Relentless Rhythm (Tempest #4) (28 page)

“Mom,” I whispered suddenly realizing how Dizzy and I must have looked together. Exactly like it was, but my explanation got stuck in my throat when I noticed my brothers standing in the doorway. “Can you give me a minute to get dressed?” I pleaded with my eyes, my voice low.

She nodded, and I slid out of our bed carefully to avoid waking Dizzy as I got dressed and prepared to face the maternal tempest. The moment I stepped out into the hall, she laid into me. “Ok, daughter, tell me right now, have you lost your ever loving mind? What if James had come back early? What if it’d been him just now and not me?”

My stomach knotted. I hadn’t even thought about that possibility last night. I had been so tired and so wrapped up in Dizzy that James hadn’t even crossed my mind. “Where are John and Michael?” I asked as her eyes continued to flash green and brown flecked fire.

“In the waiting area around the corner. Quit stalling and explain.”

“It’s not what you think,” I began, but she interrupted.

“Really?” She gave me the same disbelieving look she’d given me when I’d told her my Barbie dolls had dyed their own hair purple. The lie shriveled up on my tongue.

“Ok. Yes it is.” I paused to pull in a breath. “You were right about me and James. Things aren’t going well. They haven’t been right for a long time.”

“Perhaps because you’re having an
affair
?” She gestured behind me. Her eyes were unyielding, but though there were words I could say to explain it, I just couldn’t speak them.

“That’s not it. James doesn’t know. And Dizzy’s a good man.” And that was a truth that felt right coming from my lips despite her continued skepticism. “He’s more than the tattoos and piercings, Mom. He’s gentle with me. Considerate and supportive. But he…we…” My eyes filled. “I’m sorry if I embarrassed you. My life is such a mess. I know yours is, too. I don’t want to make things awkward. I needed him last night. He insisted on staying. But please, you can’t say anything to James.”

“Why not? Surely you’re not planning on staying with your husband and sleeping with this man on the side? I know you, April. That’s not the kind of woman I raised you to be. The kind of woman you are. You didn’t just suddenly morph into someone else overnight.” Her eyes narrowed. “What are you
not
telling me? Why are you always so jumpy when James is around?” I could see her putting the pieces together and coming to the right conclusion. “Is he abusing you?”

I looked away, ashamed to confirm it and afraid she’d see the lie if I denied it.

“Why won’t you talk to me anymore?” She sounded so sad. “I don’t like it when you keep things from me.”

Suddenly the door behind me popped open. The smell of mint preceded the warm arms that enveloped me. Relieved for the interruption, I melted into him. My mom’s eyes widened.

“Mrs. Barrie,” my rhythm man acknowledged in a velvety rumble.

“Dizzy,” she returned frostily. It made me sad to see her freeze him out. I was certain under different circumstances she would’ve liked him as much as I did. If only I could tell her the truth, but I couldn’t risk it. I knew my mother. She would take on a ship full of armed Somalian pirates if she thought I was in danger. But she wouldn’t win against James, and there was no way he was letting me go.

We stayed at the hospital until after my mom got settled. The doctor confirmed the obvious, there’d been no change. George was completely unresponsive. The day to day watch would continue with my mother and me sharing turns at his bedpost.

Dizzy put his hand on my lower back as we exited the building. I didn’t make a fuss. I
liked
his hand there, warm and possessive. And my mom’s words were a grim reminder that too soon James would return. Soon I’d have to let him go for good.

“Where to?” he asked after we’d buckled our seat belts.

“My place, please. I need to pick up some clean clothes,” I explained. “If you still want to spend time together?”

“No one I’d like to be with more,” he replied, giving me an intense look that verified his words.

Once we got to my apartment, I moved around quickly gathering up what I thought I would need. I could feel the negative energy rolling off of Dizzy in waves as he waited, his arms folded over his chest, standing deadly still in the center of my living room. His gaze remained fixated on the wall of pictures between my living room and the hallway.

“I’m ready now,” I whispered touching his arm lightly while throwing my backpack over my shoulder.

He slid it off, insisting on carrying it for me, but though solicitous he was quiet on the drive back to his place and wouldn’t talk to me about whatever was obviously bothering him. I gave up trying after a couple of failed attempts. His brusque manner hurt my feelings.

We had so little time. The clock was running out, and when it did, I’d lose. My stepfather and Dizzy. I regretted the stop. I regretted anything that upset the balance of the fragile world we’d created for ourselves. I wished that I had just stayed in the clothes I’d been wearing since yesterday.

