he could hold on to.  He couldn't wait for the day he could have her fully nude and underneath him, to plunge into her wet softness and lose himself in her.

He was becoming painfully aroused and knew he had to reign in his thoughts before things go too out-of-hand.  Kissing the top of her head, he started thinking about the security plan for the Founders Day Ball and all the requirements of his time and attention it would entail.  Unfortunately, he came to the conclusion that he would not be able to be her escort.  There was too much he had to see to; too much that could potentially go wrong for him to have his attention divided.  That was going to be a bone of contention with her, he had no doubt.  No woman wanted to attend a function unescorted.  He'd like nothing better to show his hometown society that she belonged to him, but he knew that wasn't going to happen, not with Conroy on the loose.

Sleep wasn't going to be an option, he knew.  With a sigh, he slowly disentangled himself from her and got up to open his laptop and sit in the chair in the opposite corner of the room, pulling up the security footage from her house and offices.  Unfortunately, the storm had knocked power out and there was about twenty minutes where nothing was recorded.  He checked the live feeds, saw that everything was back up and running and that all looked quiet and secure.  Satisfied, he pulled up his books and began going through and paying what needed paying and handling the rest of the necessities of running a business, thankful that he'd have Melissa to do it all for him soon.

He worked for several hours, until the sun was shining through the windows and a movement from the bed drew his eyes to Lainey.  He got the joy of seeing her reach for him, eyes still closed.  When she touched his empty side of the bed, her eyes fluttered open and he felt his heart leap when those emerald eyes settled on him.

"Good morning," she said, smiling at him.

"Good morning," he echoed, watching her.

"Did you sleep at all after the dream?" she asked.

"No," he replied, eyes returning to his computer.

She got out of bed and crossed over to him, sliding her hand through his hair and kissing his cheek.  He looked up at her, watching her, but she merely winked at him, grabbed her bag and disappeared into the bathroom.  For a moment, he sat staring at the bathroom door, long after she'd closed it.  When he heard the shower running, he sat for a few more minutes, debating, then got up, crossed to the bathroom door, opened it, and stepped inside.

Lainey looked up when she heard the bathroom door open, then froze when she saw Mike step in.  The shower, thankfully, had frosted glass on the door, but she still knew it was him and her heart began wildly pounding at knowing he was in there with her.  Taking a deep breath, she decided to tackle it head on.

"Help you with something, Commander?"

She saw his figure move close to the door, then lean one shoulder against the wall, facing her.

"When we go back home, I'm going to be really busy with the security preparations for the Founders Day Ball."

"I know."

"The times I have to go to the Adtkissons, I'll have to take you with me."

"That's fine."

"There isn't going to be a lot of time for me to allow you to do much else."

She was quiet a moment.  What could she really say to that? 

"Lainey," he prompted.

"Yes?"

"I'm not going to be able to be your escort for the Ball," he said and she felt her heart sink. 

It made sense, of course.  He was going to be busy that night.  Still, she couldn't help being disappointed.

"Okay," she said, her voice small.

"It's not that I don't want to,
cara mia
, but your safety has to be my number one priority."

For some reason, that remark set her off.

"Seems to me, the safest place for me to be would be right by your side, Commander.  But that's just me.  What do I know?"

"There will be several things that require my attention that night.  Between me and the others, you will be covered at all times."

"So, if you're going to be shadowing me most of the night anyway, why can't you be my escort?"

"Because if I am dancing with you, then I'm not watching the crowd.  I can't afford to be distracted by you."

"Distracted by me," she repeated flatly.  "I see."

"No, I don't think you do," he said, his voice
going soft.

"You're right.  I don't.  It doesn't make sense to me at all."

"My reasons are solid, and my own.  Last night, I gave you a glimpse of what being with me will be like.  There are times,
cara
, when I will expect you to do exactly as I say, when I say it and without question.  Admittedly, most of those times will be in the bedroom, but when it comes to your safety, the same applies.  I will not compromise on your safety."

She sighed.  It was pointless to even argue with him.

"Did you really come in here just to lay down the law and pick an argument with me, Commander?"

"Let's just say I wanted to make sure I had your undivided attention."

"Really.  OK.  Well.  Let me see if I have yours," she said, opening the shower door.  She had the satisfaction of watching his eyes widen and his nostrils flare.  Oh, yes.  She definitely had his attention now.

"
Dio!
" he swore, his eyes glued to her very ample breasts.

A surge of feminine power ran through her as she smoothed her hands over the sides of her breasts.

"Like what you see, Commander?"

A vicious curse tore through him as he stepped forward, his hands closing over her breasts.

"How the hell have you kept these hidden?"

"A girl has her ways," she said, looking up into his eyes, seeing that they'd gone a little glossy as he took in her nude form.

"You're beautiful,
cara mia,
" he breathed.

She smiled, then bit her lip as her fingers curled into his shirt and she yanked, pulling him, fully clothed into the shower with her.
  Laughing, she wrapped her arms around his shoulders as he was stumbling in, tightening her hold when he straightened so that he lifted her up, her legs wrapping around his waist.

"I believe you have me where you want me, Ms. Riley," he said, smiling at her.

"Not quite," she said, fingers on his lips, "if you were exactly where I wanted, you wouldn't be dressed in anything but me."

He nipped at her fingers then leaned in to capture her mouth.  Lainey moaned and tightened her hold on him as his tongue plundered her mouth.  She was panting when he pulled back, his attention again on her breasts.

"Put your legs down.  On your feet," he ordered.  She whimpered but obeyed, dropping her legs so he could place her on her feet.  He backed her into the wall, hands covering and kneading her breasts.  For several moments, he contented himself with just fondling and squeezing them, but then he bent down and took one rosy tip between his lips, causing her to bury her hands in his hair while he feasted.  Her womb clinched and her knees went weak, feeling his tongue laving and circling her.

"Mike," she gasped, tugging on his shirt.

"Hands on the wall," he ordered.  "At your hips, palms to the wall."

"Mike, please," she cried.

"Do it or I leave,
cara
," he reminded her.

Frustrated, she dropped her hands from his shirt and slapped them back against the shower wall in the position he specified.