A Girl's Best Friend Page 6

  Scooping up the loose ball, Eli dribbled in for a shot and Tyrone came at him to block. Eli faked, Tyrone followed, and a wrestling match ensued. Sharp jabs of knees, shoulders, and elbows stung, but both men were large enough and strong enough to hold their own in a fight.

  “Okay, I’m done.” Eli shoved the ball at Tyrone’s chest and stepped back, his hands raised in surrender. “I promised not to bring up…things…when I dragged you out here, but I didn’t volunteer to get my ass kicked in the name of your misery.”

  Tyrone grunted, but had no argument.

  Eli opened his mouth to say more, but then sighed and shook his head.

  Tyrone got the impression his big brother was disappointed in him, but he really couldn’t muster up the will to care. He wandered over to flop down on a bench while Eli sucked down gulps of water from the nearby drinking fountain.

  Despair rode Tyrone hard, weighing down his bones. Now that he wasn’t moving, wasn’t trying to outrun his desolation, Lorna shoved to the forefront of his mind. He’d lost his best friend because he couldn’t keep his dick in his pants. Pain ripped through him at the thought of her growing away from him, finding some other man. Jealousy and agony delivered twin punches to his heart, but he forced himself to face it. Made himself picture her with some nameless, faceless man who could never love her the way Tyrone did, but who had a nice, safe job and came home to her every night. Made love to her. Gave her babies.

  He buried his face in his hands, pressing his thumbs to his eyes. He wanted to curl into a fetal position and howl like a wounded animal. He’d lost her. Oh God, he’d lost her.

  Less than a day without her and he felt…hollow. Empty. The hours, days, weeks, and years stretched out before him in one endless string of time. Meaningless. How the hell would he survive this? It felt like his heart had been ripped beating from his chest.

  “Come on, man. Let’s get you home.” Eli’s hand closed over Tyrone’s shoulder, his grip and tone far gentler than Tyrone deserved.

  He pushed himself to his feet, thankful that Eli seemed content to remain silent as they trudged slowly home. The sweat had dried and he felt almost normal by the time they walked into his house. Physically normal, anyway. Emotionally…there was no normal anymore.

  “Pizza for dinner? Or Chinese, maybe?” Eli tossed the ball toward the couch and headed for the kitchen. “We could order delivery.”

  Just the mention of pizza made Tyrone recall Santino’s and the erotic torment of having dinner there with Lorna. Had it only been the night before? Now, the idea of food turned his stomach, and he called after Eli, “You don’t have to stay. I’m not really fit company.”

  His brother came back into view, concern clear in his gaze. “I know. That’s why I think I should stay.”

  “Jesus Christ.” Tyrone snorted. “I’m not going to end it all, man.”

  Clinical eyes examined him, the physician side of his brother apparent. “No, but you’re clearly experiencing a depressive episode. Leaving you alone with your thoughts would only let you spiral into some very bad places. Company is what you need, even if it isn’t what you want.”

  “Thanks for the analysis, doctor,” Tyrone drawled. “Though last time I checked, you weren’t a shrink.”

  “I did my psych round like everyone else.” Eli winked and spun away. “It doesn’t take a psychologist to figure out what’s wrong with you anyway.”

  Before Tyrone could retort, a knock sounded on his door, followed by a dog’s bark. That would be his mother with Diamond. He sighed. He didn’t want to see her because she was going to want to talk about what had happened with Lorna. And that was the last thing he wanted to do. Ever. He couldn’t imagine a time when he could discuss what had transpired without wanting to kick his own ass. Mom plus Eli tag-teaming him about his feelings? Fuck. He rubbed a hand over the back of his neck.

  Pulling open the door, he saw Lorna with her hair dancing in wild curls and a clingy black dress wrapped around her lush curves. All the blood in his brain rushed south, and his heart hammered in his chest. He jerked his gaze away and focused on his dog. That was why she was here, to drop off Diamond. That’s all she really wanted from him. Nothing more. Damn it.

  Holding the door wide, he snapped his fingers. “In, Diamond.”

  She barked and raced inside the house. Tyrone blinked as Lorna used the opportunity to slip in, too.

