Cold Heat (Seasons of the Heart #1) (9 page)

“Is this the first message?”
he asked, knowing it wasn't when he saw her flinch. “Damn it, Kaylie! How many others have you gotten like this? Did you bother to tell anyone?”
His voice and temper rising as he questioned her.

Kaylie was stunned by his outburst. “Are you serious?
A few days
ago I didn’t know you from any other stranger in the world! I thought I could trust Brian, once upon a time,”
she shot back, “and you know exactly how that played out.”

“How many others are there? I need to see them, Kaylie. If I’m going to protect you, I need to know what is going on and if you get more of these messages you need to tell me.”

“Drake, he’s just blowing smoke, trying to scare me, and yes, I’ll admit its working, but it’s far from anything to be concerned about.”

Drake just held up his hand indicating she should stop. “Have you forgotten that you told me he hit you, several times? That he threatened your life? That you had something in your gut, some instinct that told you to get out of that house and town, pronto? Now you sit here and defend this piece of shit? Making excuses for him and wanting to play down the texts you're receiving? What the hell, Kaylie? I can almost assuredly tell you he is not,”
as he made air quotes, “blowing smoke.”

Kaylie looked down at her phone, embarrassed because Drake was correct. She was making the same excuses for him all over again.

Drake was watching her as she took a deep breath in, squared her shoulders, and looked him in the eye.

“I had one message on the phone yesterday when I got out of the shower,”
Drake cussed quietly as she kept on, “plus there were a few others before I left that I deleted. That’s one of the reasons that I had to leave so suddenly. My phone had been dead, so I plugged it in to charge. When I got out of the shower, I checked to see if there were any messages, and there was this one,”
she said as she handed him the phone, already opened to the earlier message.
“The numbers have always been blocked, like this one is. Drake, I swear I told no one where I was going. I just loaded up my stuff in the suitcases and left. I didn’t leave ties behind, and besides, he was still in jail when I left.”
She knew she was grasping at straws when she said,
“This is most likely a stupid teenage prank.”

“Do you really believe that, Kaylie?”

Her head-shake answered his question.

“
I need to borrow your phone, sweetheart. I’ve a group of guys around here; members of the team who like to get away when on downtime. One of them, Rafe, is a computer god. There’s nothing he can't find out for me, and I’d like to see what he can find out about these messages, just in case there’s more than meets the eye here. Are you okay if I bring Rafe in on this? Understand that I’ll do it regardless, but I am giving you a heads up.”

“No, go ahead. I’m not sure I want to have the phone if any more of these messages come in. Please, Drake, would you call your friend Rafe?”

He leaned over and brushed his lips against hers. “I’ll give him call now,”
he said as
he grabbed his phone and
punched in the familiar number.

Rafe reached over to the bedside table, struggling to find the ringing phone while refusing to open his eyes. Finally making contact with it, he cracked open an eye to check the screen before answering. “Drake, dude, do you know what time it is? It’s dark-the-fuck-o’clock.”
He snarled into the phone. “Unless you have some mystery orders of us going wheels up again, call back when its daylight.”

Drake sighed into his phone. He knew Rafe was a pain in the ass on a good day, but waking him was like poking a very angry lion. “I know what time it is. Would I call you this early if it weren't important? This isn’t something that can really wait until you roll out of bed and become a civilized human, Rafe.”

Resigned to not going back to sleep, Rafe reached over and clicked on the lamp, closing his eyes against the brightness before speaking. “What is it?”

Keeping his eyes locked on Kaylie, Drake kept talking to Rafe. “Why don't you tell me what you’ve go so far? Impressions? I’m curious to see if your gut matches mine.”

“Okay, well, from my initial checks and digging a bit further, yeah, I’d agree with your gut. Something is not checking out with this guy’s story. How does someone open his own business with not much more than nothing, and then suddenly start spending money like he’s a high roller? I’m trying to dig into his financials now, but he has that spread far and wide, giving me a run around.”

“Thanks, man,”
Drake began. “It’s good to know my senses haven't softened since I got out. Now, here’s the next thing I need from you. I suspect its related, but there is the slim chance it’s not. Kaylie has been getting threatening text messages from a blocked number. I need to try and find out where they are coming from.”

“Drake, I am treading on some thin ice here, making these types of inquiries. You know the rules, and we are skating them. Answer me this Drake, is she worth it?”

Drake stood there with the phone at his ear while he watched Kaylie. “Yeah, I think she is.”
He couldn’t figure out just how she had already wormed her way into his heart, but there was something about her that made her matter to him. He wasn't sure what word he wanted to use to define his feelings, but he was man enough to admit that there were some and he wanted to find out where they would lead him.

Rafe exhaled heavily, “Alright then, hit me with what you know. If I can’t find it, I’ll call in some favors with the state boys, maybe put some excitement in their day after this storm.”

Drake finished the call after supplying Rafe with Kaylie’s cell number, the only information he had. He answered Rafe’s questions as he fired them out, consulting Kaylie when he didn’t know an answer.

She walked over to him when he finished, keeping her eyes on his while taking a deep breath, she then leaned in and kissed Drake. “Thank you,”
she whispered gratefully.

Chapter 13

He reached out to her, taking her hand in his and bringing it up between their bodies, close to his heart while wrapping his other hand around her waist, settling it at the small of her back and pulling her in closer. His eyes never leaving hers as he lowered his head, his lips brushing against hers once, twice, before kissing a trail to the side of her neck, to the spot below her ear and nibbling lightly.

