Before Sunrise Read online

  Eric looked back at her. Had she completely lost her mind?

  She grinned at him. “No one knows I’m here.”

  “I know. Dammit! Would you cut this shit out!” he yelled at her. Harper looked stricken by his words. He didn’t mean to hurt her, but she was freaking him out. He walked over and brought her into his arms. She hugged his waist. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to yell, but this can’t happen. I know you’ve seen your sister and Liam and you think that’s true love. Maybe it is. And you’ll have it, Harper. You’re young, beautiful.” He lifted her chin. “You are so special I know you’ll have it. But you won’t have it with me.”

  “Kiss me.”

  “Harper, are you listening to me?”

  “Kiss me. One kiss and I’ll leave you alone. I’ll stop. I swear.”

  He stared at her lips for a second. His heart was pounding in his chest. No woman had that effect on him. She was so determined, and he cared for her. He really did. But he lived a dangerous life. He had little time or use for love. Hell, he didn’t even know what the hell it felt like to be in love.

  Harper closed her eyes and lifted her lips to him. He held her. He shouldn’t be doing that, but he didn’t make his arms drop away. Her soft curves were pressed into him. His hand itched to ease down her back and cup that round ass of hers. He tried not to stare at. She swayed a bit, waiting on her kiss. Maybe if he kissed her he could get it out of his system. He’d repent after he took her home and then just get his ass to Jakarta. In a year she would have forgotten all about him. She’d be in love with some young man who wouldn’t know how to worship her body. Wouldn’t know how to show her passion. The lucky bastard wouldn’t know what a treasure she was.

  “Kiss me, Eric.”

  Eric’s hand went around her neck. His thumb forced her head to tilt back. Fuck it. What harm could one kiss do?

  Her kiss poured through him like warm honey. All of his reasoning and sensibility melted away. He lifted her up into his arms so he could gain greater access to her darting tongue and those soft, pliant thick lips of hers. Young or not, she was masterful in the art of kissing. He liked that. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her body into his. Eric groaned in the back of his throat. Their tongues clashed like swords. His chest was tight, and his heart pounding like a hammer.

  Then she broke away. Eric stepped back, sucking down hard breaths and licking his lips to taste the rib sauce he’d swept off of hers. Harper gave him a very calculating smirk as she undid the sash to her trench and let it fall open. Eric shook his head no. But his dick pained him so bad he had to readjust it. Harper noticed. If a black man could blush he would have now. Damn, she wasn’t a kid. She knew exactly what she was doing to him. How the hell had he let it get to the point where he wanted to fuck her to oblivion?

  Harper let the coat drift from her shoulders. His gaze fell with the wool trench and stopped at her pink pumps and he let his eyes slowly climb her dark legs to her round hips. The lacy pink thong sweetly concealed her pussy from view. He focused on her tattoo and wondered why a strawberry, then let his gaze travel up to her breasts. Harper put her hands to her hips, letting Eric take her all in before she spoke.

  “I’m not a virgin, you know? I lost my virginity at sixteen. I can satisfy you, Eric. This will happen. Either you come in the room and make love to me now, or I’ll lie on your bed and touch myself like I do most nights when I’m dreaming about you. Your choice.” She walked past him, running her hand over his chest and touching his arm.

  As though on autopilot, Eric’s head slowly turned to watch the rounded perfection of her ass as she slipped away. He dropped his head back and laced his fingers at the back of his neck.

  “Fuck. Fuck!”

  ***

  Liam awoke. At some point Kennedy had drawn the cover over the three of them. She was turned toward him, her mouth slightly parted in a light snore. He had fallen asleep and hadn’t dreamed. Sleep never came so easily, but somehow, with her, it had. He looked up and saw it was still dark outside. Lifting from his pillow, he could see Mackenzie remained sleep. Her arms were flung wide and her legs spread under the sheet. She had forced her mother to move closer to him, claiming the entire right side of the mattress.

  Liam smiled. He had his girls. They had him. Things were as they should be. His hand moved under the sheet. Slowly and gently he undid the button to Kennedy’s jeans and eased down her zipper. He saw her eyes move under her closed lids but she didn’t wake. Not until he eased his hand inside, over the trimmed hairs of her mound. She hadn’t had time to put her panties back on. They were still down by the Christmas tree.

