Before Sunrise Read online

  “Okay,” she panted, smiling.

  “I love you so much, Kay.”

  “I know, baby. I know.”

  When the strength returned to her limbs she found he’d fallen asleep. He had exhausted himself. That was fine. Their reunion was a long time coming. She left the room and found a rag to soak with sudsy water. She cleansed the tender folds of her sex and wiped away all excess. She came back to the bed and began to clean him. His cock grew hard in her hand while he slept. She smiled and kissed the tip, promising to pleasure it when she returned.

  She decided to let him rest. When she drew back she could look at his body. His story was all over him. She hadn’t noticed the burn marks to his side and his left arm. Kennedy covered her mouth as fresh tears began to pool. She told herself that it was over. His suffering was over. But she knew better. The road to full recovery would be a long, hard one.

  Kennedy dug out her robe and covered herself, then crept from the room. She returned the washcloth to the towel rack. She went downstairs and got her phone, dialing the number to a Thai restaurant she knew was close. She ordered a good meal of his favorites to be delivered. Once done, she called home.

  “Kennedy, where are you?” her mother asked as soon she answered.

  “Hi mom, how is Mac?”‘

  “Where are you?”

  “You know where,” Kennedy sighed.

  “We’re decorating the tree. Phil’s here. We’re all here. You should be here.”

  “Let me speak to Mac.” Kennedy paced. “Please mama, not now, we’ll talk later. Just let me talk to my baby.”

  “Hi, mommy.”‘

  Kennedy smiled. “What you doing, monkey?”

  “My birthday tree with daddy. The other daddy, not my heaven daddy…”

  “I get it, Mac.” Kennedy chuckled.

  “He’s so funny. He don’t know nothing, mommy. I have to remind him of everything.”

  Kennedy smiled. “Sounds like you’re having fun.”

  “Yes. You coming home soon?”

  “No baby. But daddy is there and so is grandma and granddaddy. So you will have so much fun.”

  “Okay, bye.”

  Mackenzie hung up on her. Kennedy shook her head. She set her phone down and took a long look around her at her empty house. Soon she’d fill it with love and their new life. She realized she liked new beginnings. Especially ones with him. Slowly she climbed the stairs to return to her man. To love him once more.

  Chapter Twenty

  “Mmmm, it’s good babe. So good.”

  Kennedy twisted a bit more of chicken pad thai around her chopsticks and eased another tasty bite into Liam’s gaping mouth. Liam lay on his side, facing her, propped up by his elbow. He licked lips and chewed slowly.

  “It is good, isn’t it?” She wiped a drop of sauce from his chin with a napkin. He looked so cute with his disheveled hair and flushed skin. Kennedy enjoyed feeding him. She’d had to fight him off of her to get to the door when the food was delivered. Kennedy leaned in and kissed his brow. She knew it had been a very long time since someone just cared for him. Not that he would stomach much of it. But she had softened him up enough. He tolerated her smothering. “You need your strength, so eat hearty.”

  Liam smiled. “I’ve got my second wind, babe, don’t you worry.”

  Kennedy shrugged. “Oh, trust, me I’m not. I know my soldier boy’s appetite. I’m ready for it.” She stabbed a cube of chicken out of the carton. When she slipped him a look, she noticed how intense his focus was to her uncovered breasts. She giggled and shook them at him.

  “What’s funny?” he asked.

  “The way you keep staring at my tits. I see you.” She set the half-eaten carton of noodles in her lap and repositioned to give him a better view. “Especially when I do this.” She worked her shoulders and made them bounce.

  “I love your tits.” Liam groaned. He moved quick. He grabbed her arm and pulled her down so he could nip at her breast.

  Kennedy crossed her arms to escape another attack. “I told you to stop biting them. No more for you.” Kennedy pushed him off. She stirred what was left of dinner, deciding to finish it off herself as his punishment.

  Liam fell back on his pillow. “Sorry. Those sexy beauties of yours make me do it.”

  “Yeah right,” she mumbled, her mouth full. “They could be flat as a pancake but you’d still suck them raw.”

  “True.”

