Three Times a Lady Read online

  “I can tell you apart from my sister, trust me,” Haile snapped.

  “That’s not what I mean so don’t even go there,” Mari said. “I don’t need saving, I just need your love, your support and not to be coddled. You have to make peace with Angela being gone but you can’t use me to do it. If not, that’s not the relationship I want or need.”

  Haile grabbed her by the shoulders and kissed her savagely. “Does that feel that way? I don’t see you as a bandage to any wound I have.”

  Mari grabbed his neck and pulled him back to kiss her. “I am not glass, you don’t have to treat me with kids gloves. I’m not this fragile, scared, broken bird. I’m a woman, your woman if you want me, but you have to let me share the load. You can let go of that staunch reserve you hold on to around me. Let me love you for you and vice versa.”

  “You want the real me,” Haile muttered. His green eyes flittered like emeralds in the dim light. “Then I’ll give you what you asked for.”

  “Is that supposed to scare me?” Mari asked and lifted her head defiantly.

  “No.” Haile lifted her on the bar. “I hope it makes you so wet that your panties are soaked, and I can lick it all up.”

  “Oh sweet Jesus,” Mari gasped.

  “No, no, it’s all me.” His voice was deep and harsh with need.

  Haile whipped her sweater over her head and in seconds had her bra off. He pressed his face between her breasts for a moment before cupping the back of her neck. She felt the kiss to the soles of her feet. Haile speared his tongue into her mouth without teasing or tempting her. This was carnal and primal, the way he devoured her mouth set her soul aflame.

  Desire exploded between them hot and fiery when their lips met. They tasted each other like it was their last few seconds on earth, and they wanted their end to come fused together. He cupped her breasts and ran the pad of this thumb over her nipples until they beaded hard, and she whimpered from the friction. They were working hands, he’d pulled ropes and built things with them, and now they caressed her skin leaving fire in their way. Mari pulled his shirt up, struggling to get it over his head before working on his slacks. She struggled out of her thick leggings and boots as best she could, perched on the bar.

  Finally, Haile stepped between her legs and the contact of skin to skin made her gasp. He swallowed the sound as he took her lips once more. There was no chill that their bodies didn’t consume with the heat they were creating. Haile kissed his way down her neck, to her breast. Mari loved the delicious friction of his beard on her sensitive nipples. He licked and sucked at her nipples, and she whispered his name.

  “I can’t get enough of your taste.” His tone was rough.

  Haile continued his downward path with his lips to her torso until he reached the apex of her thighs. Mari tensed when she felt his hot breath against her pussy. She wanted to feel his mouth, and she shuddered in anticipation. He teased her by gently probing between the soft flesh with his tongue. Her breath caught in her throat, and then she gave a soft whimper and shifted restlessly.

  “Damn you, Haile give me what I need,” she whispered, lifting her hips in invitation.

  Haile gave a sexy chuckle as he cupped her ass with his big hands, lifted her hips, and brought her pussy to his eager mouth. Mari threw her head back as pleasure assaulted her and couldn’t help the cry that escaped her lips. Haile didn’t tantalize her this time, he feasted on her sex, and Mari braced her hands on the bar and held on for dear life. The feeling of his hot mouth and tongue licking and penetrating her pussy almost drowned her in pleasure. She moaned as sucked on her clit, and the guttural sounds he made were primal and erotic. His face was pressed between her thighs, and she came, calling his name and grinding her pussy against his face.

  Haile stood, and she could see the hunger in his eyes. His ragged breathing filled the room, and Mari slipped from the bar to her knees and took his cock in her hands. He was so hard, and as she stroked him, Haile threw his head back in pleasure. Teasing the tip of his rod with her tongue caused him to groan. She upped the ante, taking him deep between her lips and stroking him in tandem to her mouth’s ministrations. His groan reverberated in her ears, and he slowly pumped in and out of her mouth while her tongue worked greedily at his shaft. Mari looked up at him while she sucked him deeply between her lips. The carnal look of pure need etched on his face made her want him all the more. “Enough,” the word grated from between his lips. He pulled away suddenly, pulled her to her feet, and kissed her with unrestrained desire.