  Kennedy’s eyes slowly opened. She blinked, a little confused. He rubbed her clit with his finger and then awareness flashed in her eyes. Her hand went to his.

  “Stop…Mac is right there, Liam—”

  “Shh,” he said, kissing her nose. I have to touch you Kay, please. We won’t wake her if you’re quiet for me.”

  She looked a bit uncomfortable but she removed her hand. Liam put his head to her forehead as he stroked her slit. He liked the way her small nostrils puffed and flared and her sweet breath came out over his lips and mouth. And she was moist already. He forced her jeans open, pushed them down her hips. She opened her legs a bit and his hand moved in between. She grabbed his shoulder when his middle finger thrust into her pussy. Liam smiled, liking the way her lip quivered, her eyes fluttered. He remembered how tight and wet she was when he got in. He gave her another finger and she gasped softly. Her pussy was in the cradle of his hand as he thrust two fingers in and out of her slick tightness.

  “I want you so bad, Kay, you know I do. I want to fuck you babe, and then make love to you. Do you remember?”

  She nodded, moving lightly, gripping his shoulder so tight her nails cut into his arm. “When will it be my time?” he asked, teasing her. She opened her mouth to answer and he just kept fingering her pussy until she could only grunt a half reply. “This is my pussy, isn’t it?”

  Kennedy nodded. She kissed him, her body responding to him. He remembered waking up most mornings with her on his dick, forcing him to rise to the occasion. He could feel the tension coiling tighter in her. He teased her with quick kisses, delaying a full onslaught. He had so little restraint. If she didn’t come for him soon he’d get on top of her and fuck her right there.

  “Come for me, Kay. Come on, babe. At least give me this.”

  She groaned, holding tighter to his arm and then creamed herself. With deep, hard shudders, her pussy unleashed. Liam withdrew her hand and brought her to him. He held her until she shook through the last of her climax. Now he could sleep.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Kennedy rolled under the blanket and sheet. She smiled in her sleep. The awakening for her this morning was pleasantly slow. He’s home. He’s here. She walked her hand over the mattress to him and found empty space. It was only after his missed presence brought a wave of disappointment that she peeked out from her lashes to find him gone.

  She was alone.

  It was cold.

  Kennedy was freezing. She rolled to her back and drew the sheet and blanket up over her shoulders. Where had Mackenzie gone? She, too, was missing. Normally when Mackenzie rose, so did the entire house. Kennedy smiled. How did Liam manage to get her daughter out of the room without her waking her? That took skill.

  Liam is going to be such a good father.

  Kennedy snuggled back under the warm heat of the covers and the inflated mattress squeaked. She conjured images of her future family. Liam would put Mackenzie to bed. She’d be waiting for him in their room just across the hall. He’d join her, covering her body with his, making love to her tender and slow at first. Then passion would overtake them and she’d get him every which way they could achieve.

  Yes.

  And together they would build a life for themselves and their daughter. Raise a family with love and patience. She’d have Halloween parties, and soccer games, and PTA meeting
s. He’d put bikes together and build a tree house in the backyard. They’d have family dinners and holiday celebrations where everyone would come. Instead of a new house, they’d build on this one, as their family grew. She’d get him to attend church.

  Kennedy smiled to herself. Maybe the church is pushing it.

  How did she get so lucky? So blessed? Kennedy hugged herself. She wasn’t smiling, she was grinning. He had been such a temptation. Last night they’d come close. In fact, she felt sticky between her thighs, thanks to his touch. She wanted him so bad. He drifted to sleep soon after but she couldn’t. She was left to toss and turn between him and their daughter. It was torture. Eventually, she settled on spooning him from behind, her hand easing over his chest as she pressed all over him, against his broad back, inhaled his hair, his neck, his skin. He felt so warm, strong, good. If Mackenzie hadn’t been there, she would have woken her man. Loved him like she did in her dreams.

  “Ugh!” she moaned. Where was he?

