Don't Break My Heart (Return to Redemption, Book 6) (7 page)

“I can’t tell you how often I’ve
pictured you just like this— your legs spread, waiting for me—so pink and wet.”

“Pleease, Justin.”

“Please what?” He stroked up and
down the inside of both her thighs. “What is it you want,
cariño
?”

“Just do it, already.”

“You have to be more specific than
that. Do what?”

“
You
know
.” She smacked him lightly on top of the head. “Don’t make me say it.”

“Why not? I want to give you exactly
what you want.”

Heat flooded her cheeks as she
whispered almost soundlessly, “Make me come. Pleease!”

“How?” He stroked the edges of her
crease, dipping his finger just a fraction into her slick passage. “There’re
many ways to do that.” He grinned down at her, clearly enjoying teasing her.

If her limbs didn’t feel as if they
had lead weights on them, she would punch him right in his smug face. Instead,
she dug her heels into the bed and rocked her hips, catching the rolling motion
of the mattress beneath her. She used the crest of each subtle wave to force
his thick finger deeper and deeper until her body finally engulfed it
completely. She writhed and moaned as she rocked harder and faster and the
mattress moved beneath her more forcefully.

His free hand cupped her breast and
tweaked its stiff nipple as her excitement mounted, and she frantically rubbed
herself against his finger.

“That’s it,
querida
, you can get there all on your own,” he whispered, pinching
her other nipple. “I love watching you come.”

As she approached her climax, he
yanked his hand away, and a mournful wail escaped her, only to be cut short by
her strangled gasp as his lips replaced his hand. His tongue flicked repeatedly
at her, driving her higher and higher, way beyond the peak she’d previously
been approaching on her own.

“Oh, yes! That’s it! Yes!” Pleasure
ricocheted through her for several moments until she finally shattered in a
blinding white light. Before her orgasm’s spasms had a chance to subside, he
quickly rolled on the condom and thrust his thick length into her, pumping his
hips counterpoint to her rocking, prolonging her climax and taking it to a
whole new level. His added impetus made the mattress rebound with each hard
thrust of his pelvis, pushing him deeper and deeper until she could feel him
pressing against her womb.

He gave one last hard thrust, and
every nerve in her tingled as her body convulsed around him. She felt as if she
were floating through a sweet, euphoric haze.

He collapsed on her and groaned.
“Oh, man. I thought I remembered how good it felt to make love to you. But what
we just did fits into a completely different realm.” He rolled to his back,
taking her with him to lie on top of him.

“What would you call it, then?”

“I don’t know.” He chuckled. “I
don’t think they’ve come up with a word for it yet. I just know I want to do it
again forty or fifty thousand times.”

“We’re only here for two more
nights, Justin.”

He combed his fingers through her
hair. “What about when we get home?”

“You already told me you have to
focus on Haley’s needs.”

“I do. But I have needs, too. And so
do you.”

“And I’ve been taking care of those
needs very nicely all these years.”

“That’s bull. You just came like you
haven’t had sex since the turn of the century, so don’t even try to claim you
can please yourself as well as I can please you.”

She wouldn’t dream of it. Especially
since it
had
been years since she’d
had sex with anyone other than herself. Not to mention, she hadn’t experienced
that kind of ecstasy since the last time Justin made love to her. “And here we
are—right back where we left off sixteen years ago. I want to get married and
have a family, and you just want to use me as your bed-buddy.”

Justin stared up at Trisha and cupped her cheek in his palm.
“That’s not true. As I told you, eighteen months ago, I would’ve proposed to
you the minute you walked in the door. In fact, I would’ve married you as soon
as I finished school. Why were you in such a damned hurry to get hitched? We
were only eighteen and had years of school and fun ahead of us before we needed
to think of settling down. Why the hell didn’t you talk to me instead of
running off without so much as a word?”

“Because I was pregnant!”

He stared at her and grabbed the mattress, feeling as if the
bed had been pulled from beneath him. “What?”

“Do you really think, after you told me how you felt about
Sam ruining Nick’s life with her pregnancy, I would’ve saddled you with a wife
and baby you didn’t want?”