Kaylie sighed happily, her eyes drifting closed as his mouth started fanning flames that had once lay dormant inside her. Stepping back from him, she let go of his hand and, reaching down, she lifted the shirt she had slept in, up over her head. Drawing confidence from the heated look on Drakes face, she pushed her pants and panties down her legs until they fell to the floor. She could feel her skin heating under Drakes gaze before looking down in embarrassment. Her face was brought back up by the gentle touch of his finger under her chin. Something in his look, she could not pinpoint what, gave her the courage to reach out to Drake, lying her hands flat over his chest, feeling the steady beating of his heart under her palm.

Drake was staring at her, gritting his teeth as he let her take the lead in this seduction. His body responding to her stripping, to the beautiful flush that warmed her skin when she, at last, stood naked before him. It broke him when she had looked down, whether unsure of what to do now, or with embarrassment, he didn’t know. He brought his hand to her face, tipping it up with his finger so she could see how she was affecting him. He was amazed and proud when he saw her gather her strength, before reaching back out to him again.

She looked at her hands resting on his chest, so comforted by his strength
.
She could feel parts of her heart stirring to life again; parts that she thought would be forever damaged after Brian. Mentally shaking loose all thoughts of her ex-husband, she met Drake’s eyes before reaching out to tug his shirt off, tossing it on the floor near her own discarded clothes. After unbuttoning his pants, she pushed them down his legs with his boxer shorts encouraging him with her eyes to step out of them. Taking his hand in hers again, she turned, leading them both into his shower.

He reached in and turned the water on hot, letting it run a bit before stepping in with Kaylie. Standing with his face under the spray for a moment, he was struggling to reign in his need for her when he felt her hands settle at his waist. Growling, he spun around taking her in his arms with an urgency that he’d never felt before. Claiming her lips with the full force of his desire, his hands moving all over her slick skin before molding her breasts. Backing her up against the shower wall and caging her in with his lower body before bending and taking her nipple in his mouth, biting it lightly while his other hand drifted lower still. He found her hot, wet, and ready for him as he thrust a finger inside her, quickly followed by another.

Kaylie was overwhelmed with sensation as Drake assaulted her senses. Her body was aroused and ready when he started stroking her at her core, and it did not take long for her body to tighten up before she found release around Drake’s fingers.

Growling, Drake withdrew his fingers and spun her around, pressing her front against the wall this time. Bracing himself with one hand flat against the wall beside her head, he reached down and stroked himself before plunging into her, hilt deep. Taking her hard and fast, with flesh slapping flesh. Reaching around, her found her clit, rubbing it until he felt her core tightening around him once again and she screamed out. Feeling her orgasm around him, he felt his balls draw up tight before he erupted himself, emptying inside her.

Spent, he laid his forehead against her shoulder as he worked to slow his breathing; feeling Kaylie’s breaths as they both came down from their rush. It was only when he pulled back from her that he realized he hadn’t used a condom.

Kaylie knew something was wrong when he pulled out. “What happened, Drake? What’s wrong?”
she asked as she turned around to look at him.

“Protection; I was so caught up in you that I forgot to grab a condom. Fuck! Kaylie, I swear I’m clean. I’ve never been with a woman bare before.”

“I’m clean, too. When I found out that Brian had been cheating on me, I had myself checked, and there has been no one else until you. Timing wise we should be okay, too. I think we will be fine, Drake.”

Setting his jaw, he turned and stepped out of the shower, snagging a towel and drying off before stalking out of the bathroom.
How could I have been so
stupid
and not grab something as basic as a condom?
He thought as he tugged on clean clothes. He laughed bitterly at himself, knowing full well why. He was developing deep feelings for Kaylie, and now he was suddenly forgetting everything about protection? By her own admission she’s only here until they can get her car fixed and she can hit the road again. He looked toward the bathroom before turning and walking out of the room.

Kaylie was left standing in the shower, suddenly cold despite the hot water flowing around her. She gave him a few minutes before she turned off the water and stepped out to dry.

What if?
She wondered as she lowered her hand to her stomach? A family is one thing she had always wanted, but she had given up on that dream years ago, not wanting to bring a child into a home like the one she shared with Brian.
Do I dare wish for this? Or do I hope and pray that nothing comes of this? Who am I kidding?
I would love his baby.

Shaking her head at herself, she dried off and quickly crossed the hall into her room to get dressed.

They spent the day trapped indoors, talking politely about nothing serious, sharing space, both absorbed in their own thoughts, not wanting to intrude on the on the other.

Chapter 14

The next morning,
Drake took in a deep breath before blowing it out. “Alright Kaylie, how are you feeling? Are the bruises on your chest bothering you? How about your head?”

Kaylie gave Drake a quizzical smile, “No, I mean, yes, I’m sore, but it’s nothing to worry about. I’ve just got a colorful body right now. Why?”

Drake just nodded his head once before
putting his hands on Kaylie’s shoulders, spinning her around and smacking her on the rear. “Good to know, now, go get dressed. Make sure you’re warm, we’re headed outside. I’m used to being active, and after nearly a week of snow and ice, I need an outlet this morning. That’s no excuse for my behavior yesterday, but I’m hoping it helps improve it today. I’m going to get some shoveling done and you and Jenny are coming out to keep me company. Move it.”

Kaylie began walking to her room as he swatted on her rear, looking over her shoulder at the playful gleam in Drakes eyes. “Okay, but you’d better watch out, Mr. Givens, you’re playing with fire here.”
She closed the door on his laughter.