  “Wake up, mommy.” Mackenzie bounced in through the door. Kennedy sat up on her elbows. Her daughter was bundled up in her coat, her elf hat pulled down on her head. Liam entered behind her with bags of McDonald’s. “We got you breakfast, mommy.”

  “Oh, this is a treat.” Kennedy laughed. She and Liam lived off McDonald’s the first year of their marriage. She lost her taste for it shortly thereafter. Liam never seemed to do so.

  Kennedy sat up and accepted the cup of coffee he handed her. She took a sip and inhaled. It was strong. The caffeine knocked away all the cobwebs of sleep from her head. She watched as Liam got to the floor with their daughter and began to fix her hotcakes. She was about to object and remind him that the cakes had to be cut in small squares, but he had it under control. She was proud of him.

  “I got you an egg muffin in the bag. You still like them, right?” Liam asked.

  “Love ’em,” she said. It wasn’t necessarily a lie. It was the only sandwich she could tolerate from McDonald’s. She dug out the wrapped, greasy sandwich and hash browns. Her mouth watered at the smell.

  “Mommy, in three more days it’s my birthday and Christmas. Daddy say we gonna have my party here.”

  Kennedy frowned. “Well, we’ll see.”

  Liam’s head lifted and their eyes met. Kennedy looked away. We need to talk. The house was nice and yes, she wanted to move in. But they would need to furnish it and everything. She had already planned the party for Mackenzie at her house.

  “Daddy said Santa will bring me a dog.”

  “We’ll see,” Kennedy said.

  Liam cut her another look. What did he expect? He made decisions without discussing them with her. A dog was work. They needed to get on their feet before they bought in another mouth to feed. She didn’t know about his military salary. And her salary as a legal assistant was just barely bringing in 40K a year. Hell, she didn’t even know what rent was on this place.

  “Mommy?”

  “Yes.”

  “Daddy said you getting married.”

  Kennedy stopped mid-chew. She swallowed, her eyes wide. To this, Liam didn’t look up. He just fixed the straw in the small bottle of milk for Mackenzie and passed it to her. “You told her that?” she asked.

  “I think I want a recommitment ceremony,” he mumbled.

  “Gee. That sounds nice. Couldn’t you at least tell me? Ask me?”

  “Ask you?” Liam frowned. “You said you were mine. Why do I have to ask?”

  Kennedy sucked in her bottom lip and narrowed her eyes. “Why? Did you say why?”

  “Kay, I didn’t mean it that way. It’s just an idea.”

  “Ask me. Propose. Make it romantic, Liam. I’d like to hear you want to re-commit to me from your mouth, not our daughter’s.” Mackenzie stared at her. Kennedy adjusted her tone, pouring a little sugar on it. “Until you ask properly, there’s no need. It can be just one of your ideas.”

  Liam rolled his eyes.

  “Mommy has an idea, Mac.” Kennedy smiled at her daughter. “Let’s eat and then take you home to get bathed and dressed.”

  “Why?” Mackenzie replied, chewing with her mouth open.

  “Granddaddy’s here. He will want to see you.”

  “Oooo! Granddaddy’s here!”

  “He is?” Liam asked.

  “He and grandmama came yesterday. I think I should take her to spend some time with them. Then you and I need to sit down and have a long talk.”

  Liam smirked. “That’s not all we need to do.” He tore a large bite out of his sausage biscuit. Kennedy threw the crumpled-up hash brown wrapper at him. She had five days for a positive test result. She would feel a whole lot better if the pregnancy issue was addressed before they made love. But she knew he couldn’t be denied much longer, and neither could she.

  Mackenzie began drilling her father for information on his superpowers and Kennedy listened for Liam’s creative answers. Soon her thoughts drifted to the upcoming challenges they faced. Liam had a way of controlling their lives. It was totally different from Phil. With Liam, he had to be the man in her life and though he supported her, all decisions ran through him first. His method had been okay when she was eighteen and scared of her own shadow. But she was different now. She’d become more independent than he knew. He’d have to learn not to hold on too tight. She was certain they’d get past it. Setting her sandwich down, she crawled over to him. When he looked over, she kissed him.

  “What’s that for? You’ve been given me the stink eye all morning,” he half-joked.

