Come Home Again (The Donovans) (17 page)

“Nate. Oh, God.”

He continued to tease her for a few seconds more, but finally the burning in his spine warned him that he couldn’t last another second. While raking her taut nipple with his teeth, he found her slick clit and stroked a gentle circle. Again and again, he teased her some more, then finally he applied pressure and increased his pace.

Just as soon as his vision began to gray and the fog of orgasm took hold, she stiffened around him, her slick heat pulsing over him, threatening to hold him captive for life. As she crested, she called his name.

And as the orgasm finally took him over, he knew he was lost.

###

S
omething warm and bright over her eyes woke Delilah out of a sound slumber. Blinking rapidly, she flung an arm over her face to ward off some of the sun’s glare. She’d actually slept through the night? Had she taken a sleeping pill? Her fuzzy brain tried to piece together the events of the previous night. Then an arm tightened around her waist and the memories flooded back.
Nate
.

For just a second, she let herself relish in being held and let his warmth cocoon her. But that only lasted for a moment before his phone chimed. With a groan, he rolled over and picked it up. His sleepy, sex-rumpled, half-smile quickly morphed into a scowl.

“Everything okay, Nate?”

The scowl was gone in a moment, replaced by a completely impassive expression. “Fine.”

“Are you sure? You look upset.”

His brows furrowed. “Delilah, it’s fine.”

“Okay.” A flush heating her skin, she bit her tongue. Curiosity burned, but he clearly wasn’t going to discuss whatever it was. A tiny alarm bell rang in the far off distance of her mind, but she quashed it. He was entitled to some privacy. Still, she couldn’t shake the feeling he was deliberately keeping something from her.

His voice was softer when he spoke again. “Do you know you sleep like a wild woman? I had to hold you against me all night just to keep you from thrashing around.”

She flushed. Morning after conversations were not her forte. She hadn’t had many of them. And usually they were punctuated by her or her partner making a hasty retreat. Usually her.

She cleared her throat. “You’re lucky you didn’t get hurt.”

He grinned at her. “Not for lack of you trying.”

Good Lord, the man’s smile should be outlawed. Lazy and sexy and sleep-rumpled, he was dangerous. Who the hell was she kidding? He was dangerous all the time. Fully dressed in a business suit, in a T-shirt and jeans, shirtless, naked, in bed—he pretty much always screamed, “Go on. Jump my bones.” Escape was paramount before she did in fact do that...again...make that again and again. He’d woken her up in the middle of the night with the mother of all wake up calls. She could still feel the evidence of his tongue’s deft strokes between her thighs. She ducked her head and mumbled an apology as she tried to tuck the sheet around her breasts.

He frowned, and his voice was low when he spoke. “Why does it look like you’re running, Lila?”

Because I am running.
“I’m not running. I’m just trying to gracefully exit the bed without flashing you. I’ll never understand how they make this happen in the movies. The elegant escape.”

He hauled her body up against his before kissing her shoulder. “And if I don’t want you to escape? I have a few plans for you this morning. None of them include you getting dressed.”

A giggle escaped, and she covered her face with her hands. “God. You’re like every fantasy come true.”

His rich laughter filled the room. “Oh, yeah? Tell me, Lila, what other fantasies do you have? I’d love to make them all come true.” His hand skimmed down her belly to the juncture between her thighs even as his cock nudged her ass insistently.

The pull of lust low in her belly was unavoidable. Her body was tuned to his, and he knew just how to play hers. “Nate, I can’t stay in bed all day. I have things to do. Work, and I have to get on the road. I can’t....” Her voice trailed off as his expert fingers found the slick button of her clit and slid over it, making her shiver and quake.

“What was that you were saying, Lila?” he drawled. Low and sexy, his voice seduced her as much as his fingers did, spiking her blood with desire and lust.

Delilah clutched the sheets and arched her back as he dipped a finger into her slick wetness. “God, Nate.”

He teased and plucked her nipple while giving her love bites on her shoulders and neck. But above all, his whispered caresses were what had her so unsteady, so desperate. “So perfect...feel so good...used to dream of touching you...feel like home.”

