Derrick gripped the back of his neck as he poured another cup of coffee and glanced at the remnants of his and Sandra’s earlier breakfast. In a kitchen that had never entertained another woman. Certainly not breakfast after a sleepover.
He liked her stamp in his home and in his space. Liked the remembrance of her walking into his kitchen wearing his shirt, and those sleepy, beautiful eyes.
He hadn’t wanted to let her go. Not after finally making a move to make her his. But it was the right thing to do.
You had to let her go to see if she’d come back to you.
He shook his head at the absurdity of his thoughts. It wasn’t like him to spout hokey psychological shit, and he wasn’t one of those who indulged in philosophical crap “like if you love someone, set them free.”
He was more of a “if you love them, then never let them go” person. And yet he hadn’t kept her. He’d driven her home and had very civilly informed her that they’d be seeing one another soon. And then he’d kissed her. Not as he’d wanted to. She’d looked too fragile, too close to unraveling at the seams, and so it had been one of comfort and reassurance. Not one of a man consumed with passion for the woman he was holding.
He looked up when his cell rang, and he remembered he had an important call today. He cursed, because his mind was not on business. Bringing in a new partner, while necessary, wasn’t ideal at the moment. He’d wanted to ease Sandra into it, and then everything had changed. Would this put a barrier between them at a time when she was finally seeing him as more than a friend?
He picked up the phone and strode into his office, his mind quickly shifting gears to the task ahead. He had to put Sandra out of his mind, at least until he squared away this particular matter. And then? He was pulling a full-court press. He missed Clement too, but his best friend was gone. His business partner was gone. It was time to start thinking about his own best interests instead of pushing them down, as he’d done for the last six years.
He and Clement had founded a successful consulting business. Corporations called on them when they needed or wanted to downsize and cut costs. Most of their contracts came from the many oil companies in the Houston area, but they also did consulting work for other large corporations and even a few smaller ones.
Clement’s natural affinity for people and Derrick’s analytical mind had been a very successful combination. The two had worked in tandem, Clement on the front lines, wining and dining potential customers, Derrick on the back end, doing the analysis, drawing up the proposals that Clement would later present.
Only now Derrick had been forced to be both the front line and the back end. By bringing James Brown on, Derrick would effectively take over Clement’s responsibilities and push himself to the forefront while James would handle the behind-the-scenes details.
“Derrick Chase,” he said, when he entered the confines of his home office.
He closed the door behind him and then went to his desk to open his laptop as James gave his greeting.
“I’m glad you called,” Derrick said. “We have a lot to discuss. Did you have time to look over the documents I couriered over?”
James Brown was someone Derrick had met through business a few years earlier. He and Clement had dealings with him, and Derrick respected the other man. Thought he’d be perfect as a partner when he and Clement looked to expand. That was all before Clement’s death.
Derrick had set aside their plans and focused on keeping the business afloat because he’d wanted to make damn sure Sandra and Sophia were both provided for. Sophia was a damn good office manager, but losing Clement had put a strain on her. Derrick had wanted her to take a break from work. Take a few weeks off to deal with the grief and shock over her brother’s death, but she’d insisted on coming in to work. She’d needed the outlet, something to occupy her time, but Derrick knew it was a temporary bandage. He wasn’t sure if she had ever truly dealt with that grief or accepted Clement’s death.
Neither Sandra nor Sophia would likely take well to Derrick replacing Clement, but perhaps Sandra would be more accepting than Sophia since Sophia was the one who would have to work with someone other than Derrick and her brother.
The two men spoke of their ideas, James adding several of his own that Derrick found appealing. They’d met several times already but all that was left was for James to formally accept and the two businesses to merge.
What was once Barkley and Chase would now become Chase and Associates. Leaving room for further expansion down the road if he and James so chose that route.
James wasn’t an arrogant man who insisted his name be plastered or that he receive credit. Derrick wouldn’t have minded giving the man his due, but he was content to leave Derrick’s name at the forefront and work more behind the scenes.