What we were doing wasn’t a slumber party. It didn’t really require a change of clothes. Dizzy wasn’t going to be in my sleepover much longer though I wished he could be. I felt comfortable with him, free to be myself, the weak or the strong me. But it’d be better if I remembered the temporary nature of our arrangement, remembered that he was never meant to be mine to keep.

April entered my apartment ahead of me, dropping the backpack that she’d stuffed full on the floor beside the couch. My stomach had been clenched tight since I’d seen the pictures on the wall at her place, the pictures that showed a history I wished I’d never seen. That asshole didn’t appreciate the miracle he had in her. Motherfucker wasn’t going to have her even one more day if I had my way.

“I’m gonna take a shower if that’s ok?” She gave me a furtive look as she pulled off her shirt. I think she sensed how close I was to blowing up. It’s not like I’d been trying too hard to hide it. “Join me?” she asked invitingly while peering at me through her lashes, sexy in just her jeans and midnight colored bra.

“Go on without me.” Her hopeful face fell. I should’ve said something to explain myself, but I needed to cool the fuck down before I even tried.

I yanked some running shorts out of the dresser, put on some cross trainers, left her a quick note in case she came out before I was through, and hit the stairwell hard. Up to the top and then all the way back down and up to my floor again. My clothes were plastered to my body and sweat was dripping into my eyes when I called it quits. There was still a hum of adrenaline pulsing through me, but I felt a little more under control.

April had a towel wrapped around her breasts and my note in her hands when I reentered the bedroom. She looked at me, her eyes large and uncertain.

“I’m sorry.” I raked wet hair off my forehead and moved straight to her, sliding my hands onto her damp shoulders and tugging her into me, my sweat mingling with her clean, but what the hell, I had to hold her. She was stiff in my arms, her chin down and her hands between us holding her towel in place.

I lifted her chin with my thumb swallowing hard when I saw the obvious hurt in her beautiful eyes. “Seeing you in that apartment, thinking for even one minute about you back with him after what we’ve shared, made me feel homicidal. No joke.” I pressed my lips softly to hers in apology even though what I really wanted to do was ravage them and stake my claim on her body. “You’re mine now.” I eased back to lay it out for her. “He can’t have you anymore.”

Something indefinable flashed in her eyes, but it disappeared before I had an opportunity to figure it out. Her hands twisted on the towel and it dropped to the floor, a distraction I couldn’t ignore.

When I lifted my gaze, I knew raw hunger blazed from my eyes. She didn’t shy away from it. She twined her arms around my neck, her tits smashing against my chest. I groaned and lowered my head to take her mouth. I nipped her bottom lip demanding that she surrender to me before I plundered the sweet interior. She returned my ardor giving as good as I gave.

When I pulled back to catch my breath, she captured my piercing between her teeth and tugged. Desire surged hot and heavy through my blood. She yanked off my wet shirt, greedy fingers flowing over my body like ravenous silk. Then she amped up the volume when she lowered her head and licked my skin.

“Salty.” Her warm breath puffed in the hollow of my neck an erogenous zone I didn’t know I had. “Sexy.” She rubbed her tits against my abs while sucking my nipples.

“April,” I moaned. “Shit.” I felt close to blowing my load. I was breathing harder than when I’d run the stairs. My erection tented my shorts, the friction of the cotton and her restless legs felt good but only one thing would satisfy.

As if she read my thoughts, she reached down and grabbed me through my shorts making me groan. “Enough.” I pulled back from her and quickly removed the last barrier between us. Her lips parted as she checked me out. I gave her a moment then swept her into my arms and tossed her onto the bed.

She came up on her elbows and watched me, opening her legs and beckoning me closer. I would’ve liked to say I played it cool, that I teased her back and made her wait for it, but I didn’t.
Hell no
. I practically tackled her, covering her body and smothering her mouth with hot urgent kisses. She arched her back rubbing her nipples against my chest and grinding her slick pussy along my dick while making sexy sounds.

My control snapped. I shifted, positioned, and slid all the way in and then immediately back out, setting a hard, fast pace. Instead of asking me to slow down, she grabbed my ass and begged me to go faster. So I did, mimicking my dick’s action with my tongue. And she loved it. Her body and the sounds she made told me so. And when I felt her climax, I let go too, giving her all of me, body and soul, not realizing until much later that she’d never agreed not to go back to him.

This time we showered together, and the results were pleasurable for both of us. He got me off after lathering me up and washing my hair. Then I took my turn with him, exploring every hard ridge and taut valley of his sexy body in the process.