Chapter Four

Daz and Renee found Charlie in his bedroom, sound asleep on his stomach, stretched out in the middle of the floor.

“Well, that explains the quiet,” Renee said.

“Sure does.”

A Batman quilt was spread out under Charlie. His arm was curled around a purring, sleepy-eyed cat. Charlie’s wet clothes lay on the floor next to him, save for the underwear, which he’d kept on.

“I suppose I can forgive him for not putting the clothes in the hamper after today.” Renee sounded amused.

“I’ve got it.” Daz scooped up the discarded clothes while Renee took a corner of the quilt and fully covered their son. Odin opened his eyes but otherwise didn’t react. Uncanny, how calm that cat was.

“Should I move Charlie to the bed?” Daz asked.

“No.”

The emphatic answer surprised him. “Why not?”

“Because getting that kid to sleep is the bane of my existence. I’m not chancing waking him up now.”

“Even with the cat around?”

“For all I know, the cat may be the reason he went to sleep without complaint.”

“Okay, got it,” he said.

She knelt and kissed Charlie’s head.

Daz took a long look around his son’s bedroom. Besides the Batman quilt, Charlie had a couple of Batman posters plus a blown-up photo of him with Thor and Loki on the back of his door. Books were neatly stacked in a white bookcase. He recognized all the Magic Tree House books he’d bought for Charlie one day at the bookstore and the big hardcover of The Way Things Work.

Various sneakers and shoes dotted the bottom of his open closet, including soccer cleats from the summer. A lacrosse stick leaned against the corner. Daz had only made it to two-thirds of Charlie’s games last summer because of the damned trip to Europe that had resulted in his latest scar.

On the bureau, Daz recognized the mug he’d bought for Charlie from the West Orange Zoo and the picture of the two of them riding the carousel at Six Flags. Yeah, he was good at big days or indulging Charlie.

But Renee was here every day. That was clear by how the photo from Six Flags was overwhelmed by a big corkboard behind the bureau. Pinned to the board were badges from comic conventions all over the United States, including New York Comic Con, MegaCon in Orlando, and WonderCon in California. But, oddly, the newest badge was two years old.

“You get tired of cons?” he asked Renee.

She shook her head. “No, we loved going. But Charlie’s gotten very sensitive to the noise and crowds, so we haven’t gone in a while.”

“Oh. Is that why you stopped traveling? I noticed you haven’t gone anywhere in the past year.”

She shrugged. “He’ll get calmer and we’ll go traveling again.”

It was clear that she’d basically put on hold things over the last year or two because of Charlie. He’d no idea that Charlie’s issues were that serious. Renee had been after him to meet with Charlie’s psychiatrist about the autism diagnosis but, well, he’d been putting it off. Sure, Charlie wasn’t perfect, but what kid was?

But this lack of travel spoke louder than any words could have. Charlie must really be having a rough time. He should have listened more carefully about what Renee was trying to tell him about their son. He figured she had everything under control, as she always did.

They backed out of the bedroom into the hallway.

“That cat better not use my sheets as a bathroom,” she said.

“You have something against cats?”

“Only that they’re sneaky, never listen, and get into everything. There’s a reason I have dogs. And this one was the source of all the trouble today.”

“Looks like you’re stuck with him now.”

“Don’t remind me.” She sighed. “But, hey, if he helps Charlie sleep, he’s welcome. I’m for a shower before the power goes out.”

“You’re going to have trouble getting your shirt off with that hurt shoulder. Let me help.”

“Careful. I might conclude you’re trying to get me into bed.”

“That’s exactly where I want you, Renee.” Once again he pulled her close.

She closed her eyes, as if she couldn’t look at him. “That is such a bad idea.”

He bent his head and kissed her just below her mouth. “It’s long overdue,” he whispered.

She trembled. He scooped her up. She opened her eyes and stared at him. Time seemed to stop as he tried to find the right thing to say and then wondered if there was any right thing to say. Too much history between them for words. Only actions mattered now.

