Susan Mallery - Lip Service

“You have to look.”

For her or for him? Did it matter?

He sat back on the bed and tossed away his slacks. She sat next to him and looked down at the prosthesis, then he removed it and slid off the protective sock.

It was wrong, she thought sadly, staring at the place where his calf had once been. There was nothing there. Just a smooth curve of skin and a few fading scars.

“I thought it would be more dramatic,” she said without thinking.

“Meaning?”

“At least some background music and a drumroll.”

He stared at her. For a second she thought he was going to get pissed off. Instead he started to laugh. When she joined in, he put his arm around her waist and pulled her onto the mattress. Then he was on top of her and they were kissing and nothing else mattered.

He claimed her mouth with a desperation that left her breathless. His hands roamed her body, finding all the places that made her squirm. Well, all the places but one. No matter how she flexed her hips and silently willed him to touch her there, he ignored that place between her legs.

He moved lower, kissing her neck, then her breasts. He licked his way down her belly.

She knew where this was going, what he would do, and nearly screamed for him to hurry. Hunger burned inside of her. She’d already been close once-it wouldn’t take much to push her over the edge.

Finally he moved between her thighs, parted her and then kissed her intimately. He used his lips and tongue to arouse her to the point of mindlessness, licking and sucking until she wanted to scream. At the same time he slipped a finger inside of her.

The combination was too much, she thought as her body tensed. She pushed toward him, wanting more, wanting all of it. There was a moment of certainty, a promise, then she was coming and shuddering, calling out his name, begging him never to stop.

He continued to touch her until she stilled, then he rolled away. Seconds later he was back, kneeling between her legs. She reached for him to guide him inside of her. As his thick hardness filled her, nerve endings began to dance.

It was perfect, she thought as she stared into his eyes. He fit her as if he’d been made for her-stretching her just enough, finding exactly the right, delicious spot when he thrust in all the way.

They quickly created their perfect rhythm. Their gazes locked. She felt herself getting closer again, but was determined to hold back until he was falling, too.

Familiar tension filled her. The need was there, pushing her onward. She found herself trying to think about other things, which made her want to laugh.

“What?” he asked, still moving in and out of her.

“I’m waiting for you.”

He grinned. “I’m enjoying the moment. It’s easy. I didn’t know it would be easy.”

What was he talking about?

Then she remembered. His leg. He’d been worried. She’d been concerned. But they were making love and it was exactly as it had always been. Perfect.

“Take your time,” she told him, grabbing onto her self-control, determined to wait for him.

“You’re really close?” he asked.

“Mitch, are you torturing me on purpose?”

“Uh-huh.” His breath caught. “You ready?”

“I’ve moved on to desperate.”

“That sounds bad. You can let go.”

“Are you sure?”

He pushed in deeper and groaned. “I’m sure.”

She felt the muscles in his back flex. She surrendered to her release and they lost themselves in each other.

SKYE WOKE UP alone in her bed the next morning, but she was okay with that. Being with Mitch the previous night had been like a renewal. They’d connected on a level she hadn’t thought possible. While they hadn’t talked about the future, she knew he was going to give her a chance. It had taken nine years and a lot of miles, but they were finally where they belonged.

She showered and dressed. It was Saturday and Erin would sleep in a little. Later she had a birthday party with one of her friends. Maybe Skye could sneak over and see Mitch again.

She hummed as she made her way downstairs. Everything was going to work out. She’d finally gotten her life together. All they had to do was get Izzy well and find a way to beat Garth. Then everything would be perfect.

“Not too much to ask,” she said as she walked into the kitchen.

Her father was already there.

“Dad. You’re home.”

Jed sipped his coffee. “I still live here.”

“You haven’t been around much.” Although it was the weekend and relatively early in the morning, he wore a suit, as if he had a business meeting.

“I’ve been busy,” he said. “There’s a lot going on. How’s your sister?”

“Doing better. I know she’d like you to go see her.”

“I hate hospitals. I’ll see her when she gets home.”

Skye glared at him. “She survived an explosion. You should make the time.”

“Don’t tell me what to do. I don’t have time for distractions. A guy named Jack is going to call you later and ask you out. I want you to say yes.”

She had reached for the coffeepot. Now she dropped her hand to her side and stared at him. “What?”

“You heard me. He’s successful, which matters to me. I’ve heard people say he’s handsome, which will matter to you.”

“No,” she said, too shocked to move.

“You’ll go on a date, see how things go.”

“Did you hear me? I said no.”

Sunlight poured into the kitchen. Jed sipped his coffee again. “Do you think I care what you said?”

She stiffened. “You’d better. I’m not doing this again. I married Ray. He was a good man and I’m grateful for Erin, but I shouldn’t have listened to you. I lost myself when I did that and it’s taken me all this time to find my way back.”

“That’s a bunch of crap. Jesus, why do you have to be so emotional? This is business, Skye. You’re going to do what I tell you because you like living here. You like the lifestyle. You gave away so much of your money to that idiotic foundation that you don’t have much left. So you don’t have a choice. This is a bad time for me and you’re going to do what I tell you.”

He didn’t raise his voice, but it still seemed like he was yelling. She raised her chin.

“No,” she said again. “I have plenty of money. As for the house-” She glanced around the room. “No, thanks. I’m not giving up my future so you can get the son-in-law of your dreams.”

It wasn’t the house, she thought sadly. It had never been the house. Staying here had been about being part of a family, of connecting. She’d wanted to give Erin that after Ray had died and maybe she’d wanted a little of that for herself.