  “I need you,” she muttered against his lips.

  “Not yet,” Haile replied.

  She shivered when his fingers trailed down her hips then between her legs. He teased her pussy with slow, deliberate movements, and he barely grazed over her clit. Her body shuddered, and she gave in to the need clawing inside her. Mari spread her legs wider in anticipation of feeling his digits inside her.

  “Please,” Mari whispered. “I want your fingers inside me.”

  “Look at me, let me see you come,” he ordered.

  Her eyes opened instinctively on his command, and she got lost in his green gaze. With their gazes connected, Haile slid two fingers into her slick opening until he had it buried, and he used his thumb to slowly circle her clit. He kept the movements a gentle rhythm until she was trembling in his arms.

  “You’re driving me crazy,” she cried out.

  “You are so wet,” he said. “Damn, you excite me.”

  He increased his pace and lowered his head to her upturned nipple and plucked it between his lips. Her head fell back in ecstasy at the combination of both sensations. She spread her legs wider, taking more of his fingers. With every breath she moaned as the coil of her orgasm tightened within him.

  “Let me see you come for me, Dove.” His voice was harsh with need.

  Mari bit her lip and pumped against his hands as she reached the pinnacle of her bliss. She screamed as she fell into the pleasurable abyss. His fingers and hand were dripping with her juice, and it ran down her thighs. The sound he made was like the growl of a primal animal, and she trembled. Haile turned her around and bent her over the bar. He ran one hand around her waist and down the flat surface of her tummy to her pussy and teased her clit. Mari was already moaning in excitement as the fire was stoked anew. He used his knees to spread her legs, and she felt the tip of his cock against the entrance of her sex. Haile slowly slipped his cock into her until he was buried to the hilt before he grabbed her curvaceous hips and thrust again. His harsh cry blended with hers, and the gut wrenching need to find fulfillment took over. Mari’s arms were braced against the bar, and she pushed back, meeting his penetrating thrusts. The gentleness and reservation that always seemed to be there was gone. This time Haile gave her pure, hot, dirty fucking, and she bloomed with enjoyment at every second of pleasure. The noises they made were raw and guttural, and the sound of their bodies connecting was wet and carnal.

  “Oh yes, yes, yes, Haile,” Mari chanted as he took her.

  The orgasm that took hold of her shook her to her core, and the intensity of it made her knees give out. Haile held on to her tight and continued to fuck her in a rhythm that reminded her of the ocean waves as they hit the beach. Her pleasure continued, and her pussy clenched around his cock.

  “Come for me, Haile,” Mari gasped. “I want every last drop.”

  “Oh my God, Marisol,” he moaned.

  She could hear his breathing behind her, the agonized groan that escaped his lips while he fucked her. Her plea pushed him over the edge, and his hot seed spilled inside her while she undulated against him until they slumped against the bar. They stayed in that position for long minutes until Haile moved just enough to turn her in his arms to kiss her.

  “I can never look at this bar the same,” Haile teased.

  “You? I have to work here every night.” Mari smiled. “If Mr. Moore knew what we did here...”

  “He’d order another pint and ask if we cleaned up.” Haile lau
ghed. “Which we should. Let’s go upstairs and grab a hot shower, then come down here and make it spic and span.”

  “That’s a very good plan,” Mari said. “We can make hot chocolate when we get home and watch the news.”

  “Look at us being all homey and domestic.” Haile kissed her hard.

  “Mmmm, I could get used to this, very much so.” She held his hand as they walked up the stairs.

  He moved until he was pressed against her back and kissed her shoulder. “Me too.”

  They’d had their first argument and made up in the most pleasurable way. She’d found her second chance at life and given up the ghosts of her past. Her eyes were set firmly on the future. Good times or bad, she wanted that with Haile. They hadn’t said the words yet, but she loved him, and it didn’t take a declaration to know he felt the same way.

