Beyond Compare (The Beyond Series Book 4) Page 21

  Lennox looks to his arm, back to Scarlett, and then beyond her; to me. His eyes darkening in a hungry way, he doesn’t open his mouth to reply. “Mmm.”

  Trying not to laugh, Scarlett clears her throat and steps out from between us. “I’ll fill the bags,” she says loudly and clearly, before laughing quietly and muttering, “Wouldn’t want to get between a bear and his honey pot.”

  “Wise,” Lennox says, taking a step closer before glancing at his other customers. Hesitating, he moves his hands behind his back and lets his eyes travel me instead. “Everything okay?”

  Nodding, I take a step towards him and pause too. Curling my fingers into my palms to keep from reaching for him, I put my hands in my pockets.

  Lennox’s eyebrows twitch and his dark lashes fall against his cheeks in an elongated blink. “Have you heard from Andrew?”

  I shake my head. “Not yet.”

  “You should come back here to wait; after your deliveries.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes.”

  Looking around the store and then meeting his eyes and seeing the undeniable appetite there, I take a deep breath in an attempt to stave off the flush I know will find me any second. “Won’t that be... distracting?”

  “Yes.”

  Snorting at his quick response, I look around the store again. “Yes?”

  “Yes,” he confirms. “But it’ll distract you too. I’ll keep you busy.”

  With a raging mega-flush now in full force, I raise my eyebrows.

  “With chores,” he clarifies, a little color filling his own cheeks now. Glancing at his crotch, he turns to look out the window as he shakes his head. “Katarina Sophia James, you will need to at least try and behave yourself.”

  Being with him makes me want to do anything but.

  “What if I can’t?” I ask, reaching for my phone as it chirps.

  Looking at the screen, I forget the delights of flirting with Lennox Green as Andy confirms he has time to see me in a few hours. Swallowing roughly, I take a deep breath as I put my phone back in my pocket. Even keeping hold of it doesn’t keep my fingers from twiddling as I think about the meeting.

  Reaching into my pocket, Lennox draws out my hand and kisses my fingers lightly as he meets my eyes.

  “You come back here when you’re done. I will keep you busy until it’s time and I will come with you if you need me.”

  Releasing a long breath I nod. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome. Now go and help Scarlett with the bags before she gets a hernia.”

  AS MUCH AS I WOULD have liked to bring Lennox with me for support, I’m very aware that turning up at Andy’s door with a bear of a man behind me will only instill further belief that any decision I express was somehow formed under duress. I need Andy to know that my responses come from me.

  Doing my best not to become unhinged by my only other visit to the Embassy Suites, I make my way to Andy’s room and force myself to knock on his door before I have the chance to chicken-out. At least it’s not the same room I shared with his dad.

  The door swings inward, and a very handsome Andy Coulson, dressed in a well-tailored suit, beams at me before pulling me into a hug.

  “I’m so glad you agreed to see me,” he says, stepping back and welcoming me into his room. “I’m sorry about the inconvenience of any delays in getting back to you. We’re flat out on a project at the moment and the boss is really driving us hard. Come in. The water just boiled. Can I make you a tea?”

  “That would be nice. Thank you.” Looking at his view a moment, I shrug out of my coat, laying it over the back of one of the chairs before sitting in it. The hotel chair is as stiff and awkward as I feel.

  “Can I please apologize again for last night?” he says, setting two cups of tea on the table in front of me. He nudges one closer to me before taking a seat in the chair opposite. Scooting his chair into a more conversational position, he takes my hand, making my eyes fly quickly to his. “I mean it, Kat. I was really wrong to treat you like that.”

  Smiling politely, I retract my hand and pick up the cup, bringing it to my lips. “I’m sure it was quite shocking for you,” I say, cringing just a bit. “Probably you weren’t expecting to see so much of me when you came calling at my work.”

  Blushing, Andy reaches for his own tea. “Not exactly. No,” he agrees. “Though the sight was better than I’d imagined - and being a teenage boy living next to you, you can bet that I did a fair bit of imagining,” he says, laughing at himself as his blush deepens.

