“I kept hearing you say that we technically lived apart when you explained our living situation to people,” James said. “I didn’t think much of it – until you fled to your place instead of telling me what you were feeling.
“There’s not going to be any more of this your place and my place crap,” James said. “There’s going to be home, where we live together. When you’re angry, we’re going to talk about it at our home. When I’m angry, we’re going to talk about it at our home. There’s not going to be any more of this running away from each other. I can’t take it.”
Mandy remained silent.
“And, when I texted Ally to make sure that I wasn’t being a dumbass on that front, too,” James continued. “She told me that I was supposed to ask you to move in with me. I don’t feel like risking that, though, so you’re just moving in with me. Period.”
Mandy lifted her head up, balancing herself on James’ chest. “What about … what about the house?”
James ran his hand over her tangled hair, his chocolate eyes confused. “What house?”
“I didn’t tell you last night because I thought we were dealing with enough for one evening, but one of the other reasons I was convinced you wanted to … get out … was because you didn’t want to help me look for a house,” Mandy said. “I love your … our … place above the office, but it’s not really a house, and it’s kind of small. I kept asking you to come look at houses with me, figuring we could pick one out together, but you kept putting it off.”
James’ chest rumbled with laughter. “Oh, we are so screwed up. I didn’t want to help with the house hunting because I thought that meant you wanted to move out on your own. I didn’t want us separated.”
The invisible hand clamped around Mandy’s heart released its grip. “Really?”
“Really,” James said, smacking her bottom lightly. “I think this further illustrates that you and I need to talk to one another instead of holding things in and trying to figure each other out separately. I don’t think like a chick – and despite your filthy mind, which I love, by the way – you really don’t think like a man.”
“So, wait, we’re really cleaning this place out today?”
“No, you’re watching and supervising,” James said. “My brothers, Sophie, Emma, and I are cleaning this place out today. We can put most of it in storage at the office until we find a house.”
“You’re really going to help me look for a house?”
“I’m really going to help us look for a house,” James corrected. “And, you’re going to have to settle for living in the apartment until all of this is taken care of.”
Mandy mulled his answer over. “Are you going to tell me what’s going on with the case?”
James nodded, blowing out a deep breath. “I am. You were kind of out of it before, and I didn’t want to give you anything else to freak out about. I realize that was probably the wrong thing to do, because that’s what started the whole secrecy thing, and that spiraled out of control really fast.
“I’m going to ask you to put your questions off until tomorrow,” James continued. “I can only deal with one big thing at a time. Let’s get this place packed up and all your stuff moved in at our place.”
“And then we’ll deal with this big thing for the rest of the afternoon,” Mandy teased, wrapping her hand around his morning erection under the covers.
James groaned, shifting. “Ah … well … maybe we could get a jumpstart on that one right now.”
“I thought you said Grady was coming?” Mandy brushed her lips across James’ neck, not caring if Grady was in the same room watching them at this point.
James shifted to his side, keeping his arm under her waist. He moved his hand up and down her bare thigh, leaving a sensuous trail on her bare skin. They were face to face, so James took advantage of the situation and pressed his mouth to hers.
“We have a half hour before Grady gets here,” he said. “Let’s make it count.”
Mandy nodded mutely as she slipped her tongue into his mouth. James massaged it with his own, lifting her left thigh with his hand so he could hook it over his hip. He then shifted closer to her, lowering his pelvis so he could press his length into her welcoming core.
He pushed forward, entering her fluidly, never moving his mouth from hers as he pumped rhythmically between her thighs. Once he was sure her leg would hold him securely – and she wasn’t in any pain from the position – he moved his hand around and started to rub her mound in a tantalizing circular motion.