The Wells Brothers: Luke Read online

  Luke slid the sunglasses back up his nose. “You’re a little annoyed, I can see-”

  “Baby, I’m more than a little annoyed!” Hands on hips, she glowered. “What are you playing at, making us out to be-” She stopped as one of Yorick’s workers passed her carrying a small stool with a ratty top that was once a beautiful piece of tapestry. No sooner had he disappeared into the back of the truck than she started again. “Why did you hint that we-”

  Amused, Luke adjusted his sunglasses as the worker appeared, walking down the ramp and up the steps back into the mansion.

  “Damn it, Luke Wells, I don’t know what you’re pl-” Fuming, she stopped as the second worker came out carrying a box with who-knew-what in it, though it must have been precious going by the slow, careful way he was walking.

  Several times she tried to have a go at Luke, but each time someone either came out or went into the mansion until finally, refusing to yell at him where everyone could hear or see, Mikki threw up her hands and stalked into the mansion leaving Luke and Dog watching her departing back and tantalizingly swaying hips.

  Woman had curves enough to make a man’s tongue fall out of his head.

  “Yep,” Luke drawled, “guess she’s a little mad.”

  Man, any other woman would have been thrilled for him to stake a claim, but Mikki? Not so much. And damned if that didn’t please him. She didn’t fawn over him, jump to do his bidding, or be all saccharine sweet. Nope, she was fiery, temperamental, and altogether a delightful spitfire.

  God, he was lucky to have realised just how much he enjoyed her presence before he’d lost her to some other man. Not going to happen now.

  Of course… Luke rubbed his jaw thoughtfully. Now she was mad at him, and while that could be entertaining - he really was a sick puppy like Blue accused him - it wouldn’t make her see him in a better light.

  Time to put out the fire.

  Well, not the carnal fire, or the deliciously hot fire, just the temper fire. The carnal fire he would happily stoke into a full-on inferno.

  Entering the hallway, he saw Yorick and Elspeth standing at the base of the staircase, Yorick holding a clipboard on which he was writing notes while Elspeth stood beside him with a small camera, obviously recording everything that left the mansion. Smart woman.

  As he entered, she gave him an odd look, almost speculative. Shit, she’d obviously seen Mikki’s anger. For a second he wondered if she’d let him have it for upsetting her niece, but instead she gestured with her head towards the staircase.

  Luke pointed upwards. She shook her head. He pointed to the right, she shook her head. Okay, what was she trying to tell him? He held out his palms in a ‘where’ gesture, she rolled her eyes and said, “Mikki went up to the tower.”

  Oohh. Privacy. Good plan. He started towards the little alcove at the back of the hall beside the staircase, only to have Elspeth add, “Good luck.”

  That made him falter. Looking down at Dog, he said, “Stay here. I think we might get burned. I don’t want you singed.”

  Dog sat, cocked his head to one side inquiringly.

  Luke grinned ruefully. “I think I might have over-stepped a boundary.”

  Dog cocked his head to the other side.

  “What would you know? You’re a dog. You live to have your belly rubbed.”

  Dog barked and scrambled off towards the hallway leading to the kitchen, no doubt to see Duchess in her cage. Sure as shit he’d get a better reception from the delighted kitten than Luke would from a seething Mikki.

  His Red had a bit of a temper to match all that glorious red hair. Mind you, he had to admit that he had kind of pushed some boundaries, been a bit juvenile even, probably could have handled it a little better in hindsight.

  Opening the door leading to the winding staircase up to the tower, Luke debated his choices. Leave her up there to stew and hope she got it out of her system, or go up and talk to her? He rubbed his jaw thoughtfully. Nope, he couldn’t leave her seething, that wouldn’t tip the odds in his favour. He’d acted like a bit of a dick - he could admit that - so now it was time to show her he could be reasonable. Be an adult. Be responsible.

  Placing his sunglasses, roll of papers and pencil on a stone shelf that jutted partly out of the wall, he took the steps with renewed determination. At the top, he found the manhole open and climbed up, glancing around to see Mikki standing on the other side, her arms folded, her back to him as she stared out over the landscape.

