Forever Mine Read online

  “It feels so good. More. God, I love the way it feels to have your fingers inside of my pussy while you are fucking my ass. It feels so full.” Christ, now she could understand why the women discussed their men’s sexual prowess. Having Martin taking her like this was pure and blinding pleasure. It was perfect.

  “I bought a vibrator that we’ll use next time,” he said, his lips curling against her skin. “I bought a couple of them, actually, to give you some variety while we make love.” The slight scrape of his teeth up her neck sent a shiver through her. He pressed a kiss to her jaw and nipped lightly.

  “You think of everything, don’t you?” she asked with pride, smiling happily. “I’m such a lucky woman.” She pushed down on him again. “I want that. I would love to be able to know how good it will feel to have a vibrator inside of me while you are fucking my ass like this again. I think it would be awesome.” Then again, this was spectacular, so she wasn’t so sure she would survive anything more.

  “Or one of the vibrators up your sweet, tight ass while I fuck your pussy. We have options,” he said softly. Brushing kisses over her skin he nibbled on her jaw. He pressed his fingers into her deeper, thrusting his cock harder, faster.

  “Fuck. Yes. That one.” She cried out and felt her pussy sucking at his fingers, felt her body tightening around him, and let her head fall back to his shoulder. Her eyes were closed, fingers rubbing her clit or plucking at her nipples. This was just what she needed. “Martin, so close. Please be there with me.”

  “I’m right here with you, Athena. Come for me, sweetheart. Squeeze my cock hard with that tight ass of yours. Come for me,” he demanded. He sucked her earlobe between his lips, his teeth biting down lightly as he tugged.

  For a second, she couldn’t breathe. That’s when her climax rushed over her. She screamed, his name torn from her lips as she came. Her climax had her body squeezing his cock and his fingers inside of her pussy. She shuddered and gasped aloud with her completion.

  His arm around her ribs tightened. Jolting against her, she felt the shudder that tore through his body. She could feel his cock throbbing in her ass, almost pulsating as she squeezed around him even tighter. His fingers in her pussy curled in reaction as he let out a low curse. Then his arm relaxed and Martin released a low groan.

  “Holy mother of God.” Athena was very happy that Martin was holding her up because, if not, she would be a puddle on the bed under him. “Gracious, so perfect.” Everything that they did together was enjoyable, and far more pleasurable than she had ever thought it would be. “I liked that. A lot,” she told him with a smile.

  “Good,” he said. Then they fell over onto their sides. He let out a grunt, and then a low moan. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to toss you around, sweetheart. Unfortunately, there’s very little feeling in my extremities immediately following that orgasm. Need a minute to gather my strength.”

  “It’s okay. I was just sitting here thinking to myself how happy I am that it was you holding me up because I was feeling all kinds of weak. Gracious, I think we should do that at least once a month, if not more, what do you think?”

  “I like your plan, though it will depend on when I get some strength back. Holy hell, that was fantastic, sweetheart.” Martin nuzzled her cheek, a smile on his lips, she was sure, and gave her a little squeeze. “I love you, Athena Rhodes. You rock my world.”

  Athena just smiled. “I love you too, Martin Carver, and the feeling of world rocking is definitely from you, not me,” she teased, and yawned. “I enjoyed this a great deal.” She looked over her shoulder at him and then rubbed her cheek to his. “We both need to get cleaned up before this gets ugly, don’t we?”

  “Yup,” he said with a nod. He didn’t move right away, except for his thumb, which rubbed up and down her ribcage. Finally, though, he let out a breath and pulled slowly from her ass. “Come on, sweetheart, let’s get cleaned up.”

  “That sounds good.” She shifted with his help and rose once again. Slipping her hand into his, she gave it a squeeze. “I think that with both of us working together, we will make it through the shower without falling down. Right?”

  “That’s the theory,” he said. Laughing quietly, he rolled off the bed, and wavered on his feet. “Damn, the blood hasn’t yet returned to my head. This is going to be a damn short shower. In, scrub, and out.”

