A RIPPLE OF dread went up Brody’s spine. Whether the words or the tone alerted him, he knew Jim wasn’t calling about the work on the house.
“What’s up, Jim?”
“Some of the crew and I came down to Roxy’s for a few beers after work at your place. I was waiting at the bar for the bartender to refill my beer when I overheard the manager talking to him. He said they needed to be ready in a few days because Roxy’s on her way back to town.”
“Did he say exactly when she’d be rolling in?”
Rain’s back went rigid and she braced her hands on the counter. Brody wanted to go to her, comfort her, promise her Roxy wouldn’t get anywhere near her or the girls. Especially Autumn. Too bad that was a promise he couldn’t keep, and she would know it was an impossibility. Roxy was a force unto herself. No way to stop her when she set her mind to something, and it seemed every time she set her mind to something it ended in devastation. Look what she’d done to his life, Rain’s, Autumn’s. He couldn’t allow her to wreck the tenuous bond he’d built with Rain. He absolutely couldn’t allow her anywhere near his daughters.
“I only heard them say in the next couple of days. Nothing definite. Sorry, man. I wanted to give you a heads-up. If I hear anything more, I’ll let you know.”
“Thanks. I owe you.”
“You want me to call and warn Rain?”
“No. She already knows.”
“Huh.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow. Thanks for the heads-up.”
“Yeah, sure, man.”
Brody never took his eyes off Rain. She’d finished with the kitchen and stood leaning against the chair across from him, one leg crossed over the other. Tight jeans hugged her trim hips and thighs. Her arms crossed, pushing up her pretty round breasts, making them mound and tease him at the V in her sweater. Her hair was slightly tousled from their earlier kisses and his fingers sliding into the thick mass. Her eyes were like liquid chocolate. Beneath the steely determination he caught a glimmer of fear he hated seeing in their depths.
He opened his mouth to speak, but she beat him to the punch.
“Call Owen. Tell him Roxy’s coming back to town.”
“Jim, my contractor, said she wasn’t due for a couple of days.”
“Might be true. Maybe that’s what she wants people to think. If we aren’t expecting her for a few days, we won’t guard Autumn as closely.”
Brody punched the speed dial for Owen’s cell phone.
“How’s everything going there?” Owen asked.
“Listen, Owen, I got a call from Jim. He’s the guy I hired to work on my place. He was down at Roxy’s place tonight and overheard the manager saying Roxy is due back in town in a couple of days.”
“Shit!”
“Rain thinks it’s possible Roxy just wants people to believe she won’t be back for a few days, that she could actually be in town now. Maybe pull some stupid stunt, like coming to the house and trying to see Autumn.”
“Or worse.” Owen spoke Brody’s own thoughts. He just didn’t want to say it out loud in front of Rain. The evening had been going so well.
“Make sure the house is locked up tight.”
“I already checked, but I’ll make the rounds again, make sure all the windows are locked up, too. I’ll take a look out the upstairs windows, make sure all’s quiet on the street.”
“Anything happens, you call me.”
“You know I will. Hey, put Rain on.”
He held the phone up to her. “Hello.”
“Goodnight, Mommy,” her two little girls voices cheerily came over the line.
“What are you two still doing up? It’s late.”
“Uncle Owen let us watch a movie and eat popcorn and have hot chocolate,” Dawn announced. In the background, Owen told the girls not to tattle on him. Smiling, the phone jostled and Autumn’s voice came on the line. “Mom, did you talk to Dad?”
Brody pulled Rain down onto his good leg. His hand slid under her sweater and glided over her stomach as he nuzzled her neck. Every nerve sparked to life at his touch.
“Yes, honey. I had a long talk with your dad.”
“Is everything okay?”
“Everything is fine, honey. He understands what happened and how important it is for you to stay with us. We’ll do everything we can to make sure what happened before never happens again. Uncle Owen is there with you tonight. I’ll be there when you wake up in the morning.”
“Promise.”
Rain pinched the bridge of her nose and tried to hold back the tears. Autumn had been doing so well this last year. She went for long stretches without thinking or fearing Roxy. Brody’s return stirred it all up. The first year after Roxy took Autumn, the little girl could barely cope any time Rain was out of her sight for more than a few minutes. Preschool had been difficult. Autumn had a hard time making friends and interacting with the other kids. She’d clung to Dawn and used her as a shield. Dawn had become Autumn’s protector.
