His Secret Past (17 page)

She rolled her hips against him as he teased her entrance.

“Are you trying to torture me?” she murmured as she nipped his earlobe.

“Maybe.” The act of teasing her was sensual all by itself. She let out erotic little moans every place he touched her, kissed her, turning him on even more.

Reaching between them, he slid a finger inside her to test her slickness. She was tight, but wet and ready. Though he wanted to tease her all night, he wanted something else even more. With a quick thrust, he was inside her. And inside her was the only place he wanted to be.

She’d always liked sex nice and slow, but that wasn’t going to happen now. Something about the gleam in her eyes told him that wasn’t what she wanted at all. Which was good, because he didn’t either. She gasped at the intrusion, but just as quickly, her hips danced against his in a perfect rhythm. Her legs tightened around his waist as she pulled him deeper inside her with each thrust.

Her dark hair fell around her face and onto the pillow. Staring at her, he saw the woman he’d fantasized about for years, and the strong woman she’d turned into. He wanted to give her so much it scared the hell out of him. Something he’d never admit aloud. Night and day she’d eaten into his thoughts. Never far from the forefront of his brain. He was still having a hard time believing this was all real. This was
Alexis
he was touching and holding. Not some fantasy. For the first time in years he knew when he woke up tomorrow he’d have the taste of her on his lips and the imprint of her on his body.

While he wanted to kiss her, he couldn’t. Right now all he could do was stare at her—at them—as they made love. Her eyes were an electric blue and they shone with raw heat and need. Each time he thrust inside her tight sheath her mouth parted slightly and her gaze seemed to devour him. He could drown looking into those eyes.

The faster he moved, the tighter she clutched at his back until finally she surged into orgasm. It happened so fast he didn’t expect it. Apparently she didn’t either. Her mouth opened into a wordless scream as her body shook with an almost violent force. The climax ripped through her fast and hard, and it completely floored him. Watching her like this was pure heaven.

Her inner walls clenched around him with each ripple, sending him over the edge. Years ago, he’d been able to last for hours with her. Not tonight. Tonight, years of wanting and waiting had caught up to him. With a shout, he clutched the sheets next to her head and emptied himself until he was blindly thrusting into her. His hips just wouldn’t stop thrusting even after he’d climaxed. Eventually he managed to get his body under control even though energy hummed through him.

As his heart rate returned to normal, he propped up on both elbows so he wouldn’t smother her and stared down at her. What he saw on her face touched something deep inside him he’d forgotten existed. She looked satisfied and relaxed. Maybe even happy. For the first time since he’d been back. She didn’t look scared or worried—and he’d been the one to put that look on her face. Memorizing her expression, he filed it away and locked it up tight. It would be all he had in the future nights to come.

Reaching up, she threaded her fingers through his hair and leaned up to kiss him. It was soft, sweet, almost chaste. It reminded him of everything he’d missed the past six years. His throat clenched with too many unwanted emotions so he rolled over and fell back against the pillow.

Moving with him, she laid her head against his chest. She didn’t seem to want to talk, and that was fine with him. When she wordlessly threw a satiny leg over him, he drew her even closer. Tomorrow things would change. Tonight, he simply wanted to hold her.

Chapter 9

Alexis opened her eyes and groaned. Sunlight streamed through the wooden slat blinds, warming her face. She stretched and rolled over, expecting to see Hunter. She froze, and that familiar feeling of abandonment rolled over in violent waves. His side of the bed was empty. Sitting up, she listened for the sound of the shower. “Hunter?”

Nausea briefly threatened until she reminded herself that this was what she’d asked for. She’d told him she wasn’t expecting anything. Just one night. And that was what he’d given her. So why did it hurt so badly?

She rubbed her sternum as if that could ease the pain in her chest. When she saw the time on the digital clock, however, she jumped out of bed and shelved thoughts of Hunter. Her clothes and undergarments were scattered across the room, but she hurriedly jerked them on.

It was nine o’clock. Two hours later than Jonathan normally woke. Blood roared in her ears as she realized Jonathan could have easily gone searching for her and found her in bed with Hunter. She’d rather save that kind of conversation for another day. Like ten years from now—or never.

