Rocky Ground

by Kaylea Cross

  “Mmmm,” he murmured and began licking her, slow and soft and steady, pausing only to slide his tongue into her.

  She whimpered, let go of him to reach up and cup her breasts, squeezing and rolling her nipples while he pleasured her. And when he slid a finger into her, his tongue caressing so tender and sweet, the edge of orgasm shimmered at the edge of her consciousness.

  Yes. Please. There.

  “Are you close, lass?”

  She hadn’t realized she’d spoken aloud. But oh, that low, sexy accented voice. “Yes,” she gasped out. “Hurry.”

  He gave her folds one last lingering kiss, then sat up to shove his jeans and underwear off. Tiana sat up, finding the condom packet with one hand. She tore it open and reached for him. Aidan was on his knees in front of her, the moonlight allowing her to see every sculpted line of his torso and the thick, length of his erection waiting for her.

  She got to her knees in front of him, wrapped her fingers around the hot flesh. He hissed in a breath, one hand sliding into her hair as he watched her roll the condom down him. She pumped him with her hand, enjoying the feel of him and his reaction.

  The hand in her hair tightened, pulled her head back. She let out a startled gasp, staring up at him in the slight moonlight. His face was taut with need, his magnificent chest rising and falling with each uneven breath.

  His mouth came down on hers, the hand in her hair clenching as he bore her down onto her back. “Touch yourself,” he ordered in a rough voice, his tongue plunging between her lips as the scalding length of his erection settled along her folds.

  He rocked his hips gently, sliding his cock over her most sensitive flesh. She moaned and cupped her breasts, reveling in his low growl as she played with her nipples.

  Heat and pressure built between her legs. “Aidan,” she whispered. So good. So good with him.

  “Now stroke your clit,” he commanded, coming up on his forearms to look down between their bodies.

  She slipped a hand between her thighs, moaned at the sweet, honeyed pleasure as she caressed the swollen bud at the top of her sex. He rumbled in approval and flexed his hips, lodging the thick, hot head of him inside her.

  Her breath halted, released on a plaintive cry as he worked himself deeper with slow pressure, the spot he caressed magnifying the pleasure of her fingers on her clit.

  “Aye, just like that,” he whispered, watching her face now as he worked himself in and out of her.

  She was only able to gaze into his eyes for a moment before hers slid closed, his motion and rhythm along with her own touch pushing her right to the brink. It was so good. So perfect. Better than she’d ever experienced.

  “Make me come,” she blurted, mindless with the need for release.

  In answer he surged deeper, faster, groaning deep in his chest.

  Tiana’s whole body clenched as the first wave hit. She cried out, locking one hand on his hip to keep him where she needed him, rocking and rubbing as the orgasm burst upon her.

  A low, almost feral growl emitted from him. He drove into her harder, faster. She gasped for breath as her release ebbed, slid the hand between her legs up to wrap around his shoulders, holding him close, moving with him. She’d never felt anything half so intimate as being locked with him as he sought his own release, her own body sated and relaxed, everything focused on him now.

  His muscles bunched beneath her hands and his breathing grew shallow. “Tiana,” he moaned, burying his face into the curve of her neck.

  She kissed the top of his shoulder, cradled him tight, her hands coming up to his cheeks to turn his face so she could take his mouth with hers. He drove deep into her and shuddered, groaning into her mouth as he came, his tongue twined with hers.

  Finally, his huge body relaxed. Seemed to melt as his weight came down on top of her, pinning her to the bed. She slowed the kiss, drawing it out, loving the feel of his weight pinning her, knowing she’d made him feel as good as she had a few moments ago.

  Even better, he seemed to be in no hurry to pull out of her and roll away, instead stroking her hair as their lips clung together. She stroked her fingers through his hair, down to trail over his sweat-dampened shoulders and the muscular length of his back.

  With one final groan, he ended the kiss and lifted his head to look down at her. In the soft moonlight his slow smile was so gorgeous it made her whole chest ache. “My bonnie, red-haired lass,” he whispered, as if she was the most precious thing in the world to him.

