Losing Control (13 page)

“Hey, man.”

Cal’s voice came through the door, Maggie groaned and started to shift away from Spencer. His grip tightened and he shook his head.

“But—”

“Shhh.” He pushed into her, and she bit her lip as her muscles jolted.

“Spence? Meeting in five, man,” Cal called.

Spence inhaled deeply, and after a moment, answered loudly, “Meet ya down there.”

“Cool,” came the reply, then silence.

“Not done yet,” he said tightly and began to move again.

He shifted one hand to the small of her back and dragged it downward. His thumb played along the crease of her ass. The light, teasing touch set off a series of ripples through Maggie’s muscles, and she forgot all about the interruption as pleasure swelled inside her strongly.

“Fuck it all, I don’t think I’ll ever be done with you.” He slammed into her hard, as his thumb pressed against the tight opening nestled between her cheeks.

“Oh, God…”

“Bring me home, darlin’. Come around me, and take me there.”

She pushed back against him, meeting his thrusts firmly each time. He dipped just inside her ass and circled the invading digit, before pulling out and sneaking in again.

“Please,” she begged, not really sure what she was asking for. She teetered on the edge, desperate to take the fall with him. Her inner muscles tightened, and with a yell, Spencer emptied inside her. The force of his release and his stroking thumb sealed the deal. She was sliding through that sweet, heated orgasm and never wanted it to end.

All too quickly it did, though, and Spencer withdrew. He pulled her upright and turned her to face him.

“You, Maggie Monroe, know how to send a man to work with a smile on his face.” He dropped a hard, quick kiss on her lips. “I’d invite you to shower with me, but I only have two minutes to wash…” He grinned down at her.

She shoved playfully at him, still buzzing from the intense orgasm…make that, orgasms. “Get out of here, smart ass.”

“Oh, you love it.” He kissed her again, straightened his open jeans and strode out of the room.

Thing was, she loved more than just the teasing and sex. And surprisingly, that didn’t scare her as much as it once had.

* * * *

“So are you planning on using your house anytime in the near future, or are you moving in here?”

Maggie narrowed her eyes at Kate, who sat next to her on the sofa, her legs curled beneath her. “Ha ha.”

“Just kidding. I’m happy for you, and you are clearly happy with the arrangement. Looks like Spence might be good for you, hmm?” She lifted an eyebrow.

“Is that your smug I-told-you-so face?” Maggie quipped.

“Nope, this is my thrilled-my-bestie-has-found-some-good-lovin’ face.” Kate laughed. “How are things going? Still working him out of your system?”

“I can admit when I’m wrong, okay? I shouldn’t have ruled out a relationship with Spencer. I just didn’t think it’d work, but somehow, it does. I don’t quite get how it does so well, but there it is.”

“It works so well because you complement each other,” Kate pointed out. “You enjoy each other’s company, and well, obviously the physical attraction is there. I mean, who could blame you? He’s hot.”

“Hey now,” Maggie said, with a teasing frown. “Married woman carrying my brother’s baby.”

“Yeah, well, it doesn’t change the fact he’s hot. Lucky for me, your brother’s hot, too.”

Maggie made gagging noises. “That is just gross.”

“Okay, I won’t share about the awesome hormonal sex we’re having now that the morning sickness has passed. Your loss.” Kate laughed.

“Again, gross.” Though, she had to admit, the fact her friend was practically alight with happiness warmed Maggie’s heart. If anyone deserved it, it was Kate.

“So, things are going well? Are you excited about his showing?”

Maggie frowned slightly. Spence had brought up the showing he was having in the Twin Cities soon, but he hadn’t actually asked her to come. Though, it’d be weird if she didn’t go, wouldn’t it?

“It’ll be nice to see what he spends his time doing,” she said absently. “Besides, the gallery and studio space, and the classes he’s planning with Cal, I mean. They have some serious plans; I’m pretty impressed to be honest. Spencer showed me their business plan, and it’s solid.”

“And that surprises you?” Kate asked.

“Well, Cal has never been the most organized or well-planned person, so I didn’t expect them to have such a detailed and careful course of action.” She shrugged.

“And you’ve let go of any thoughts that Spence is taking advantage of Cal’s friendship by joining the venture?”

“God, don’t remind me how bitchy I was to him back then. And no, I don’t think he’s taking advantage. Even if Cal is footing the financial bill, Spencer is fully involved. He works damned hard, and he’s put in a lot of full days and late nights helping get the space ready. Cal is lucky to have him. What?” she demanded when Kate’s mouth twitched like she was holding back a smile.

“It’s just quite a turnaround. He’s really charmed you, and I mean that in a good way.” Kate reached over and squeezed Maggie’s hand.

“Yeah,” she admitted. “He wasn’t what I expected.”

Kate narrowed her eyes slightly and tilted her head to the side. “You’re really serious about him, aren’t you? Like serious-serious.”

“Serious-serious? When did we go back to high school? Yes, Kate, I’m serious-serious about him. I hope he asks me to go steady with him.” Maggie batted her eyes. When Kate just stared at her, she sighed. “Yes,” she repeated. “It’s serious. I think… God, I’m falling for him. Hard.”

The admission had her inhaling deeply and pressing a hand to her jumping stomach. Though the thought had been swimming around her head for a while now, saying it out loud made it incredibly real.

“Oh.” Kate blinked rapidly, her eyes glassy.

“Oh shit, don’t cry.”

She waved a hand in the air. “Hormones, they’re a bitch. Honey, I’m so happy for you!”

“Well, don’t go popping the champagne yet,” Maggie said dryly. “I don’t know if Spencer is on the same page, if we want the same things long-term.”

“You need to have the talk.” Kate nodded solemnly.

“You think, oh wise one?” Maggie shook her head. “I know we do, but…”

“But what?” her friend prompted.