  “I’m perfectly fine with that. I don’t have to wash my hair, so just in, clean up the necessary bits, and out would be perfect.”

  “Sounds good to me.” He took her hand, helped her off the bed, and tugged her toward the bathroom.

  Chapter Eleven

  Monday morning came much too early, and Athena had to get back to work. Not only because her patients needed her, but it was also part of Martin’s grand plan. When she entered the kitchen, it was to find him finishing up breakfast. “Good morning, sweetheart.” Smiling at her, he leaned in to kiss her lips and handed her a plate. “Coffee’s on the table, so’s the syrup. Go sit down and get started. I’ll be there in a minute.”

  “Thank you. You are too good for me.” He always ensured that she was fed, and refused to let her leave the house without eating first. “So you will keep in touch with me today, right? We will keep in contact?” She was terrified for him. She knew what he had planned and it scared the bejesus out of her.

  “Absolutely,” he said. Moving the pan off the stove, he set it aside, then turned with his own plate in hand. He sat down next to her and reached out to touch her hand. “I’ll drop you off at the office, and then head out to the ranch. Once I’m there, I’ll text you so you know I’m there and fine. You’ll call me between patients, and I’ll be back in town in time for us to have lunch together in your office. I’ll come back here during your afternoon sessions, then pick you up at the end of the day. We’re trying to establish a routine they can follow easily. They are likely here already, or have people here watching us. They’ll keep watch for a few days to see if we vary the routine at all. Once they know we’re not, they’ll start to plan how to get me so they can force you to do what they want. It’ll be at least a few days before that happens, so you need to relax.”

  “How long have you known me, Martin Carver? Am I one to relax easily?” she asked with a grin. “I will try, though, I promise. For now, I just need for you to remember that I enjoy food, so maybe we could go to the diner?” That way it could be out in the open for others to see them as well.

  “We can do that,” he said with a nod. “Speaking of food, you need to eat if we’re going to make your first appointment on time. Personally, I think it sets bad a precedent if the shrink is late to her office.” Giving her a wink, he dug into his plate.

  “Crap, good point.” She stopped talking and began to eat. Once she was finished, she took her dishes to the sink and washed them out. Grabbing her bag, she fished for her keys to the business and pulled them out. “Okay. I’m ready.”

  Grabbing up his wallet and truck keys, he held open the door for her. He smacked her ass as she went past him, then gave her an innocent look before locking the house up. “A little something to help keep your mind off things,” he said, helping her into the truck.

  “Oh that will totally work.” Damn, she could think all kinds of naughty things with him doing just that smack to her ass. “You at least realize how much I love it when you touch my ass.”

  He slipped behind the wheel and shot her a grin. “Of course I realize how much you like me smacking your ass. It usually leads to so many other good things. Many of which we got to discover this weekend. There’s a bunch more to come, by the way. But we have plenty of time to explore it all.”

  “Yes, we do. We have a lifetime to discover just what it is that makes us both shout like we did this weekend.” She had loved the way that even he had shouted when he’d come, and just how quickly they both fell asleep afterward.

  “You make a bunch of lovely noises that we need to explore.” He turned onto the street leading to her building. “But you ar
e right, we do have a lifetime to explore everything. You going to be okay today?” he asked quietly as he pulled to the curb, and parked.

  “I will.” She hoped. “Knowing that you will be here for me, that you will be calling me is good. I will be good because I have to be. I know that you will be watching over everything that’s happening and others will be watching over you.”

  “And over you, too. I have two guys that will be watching the place the entire time I’m gone. You won’t ever see them unless you need them. They are highly trained, and very good at what they do.” He slipped out of truck, came around to her side, and helped her down. Taking her hand in his, he led her toward the front of the building. “Just go about business as usual, sweetheart. No one’s going to bother you.”

  She took a deep breath and nodded. “Okay.” She smiled and gave him a quick hug. “Are you coming in with me?” She wasn’t sure if he was going to ensure that the office was clear or not.