  Liam’s hand crept over. It felt hard and strong like the rest of him. Kennedy had to admit he gave her fever the way he caressed up and down her thigh. They were on the bedcovers. A sheet was thrown over his lap and hers. Problem was it didn’t conceal the imprint of his erection, so she knew dinner would have to be finished soon. Kennedy felt herself tingling between her thighs from the mere thought.

  “I got a question for you, babe.”

  “Okay.” She tried to feed him. He shook his head no. She slurped three strands of noodles dangling from her chopsticks. His gaze grew a bit more intense. She frowned, unable to read the look in his eyes. “What? What’s the question?”

  “You and Phil. You two ever…um, did you do…you know, um…” he pointed at his dick, “with him?”

  “Are you serious?” Kennedy flinched.

  “Nah, never mind it. Forget I asked.” He gave a nervous laugh.

  “Why would you ask me that? Do you know how, how that makes me feel? Were you thinking about that while we were….”

  “No. Kay. Fuck no, I just. Damn, I’m an idiot. I’m sorry, okay?”

  “No, it’s not okay.” Kennedy swallowed back her hurt. She wanted to take the chopstick and stab him in the chest with it. He could be such an ass at times. She just wanted them to start again. Why must every road lead them here? She closed the carton and sighed.

  “Kay, wait. I’m sorry.”

  Kennedy snatched her arm from his pleading hand and escaped the bed. He sat up to reach for her but she shot him a withering glare that made him withdraw. “Liam, this will be the one and only time I discuss this with you. After this, don’t you dare ask me about Phil and our sex life again, because it will definitely put a damper on yours. Do you understand me?”

  Liam slowly reclined back on the pillow. His jaw twitched, as it did every time he was angry. But he kept his mouth shut. He had better. She was growing really tired of the Phil comparisons. If she could suck his dick enough to get him past it, she’d do that. So fine, he wanted the truth. Here it was. “Phil performed oral sex on me. Often. And I liked it. But, I didn’t do him, and he didn’t mind.”

  “I don’t want to talk about this.”

  “Oh, no. You bought it up, so here’s the truth.” She moved around the bed naked, her hair in tangles, but she didn’t care. She wanted it all out. She had nothing to be ashamed of. Phil wasn’t some rapist. He wasn’t her ideal lover, but she agreed to every single moment of sex with him, each and every time. Often, she found it enjoyable, though she thought it better to keep that part out. “He and I waited until we got married, which was just over a year ago. Our anniversary was October. He never forced sex with me; he was too busy trying to be my friend, Liam. And he was. I’m sorry it hurts you to think that I shared my body with another man, but I can’t change that. And what I do with you in our bed has nothing to do with Phil or any feelings for Phil. It’s us, and only us.” She wiped away loose tears. “I won’t let you make me feel dirty or ashamed….”

  “Kay, stop.”

  Liam kicked off his covers. He was out of the bed and to the other side of it before she could blink. He sure could move fast when he put his mind to it. When he wanted to hold her, there wasn’t much she could do to resist. Though she was hurt, she allowed his arms to close around her and pushed up against his warm, hard frame. “I don’t want this to come between us,” she said.

  “It hasn’t. I’m sorry I asked.”

  “Then why did you?” she shoved him off. “I don’t think of Phil when I’m with you. Do you think of
him when we’re together?”

  “No. Yes.” Liam put his hands behind his head. “I’m jealous. I love you so much Kay, my heart and pride keep fucking with me. I’m an asshole, because I should know better. I just can’t think of any man knowing how special you are.” He lowered a hand to rub his knuckles down her cheek. “I see now, that it doesn’t matter. It’s me and you still, and Mac. Kay…it’s hard to explain what I’m doing lately. I’ll fuck up from time to time, but it’s not because I mean to. The things in my head, my issues, they….” he moved in closer. “Forgive me, okay?”

  “Okay.” She smiled.

  “I want to have a baby.”

  “What?” Kennedy stepped back.

  “A baby, try again for a little brother or sister for Mac instead of a puppy. That’s what will make me happy.”

  “How do you jump to a baby? Now?”

