Selena wished she’d remembered to grab her robe. If Andrew popped in and looked at her one more time as if he wanted to strip her, she was going to deck him. The thought of him touching her visually, as well as physically, made her ill.
Eric stirred in her arms. His age was one of innocence and wonder. Not knowing the difference between good versus evil was a plus, because every night she spent here was one night too many, creating a harder edge to her heart. It was rocking Eric, the highlight of her days and her nights, that helped to keep her sane and filled with hope that some day the world would change.
She glanced at the angelic face. Mary still wanted her time with Eric and wasn’t quite ready to relinquish him into Selena’s care completely, but she’d slowly warmed up to her, allowing her to take over most of his care.
Selena longed to take him into her room, fall asleep, and together, they could dream. She shifted Eric to a more comfortable position for both of them.
He flailed his arms and legs, and whimpered.
“Shhh,” she crooned. “I’m right here, little one.”
“He finally fell asleep?”
Selena nearly jumped out of the rocker. She hadn’t seen Andrew standing in the doorway, too engrossed with her own thoughts. He wore black lounging bottoms, his hands tucked inside the pockets.
How long had he been there?
She gave her nephew a smile. “Yeah. Last night was the worst. Hopefully the medication takes root soon. He keeps pulling at his ear.”
“Dr. Meldon said the antibiotic would start working within twenty-four hours,” he said.
She shivered. He was staring again.
His eyes narrowed. “Are you cold? I could get your robe for you,” he offered.
“A little,” she answered, untruthfully. If she told him no, then he would get a crazy notion she was attracted or something. Heaven forbid that happened. “But I’d rather not move in case I wake him.”
He pulled his hands out of his pockets. “I’d like you to eat with us tonight.”
“Eric might need me.” Her gut clenched tight at the thought of eating with the family. The first time had been way over the top.
“Be there at six. There’s an announcement I want you and the family to hear.”
Not a request. An order. Andrew style.
She didn’t like it, but she nodded.
• • •
She was bone tired as she flipped the switch inside her room. A simple black dress lay on the bed. The tags were still on it. Andrew wanted her to wear this and laid it out so she would see it. It was the little things she’d noticed in his controlling personality. She flicked the tag and shrugged at the price. Nothing but the best for this family.
But the best for her was Drake.
She looked at her watch, a present from Larry. Waterproof and dependable. “Just like you,” he’d said the day he’d presented it to her. How wrong had he been? Looking back, she hadn’t fulfilled any of her obligations.
Familial, business, or marital.
She had an hour to look presentable. She really didn’t have time for a shower and it wasn’t as though she cared to make an impression, but the need to refresh her mind and body was too hard to resist. She stripped off her sweats and threw them into the hamper. The T-shirt soon followed, along with the cloth Eric had been using as a place to burp on her shoulder.
She closed the bathroom door, dimmed the lights, and adjusted the shower knobs. The room soon filled with steam. She didn’t bother turning on the exhaust fan, needing the cloak of steam to give her a sense of privacy and silence. She threw a thick towel over the rim of the etched shower door and stepped into the hot shower. The cascading water massaged her tired body as she leaned against the wall.
She hadn’t meant to hold Drake off the entire time. The more he had tried to convince her to go give in, the more she backed away. And the more she wanted him.
And he knew it.
He had been a perfect gentleman, respecting her wishes.
Almost.
She had felt his rein of control starting to slip each night. His hands had skimmed over her as if they would never feel her again. The way his eyes had made a point of meeting hers, his patience thin, had told her time was running out.
She reached for her towel to dry her face. Her hands met the metal rim. “Damn it. I know I put it there.”
Despite the warmth of the water a sudden chill swept over her.
A familiar heat soon enveloped her.
“Come here.” The voice rough, commanding, thick with desire.
The pull of the heat couldn’t be ignored.
She turned, but Drake intercepted, drawing her back.