Where before, Clement had been the front man and Derrick had worked out the kinks, troubleshot and worked the back end, now Derrick would take his place, leaving James to do more of the legwork.
He hadn’t planned it as a way to be able to give Sandra more of his time and not be so wrapped up in his work. After all he hadn’t had any clue that he would be making a move this quickly. But the timing was perfect, because if he had his way, work would take more of a backseat to his relationship with Sandra now that he finally had her precisely where he wanted her.
The men spoke several more minutes, confirming what Derrick already knew. That James would be joining him. All that was left was for him to come on board and for Derrick to announce it.
“There’s one thing, James,” Derrick said at the end of their conversation.
“I’m listening.”
“I need time—a few days—before we make this public. I want to tell Sandra and Sophia myself.”
There was a pause. “Are they resistant to my presence?”
Derrick could hear the wariness in the other man’s voice. The hint of irritation that Derrick would approach a business decision allowing emotion to rule. But Derrick wasn’t heartless.
“They don’t know about your presence,” Derrick said. “And I want it to come from me. No one else.”
“And will they be trouble?”
“No,” Derrick said shortly.
“I can give you a few days. Nothing more.”
“That’s all I need. We’ll meet on Monday. My office.”
James agreed and then rung off, leaving Derrick sitting at his desk in brooding silence.
He’d told James the women wouldn’t be trouble. And they wouldn’t, simply because they had no choice in the matter. Clement had left Sandra enough to keep her financially protected her entire life, but the business had been left in Derrick’s hands. Sandra had no power, no decisions. She’d have to accept whatever Derrick decided. As would Sophia. But neither had to like it, and Derrick didn’t want this to drive a wedge between them. Any of them.
When he finally made his way from his office back toward the kitchen, he heard the sound of a vehicle outside his house. Frowning, because he wasn’t expecting company, he walked toward the window that looked out to his drive.
To his surprise, he saw Sandra’s car parked there. But she hadn’t gotten out. She was still sitting in the driver’s seat, her hands curled tightly around the wheel.
A curl of apprehension snaked down his spine as he stepped out the front door. When she saw him, the car door opened and she stepped out.
It was obvious even from a distance that she was upset. She was pale, her eyes large and wounded. And when she lifted her gaze to meet his, fear gripped him.
He was ten kinds of a fool for pushing her so hard, so soon. This was it. She was here to tell him . . . no. And this time, she’d run, and she’d keep running. He may never see her again, and that simply wasn’t an option.
He’d lost her before he’d ever had a chance to win her.
She looked desperately unhappy. Sadness shadowed her eyes and that was the very last thing he wanted for her. It hurt him to see her like this. It hurt him to know that he was the reason for her sadness.
“Sandra,” he began.
To his surprise, the moment he said her name, she hurried toward him and threw herself into his arms. He caught her against him, holding her so she didn’t fall. So they both didn’t fall. And he savored the warmth of her body, her softness tucked so sweetly against him.
For a moment he closed his eyes and inhaled the scent of her hair, wondering if this was good-bye.
“Oh Derrick,” she said, his name catching on a sob.
“What is it, honey? Why are you so unhappy?”
He stroked a hand down her hair, pushing it behind her ear as he gently pulled her away so he could look into her eyes.
“I was on my way to the cemetery,” she blurted. “I was going to explain to Clement. To ask for his blessing or perhaps make him understand. It sounds so stupid, I know.”
Derrick slowly shook his head. “It’s not stupid, honey. He was your husband. You loved him very much. It’s only natural that you’d want to share this kind of thing with him.”
She closed her eyes as a tear slid down one cheek. That single tear nearly ripped him in two. He didn’t want her sad any longer. He wanted her happy. Even if it was without him.
“I didn’t go,” she said. “I couldn’t. I promised him—myself—that I wouldn’t go there anymore. It’s not how I want to remember him. I can’t go there anymore. It hurts too much.”
