Honest Love (22 page)

“Okay…”  Claire was panting…waiting.  I kept my lips next to her ear, but continued to lick and kiss all around her ear and neck. 

I guided my fingers under the lace, found her warm, wet folds and pushed two fingers inside. “Tell me you’re mine.  This is mine.”  I rubbed my thumb across her clit as I pumped my fingers in and out. 

“Yes.  Yours, Derek.  I’ve never felt…like this, not ever.”  I smiled against the edge of her chin where I’d been kissing. 

“Neither have I and I’m yours, Claire.  You don’t have a choice.  I’m all yours.”  My fingers circled inside her and I could feel her tightening around them.  “Let go.”

“Not. Yet.”  She reached down and unzipped my jeans to find I wasn’t wearing underwear.  She grabbed my cock and jerked it through the opening before her soft hand began pumping me. 

I hissed through my teeth.  “Shit.” 

“Together.”

“Claire…God…I’ll be a mess.” 

“Here.”  She used her free hand and pushed her jeans down and I could feel her feet shuffling to get them off her at her ankles.  Then, she pushed my hand out of her and away before pulling my cock to her opening.  “Here.  Now.”  Claire lifted one leg to my hip, then circled me with the other and I pushed inside. “Ahh…”  She kissed me like I was her lifeline and I returned it just as hard.

I finally had my Claire wrapped around me again.  “This…
this
is where I belong…buried in you, loving you.”

“Yes, here with me.”  I pumped into her over and over searching for our release.  “Now…baby.”  I felt Claire’s body start to shudder after only a minute and I followed, pumping myself into her. 

I groaned out “Mine” as my release came hot and hard into her body.  As we slowly settled back to earth, I heard her kids wandering through the master bedroom and bath.  We froze, looking at each other with huge, silly grins.  “Shh.”

“I like him because he makes Mom smile.  I think she really likes him.”  Jenna was talking.

“So cool that he’s Derek London.”  Jon spoke, I think.

“Only thing is…Dad will freak out.  Not only because it’s Derek London, but because mom has found someone to love.  He may have Kaye, but you know he’s gonna freak.”  Sounded like Matt was okay with us, but worried about Claire’s ex….their dad.  I looked at her face and she just took a long, slow blink and shook her head letting me know Jake wasn’t a problem.  I kissed her forehead and wiggled my hips just slightly to distract her from what we were hearing. 

“Come on.  Let’s see where Mom and Derek went.  Maybe they’re at the beach.”  I listened as Claire’s kids walked out of the bathroom and through the master bedroom. 

I pulled out of her and set Claire’s feet on the floor.  “What do you think about all that?”

She put her clothes back in place and said, “I’m glad they like you.  But they have the whole Jake thing wrong, Derek.  He might be concerned about our kids, but they aren’t little…it’s not like they’re babies.”

I was adjusting myself when she wrapped her arms around my neck.  “Believe me.  This is good.  They really like the man I love.  It’s all good.”

“Okay.” I held her close and kissed the tip of her nose.  “Come on.  We need to reappear.”  I was relieved, but still curious about her ex-husband.

We snuck out of the closet, through the bathroom and into the master bedroom.  “Let’s go out these doors.”  The french doors opened to a balcony off the bedroom and had a few steps leading to a path toward the beach.  I held Claire’s hand as we walked and softly rubbed my thumb across hers.  “This place…just wow!” 

“I know, right!”  She leaned against my shoulder as we stood side by side on the beach and looked out to the ocean.  “I’m so happy you’re here with me.  Just perfect.”

I turned to face Claire and wrapped my arms around her.  “Thank you for letting me come with you and your kids.  It means so much that you trust me, that you’re allowing me to meet them and be a part of this.”

“Well, I couldn’t find a good enough reason not to have you here.  I know we still have a few things to work through, but I don’t care.”

I stared straight into her beautiful brown eyes.  “There’s nothing to work out, Claire.  I love you.  I want
you.
End.  Of.  Discussion
.”

“I’m not going to fight you, Derek.  Not anymore.  I just want to love you, enjoy every minute with you.  I’ve decided not to worry about the future anymore.”

“Good.  Because there’s nothing to worry about, okay?”

“Okay.”  Claire’s big smile was the best thing I’d ever seen.  I pulled her around to where she was standing in front of me, her back against my chest and I folded my arms around her as we stared at the ocean waves. 