There was no avoiding him. Not now. She felt safe in his arms. She wanted to forget where she was and why. He pulled her against him and tilted her head back. Hands and water soothed her troubled thoughts, allowing other emotions to surface. He leaned closer, his chin rested on her shoulder as his hands caressed her shoulders, his fingers trailing down her arms.
Her body taut with wanting the touch of his lips, the touch of his hands. His hands paused at her wrists, instantly alerted. As much as she’d teased him in the past, she wouldn’t be able hide her need to have him deep inside.
His mouth took control, gliding over her neck, kissing the soft curve of her shoulder as his hands cupped each breast, massaging.
She moaned, longing to kiss him. As if he could read her mind, he turned her around and kissed her. His tongue teased and danced with hers. Her fingers trailed, dipping lower. He twined his fingers through her hair and tugged her back.
She looked up, hesitating.
There was no doubt about it. He was in pain. And if she dared, he would retaliate.
Could she handle the consequences?
She dared.
She curled her hand around the length of him and slipped through his hold until she was a breath away. She tasted the tip of him. Tasted the spray of water and sweet heaven.
“Sweet love, don’t do it, Selena,” he said with a hiss of pain. He pulled her head away, but his hips followed.
She began stroking long and easy, holding the tip of him just inside her mouth, circling it slowly with her tongue. His hips rocked back and forth, his body arched. His hand now held her head closer. Her mouth rocked with him.
“Damn you,” he said through gritted teeth. He grabbed her hands and pulled out of her mouth. Lifting her up, he pushed her against the wall. “You’re pushing too far. I’d give anything to take you here and now, and if I do, you’re leaving with me.” He plundered her mouth with his tongue, stroking, kneading her breasts.
She cried against the onslaught of heat. When he stopped, she opened her eyes, realizing his hunger was deeper than her own. The power of his desire shook her. Squirming, she tried pulling free. He held strong. Using his body as an anchor, he held her.
If she had any doubts before, she didn’t now. Not with him hard between her legs. The ache below rose to another level, the throbbing sensation painful. Her hips searched for him.
Suddenly her hands were free.
He faced her towards the wall and spread her legs.
Selena struggled to stop him. She couldn’t take this constant roller coaster. If he wasn’t going to finish what he started, then she was out of here.
She pushed at his hands.
He laughed.
Her body stiffened with outrage at the male tone. “Do you want me to beg?”
He shifted and leaned against her, granting a sense of what was to come but refused to give. His chin touched her shoulder as he whispered into her ear, “How many months, weeks did you have me hanging in your mercy?”
“You knew from the start where I stood.” The heat was killing her. What was he waiting for?
She hadn’t been a virgin when she’d first met Drake. From the start, he’d been a rock. Steadfast and dependable. And very male. Never had he tried to hide his attraction. At first it had been a simple flirtation and when she’d given him the cold shoulder, he’d taken that as a challenge.
And so had she.
Then she’d fallen for him. Every piece of him.
“Donovan wants you,” Drake said, quietly.
Selena sighed.
“Every time you walk into the room, every time you laugh at the baby’s antics, every time you crawl into your own little world, he’s waiting for the right time to screw you senseless. His slimy hands take every opportunity to touch you and you don’t even flinch.”
“Don’t tell me, hidden cams and mics? Didn’t realize that was your style, Drake. Next time I’ll remember that.”
“Do you like his touch? Do you want him as much as you want me? Because if you do, I’ll never touch you again. If you choose him, you can never come back. Never find what could have been. Ask yourself this … Is this small amount of happiness more important than a lifetime? He’s a marked man. I know they want him alive, but that’s not going to happen.”
She reached behind her, eyes still on him, and shut the water off. Sliding the door open, she stepped around him.
“I’ve thought about this decision over and over again, and I wouldn’t change my mind even if I could.” She hesitated, as if arguing with herself and pointed to his heart. “It’ll give you the answers I can’t give you.”
He clasped her index within his hand when she would’ve pulled away.
“This is the last time I ask.”
“I know.”