  No sooner had he stepped out than she said tightly, “I don’t want to talk, listen or see you.”

  Okay, he could accept that. Crossing the space between them, he wrapped both arms around her and pulled her back against his chest.

  She stiffened before whirling around to shove him away. “What are you doing?”

  “You said no talking, listening or seeing.” He smiled engagingly. “So I went with feeling.”

  “Are you insane?” There went those hands slamming onto those curvy hips. “Luke, tell me what the hell you were playing at down there!”

  Hooking his thumbs into his jeans pockets, he maintained an easy stance. “I have a perfectly good explanation.”

  “Well I’d sure like to hear it!”

  Man, she was pretty, all hot and bothered and fiery. Would she be like that in bed?

  Forcing himself to concentrate on the task at hand, he drawled, “I want you.”

  Her mouth fell open.

  Actually, now that the words had left his mouth… “That sounded better in my head.”

  “What?”

  “Sounded better. In my head.” Luke ruffled his fingers through the back of his hair. “Not so good when it came out.”

  “What did you say?”

  Really? She wanted him to admit that again? Still, if it meant cooling her anger… He shrugged. “Sounded better-”

  “No, you idiot.”

  “Little harsh, Red.”

  “I meant, what did you say before that?”

  “Oh. You mean the wanting part? Sure.” Luke flashed her a winning grin. “I want you.”

  Okay, he didn’t expect her to throw herself at his feet and kiss his sneakers with gratitude, but the sheer astonishment on her pretty face followed by horror was totally unexpected.

  “Jesus, Red.” He frowned. “Could you at least look like I hadn’t just spat into your cup of tea?”

  She recovered quickly, he’d give her that. Mikki’s mouth opened, closed, and then she said, “You want me?”

  “Yes,” he replied a trifle impatiently. “Yes, I want you.” Hells bells, how could he make it any plainer?

  She turned away, turned back, ran her hand over her face before sighing. “Luke, you idiot.”

  “Now look, I realise this has come as a surprise-”

  “That’s putting it mildly.”

  “It came as a surprise to me, too. But trust me-”

  “Stop.” Walking forward, her face softening, she placed a hand on his arm, looking earnestly up at him. “I know you think Mark is after me for the money Aunt has-”

  “He is, but that’s not the point.”

  “And in your own cockamamie way you think you’re protecting me-”

  “With my life.”

  “But really, Luke, I don’t need protecting.”

  “Wait.” He realised what she was saying. “I don’t think we’re on the same wavelength here. I-”

  “You can be really sweet in a totally daft way sometimes.” Her smile was unexpectedly gentle. “Thanks, Luke, but I promise you, I’m fine.” With that, she turned and started towards the open manhole. “You don’t need to pretend to make me see the truth, I know he’s a gold-digger.”

  Dumbfounded, Luke stepped forward. “Mikki, wait-”

  “Pretending you want me.” She gave a little laugh. “Snowball’s chance in hell.”

  He’d have been insulted if it wasn’t for one thing - the hint of sadness in that laugh. It was that that propelled him forward, his arm shooti
ng out to wrap his fingers around her wrist. “Red, stop.”

  With a sigh, she started to turn around. “Luke, it’s okay, really. I understand.”

  “No,” he said, “you don’t.” And with that he yanked firmly, bringing her stumbling into his arms which he wrapped around her, pinning her to him so he could gaze down into her startled face. “You really don’t,” he added softly. “But you will.”

  Words weren’t working, so he kissed her. He’d meant to be gentle, sweet, but one touch of her lips and he was a goner. He moulded his lips to hers, ran his tongue demandingly along the soft seam of her lips, and when she opened on a soft moan he swept inside that warm moistness. Immediately her taste flooded him, the essence of her sweetness filling him. Combined with her soft body in his arms, those enticing curves pressed to his harder, leaner, muscular frame, her scent tantalizing, his senses went into overload.

  Suddenly unable get enough, he kissed with a hunger he’d never felt before, a hunger that burned through him, seared his blood, flowed like molten lava through his veins, pooled low in his loins.

