One to Leave (One to Hold 5)

He’d only been back... shit, a week? Nikki called last night to say he’d stopped coming into the office. When she checked with Walter, he’d left the condo without a word.

He wasn’t acting like himself, she said. What the hell did she know about how Stuart acted? He was my partner, and I hadn’t even had a chance to talk to him. I had no idea what was going on with him, and now here I was, lying in the bed with my beautiful Melissa curled against my side not able to sleep for worrying about a man who was fucking as close to me as a brother. Dammit, Stuart. What the hell?

I’d been surprised when he’d wanted to come back. After his injury, he had to leave active duty, but my idea of us starting our own firm hadn’t satisfied him. To his credit, he stuck it out for years, but the pace was too slow for him. He needed action—I understood that. It was who he was. So he did Middle East private security a while.

Still, even the most fulfilling work has a season, and I’d never deny his place at Alexander-Knight. Even though his little brother was far more suited for the job.

Shit, I’d have to get Patrick in on this. Those two got along like oil and water, but of the three of us, he was the best at tracking people down.

Melissa stretched and sighed in her sleep, and warmth stirred my insides. I cherished few things in life, but at the top of the list was the way she moved against me when she slept. I’d told her I wouldn’t leave her again after Princeton, and now I might have to break that promise.

Her voice was thick when she spoke. “Are you having trouble sleeping?”

I reached down and smoothed a lock of dark brown curls away from her face. Her eyes were still closed. “Just thinking about Stuart.”

She sniffed and rose up, wrapping her slim arms around my neck. “Why are you thinking about Stuart?”

Her bare breasts were against my chest, and I couldn’t deny the rise that provoked. It was morning, after all, and images of last night drifted through my memory. Why she was only wearing panties. “He’s apparently gone off the grid.”

Sapphire eyes filled with concern, so beautiful. “Is he in trouble?”

“Don’t know. I haven’t talked to him.” Kissing her brow, I moved my hand up her side until I could slide a thumb across her tightening nipple. I didn’t want to think about Stuart right now or possibly having to leave her.

“You don’t seem too worried about him.”

I kissed the line of her jaw, feeling her smile. That smile was just the beginning of what I had in mind. “Worrying won’t help anything. I’ll take care of you and call Patrick in a little while.”

My mouth moved down the length of her neck. I spun her around and pulled her back firmly against my chest. She let out a little squeal.

“Do I need to be taken care of?”

My hand continued down her stomach, lower, until I found the edge of her panties. Pushing them down and off, my fingers explored the cleft between her thighs, locating that little bud hidden in the folds. Her head dropped back, and she let out a low, Mmm...

“Always.” My middle finger took a dip, and she made another little noise. She was already wet. “You tasted so good last night,” I whispered. “Open for me.”

Her thighs parted, and I slid into her from behind. God, it was the most amazing thing—hot, clenching. Her fingers rose and threaded into my hair as I kissed the side of her neck. Another little noise, a shiver. Looking down, I watched her breasts spilling over my forearm, rising with her gasps, as I held her tight against me. The sight was hypnotic.

“Your body is so beautiful.” My lips were close at her ear, and I kissed her beachy-rose scented hair. “I love the way you smell.” Circling harder on her clit, I hit her deeper from behind. Another noise and her insides clenched. My eyes squeezed shut. “God, the way your pussy contracts over me... You make me so hard. Just thinking about you—”

“Derek!” She squeezed my hand between her legs, where I rubbed her faster.

“Make that sound.” It was a low command. She whimpered in response. “I want to remember how you feel on my dick.”

“Oh, god!” She was getting close, and her ass bucked against my pelvis, pumping my shaft inside her. Shit, I was even closer. Hold on...

“Are you coming?” My voice strained. Nodding fast, her fingers curled tight, pulling my hair.

“Please don’t stop...” she gasped. Her hips bucked faster and all at once she strained then broke into trembling, a little cry came from her lips, and her insides pulled me.

It was more than I could take. Changing positions, I braced her hips and rocked hard into her. I needed to go all the way, pull her closer as I came. She moaned against the mattress. It was so good.

Two more deep thrusts, and my orgasm shattered through my pelvis. I held her, my eyes closed, savoring the intensity of this moment with the woman I loved more than my soul.

A deep exhale, and I rolled us together onto our sides, wrapping both my arms around her waist and burying my face in her hair. Her hands slid down my arms until our fingers entwined, and we held each other through the whispers of afterglow.

All those nights in the desert, all those conversations. I never could get Stuart to see how great a wife, a home could be. Now he was pulling me away from mine.

I softly kissed the top of Melissa’s shoulder, and she struggled to get free, so she could turn and face me. Sliding closer, she wrapped her arms around my neck, and our bodies to