“You came here instead. Why?” he asked, dreading her response.
She lifted her gaze back to his, emotion smoldering in those beautiful eyes. Eyes that were drenched with moisture. Misery clouded the depths, and he swore viciously to himself, because this wasn’t what he wanted at all.
“Because I have to try,” she whispered. “I won’t know unless I—we—try.”
His insides caved in, relief overwhelming him. His knees wobbled and he had to steady himself so they didn’t both end up on the ground.
Then he hugged her to him, holding her, savoring her touch and smell. He pressed his lips to the top of her head and closed his eyes, giving silent thanks that she hadn’t bolted. That she had enough guts to give them a chance.It was all he’d ever ask. If he could have this, he’d never ask for another single thing in his life.“Sandra, look at me, honey,” he said gently, putting enough distance between them so he could angle her head upward. So she met his gaze.“If it makes you this unhappy, then you have to know I won’t ask it of you. I only want you to be happy. For us both to be happy. Preferably with one another.”“I won’t know if you—this—will make me happy unless we try,” she said softly. She licked her lips, nervousness evident in her features. “I do want to try, Derrick. But you have to promise to be patient with me. I don’t know what to do here. I don’t know how to act or react. I’m without a guidebook. This isn’t something I ever imagined happening.”He caressed her cheek,
“I have no doubt that you’re safe. I’m not worried about getting anything from you and you have nothing to fear from me. It’s not that I want to use condoms. Hell, I’d give anything not to have to use them. But we have to consider pregnancy, Sandra. And if you prefer me to use condoms, I will, absolutely. Whatever you want.”Her cheeks bloomed with color and she averted her gaze a moment. He hated that the moment was spoiled. They were both so into it that this unwelcome intrusion was like a slap in the face, effectively stifling the mood.“I don’t want to use them either,” she said softly. “I don’t like them. Clement . . . We used them at first, when we were first together, but I’m sensitive and they made me . . . dry.”It was obvious she was embarrassed by the intimacy of their conversation. Her cheeks flamed with color and she wouldn’t meet his gaze.“I don’t want to do anything to hurt you,” he said. “I want you to be comfortable. If we have to wait, we will. I won’t use something
He broke away, his breaths coming hard, nearly panting with exertion and excitement. His dick was to the point of begging. He was so hard that it was agonizing. He wanted—needed—to be inside her. Now.He propped himself up and over her, sweat dripping from his forehead. One hand went to her forehead, pushing away her hair as he stared down at her. With his other hand, he positioned himself between her legs, lodging the head of his c**k at her opening.At the very first touch of her velvety heat, he nearly lost it on the spot. Teeth clenched, he called on every bit of his strength to hold himself back.Slowly and reverently he pushed inside her, his eyes rolling back in his head at the exquisite pleasure. She wiggled and arched, trying to draw him deeper.“Don’t,” he ground out. “I’m holding on by a very thin thread, Sandra. I don’t want to hurt you and I don’t want to come the minute I get deep inside you. Be very still. Let me do the work. If you move, I’m not going to make it and I
“What if I have to get up to go to the bathroom?” she blurted.He smiled. “Then you wake me so I can free you. But under no circumstances, unless it involves your safety, are you to touch the restraints I put in place.”Knowing this was the first true test of her submission, she nodded silently. His eyes flared with approval and he leaned in to kiss her again.“Get some sleep, honey. I’ll make us breakfast in the morning when you wake.”She settled against his chest, the way their wrists were tied forcing her to face him. Unsure of what she was supposed to do with her hand or even if she could move it, she let him take her hand with his and he laid them both between them.He’d told her to sleep, but even as sated and content as she was, sleep eluded her. She had a sleepy, lethargic heaviness to her limbs, the kind that she hadn’t felt since her husband made love to her.She’d sworn not to bring Clement into her relationship with Derrick. It wasn’t fair and it certainly wasn’t fair to
