Reid's Deliverance (10 page)

His gaze clashed with hers. “That’s exactly what I was going to say. How did you know?”

Her hands trembled. The water bottle she held tipped and water splashed over her fingers. “I didn’t.” Lauren diverted her attention to her hands and shook off the moisture. Not true in the least. The words seemed so familiar and right.

“No.” Reid gripped her arms. “What are you not saying? What do you know about me?”

“Nothing. I just guessed.”

“Then why do I seem to know you? Why do I feel…” As he looked at the mountains, his shoulders sagged with a deep exhale.

She laid her hand against his chest. His heart hammered. “I’d tell you if I knew who you are or how you know me. Honest, Reid. I have no reason to keep it from you.”

“Why did you look stunned when you said it?”

“Déjà vu. I’ve heard it before, but not from you. Maybe it was my dad. We used to hike here when I was a child.” A lump formed in her throat. “He’s gone.”

“I’m sorry.” His jawline squared then relaxed. “It’s hard to lose a parent.” He let her go. “Are you up for going a little further?”

“Yes.”

They hiked for another half hour in silence. She couldn’t blame him for leaping on a coincidence. Not remembering her friends, her job, her life, she couldn’t imagine it. Or why she’d finished his sentence. Connecting it to her father made sense, but that didn’t make it true.

“Nothing’s standing out.” Reid paused. “There’s no point in continuing. I’ll try again when I have the proper gear and supplies.” He released a harsh exhale and stomped off.

The hike back seemed a lot shorter.

When they arrived at the cabin, Lauren climbed the stairs to the deck. She sank onto one of the bench seats at the table. Fatigue weighed her down.

Reid appeared as energetic as when they’d left. He dropped the makeshift pack on the table. “There’s a tree near your property line that’s about to fall down. Do you have an ax?”

“Check the shed on the side of the cabin.” Lauren pointed. A two-door storage unit sat a few yards across from a tarp-covered woodpile. “The caretaker packed up for me, but he said he labeled the boxes.”

She unzipped the pocket on her jacket and got her keys. “Here.”

Reid hunkered down in front of her. He gripped her hand and the keys. “I’m sorry for being rude. I’m normally not like this.” He released a derisive snort. “At least I don’t think so. I could be as wrong as the direction of our hike today.”

“I don’t think you’re naturally rude, either. I wouldn’t help you if I did. You’re entitled to feel frustrated over this. Maybe you’re trying too hard.”

“I hadn’t thought of that.”

As she looked down, she resisted running her fingers through his hair.

He let go of her hand. “I better get started on that tree.”

* * * *

Reid swung the ax. Each strike punctuated a truth chipping away at him. No money. No idea about his identity. No clue why he’d sought her out. Or why he could barely keep his cock under control every time Lauren got near him. He’d almost messed up and kissed her again. Was he always so easily distracted by a beautiful woman or was it just her? The sun beamed. Reid took off the shirt he’d borrowed from her and laid it over a stack of chopped wood. It didn’t matter if he couldn’t remember. She didn’t need someone like him hanging around.

Lauren came down from the deck carrying a glass. She’d changed into a fresh T-shirt, and denim shorts showed off her well-toned legs. “I thought you could use something to drink.”

He accepted the cold lemonade. “Thanks.” The tart and sweet beverage cooled him.

She glanced at the piles on the grass.

He’d separated out logs for the fireplace. The limbs and debris he’d collected from the yard would go into the trash.

“I appreciate you doing this.” The breeze ruffled her hair. She brushed it back. A light floral perfume lingered with the scent of fresh lemon. “You’re saving me a lot of extra work.”

“It is the least I can do.” He couldn’t stay and decipher the reasons behind his visions of them together. Not complicating her life outweighed finding answers. He’d convinced her not to call the police. He’d inserted her into his problem and still she’d helped. He couldn’t keep manipulating her. She’d done enough.

“I made lunch. We can eat outside.”

He handed her the glass. The soft brush of her fingers parched his throat all over again. “I’m almost finished.”

“Then it’s a great time to take a break.”

Her retreat to the deck and the sway of her ass strangled a response. One last meal for the condemned man. He put on his shirt and joined her at the table. Hungrier than he’d expected, Reid ate two turkey sandwiches. Could he talk her into letting him pack food for the road?