  Never in his life had he ever reacted so fast to a woman’s touch, reacted so strongly to her kiss, sucked her scent in so deeply as though trying to imprint her on his soul.

  When those lush lips moved beneath his, when she sought his taste, his own essence, fire danced beneath his skin, sparking in delicate areas, a thin rope of heat coiling in his shaft, stretching and stiffening, filling with need.

  He kissed her harder, one hand coming up to cup the back of her head, fingers twining into the thick hair, pulling out the tie holding her hair up until all those silken tresses spilled over his hand in a fiery, silken fall. Bunching his hand in her hair, he angled her head to deepen the kiss, taking more of her mouth, more of her, ravaging the delicate moistness almost ruthlessly.

  Mikki met him kiss for kiss, just as hungry, her hands sliding beneath his t-shirt, nails raking lightly down his spine.

  He reciprocated, only more directly. One hand beneath her t-shirt, he found her bra and without further preamble delved under it to cup that generous globe in his hand, pressing his palm against her nipple, feeling it already hard, needing.

  In answer, she pressed her breast into his hand, a moan slipping from her lips

  Any lingering thought in the back of his mind fled beneath the evidence of her desire. He moved back only enough to slide the long-sleeved shirt from her shoulders before finding the waistband of her slacks and hooking his thumbs into them.

  Mikki didn’t hesitate, didn’t push him away, her fingers finding the snap of his jeans, the zipper, and then his jeans were gaping open, his shaft not so confined, able to swell more freely.

  Within seconds he had her slacks, panties and sneakers off, she had his jeans around his knees, and Luke brought her down to the floor, using her shirt to cushion her head. No sooner was she on her back beneath him than he shoved her t-shirt up to reveal the lacy bra, unsnapped it expertly to release those globes, groaning in hot desire as the luscious breasts were bared to his gaze.

  Without hesitation he latched onto one pert nipple, sucking the pink bud deep, feeling Mikki arch beneath him, push up, her hands twining in his hair.

  God, he loved these little nipples, loved the way they hardened, pebbled, swelled through his mouth’s ministrations, loved the way she cried out when he placed the flat of his tongue against the very top of the tender flesh and rasped across the tip backward and forward, driving her higher.

  Her knees bent, his hips lodging neatly between her thighs in a fit so natural it was like coming home.

  His shaft throbbed, the head so close to her entrance, and he released her nipple to rise up on his arms so he could look his full of her.

  Lying beneath him, eyes like green pools of heat, lips swollen and red from his kisses, all that silken hair pooled around her head, Mikki looked like a siren. His siren. His Red.

  He could have gazed at her like that for much longer but with a soft moan of need she reached for him, coming up to kiss him, nip at his lips, to plead wantonly, “Please, Luke. Please. Take me.”

  Just about blew his mind. Near on blew his load, too. The damp heat of her womanhood beckoned to him, and it was a miracle he remembered to rip his wallet out of his pocket. Pulling out the condom, he gripped the corner of the packet in his teeth. God knew how he managed to rip the foil open, but by some miracle he managed to do it without biting the bloody thing in half.

  Coming up onto his knees, he fisted the condom over his shaft, the action combined with heatedly watching Mikki come up onto one elbow to watch him do it, her eyes when she lifted them to Luke’s so hotly carnal, making him half expect to burst out of the latex.

  Miraculously, he didn’t. But he did come down over her fast, nudging her thighs wider apart, positioning himself at the entrance to her body, feeling the heat of her secrets. A flex of his hips, the hot cream of her body coating the tip of his shaft, and he found her opening unerringly, pushing forward hard and fast, burying himself deep.

  Beneath him Mikki bit her lip, her head tipping back as she stretched around his girth, her body welcoming him, her cavern gripping him, making him work as her muscles clenched hard around him.

  He almost saw stars, closing his eyes as he stilled, braced on his hands, arms straight, muscles bulging as he took his weight, letting the sensation of being deep within her hot, lush body fill him. Glorying in it.

  Slowly he moved, drew out a little, rocked back in, feeling his Red’s body give to him, accept him. He pulled further out, rocked further in, felt those deliciously rounded thighs grip him tight as she bent her knees in an effort to keep him inside her.