  Clearing my throat, I smile despite my discomfort. “I’m really sorry if I’ve given you the wrong idea about... well a lot of things, Andy. But the thing is, I like my life, and I’m kind of seeing someone.”

  “Oh,” he says, straightening. “Oh,” he repeats, much deeper this time. His tone is filled with sudden understanding as his cheeks burn almost as brightly as I know mine can. Nodding once, he noticeably takes a small breath before arranging himself more casually. “Oh?”

  Stifling a chuckle, I nod. “We’ve known each other a while, but it’s still new. He’s wonderful.”

  “Oh,” Andy says, unable to keep the disappointment from his voice, despite maintaining his stoic expression.

  My heart hurts for him, but he needs to understand there’s no hope for us. “I’m sorry for not keeping in touch, Andy - Drew. I really am. I loved you very much, but as you said, for some reason,” - your asshole father - “didn’t feel I could show it. When you left for college, it was easier on myself to let you go. My life was hard, and I didn’t want to burden you when you were only just getting the chance to find yourself. A lot can happen in seven years, and although it was wonderful to see you again, I’ve moved on in that way.”

  Again, he nods, but remains silent.

  “I’m sure that probably comes as some relief, now that you know I’m a stripper,” I add lightly, nudging him with my elbow. “Imagine taking me home to your dad now!” I add with a giggle as I imagine Brett Coulson’s face at his prodigal son returning home with not just the small town girl/one-time hooker, but a full-time erotic dancer! It’d dash all his high hopes to dust, that’s for sure. Surprised by my own giggle, I’m suddenly bolstered by the fact that I can laugh about it.

  “Are you okay, Andy? Drew,” I correct myself, touching his shoulder. “I was only joking.”

  “Oh. Yeah.” Nodding, he smiles too. “I just...” Rubbing his forehead, he smiles again and shakes his head. “The others had kind of encouraged me not to take no for an answer from you, but now that seems... problematic.”

  “Others?” I ask, almost spilling tea as I return my cup to the table and turn to him more fully. “Tim and the girls?”

  Andy nods, wincing. “I’ve been keeping in touch with Tim and Jem since the holidays. Tim seemed to think I’d still have a shot with you; that you were just too busy seeing to everyone else’s needs to consider your own, and if I just didn’t take no for an answer, I’d definitely be able to convince you I was worth your time. Except now, I realize Tim might not know very much about your life in Buffalo.”

  Sighing, I drag my hands down my face. “Okay.” Taking a deep breath, I let it out nice and easy. “So no, Tim doesn’t know I’m a stripper, and he doesn’t know about the man in my life - because as I said, that’s a new development. But while I haven’t told him yet, Tim has actually met him. Briefly.” Sighing, I shake my head. “I know he and the girls were hoping we’d get together - especially after I caught them all spying on that kiss you hit me with on the doorstep, but I think that’s largely because they’ve missed you. They probably figured us getting together was a way to fast-track you back into their lives. The snowball fights really haven’t been the same since you left.”

  Saying nothing, Andy just blinks at me.

  “I’m kind of glad you’ve been keeping in touch with them,” I add with a smile. “We’d happily have you back in our family anytime you want to come. Just not as my boyfriend,
because that role is already taken.”

  Smiling, Andy seems to relax a bit. “Okay,” he says nodding slowly. Eying me carefully, he puffs his cheeks out as he exhales. “Don’t be offended by this question, because I’m kind of naive about all of this, but I can only imagine how I’d feel about my girlfriend dancing naked in front of other men. This guy, does he... care about you enough?”

  “He cares very much,” I reply without the need to even think about it. “He supports me in everything I do, and knows just how to make me feel loved and cared for. If I want something, he does what he can to help me get it. He has a daughter the same age as the twins and we’ll be introducing them all to each other next time I head back to Franky-town.”

  Breathing another sigh of relief, Andy smiles. “Good. You deserve a good man. Do I get to meet him too?”

  The warmth in my cheeks is difficult to ignore and I squeeze my eyes shut for a second. “You already sort of have. Twice. It’s Lennox Green, from the store; Green’s Produce.”

  “That guy?” The surprise in his voice makes me giggle, and I nod.

  “Yeah. He’s adorable.”