Oh, God, no. Had he possibly had a child all these years he
didn’t know about? Or worse yet, that she’d had an abortion?

He swallowed hard trying to work up enough saliva to speak.
“So? Are you saying we have a child?”

“No.”

He closed his eyes for a moment. It might have been her
right to choose, but damn it, he didn’t have to like it. “I can guess who
convinced you to get rid of my baby.”

“But I didn’t.” Tears rolled down her cheeks. “It was an
ectopic pregnancy. A few weeks after I left, I nearly died from a ruptured
fallopian tube.”

He’d heard in rare cases a fetus could implant in a woman’s
tube instead of her uterus.

“It destroyed one of my ovaries.”

He tightened his hold on her. “You’re okay otherwise,
though, right?”

“Other than a broken heart. The main reason I left home was
because my father insisted on an abortion, and I refused. I wanted your baby
even if you didn’t.”

“Ah,
mi corazón
.”
He shook his head. “I never would’ve considered you or our baby a burden. I was
crazy about you, and I would’ve wanted him too. I wish I had known.”

“So, now it’s my fault for not telling you?”

“No. It’s no one’s fault. Chalk it up to lousy timing and
poor communication on both our parts. My brother found a way to make it work.
He went to school nights and got his MBA. It took him a little longer, but he
and Sam are happy together. I was an idiot—and maybe just a little jealous of
him.”

“Or a
lot
jealous.
Marc told me you were dating Sam when Nick got her pregnant.”

“That’s true, but I was about to break up with her. I was
never in love with Samantha.” Although, his brother believed he had
been—especially when his sister-in-law divorced Nick for a year, and Justin cut
her lawn every week while his brother worked in California.

“My relationship with Sam in high school was more about
having something my brother wanted. I idolized him while growing up. And being
older, he could outdo me in everything.” Justin shrugged. “What can I say? I was
an immature idiot with a fierce case of sibling rivalry.”

Trisha slid off him and stroked his hair. “It’s all in the
past. I didn’t tell you any of this to make you feel lousy. I just wanted you
to understand why I left without saying anything.”

“You really hurt Lindsey.”

“I know. I meant to get in touch with her and explain. But
then after I lost our baby, I couldn’t. Lindsey was due to have Haley at the
end of March, and I hurt too much to celebrate with her and Marc over the birth
of their child.”

“Actually, they had her in February. Haley came six weeks
early—on Valentine’s Day.”

Her face crumpled as she buried it in his chest. “Exactly
one month after I lost our baby.”

“Oh, no, sweetheart. This year, we’ll do something fun that
day and make some happier memories for you.”

“Let’s not make any promises we can’t keep. I think we
should just enjoy this time together and leave it at that.”

As he opened his mouth to argue, she pressed her fingers
over his lips. “Just kiss me and make love to me again.”

He tried to protest and continue their conversation, but the
moment her hand wrapped around him, he was lost. Someday he would develop the
willpower to let his brain run the show instead of his dick.

This time instead of fast and furious, he took it slow,
savoring every inch of Trisha’s silky skin. He’d never met another woman so
soft and welcoming. Somehow he had to find a way to convince her to continue
their relationship beyond that week.

There had to be a way they could each compromise and work it
out so they could be together some of the time. All he knew was he couldn’t
spend another decade and a half without ever waking up to her smile.

~*~

Trisha woke the next morning more nauseated than she’d felt
in weeks. She scrambled off the bed and raced into the bathroom. After a full
minute of dry heaves, her stomach finally finished rebelling.

“
Querida
?” Justin
tapped on the door. “Are you all right?”

Inasmuch as it had felt good to finally clear the air
between them last night, she didn’t want him guessing she had morning sickness.
She pasted a smile on her face and swung the door open. “I’m fine, why?”

“The way you jumped out of bed and hurried in here—”

“I just
really
had
to go.” Her face flushed from the way he stared at her bare nipples, hunger in
his gaze. She slipped into the silk robe she’d left in the bathroom the night
before.