  “Of course I’m coming up with you. How else am I going to get a big kiss out of you?” he asked with a grin. Squeezing her hand, he walked with her into the building and up to her office. Inside, he nodded to her receptionist, and followed her to her office. She watched Martin look around, and check out the windows before coming back to her. He slipped his arms around her waist, pulling her in close to him. “I love you, sweetheart. Everything will be fine. Remember that for me, will you?”

  With her hands braced on his chest, she looked into his eyes and smiled. She could see the sincerity there. “I love you, too. I know that things will be okay. After all, you still have to marry me, and I need to make an honest man out of you.”

  “Damn straight you do,” he said. Leaning in, he kissed her slowly, teasing her into opening for him. Cupping her ass, he pulled her in closer to him. He nibbled on her lower lip then lifted his head. “What are your thoughts on going to look for rings tonight? We may not find anything, but at least we can see if there’s something out there you might like.”

  “I like that. Remember, we have to drive out of town or the gossips will have a field day because I’m buying you a ring and not the other way around.”

  “Who says I’m not going to buy you a ring?” he asked. Wiggling his eyebrows, he gave her another kiss and then checked his watch. “All right, sweetheart, I should get moving so that I’m gone before your first patient arrives. And I did promise Mama I’d be out there early today to lend a hand. I will text you when I arrive, then you can call me after you’re done with your first patient.”

  “I will.” She hated to see him go, but knew that he had to. “Be safe?” she asked one more time before allowing him to walk out of her office.

  “Always. You too, sweetheart.” Then he was gone, leaving her alone in her office to wait for her first client of the day.

  Going to the window, she watched as he crossed to the truck, and then pulled away from the curb.

  ****

  The day had been a long and hard one. Not physically, but emotionally and mentally. It had been hard for Athena to keep from jumping on her phone every second she got, especially after her last meeting. The day was over, though, and now she sat alongside Martin in the truck headed to the next town over, where they could ring shop without the town’s gossips dogging their heels.

  She slipped her hand into Martins and gave a light squeeze. “I’m glad we are doing this so that the women of Massey know for sure that you are so totally taken it’s not even funny.”

  He laughed, but she’d seen the looks he’d gotten when they’d had lunch at the diner at midday. The women who had gone past their table, stopped to chat, their hands on his shoulder. Not that Martin had seemed to notice. Or rather, he hadn’t given any outward appearance of noticing, but she knew him. He’d catalogued everything. “Honey, they know I’ve always had my eye on you. They’re just not sure what to make of it. And as the last Carver man still single, they’re trying ever so desperately to fill the last slot. They just don’t yet realize it was filled a long, long time ago.”

  “Damn straight it was,” she said proudly. “Heck, then again, I didn’t even really know that it was filled.” She had been shocked when he had returned for her, to put it mildly. “But I’m happy that I’m the one filling that last slot.”

  “It was always your spot to fill, sweetheart.” Lifting her hand, he kissed her fingers lightly. “So, have you given any thought to the type of ring you’d like to have on your lovely little finger? ‘Cause right now, I need all the help I can get in figuring that out. Sorry to say, but I’ve never been one of those guys that’s been good at this kind of thing. Not that I’ve ever done it before, obviously, but I suck at gifting period.”

  “I’m a simple woman, Martin. I’m not into bling and all that stuff. I like platinum or silver. Not really big on colored stones, so diamonds would be ideal for me as well.” She stroked her thumb over his. “And what about you, Mr. Carver? What sort of ring would you like?”

  “Simple, plain, boring,” he said. “Like me. Very understated, quiet even. Oh quit snickering over there, woman.” He shot her a grin. “Okay, so maybe I’m none of those things. But simple is best. Nothing fancy or over the top. If I keep working for the FBI, I need to ensure it’s nothing that draws undue attention to me.”

  “You love what you do, don’t you?” she asked as she watched the way he spoke. “How will you be able to continue to work for them living out here?” A field office, from the Net—she knew that they had talked about it, but he would need to go and do the job as well. Get called off to God only knew where from time to time.