“What if he doesn’t want the same things? What if he decides he wants to go back to his old life, traveling around on his own?” Maggie cringed at her wobbly tone.

“You just said how involved he was with the gallery and everything,” Kate reminded her. “He’s sounds like a man putting down roots, not someone who has itchy feet.”

Maggie nodded, worrying her bottom lip with her teeth. She knew what Kate said made sense, but there was a part of her that worried the charm of small-town living would wear off, and Angel Lake wouldn’t be enough to hold him. Okay, that
she
wouldn’t be enough. That’s what it came down to. Her insecurities and fears.

“Honey, you need to sit down with him and just lay it all out. Tell him what you’re thinking, feeling. Come clean about it all. Let him do the same.”

Maggie snorted. “What would he need to come clean about?”

When Kate averted her gaze and started twisting the hem of her shirt, Maggie’s heart sped up. She’d known the other woman almost her whole life, and she damned well knew when Kate was nervous, or obviously regretting something she said.

“Kate,” she said sternly. “What would Spencer have to come clean about? What do you know?”

“Maggie, don’t,” Kate pleaded.

“Don’t what? Damn it, Kate, I’m falling in love with the guy. If you know something, some secret, please don’t keep it from me. Especially something that could ruin things.”

“It’s nothing bad,” she said in a rush. “It’s not like he’s married or anything.”

“Well, that’s a relief,” Maggie snapped, throwing her hands in the air. “I’m not the other woman; I can sleep well now.”

“Maggie, be serious.”

“I am!” Maggie closed her eyes and took a deep breath before looking at her friend again. “Please tell me.”

Kate sighed. “All right. You don’t know everything about him. You assume Cal is footing the bill for everything, but have you ever discussed finances with Spence? You assume he’s a poor artist, scraping by for the love of his art. I know you, Maggie. Some of your worries for the future are what you see as his lack of suitable employment.”

Maggie couldn’t deny that, but she wasn’t dwelling on it. She certainly didn’t need anyone supporting her. And Spencer had certainly shown himself to be responsible with everything he’d been doing. She was willing to overlook his chosen profession since he was clearly branching out and taking on something more secure with Cal.

When she said as much to Kate, her friend shook her head.

“You aren’t listening to me. He doesn’t need you to ‘overlook’ anything, and do you realize how shallow that sounds?”

“Shallow?” Maggie squeaked. “I’m saying I’m accepting him as he is; how is that shallow?”

“Because you’re acting as if it’s such a trial, and that you’re so big to do it.”

“That’s not true,” she protested. “I—”

“Think about it. If you heard someone say, my boyfriend is just a janitor, but that’s okay, I can overlook that, wouldn’t you think that’s a bit snobby?”

“I didn’t mean it like that. I just meant, it doesn’t matter to me as much as I thought it did before, and obviously, he’s moving on to other things, so…”

Kate shook her head. “He’s doing that because he
wants
to, not because he needs to.”

“All right,” Maggie said, giving up. There wasn’t any point arguing about this.

“No, I mean, he’s successful. With his art. He doesn’t need a hand out. In fact, he’s a full partner in the business with Cal. Your brother isn’t carrying him at all.”

Maggie’s stomach clenched. “I think I’d know if that was the case.”

“Why? Have you asked him about it? Or just sit with your assumptions all this time?” Kate pressed her lips together a moment. “I’m not trying to slap you down, hon.”

“I know.” Maggie shrugged.

“You’re pissed.”

“No, I’m not.” Honestly, she didn’t know what she was. Shocked, because there was this side of Spencer she knew nothing about, that he hadn’t shared with her. But did it even make a difference in anything at all?

Kate glanced at her watch and groaned. “Damn, I have to go. Do you care if this pregg-o uses your bathroom real quick?”

Maggie smiled. “Of course not.”

Once alone, she sat dumbly for a moment then snatched her laptop from the coffee table. It took no time at all to Google “Spencer Reed”, and feel more shock sweep through her as she scanned through the list of results on the screen.

She clicked an article about a Los Angeles showing. As she scanned the text, she felt her mouth drop open. The praise, the reception of his work, and dear God, the dollar amount they quoted for
one
of his pieces…

Kate strode back in the room and stopped beside Maggie, laying hand on her shoulder. She cocked her head and looked at the computer screen, where a photo of one of Spencer’s painting was highlighted. “His stuff is good. Real good.”

“Yeah.”

“You sound surprised. Haven’t you ever seen any of his work?” Kate asked.

Maggie opened her mouth then snapped it shut again, not wanting to admit that she never had. Never asked to. God, what did that say about her?

“Anyway, I’d better run. Call if you need to talk; otherwise, I’ll see you tomorrow at the store.” She leaned over and hugged Maggie tightly. “Love ya, girl.”

“Love you too,” she said absently, already clicking another link.

Reading article after article, viewing photo after photo, Maggie lost track of time. How could he have kept this from her? Granted, she hadn’t asked specifically, but to not mention such a huge part of his life? To let her believe Cal was bankrolling their business? That didn’t speak well for where he wanted this relationship to go.

Myriad emotions competed inside her. Shock, of course. She couldn’t deny the small amount of anger she felt. He’d lied to her. By omission, yes, but lied the same. But none of that compared to the hurt. She closed her eyes. The pain that came from realizing he didn’t want to share this part of him with her overwhelmed her.

And where did that leave them? She shut the laptop and set it aside, then bracing her heels on the edge of the couch, she rested her chin on her knees. Her stomach churned and roiled. She hadn’t really known how much she’d become attached to Spencer, how much she wanted that future with him until now. She struggled not to let all those rioting emotions completely overtake the hope that they would talk this through and come out golden on the other side.

Now, she just had to wait for him to come home.

Chapter Nine