Reid's Deliverance (12 page)

“Shit.” He pulled her into a hug. “I’m sorry, Lauren. I’m an asshole. I shouldn’t have popped off like that, especially about your father. I didn’t know.”

Anger drained with a flood of tears. “I waited too long. We should have connected sooner, but I was so angry at him. When we started talking again, I was afraid to ask. Now I’ll never understand why he left me for all that time.”

He kissed her temple. “I don’t know what to say to make it better for you.”

It relieved her he didn’t try. So many people had told her how she should feel. What she ought to do to get over it. That she should feel grateful for the time they’d had. How she shouldn’t doubt that he’d wanted to be in her life. They talked to her as if her pain and what she felt didn’t have a place.

Reid tensed. “Someone’s pulling into the driveway. Are you expecting anyone?”

“No.” Alarm dried tears. “The Realtor’s not coming until next week.”

Lauren looked out the window. “It’s my friend.”

Celine stepped out the passenger side of the black truck. Her curly ponytail swayed as she walked toward the house.

“I’d better go.”

“Go?” She grabbed his arm. “You don’t have to. We can trust Celine.”

“I don’t want to get anyone else involved, especially your friends. Don’t tell her about me.”

“But you need food and supplies.”

“I’m not going far.” Reid’s hard kiss silenced her next objection. “I’ll come back when she’s gone.” He slipped out of her grasp and ran out the doors to the deck.

A knock echoed.

Lauren took a calming breath, pasted on a smile, and opened the door. “Hey, what are you doing here?”

Celine gave Lauren a hug. “Ari’s orders. She said you’ve been out of the loop for almost forty-eight hours.” The horn beeped. Celine smiled and threw a kiss at her boyfriend. She’d started dating him two months ago. She’d gone from grief to happiness almost overnight.

He backed out of the driveway.

“Wait. Where’s he going?” Lauren shut the door. “When is he coming back? I thought you were in Myrtle Beach?”

“And hello to you, too. He’s going to town to pick up a few things. I told him we needed some girl time.” Celine, cute as always in heels, crisp jeans, and a white blouse, strolled to the kitchen. She dropped her red designer tote on the island. “We were in Myrtle Beach. Ari said she hasn’t heard from you in a while, and you didn’t answer your phone. We got worried. Are you okay?”

“Yes. Great. Everything is fine. You shouldn’t have come.” Lauren inwardly cringed. She sounded ungrateful. Celine had driven hours because she cared, but she had to go.

“Oh, look at you.” Compassion grew in Celine’s brown-eyed gaze. “You’ve been crying. Ari was right. You’re hiding your feelings. Well, not anymore.” She kicked off her heels. “Good. You’ve got merlot. Point me in the direction of the wineglasses.”

Crap.
“But I’m really busy.”

“And you’re taking a break. You look tired.” Celine found glasses in the cabinet and poured wine. “First we talk. Then you can put me to work.”

Lauren took a glass and sat on the sofa. Where was Reid?

“Now tell me.” Celine took a seat next to Lauren and curled up her legs on the couch. “What’s keeping you up at night?”

Over six feet of wonderful.
She shouldn’t have gotten upset at Reid. Then she’d brought up that stuff about her father. Celine’s expectant expression pulled her back to the question. “I found a few unexpected things.”

“Like what?”

“Well…camping gear, tools, sketching supplies.”

“Camping gear and tools, well, that’s obvious, isn’t it? Sketching supplies…your father did paint. Maybe he planned on doing more of it during his retirement.”

“You know. You’re right. I didn’t think about that.”

“Nice try, Lauren, but that’s not it.” Celine gripped her arm. “You were just starting to know your dad when you lost him. It’s okay to still be sad or upset that you didn’t get a chance to build a relationship.”

Hollowness opened in Lauren’s chest. History repeated itself with Reid. Was that her fate? Any man who brought something good into her life would leave. Duty had left no room for her in her father’s life. Reid didn’t know his future. Once he did, what would take him away? Panic filled the hollowness.
No.
She couldn’t even define what she and Reid had as a relationship. She didn’t have a claim on him.

Thunder roared.

She couldn’t stop herself from glancing out the French doors.

Celine gave her a hard stare. “Okay. What’s going on? You’re acting weird.”