  A sweet sting lanced her chest. She’d never felt so adored. Or been so sure that her heart would never recover from him.

  ****

  They stayed in bed together for almost an hour longer before getting up and dressed. Tiana stayed behind to keep cleaning up when Aidan walked up the lane to get Ella.

  When they returned—hand-in-hand, Tiana noticed—her little girl looked around at the piles of debris they’d bagged up at the kitchen door. “Do we have any dishes left?”

  “Paper and plastic ones,” Tiana answered.

  “Oh. Well, that’ll work.” With that Ella sauntered off to check her bedroom.

  “She took that well,” she said to Aidan, who was taking off his boots.

  “She’s glad to be home. Tried talking me into letting her bring Bruce here for the night but I held fast.”

  She grinned, knowing firsthand how persuasive Ella could be, especially when she turned on the pleading blue eyes bit. “Good for you.”

  He straightened and put his hands on his hips, looking completely edible standing there in all his strong, masculine glory. It was even worse now that she knew what he felt and tasted like. Knew what he could make her heart and body feel. “What do you need help with next?”

  She loved that he wanted to keep helping. “It can wait until tomorrow. Aren’t you exhausted?”

  He shook his head. “I’m okay.”

  The man had been up all night keeping watch over her. He had to be dead on his feet, even if he wouldn’t admit it. “Go get some sleep.”

  His eyes held a sensual gleam. “Where do you want me?”

  “In my bed.” She wasn’t putting him on the couch, and Ella’s bed was too small for him.

  A tiny gasp drew her attention to the wall that met the hallway. Ella’s face appeared around it, her eyes alight. “Is Mac sleeping over?”

  She hid a wince, wishing Ella hadn’t overheard that. In light of her past relationships, it probably wasn’t a good idea for Ella to be seeing yet another man stay in her mother’s bed. “Yes, he’s tired, and his place hasn’t been cleaned up yet.”

  “Yay!”

  Tiana covered a grin. Okay then. Apparently she had nothing to feel guilty about, wanting Aidan to sleep in her bed. “And it’s bedtime for you too, young lady. Let’s go.” She took Ella by the shoulders, turned her around and herded her toward her bedroom.

  “Can we make him pancakes in the morning?”

  “If the power’s back on by then.”

  “Can’t we use the barbecue? That’s what Mr. Beckett’s been doing.”

  “We’ll see.” She pulled back the covers and took the stuffed elephant from the bedside table. “His trunk got hurt in the earthquake. I put a band-aid on it.”

  “Ohhh…” Ella cradled the toy to her with such care, it melted Tiana. “Poor thing. I’ll take care of him.”

  “I know you will, sweetheart.” Tiana tucked her in, kissed her forehead and paused to gaze down at her. Thankful for each and every blessing she had, and especially that Ella was okay. “I love you. Glad to have you home safe.”

  “Me too.” She looked up, her face worried. “I missed the meeting with my dad today. Will I still get to see him?”

  Tiana kept her expression neutral. He’d texted several times to check on Ella but Tiana hadn’t responded yet. She would, though. “I’ll call him in the morning to see if he’s still available. With the earthquake, I’m sure all the flights were delayed or cancelled.”

  “Okay. Night,
Mama.”

  “Night, baby.”

  Aidan was waiting for her in the hall. “All good?”

  “Yes.” She went to him, wrapped her arms around his waist and tipped her head back to kiss him. It was almost surreal to have him here. To be able to touch and kiss and enjoy him. “Want me to tuck you in too?”

  He lifted a dark auburn eyebrow. “Is that a trick question?”

  She laughed. “I already tired you out enough for one day. I’m just going to tidy up a few more things, then I’ll join you.”

  “All right.” He gave her a slow, thorough kiss, swatted her butt, then disappeared into the master bedroom.

  She spent the better part of an hour putting things back in their rightful place, including the books from the shelves in the living room and the pictures on the mantel. Twenty minutes in she paused at the sound of little feet leaving Ella’s bedroom, but then the door shut again and all was quiet.