She slid her arms around his neck. She wanted him. After all these years, she could still want him. He had a chance. He wouldn’t waste this one.

He nuzzled her neck.

“I’m going to regret this,” she said.

“You won’t.” What she said didn’t matter. She was in his arms.

“You’re very optimistic.”

He kissed her. It was soft, careful, but then she opened her mouth to him and tightened her grip around his neck. Yes, this. Now that he had her again, he was never going to let her go.

“Oh, hell,” she whispered. “Take me to bed, Daz.”

Renee tried not to think, a wonderfully easy task with Daz’s arms around her, and his lips against her and…

“How about in front of the fireplace?” he breathed.

“No.”

He kissed her again, cutting off any chance for her to tell him they shouldn’t do this. Of course, she could’ve stopped kissing him back. There was that.

“What’s wrong with the fireplace? You have something against romance?”

She blinked, trying to process the question. She didn’t want to consider reality. But reality wouldn’t go away.

“My bedroom has a door that can be locked.”

“In case Charlie wakes up. Gotcha.”

Reality. Right. In the form of the son they’d made together. Basically, the reason they’d broken up.

“You’re damned beautiful, Renee,” Daz said.

She wasn’t. But that sounded really good. She kissed him again.

Daz carried her inside her bedroom. She slid her hand under his T-shirt. He felt the same as before, all rock-hard muscle until…her fingers touched the rough edges of something that must be a scar.

“Are you okay?”

“It’s nothing. Doesn’t even hurt anymore.”

He kissed her once more, banishing those nagging doubts, the ones that told her this craziness was only from adrenaline. She could have died today. No, she would have died today but Daz had appeared out of nowhere, right when she needed him, as she’d always hoped he would, and now he was here, and she remembered exactly why she’d fallen in love with him. Because he not only seemed like a hero, he thought she was a hero too.

It was as if they’d never broken up.

They had, of course, but regrets would have to wait for tomorrow. Maybe they’d make love forever and never have to talk, never have to deal with the past. Maybe they’d be snowed in forever and never have to leave the house.

Daz laid her on the bed, locked the door and pulled off his shirt.

Still as in-shape as ever but…

“Daz, that scar looks rough. Are you sure it doesn’t hurt?” She blinked to make sure she hadn’t imagined it. Was the gnarled, reddish area in the shape of a hand? Yes, it was. What the hell kind of maniac would do this to another person?

She sat up, intending to go to him, but he crossed to the bed and sat down next to her.

“No worries. I told you, I’m fine. It’s healing. I’m more worried about your shoulder,” he said.

“My shoulder will be fine.” She resisted the urge to trace his scar with her finger. He was likely sensitive about it. He’d view it as a sign of weakness that he’d let someone hurt him like that.

Oh, Daz.

“What happened?” she asked.

He picked up her hand and kissed it. It was a small, even offhand gesture, but it made her toes curl.

“It’s okay, I’m okay. This is just from the perils of playing bodyguard. It’s healing fine. Another month or so and even the gnarled stuff will fade to pink.”

He was shrugging it off but the pain of the initial injury must have been excruciating. She wanted him, oh yes, but she wanted to make sure he was okay too. “Did this happen when you went to Europe earlier this year?”

“Renee, scars are an occupational hazard.”

“But…what you must have gone through…can I help?” And now she wondered if this had anything to do with his new attitude toward her the last few months. He’d been friendlier and more easygoing. Not that he had shirked his obligation to Charlie before, but he’d definitely been more focused.

“Yes, you can. By focusing on the rest of me.”

“That’s definitely easy.” She draped kisses on his arm, from his elbow to those broad shoulders. He smelled so good, he felt so warm and she could cheerfully eat him up like he was a bowl of ice cream.

With his fingertips, he traced her arm up to where the shoulder ached, the sensation equal parts pleasure and then pain as he came closer to the bruised area. She blinked, jolted back to reality. “Your turn, Wonder Woman. Let me take a look at this.”