Denying it would only bring more questions. Celine knew her too well. “My father, being here at the cabin again. It’s a lot for me to process. I need more time before I can talk about it.”

“So I should leave.” Celine’s hurt expression spurred guilt.

“I love you guys for caring about me, but this is something I have to figure out on my own.” Not a complete lie. She’d come to the cabin to process her father’s death. And Reid, she honestly couldn’t talk about him. At least not until after he’d left. Had Celine showing up changed his mind about staying longer? He wouldn’t leave without saying goodbye. Would he?

Celine sighed. “Then I guess I better call Thane and tell him to turn around and pick me up.”

After Celine called him, silence followed them into the kitchen. Lauren washed their glasses. Celine dried them. They passed time with a stilted conversation about Thane and Celine’s drive from Myrtle Beach.

A knock sounded at the door.

“I’ll get it.” Celine opened the door. Her tall, brown-haired, broad-shouldered boyfriend walked into the cabin. He immediately swooped in and gave Celine a kiss. As he slipped his keys into the pocket of his jeans, the couple stared at each other. It was easy to interpret the meaning in the silent exchange. Love.

Celine pulled him forward. “You remember Thane.”

He smiled. “Hey, Lauren. Good to see you again.” His gaze moved to Celine. “What are we doing?”

“Going back to Florida.” Celine toyed with a button on his black shirt. “Ari’s worried for nothing. Lauren’s just been busy. She’s good.”

“We won’t be going anywhere tonight.” He wrapped his arm around Celine. “There’s a bad storm coming. It’s already started to pour down.”

“Didn’t we pass a motel a few miles from here? It looked decent.” Celine winked at Lauren.

“Okay.” Thane’s gaze went to the French doors. Rain drizzled down the glass. “Who’s out there?”

Lauren’s heart sped up. “Where? I don’t see anyone.”

“Someone’s in the trees.” Thane boots thudded on the floor as he rushed out to the deck. Celine followed.

Lauren ran after them. “Probably hunters. There’s a pond nearby. I’m sure that’s where they’re going.”

Thane stared down at her. His gaze narrowed. “Hunters going to the pond. It must be an interesting place.”

“It’s”—she willed herself not to fidget—“popular.”

Celine and Thane exchanged speculative looks. The rain picked up. They walked back inside.

Thank you.
As Lauren sent up the silent prayer, she resisted looking over her shoulder.

When they reached the front door, Celine appeared reluctant to leave. “I’ll let Ari know I saw you. Make sure you call her, and if you need me for anything you let me know.” Her brow crinkled with a worried expression. “Let me give you Thane’s number, too, just in case. Day or night, whatever it is, you call, and if you need me, I’ll be here no matter what.”

To avoid an argument, Lauren added Thane to her contacts.
I’m okay
. She willed Celine to know that as she hugged her goodbye.

Celine and Ari would want to kill her for holding out on something this big. They didn’t keep secrets from each other, but she couldn’t betray Reid.

Reid flattened behind the tree. Rain dripped down his face and drenched his clothing. He’d almost been spotted, but he’d had to get a closer look. Who was the guy on the deck? Why did it not feel right to see him? Was he Samson? If he was Samson, how well did Lauren know him?

“Reid!” Lauren called out to him. “Where are you?”

Was Lauren pretending to care? Was she leading him into some kind of trap?

“Reid!” Her voice cracked. Head down she gripped the railing. Her shoulders shook.

Was she crying? He made it halfway to the deck before she looked up.

Lauren ran down the steps and slammed into him. He rocked back. “You’re here.” She tightened her arms around his neck. “You didn’t leave.”

Why hadn’t he? What was it about her that reeled him in? Reid smoothed damp hair from her face. Her green eyes melted doubt into the falling rain. “I’m still here.”

Rising on her toes, she clasped his nape and brought his lips to hers.

He wrapped an arm around her. Lush curves crushed against him. The delicate bones of her spine pressed into his palm. He dwarfed her in size, but she tore him down with her strength and loyalty. How could she want to protect him, without knowing the cost?

He lifted her by the waist. She rubbed against him. His arousal swelled against her belly. Every time he held Lauren, the need to have her overwhelmed. Around her, he had no control.

He invaded her mouth with his tongue.

Lauren’s moan loosed fire. Softness, heat, sweetness of the wine she’d enjoyed addicted him. He couldn’t get enough of her.