“I promise when you wake up, you’ll smell breakfast, and I’ll be there waiting for my morning hug.”
Brody took the phone. “Hey, baby girl.”
“Hi, Dad.”
“Are you having a good time with Uncle Owen?”
“He’s a lot of fun.”
“We had a lot of fun when we were kids. Listen, baby girl, would you like me to come and have breakfast with you and Dawn in the morning?”
“Yeah. Can I have another piggyback ride?”
“Sure, baby girl. Pretty soon, I’ll get some horses here at the ranch and I’ll take you girls riding.”
“That sounds awesome.”
“Great. Now you make sure Uncle Owen reads you three books before bed and you sleep good. I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Okay. And Mommy will be here.”
“Yes, baby girl. Mommy will be there. I promise.”
They said goodnight again to both girls and Brody set the phone on the table. Rain leaned against him, the silence in the room lengthening.
“I came back because I wanted to make a life with you,” he said quietly. “I thought it would be so easy.”
She cast him a sideways glance and he smiled sheepishly.
“Don’t get me wrong. I thought we’d have a few knock-down-drag-out fights. You’d yell, cuss, call me every dirty name in the book. Stomp your pretty little foot and hiss and spit at me.”
“I sound like a terrible shrew.”
He laughed, the rumble in his chest absorbed by her back. He wrapped his arms around her and squeezed her tight. “Not a shrew. A woman scorned with a rightful wrath I deserved, but didn’t exactly want to face.”
“I think I’ve been quite understanding and forgiving so far.”
“You’re a saint. I really thought you’d make my life a living hell. I figured I’d at the very least have to buy you some expensive baubles and kiss your pretty feet.”
“You really have a thing for my feet.”
“In the summer, you’d paint your toes. You had a sexy little ankle chain. Gold with a star charm.”
“I lost it in the lake the summer before you left. The clasp must have broken.”
Brody’s hand slid up the inside of her sweater. He made lazy circles up her spine and massaged her sore muscles. His hands were magic. Her nerves danced to life. Heat pooled in her lower belly as he both relaxed and woke up her body, tuned it to his sensual touch.
“You said my coming home would bring Roxy back. Until tonight, I didn’t understand what that meant for Autumn. I’d do anything to keep her safe and happy. Erase the fear in her voice tonight because you aren’t with her. If I thought leaving would keep Roxy away, I would. It would kill me, but I’d do it for you and the girls.”
“That isn’t the answer, Brody. I’ve dealt with Roxy the only way I could over the years and paid her off. You hold the real power. You’re Autumn’s father. You can keep her from Roxy.”
“That’s exactly what I plan to do. I have a few ideas of how to accomplish that, but I’m not sure how far Roxy will go to manipulate the situation.”
“You mean try to get as much money as she can out of you.”
“It’s not the money I’m worried about. It’s her dragging me to court and tying this thing up for the next few years. It’s the thought of her being given visitation rights that kills me. We can’t let that happen. Autumn’s so fragile now. Her only sense of security is you.”
“If you’re concerned she won’t feel safe with you, Brody, it’s only a matter of time. She’s just met you. Give her a chance to know you.”
“She saw me hurt her mother.”
“I don’t want to go backward. Let’s move on to the fact that you’re Autumn’s father. She needs you. Dawn needs you.”
Brody’s arm circled around her back. His hand slid up her ribs until he cupped her breast. Leaning up to her, his breath feathered over her skin and he whispered in her ear, “Do you need me?”
Her mouth fell open on a sigh when his thumb brushed over her straining nipple.
“Lace.” His warm breath caressed her ear. His tongue traced her earlobe before he nibbled the sensitive skin behind her ear. “What other surprises do you have for me?”
Rain stood and took a step away. He looked so good slouched on the couch. His strong legs spread wide, his jeans molded to every contour of muscle. His navy blue T-shirt stretched across a wide expanse of chest, the sleeves tight over his biceps. She liked his shoulders. Strong, rounded, tapering up to his neck.
“Like what you see, honey?”