“It sounded like you might be sick from everything we ate
last night.”

“My stomach isn’t feeling great. But I’m sure it’ll pass.
We’re still going skiing, aren’t we?”

“As soon as brunch is over.” He picked up his boxer briefs
and trousers and stepped into them.

Ughh
. More food.
She rubbed her stomach. “I don’t think I’ll be able to eat again until at least
New Year’s Day.”

“Well, it’s Christmas morning, so even if I don’t eat, I
need to be at the brunch at ten for Haley.” He glanced at his watch. “It’s
already nine. Not only do I have to go back to the hotel and shower ASAP, I
have to figure out what to give Haley for Christmas.”

“Nothing like leaving it to the last minute, huh?”

“I didn’t. BJ gave all the kids I-pads last night, which is
exactly what I have gift wrapped for her in my suitcase, and what I’ll be
returning when I get home.” Disappointment couldn’t begin to describe the deep
regret in his eyes. “I can’t fault Ben for his generosity, but he kind of stole
my thunder on my first Christmas with Haley.”

“That’s lousy.” And very sweet that he felt so bad about not
having something special for his goddaughter.

He sank onto the side of the tub and pulled on his socks.
“Any ideas what an almost sixteen-year-old girl might like for Christmas?”

“A seventeen year old boy?”

“Ha-ha. I’m definitely not giving her one of those.
Seriously, I’m stumped. I need an idea fast.”

“Most teenage girls love to shop. How about a gift card? The
resort’s gift store probably carries them.”

He wiggled his foot into one of his dress shoes and tied it.
“I’d prefer to give her something she really wants rather than just cash.”

“Believe me, she
wants
to shop.”

“Then a gift card is what she gets.” He sighed, putting on
his other shoe. “I plan to leave for the ski lift at about noon.”

“Then I’ll try to be there by eleven-thirty—if not sooner. I
have to wait around and make sure Luke and Sabrina see me leaving Ben’s suite.”

“And I have to sneak out of here and pray they
don’t
see me.”

She grinned and dragged her index finger down his gorgeous
six-pack. “You might be less noticeable if you put your shirt on before you
leave.”

He grabbed her wrist and shuddered. “Keep that up and I
won’t be able to go.”

As soon as Justin crept out the door, Trisha quickly pulled
on her underwear and dress so she would be ready to walk out the door when she
heard Luke and Sabrina in the hallway.

Only five minutes passed before laughter drifted through the
door. She backed out of the room as if sneaking out, and pretended to be caught
in the act. “Oh, umm, hi.”

“Uh, good morning.” Sabrina glanced away as if she felt
uncomfortable running into Trisha outside Ben’s room. “Did you have a good
night?”

Man had she ever. Justin had made love to her three times
before they both finally passed out. She stretched her arms over her head. “I
had a wonderful night.”

“Where’s BJ?” Luke asked.

“Oh, he went ahead to the brunch. I’m just slow getting
started this morning. The wedding was so beautiful,” she told them as they
descended the stairs. “Ben told me to find Thomas to take me back to the
resort. Do you have any idea where he might be?”

“Don’t bother him. You can ride with us,” Luke offered.

“Oh, I don’t want to horn in on the newlyweds’ morning after.
Ben said Thomas has to pick up the Fosters at ten, anyway.”

“Nonsense.” Sabrina waved her hand. “We have a couple of
months at sea ahead of us to make goo-goo eyes at each other.”

“I heard about the yacht Ben bought you. That should be a
fabulous honeymoon.” She followed them out to Luke’s Pathfinder and climbed in
back. Less than ten minutes later, she arrived back at her hotel room and
jumped into the shower. When she emerged from the bathroom wrapped in a towel,
she found Frankie placing her clothing into her suitcase.

“Leaving so soon?” Trisha smirked. “Was it something I
said?”

“Okay, have your fun teasing me.” Frankie raised her hands
in surrender. “Andy and I reconciled last night. I’m moving to his room. So
you’ll have this place all to yourself.”