  His brother wandered into the living room, chugging a bottle of water. “Hey, Lorna.”

  “Hi, Eli.” She waved to the door. “Bye, Eli.”

  He took the unsubtle hint with a gracious smile, but his gaze searched her face for something. Apparently satisfied with whatever he found in her expression, his smile widened. “I was just leaving. So sorry I don’t have time to visit.”

  “That is such a shame.” She grinned back.

  He popped a kiss on her cheek. “Go get him, tiger.”

  With those words of encouragement, Eli picked up his basketball and headed for the exit.

  “Traitor,” Tyrone growled as his brother pushed past him. The truth was, he didn’t trust himself to be alone with Lorna right now. Anything he said would likely make their situation worse.

  “Love you, too, bro.” Not bothering to glance back, Eli waved over his shoulder while he beat a hasty retreat to his car. “Trust me, she’s better company for you than I am. Later!”

  Tyrone’s hand clenched on the doorjamb before he shut the door and turned to follow Lorna as she disappeared into the kitchen. She stood in the middle of the room waiting for him, looking so lovely and perfect it made his heart ache.

  Fisting his fingers, he kept himself from reaching for her. His voice came out gruffer than he’d intended. “What do you want?”

  “You.”

  He blinked down at her and shook his head to clear it. “Excuse me?”

  Tilting her head, she smiled. “You asked what I want. I want you.”

  He fought a groan as his dick swelled to rub against his fly at that announcement. It wasn’t enough. Not nearly enough. He closed his eyes for a moment, sucking in a steadying breath. “We need to talk, baby. I don’t want to hurt you any worse than I already have.”

  Her chin dipped in a slight nod. She let out a deep sigh, her lips twisting into a moue as she brushed a hand down her dress. “I’m not like Sherona.”

  Anger bubbled inside him. “Oh, Christ. Here we go again. When are you going to see that I love the way you look?”

  She held up her palm. “Please, let me finish. I’m not talking about my weight right now. What I meant is that I can handle your job. I know I wigged out last night, but I’ve been pretty messed up the last few days. This has happened really fast for me.”

  “It’s taken years for me.”

  “I know. We’re on seriously different timetables.” She shrugged and met his gaze, her eyes open and frank. “You know…it wasn’t just me letting my fears get in the way. It was you, too.”

  “I’m not the one—”

  “The second I reacted like Sherona did, you flipped out. You assumed I couldn’t take it. Well, I have news for you, Tyrone. I’ve been taking it for years, and you know it. So listen to me this time. You think I’m not scared when you go to work? You think I didn’t worry before? It’s part of the job, loving you. So, yeah. I worry. I’m always going to worry. If I didn’t care enough about your safety to worry, you’d have a lot more problems than whether or not I can stand you being SWAT.”

  He nodded slowly. It hurt, acknowledging what she said was true. He had been scared. Terrified to hurt her. Terrified to lose her. She’d always been an essential part of him, and the thought of her being hurt devastated him. And if he’d been the one doing the hurting… God help him.

  She took a step closer, until he could feel the heat of her luscious curves. “But no matter how concerned I am for you, I would never ask you to quit, Tyrone. I am not like Sherona. I know your work is a part of what makes you you.”

  “I love you
.” He said it because he had to. He couldn’t keep it in anymore. How long he’d kept the words back, he’d never know. He’d been fighting it and ignoring it for so long, it was just second nature. But that was gone, and the words wouldn’t stay unspoken.

  Tears sparkled in her emerald eyes, but she didn’t say anything in return and it kicked him hard in the gut. Had she just come to tell him she could handle his job so they could be friends again? He didn’t know if he could go back to that. Too late. He’d waited too long to tell her, to let her know that she was everything to him.

  She stepped toward the front of the house and his heart stopped beating. She was leaving.

  After reaching in her purse, she held out the ring he’d shoved into her hand the night before. “I couldn’t wear it.”

  He winced. She couldn’t wear it because she just wanted to be his friend. “I understand.”

  She pulled in a deep breath. “You never asked me.”

  “Wh-what?” His mind drew a blank.

  A gamin grin flashed over her face, and she offered him the ring. “Come on, Tyrone. I dare you. Ask me.”