  Chapter Eight

  Getting around on her own was definitely easier now that she could drive. Haile took her to their version of a car lot. a.k.a. buying from someone who put a notice in the local paper about selling their car. It put a dent of two thousand pounds out of the savings she was collecting. But there was no need for an apartment now since she was moving in with Haile. Having her own mode of transportation was still as important as her independence. No matter what happened with them in the future, she couldn’t give up that part of herself. She made Haile promise she would be able to keep her job or even find a better one without him making a fuss. She knew he’d pull a man thing about being able to provide for them both. It wasn’t a matter of that; it was a feeling of self-worth, of earning her own way.

  Mari was smiling when she left his house all bundled up for a cold day. She slipped behind the wheel of her new-to-her PT cruiser and headed toward the Celtic Cross. She would be opening with the servers today, and Haile had some work he needed to take care of for a friend. She could tell, he still either worked for the military or did some kind of contract work. There was an air of danger about when he said he was “helping out a friend” or “business to take care of.” Eventually they would have to talk about it if they were planning on sharing a life.

  But at that moment it wasn’t the most important discussion to have. Telling him to be careful was her way of letting him know she understood and to come home safe. She took in the place she now called home. She liked to crack the windows and let a bit of the cool air in, and the scent of fresh bread from the corner deli bakery wafted in as well. The coffee shop had been brewing their dark roast coffee, and the kids in uniforms were walking to school on groups. Mr. Jones was opening the butcher shop, and Mrs. Lovell was sweeping the sidewalk outside of her little antique shop.

  Mari sighed in contentment. Everything felt perfect in her world, even when Haile told her Marcus had gotten on a flight back to the United States with a few broken fingers. She certainly didn’t feel sorry for the man who had turned her life into chaos for years. Putting that nasty thought aside, she focused on the future as she parked and went inside the pub. Mrs. H was already in the kitchen, making the back smell nice with Irish stew and chopping beef for her shepherd’s pie. Elle and Macy were sitting on the bar wrapping utensils.

  “Hey guys,” Mari called as she hung up her coat. “I’ll come out and get the bar set up in a few, I just gotta get the computers on in the office.”

  “Sure thing,” Elle said with a smile.

  They were her friends now. Actual friends who wanted to get together and do things like shop and have girl’s night. She stepped into the kitchen and kissed Mrs. H on the cheek and gave her a squeeze on her way through as well.

  “I do love those hugs of yours,” Mrs. H said with a chuckle.

  “You’ve cornered the market on them, you get as many as you want.” Mari smiled.

  “Now that’s a sweet little lie. I’m sure Haile gets more than I,” Mrs. Humphrey teased and handed her a paper. “That’s my deliveries from yesterday. The raspberries were rotted, I made them take that shite back. They deducted it from the final cost and will replace them today for free.”

  “I’m sure you gave them hell,” Mari said as she left the kitchen.

  In the office she sat down and got the computer booted up. Mari checked the invoices from the shipments that had come in and added in Mrs. H’s kitchen shipment. She opened a new spreadsheet for the receipts and was ready to head back to the bar when her cell phone rang. It wasn’t a number she recognized, but since she was applying for permanent residency in the U.K. she made sure to answer any calls that came in.

  “Hello?” She made sure her voice was sweet and pleasant.

  “You sound like strawberries and cream.” Jeffery’s voice made her skin crawl.

  “Why are you calling me,” Mari snapped. “Wasn’t your wife coming in here trying to make a scene enough for you.”

  “Listen lover....”

  “Don’t ever call me that.” Mari hoped her voice conveyed the disgust she felt.

  “Well then.” Jeffery’s voice changed. “Listen, I may have caused a bit of trouble.”

  “Only a bit? That’s putting it mildly,” she answered.

  “Will you shut up for just a minute?” His tone took on a hint of panic. “Joslyn, she isn’t letting it go. I may have saved another woman’s number under your name, and now she is fixated on you.”

  Mari pulled the phone away from her face to look at it in amazement for a moment. “Well, you better cure her of that notion really quick. I don’t want anything to do with you or her.”

  “It’s not so easy. When Joslyn gets this way, she can be dangerous,” Jeffery explained.