“I’m not asking,” he said as he put his mug on the counter. “Dammit, Skye, this isn’t a negotiation. You’re my daughter and you’ll do what I tell you. You know all the shit I’m dealing with. Garth is everywhere. He’s coming at me from all over. He wants me in jail. You know that, don’t you.” He stared at her. “Look at what he did to your sister.”

She thought of Izzy lying in a hospital bed. “I’m very aware of that.”

“Then help me out.”

“Dad, I love you, but I won’t let you push me into another marriage. It doesn’t have to be that way. We’ll figure out how to defeat Garth. All of us. We can work together.”

Her father looked at her for a long time. “That’s not going to happen. You think I’d depend on the three of you? Lexi could barely handle her business. You’re a constant disappointment and Izzy’s no longer useful. Who wants a blind wife? You’re going to do this. You don’t have a choice.”

He left.

She stood in the center of the kitchen. Despite the fact that it was warm and bright, she shivered slightly from the chill.

LATER THAT AFTERNOON, as Skye walked toward the staircase, she heard Jed call her name. She followed the sound to the library, where she paused in the doorway, suddenly unwilling to trust her father.

His words had haunted her all morning. He hadn’t been the least bit subtle in his threat, and while she could tell herself she wouldn’t give in, a part of her was nervous.

He motioned her forward.

She walked toward his desk. “What is it?”

He studied her for a long time, as if assessing her. “Do you think you’re tough?” he asked at last. “Do you think you can influence me? You’re a fool.”

She took a step back. “Stop with the sweet talk, Dad,” she said sarcastically. “Tell me what you really think.”

“I will.” He pointed to the files on his desk, then flipped open a couple and turned them so she could read the contents. “I didn’t want to have to do this, but you’re not giving me a choice.”

She stared down at the papers. At first the writing didn’t make sense. She read it a second time, then picked up a letter.

It was on printed stationery, from a doctor’s office. The letter was addressed to Jed and detailed concerns about Skye’s mental stability. About her ability to take care of Erin. The doctor recommended Jed get Skye a psychiatric evaluation as soon as possible.

The second folder contained something worse. Information from a panel of doctors, all claiming she was not only an unfit parent, but a danger to Erin and to herself. It recommended she be put away indefinitely.

“You have a lot of your mother in you,” Jed said casually, as if they were discussing menus for dinner. “They think it goes back to when you were ten and found her body after she committed suicide. That would scar anyone. But you were weak, like her, and you never had a chance. It’s too bad. Erin will miss you. But not to worry. I’ll take good care of her.”

She’d never known that terror had a taste. It was bitter and metallic, almost like blood. It filled her mouth until she thought she might choke on it. She looked at the man she’d loved all her life and saw a stranger.

“I’ll do it,” he told her. “Do you doubt me?”

“None of this is true.”

“It’s not about truth, Skye. Haven’t you learned that? Who is going to fight me? A child is at stake. Don’t you know what we do for our children?”

“Lexi and Izzy know it’s all lies.”

“If you get in my way, I’ll hurt them, too.” He smiled. “There’s an easy solution. Break things off with Mitch and get together with Jack. I’m sure he’s a nice guy. It will be easy. After all, you did it before.”

She didn’t ask how he knew about Mitch. Nor did she bother to point out that everything in the folders was faked. The documents looked real. No doubt he would have doctors prepared to tell any judge that she was crazy. He wouldn’t be questioned-why would Jed Titan lie about his own daughter?

She thought of Erin reading upstairs. Love battled with fear.

“If you try to run, I’ll find you and I’ll use these,” he said. “I’ll lock you away forever and not give a damn. I’ll destroy Mitch and take everything he has. And I’ll have your daughter. Is there any part of you that doubts me?”

Nine years ago he’d threatened to withhold his love. When he’d worried that hadn’t been enough, he’d threatened Mitch. Now he had a much more dangerous weapon. Erin.

She wanted to cry out that this was wrong on so many levels. She wanted to fight him with her fists, and drive him into the ground. She wanted to hurt him as he was hurting her.

If only she could. But she knew in her gut that Jed was willing to go places she couldn’t imagine. That he had a streak of ruthlessness she could never match.

She would run, she told herself. But she needed time to make a plan. Time to make sure he couldn’t lock her away from her daughter. Time had always been her friend, but now it was the enemy.

“Skye,” he said impatiently. “You’re starting to piss me off.”

“I’ll do it,” she said.

Although the room was silent, she could swear she heard a door slamming shut. It was the door that trapped her in Jed Titan’s particular level of hell.

“Good. You won’t regret it,” he told her.

She already did.

She left before she threw up on his desk. Once in the hallway, she did her best to catch her breath.

She’d lost. There’d been a game in play and she hadn’t noticed in time to participate, let alone win. He would do anything-that was the difference. He would do anything, sacrifice anyone, including her. Or maybe especially her. Because she was easy.

Now he was going to force her into another relationship, but that wasn’t what bothered her. What devastated her the most was that she was going to lose Mitch a second time. And she was going to have to make sure it happened in such a way that he believed it was over forever. She couldn’t risk him getting caught in the cross fire.

Her happiness wasn’t the only sacrifice. Mitch was going to lose, as well.

DANA BIRCH DID HER BEST not to grind her teeth. She’d already had to stop pacing because Leonard said it made him nervous. The computer genius kept looking at her over his shoulder, as if afraid she would suddenly karate chop him across the back of the neck. Sometimes being intimidating was a pain.