  She tried to turn from him but he spun her back around. “Wait, wait, hear me out. We could make a little boy this time. He’ll be tough and cute. Do you think he’ll have your eyes too, or maybe mine next time?”

  Kennedy didn’t smile.

  “I know we got a lot of shit to work out, but I want another kid, Kay. Don’t you see? This is our new beginning. And this time I want to go through the pregnancy with you. I know what you and Mac went through. It kills me that you suffered. It’ll be different this time. Like it was supposed to be. We can just start over, from where we left off.”

  “I can’t think of a baby right now.” She shrugged off his hold, backing away from him. Suddenly she felt overwhelmed. The baby question hit her in the gut. She didn’t want to consider baby talk for months. Until all the drama was a distant memory.

  “Don’t leave. I’m sorry. I’m pushing you and I really don’t mean to. Just say that it’s possible. That you want another baby with me.”

  “Liam…what I want is for you to slow down, okay? We don’t have to cram everything into one single moment. Of course I want a baby, maybe two, but it doesn’t have to start now. Let’s get on our feet. Let’s talk more, get to know each other more, enjoy each other more. Relax, soldier boy, okay?”

  “No, Kay. We don’t need to wait on life. Damn it, babe, if I haven’t learned anything I learned that. Nothing is promised to us. Let’s make a baby, right now,” he said, lifting her and placing her on the bed. Kennedy wrapped her arms around his neck. He should just shut up and make love to her. No more questions or doubts. Besides, she enjoyed kissing Liam; it was almost as good as sex. In truth, she enjoyed anything with him, because each and every touch or stroke of his hand pulled on her heartstrings.

  Kennedy deepened the kiss, fueled with wild ministrations of her tongue that made him laugh deep in his throat. Just as she tried to bring him back on the bed with her, the kiss slowed to a teasing stop. Liam licked his lips, and his eyes dropped to her breasts once more. He stood at the edge of the mattress, deciding on something. Kennedy smirked. She rubbed her breasts for him and tried to entice him to act.

  He did. Liam drew her down, pulling her by the ankles to the edge of the bed. He grabbed a pillow and dropped it before him. Why, she wasn’t sure. Liam then parted her legs and placed one on each shoulder. Now she knew why. He lowered so that she was spread in front of his face.

  “Oral sex, huh? You let him eat what’s mine?”

  Kennedy dismissed the comment with an eye roll. He licked her center with the broad side of his tongue and she felt such eroticism from his lips that her toes curled. Then he pressed a kiss there. His nose brushed against her damp slit and he gave her another slow lick that ended with the tip of his tongue circling and drawing her bud forward.

  Kennedy dug her fingers into his hair. She loved the feel of his scalp beneath her nails, just like she loved to have his mouth between her legs. He buried his face and slurped at her clit until she bucked her ass off the mattress, trying to withstand the sexy rush of pleasure his mouth brought. It dipped between, licked and swiped the inner folds of her labial walls. He eased a finger inside her wet channel as his mouth continued to drive pleasure through to her core.

  The man made her insane. She needed his cock not his finger. “Liam, do me, please…” she begged as he continued to lick, suck and kiss her below while working his finger in and out with back and forth thrusts. He remained determined to prolong her torture. Kennedy reached between her thighs with both hands and gripped the back of his head, smashing it against her achy core as she cycled down to another climatic explosion. Her eyes rolled under her fluttering lids and she cried out in a hoarse, strained voice. He used his free hand to lift her hips higher to give him greater access. Her back bowed from the bed and all of her shook through her spasms of pleasure pulsing through her pelvis.

  Liam withdrew his sopping wet fingers from her clenched channel and rubbed his thumb over her the ring of her anus. She was crashing with pleasure but he was far from done. Why didn’t he release her and just give her what she needed? The desire to have his cock between her legs drove away all patience. Although his fingers felt heavenly, they weren’t enough. “Liam, Liam, c’mon. I want you,” she panted weakly.

