Page 75 of Chains
“I really want to thank you for everything—being there when the wedding was canceled… Tonight… Everything.”
“No worries, but don’t think I fucked you because of what my asshole brother did to you tonight. I’ve been wanting to be with you for a while now.”
Autumn swallowed, then smiled weakly. “You’re very direct. I’ve never been with a man who just says it quite like you do.”
“I don’t play games. I told you that before.”
“I like that—it’s refreshing.”
“I’ll tell you what you want to know, except for club business. That’s off-limits to everyone but the members. Anything else and you’ll get a straight answer from me.”
“Good to know. I’ll give it to you straight too.”
Chains quirked his lips and nodded. “I hate what my fuckin’ brother did to you—as far as the wedding, but most of all, what he did tonight. I’m not talkin’ about it ’cause I don’t wanna upset you or make the anger that’s bubbling beneath the surface explode inside me. Just know—I haven’t forgotten what the fucker did earlier.”
Her stomach churned, and she bounced a curled knuckle against her leg. “It’s okay… well, it really isn’t, but what I mean is that I don’t want you to fight Bret over this.”
There was a long pause and Autumn began to wonder whether he heard her, but then he locked his gaze on hers. And those eyes filled with care and kindness and desire.All for me. What do I do with that?
“I don’t want to talk abouthim”—Chains spat the word out like it was poison on his tongue—“anymore.” Two fingers ran from the hollow of her throat down between her breasts, skating over them, then tweaking her hardened nipples as the other hand untied the sash of the robe.
Autumn moaned and arched her back, and he groaned deep in his throat as he opened her robe and then gently eased her down on the cushions, those soft and skilled hands still touching everywhere. His tongue circled a path around each breast before his teeth bit the pebbled buds and pulled them into his mouth.
“So beautiful,” he murmured.
Fire rushed through her veins and the swell between her legs ached like hell. She practically fell apart when his hand palmed her, and she ground against him like a dog in heat. Chains chuckled deeply, and slipped a finger into her slit.
“Fuckin’ wet,” he whispered.
“Take me upstairs,” Autumn mumbled, her mind reeling, her body pulsing.
With a soft sweep of warm lips across hers, he lifted her up, and for the second time that night, he carried her up the staircase.
***
The tantalizing aromaof frying bacon and rich-bodied coffee woke her. Autumn burrowed deeper into the warm, soft sheets, tossing the duvet over her head to block out the morning light trickling in through the blinds. Fitfully, she turned on the other side, but nothing stopped the gnawing in her stomach. She threw off the covers, pushed away some auburn strands from her face, then gingerly rubbed the remainders of sleep from her eyes.
Autumn sat up but flopped backward onto the mattress, slayed by the rush of pain to the right side of her face. Squinting at the sunlight, she turned away and let her lids close. An electronic ring scrambled her brain as she groaned and cussed under her breath. Eyes still shut, she groped around on the nightstand until she snagged the cell phone.
“Hello?” she answered, her voice dry as tumbleweeds, her mind a fog.
“Are you okay?” Sadie asked.
“I just woke up. I’m under the weather.” Autumn would tell her friend what that asshole had done to her, but she didn’t want to get into it at that moment.
“That came on fast. You were good when we met at the coffeehouse.”
“Yeah, well, that’s the way it goes sometimes. Can I call you back later?”
“Sure—I was just calling to see if you wanted to do a girl’s night out next week with Rachel and Alicia. We haven’t done one in a while.”
“Yeah… sure, that’d be great.”
“I’ll let them know it’s a go. We were thinking Wednesday after work?” Sadie said.
“That’s fine.” Autumn placed a finger over her right temple and massaged it gently.
“Great. Do you need anything?” Concern laced Sadie’s voice.