It was hard for her to believe that she was the source of someone’s hopes and dreams. Clement had been happy with her. He’d never let a day pass that he hadn’t let her know just what she meant to him. She’d considered herself the luckiest woman alive.Clement was . . . larger than life. Handsome. Wealthy. Extremely loving and generous. Always affectionate. He wasn’t a man who worried about what others thought. If they were together in public, he touched her frequently. Just little shows of affection. He held her hand, put an arm around her or he kissed her, giving others no doubt of his feelings for her.Any woman would have wanted someone like him, and he’d wanted her. Just her. She wasn’t in his league. Didn’t come from his world, though he’d argue that his current circumstances weren’t ones he was born into. His upbringing hadn’t been good. He’d fought for every dollar he earned, the lifestyle he’d claimed. For himself and for Sophia.His devotion to his family, to both Sandra and
She arched upward, wanting, needing more, desperate for release. Her skin itched, like it was alive. Edgy. Bordering on pain.His impassioned statement spoke to the very heart of her. Soothed every fear. He made her feel cherished and . . . loved. And she hadn’t felt loved and adored in so very long.Even though he’d said that this time was about him, he slid his fingers between them, finding and stroking her clit. She went wet around him, her entire body tightening, clenching with agonizing need.“Get there,” he commanded. “Come for me, Sandra. Now.”To her utter surprise, her body obeyed him. She was helpless to do anything but obey him. She hadn’t thought she was there yet. Almost but not quite. But the moment the forceful command was given, she began coming. Wave after wave washed over her, spreading throughout her body until she felt nothing but the sweetest of pleasures.He spurted deep inside her, filling her with his liquid heat. For several moments, the only sound that could
He remained there a moment longer before finally pushing upward. Then he withdrew, her body still clutching greedily at him as he pulled free.He pressed a kiss to the small of her back and then got up from the bed. She didn’t have time to turn over before he gathered her in his arms and picked her up, carrying her toward the bathroom.He turned the shower on and after testing the temperature, he pulled her inside with him where he proceeded to wash every inch of her body. It was torment. He paid extra special attention to the still-quivering flesh between her legs. He had her worked up and well on her way to another orgasm by the time he washed and rinsed her hair.“On your knees,” he said gruffly.She obeyed instantly, lowering herself to the wet floor of the shower. The warm spray cascaded over both of them. His cock was painfully erect, huge and stiff.“Get me off, Sandra,” he commanded. “But I want you to get yourself off too. Touch yourself. But don’t come until I do. If you do,
He hugged her to him and she hugged back, savoring the closeness, the intimacy that was still new and shiny.“You won’t lose me, Sandra. Believe that.”“Okay,” she whispered.Even as she agreed, she whispered a prayer that things would work out and that nothing ever happened to him. She couldn’t survive it again. Once had nearly destroyed her. If something ever happened to Derrick, she wouldn’t survive this time.She reclined onto the sofa, taking the glass of wine he offered her. She sipped, her stomach churning with nervousness. It was silly to be so anxious to meet James, her husband’s replacement, but she was. She’d likely never come into contact with him after this meeting since she had nothing to do with the day-to-day operations of Derrick’s business. Sophia would be more affected by James coming on board since she would have to work for him.She knew Sophia wouldn’t take it well. She hoped that by meeting James and offering him her acceptance, it would smooth over whatever obj
