Chapter 14: What Needs to Be Done
Melissa
Warmth surges all around my body, and that fresh, faintly woodsy scent I love touches my nose. Pressing my cheek into my pillow, I’m so in love with this dream, I don’t want to wake up. It’s so vivid, and I miss him so much.
At last, after hours of tossing and turning all night, being restless and worried, tension gripping my shoulders, not knowing if I’ll sleep again… my whole body is relaxed. I’m so cozy, I want to stay here all day in this lovely fantasy of having him in my bed.
If only the morning light weren’t pressing against my eyelids. If only I didn’t have to work…
Stretching my arms wide, my eyes fly open when my fist makes contact with a warm, hot body. It’s not a dream!
“That’s some left hook you’ve got there.” Derek’s low voice ignites a burst of heat through my chest, down to my toes, and
I dive into his arms. I love the sound of his laughter as he kisses my head
“You’re back! When did you get in?” My stomach is on his chest, and I’m holding his face as I kiss his nose, his cheeks, his eyes, his eyebrows.
He rolls us so that I’m on my back beneath him, and he’s propped above me, his forearms on each side of my head. “Early this morning.” Another (thrilling) little kiss. “Patrick and I agreed—no more hotel beds. We wanted to be with our ladies.”
Nodding, I slide my fingers into his dark waves as he peppers my ears, eyes, nose with kisses. “That six-hour drive is a little better than starting in Princeton.”
“A lot better. Especially now.” He dips his head and covers my mouth with his. The scuff of his beard against my skin is so sexy, it makes me laugh. I turn my cheek and wrap my arms around his neck, holding him close. Soft lips move up to my jaw then to my ear, where he whispers. “I can only think of one thing I like more.”
“Hmm…” I play coy. “I wonder what that might be.”
His head pops up, and sparkling blue eyes meet mine. “Applewood smoked bacon.”
“What!”
He laughs and claims my mouth again, tongues twining, heat flaring between my thighs. I want him so much. My chin pushes up, and I break our kiss. “Seven days is over my limit.”
“I agree.” His mouth is moving down, following the line of my neck. I’m in a sleep shirt and PJ pants, but that doesn’t stop him. Catching my breast through the thin material with his lips, he pulls my nipple, and the effect is excruciating.
“Derek!” I gasp, and in one swift movement, my top is off and his mouth is back on my now-bare breast. He pulls hard again, causing the tip to lengthen, and I’m so wet already. He’s got me right on the edge with only his kisses.
“Yes, seven days.” My voice is a shaky gasp. “Too long.”
Large hands span my belly, and he pulls up, inspecting the size. “Look at you!” He leans down to kiss the swell of our little baby. “How is your luscious mom treating you?” He speaks into my navel, and then he turns and presses his ear against it as if listening.
I can’t help a laugh, threading my fingers into his hair again. He looks up at me and smiles, the corners of his eyes lining in the most handsome way.
“You look very happy,” I whisper, holding him as his head rests on baby. “More than you have in a while.”
He rises back up beside me, resting his cheek on his hand and smoothing my hair off my face. “I feel like a weight’s been lifted.”
“Is it over?”
My question changes his expression to serious. “We handled the problem. You’re safe. It’s the only thing I’ve wanted since that day in October.”
I know what day he means—the day I went to his office so angry with him. I’d forced him to look at the evidence against Sloan.
It was an emotional act I’ve often wished I hadn’t committed. I’d filed away what happened to me in my heart, and I hadn’t considered how deeply that photo of my battered face would affect him.
“What happened?”
For a moment he doesn’t answer me. His eyes travel from mine up to the little scar and back again. “Will you accept for now that we fixed it so he can never hurt you again?”
My lips press together as I think about it. He’s here, safe in my arms. My fears over what might happen did not come true. Most of all, he wouldn’t tell me things were fixed if they weren’t.