“Nothing like inviting a friend on a vacation and then
abandoning her when you get a better roommate.”

Frankie pointed to Trisha’s still neatly made bed. “If I’m
not mistaken, you didn’t sleep here last night, either. I guess Ben made your
lady parts tingle after all. You’re practically glowing this morning.”

“As far as Sabrina and Luke know, yes, Ben and I spent the
night together. But the truth is Justin is responsible for my post-coital
glow.”

“What?” Frankie’s head snapped up. “Start spilling.”

While Trisha got dressed for an afternoon on the slopes, she
explained her less than happy history with Justin. “He was the love of my life,
Frankie. No one else ever made me feel the way he does. That’s why when I
visited the sperm bank, I asked if they could find me a Ricky Martin lookalike
to be my donor.”

The nurse at the clinic had laughed and said, ‘
We should all get so lucky
.’ “Oddly
enough, the woman told me they’d approved an applicant the week before who
might fit that description.”

“You’re right. Justin does look a little like Ricky Martin.

The donor’s profile had included childhood photos of a
beautiful dark-eyed little boy who could easily have been the singer’s son—or
Justin’s.

“So did you tell him you’re pregnant again?”

“No way. And don’t you dare drop any hints around him. I
don’t want to ruin what’s left of this vacation. He’ll find out soon enough
when he sees me blow up like the Good Year blimp in a few weeks.”

~*~

Justin ducked as Trisha and Haley bombarded him with
snowballs on the way to the chairlift to take their fifth run down the
mountainside. At brunch, he’d hesitated telling Haley he’d invited someone to
go skiing with them, but when Trisha showed up, the child had saved him from
confessing when she suggested Trisha join them.

“I’d never guess you haven’t been on skis before,” Trisha
told Haley. “You’re a natural.”

“The hardest part is getting back up after I fall. So I’m
doing my best not to.” Haley laughed.

The two of them had gotten along so well that afternoon, he
couldn’t help wondering if Haley might like sharing his attention with someone
else—especially another female. But how could he ask a woman to take on raising
a teenager she barely knew—especially an emotionally needy teenager whose mood
changed with the wind.

Trisha massaged her thighs. “You know. I didn’t realize how
out of shape I’ve gotten. I think my legs have had enough skiing for today. Why
don’t you two do this run alone?”

Great, she was bailing already.

Haley gazed longingly into the distance toward their
lakeside resort where she’d told them Jamal had plans to play ice hockey with
his Explorer friends.

“I have a better idea.” Justin suggested. “Why don’t we get
a cup of hot chocolate at the lodge, and then, after we warm up, we can go ice
skating for a while?”

Trisha froze in her tracks. “Uhh . . . I’m not very good on
ice skates. I, uh, don’t want to ruin my vacation by falling.”

“Okay, then you can rest your legs on the shore if you’d
like.”

 
“Cool.” Haley
immediately agreed. “I don’t really want any cocoa. Can I skip it and take the
shuttle back to the resort alone? I can meet you at the lake.”

“Sure.” He wouldn’t admit he was just as happy to have some
time alone with Trisha.

After returning their ski equipment at the lodge’s rental
desk, Haley hugged him and raced off to catch the shuttle just as it prepared
to pull away from the curb.

“She seems to be having a good time,” Trisha said as he led
her to the lodge’s coffee shop.

“That’s today on vacation. Talk to me next week when we’re
back home and she’s in a funk because her parents aren’t there to set off
firecrackers with her on New Year’s Eve.”

“So, then,
you’ll
set off firecrackers with her.”

“That’s just it.” He pulled Trisha’s chair out and sank into
the one across from her. “Anytime I try to continue some custom she practiced
with her parents, she goes into a nuclear meltdown.”

“In that case, make new traditions for the two of you. Haley
clearly doesn’t want you to replace her dad or the memories she shared with
him. When kids lose a parent—especially both of them, the way Haley has—they
often fear they’ll forget their mother or father. When the pain starts to fade and
they start enjoying life again, which they inevitably do, their pleasure is
frequently cut short by intense guilt feelings.”