Wonder Woman. His original nickname for her, because she’d been wearing a Wonder Woman T-shirt when they first met. It still gave her a thrill to hear him say it. God, she still had it bad for him. Dammit. Because tomorrow or the next day, real life was going to come crashing in.

All the more reason to focus on now.

He helped her take off her T-shirt, good arm first, head and then down the bad arm. They both winced when they got a good look at the bruise on her shoulder.

“It only hurts when I do this.” She tried to lift her arm, got a spasm of pain and stopped. Dammit, this was no way to start lovemaking.

“Well, we’ll make sure you don’t do that. I’ll get some ace bandages.”

She put her hand on his bare chest. “Oh, no, you’re not getting off that easy now that we’re practically naked.” Being taken care of was the last thing on her mind. Tonight. Now. Yes.

“You sure you don’t want any, um, getting off?” He grinned.

They were in sync, for the first time in ages. “Exactly. Sex now, worries later. Just be careful not to jostle the shoulder.”

He slipped a hand around her back and unhooked her bra. “As careful as if you were a bomb that might go off if I touch the wrong spot.”

“That’s a helluva analogy, Daz.”

“That’s what you get for being involved with a SEAL.”

Yes, along with months-long disappearances and broken promises…

No, not tonight. He’d saved her life today. He was here tonight. Only this moment in time existed, only the two of them, on the bed, making love.

He kissed her again, and she was lost in how good it felt to have him touch and want her again, to have him here in her home, in her bed, like she sometimes dreamed when she took out the crushed origami bear.

Her hand roamed over his chest, as solid and strong as ever, and down to his waist, where she felt his erection pushing against his jeans. She unbuttoned and unzipped them, releasing his fully erect penis. Oh, God, this was really happening, like in one of her dreams.

“You’re talented with one hand,” he said.

“I bet you’re pretty good with this one.”

Her fingers closed around his shaft, still hidden from sight by the boxers. So hard, so warm. He moaned, a guttural sound from deep within. “So good,” he murmured into her ear. “I missed you so much, Renee.”

Not that I could tell…until today. Then she banished the thought. Tomorrow. She’d think about this tomorrow.

His lips worked their way from her ear to her neck and her skin tingled, hot, inducing a craving for more. He had to touch her more. When his hand cupped her breast, she wanted to cheer. Instead, she arched her back and closed her eyes, and stroked his erection. Yes, this had always been the perfect part. Memories of them together came flooding back. That hotel in Greece, where they’d made love with the balcony doors open and the breeze flowing in…curled up together in small hotel in London while a storm raged outside…

And he’d never cared she wasn’t supermodel beautiful. He’d always wanted to touch her. To him, she really was Wonder Woman.

He pushed her hand away from his penis. “Not yet. And we’ve got too many clothes here still.”

She blinked, here and now banishing memories of the past. Now, tonight. They’d have at least one more perfect night. He peeled off his jeans, boxers and socks, and she took a moment to just appreciate how utterly breathtaking he looked, like a hero out of a Hollywood movie. Eat your heart out, Pepper Potts.

He’d hardly changed since they first met. Sure, he was older, more marked by scars, with a weathered line or two surrounding his eyes.

The wear and tear only made him look more like a man.

“You’re perfect.” The words just slipped out.

Daz grinned. He’d never been modest. Of course, he had no reason to be. If only he were perfect out of bed.

“Your turn to get naked,” he said.

But I’m not perfect. Still, clothes would be in the way and she craved for Daz to touch the parts of her already throbbing for him. She moved to tug off her jeans but he grabbed her hand.

“You’re moving that shoulder as little as possible. I’ll do it.”

“Okay.” What if she looked different naked than he remembered? What if he remembered her skinnier before Charlie and was turned off? Oh, crap, and she was wearing stupid plain white underwear, the unsexiest thing ever. Daz was perfect. She was less so. She’d always known that. The Navy SEAL and the geek who cared about dogs more than people.

Mismatch.

