Emeralds, Rubies, and Camouflage (15 page)

Beck propped his feet up on Holt’s dark oak desk, grinning like a Cheshire cat. “She’s like all the rest of them. If Bobby hadn’t showed up you probably would have bought her some jewelry, maybe taken her on some expensive vacations. You’re damn lucky he showed up when he did. Saved you a mountain of cash. Myra looks expensive.”

A muscle in Holt’s jaw tightened at his brother’s
words. “I said she’s not like that.”

Beck swung his legs down and leaned forward so his palms rested on the desk. “What do you really know about her? She could have been trying to take you for every cent you have. It’s really too bad though. I wouldn’t have minded having a go at her when you were done.”

Holt didn’t even realize he was up and out of his chair until Beck was sprawled on the carpet
holding his jaw.

“You do love her,” Beck crowed triumphantly, all the while rubbing his rapidly swelling face. “I knew it. She loves you too, brother. Don’t be a fucking idiot. Bobby’s blowing smoke up your ass. There’s no way she’d pick him over you.”

“He sounds like he believes it,” Holt muttered. “How can you be sure she loves me?”

“Because I see how she looks at you.” Beck jumped to his
feet. “Bobby was saving face out there.”

Holt wanted to believe Beck more than anything in his life. If he went to Myra he’d be taking a huge chance. Putting his heart out there and letting her stomp all over it wasn’t his idea of fun. Or even slightly pleasant.

“Bobby is Amelia’s father. They’re a family.”

“No,” Beck shook his head. “They were a family and then Bobby did something supremely
stupid and left without a word until today. Even if she has feelings for him, do you think he’s better for her than you are? Do you think Bobby will do something dumb again, because I sure do. He’ll hurt her again and you’re going to sit back and let him. That doesn’t sound like you.”

There was no way Bobby could love Myra more than Holt did. Holt would never have been able to leave them without
a backward glance. And he’d rather rip off his good arm than let her feel a moment of pain ever again.

“Fuck.”

“You’re going to have to leave the comfortable, safe world you’ve built and take a chance,” Beck smirked. “I think you can do it, and I think Myra’s worth it.”

“I should have hit you harder.”

“Next time I’ll hit back. That was a free shot. Now what are you going to do?”

Holt was
a mess of thoughts and emotions but one thing stood out among everything else.

He loved Myra.

Without a backward glance Holt strode out of the office and back to the foyer just as Myra, Amelia, and Bobby were walking out of the front door.

“Myra,” Holt called, his heart racing and his palms sweating. The next five minutes would decide if he was heartbroken or the luckiest son of a bitch on
the planet. No pressure. “Just a minute.”

She paused and turned, a soft smile on her pretty face. It was very much like the one she’d worn this morning. “Holt, your office door was closed and I heard Beck in there. I didn’t want to interrupt.”

Holt caught up to her and placed his hand over hers which was curled around the doorknob.

“Are you three going somewhere?” he asked, keeping his voice
completely neutral as if whether she stayed or not wasn’t important.

“We’re taking Amelia for ice cream.”

“Chocolate.” Amelia was holding onto her father’s hand, a big smile on her face. “With whipped cream and sprinkles.”

“That sounds like fun, sweetheart. Especially the sprinkles.”

“We need to go, Myra,” Bobby said sharply, his body tensed and his voice loud.

Holt’s gaze collided with Myra’s
and locked. Her head was tilted to the side in question, her expression puzzled. Clearly she knew something was going on here but didn’t know what. Words stuck in his throat as he opened his mouth to ask her to stay, the fear keeping him silent. He tried to put everything he felt – all the love he had – into the look he gave her.

“Wait,” she shook her head uncertainly, still staring at Holt.
“Do you need something?”

Her voice was soft and hesitant but Holt nodded, his fingers squeezing her own. “I do.”

A slow smile began to spread across her face and she twisted her hand so they were tangled together.