He snagged a peach slice from a bowl. “I’ll stack the logs with the rest of the wood on the side of the cabin. Where should I pile the trash?”

“Out front in the yard is fine. A truck will be here at the end of next week to haul it away. Between what’s in the shed and the loft, I’m sure there will be bags of it.”

“Cleaning up for the summer?”

“No. I’m selling.”

“Why? You love this place.”

“What makes you say that?”

Good question. She said he didn’t know her. He took a long drink of lemonade. “You just seemed to really like it here. It’s a nice place.”

“It is.” She toyed with a carrot stick on her plate. “I don’t come here enough to justify keeping it and paying the caretaker’s fees, though. The Realtor already has a list of potential buyers. It should sell pretty quickly.”

And you’ll regret it
. Reid washed down unproven concern with more lemonade. She didn’t need him butting into her decisions. He stood. “I need to finish.”

Lauren stacked plates and bowls. “I have to make a run to Fast Mart. Otherwise we’re eating PB and J again. Can I pick anything up for you?”

“Don’t worry about me. I don’t need charity. I’m not staying.” He spun on his heel and stomped down the stairs. The image of her hurt expression stayed with each reverberating chop into the wood. Rude didn’t define him. Asshole described him perfectly. That’s how she needed to see him. Not with compassion and caring in her eyes.

After Reid finished the tasks, he put the ax back in the shed where he’d found it. The caretaker clearly appreciated order. Each clear box had a card attached listing the contents down to the number of screws and nails.

Reid headed inside and cleaned up in the bathroom. In the hallway, Lauren approached carrying the makeshift pack he’d fashioned out of her rain poncho. Her chilly attitude sliced into him as he accepted it.

“I made you sandwiches. I also packed granola bars, fruit, and water.” She exhaled a breath and her expression turned defiant. “I may as well tell you because I’d hate for you to lose it—I put an envelope with money inside of it with my address. I don’t care if you pay me back, but you obviously have some sort of hangup about accepting help from me.” She stalked off.

“Wait. Lauren. That’s not it.”

She marched back and got in his face. “Then what is the problem? One minute you’re making me coffee and cereal. The next you’re rude. You apologize and then you do it all over again. I get that you’re frustrated, but that doesn’t give you the right to be a total bonehead. I’m not going to let you jerk me around with your hot and cold attitude. If you want to be stupid and refuse my help, fine. Go.”

Did she just call him stupid? “You really want to know what my problem is?”

“Yes, I do.”

He threw down the makeshift pack. “You.” He grabbed her shoulders harder than intended. A stunned look froze on her face. Good. Scaring her into understanding would get the message across.

“I showed up here out of nowhere. I’ve lost my memory, but I don’t want to speak to the authorities. Wake up, Lauren. I’m not being stubborn. I’m trying to protect you from digging yourself into this mess any deeper.”

“Don’t you dare make this about me.” Anger snapped in her gaze as she poked a finger into his chest. “I’m a grown-up. I make my own decisions, and I know how to take care of myself. You came to me. Why can’t you just drop the macho bull crap and accept my help?”

“Because I don’t want your help.” He pulled her flush against him and pushed his hard-on into her softness. “I want to be inside of you, Lauren, hard and deep. I want to discover what makes you come and then do it over and over again until you’re so wrapped up, the only thing you know is my name. The thing that I don’t want is your pity because you feel obligated to help me.”

Her mouth dropped open in surprise. Her expression softened into one that made him want to kiss her until they both couldn’t breathe. He gave his hands the order, but they refused to let her go.

“Like I said, I know what I’m doing.” She flattened her hands on his chest. “I also know what I want.”

“You don’t know what you’re in for.”

She rose on her toes and her soft exhales warmed his lips. “Neither do you.”

Reid’s fingers flexed into Lauren’s arms. His expression tightened as if fighting an internal battle. “What are you doing to me?”

Lauren grabbed his nape and kissed him hard.

She was breaking rules on her list for him, and she didn’t know why. He couldn’t leave. Not today, maybe not even tomorrow. Fate had brought him there. Inexplicable familiarity bound them in ways she didn’t understand. Instinct told her the answers lay in their desire.

He crushed her to him and plunged his tongue into her mouth. Exploring, claiming, leaving her breathless. If kissing him were on a list, hell yeah would sit on the same line.