  Tiana finished in the living room and then went back to tackle the kitchen, thinking about Aidan and her daughter, of how lucky she was to have them in her life. Things could have turned out so much worse considering all that had happened, and without Aidan, they might have. Now Ella was home tucked into her bed, all cozy and safe, and Tiana had a delicious and protective hunk of a Scotsman sleeping in her bed.

  He had showed her how to shut off the generator earlier. She switched it off and used the faint moonlight coming through the windows to find her way down the hall to her room. But when she opened the door she stopped, her heart turning inside out.

  Aidan was on his side facing toward the door, fast asleep. And Ella was cuddled up against his chest, one thick arm over her waist. He was still dressed, she could see his shirt.

  Unbidden, a jolt of alarm streaked through her regardless.

  On the heels of that initial, knee-jerk reaction, anger and guilt hit her. Her throat thickened and a rush of tears pricked the backs of her eyes, filling her with a desperate, bittersweet ache.

  Aidan would never harm Ella. He was incredible and would lay his life down before letting anything happen to either of them. Tiana had never imagined finding a man like him, and yet there was still a part of her that froze up at the sight of Ella in the bed with him.

  It wasn’t that Tiana didn’t trust him; she did. The quake had triggered all her protective maternal instincts all over again. They were still on overdrive, and the need to watch over her daughter tore at her.

  Too tired to think about it any longer, she crossed to the bed and gently eased Ella away from Aidan before climbing up to place herself between him and her daughter. Being sandwiched by the two of them filled her with the most powerful sense of peace and safety. Aidan was warm and solid behind her. A perfect match to his personality.

  She was falling so hard for him even though she’d tried not to. But not falling was impossible after the way he’d proven himself and earned her trust.

  Unfortunately for her, now that she’d finally gotten it right where a romantic relationship was concerned, he was leaving for Scotland in two weeks. He might never come back, and they hadn’t talked about the future because it was too soon. A whirlwind romance might be all she could have with him.

  She’d had one before, but this time was totally different. This time, it wasn’t enough. She wanted more.

  And this time, it would be a thousand times more painful when it ended. Because she wanted everything with Aidan.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Aidan jerked awake when someone crawled over him. He got a face full of blond hair as Ella clambered to the side of the bed, dressed in her pajamas.

  “There’s no power yet,” came a husky whisper on his other side. Tiana came up on one elbow to push her hair away from her face, morning sunlight coming through the window above the bed making the fiery waves glow.

  “It’s okay,” Ella answered, sounding as wide-awake as though she’d been up for hours. “I’m going up to help Miss Sierra with the kittens. She said I could come first thing in the morning and get something to eat, too.”

  Aidan glanced at his watch. It was only six-thirty. “I’ll walk you up,” he offered.

  “No, that’s okay, I’m going to ride my bike.”

  Tiana sat up. “I’ll go with you.”

  Ella rolled her eyes. “Mo-o-o-om.”

  “No. Let’s go.” Tiana got up and herded her daughter down the hall to the guest bathroom, then popped her head back in to speak to him. “I’m going to run her up there and be right back. Don’t move.”

  Ooh, that sounded promising. “All right.”

  She flashed him a wicked smile. “Be back in a jiffy.”

  He didn’t know what a jiffy was, but he’d wait there all damn day if it meant the possibility of having Tiana alone in this bed again.

  The hurried patter of excited feet raced down the hall a minute later, then the front door shut.

  Aidan got up and found a spare toothbrush to use, then climbed back in bed, excited as a little kid waiting for a surprise.

  The front door opened and shut. Soft, measured steps came down the hall. Then Tiana slipped into the room, grinned and rushed over to stretch out beside him.

  He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. “Morning.”

  “Morning.” Her soft smile wrapped around him, her different-colored eyes bright, that adorable scattering of freckles across her nose and cheeks giving her a fairy-like look. Not a drop of makeup on, and she was even more beautiful to him for it. “Sleep okay next to the human eggbeater?”

