Hush - Fighting Fate #2 (43 page)

Then she touched him.

I didn’t know what it was about that touch. It was just a simple hand on his arm, but it instantly made it all click into place. There was something more than work between them. Her behavior made so much more sense now.

I
instantly felt sick. Since the day he’d turned up at school I hadn’t thought once about him with another girl, but watching him just then, with a girl who obviously liked him, I was suddenly panicking. The thought of him leaving me for her was the scariest thing I’d ever faced.

When I saw him shake her off and start towards the car, I forced myself to get my shit together.
I was not going to be the jealous girlfriend. But I was silently shitting myself.

Chapter 68

Noah

I fumed
like the fucking devil the whole way back to the apartment. Running into Leah had soured my whole fucking day. I’d been so proud of Kaeli at the range. She’d shot better than even some of the guys the first time they’d been there. It’d been such a fucking turn on, all I wanted to do was take her home and show her how fucking sexy I thought she was. But then Leah had to show up.

I’d come so close to telling her to go
to hell. I still hadn’t forgiven her for convincing Walt to pull detail from Kaeli. As far as I was concerned, that was unforgivable. She’d let jealousy get in the way of doing her job. A job that was to serve and protect. She’d failed.

I still couldn’t believe she had the audacity to ask me if we could catch up.
Of course, she’d tried to cover it up by saying it was just to talk about everything. Clear the air. But I knew Leah, and I knew when she was making a play.

She hadn’t been happy when I’d straight up said no, and she’d been even more so when I told her I was with Kaeli. I left her with a warning to stay the hell away from me. I knew that was probably overkill, but I was too mad with her to mince words.

Throwing my keys on the kitchen counter, I frowned. I’d been so far in my own head, I didn’t even know if Kaeli had followed me inside.

Turning, I saw her standing near the closed door, her face a mask of confusion and uncertainty. Fuck.

“Shit. Kaeli, I’m sorry,” I said, striding over to pull her against me. “I didn’t mean to ignore you. Leah just really pissed me off.”

Her silence panicked me. Fuck. Had I messed this up more than I’d thought?

Pulling back so I could try to get a read on her, I took her hips in my hands. “Baby? Are you okay?”

She bit her lip
, worry flashing through her pretty eyes. “I’m trying really hard not to be the insecure girlfriend, Noah, but that didn’t look good. Is there something you need to tell me about Leah? Did you used to date her or something?”

I blinked at her stupidly. Shit. She thought Leah and I had a thing? “Fuck, no. We’ve never been anything but co-workers. I promise.”

She looked at me skeptically.

“You want every little detail?”

Giving me a pitiful look, she exhaled and dropped her head. “I’m sorry. I just need to understand.”

“Don’t be sorry, baby. Fuck, I get jealous any time one of those guy friends of yours is anywhere near you.” I sighed. “I met Leah just before I went undercover at the final briefing. I knew then that she was attracted to me, but of course neither of us could do anything about it.”

“But you wanted to?”

I frowned. “I thought about it, but I think that was just because of where I was. I needed to have something normal to look forward to, if you can understand that? I saw her every now and again when I checked in, and we always flirted I guess, and I did think about maybe seeing where it went when it was all over. But then I met you.
”

She gave me a withering look.

“Baby, Leah’s got nothing on you. Seeing now what I have with you, I know that whatever it was with Leah was nothing more than a bit of fun flirting. It pales so fucking much in comparison, it’s not even visible.”

I watched her features change with her emotions. I knew she was taking it all in, and thankfully she looked like she got it. But then she frowned, making the panic flare up again.

“Why did you look so pissed at her?”

Sighing, I looked up to the ceiling for a heartbeat before meeting her gaze again. “She was supposed to be undercover at your school to keep an eye on you.”

She nodded. “Yeah, I remember seeing her there.”

“But not when it mattered.”

Her eyebrows scrunched up. “What do you mean?”

I seriously didn’t want to have to explain it, but I knew there was no way to get out of it now. “
Around the time your mom was in hospital, I managed to check in with Leah. I was trying to make sure someone was watching out for you when I couldn’t.” I huffed out a breath, remembering Leah’s reaction. It still pissed me off even now. “Leah kind of flipped out on me. I didn’t get it at the time. I didn’t understand why she thought so badly of you, but I just continued on with the job. I didn’t find out until after Aaron took you that she’d convinced the captain you didn’t need detail.”

Kaeli’s mouth popped open with understanding. “Oh. Wow.”

I gave her a dry look. “Yeah, wow. So that’s why I’m pissed at her. She let her jealousy of you interfere with her job, and your safety was compromised because of it.”

“But…Aaron took me from home, not school, so she’s not really to blame…”

I shook my head at her. “Doesn’t matter. Yes, chances are you still probably would’ve been taken, but she still put her own feelings before the job which, might I remind you, is to serve and protect.”

Kaeli shook her head like she couldn’t believe it. I almost could
n’t either. “She really doesn’t like me,” she said.

“No. She doesn’t like that
I
like you. There’s a big difference.” I watched her process it all before taking her face in my hands. “So, do you believe me now when I say there’s nothing between me and Leah? Because baby, I’m pretty sure you’re it for me.”

Her beautiful green eyes grew big with wonder and I was suddenly done with talking. Lowering my head to hers, I kissed her deep and
lifted her up against me. Then, with more certainty than I’d ever had, I carried her off to the bedroom.