“I don’t think I’m coming along, Bobby. I’m staying here.”

Bobby sputtered something unintelligible but Beck was right there to smooth over the situation.

“I love ice cream,” Beck
announced, sweeping past Holt and Myra and down the porch stairs to where Bobby and Amelia stood waiting. “How about double scoops for everyone? On me.”

Amelia squealed with delight and Bobby looked decidedly unhappy. Too bad. He’d had his chance and he’d blown it.

“Myra?” Bobby stood, his mouth hung open in shock. It had obviously never crossed lover boy’s mind that he wouldn’t be forgiven.
“You really aren’t coming?”

“I’m really not.”

Beck herded Bobby and Amelia into his car over the other man’s protests and the expensive sedan slid smoothly away and down the long lane to the main road.

Holt and Myra were alone.

“You didn’t leave.” Holt raised her fingers to his lips and kissed the tips.

“I wanted to stay.”

He slid his arms around her, pulling her against his body, breathless
now from arousal rather than fear.

“I should have said I love you this morning.”

“Better late than never.” Her smile was blindingly happy.

“I love you. More than you can ever imagine. I want to spend the rest of my life loving you and making you happy.”

He loved her so much his heart ached with it but he wouldn’t have it any other way. He’d eventually get used to her holding his heart in her
small hand.

“I love you too.” Silvery tears slid down her cheeks and her lips trembled with emotion. “I feel like I’ve never really been in love before.”

“Everything was just a rehearsal for this. Us.” He traced a tear with his finger. “Bobby intimated that you were getting back together.”

Her mouth fell open and then she gave him an unladylike snort. “Fat chance. I told him straight out that
wasn’t happening. He was pulling your leg.”

“It doesn’t matter now.”

Myra chewed on her full bottom lip. “He’s Amelia’s father. He’ll be in and out of my life for many years to come.”

Holt laughed and pulled her closer. “We’ll all find a way to co-exist. I want to do what’s best for Amelia.”

“She adores you.”

“The feeling is mutual but right now I’d like to take advantage of the fact that
we have an empty house thanks to Beck.”

He leaned down so their lips were only a few inches apart. She looked at him with an adoring expression he never thought he’d ever see and slid her arms around his neck.

“I have exactly the same idea.”

Sweeping her up into his arms, he kicked the front door shut behind them before carrying her up the long staircase and to his room. This would be the first
time he’d ever made love…in love. The real kind.

He wanted to be with her every single day for the rest of his life. Taking chances wasn’t so bad after all.

‡

M
yra couldn’t get
out of her clothes fast enough. Every molecule of her being was urging her on to be with Holt. And their love would make it all the more special.

Her shorts and t-shirt hit the floor, quickly followed by her bra and panties. Holt had kicked off
his shoes and was slowly working on the buttons of his shirt. Really slow. As in glacial. She almost teased him before she realized why he was delaying.

They had one last barrier to overcome.

Approaching him, she reached out and brushed his hands out of the way, her own fingers making quick work of the tiny buttons. Her gaze found his own and she didn’t look away as she slid her hands up his
warm flesh and pushed the fabric off his shoulders and onto the floor.

It was then that Holt’s eyes squeezed shut, trying to block out her reaction she assumed. Instead she popped open the button-fly of his jeans one at a time before helping him pull them off. He still hadn’t opened his eyes but for the first time she allowed her gaze to roam freely up and down his perfectly muscular body.

His right side was smooth and unmarred, the skin tanned to a golden brown by the Florida sunshine. It was the left that was a visual reminder of all that he had been through. The skin mottled and pale, shiny in some spots. Pink scar tissue crisscrossed his leg and torso, a lasting reminder of the horror and pain he’d endured.

She fell to her knees and began to slowly, inch by inch, kiss her way
up his left leg, her lips pressed to the worst of the scars. She heard his sucked-in breath and then his fingers tangled in her hair. Not hurrying, she pressed a trail of kisses over the knee, up the thigh, and around the hip.