  “Adorable? I was thinking... dangerous,” Andy says, leaning back. “He could break you like a toothpick. Is he gentle with you?”

  Only when I don’t want it hard and rough.

  Bright vermilion flames must surely be moments from engulfing me and I pick up my tea again to hide behind it. “He’s actually very sweet, and patient, and good for me. Can we talk about something else? Like if you were serious about coming to Franklinville when we go home to introduce everyone?”

  Andy sips his tea. “Would that be okay?” he asks quietly.

  “More than okay. We all love you and have missed you terribly.”

  Smiling easily now, Andy takes a bigger gulp of his tea. “And this Lennox Green of yours won’t mind?”

  I shake my head. “I told you; he helps me get what I want, and I want you back in my family’s lives. We’ve had enough loss; it’s time to add some faces for a change.”

  “You’re sure?”

  “Mmhmm. I’ll sort out the issues between me and your dad too, so it won’t be weird, okay?”

  “Sounds great,” Andy says, grinning now. “You seem really happy ThunderKat.”

  “I am happy,” I agree, before frowning and pointing a warning finger at him. “But you have to promise not to tell the kids about the dancing. I won’t have them feeling bad about anything I’ve done in the name of feeding them, you hear?”

  “Loud and clear,” he says, carefully. “I wasn’t so sure at first, but I can see that you really are happy, so I’m starting to understand that your... dancing is part of that. You always were happiest twirling around.”

  “Exactly. So you’ll come home a bit more, but keep my secrets?”

  Setting down his empty tea cup, Andy moves his chair back as he stands. Holding out his hand, Andy grins as I shove my cup back on the table and stand too. Taking his hand, we run through the old secret handshake, hugging after the growl.

  “Good to have you back, ThunderKat.”

  “You too Andy.”

  “HOW’D IT GO?” LENNOX asks as soon as the happy bell jingles on my way in. Across the store in seconds and pulling me into a possessive hug, he growls a little. “Did he try and kiss you again?”

  Giggling, I push him back. “There was no kissing.”

  “Until now,” he says, pulling me back in and taking my lips as his hands weave into my hair. A quiet moan dies in my throat before it can get any louder, because Lincoln yells for us to get a room, and more than one other customer is laughing.

  Lowering from my toes as Lennox slowly peels me from his lips, I giggle again, knowing I must be blushing something fierce. Smirking as his thumb brushes over my hot cheek, Lennox clears his throat.

  “Linc you got this? I’m going on break.”

  “You could at least try to be a little more subtle about it,” Linc says, laughing. “Don’t eat all my cake while you’re up there.”

  Lennox grunts in reply and turns to lead me out back. That’s when I see that the other snickering customers are in fact known to me. Lex gives me a little wave as Damon winks at us.

  “Damon’s helping me with dinner tonight,” she explains quickly, holding up her basket. “Promise we’re not spying.”

  “I should hope not,” I say with a smile as Lennox tugs my arm gently, urging me towards the back. “Might see more than you bargained for,” I joke as I allow Lennox to pull me through the plastic curtain strips.

  On the other side, he pulls me back to his lips, lifting me from the floor as he opens the door to the stairwell. Wrapping my legs around him as he carries me upstairs, my thumbs stroke his beard as I return his kiss. Nuzzling into his neck, I breathe him in and sigh happily. “Can I nibble on your ear?’ I ask him sweetly. “You have very cute ears.”

  Grunting an affirmative response as he kicks the door shut behind us, he pauses momentarily, deciding which way to take me. Reaching for his lobe, I take it between my teeth, tugging it softly before dragging my teeth down it and sucking it into my mouth.

  Cursing, Lennox turns and carries me in a different direction. “Damn it, Kat. I want to talk to you about what happened,” he groans.

  “Talk after,” I whisper, licking the shell of his ear. “I’m yours and you want me.”

  His erection jerks against my crotch in agreement as he moans again. Kicking open his door, he throws me on his bed.

  “Boots.”

  I lift my feet for him. Making short work of the laces, he tosses my boots to the floor before peeling my jeans off. Pulling me back to my feet, his fingers sweep up my ribs as he grabs my top layers and removes them all at once, leaving only my bra.