Ah, that same cocky, confident attitude when it came to women, her, looking at him with such appreciation. She loved that about him, because once, now, he was hers. She was the woman he wanted, needed. She’d always known something special existed between the two of them. It had taken her until now to realize he spoke the truth. She was the keeper of his heart. Just as he held hers.
“You’ve always been the sexiest, most handsome man I’ve ever seen. You know what I like best about you?”
“What?” He leaned forward, planted his forearms on his knees, let his hands dangle between his legs. His eyes on her. She thought of a predator hunting his prey.
Gazes locked, she pulled her sweater over her head and let it fall to her side and land at her feet. “The way you love me,” she said breathlessly.
Heat surged through her body from her face down her throat to her breasts, the same journey his hungry eyes made over her skin. Her breasts tingled, her nipples tightened to small buds. She ached to have him touch her.
“I haven’t loved you well.”
She knew what he meant, but she’d decided she was only moving forward. To something good. Something wonderful.
“You gave me a night of extraordinary love. I want more.”
“I don’t think I can be that gentle with you right now. I’m too hungry for you. It’s been a long time, and I need you desperately.”
“I’ve waited a long time for you. I have no doubt you’ll find a way to make it up to me later.”
“I thought you needed to get home. Make breakfast for the girls in the morning. Autumn needs you.”
“While I find your concern for her truly heartwarming, tonight is about you and me. We need this, Brody. Besides, if you send me home, I’ll be sleeping with Owen. He took my bed tonight.”
She almost laughed at the feral look in his eyes.
“Forget it, you’re staying with me.” He stood and stalked her as she stepped back for every step he took toward her.
She smiled seductively and undid the button on her jeans.
“Don’t. I want to undress you, discover what other secrets you’ve got hiding under your clothes. More pink lace?”
“Take me to bed. Find out.”
“Quit backing away from me.”
She started this, but making love to Brody again made her nervous and giddy all at the same time. “If I don’t, we’ll never make it to the bed.”
“Would that be so bad?”
Ah, that smile. The lighthearted spark in his eyes. God, how she’d missed both.
“I want to be lying on something soft when that hard body comes crashing down on me.”
“Oh, baby, I’ve got something hard for you,” he teased, his eyes closing to slits as he stared at her breasts. His tongue swept across his bottom lip. She stumbled over her own feet and hit the last tread on the stairs. She hit her bottom and fell back as he came down on her and took her mouth in a deep kiss. She opened to him, his tongue taking possession and he held himself above her on his hands. Since he’d left some room between them, not wanting to crush her back into the wood stairs, she slid her hands up under his shirt and splayed her fingers wide. Tentative at first, she grew daring and mapped her hands over the contours of his flat belly, up over sculpted muscles and back down. Desire bolstered her boldness. One hand went over his lean hip, the other slid over his rigid erection pressed along the length of his fly. Her fingers traced the length of him, big and thick; her palm smoothed down and back up. He groaned and hissed in a breath when she did it again.
This is the Brody she remembered. All power and strength mixed with infinite patience, giving her time to settle in and reach for him.
Free from the kiss, she scrambled up from underneath him and made it up two steps before he grabbed her from behind. One of his hands splayed across her belly, pulling her back against him, his erection pressed to her bottom. Her head fell back against his shoulder, her breasts rising into his hands. She reached back. With her hands on his hips, she held his body to hers, rubbed against him, and his hands cupped, molded, teased her breasts. He took her taut nipples between his fingers and plucked and played until she moaned.
With his lips on her neck and a nudge from behind, she took each step plastered to the front of him. When they reached the loft, he turned her in his arms, hauled her up to her toes, cupped her bottom and brought her slamming into his chest, their hips pressed together, his cock nestled in between her thighs. He rocked against her, and the heat in her lower belly flared. His mouth found hers. Locked in a passionate kiss, he walked her backward to the bed. His lips trailed down her throat to her breasts. His tongue traced the lace trim of her bra and her hands fisted his short hair. She held him to her, probably hurting him, but he didn’t seem to care as his tongue made the same journey over the mound of her other breast. He kissed his way down the valley between her breasts to her stomach. With each warm and soft and wet kiss his tongue flicked out to taste and tease.
