“I’m only teasing you, babe.” Patrick goes behind her and holds her waist before kissing her neck. “You know I love your little stunts.”
I cross to the cabinet and pull down another wine glass. “On that note, we should have drinks. Derek, wine?”
He nods, and I go to the fridge to pull out the bottle of pinot grigio Elaine’s having and a root beer. “You got my favorite.”
She glances over her shoulder past Patrick. “Yeah, I figured you were getting sick of ginger ale all the time.”
Derek takes the wine glass from me and follows Patrick into the living room. They immediately launch into a discussion, but Patrick’s speaking so low I can barely hear him.
“I touched base with Toni and assured them we’d be back tomorrow. Gabe wants his bike now, but he’ll give me twenty-four hours.”
Derek’s voice is equally low. “I don’t like leaving her while he’s still MIA.”
Frustrated, I go to where they’re talking. “Please tell me what’s going on. You know I don’t like being in the dark.”
Derek’s shoulders drop, and Patrick turns to me. “Sloan’s gone off the radar. We don’t like it in view of what happened in Baltimore. We still don’t have answers, and we’re not ready.”
My brow lines. “Ready for what?”
“We’ve been working on a plan since the Jessica Black report turned up. Derek was trying to establish a financial connection, but it was going nowhere. Sloan’s too experienced at covering his tracks.”
I look up at Derek, and he catches my hand. “Patrick’s idea could work, but we hadn’t started talking about it when my man in Baltimore alerted me that Sloan was missing.”
The dream, the memory of feeling like he was there watching me, causes a strange roaring sound to grow in my ears. Shivers fly up my shoulders, and I understand the meaning of Derek’s panicked appearance, Patrick’s following behind on the motorcycle. “You drove back today because you were afraid—”
“He left me stranded in Raleigh,” Patrick tries to laugh it off, but it isn’t working. “I had to borrow Lylah’s boyfriend’s bike, and that is
not
something those guys do lightly. I had to leave my watch with him.”
“Your Tag?”
“I’ll get it back.”
My eyes move to Derek’s, and I can’t decide which of the emotions surging through me is stronger—the intense love I feel for him or the intense hatred I feel for my ex.
The noise is pushing against my temples, and I step into the loving arms waiting for me. I hold his waist, and he holds me tightly until my trembling subsides.
“I hate this so much.” My voice is barely above a whisper, but he hears me.
His voice is a low vibration in response. “I’m going to fix it. You’ll never be afraid again.”
Hidden in his arms, inhaling the clean-woodsy scent I love, I find calm. Until finally I’m able to look around again, and I notice how quiet it is in the room. Patrick is back in the kitchen talking to Elaine.
Lifting my chin, Derek smiles before kissing my lips. “I’m not going anywhere if you don’t feel safe. You and the baby are my first priority now.”
Shaking my head, I push my hair behind my ears, working hard to regain my composure. “I can go to Mom’s office tomorrow and work. I’ll be okay. It’s like I keep saying, he cannot win. I won’t let him.”
Elaine calls from the kitchen. “Feel like eating something?”
Touching his rough cheek, I nod. “Let’s have dinner. You and Patrick keep your plans for tomorrow.”
His lips press into a smile, and he takes my hand in his, kissing the backs of my fingers before walking with me to the table. Elaine smiles and steps around to squeeze my shoulders. “If you ever want to hang out with me at school, I can always use an extra set of hands.”
“Thanks.” I pat her back. “I think I’ll spend the afternoon with Mom tomorrow, but I’ll keep your offer just in case.”
“We’ll have the information we need by tomorrow, I expect.” Patrick joins us at the table. “Then it’ll just be a matter of timing. We can plan it all out from here, where we can keep an eye on you.”
He winks at me, but when Derek speaks, his voice is serious. “I appreciate you watching her for me these past weeks.”
Shaking out my napkin and putting it in my lap, I pretend to be offended. “All this time, I thought you kept inviting me over because you enjoyed my company.”