After she found Jonathan’s room empty, she heard laughter and voices as she was hurrying down the stairs. She slowed her pace before entering the kitchen. Hunter had his back to her at the stove and Jonathan stood on a chair while he mixed some sort of batter. Jonathan spied her first.

“Mom, me and Hunter are cooking you breakfast.” He smiled at her and held up a big spoon, dripping the doughy mix across the counter.

“I can see that,” she murmured and stepped into the room.

Hunter turned and sent her a look that sent shivers straight to her toes. “Coffee?”

“Yes, please.” She took the mug from his extended hand and sat at the table.

Today Hunter had on a faded Yankees sweatshirt and jeans. Surprisingly, Jonathan was also dressed, in jeans and a Spider-Man sweater. Normally, he required her help, but something told her Hunter had assisted since his tennis shoes were tied perfectly.

“What are you guys making?”

“Pancakes.” Jonathan wobbled on the chair, and she immediately stood, ready to help him.

When he righted himself, she sat back down. She knew she had to let him take chances, but she couldn’t help her overprotective streak.

“When do I get to pour the pancake mix?” Jonathan asked Hunter.

“Give me one second, buddy… Alexis, if you’d like to shower or freshen up, we’ve got this covered. Everything should be ready in twenty minutes.”

Jonathan jumped down, then pushed his stool toward the stove.

“Well, if you’re sure.” She hadn’t had time to brush her teeth or look in the mirror. For Hunter to make that comment, she could only imagine how frightful she must look after the night they’d had.

Hunter winked and turned back to assist Jonathan.

“Okay, but…be careful.” She left the room, and by the time she reached her bedroom, she realized her hands were balled into tight fists.

She stripped and started a steaming shower. Once she was under the pummeling jets, some of the aches in her shoulders loosened. Sometimes she was a control freak where Jonathan was concerned, and she knew she had to let go on occasion. But she knew Hunter wasn’t going to be around and she didn’t want Jonathan getting too attached to him. It was unfair. For so long she’d been the only person making decisions about Jonathan’s life, and she wasn’t so sure how she’d adjust to someone else in the picture anyway.

Michael had always loved Jonathan like he was his own, but he’d never taken an active role in disciplining him. Probably because she hadn’t let him.

Guilt still niggled at her for never fully committing to Michael. After last night however, she realized why she hadn’t. No one had ever made her feel the way Hunter could with a single look. After Hunter had left, she’d never let Michael or anyone else she’d dated fully immerse themselves into her life. She’d managed to keep things separated into different compartments. And she preferred it that way.

She wasn’t so sure if it was a defense mechanism, or a way to keep control. Either way, it didn’t matter. She knew she would eventually have to give up some of her control, but she was terrified at the prospect.

The water turned tepid, so she switched off the knob, and after drying her hair, quickly dressed into a cashmere sweater and jeans. She wasn’t sure if Hunter had already made the call to his old boss, but if he hadn’t, she knew he would soon and they’d be leaving. She should be excited about the thought of going back to her own life, but knowing Hunter wouldn’t be part of it left a gaping hole in her chest.

Hunter took a bite of his pancakes as he watched the interaction between Jonathan and Alexis. A mixture of pride and pain mingled inside him, making him want to crawl out of his own skin. The past couple of hours with Jonathan had been a blessing and a curse. It had given him more time with his son—time that only dug that knife of the inevitable deeper in his chest. Soon he’d be gone and would miss out on so much. He’d already missed out on a lot, but now that he’d met Jonathan it would be worse. Shaking his head at himself, he took another bite. It tasted like cardboard.

“Wow, Mom, I’ve never seen you eat so much for breakfast,” Jonathan said as he shoveled another bite of pancakes into his mouth.

“Don’t talk with your mouth full.” Alexis took a sip of her orange juice.

A pinkish tinge played across her cheeks as she stabbed another piece of her pancake and Hunter couldn’t help but smile. He had a pretty good idea why she was so hungry. He’d woken her twice before the night was through.

“Mom, is it okay if Hunter comes to my play next month?”