He landed hard on his knee when he kissed her navel. Bending down wasn’t good for his injured leg. When his hand pressed against her chest, she dropped willingly onto her back on the bed. He stood to look down on her. She scooted back to the pillows and thought he’d come down on the bed and lay beside her. Instead, he took a minute and just stared. Never uncomfortable around him—in fact, his gaze lazily traveling over her body heightened her anticipation.
He stalked toward her along the side of the bed. The outline of his rigid cock drew her gaze as his hands went to his jeans and undid the button. He slid the zipper down and freed his swollen flesh still hidden behind his black boxer briefs. She bit her lower lip and met his eyes.
He sat, reached out and brushed her hair from her face, his hand smoothing down her neck to her breast. He took it in his palm, his eyes hungry, watching as his hand molded and played.
His hand dipped low on her belly and traced the edge of her jeans, his finger sliding just under the material before—fingers splayed—he smoothed his hand up her body to her breast again.
“You’re so beautiful. I want to see you when I make love to you, but I don’t want you to see me.”
He turned his back to her and reached up to turn out the single light beside the bed. Kneeling behind him, she stayed his arm and pulled his hand back.
“You bought candles.” The table beside the bed held three pillar candles, one taller than the next. A wooden box gleamed in the light from the lamp.
“I wanted to give you a little romance. I thought I’d have to seduce you to get you here.”
Tension infused his big body. “Brody, I swear to you, the scars don’t matter.”
To prove it, she bit the meaty part of his shoulder at the base of his neck and smoothed her tongue over the small hurt. Her hands glided up and down his arms and shoulders.
“You’re so strong. I love the way you feel. All hard and tight and smooth.” She kissed her way up the side of his neck, her breasts brushing against his back until she got to his ear. “Light the candles, Brody. Watch me burn and come alive while you make love to me.”
“Ah, God, Rain. You don’t know what you do to me.”
“The same thing you do to me every time you look at me, touch me, want me the way you do.”
She waited while he opened the wood box and took out a pack of matches and laid a condom on the table. “Aren’t you prepared,” she quipped.
“Yeah, I’m a boy scout. Actually,” he said over his shoulder, “this time I didn’t want to leave anything to chance. Before you and after, I was always careful.”
Except that one other time. The words hung in the air between them. God, how she wished . . . wishing wouldn’t change anything.
She turned off the light herself. The candlelight danced on the walls and his face.
“From this moment forward, there’s just you and me.”
His whole body deflated with a deep exhale. He reached down and quickly untied his work boots and kicked them off, pulling his socks off afterward. He reached back to pull his shirt over his head, but she grabbed the bottom and pulled it off for him, tossing it to the floor. It only took a second to unclasp her bra and dangle it over his shoulder before she dropped it, and her breasts pressed against his back. His body tensed at the intimate contact. Skin to skin, the peaked tips of her breasts grazed his skin, so sensitive now, she gasped.
She wrapped her arms around his chest and leaned into him, her chin resting on his shoulder. “If I wrap my legs around you while we make love, will I hurt you?”
“No.” More hesitantly, he added, “I don’t think so.”
To keep him from getting too anxious about it, she teased, “If it does, we’ll find another way. I’m sure there are lots of ways you can teach me to love you.” She made her voice husky and he responded, turning his face to hers and kissing her hard and deep.
“I don’t deserve you.”
“I’m yours all the same.” She fell away from him with a smile on her kiss swollen lips and landed on her back on the bed.
His eyes locked on her bouncing breasts. Arms settled next to her, completely relaxed, she smiled invitingly and waited for him to come to her. Her fingers went to the button on her jeans and she pulled it loose.
“I told you I wanted to do that.”
“Well come here and do it.”
That taunting tone and smile would probably be the death of him. As it was, he’d stalled all he could to cool his ardor and hopefully have some control and finesse when he loved her. He stood with his back to her about to pull off his jeans. Instead, he turned and faced her, knowing the candlelight would highlight his damaged leg. He stalled for just a second before tearing his jeans and underwear off. That’s how long it took him to realize this was Rain. She loved him despite all the bad things he’d done in his past, all the wrongs he’d committed against others, the most damaging against her.
There she was, pretty as a picture, half-naked, lying on his bed waiting for him to love her. She didn’t care what he looked like. Appreciated it, yes. That’s not why she loved him. She loved him despite knowing everything about him, the good and the bad. Standing before her naked, fully aroused, his leg bare for her to see, he wasn’t self-conscious in the least. Instead, his usual confidence and cockiness returned.