  Opening his eyes, he looked down into hers, kept their gazes locked as he started to pump in and out of her in long, slow, steady strokes.

  Each stroke was a lick of fire, each pump one of erotic sensation. He wanted to stay like that, looking at her, ardour binding them together in their own little world, so lost in each other’s eyes, each other’s heat, but his body had different ideas and by the feel of her inner muscles, so did hers.

  Lunging up onto one elbow, she slid her hand behind his nape, kissed him hotly, demandingly. And she stayed like that, partially supported by her elbow, curved up so she could kiss him while he rode her.

  It should have been bloody awkward. Instead it was damned hot, mostly because it kept him from stretching above her, from strengthening his strokes, from going deep, and her taunting laugh made it clear she knew.

  The dominance that rose in him was unexpected. He’d felt it before, but the women he’d been with had let him take the lead, had simply taken what he’d given. None had taunted him, none had met him so hotly, so decadently, none had fired his blood, brought out the darker side of his passion, his desire, made it rake through him with such voracity.

  Mikki brought it out. Brought it out, encouraged it, met it with her own heat, her own desire, riding the passion with him.

  In an abrupt move he pushed her back down, even in the midst of his lust ensuring her head didn’t hit the floor, his hand cushioning the back of her head before he slid his palm out, capturing her wrists and pinning them down each side of her head, holding her down for his pleasure, her pleasure, their combined pleasure.

  He couldn’t stop the small, dark, satisfied smile at the sight of her pinned beneath him, at the resistance he felt as she pushed against his hold, the burn of her eyes letting him know she loved this, loved him using some force.

  Some. He’d never use more, never push her further than she was comfortable. Always he’d watch out for her pleasure, her need, he knew it, knew it in the baser part of his soul, knew it in the present, knew it in his heart.

  Mikki was his.

  His Red.

  The knowledge buried deep, fuelling his desire, the burn of carnal lust riding him as hard as he was now riding her, his hips thrusting hard as he pounded into her.

  Fire raked along his spine, plunged deep into his sac, blo
oming with prickling, almost painful heat as his shaft plunged through the delicate folds of her body, plundered the depths of her womanhood, tunnelled strong and deep.

  A shift of his hips, a change of angle, and he knew he’d hit that magic spot inside her by the way her fists clenched, her body shuddered, the catch of her breath. He pounded the spot, tormented it, giving her no relief, driving her higher.

  Luke’s heart beat hard in his chest. He knew when the passion overtook Mikki, saw the green of her eyes darken so much more, the hunger in them burning, her teeth catching her bottom lip as she flung her head back, her curvaceous body undulating beneath his, her hips rising to match his tempo.

  He craved her, wanted to stay inside her forever, wanted to keep her a part of him, be a part of her, but nature had its own course and he automatically moved faster, harder, as sexual desire overwhelmed him, filling him, coiling up from deep in his sac to ribbon through his shaft in a hot, fiery rope as he thrust hard into her - once, twice, arching up, hips pressing into her, jerking as he pushed deeper and deeper, spilling into the latex, wishing for the first time in his life that it was deep into a woman’s body instead.

  Into Mikki’s body.

  Wishing in that split second between exploding desire and burning ardour that nothing separated him from her, that they were flesh to flesh.

  Then the orgasm took him, shoving him out, raking him back, throwing him over the edge, Mikki’s following orgasm making her inner muscles clench on him, squeeze his shaft, throw him out into glorious, exploding fire.

  ~*~

  A slight breeze ruffled Luke’s hair as he sat on the floor of the tower, one knee bent upright, his forearm resting on his knee, his other leg bent on the floor, leaning on one arm as he watched Mikki finish dressing.

  Pulling on her sneakers, she tied the laces slowly, her back to him, head bent to concentrate on the task at hand. When she finally finished, she kept her knee drawn up, her back partially to him, her face turned away as she gazed out at the few clouds scudding across the peaceful sky.

  In the distance a truck could be heard starting up and driving away, Elspeth calling to Dog to come inside, then nothing but the sound of birds.