Elaine passes the basket of bread. “You’ve been eating us out of house and home. Jeez! I’m glad Derek’s finally here.”
“I have not!”
She bursts out laughing. “I was only teasing! But I want some beachside dinners at your place now.”
“You got it. I love having you guys over.”
The rest of dinner conversation is devoted to easy subjects—the weather, Patrick’s newfound desire to own a Harley, Elaine’s loud protests over the dangers of motorcycles. It’s not very late when we call it a night, and as we say our goodbyes, I catch Patrick’s arm, pulling him aside. Derek and Elaine continue talking.
“Thank you for watching over me.”
He smiles and shrugs. “I promised Derek. Besides, it wasn’t any more than he’d have done for me.”
My eyes narrow. “You say that, but I know better. I also won’t hear anything bad about you ever again. Everybody’d better look out.”
“That might be hard. There’s plenty of bad about me that’s true.”
“Not for me. It’s all good now.” He breathes a chuckle, but I’m not through. “Would you promise me something this time?”
Golden-hazel eyes meet mine. “What?”
“Promise you’ll look after him now. For me.” I touch his arm. “Don’t let him do anything…”
What’s the right way to say it?
“Anything that could mean he’ll be taken away from me?”
His warm hand covers mine. “You mean anything illegal or potentially deadly?”
“Exactly.”
“I promise. I’ve got his back.” Patrick isn’t smiling, and I know I can trust him. He means what he says.
Derek’s with us, and we drop the subject, acting casual, like we were just discussing how to get Elaine onboard the Harley train.
My fiancé takes my hand, pausing before we go out the door. “I’ll meet you at ten. We should be there by noon to wrap this up and make a plan.”
“See you in the morning.”
The cottage is dark and quiet when we arrive. Derek stops in the kitchen to check his messages, but I go straight through the house, flipping on lights, refusing to be timid in my own place.
I go to the bathroom and switch on the hot water. An oversized, jetted bathtub is one of the perks of living in an intended vacation residence, and tonight my whole body craves the comfort of a steaming, swirling bubble bath.
Digging under the cabinet, I find the jar of foaming bath salts I bought at the spa in Scottsdale and add several scoops to the stream rushing from the faucet. Once the temperature is right and the bubbles have risen, I strip out of all my clothes, tie up my hair and slide down into the cactus-flower-scented jets.
The water is the perfect level of hotness. My head rests on a foam pillow attached to the side, and I close my eyes, allowing the swirling water to soothe away the night. I don’t realize I’m asleep until the soft press of Derek’s lips against my forehead followed by the light scruff of his beard against my brow wakes me. My eyes flutter open, and he smiles down, fully dressed and leaning over the tub.
“Tired?” His voice is gentle.
Nodding, I lift one hand out of the now-warm water and touch his cheek. “Join me?”
I watch as he unbuttons his sleeve and rolls it up to his elbow. One hand on the wall behind my head, he leans forward and captures my lips as his other hand slides beneath the foam to cup my breast.
A breathy moan slips from my mouth into his, and keeping my eyes closed, I cover his hand with mine, following his movements from one breast to the other, his thumb slowly circling my hardening nipples.
He leans up and our eyes meet. “Good news.” My eyebrows rise with curiosity, and he continues. “Sloan’s back on the radar. He’s in Charleston. Bennett’s watching him and promises to keep me updated.”
“Now you don’t have to worry.” My voice is thick from napping followed by all the steamy kisses and touches. “I can stay home and work tomorrow.”
“I’d still like it if you had someone with you.” His voice is soft with a touch of sexy, fanning the heat he’s aroused in me.
“
I’d
like it if you were less clothed and in here while we discuss it.”
“I’m not sure we’ll do much discussing that way.”
Sitting forward in the tub, I carefully unfasten his buttons with the tips of my fingers until his olive chest is revealed. A scattering of dark hair covers the top of his lined torso, and I chew my bottom lip remembering how it feels against my breasts. With the pad of his thumb, he touches my mouth.