  Hope pushed hard against his chest. He looked her in the eyes, praying that he did this right. His hand cupped around hers so they both held the diamond ring. “I love you, Lorna. You’re my best friend, the love of my life. You make me laugh, you make me think, you don’t let me get away with anything, you get to me the way no one else ever could, you’re under my skin. Marry me. I want to spend the rest of my life making you happy.”

  “Yes.” She lifted her palm to his jaw.

  He caught her hand and slid his ring on her finger. Just seeing it there, he had to grit his teeth at the hot possession that swamped him. He’d waited so many years for her to be his. His dick was rock hard from having her near, from having her admit they should be together. He needed to show her how much she meant to him, how much he wanted her…every day for the rest of his life. For better or for worse, until death parted them. God, yes. “I want—”

  “I know what you want.” A small, secretive grin pulled up the corners of her full lips. Her finger looped through the ribbon that tied her dress closed.

  Lust slammed into him when the black fabric hit the floor. She was dressed just like he’d always fantasized. Thank you, Jesus. Knee high black boots encased her smooth legs. He let his gaze travel slowly upward to take in all of her. A black leather corset decorated with silver rings and a black lace thong were all she wore. His fingers curled into fists to keep from stroking every inch of her creamy skin. If anything could show him that she was willing to grow with him, to work to solve their issues together, it was this. Showing off her body, letting him just look without trying to cover herself. She amazed him.

  Then his brain shut down and all he could think about was sliding his tongue under that g-string and tasting her cream. It had been almost a day since he’d had her. Too long. Far too long. He never wanted to go without her again.

  “You like it?” She fingered the corset laces when he continued to stare in silence.

  A strained smile pulled at his mouth, and his hand slid down the front of his pants to cup his straining cock. “What do you think?”

  “I’m glad.” Turning, she walked away and led him up the stairs to his bedroom. There was no way he couldn’t follow her.

  He gave a short bark of laughter. “Glad you can lead me around like a—”

  She spun when she cleared the doorway and backed toward his wide bed. Just where he needed her to be. “Glad you want me, too. I never thought…with the way I look—”

  “I keep telling you you’re gorgeous.” He shook his head, trying to clear it of anything but the sight of her in that outfit and his bed. His woman wearing his ring in his house. Was there a more perfect thing in the world? He would never let her go again.

  “I know. But…you’re the only one who ever has.” She smoothed her hands up the black leather of her corset to run her finger along the edge. Over those pretty breasts of hers.

  “Then they’re idiots,” he growled. He’d tell her how beautiful she was every day for the rest of his life.

  “Thank you.” Nothing else, no excuses, no self-conscious brushing at her clothes. Just looking him in the eyes with hot passion and need flashing in those green depths.

  “Lorna, I—” He snapped his mouth shut, lifted her off her feet, and tossed her onto the bed. Her short shriek was cut off when she bounced hard on the mattress. He was on her before she could catch her breath, and he yanked his handcuffs out of his belt he’d dumped unceremoniously on his nightstand when he’d changed to play basketball. A flash of silver was the only warning she got before he jerked her hands over her head and cuffed her to the wrought iron headboard.

  Her eyes went wide as she tugged at the restraints. “What are those for?”

  “Just making sure you don’t try to run off again.” He grinned down at her before he pulled away to strip so fast he was surprised his shorts didn’t give him rug burn.

  She smiled at him, her arms relaxing. Pure, sweet trust shone in her gaze. “You’ve got me for life. I’m not going anywhere.”

  “That’s for damn sure.” He knelt on the bed beside her and feathered his fingers over the tops of her ample breasts. “I want to fuck you just like this. I love that you wore this for me.”

  Her eyes burned an incandescent green. She spread her legs wide and lifted her hips in blatant invitation, her wrists twisting in the cuffs as she strained toward him. “I love wearing it for you. I want you inside me, Tyrone. Now.”

  I love…the words echoed in his mind, and he realized that she hadn’t said she loved him yet. He knew she wouldn’t have agreed to marry him if she didn’t, but he needed the words. He couldn’t settle for less than everything from her. He wanted it all, and he was going to have it.

  He narrowed his gaze. “Tell me.”

