Embracing Danger (28 page)

“It was Shane and his family,” Arden insisted. “He did the real work. I was along for the ride.”

“I think you did more than you’re letting on. Speaking of Shane, how is he? Did you talk to him this morning?”

Arden had kept her promise to Shane. He was the first person she spoke to in the morning. She reached for her phone on the bedside table before her eyes were even all the way open, propping herself up on some pillows so they could have a long chat. They usually Skyped each other in the afternoons, and then they had one more phone conversation in the evening before she went to sleep.

She missed him. More than she thought was humanly possible. Knowing he loved her and wanted her home wasn’t making this time easy. Spending her days with David and Lydia had helped her make sense of her world but her heart and body ached for the man she’d left behind.

In a way it had been easier when she’d left as a girl. She’d thought Shane wouldn’t love her if he found out she couldn’t have children. But he truly didn’t care and he only wanted her in his life. That was surely the only place she wanted to be. And soon.

But this morning had been different. She’d called him first thing just as she’d done every day since she’d left Tremont, but this time he hadn’t answered and the pain had felt like a sword through the heart. He hadn’t wanted her to leave in the first place and he might be tired of waiting for her to return.

She thought back to their conversation the night before but it hadn’t seemed out of the ordinary.

“I didn’t speak with him this morning. I guess he must have had an early meeting. I kept him away from work for quite a while so I know he’s been busy catching up.”

David patted her hand. “It’s wonderful having you here and getting to know you, but I think you’re missing your man, Arden. I won’t be hurt if you go back to Tremont. Just invite me to the wedding, okay?”

She’d told David her life story, which included her relationship with Shane.

“I don’t think that’s going to happen anytime soon. I’m not sure Shane’s the marrying type after all these years. He’s probably pretty used to being on his own.”

A skeptical look on his face, David finished the last of his coffee and stood from the table.

“I have some errands to run this morning before we meet your aunt for lunch. It’s the Italian place you like so much at noon. I’ll get a table for four.”

Retrieving his keys from the kitchen counter, he whistled a lilting tune as he headed for the front door.

“Wait. Four? Who is joining us?”

David opened the door but turned and gave her a wink on his way out. “Have a good morning. I won’t be coming back here until late afternoon so you have the place to yourself. Lots of privacy.”

That was weird. Does he think I’m going to dance around in my underwear like Tom Cruise?

After quickly cleaning up the dishes, she curled up on the couch with her phone and tried to call Shane again. It rang twice but this time he answered.

“Hey, princess. Miss me?”

Her relief was almost palpable and she was sure he could hear her sigh of happiness at the sound of his voice.

“More than you can imagine. I tried calling earlier but I guess you must have been working or out for a run.”

“Something like that. I’m sorry I missed your call. Is everything okay there?”

No, I miss you. I wish you were here.

“Everything’s fine. I think David and Lydia are smitten with each other. He blushed this morning when I mentioned her name.”

She heard his laugh through the phone, rich and warm. “You’re playing matchmaker, huh? That might not be a good idea. David has some baggage, sweetheart.”

“Everyone does.”

“He has more than most but I can see that talking you out of this is a waste of time.”

The doorbell rang and Arden craned her neck to try and see out of the front window, but whoever was there was at the wrong angle. “That’s the doorbell. Can you hang on for a sec?”

“Sure.”

She stood and ran toward the door where the idiot outside was leaning on the bell so it chimed over and over, making the ten feet to the entrance feel like a hundred. By the time she yanked the door open she’d opened her mouth to chew out the offender but one glimpse stopped her in her tracks.

“Cat got your tongue?”

Shane was standing in the doorway with a shit-eating grin and his phone to his ear. He pulled it away and pressed the end button before slipping it into his jacket pocket.

“Shane.”

Her voice sounded high and squeaky but he didn’t seem bothered by it since he strode in, kicked the door closed behind him, and tugged her into his arms. Their lips crashed together and she was starved for the taste and feel of him. Her hands splayed over his muscular back while his tongue probed for entrance to her mouth. The kiss was hot, sexy, and over much too soon.

Dazed, she allowed him to lead her over to the sofa and pull her onto his lap with his arms wrapped snugly around her.

“Shane,” she said again, still not quite believing that he truly was here with her. Perhaps she’d conjured him out of a dream or fantasy.

A dirty fantasy.

“Are you surprised?”

She nodded, not trusting her voice or her brain to put together actual sentences.

“How?” she finally asked, her gaze sweeping him from head to toe. He looked the same. The same smile, the same handsome face, and the same warm embrace that made her feel safer than she ever had in her life. Her heart felt like it would burst with love.

“The usual way.” The dimple in his cheek appeared. “An airplane at an ungodly time of the morning so I could get here early and surprise you.”

She tilted her head as her uncle’s words echoed in her addled mind. “David knew you were coming, didn’t he?”

“I might have mentioned it to him. He said you were missing me and I knew I was missing you.” Shane’s smile fell and his hold on her tightened. “I know you wanted to do this alone and dammit, I really tried to let you but I just couldn’t stay away any longer. I love you, Arden, and we need to be together. I can help or I can stay out of the way, but please don’t ask me to leave you again. I can’t. It’s been physically painful to be away from you these last weeks.”