This was Rain, and she only knew how to love one way. Unconditionally.
Lying on the bed beside her, his hard shaft pressed to her hip, he looked deep into her eyes. “I love you.”
Cupping his face between her hands, she drew him to her. Against his lips, she said, “I know.”
She knew. She believed him, in him. That’s all he needed. He dove in, taking her mouth, his tongue sliding in to taste her. Nothing else tasted so good. He dipped his head, cupped her breast in his hand, and brought her nipple to his lips. He flicked his tongue over the taut bud, she arched her back, and he took her into his mouth. Yeah, this was better. He laved and suckled, loving her every moan and sigh as he moved from one breast to the other. He slid his hand down her slim belly, over her jeans, and cupped her mound in his palm. Her hips rocked into his hand, demanding his attention, but he didn’t want to leave her sweet breasts.
Throbbing, aching, he wanted to bury himself in her heat and lose himself and find the man she loved so completely.
He unzipped her jeans and skimmed his fingers inside over her panties. He smiled against her breast.
“Lace,” he said, though he could only feel it.
“Pink,” she confirmed, her hips rising to his touch.
He caught sight of her pretty breasts, rosy nipples wet from his tongue. His cock jerked with a surge of passion.
He ripped her jeans and that nothing of a swatch of lace off her legs and tossed them away without a second thought. Kneeling between her legs, he slid both hands up over her firm thighs, to her hips. Her belly was warm and resilient against his lips as he planted kisses over her silky skin. The smell of her intoxicated him. He dipped his hand lower, and he swept his thumb down over the soft flesh, dipping between the folds, her desire slicked over his skin. Her breath caught when he brought his thumb back up and found that sweet spot that had her arching her back off the bed, her thighs spreading with no more encouragement then a soft touch of his hand on the inside of one of her thighs, the other following suit, until she was bared to him. So wet, so ready for him. His whole body throbbed, desperate to cover her and sink into her deep and hard.
He reached for the condom on the table. Since he was over her, she took him into her hands and stroked down and up the length of him. She cupped his balls in her palm, clutching her fingers around him and massaged gently. He hissed in a breath and groaned when her hand slid up, her fingers wrapped around him, all the way to the top where her thumb found the bead of liquid and circled and smoothed it over and around the round head, slowly killing him.
Ready to explode, he leaned back on his heels, ripped open the condom package with his teeth, and sheathed himself.
“I’m sorry, baby. I really wanted to make this good for you. I’m afraid, I just can’t wait any longer.”
Rain never took her eyes off him and when he came down on top of her, his body pressed to hers, his erection pressing at her entrance, her eyes went wide and she tensed at the intrusion.
Taking nipping kisses at her lips, he eased his body into hers in aching slow motion.
“Relax. It’s just me.” He held her gaze as she let out her breath; her whole body relaxed and allowed him to slide into her to the hilt in one long, fluid motion. “Am I hurting you?”
She didn’t answer. She didn’t have to with words. She rocked her hips into his and then away. Satisfaction lit her eyes, ripples of passion trembled through her body, and his mind shut off and his body rode that wave of pleasure. He pulled out almost all the way. She made a disappointed grunt, dug her fingers into his back to pull him in again. He thrust back into her hard and deep. He did it again and her head fell back and she arched her back, her breasts grazing his chest. He watched her expressive face, thrust into her again and again, trying to go deeper, his release riding him hard, but he tried to hold back. Nearly over the edge, she pulled her knees up and wide and he sank back into her so deep, she sent him over the edge. Two more deep hard thrusts, her fingers digging into his hips, she pulled him to her, his whole body rigid, he spilled himself inside her. Wave upon wave of contractions from her body fisted around his and wrung him dry.
Eyes closed, breathing heavily suspended above her on his fisted hands, he collapsed on top of her, his face buried in her fragrant hair. Completely spent. Happy. Home.
Her arms and those gorgeous legs wrapped around him, she hugged him with her whole body. It had been a long time since he’d felt this good, this safe. She’d always been the one place he could be and know he could let all the walls crumble, shed all his protective instincts, never fear she’d hurt him with her words or deeds.
Rain, his island of peace. Without her, life wasn’t worth living.