  He grinned. Human eggbeater was the perfect way to describe Ella in her sleep. She’d kneed him in the kidney once, and nearly hit him between the legs if he hadn’t blocked it just in time. “Not bad. At least I wasn’t cold.”

  “That’s good.” She sighed, but it was contented, not sad. “I know it’s only a thirty-second walk up to Beckett and Sierra’s, but with everything that’s happened I’ve turned into a real helicopter parent these past few months. I’m trying to loosen the apron strings a little, give her more freedom and independence. But not right now.”

  He stroked his fingers through her hair. “Not an easy thing, is it?”

  “No,” she admitted with a wry smile. “But me backing off a bit is best for both of us. She needs it to help build her confidence, and to know I trust her.”

  “You’ll both get there.” Aidan let the quiet surround them for a moment, gliding his fingers over her nape, enjoying the way she sighed and tipped her head to the side to allow him better access.

  His head was full of thoughts and emotions. He’d never imagined he would spend last night with Tiana and Ella curled up next to him. Like he was part of their family.

  That made him protective, and territorial as hell. He already wasn’t sure how he could walk away from them, but there was no getting out of his contract now. He’d have to fight for them. Figure out a way to come back to them. Because they were both under his skin and in his heart now.

  “So. What shall we do to pass the time now that we’re all alone?”

  A sensual female smile curved her pretty pink lips. “I have an idea.” She leaned down to kiss his forehead, right next to the bandage, and pushed at his shoulder. “Get naked and lie on your stomach.”

  Now this promised to be interesting.

  He pulled his T-shirt over his head, tossed it aside and got rid of his jeans and underwear, distracted by the sight of Tiana doing the same. He groaned deep in his throat at the sight of all that smooth, creamy skin revealed to his avid gaze. It had been too dark in here last night for him to see her properly.

  But when he reached for her she smacked his hand and pointed at the bed. “On your stomach.”

  Grumbling a token protest he did as she said, unable to stop himself from reaching out to run a hand down her back when she sat up and undid her bra.

  She glanced at him over her shoulder with a teasing smile, slipped the bra off and then leaned over to grab something from inside the nights
tand, giving him a perfect view of her rounded arse. He curved his hand over one perfect globe, barely had time to enjoy the feel of it before she swung back around, and then his tongue got stuck to the roof of his mouth.

  Her breasts were round and full and topped with tight pink nipples. She smacked his hand as he reached for one. “Lie still,” she admonished, and scooted down his side.

  He settled his cheek against the pillow, unsure what she had in her hand because he’d been too distracted by the sight of her breasts in full daylight. Then she swung a soft, smooth thigh over his arse to straddle him and he stopped thinking altogether.

  A cap popped open. She rubbed her hands together, then stroked her palms from the base of his spine all the way to his shoulders, leaning into him with her weight.

  He gave a low, grumbling groan, his eyes falling closed as his sore muscles sighed in ecstasy. A fragrant, clean scent filled the air as she gave his back the most heavenly rubdown.

  “Too hard?” she murmured.

  “God, no.” It felt incredible. Heavenly to lie here and simply receive the pleasure of her touch.

  He kept his eyes closed, drifting on a tide of warm arousal as her hands worked their magic. Then the motion of her hands changed. She curled them around the tops of his shoulders and shifted her position, her hips wriggling as she settled into place.

  His eyes shot open moments later when a soft, decadent moan filled the air. It took him a second to realize she was rocking against him, rubbing over a spot near the base of his spine, using the oil she’d just spread across his skin as lubricant.

  And enjoying the everloving hell out of it.

  He sucked in a breath, his semi-hard dick going to full mast in a single heartbeat. “What are you doing back there?” he managed, fighting to lie still.

  “Enjoying our massage,” she whispered back, moaning again as she rubbed and rocked, her fingers flexing into the muscles across his shoulders.

  His whole body went rigid, arousal punching through him. “Can I turn over now?” He wanted to so bad. Flip over to cup and suck her breasts, then haul her upward to straddle his face so he could give her a massage of his own. With his tongue.