  “I doubt that she is the dangerous one. Stop trying to cover your ass by blaming things on your wife,” Mari defended the woman. “She may be a bitch and gullible as hell, but for some reason she loves you. You’re a cheat and a liar, and that woman has been out through hell because of you. Be a good husband and not a sickening man.”

  “Listen, if you see her be careful...”

  Mari cut him off. “No, I won’t be cruel. She has suffered abuse even though you didn’t put your hands on her. If I see her I’m going to talk to her and let her know you have nothing I want.”

  “Don’t be daft, I’m trying to warn you...”

  “Bye, Jeffery. Do not call me again, next time I’ll tell Haile.”

  She disconnected the call amidst his jabbering and as she stood, shoved it in the pocket of her jeans. Mari put Jeffery’s call out of her mind and went back to her task at hand. She got the bar ready for opening and helped Elle and Macy get tables set and ready for the lunch crowd. Worrying about Joslyn was not one of her concerns. A woman like that would believe her man was the one being chased and not the other way around, and nothing could change their minds. Still, she wouldn’t be mean because emotional abuse was just as bad as physical. Eventually Joslyn would see she was not the threat. There were too much positives in her life to be mired down by anyone else’s negativity.

  * * * *

  His private work was taking much longer than expected. Jasper knew his life as well as Mac and a few others. When bad things happened, they had a type of network of resources if necessary. Right now, Mac had a client who needed his special brand of services: they needed to disappear and fast. That meant travel papers and a few other necessities and for Mac to travel as well. His friend seemed a little deeper involved with this new client, but it wasn’t his place to say a thing. They had each other’s back and support.

  It was well past two when he finally closed down his private computer network after transferring everything that Mac needed funds wise. A courier sent by Jasper had already picked up the rest and would transport them to the United States directly to Mac’s hands. The lunch rush would be over, and there would be a few hours before the evening crowd came in. Maybe he could take Mari down to the market for a bite to eat other than pub food. Not to insult Mrs. H’s excellent cooking, but sometimes they needed a bit of pasta or a fresh salad. Haile picked up his keys and was on his way to the pu
b when a frantic knocking on his front door made him move toward it with purposeful strides. On the other side of the barrier stood a very frazzled Jeffery and every alarm bell in his head went off.

  “You’ve got some nerve showing up at my door,” Haile snarled.

  Jeffery held up his hand. “Listen mate...”

  “I’m not your fucking mate.” Haile clenched his hand at his sides. “Get the fuck away from my door.”

  “Haile, please listen to me, please,” Jeffery implored.

  Maybe it was the way he said it or the complete fear in his eyes. Or the way he said his name, but Haile decided to listen.

  “Say your piece,” Haile snapped.

  Jeffery looked around. “Not at the door, please let me come in.”

  Haile stepped back silently, and the man rushed past him. Having the man he blamed for Angela’s disappearance in his home was disconcerting, to say the least.

  “It’s Joslyn. I fear she has gone... Joslyn has never been well,” Jeffery tried to explain.

  Haile sighed impatiently. “What are you going on about, man?”

  “Joslyn—I think she may have gone after Mari,” Jeffery said in a rush. “She’s had tunnel vision on the girl from the time she showed up on our doorstep. Then, I’m sorry, but I had my mistress’s number saved under Mari’s name.”

  “The mistress as in the woman you go to so she can beat you across the balls and all that nonsense,” Haile surmised.

  Jeffery sighed in frustration. “That is not the point. Joslyn thinks that Mari and I are still involved, and I’m afraid of what she will do. She has the propensity to be rather violent when she... I don’t want her to do the same thing she did to...”

  “To?” Haile questioned. When Jeffery didn’t answer, Haile grabbed him by the shoulders and shook him. “To whom, Jeffery?”

  “To Angela,” Jeffery whispered the words as if saying them would unleash some kind of horror he couldn’t imagine facing. “I can’t prove it for sure, I never could, but the things she says... I loved her you know—Angela. That part is true, more than anyone realized. But Joslyn, I never knew that she wouldn’t let me go without a fight.”