  “You won’t want this either,” I whisper, unclasping it and letting it fall to the floor moments before his hands cup my breasts and his mouth closes over a nipple.

  Unbuttoning his shirt and jeans, I push him back, fighting to keep my head. “I want your shirt off, and your jeans around your ankles,” I say, hooking my thumbs under the waistband of my lace panties and swaying back and forth.

  Watching my hips, Lennox throws his shirt over the chair in the corner of his room. “Are you dancing for me?”

  Moving in a slow spin, I smile. “I’ve been dancing for you for quite a while now. Take your undershirt off too. I want to feel your skin against mine.”

  Pulling it over his head, he throws that on the chair too.

  “The jeans,” I remind him as his eyes follow my panties on their slow, skin-grazing journey to the floor. I step out of them as he shoves his jeans down his strong legs.

  Taking hold of his smooth shaft, I stroke his velvet skin and kiss his broad chest. “I want it slow and gentle.”

  “It’ll be my pleasure,” he says, lifting me to him and lowering us both to the bed. Coating his tip in my arousal, he eases in slowly with a sigh as his tongue flicks my neck in tiny little licks. “I love giving you what you want.”

  “I didn’t know what I wanted until you showed me,” I moan softly as he pulls out, then slides in deeper.

  One of his hands cups my head as that arm takes his weight, and the other hand runs lovingly over my body, tracing every curve and angle. Every tender touch adds to the pleasure building from his slow dives and gentle grinding.

  “If I love you soft, will you still be loud?” he whispers against my skin.

  Arching off the bed to meet him, I mumble something that sounds like I don’t know, without even opening my mouth. Pleasure has my lips pressed together at this point, because I’m riding that thin line at the peak, where I could fall at any time, but every moment feels amazing, as if any moment might be the one that sends me over. I never want it to end.

  Without any added pressure or depth, Lennox keeps his tender pace, prolonging my splendid agony until my body can resist no longer. My head thrusts back into his bed as I explode around him and he captures my low moan with his k
iss as he rides my waves to his own release.

  Pressing his forehead to mine as our breathing settles, Lennox chuckles. “I’ll keep soft love in mind when you’re staying over,” he says. “Much quieter, but just as beautiful.” Moaning, he reluctantly moves off me and pulls up his jeans, leaving them open. Heading into his en suite bathroom, he soon returns done up again, holding a warm facecloth.

  Lying next to me, he proceeds to gently cleanse between my legs, making me blush and close my eyes to escape the intimate gesture.

  “Don’t you start that blushing, Katarina. Let me take care of you. I’m worried I’ll break you if I keep taking you anytime I can.”

  Keeping my eyes closed, I nod, because the warmth actually feels pretty good now that the pleasure has passed and I’m feeling sensitive and tender again.

  “Thank you,” he says, kissing my belly and shifting off the bed when he’s done.

  “Have you eaten?” I ask, rolling to the edge of the bed and reaching for my underwear.

  “Why? Am I allowed to take a bite out of that perfect ass of yours?” he says, jumping on the bed and making me squeal when he nips it.

  “No biting! I have to dance later. I was going to suggest that I fill you in while you eat.”

  Lennox mutters that he’ll fill me in as he eyes my ass again. Moaning, he drags his hand over his face. “Okay,” he says, smacking my butt and smiling as he leaps back off the bed. “Come and tell me about Andy Coulson while I make a pastrami and potato chip sandwich.”

  Already halfway out the door, he turns back as I climb off the bed. “And put some clothes on for goodness sake. I can’t be trusted if you walk around like that, and you’re exhausting me. I’ll have to go to sleep before Kimber just to function tomorrow.”

  Giggling, I get dressed and sit at his table as he moves about the kitchen. It is becoming one of my favorite sights.

  “What are you smirking at?” he says, looking up as he crunches his sandwich together on a plate and comes to sit next to me.

  “I just like looking at you,” I reply with a smile.

  “Feeling’s mutual,” he says holding his sandwich out to me. Taking a bite, I crunch as I smile and continue to admire him. Watching me right back for a while, he closes his eyes and shakes his head. “Talk,” he says, biting his sandwich and continuing to watch me.