His fingers tightened in her hair and a groan was torn from his throat. Her hand caressed the smooth hardness of his cock as she traced each line on his torso with her
tongue, landing butterfly kisses in between. When she reached his shoulder, she looked up to find tears shimmering in his pale blue eyes.

There were so many things she wanted to say but the words wouldn’t come. Instead she tried to put all the love she felt into the way she touched and stroked him until finally he swept her closer, capturing her lips with his own.

Holt plundered and dominated
her senses, their tongues playing a game of tag and her nails digging into his bicep. Blood roared in her ears as he placed her gently on the bed as if she was something rare and breakable.

“I love you,” she whispered as his nipped at a spot on her neck that made her shiver with arousal. Her nipples, already tight, hardened even more when he cupped her breasts and pinched at the pink tips. A
wave of heat swept through her, tightening the coil of arousal in her belly.

“You have no idea…how much,” Holt breathed against the delicate skin of over her ribcage, “I love you.”

They could spend the rest of their lives showing each other how much. Starting now.

Myra squirmed against the cool sheets, her body overheated with desire for this man she loved. His tongue dipped into her bellybutton
as his hand traveled down her body and between her legs. Shaking with arousal, she gasped when his fingers found her swollen clit, a thick digit sliding inside to rub her sweet spot.

“Oh God,” she moaned when he added another finger, fucking her with his hand while he licked and sucked at her nipples. He nibbled on the puckered flesh while his thumb brushed her clit. Soft and firm, but not enough
to send her over. Myra didn’t know how long he held her there, hovering on the precipice.

Only she and Holt existed at that moment. The feel of his muscled frame under her hands, the sound of his ragged breath, the tang of salt when she pressed a kiss to the damp skin of his shoulder. Her legs shook and her body shuddered as her arousal coiled more tightly inside, ready to spring at any moment.

“Holt, please now.” At first she wasn’t sure her desperate plea was audible but then he reached for the nightstand drawer, withdrawing a condom and rolling it on.

Holding himself above her, Holt placed open-mouthed kisses on her neck and shoulder, making her writhe underneath him as the blood pounded in her veins. Flames licked along her limbs, curling her toes and taking her breath away.

His
cock nudged at her entrance and she slid her legs farther apart, her arms wrapping around his waist. Slow and easy, he pressed forward and then pulled back slightly before pushing in again, gaining purchase with each delicious stroke. Her heels dug into the mattress as his thrusts picked up more speed, now impaling her to the hilt. His face was a mask of concentration as he pistoned hard and fast,
his breathing short and labored.

Each exquisite stroke of his cock rubbed her G-spot until she thought she would break into a million pieces and fly into the heavens with the clouds and stars. Holt grasped her hips and wrapped her legs around his middle, grunting with each thrust. His breath fanned against her cheeks and she reached up to slide her fingers into his short brown hair, pulling his
lips to hers.

His teeth nipped at her lower lip and that was all it took to send her over. Her orgasm set off fireworks on the ceiling, the sparkles and lights dancing on her sensitive skin as he reached his peak at the same time. She watched fascinated as his body stiffened, his skin shiny with sweat and his eyes closed tightly. His cock jerked inside of her as his hot seed filled the condom.

They collapsed together, his head buried in the crook of her shoulder until he kissed her softly and whispered he’d be right back. Immediately cold when he levered off of her, she pulled up the covers and sighed blissfully. This was what she had always dreamed about but never thought truly existed.

This was love.

It wasn’t the sex that made it love, although it sure as heck didn’t hurt. It was
the sharing. The respect. The partnership she felt with Holt. It was bigger and better than anything she could hope to find all alone.

He lifted the blankets and slid in next to her, pulling her body close so they were skin to skin. Pillowing her head on his shoulder, she let her fingers play on his broad chest.