Page 59 of Deception & Daylight
“Nothing gets past Lucy Barlow,” Miles teases, kissing my forehead. “You want some ice cream, Ma?”
“I’m gonna head back to bed.” She gestures with two fingers to her eyes and then back at us. “You two behave yourselves.” With an affectionate smile, she turns to leave, and I’m left to wonder if everything he said was the truth.
When we return to my room, Miles places me down at the foot of the bed, then quickly tugs his t-shirt off over my head, leaving me naked before him.
“I have some work to do to earn your forgiveness. Lay back, arms over your head.” His voice is a gruff command. I don’t know when I started obeying his every command without question, so utterly at his mercy, but I can’t deny how much I crave his control.
I watch as he pulls off his clothes, revealing every delicious inch of his gorgeous body. His muscles are taut, and his gaze is intense as he stalks back to the bed with purpose before covering my body with his.
“You are sofuckingbeautiful,” he says, kissing up my torso before taking my mouth in a languid kiss that steals my breath. He grasps both of my wrists in one hand, teasing me with the other as I writhe and moan beneath him.
We lock eyes, and the vibrant blue depths of his irises shine with something I can’t quite place. The air grows thick and heavy as he cups my cheek, stroking his thumb along my cheekbone achingly slowly. I gasp for air, unable to breathe under his scrutiny. When he speaks, his voice is rough, “I mean it, Maggie. I’m gonna show you just how much I wish things were different. Every day until you believe me.”A sharp intake of breath is the only response I can muster under the intense weight of his solemn declaration.
He kisseseach one of my eyelids, then my nose, then over each cheek, before his lips touch mine in a tender kiss. Locking one of my legs around his hip, he lines himself up exactly where I’m aching for him, but he doesn’t push forward. Instead, he glides a hand up my torso and between my breasts, before settling his palm around my neck. He doesn’t squeeze, leaving his hand there like a claim. Then I feel him notch himself at my opening, and hips push forward ever so slowly, letting me feel every hard inch as he enters me. “I asked you who you belong to,” he whispers, resting his forehead against mine. “But I got it all wrong.”
I cup his cheek, feeling his stubble beneath my palm. When I speak, my lips graze against his, letting the question flow off my tongue, unprepared for what his answer might be. “What do you mean?”
“You never belonged to me, baby. But I’vealwaysbelonged to you.”
My response is little more than a breathy sigh. “Kiss me.”
Those two simple words are all the encouragement he needs. His lips are soft against my own as he swallows my moans. And when his hips swivel in a circular motion, his cock brushing me deeper than I’ve ever felt before, I cry out. His eyes never leave mine, and I can’t bring myself to look away either; it’s almost as though he’s trying to commit me to memory in every way — his hand around my neck, our breaths mingling between thrusts. This feels different from every other time we’ve had sex. He’s taking his time with me, and it feels like a promise.
Miles
I sense the moment she starts to stir. “Good morning,” she whispers, her voice still hoarse from sleep, and maybe the multiple orgasms from the night before. And again early this morning. I pull her towards me, kissing her forehead as I trail my fingertips along her side and over her ribs.
“Did you know you have a birthmark in the shape of a heart right here?”
She giggles. “You’ve said that before.”
“Have I?”
“Yeah. I mean, I know it was two years ago, but I still remember it vividly. It was the first time I sent you a full body nude. I’m a little insulted you don’t remember.”
My entire body stiffens as realization sinks in. Just another thing my brother fucking stole from us. I rest my head on her sternum, listening to the steady beat of her heart. “Hey. You okay?” she murmurs, running her fingers through my hair.“I was just teasing. Forget I said anything.”
I glance up and force a smile. “I wish I could go back and do things differently.”
Her delicate hand sweeps my hair from my forehead, and the gentle brush of her fingers feels like a brand. “I’m not sure I would.” Her quiet admission catches me off guard, stealing the breath from my lungs. “I was a different person back then. Apathetic. Reckless. I don’t even recognize her anymore. If things had been different, I don’t know that we would be here right now.”
“You don’t think so? You don’t think you would’ve fallen head over heels for me the moment you saw me?” I tease.
“Doubtful. As tragic as your face is, I probably would’ve run away screaming.”
Moving swiftly, I shift her beneath me, bracketing her hips with my knees, her wrists pinned over her head with one of my hands. I tickle her ribs and she trashes in my hold. “Take it back, Wildcat.”
Tears gather along her lashes as uncontrollable laughter consumes her. I pause long enough for her to catch her breath. Gasping for air, she says, “Ok, ok. You win!”
“You might not have fallen for me then, but I would’ve been a goner.” I kiss her nose, taking in her stunned expression, before sauntering to the bathroom. Stopping in the doorway, I glance back as she raises onto her elbows, brow furrowed.Yeah. Let her stew on that for a minute.
Chapter 25
Mags
? Hold You In My Arms - Ray LaMontagne
After breakfast, Miles has an errand to run, but instead of heading up to my room alone, I decide to search out Lucy and get a head start on the crash course for my new temporary job. It doesn't take long to find her in the sitting room with a massive leather-bound book spread open on the coffee table next to her signature tea tray.