“Mom!”  Jenna was yelling.

Claire, still in my arms and peeked back over her left shoulder to her daughter.  “Over here.” 

I whispered, “It’s funny to hear you called ‘mom.’  I love it.”

“Sure, you say that now, but after you hear ‘mom’ five thousand times in a day, it’s not so cute.”  She laughed and elbowed my side.  “Jenna, did you guys check out every inch of the place.”  Claire’s daughter had reached us and was smiling as she looked at my arms wrapped around her mom.

“I think so.  This is so cool, Mom.  Tell Mr. Stephens thank you.  It’s awesome.”  She was really enthusiastic. 

“I will.”  I squeezed my arms tighter around her because I was still a jealous ass.  “Where are your brothers?”

“Inside.”

“Well, there is also a clubhouse with swimming and tennis about a five minute walk from here if you guys want to go check it out.”

“YES!  I’ll go get them.  See you in a little while, Momma.”  Jenna turned to leave, then ran back, kissed Claire on the cheek and said, “Ya’ll have fun.  Oh, do we need any money?”

“No.  Andy said everything at the clubhouse was included with the house.  Just tell them which house you’re staying in.” 

“Okay.  Cool.  See ya.”  And with that, Claire’s daughter went on about her way.

My mind was working overtime.  It suddenly dawned on me who the house belonged to.  “Andy Stephens?  As in the hall of fame baseball pitcher?”

“Yes, why?”

“Well, hell, I wish I would’ve known.”

“Why?”

“Because it would have saved me from being jealous.  He’s a really cool guy.  I don’t know him very well, only been around him through the sports awards things, but I do know what kind of man he is.  He’s a pretty cool dude.  Very generous and super nice.”

“Yes, he and his wife are both great.  But, I sort of like you being a little jealous.”  Claire whispered. 

“You do?”

“Yes, it means you care…you love me.  It feels nice.”

I took a deep breath.  “Baby, that’s how it should be. 
He
wasn’t good enough for you.  You should always be first…always feel loved…always feel wanted.”

Claire rubbed her hands across my forearms and said, “We had good years, Derek.  And he gave me my kids.  I can’t regret that.”

I cringed when she said, ‘he gave me my kids.’  Jake didn’t deserve My Claire.  “I know.  But it’s still not right.  You should have been his number one…above anyone else.”

“You’re right.  I should have.  But the past is the past and my future is right here…with you.”

“Damn right it is!”  I smiled.

“Let’s go inside.  I’d love a glass of wine or some fruit.  Andy said there’s a maid that comes every day and a chef that we can ask to come for all meals or just dinner.  I’m thinking just dinner.  Let’s go see what we’re supposed to do.”

“Sounds good.”  I reached down and swept Claire into my arms, cradling her close to me and causing her to let out a squeal. 

“Derek?  What the hell?”

“Hush!  I want to carry you inside.”

“But you’ll hurt your knee.  Put me down!”

“NO!”  I kissed the top of her breast that was slightly exposed due to the v-neck tee shirt she had on.  “Mmm…I rather like this.  Right.  Here.”  I kissed and licked the small area of her exposed chest and Claire tightened her arms around me before starting to run her fingers up and down the back of my neck. 

“Feels nice.”  She whispered low in my ear.

“This week is going to be so fucking incredible.  You know that, right?  I’m going to make sure of it.  We’re going to have fun with your kids during the day and at night?  Well, you’re all mine and I’m going to devour every bit of you—making you fall deeper and deeper in love so that you’ll never try to leave me again…not for anything.”

She didn’t comment.  Didn’t have to.  Instead, Claire kissed my neck, behind my ear and moaned with every simple little caress she was showering on me.  I had a plan and it was fail-proof.

Chapter 26

Claire

Andy’s place was more than I’d hoped for.  I especially loved that the master bedroom was separated from the other bedrooms.  The privacy would definitely be needed with Derek. 

“What time is it?”

“It’s…shit, it’s already 6:30.”  Derek looked at his watch, which was still on California time.  “Wow, I didn’t realize the time difference, especially from home.”  He walked up behind me as I stood at the massive, tall granite island and slowly…very slowly, teasingly circled my waist.  “That means we won’t be tired for a really long time. My body is on San Diego time and I’m sure yours is too.  But the kids are on Houston time.  This day just gets better and better.”