This time she looked at him with wide, questioning eyes. “Uh…”

His throat dried up. He likely wouldn’t be around next month. But how did he tell a five-year-old that it was for his own good? And how the hell was he going to walk away from Jonathan now that he’d met him? Or Alexis, for that matter?

He and Jonathan had had a long discussion that morning. When Hunter had woken at a quarter to seven, he’d gone to check on the kid. He hadn’t wanted to wake Alexis, and he really hadn’t wanted Jonathan to find them in bed together. So Hunter took advantage of their alone time to talk to him without any interruptions. Talking to kids wasn’t something he was used to, but if Jonathan’s new interest in having him around this morning was any indication, Hunter guessed he’d done an all-right job. He’d apologized for what had happened at the beach yesterday and Jonathan had immediately told him it was okay. Kids were so much more forgiving than adults. But they hadn’t talked about the future, mainly because Hunter wanted to avoid it. Now that Alexis had broken up with Michael, a selfish part of him wondered if staying would be so bad. If being involved in their lives actually might be okay. Then he reminded himself that they were on the run because of him and that someone had tried to shoot Alexis and their son yesterday, and he remembered exactly why he
couldn’t
be involved any longer than necessary.

Jonathan continued even though neither of them had answered his original question. “It’s supposed to be the week before Christmas. And maybe you can spend Christmas dinner with us too? We usually spend it at Aunt Gwen’s.” Jonathan wrapped his hands around the half-full glass of milk and scooted it to the edge of the table, concentrating on not spilling it.

Alexis’s lips pursed into a thin line as she stared at Hunter. When he didn’t speak up, she turned to Jonathan. “Honey, we’ll talk about that later, okay? It’s too early to worry about holiday plans.”

“Okay.” Jonathan nodded and reached for the syrup. But he still wasn’t finished. “I’m going to be Snoopy in the Charlie Brown play,” Jonathan supplied and took another bite.

“Technically it’s
You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,
” Alexis said, a smile tugging at her lips.

“And if I’m really good, Mom’s going to get me a dog for Christmas this year. Maybe one exactly like Snoopy.” His dark eyes lit up as he glanced at her for confirmation.

Alexis’s smile faded and she choked on her juice before finding her voice. “We’ve talked about this—”

“And you said I could have one.” He crossed his arms over his chest and stuck his chin out mutinously. The first truly stubborn sign Hunter had seen from him.

“No, I said I’d
think
about it. My answer was maybe. Not yes.” She tapped her fork against her plate.

Hunter observed their interaction and frowned as new thoughts assailed him. What the hell did he know about kids? He’d spent a few days with Jonathan, but he had no clue about disciplining or what to do if he came down with a cold or something. The vise around his chest tightened again as he thought about how alone Alexis must have felt raising a baby by herself. Sure, she’d had her family, but her entire pregnancy must have been torture. Even though it wasn’t his choice to leave, it just reminded him how little he could offer her and how little he deserved her. The fact that she’d allowed him in her bed last night meant more to him than she’d ever know.

Alexis laid a light hand on his arm and he nearly jumped. “Did you hear anything I said?”

“No, sorry.”

“What on earth are you thinking about?” Her brow crinkled in confusion.

Since he couldn’t tell her what had been running through his brain, he grinned the most lecherous smile he could manage.

She gritted her teeth and smacked his arm. “Be serious. I said Jonathan is going upstairs to play in his room so we can talk.”

Almost on cue, Jonathan pushed back in his chair, grabbed another biscuit and ran from the room mumbling something about life not being fair.

“Sounds good.” He started clearing the table. As he loaded the dishwasher, Alexis came up behind him and handed him her plate.

“So what do you think?” she asked.

Maybe he’d missed more of the conversation than he realized. “About what?”

She rubbed a hand over her face and groaned. “About buying him a dog? He’s been begging for the better part of a year, but I don’t know if he’s ready yet. To be honest, I don’t know if I’m ready because I know exactly what will happen. I’ll be the one stuck training and cleaning up after it.”

His throat tightened. Something inside of him wanted to tell her that if she let him, he’d help out. The thought of helping house-train a dog was strangely appealing. As long as he shared that house with Alexis.