Her face flushed and she shifted uncomfortably. “I think maybe you’re right. It’s been so hard here without you. I’ve loved getting to know my family but I don’t like being away from you either.” She leaned forward and pressed a kiss to his lips. “Thank you for coming for me.”

“Thank you for not sending me away.” Shane looked around the living room. “Where is David?”

A smile spread across her face and she hummed in excitement. It had been too long since she’d been with the love of her life. “He went on some errands. He made sure to tell me before he left that he wouldn’t be back until this afternoon and that I’d have privacy this morning.”

Shane waggled his eyebrows suggestively. “Privacy? I like the sound of that. What do you suggest we do with it?”

She tugged at his shirt, bringing him closer so she could kiss him again. “I think we should get naked and make some noise. What do you think we should do?”

“Who am I to argue with such a wise decision?” He dipped his head and nipped on her earlobe. “Lead the way.”

‡

A
rden had plans
and every one of them involved both of them without clothes, doing all manner of naughty things to one another. She’d had almost three weeks to ruminate on what she’d do to him the next time she saw him and now here he was in all his naked glory.

And it was glorious.

He’d quickly shucked his clothes while she did the same and then crawled up the length of the bed to where she waited, leaning back against the headboard. He’d reminded her of a panther she’d seen on a nature show stalking his prey. Her body trembled in response and heat shot through her veins straight to her lower abdomen.

His big body covered hers and she loved feeling so small and feminine, but she wanted to show him how much she’d missed him. She wanted to worship him.

“Lie back,” she urged, a hand on his shoulder. “Just relax and enjoy.”

She felt his chuckle deep in his chest and he settled on his back with his head pillowed in his hands, wearing nothing but a smile. “I most definitely will enjoy. Go on and do your worst.”

Her gaze traveled down his body, taking in the part of him that was hard and ready. “Someone is happy to see me.”

“Little girl,” he growled, low and sexy making her toes curl in anticipation. “Are you going to talk all day?”

That wasn’t the plan.

Straddling his thighs, she leaned over and pressed baby kisses to his face, working her way from his forehead all the way to his chin before heading down the long column of his neck. She paused to nip at his Adam’s apple and then skipped to his collarbone, ghosting her lips over his sensitive flesh.

He shuddered and moaned as she licked a trail down his torso, stopping off to whirl her tongue around his flat, male nipples, nipping at them with her teeth until his hands came down to grab the back of her head. She giggled at his attempts to lead her farther south but she wouldn’t be deterred from her mission, wanting him to know she loved every inch of his body.

Taking her time to lap at his treasure trail, she lazily drew circles with her tongue all the way to his inner thigh, careful not to go near her final destination. She wanted him begging by the time she put her mouth on him.

Because his pleasure was her pleasure, her own arousal had flown into the stratosphere. Honey coated her thighs and her nipples were beaded with excitement. She’d never been with a man that could make her feel this way with barely a touch.

Speaking of touch…

His hands had abandoned the back of her head and his fingers were stroking everywhere he could reach – her shoulders, her arms, and oh yes, her breasts. Shivering with delight, she ran her tongue up the length of his shaft, feeling the velvety skin covering forged steel. She traced the veins as he groaned encouragement and she giggled when his questing fingers tickled under her arms.

“Stop that,” she laughed as she tried to twist away but his hold on her was firm. “You’re such a goof.”

“You’re such a tease. Come up here and kiss me properly. It’s been too long.”

Arden allowed him to lift her up so they were face to face. It only took a second, but she was suddenly flat on her back with one very aroused male on top of her, a feral look in his eyes.

She wasn’t the only one with plans, apparently.

*     *     *

While Shane had
loved how Arden had kissed her way down his body, it was time to return the favor. Nuzzling the fragrant curve of her shoulder, he pressed butterfly kisses onto her neck while his fingers caressed her silky soft skin. She smelled fresh, probably from a recent shower, but it was more than that. The musk of her arousal hung in the air, ratcheting up the primal urgency to take her now.
Right now.
Only the civilized part of his brain kept him from grunting like a caveman, throwing her over his shoulder, and carrying her away to a nearby cave.

After the last time they’d been together when Arden had been so full of pain, he’d vowed the next time they made love it would truly be just that. Making love. No wild animals going at like they were in heat. He wanted her to know how much he truly loved and cherished her.

He nipped a path down over the soft swell of her belly and pushed her legs apart with his shoulders. Pressing open-mouthed kisses to the delicate skin of her inner thigh, he chuckled as she moved restlessly beneath him, wordlessly begging for what only he could give her.

Sliding two fingers inside her wet channel, he crooked them in a come-hither fashion and drew a long, deep moan from Arden, her legs already beginning to tremble as she neared her release.

He bent his head, giving the shiny pearl beckoning to him a lazy lick. Her hips stiffened and she whimpered his name, pleading with him to continue, which he was happy to do. This morning was about making her feel amazing and adored, and part of that was her screaming his name at the top of her lungs.