She whimpered when he rolled away. In the near silence of the room, the tearing of the foil mingled with their breathy pants. When he slid behind her again, her breath caught in desperate anticipation. She needed him to take her again. Needed him to keep holding her and never let her go. That need terrified her. Even as he stroked deep and she drew in shuddering breaths, the insidious terror wove its way into her consciousness.

As he drove into her, knowing exactly how to make her body hum and sing, her brain desperately scrambled for purchase up the slippery slope. Needing to get to the high ground where it was safe and protected and he couldn’t hurt her again. But his voice seduced her just as his body did. It wasn’t when he told her he thought she was beautiful that pulled at her, but every time he whispered the word
home
.

Because that’s how she felt. Like in his arms she was where she belonged. That she was home.

He whispered in her ear, “C’mon, Delilah. Stay with me.”

She slammed the door on her thoughts and let desire take over. Gave herself up to the feel of his deep strokes and his strong hands on her flesh. Gave herself over to the lust. She could think about what she felt later. Or maybe never. It was safer for everyone if she didn’t think about it. “I am with you.”

With his warm breath tickling her neck, he whispered, “Then come for me.”

And with the flick of his sure fingers, she did. The wash of pure bliss traveled down her spine, sending her body bowing into his.

He nipped at her, then with three more deep slides, he stiffened. “Fuck, Lila.” He held her tight to him and kissed her again.

She couldn’t be sure, but she would have sworn she heard him whisper, “Please stay.”

###

A
n hour later, Delilah tried to extricate herself from Nate’s hold. Even in a slumberous stupor, he was strong. She whispered, “Nate, I can’t stay in bed all day. I really do have to do some work.”

He groaned. “Just stay in bed another hour, and then we’ll get up. Maybe go for breakfast. There’s this bakery around the corner with these croissants to die for.”

Her stomach grumbled.
Traitor
. “I can’t. I have to check in on the Michael thing. Then I have to grab some stuff to head home for Mom’s birthday.”

His grip loosened and he levered himself up to study her. “You’re headed up today?”

She nodded slowly as she tried to read him, but his expression was inscrutable. “I’ve missed the last few family dinners, so I have to show my face. And I think Mia had something she wanted to discuss with me. She left me a cryptic voicemail, so I wanted to get up there before the whole troop was home and we wouldn’t have a chance to talk.”

His brows drew down. “Have you told them about me?”

She sat up with a start, and the bed sheet slipped. His eyes immediately dipped to her breasts, and her nipples hardened. She ignored him and slid the sheet more securely under her arms. He would not distract her with sex again. “No! God no. I mean, what could I have said, honestly?”

He flattened his lips. “What are you going to say now?”

She stared at him. “Still nothing. Look, you made it clear that you didn’t exactly want the reunion thing, and I heard you, so I’m not saying a word, okay?” She slid out of bed. Now where the hell were her clothes? She scanned the floor. Was it undignified to crawl under the bed looking for her thong?

His next question surprised her. “And if I wanted you to say something?”

She turned to face him slowly. “You’re kidding, right?”

He slid out of the bed too, except he didn't bother with a sheet. Her mouth watered. Fantastic. Even on a verge of an argument she wanted him. She needed to do some hard time on a psychiatrist’s couch. “And if I’m not kidding?”

“What—I’m supposed to go home and say,
what
? Hey, guys, I found Nate. Do you have any idea what that would do to Mom?”

A vast silence extended between them. “Somehow, I don’t think it has anything to do with your mother or how anyone else will react. You don’t trust me.”

A fist wrapped around her heart and squeezed. “How can you say that?”

“I can say that because I see it written all over you. You’re already trying to run.”

“I’m not running!”
Liar
. “I have shit to do.”

“Okay fine. You have shit to do. But I’m not just talking about today. Since I’ve seen you again, you’ve been running from me, from this. Which is bullshit because we obviously are pretty fucking explosive together.”

Desire spiked through her.
Easy does it
. “And what about you? You were the first one to point out that this thing is only temporary. I’m not the only one running. You made it clear you wanted nothing to do with your past. And now you’re changing your mind. What happens when you change it again and pull one of your disappearing acts? I’m not picking up the pieces again. You don’t get to do that to my family again, so no, I’m not exactly eager to tell them that I found you.”