“Don’t bite your lip.” He leans in and brushes his against mine. “Let me do that.”
He gives me a little nibble, and I’m coming undone. “You’re taking too long.”
In a flash he stands, pushes his dark jeans down his hips, taking his boxer briefs with them. My breath catches at the sight of his gorgeous body nude in front of me. He’s fully erect as he steps in and slides beneath the foam at the opposite end of the tub.
“Mmm… warm.” Large hands slide to my waist, pulling me onto his lap as he leans back in the water. I’m already slick, so it doesn’t take much. I reach around behind me and guide his tip into my throbbing opening. We both sigh as he rocks deep into me.
I lean forward, holding the tub on each side of his head while his mouth covers my breast, sucking a tight nipple.
A loud moan from me, and he moves up, his voice cracking in my ear. “We’ll probably get water everywhere.”
The sound of his growing desire sparks mine even hotter. “That’s what towels are for.”
His lips consume my words, his tongue sweeping in to find mine, and his hands grip my ass beneath the surface. Holding my body still, his hips rock into mine. Our mouths break away with a groan, and the water is swaying with us, splashing over the side. His mouth is at my shoulder, and he gives me another little bite. I tremble, holding him as his thrusting increases in speed and depth.
My orgasm mounts, and I feel my brow tense in ecstasy as he moves. The tightness below my navel becomes unbearable until at last it breaks, leaving me crying out his name. His movements don’t slow, and I clutch his shoulders. The sound of me coming seems to push him over, and after a few final thrusts, he groans low, shooting off deep between my quivering thighs.
His hips move slower, and I kiss him along his rough jaw. My body is so relaxed and satisfied. I make my way to his ear, whispering my love for him as his arms wrap tightly around my waist. He kisses my neck, moving his hands out of the water to cup my cheeks, bringing my face so our eyes are level.
“Nothing is going to take you away from me.” His blue eyes are intense, and his brow lowered.
Nodding, I lift my own hands out of the water, lightly holding his neck, my thumbs at the corners of his mouth. “Nothing.”
An inhale, and he pulls me against him, my cheek at his forehead, his face against my chest. For several moments we hold each other, until I notice the water is growing cold.
Lifting my head and sliding back down to kiss his nose, I smile. “Let’s move this party to the bed, okay?”
A sexy grin spreads across his lips. “I’ll have to get used to being with you longer than three days. We don’t have to be so urgent, trying to make the most of every moment.”
“Hmm.” I can’t help a frown. “I’m not sure I like the sound of that.”
“You won’t always be the ‘horny pregnant lady,’ as you like to say. I’m sure you’ll appreciate me pacing myself.”
My lips poke out as I consider this suggestion. Then my eyes roam from his thick dark waves tipped with bath water, hanging sexy in his blue eyes, his scruffy beard and full lips hiding straight white teeth. His amazing body…
“I think we should just play this whole ‘pacing ourselves’ thing by ear.”
He laughs and pulls me against him, rolling us in the tub so that we’re chest to chest, our bodies touching from head to toe under the water. I shriek and laugh, loving his possessiveness.
“
Nobody
. Is taking you away from me.” He emphasizes the words softly before covering my lips again with his.
Chasing his kisses, laughing as happiness radiates through my core, it’s hard for me to ever imagine having enough of him. But I wiggle, struggling to free myself from his vice grip. At once, he releases me.
“We’re going to catch a chill if we don’t get out of this tub. Not to mention turning into prunes.” Standing, I reach for a fluffy white towel as his hands slide up my leg.
He sits up and kisses the side of my thigh. I reach back and slide my hand through is hair before stepping out. “Come on.”
The grin on his face as he watches me dry myself tightens my stomach. His expression is a mixture of raw desire and pure appreciation. And love. Always love.
I can’t help feeling a little self-conscious about my new figure as I drop a few towels around the tub to soak up the spilled water. “Meet you in the bedroom.”