“Mom. Stop.” Brandt tugged her into his arms. “Just stop.” She was absolutely breaking his heart.“No,” Tell said from behind him, “Let her talk if she wants to.”“We’ll listen to anything she has to say,” Dalton added. “She needs to know that.”Brandt hadn’t heard his brothers come up behind them, but he was damn happy they were here.She pushed back from Brandt and wiped her tears. “I’ve been thinking about this a lot over the last month and wanted to talk to you boys yesterday. On Thanksgiving. To let you know how thankful I am for each of you, but…well. You were there. Wasn’t exactly a Norman Rockwell painting, was it?”None of them could look at each other, which was just weird.“Sorry.” She used a lace hankie to wipe her nose. “I didn’t mean to blather like a fool and get so weepy.”A moment of silence passed as they all struggled.“It’s okay, Mom. Tell cries all the damn time. It’s sort of embarrassin’ if you wanna know the truth,”Dalton mock-whispered.Tell probably would’ve
“If I was there I’d be kissin’ your neck, leaving love bruises from that spot below your ear to your collarbone. I’d feel those cunt muscles pulling my fingers in deeper with every stroke as I moved my thumb faster over your clit. Then I’d whisper, ‘My sweet, sexy Jessie, come for me now’ and you’d explode.”“God, Brandt,” was all she got out before the spasms hit. She gasped as her clit pulsed beneath her thumb. Her fingers were wedged deep in her pussy, squeezed by the contractions so strong they robbed her of breath. The orgasm didn’t last long, but it was intense enough she dropped the phone.When she heard, “Jessie?” coming from far away, she turned, expecting to feel Brandt’s warm body, because she always zoned out after she climaxed. She heard, “Jessie!” again and opened her eyes. Brandt wasn’t there. She was in a single bed with her hand between her legs and her cell phone on the mattress next to her head.“Hello? Jess? Did you hang up?”She grabbed the phone and pushed hersel
“Honestly? Because I’d forgotten about it. So many other things happened over the years. It came back to me when you said you were helping out with Luke’s kid. So no, you’re not a doormat, Jessie. No matter what Luke led you to believe.”She killed her beer. “Luke and I were headed for a divorce anyway.”“I know.”“I loved him. I’da done anything, let him get away with anything, been anyone he wanted me to be, just to keep him.”“I know that too, sweetie.”She held her fingers to her eyes to stem the tears. “God, Mom. I’ve had time to think, a lot, too much time probably, but one of the hardest parts of losing Luke was figuring out I’d lost myself too. I let him define me. And when he wasn’t around to tell me who to be, I didn’t know who the hell I was.”Silence fell and Jessie welcomed it.Her mother cleared her throat. “And what about Brandt McKay? Are you letting him define you?”Jessie shook her head. “Which might seem at odds with agreeing to help him take care of Landon. I’m not
Brandt sighed. “Ain’t no talkin’ you out of this?”“Nope.” She buttoned her coat and slipped on her gloves. “Just double check that everything is shut off before you leave. I’ll call you when I get there, okay?”“Okay. But first…c’mere and give me some sugar.” He curled his fingers around her lapels and tugged her closer.Then he proceeded to turn her inside out with one of his long, drugging kisses, chock-full of passion, sweetness and heat. Boy howdy did Brandt’s kisses pack a wallop. Her knees and her will went weak.Until he chuckled against the corner of her mouth. “You sure that didn’t change your mind?”“Nope.” She backed up and he released her. She reached for the duffel bag strap but Brandt firmly knocked her hand away and picked it up. She still wasn’t used to all his gentlemanly quirks, but she really liked them.But you could get used to them, couldn’t you?Yes.She opened her truck door and whistled. Lexie’s furry body was a blur as she leapt into the cab. Her tail wagged
“Stay like this.” He slid her hands to the edge of the countertop, slipping his knee between her legs in a signal to widen her stance. “Perfect.”“Brandt—”“Trust me, Jess?”It took about ten seconds, but she nodded.“Good. Close your eyes. Relax.”She let her eyes drift shut, but she was in no way relaxed. His body shifted as he reached for something on the counter. Then his wonderfully rough hand glided down her bare stomach, stopping to cover her mound. His fingers stroked her cleft, teasing her folds until she felt herself growing wet, heavy with need.His fingers vanished. Before she could protest, a cool, round object connected with her clit and she gasped, “What is that?”“No fair peeking. Keep your eyes closed.” Brandt steadily dragged it up and down her slit in a smooth glide that followed the contour of her sex from top to bottom. He whispered, “Does it feel good?”“Yes.”His lips feathered hot, moist kisses across her neck. He circled her clit, never too hard, or too soft,