He stretched out on the bed beside her and cupped his hand over her nipple, teasing with featherlight touches. He was toying with her. She wanted that so much. Her body arched, her hips thrusting, and if she could have curled into him, she would have. Already, she was wet and more than ready for him.

“I want you,” he breathed in her ear.

Good. Her toes curled.

He hooked his thumb under her jeans and tugged. She lifted her hips, and he pulled the pants and underwear off all at once, tossing them to the side without even looking.

Whew. Safe there. And now she was fully exposed to him. She wanted to go faster, skip this step, jump to where they touched each other and went crazy, rather than have him stare at her.

“You’re perfect too,” he said.

She wasn’t, but she wasn’t going to argue with him.

He stretched out on the bed next to her once more, stroking her legs with the tips of his fingers. She let out a long shuddering breath, shaky, wondering if she could come without him barely touching her. Possibly. They’d done that once, in Greece. It had taken hours. Long, lazy, wonderful hours.

He teased her legs apart with his fingers, exposing her, and she didn’t care about being naked any longer.

Her nipples were hard and erect. Her hand tightened around his shoulder. Every nerve seemed exposed, as if the slightest touch would overwhelm her and send her plunging into some otherworld where touch was the only sense she had.

Daz put one tantalizing finger between her legs and slipped it inside her. She bucked, moaned and closed her eyes. Her hips pushed against his hand, wanting more. She loved this. She hoped Daz loved doing this to her.

“Do you want me, Renee?”

“Yes.” Don’t make me talk. I don’t want to talk. Don’t break the spell.

He bent his head to her. Her muscles tightened in anticipation and then his tongue was on her clitoris and there was nothing but the feel of him teasing that bundle of nerves. She tossed her head back and clenched her jaw to muffle a scream.

He stopped for a second. Don’t stop, she thought. A few more touches and she’d explode.

“Just let go, Renee,” he asked. “Scream if you want. You always did before.”

“I don’t want to wake Charlie,” she breathed out. That was the last thing they needed. Charlie would…no, forget about Charlie for these few, precious moments.

Daz went back to what he was doing, and it took only a few seconds before she lost control. Her hand curled into the covers. Her breaths grew shorter and shorter and she kept reminding herself not to scream but it was so hard…so hard…

Her body stiffened and she let it all go as the orgasm hit. She rolled to the side, curling around Daz, her hand around his neck, her leg around his waist, and her bad arm tucked carefully against her chest. Daz. Stay with me, okay? Stay with me this time.

Too long, too long…it had been too long…and too long away from Daz…

Gradually, her breathing slowed. He slid up the bed and pulled her against him, covering her in warmth and heat. She licked his skin, draping kisses along his collarbone, above the handprint scar. This was no time to stop.

“What about you?”

He buried his hand in her hair and kissed her. Their tongues entwined. Against her leg, she felt his erection, so ready for her.

“I need to have you,” she whispered.

“I have an idea,” he said.

He sat up against the headboard, keeping his legs flat in front of him. His erection jutted up, enticing.

“Straddle me. That should keep your shoulder out of the way. And I want to look at you.”

Yes, this way. Yes. She kissed him, face-to-face, and lowered herself over him. And they were one.

“Ahhh…”

She couldn’t tell if that was him or her. He gripped her hips. She arched her back and began to ride. Inside her, another orgasm hit and she lost control again, and all she could do was ride and feel him caress her inside, feel his hands tight around her hips, hear the sound of them moving together and the squeak of the bed.

He came with a quiet sigh. His fingers dug into her hips. After a long moment, he pulled her against him loosely, mindful of her shoulder.

“I’m going to do this right this time.” He kissed her.

What? “That was pretty right.” She laughed.

She slid off him, her body still coming down from the high. They shifted. She lay on her side, on her good shoulder. He wrapped an arm around her waist.

“Gonna do this right,” he whispered again.

But she didn’t answer. She didn’t want to think of what had gone wrong in the past. She only wanted him, holding her tight. Tonight was good. She was alive. Daz was here. It was perfect.

Tomorrow would have to wait.