I laughed and gently slapped his hands.  “You are such a bad, bad man, Derek London.”

“And I think you love that about me, too.”

“Maybe.” 

He nipped my ear with his teeth.

“Kidding!  I was kidding.” 

Derek stepped back from me, smacked my ass and walked around the island to the refrigerator.  “Let’s see if there is something in here for dinner.  If not, why don’t we see what our options are?  Should we call the chef?”

“Sure, why not.”  I had moved next to him and stared in the completely full fridge.  “Let’s not think about it.  I’d rather let someone else pamper us this week.  I think we all deserve a little pampering.  Right?  Sound good to you?”

Derek shut the door and grabbed the back of my neck, pulling my lips to his, but not kissing me.  “Agreed.”  I thought he was going to ravage me with one of his heart stopping kisses, but instead he closed his eyes, touched his forehead to mine and whispered, “So unbelievable.”

“What is?”  My voice was raspy with desire.

“You.”

“Why?”

“The way you give yourself to me, to
them
with your whole heart, never denying how you feel or what you think.  It’s so open and honest, just incredibly amazing.  You were made for me, Claire, and I was made for you.”

“You make me sound like a saint.  I’m not, believe me.  The lies, the denial, the games…they get old.  I’ve wasted too much of my life drowning in them.  Not anymore.”

“Never again.  You’re mine, not his.  True, honest love is what we have and what binds us to each other.”

I blinked a few times to stop them, but my eyes betrayed me and a single tear fell from each of my eyes.  “Derek…”

“What is it, baby?”  He kissed my lips softly, then each of my eyelids.

“Thank you.  You’ve given me more love in our short time together than Jake did our whole marriage.  I know because I can feel it…like nothing I’ve ever felt before.  It’s so deep inside me, filling every one of those gaping, open wounds he left behind.”

“That’s a good thing, right?”

I nodded my head. 

“So why the tears?”

“I’m scared.”

“Of?”

“Loving you too much.”

“Why is that a bad?”

“I don’t know.  It’s just a feeling.”

He pulled his face away from mine, but still held my head in his hands.  “Claire, be honest with me.  What is it?”

“It’s just new to me…all this amazing attention, the love you show.  It’s taking some getting used to, that’s all.”  There was one more little, or not so little thing, but I had to risk it, hope he would love me enough.

Derek stared at me for several seconds, not fully convinced, but he let it go and said, “I hope you never get used to it.  I want our love to amaze you every single day.  So, stop dwelling on anything you
think
I want or need.  I know my own heart better than you do, okay?”  He knew what I was keeping from him—my biggest fear for us.

I kissed his lips and could feel his reluctance to ‘change the subject’ because he didn’t immediately respond the way I wanted.  But when I brushed my tongue across the seam of his beautifully soft lips, he opened his mouth and shoved his tongue inside, trying to calm my fears with his all-consuming kiss.

We stood in the kitchen, rubbing, stroking, kissing for a long time, until we heard the front door open.  “Sounds like they’re back.  Why don’t you make us a drink and I’ll call about the chef…see if it’s too late in the day for him to come?”

I was breathless.  I reached up to feel my raw, red lips with my fingers.  “How are you so calm?”  I whispered.  “I need to pull myself together.” 

Derek grinned then glanced down at his jeans and I followed his gaze.  “Calm?”

I chuckled seeing his very noticeable erection bulging.  “Thank God!  I thought I was losing my touch already.”

“You’re kidding, right?  Not even close. I just need to busy myself so
they
don’t see it.” His laugh was intoxicating and made me nearly hysterical.

I turned around, still laughing and started to thumb through the stack of visitor information on the counter.  “Right.  That might be a little uncomfortable.” 

“You’re not kidding.”  He joked. 

I shook my head and kept up my search.  “Mom?”

“In the kitchen.”

All three of my kids walked in and smiled when they saw Derek and me there.  “Mom, the club was so cool!  I want to go back later.  They are having a special New Year’s Day party tonight.”  Jenna was bouncing as she told me.

“Oh, that’s right!  I sort of forgot it was New Year’s Day with all the traveling.”

“What are they having down there?”  Derek asked.

“They’re doing a movie on this big grassy lawn area and serving dinner…”  Jenna continued.

“…yeah, like a really good dinner.  Prime rib and all kinds of stuff.  You think it’s free, Mom.”  Jon’s eyes were as big as saucers.