  “I do, and I don’t,” he said softly. “I’m not entirely sure I will keep working for them. I may see about getting a transfer down to one of the offices here in Texas, work in the office instead, or I might just quit. I’m sure Josh would appreciate some extra help out on the ranch each day, and I like the work now that I’m not forced to do it before the sun’s even up. But that’s for the future, and something you and I will need to discuss. One thing at a time, though. We need to ensure our future is solid and safe.”

  “Too true, you are very right. First we make sure we have a future.” She moved a bit closer to him and laid her head on his shoulder. “We are quite the pair, aren’t we? Both buying each other engagement rings.” She smiled at the thought. “I like it. It’s a good feeling. Don’t you agree?”

  “Absolutely, sweetheart. It might buck tradition more than a little, but we’re doing things our way as we always have, and that’s what truly matters.” He slowed the truck a little as they approached the town. “There’s a place on Main Street that’s open late. It’s a smaller place, but the research I did on them has them as solid folks. They ensure the client is always happy first and foremost. They also do custom work. If we don’t find anything you like, we can get them to create it on site.”

  “A custom ring.” Athena looked at him and smiled. “I think we should design our own rings. What do you think? Have the Carver name in the metal that we want, or something like that?” Then again, they could just engrave the insides of a ring, too.

  “Well, we’ll look at their stock first, and if nothing catches our eye, we’ll sit down with them to come up with something all our own. Though I do like the idea of the Carver name on the bands. I really like the idea of folks knowing you’re the woman that stole my heart all those years ago.”

  “Exactly, have the Carver name on the bands, and have a row of diamonds in the holes where the A and E have a small void.”

  “Whatever you want, Athena. I mean it. I want this to be something you wear proudly no matter what it is.” He slowed the truck a little more as they entered the town proper. “Keep your eyes open for the place. I’m not exactly sure where it is, but apparently, it has a good-sized diamond on the sign. It’s called Renaud’s.”

  “And you. We need to make sure that whatever we get is something you will like too because you will be wearing one.” She looked and pointed. “There, there is a
Ford Taurus that’s pulling out now. That’s a good place to park.”

  He nodded, slowed, and then swung into the spot that had been vacated. Throwing the truck into park, he pocketed the keys and got out. “Come here,” he said with a hand out to her. Helping her down, he pressed a kiss to her lips before letting her feet touch the asphalt. “Whatever you want to get will be fine by me,” he said softly. “I’m not particularly picky.”

  “Okay, sounds good.” She hugged him right back again. Looking up at him, she nodded. “Alright, come on, babe. Let’s go and buy our rings, shall we? And then, once we have them, we can figure out a date.” The sooner the better for her.

  “Yes, dear,” he teased her. Looping his arm through hers, they walked to the shop. Once they were buzzed in, the salesperson gave them a rundown of where things were in the cases and let them loose to take a look. She hovered off to the side in case they needed her, but definitely wasn’t intrusive in any way.

  They looked over all of the rings and then she found one. She grinned and pointed to the case. “That one.” The band was a wide, and there were a few small diamonds in an infinity design on the side of the band. “Can you engrave the bands? And if so, how long would it take to get them back?” she asked the clerk as the woman opened the case.

  “We can do them in a matter of minutes, really. So you could go, get a cup of coffee, and by the time you returned, they would be ready. It’s no additional charge either,” she said. Pulling over a display platform, she set the ring down on the black cloth and waved for Athena to pick it up.

  Athena tried it on. It fit her perfectly. She smiled. Looking over at Martin, she held her hand out and asked, “What do you think? And why aren’t you trying on the one for you, too?”

  He lifted her hand to check the ring out and grinned. “Right, sorry. New at this sort of thing,” he said. The saleswoman gave a discreet snicker while he picked up the ring and slipped it on his finger. “A little big, but that’s easily fixed, I’m thinking.”