He flinched as if she’d struck him. Immediately, she wanted to take the words back, but she knew she couldn’t. Besides, it was the truth. It was one thing to enjoy Nate. To indulge every fantasy that sixteen-year-old her ever had about him. But getting close and attached was not a good idea. He would hurt her again.

“So it all boils down to that?” His voice was soft.

“That’s all there is. Fundamentally, that’s who you are. You’ll stick around for a while, but then you’ll leave. I’m an adult now. I can handle it. And when you’re bored, or move on, or whatever, I’ll be ready. But I’m not dragging everyone else through that. I’m not letting them love you again only to get their hearts broken.”

T
he next morning at breakfast, Nate checked his phone for the fifteenth time hoping for a text, a missed call, hell even some Morse Code from Delilah. When Lach had called and told him to meet at their usual spot, he’d said yes, hoping to have a distraction from thinking about her.

When she’d left his place, things had been tense, but he’d still asked her to text him when she got home. She’d nodded absently but hadn’t looked him in the eye when she left. The kicker was, he could pinpoint the exact moment this morning when he’d lost her. That stupid 911 email from Trent telling him to call right away. And of course, she’d seen his face and asked for an explanation. One he hadn’t been able to give. Fuck. And then he’d pushed her into a corner, having a good idea how she’d react.

He was the idiot who’d thought last night changed things.
No, you’re the idiot who thought you could forget the past.
There were no bygones. He’d hurt her when he left seven years ago. She hadn’t forgotten it, and he’d been an idiot to think she could just get over it. It didn’t matter that he had his reasons for leaving. The outcome was still the same. Delilah hurt.

“Yo, earth to Nate.”

Nate blinked up at Lach. “Yeah, sorry. What’s up?”

Lach just laughed. “Dude, where are you. And don’t give me that bullshit clammed-up thing you do.”

Nate gritted his teeth. “I don’t have a thing. I’m just—”

“Private. Yeah, I know.” Lach shook his head and took a drink of his coffee. “But if you did want to share and shit, I’m a halfway decent listener. Unless, of course, the Knicks are playing.”

He’d never had anyone he could talk to.
Or maybe you never gave anyone half a chance.
Nate eyed his friend. Maybe it was time he started.

Before he knew it, words spilled forth. He told Lach about Trent and the Donovans and how he’d left. Unable to stem the flow of words, he told Lach about his childhood and living on the streets. He talked until he couldn’t find any more words. The only thing he didn’t talk about was the one thing that strangled him. Delilah.

When Nate finally looked up from his hands, Lach studied him carefully, but there was no pity in his gaze. “That sucks, man. I’m sorry.”

“Yeah, well. That’s why I don’t talk about shit.”

“Delilah know about your brother being back?”

Nate shook his head. “No. I’m keeping her out of it.”

Lach sighed and sat back, crossing his arms. “You sure that’s a good idea? Besides you obviously having a thing for her, she’s your fixer. She needs to know about this.”

Nate shook his head. “I’m not telling her. The further she stays away from Trent, the better.”

Lach narrowed his eyes. “Is that for her protection or yours?”

“Hers.” Nate shook his head. “Besides, she’s not exactly taking my calls right now.”

“What did you do to fuck it up?”

“I didn’t fuck it up.” He squirmed. Okay, so maybe he had fucked it up a little.

Lach smirked. “Oh, yeah, then why don’t you have a shit-eating grin on your ugly mug? Instead, you’re doing the sad, lovelorn thing.”

Nate sighed. “I picked a fight. Pushed too hard.”

Lach’s chuckle started low, then built to a boom. The women at the next table looked over with interest. As if they wanted to be let in on the joke. “Of course you did.”

“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”

“It means that’s your M.O.” Lach shook his head. “Let me guess, you’re playing it pretty close to the vest. Not sharing yourself with her.”

Nate didn’t appreciate the attempted armchair diagnosis. “Bullshit.” He wasn’t that transparent. Was he?

“You finally got close to her, you freaked out, then found a way to push her away. I don’t need the particulars, unless you feel like sharing the good parts.”

“Fuck off,” he growled.