  She changed her mind. She wanted him to bury his cock deeply in her rear, wanted it so badly she ached all over. No one had breeched her forbidden hole but him. Maybe she should tell him? He swirled his tongue around her pussy and rubbed her anus a moment longer before slipping his thumb inside. His tongue eased lazily down to her tight opening and then pierced her cunt as his thumb thrust in and out of her. Kennedy’s eyes flipped open and the bottoms of her feet curled. She tried to withstand but the next climax reached far into her soul. She stiffened all over and exploded. Floating on what felt like a heat wave, she enjoyed the raw burning sensation of pleasure rippling up from her uterus and spreading through her belly. The only thing better would be him drilling her the way he used to, while he pulled her hair. “Liam, give me more…yes want more….”

  Liam withdrew his thumb. Licked her juices, then rose from the floor and stood before her with his cock in hand. At last. he will give it to me. I should roll over to show him where I want him first. She smiled, her gaze going down her body slick with sweat to eye his thick erection jutting out before her, as he lowered her legs from his shoulder. Liam licked his lips. Kennedy put her hand over her pussy to stop the quivering, and rub out the stress to her clit. “Now Liam, come here…you can get it how you like. Come on.”

  “I’m going to get us something to drink. You want something?” he walked away.

  Kennedy shot upright. “What?”

  Liam tossed her a coy smile over his shoulder and left the room.

  “You jerk!” she yelled after him. She could hear him laughing, and his footsteps going down the stairs. She rolled out of the wet spot and curled up, grinning. When the feeling returned to her legs, she would punish him. Until then she could do nothing but lie there and smile.

  ***

  Gail caught Phil as he walked out of Mackenzie’s room. His face was calm with contentment. He and Kennedy really had made a nice home for her granddaughter. Today while she watched Mac follow him around and need his reassurance, she knew. She had to do something to keep this family from falling apart. With Andrew downstairs in the TV room, eyes glued to Sports Center, now would be the best time to talk. “She asleep?”

  Phil nodded. He closed the door gently. “She’s in heaven. Yes, she’s asleep, but not after she gave me another rundown on what she wanted for her birthday and what she wants for Christmas, because she had to remind me that they are two different things. She is so smart. The things that come out of her mouth shock me and Kennedy every day.”

  Gail sighed. “You are so good with her, Phil. She thinks of you as her father, you know?”

  “I love her. Nothing will ever change that.”

  “Not even having your own?” Gail asked.

  Phil paused. His brows lowered in confusion.

  “I know,” Gail announced. She crossed her arms to the front of her chest.
r />   “What do you know?”

  “Let’s talk.” Gail walked past him to her daughter’s bedroom. When she entered, she looked back to see Phil in the hall, staring. He hadn’t followed. He dropped his head and came inside. She’d been careful to close the door. What she wanted to say, she couldn’t with Andrew around. He wouldn’t stand for it. He’d just defend Kennedy and Liam as always. He was so blinded by his daughter’s wants that he never did what was right for her. In Gail’s heart she blamed Andrew as much as she blamed Liam for taking her child’s innocence and making her grow up too soon. She wasn’t able to protect Kennedy then, but she’d be damned if she repeat the same mistakes now.

  “What do you know?” Phil asked.

  “That she’s pregnant.”

  Phil sighed. “Who told you that? Kennedy?”

  “Does it matter? What are you going to do about it?”

  “This is between me and Kennedy.”

  “Yes, and right now, she’s with him. Are you seriously going to give up on her now?”

  “Give up? Give up? Gail, there is no baby. Kennedy called me today and told me she went to the doctor.”

  “She did what?” Gail frowned.

  “It’s done. I’ve accepted it and I suggest you do too. I want to be a part of Mac’s life. I’m barely hanging on here.”

  “And you believe her?” Gail stepped forward.

  “What do you mean?”

  “Believe that there is no baby? Where’s the proof?”

  “She had the test,” Phil said, feeling his chest tighten. He wanted to go. Hell, this was his house and he already felt strange visiting it. Just two weeks ago, he was in the bed behind him, loving his woman. She was in his arms, all his, their bond solid. He believed in love. Now it had all evaporated into thin air. No one knew how desperate the loss of Kennedy made him feel. His heart had been crushed to dust. Whether it was his fault or Kennedy’s, it was his reality.

  “She’s lying.” Gail said. “She’ll have an abortion, if she hasn’t already.”