  Understanding sparked in her gaze, but rather than obey his command she shook her head. A wicked little grin formed on her face. “Make me.”

  “You want to play, do you?”

  “Bring it on.” She made the cuffs jingle over her head. The sight of her stretched out for him was driving him mad. He loved it. His breathing sped, and his already hard cock gave a painful throb. Soon. He’d bury himself inside her soon.

  He quirked a brow, forcing himself to slow down and play the game. Oh, he could bring it for her. He eased her thong down her legs and tossed it on the floor. Leaning away from her, he reached into the nightstand drawer for a small bottle of clear liquid. She smirked when he held the lube up for her to see. “I’m already wet enough, Tyrone. I don’t think we need that.”

  “Baby, you have no idea what I have planned for you.” Forcing her legs wider, he squirted some of the liquid on his finger. Her eyes went wide when he slid his finger past her drenched sex and probed her tight anus. Sweat gleamed on her satiny skin, and need so intense it made his jaw lock built within him. He worked the lube deep inside her, getting her ready to take all of him. He was a big man, and he didn’t want to hurt her.

  Her hips twisted on the smooth sheets, and he could see the moisture gather on her plump folds, could tell how much this turned her on. He liked that he could do that to her. And he could do it to her any time he wanted now. She panted, her breasts lifting in the tight confines of the corset. “Please, Tyrone. I need you.”

  Now. He needed to be inside her right now. He couldn’t wait. He grasped her ankles in one hand, holding her legs high against his shoulder. He wanted to see her face flush when she came. Taking his cock in the other hand, he eased into her ass. He gritted his teeth at the tightness of her dark channel clamping down on his flesh.

  “Say it.”

  “No,” she gasped. The cuffs rattled against the metal of his headboard as her back bowed, pulling him deeper.

  His dick throbbed, and he worked himself inside her ass slowly. The muscles locked around his cock. Her little cries and moans drove him on. That now familiar band of em
otion tightened around his heart until he couldn’t breathe. Sweat slid down his chest and face as he fought to stay in control. Only Lorna could drive him to the edge of his endurance. He used his free hand to stroke between her thighs, working his finger over her hard clitoris and up and down the slickness of her swollen flesh. A blush highlighted her pale skin, and her soft moans kissed his ears. She was so amazing, she matched him in every way. He needed her forever.

  He pushed his cock deep, moving inside her at a different angle, and pinched her clit. She screamed, the muscles in her thighs flexing where he held them against his shoulder. Her pussy throbbed, and her ass spasmed around his dick as she came apart in his arms. Tears streaked down her cheeks, but she held his gaze. “I love you, Tyrone. I love you so much.”

  His hips jerked as the shock wave of hearing her say the words ripped through him. The emotions boiling deep inside him ripped free of their fetters. He drove into her with ferocious intensity, pounding forward again and again until his cock exploded deep inside her. His body locked into a rigid line before he shuddered hard, emptying all of himself into her. “Oh, baby. Lorna. I love you.”

  She sobbed, her muscles still milking him. Her back arched, her arms yanking at the cuffs that bound her. She whispered, “I love you. I’ll love you forever.”

  “Yes.” He stroked his fingers over her soft curves, along the lines of her corset, needing to touch her. Because he could. Because she loved him. No words had ever sounded so sweet to his ears.

  He closed his eyes to savor the aftermath of the most intense orgasm he’d ever experienced. His heart rate slowed along with his breathing, and there was a moment of pure peace that surrounded him. Her gaze met his, and she offered up a smile that was half shyness and half unadulterated sin. She shifted beneath him, and the movement rattled the handcuffs. Sliding free of her body, he snagged the keys off his nightstand and uncuffed her. He rubbed her wrists, kissing the reddened flesh. “Are you all right?”

  Nodding, she sighed and stretched against the sheets. He grinned, enjoying the sight of her creamy flesh and loving that she was comfortable with him looking at her. He’d never take her trust for granted—and he knew her well enough to understand just how much this entire evening was an act of trust for her. He loved that. He knew himself well enough to know he needed her unconditional trust. He felt his grin widen. And he’d worship her body until she believed to her very bones that she was gorgeous. Starting right now. He reached for her.