  “For making me so happy. I love you,” she said.

  Liam, blushed. “Sorry. I should have done it right. Proposed, I—”

  She kissed him again.

  He smiled and kissed her back. She pressed her forehead to his and released her lips to rub her nose with his. Liam looked her in the eye when he spoke. “Will you marry me?”

  “I want to marry you too, daddy!” Mackenzie said.

  Kennedy laughed. “I guess that’s a yes from both your girls. Get ready, mister. We got you now.”

  Liam grabbed her and brought her over to his lap, tickling her side. Kennedy laughed. He bit her cheek, and then kissed it.

  “I was born ready.”

  ***

  “Gail? What are you doing here?”

  Phil accepted a hug from his mother-in-law. He’d found her in his office, pacing before his desk. A large Visitor badge with a big, red V was clipped to her lapel. As much as he cared for her, he was in no mood for this visit.

  “Hi, sweetheart. How are you?” Gail gave him a tight hug.

  “I’m okay. When did you get in town?”

  “Yesterday. You didn’t see the news?”

  “News?” Phil frowned and set his briefcase on his desk. He couldn’t stomach the news about Liam Flanagan The Great Hero. He avoided the television at all costs. “Why the news?”

  Gail tugged on her suit jacket. She wore a lavender designer dress suit and it hugged her curves. Phil couldn’t recall if he’d ever seen her with her hair out of place, or without make-up.

  “I gave an interview.” She smiled sweetly.

  Halfway around his desk, Phil froze. He looked at her. “You did what?”

  “Kennedy’s angry. Andrew isn’t speaking to me, and Harper has her head in the clouds as usual. But I did what I had to do.”

  Phil closed his eyes and released a deep breath. He knew Kennedy would be livid. He dropped in his chair. His headache was back, in force. “What did you say?”

  “That you and my daughter are married. A family. That your priority is to Mackenzie and each other, first and foremost.”

  Phil shook his head. “I wish you wouldn’t have done that.”

  “Why? Because it makes everyone uncomfortable? It’s the truth. I know it has to be, from your standpoint at least. Kennedy, well she’s not listening to me. She never listens to me.”

  “No, Gail. You’re wrong. Kennedy left me.”

  “She has not.”


  “She has. I have to accept it and so do you. We’re done,” Phil said. When he said the words he could look nowhere but down. He began to fiddle with things on his desk. Opening his briefcase he removed his laptop. He’d stayed up all night in bed thinking, dreaming, and wishing for it to be different. He didn’t want to give up. Hell, Alexa’s plan would have been an option. But what then? Having Kennedy by default would be worse than not having her at all. He realized what he wanted most was what Liam had. Unconditional love.

  The truth had been painful to accept. The first time he made love to Kennedy, he felt it. Her holding back, pretending, giving him her body but not much more. He loved her, but he couldn’t live with having half of her, not anymore.

  “My daughter is so naïve.” Gail lowered to the chair.

  “She’s not. She loves him. You and I both know it.”

  “I know my child. She’s romanticized Liam in her head. He hasn’t given her half of what you gave her. She was her own person because of you. What will she be now?”

  Phil sat forward. “Not really, Gail. See, we talked about that, too. We sat down for four long hours and talked about everything. She started living again because of Mackenzie. She was honest with me, and you, from the beginning. We loved her so much we wanted to help her, but we knew the source of her pain. We knew the source of her strength. Her only focus was her daughter.”

  “But?”

  “I can’t discuss this any longer. To be honest, I’m not even sure if I can accept it yet. I’m sorry, Gail, but I have a meeting.” He grabbed a folder. “It was nice seeing you again.”

  “Wait. What about Christmas? Are you coming over to the house? Is she moving Liam into your house? How does this work?”

  “She and I are going to figure it out. Excuse me. I have to go.”

  “Phil?”

  Phil kissed her cheek, and then walked out. He hurried his steps down the hall, his chest tight and his eyes tearing. Gritting his teeth, he dialed the phone to call his own mother, to break the news. He’d tried to hold on, but the best he could do now was pretend. He loved her. He’d lost her. It was over.