***

Kaeli was still sleeping soundly when I woke the next morning. I wasn’t surprised when I found myself wrapped around her like a blanket. I’d found myself like that every time I’d woken with her in my bed. It was like I was frightened she might get away while I was sleeping or something.

As I lay there, breathing her in, I knew I
’d be happy to do this every day of my life if she’d let me. I just had to show her I could be good for her.

Softly stroking my lips over her bare neck, I let my hand smooth over the silky skin on her hip. Kaeli hummed a sound of contentment and shifted, arching back into me. Pressing my lips to her neck again, I slowly moved my hand over her toned stomach, pulling her in, needing her closer.

“Good morning,” I murmured in her ear.

“Mmm…good morning. I could get used to this…”

Sucking her earlobe between my lips, I inhaled deeply. “Me too…”

She wriggled in my arms so she was laying on her back and tilted her head to kiss me, then she stretched her arms up over her head and smiled.

Damn, I loved her in that position. She looked so fucking sexy. Groaning a sound of appreciation, I slipped a leg between hers, moving one hand up to grip her wrists while I stroked the other one down her side.

“I forgot to tell you,
” I murmured while I tasted her collarbone. “Adam and Kara are having their engagement party tonight.”

“Oh, okay,”
she said, sounding a little unsure.

“You’
re coming with me,” I said, not leaving it open for negotiation.

She
smiled dreamily, making me feel like I’d just won the national lottery.

Trailing
my free hand down between her legs, I let my fingers explore her entrance, sighing when I found her already wet. Sliding a finger inside her, I skimmed my lips up the column of her neck. “You’re always so ready for me.”

She
sucked in a shaky breath. “That’s because I always want you…”

I
groaned. Even her damned voice was sexy. But this wasn’t about me. It was about her. About me showing her just how much she meant to me.

Sliding my fingers out of her wet
heat, I shifted over her and settled between her legs. I felt a shiver go through her body and she wriggled, tilting her pelvis so my cock was at her opening. I knew she was eager. I could feel her body trembling with the need to get to her climax, but I needed her to see she was more than just a means to an end.

Slowly, I
eased inside of her. I still had one hand gripped around her wrists, because I wanted to show her that being restrained didn’t have to be about fast and furious. I wanted her to see that it could be sensual. And loving.

With our gazes locked,
I continued to move, making sure each slide in and out was a long, pleasure building tease.

Her breaths became heavy and labored, and she pushed her
hips against mine, matching my rhythm with long, slow strokes. I could feel the pressure building inside her, feel her climbing to those crazy heights we seemed to always take each other, and I watched it all with rapt amazement.

She affected me in so many ways. Made me feel so many things. My breath grew
heavy with it, but I was still in control. Still focused on being what she needed me to be.

“I love you, Kaeli,”
I whispered, making sure that if she wanted to see it, the truth was right there. In my eyes.

I saw the
exact moment she realized it, and in the next heartbeat, her eyelids fluttered and her body shattered around me as she whimpered against my cheek. Releasing her hands, I pulled her into me and held her so tight she’d have no doubt in her mind that I would always be there to put her back together again. Forever.

Chapter 69

Kaeli

Stepping into the Murphy’s backyard was like stepping into another world. It was magical.

Their yard was huge, and by huge I meant freaking massive. It had everything a backyard should. Glorious overhanging trees. Winding paths, stone steps, wooden bridges over ponds, little running creeks, manicured lawns. You name it, it was there.

And the Murphy’s had decorated it all.

It honestly looked like the most romantic movie set ever. There were twinkling fairy lights strung in the trees, paper lanterns lining the paths and steps, candles in glass jars hanging on wires over the pond, sheer white curtains dancing in the breeze, and clusters of white, pink and silver balloons. It was just beautiful.

I was a little shocked that they went to this much
trouble just for an engagement party. I would’ve been more than happy with it for my entire wedding day.

I paused as I took it all in, causing Noah to stop beside me.
Turning to me with enquiring eyes, he stepped a little closer.

“God, it’s so beautiful,” I said reverently.

His gaze darkened as he watched me. “We Murphy’s don’t do anything by halves.”

I watched his gaze run down the length of my body, immediately understanding what he meant. It took me two attempts to get ready to go out that night. The first time I came out, all ready to go, Noah ripped my panties off that quickly, my head spun. Then he’d pulled me down on top of him as he sat on the sofa and I rode him like I was possessed. It was some of the most exhilarating sex I’d ever had.

The second time I’d come out after cleaning myself up, his eyes had darkened again, and I had to drag him out the door before he could make us any later than we already were.

So as he let his gaze wander down over my new dress, I knew exactly what he was thinking.
I’d have to text Mia later and thank her for her wisdom on the choice of dress.

I’d been unsure when she’d first pulled if off the rack. I didn’t want to stand out too much, purely because it was Kara’s night and I didn’t want it to look like I was trying to steal her limelight. But when I’d tried it on, I knew I had to get it.

It was a pale blue cocktail dress. Strapless, with an empire line, and had lots of little strips of chiffon that fell to my mid-thigh. The bodice was a sweetheart shaped neckline, covered with lots of sparkling silver gems. I’d matched it with some long, dangly silver earrings and my most favorite pair of four inch heels, also sparkly and silver. My only other accessory was a big, thick silver bangle.

Mia had styled my hair for me, setting it in big, bouncy waves that fell down my back, but I did my own make-up, sticking to my usual minimum.

“Hey…look at you two. Fashionably late again?”

We both turned to see Isaac striding towards us.