Page 4 of Gilded Bird

Her divorce was an inevitability. There was no riding off into the sunset for their marriage. Mika gave her husband and her son all she could. There was no love between them, other than their devotion to Jameson. It was obvious to me even as a dumb kid watching them together. Their home became a second home to me, so I saw plenty of their relationship.

Watching her now, I feel my chest expand. I hate that she went so long without the love she deserves. Without the devotion she should have been shown. Mika is a beautiful woman, her auburn hair turning light gray in shimmering streaks, her fair skin freckled from days in the sun, her curves soft, her beautiful blue eyes as bright as ever.

“It has been long enough,” I mutter to the salty sea air. “No reason not to tell her how you feel now, Tweedle Dum,” I grin at the stupid nickname. They were given to us by Mika because she said we were always into something, always stirring things up together, and she was right.

This deal with Jameson is important to me. We want to open another of his bars, with the bright neon and dark brick looks, the male bartenders fit and shirtless as they mix drinks for their rowdy clientele. His friendship is the most important thing to me. Next to just one other thing: his mother.

Feeling what I feel for her, for as long as I have felt it, has shaped who I am. I strived to be a good man for her. I worked my ass off in school, got into a great college, and secured a position with a funds management firm. By the time I was twenty-five, I was earning six figures, I invested wisely and could work a few days a week to maintain it all.

Tonight, I am going to risk the single most important relationship in my life. I am going to tell my best friend’s mother that I am in love with her. That I have spent most of my life in love with her. It took me a long time and a lot of work to get here. To a place where I am prepared to tell her how I feel and risk the consequences.

Mika is worth it to me.

****

Pacing outside the condo, I take a deep breath. Again. I have been here for twenty minutes, working up the courage to go inside. To gather Mika for dinner tonight. I am in a nice suit, I smell good, and I have gone over everything I want to say to her a hundred times.

It is go time. There is no turning back after tonight.

Pulling the heavy glass door to the condo open, I head toward the elevator. I hope she ignores that I know where she lives without her telling me. We agreed to dinner at the Anchor at eight. I am here at six-thirty to pick her up because I am anxious to see her. Anxious to get some time alone with her before we join Jameson at the restaurant.

Knocking at her door, I regret for a moment not bringing flowers. Or a diamond ring. Keys to a castle if she wanted. Anything to show her I am going to work to win her over. Not that she has a single clue that I want to romance her. How could she? I have perfected hiding what I feel for her.

“Hello,” Mika calls as she opens the door, stunning me silent.

Draped in a golden silk dress, she is a vision of perfection. Her shoulders are bare, the creamy skin a little pink from her being out in the sun earlier. I find my mouth watering as I imagine tilting her head back to brush my mouth over that pink skin. Yanking the bust down to free her breasts so I could mark her skin and fill my hands with the soft fullness.

“Evening, Mika,” I say softly, shoving a hand in my pocket. If I don’t, I might reach out to grab her round the waist to haul her against me. Now that I know I am doing this, showing her how I feel, it feels impossible to hold back. “You look stunning tonight.”

“T-thank you,” she flushes, bowing her head as she pats at her auburn hair as it bounces down to her shoulders. “Is Jameson with you? I had no idea someone was coming to collect me.”

“No, it’s just me. I wanted a chance to get you alone, remember?”

Mika’s head flies up, her eyes sparkling as they meet mine. Is that a flicker of desire I see? I hope so. “Why…I mean, why would you want that? To talk about your deal with Jameson?”

Stepping inside, I back her up with my body, sighing when she barely moves. I brush against her as I turn to close the door behind me. Letting out a little gasp, she pulls back, eyes narrowing on me. Again, I back her up, pressing her against the door.

My heart thuds in my chest and I can barely breathe. If I do, I will inhale her sweet scent, vanilla and strawberries, a scent that drives me mad any time I get a hit of it. I bow my head, touching my nose to her jaw. I still don’t dare breathe her in. My hands drop between us, framing her wide hips but not touching her. I don’t dare touch her yet.

“No, Mika,” I whisper against her jaw. “I just wanted you to myself. I have wanted to have you to myself for a long time.”

“M-Maddox…. what do you think…” her voice breaks off as I press against her, unable to help myself now that I do have her to myself.

“What do I think? I think about you, Mika. I’ve thought about you for a lot longer than I should have. Longer than you would believe. How beautiful you are. How sweet and good. How goddamn sexy,” I purr, my hands gripping her hips to tug her closer to me.

Her soft body fits against mine and I sigh. It is as if her pieces fit the missing parts of me. I grasp her soft hips, one hand sliding to her backside. My cock is aching in my slacks, pressing greedily against the heat between her thick thighs.

“Maddox! This is inappropriate! If Jameson found out…”

Grinning, I pull back. Yeah, this is inappropriate and if Jameson found out, he might be upset. I understand all of that. I knew all of that before I came here tonight. Before I went to her on the beach. None of that matters now. Just one thing matters now that I crossed a line I have been dying to cross for so fucking long it hurts.

Mika never said my feelings for her don’t count.

“Mika,” I breathe her name against her throat, pressing my mouth there, where her pulse leaps frantically. “I would never hurt you. Or Jameson. I cannot help what I feel for you. What I havealwaysfelt for you. And now, there is no reason for me to pretend or hide it, is there?”

“Maddox,” she whimpers, her hands pushing at my chest. Our eyes meet and I see how dark hers are, how turned on her body is as it rubs against mine. Yeah, this is brand new for her, this feeling arcing between us. But it has been there for me since I was seventeen.

“We’re going to make a deal tonight at dinner that will tie me to Jameson more than I already am. I would wreck that deal, would wreck my friendship with a man I consider a brother, for a chance to show you how beautiful I think you are, and how worthy of devotion you are.”