“Fuck it.” He picked Lauren straight up and carried her into the cabin. An expression bordering on anger sharpened the angles of his jawline. Doubt warred in his darkening eyes.

Upset she could handle, but she didn’t want him tamed by worry. Or for him to agonize over all the reasons they shouldn’t. Worrying or trying to reason it out was a waste of time.

Lauren clawed into his shoulders. Brushed kisses along his temple down to his neck. Sucked his warm, salty skin.

His steps faltered and a shudder ran through him. Reid turned and her back hit the wall. Desire clearly snapped control as he unfastened her jeans and tunneled past lace.

She clutched him in anticipation of the invasion. Her sex pulsed with the need to have him inside her. Fingers, tongue, the erection pressing against her belly. It didn’t matter.

He pumped two fingers inside of her.

Swift. Deep. Pure bliss. Heat blazed through places within that had sat dormant for too long. An orgasm lifted her up on her toes. Lauren met every relentless stroke as her sex clutched greedily.

As Reid kissed her, he took hold of her hips.

She followed him in a hard grind. Instead of soothing the ache, it built, leaving her needy.

He brushed a line of kisses down her throat. “I don’t have anything.”

Heartbeats later, it registered. Relief weakened her knees. “Condoms. In my purse on the sofa.”

Following his lead, she wrapped her legs around his hips. His back muscles bunched underneath her palms. Soon all that strength and determination would be inside of her, filling her, satisfying her needs.

He dropped to the sectional with her sitting on his lap.

As she rifled through her purse, he nipped at her throat. His hot, wet mouth soothed away the sting. Foil crinkled as she clutched the packet in her hand.

He liberated the condom from her fingers. “Got more than one?” The rasp of his voice stroked over her.

She trembled. “Yes.” Her gaze locked with his.

The primal lust in his eyes sent desire coursing through her veins.

“We’ll need them.” He helped her take off her shirt and bra. Reid sucked the peak of her breast.

The warmth of his mouth around her nipples made her toes curl. She arched her back.
Right there
. Wildness caught fire like dry embers with each flick and swirl of his tongue. How had he known extra attention to her breasts would drive her crazy? More heat spiked through her, torching reason. “Please. Don’t stop.” She clutched his head, pressing him closer.

Reid sucked harder, deeper.

Her sex pulsated, matching her quickening heartbeat. Pleasure hummed over her skin.

He rolled her onto the cushions and pressed her back against the velvety fabric. His lips swept over the swells of her breasts. She reached for him.

He pushed her hands down.

“But I want to touch you.”

“Not yet.”

Kisses and caresses floating down her belly dismantled protests. She lifted her hips as he dragged down her jeans and bikinis. He slipped off her tennis shoes along with her clothes and dropped them on the floor. His exhales warmed her inner thighs. “Beautiful.”

He traced her seam with his tongue.

She arched up, meeting the glide into her sex. Titillating pulses radiated through her core and pulled through her belly. She gripped his hair and dug her heels into the cushion. “Reid…yes.”

Each flick and swirl grew bolder than the last. Sultry. Decadent. He innately knew where to touch. How to stroke in ways what made her moan.

A climax hit, leaving he suspended in a torrent of ecstasy, blinding her to everything but his tongue.

She whimpered, arching until her muscles ached from the effort.

He held her hips, relentlessly lashing at her sex, drawing out every ounce of pleasure. Reid moved away. His boots thudded to the floor, and she floated back down to reality.

As he stripped off his clothes, her heart sped up. He was more than gorgeous. A perfect package of hard muscle and wonderful, thick cock.

Eyes on her, he stroked himself.

She itched to feel the heavy weight of him in her palm. As he opened condom and rolled it on, his abs tightened. Later, she’d explore every crevice of his well-defined six-pack with her tongue.

She widened her knees. He lay on top of her and slipped the crown of his erection over her clit. Her core clenched. The depth of need in his gaze uncoiled desire in a heated flush. He surged in. She dug her fingers into his arms and met his thrusts. It was if he honed in on ecstasy with each pump and roll of his hips. Harder, faster, each firm, erotic stroke more exquisite than the last. A climax wrenched out his name on a scream. His guttural moans ended with his shutters of release.