A strong wind showered sheets of rain.

“Inside.” She murmured.

In the cabin, they stumbled into the bedroom. Stripping off their wet clothes led to frustration as their hands and mouths tangled in a feverish rush.

He pressed her down to the mattress. A shiver raced down his spine with the sensation of skin against skin. Their combined body heat melted away the chill of the rain.

He wanted to glide inside of her so badly, but he forced himself to go slowly.

“Reid.” Lauren wiggled underneath him, anxious to fit them together.

Adjusting his position, he intertwined their legs and held her in place. “Shh, it’s okay.” He kissed her tenderly. “There’s no rush. We have all the time in the world.” His gut knotted even as he said the words. His forgotten memories, a boundary he couldn’t name or see, kept them from reaching forward.

He brushed kisses along her temples, her eyelids, her cheeks. Her warmth seeped into his lips as he swept kisses down her neck.

With a soft sigh, she smoothed her palms down his back.

Need, unruly and demanding, pulled and tugged at him. Only gliding deep between her thighs would bring him ease. But he’d promised they had time.

He worshiped her with more kisses and caresses, ignoring her pleas until his swollen, aching cock demanded release.

As he lay hard and throbbing inside of her, for the first time ever he allowed himself to feel. Passion. Anticipation. The desire to please her more than himself. He kissed her and became lost in the lush warmth of her mouth. The sweep of her tongue. Her caress moving down his spine. The stroke of her foot up his calf. The way she arched up to meet him, tested his resolve. If he stayed she’d gain the power to mold him, possibly break him into pieces. Even knowing all of that, as he rolled his hips, thrust inside of her, made her come, he still let himself feel. And pretend for one brief moment in the rush of climax they could actually belong to each other.

* * * *

“Listen. Do you hear it?” Lauren curled up to Reid’s side.

The light swirl of her fingers on his chest left tingles. He loved her soft touch. Anymore and he could get hooked on it. He palmed her hip and brought her closer. “Hear what? The crickets?”

“Not exactly.” She grinned up at him. “No more rain. That’s a good thing. I wasn’t looking forward to hauling the giveaway items out in bad weather. It’s also good for Celine and Thane. They won’t have to drive back to Florida in it.”

Thane
. Not Samson. So what was his issue with him? “When are they leaving?”

“In the morning, I think. You know, he almost saw you. For a second, I thought he was going to actually search the woods. He’s the protective type.”

Tension trickled through him. “Really? What does he do for a living?”

“He’s a musician.” She traced the tattoo on his shoulder. “That’s why they were in South Carolina. He was playing at a music festival.”

Music, was that what connected him to Thane? It didn’t settle like the truth in his gut. “How did Celine and Thane meet?”

“At a club in Melbourne, Florida called The Song. He’s one of their house performers. They were both getting drinks at the bar and “bam”. That was it. They’ve been inseparable for the past two months. I’m happy for her.” Hesitation hung in her tone.

“But you’re concerned about her being with him?”

“No, not him. It’s the timing. Three years ago, Celine fell in love fast and hard.”

“It didn’t work out?”

“No. Just the opposite. They got engaged. Dominic was a soldier. He didn’t make it back from his last deployment.”

An image flashed. Picking up her father’s weapon had felt as natural as breathing. At the time, he’d envisioned more substantial weapons. Various sizes, capabilities, and he knew them well. But what did it mean? “So what’s the connection to Thane? He’s a musician, not a soldier.”

“I know. It’s probably just me. My other friend, Ari, says I’m jaded against love because of my guy list.”

“Guy list? What’s that?”

“It’s not important.”

“Not important? You can’t say a thing like that and hold back. I’m lying right next to you. What’s on the list?”

“It’s not what you think.”

“Then enlighten me.”

She buried her face against his shoulder and groaned. “This is so embarrassing, but you’re not going to let it go, are you?”

He let silence answer for him.

“Fine.” She sighed. “I have a list of deal-breakers when it comes to me getting involved. Things like no mama’s boys, sports junkies, protect and serve types.”

“Like guys in the military.”

“Anyone who’s taken an oath to be a hero twenty-four-seven. It sounds selfish, but I know from experience with my father. He was gone all of the time and my parents split up because of it. He always chose career over family.”