She pointed on the page to a cow hiding in the bushes. “Remember what a cow says? Mmmoooo.” She drew out the word until it was about ten seconds long.Landon giggled.“Now Landon—” she poked his chest when she said his name, “—say mmmoooo.”“Mmmoooo.”Jessie clapped again. “Good job! You are gonna know all your barnyard noises in no time flat.”Usually Landon lost interest before they reached the end of a book, but tonight he stuck it out, although he was pretty squirmy at the end. When she closed the cover, Landon launched himself off the couch and ran straight to Brandt.How long had he been lurking in the shadows? And why was she thinking it was a damn crying shame that he’d gotten dressed?“Up!” Landon demanded.But Brandt wasn’t looking at Landon. He was looking at her with the softest expression. He broke eye contact when Landon bumped into his leg with another demanding, “Up!” and lifted the boy. “So I missed story time? Bummer.”Landon said, “Mmmoooo.”Brandt grinned. “That’ll
“Just Spanish rice, nothing fancy.”He looked around the living room. “Landon asleep?”“Yeah. I know it’s probably crazy to put him down this late, but he was really crabby.”“Sorry I wasn’t here to help. I ended up stopping at Ben’s place on the way home and we had a couple of beers.”Jessie smiled, appreciating he’d told her his whereabouts. “No need to explain, but I’m glad you did.”Brandt crossed into the kitchen, lowering his mouth to hers for a blistering kiss. He tasted of beer and need.This sweet, hot man could wind her up in no time flat. She returned his kiss with equal fervor, loving his deep groan as she pressed her body to his and twined her arms around his neck. She felt him harden against her belly. Then Brandt clamped his hands on her butt, hoisting her up so her legs circled his hips.He walked to the bedroom, breaking the liplock as he set her on the bed. “Damn, woman, kissing you almost makes me forget I have a splitting headache.”His face was pale. And his eyes
Brandt laughed. Ben always got straight to the point, which was probably why he’d shown up here.He took a long pull off his beer. “To be honest, I ain’t exactly sure why I’m here. I just got done talkin’ to Samantha, Landon’s mom, and she left me with a feeling I can’t shake.”“Like what?”“Like…maybe she’s gotten used to bein’ away from Landon and would like to continue that when they let her out of jail.”Ben whistled. “No shit?”“That’s the thing. Samantha didn’t come right out and say it, I don’t even know if she was hinting around or if I somehow misread it. And it ain’t like I can talk to anybody in my family about it.”“What about Jessie?”“Her stipulation was no information on Samantha for the duration of this temporary situation. So if it turns out to be a longer temporary situation than four months, and if Samantha decides she’d rather let us raise Landon…” He sighed. “Us, meaning me raising Landon with some help from Dalton, Tell and my mom.” When Ben lifted a questioning
“Sounds like I have abandonment issues, huh? My ‘real’ dad bailed on me. Billy bailed on me. But with Luke…he mentally checked out of our relationship before he physically left. So I’ll argue it was different with him. He abandoned me before he died.”“Not every man is like that.”“All of them in my experience have been. So that’s all I know.”Another line of logic Brandt couldn’t dispute.“Jess—”Jessie held up her hand. “Please. No more. I have a splitting headache and the glare off the snow is making it worse. I need to close my eyes for a bit.”Brandt didn’t look too happy, but he said, “All right.”And she must’ve been more drained than she’d thought because she slept all the way to Brandt’s house.*****Brandt waited in the visitation room of the women’s correctional facility in Lusk, wondering if he looked calmer than he felt. It seemed a bad sign, Samantha requesting this meeting, especially when she’d indicated that she didn’t want him to bring Landon.The door opened and Sam