Ready For It (MacAteer Brothers #2) - M.L. Nystrom Page 0,81
in the least. Sometimes we’d start the day with morning sex, sometimes we’d finish it making long, slow love. Whenever we came together, the level of personal intimacy between us reached a depth I’d never had and never thought possible. Every time he touched me, he gave me a piece of himself as well as took a piece of me, until I didn’t know where he started and I ended. Pure. Magical. Love.
He told me he loved me. Often, and I had no doubt he meant it. My life with Owen had become so good and so perfect, it was more like a Hallmark movie than reality.
Garrett only stayed around a few days during the Thanksgiving weekend from hell and then left to go back to his life. The few bits I heard from his conversations with Owen centered on their father’s deteriorating health and the woman Garrett lived with. Neither were doing so hot. Sooner rather than later, some decisions needed to be made about Fergus MacAteer and the best way to take care of him. I got the impression that none of the man’s kids particularly liked their father and his future care was borne more of obligation than as an act of love. I could relate, and I found the willingness of the MacAteer men admirable, in that they really didn’t have to take care of their father. If a similar situation cropped up in my family, and my brother got put in the position where he had to take care of me, I’d be out on the street or he’d try to euthanize me like an old dog.
Owen willingly came with me to the police station Monday after Thanksgiving. The legal advisor I talked to said that filing the charge of a false police report might stick, but Principal Bradshaw had friends and cronies in high places. Even if he ended up getting found guilty, he would probably just get fined. It pissed me off to think that bastard could get away with doing that shit to me with not much more than a slap on the wrist, but I still planned on going through with it. If I decided to drop the charges later, I had that option. I probably would, as I imagined it would be one big hassle and ultimately a waste of time, but for now I wanted that asshole to squirm a little.
Owen put up a Christmas tree in my house, but we spent Christmas Eve over at Bevvie’s. We attended the candlelight church service and watched the kids perform their parts in the play. Owen sat next to me in the pew and held my hand through Bevvie’s beautiful solo. Jeez, my BFF could sing! Connor thought so too, from the rapt expression on his face as he watched his wife. Total, complete adoration.
The one mood killer happened during the candle lighting. The entire congregation had little handheld candles and passed the flame from person to person. The lights turned out, leaving only the tiny pinpricks of fire to light the large sanctuary. I thought the sight was beautiful and turned to Owen to share my thoughts, and my eyes crossed with Robert’s. A hard thud punched my gut as our gazes locked.
Shit… uh… I mean, shoot! Of all places tonight, why in the hell… heck… is he here? It didn’t take me long to figure it out. This church was one of the biggest in the city and a large number of high-ranking businessmen and council members attended. Even the mayor came to tonight’s service. On holidays, the attending congregation more than doubled as this building became the place to be and be seen. Bevvie referred to them as CEOs. Christmas and Easter Only.
Kiki stood next to him, resplendent in gold and glitter, oblivious to his attention wandering to me. I froze at the menacing glare he gave me. He didn’t lick his lips, grab his crotch, or make any gesture other than to stare, but I still got that vibe from him. The vibe that if given the chance, he’d be all over me… again.
I was so focused on Robert that I almost failed to see Magnus standing with him as well. He nudged Robert’s arm and sneered at me. I heard an angry growl next to me, and Owen’s body grew stiff. He saw them too, and if we’d been at any other location, a massive testosterone-fueled fight would have already broken out.