“You’re too afraid,” she said.
Wasn’t she? That they were both afraid didn’t matter. Lucas couldn’t fight his urge to see what this all meant, the heat whenever he kissed her, his connection to Wolf.
Demi left the guest room, Queenie getting out of the way in time and looking up at Lucas as though chiding him.
He walked out into the living room with Queenie on his heels, watching as Demi picked up Wolf’s empty bottle and took it into the kitchen. Tomorrow might bring a new revelation but he wouldn’t think about that now. He’d been all right with living single, but that was before he’d spent all this time with Demi and Wolf. Now he didn’t know, and he had to.
“Go lie down, Queenie.”
Queenie went to her bed and did as asked.
Going to stand behind Demi at the sink, Lucas put his hands on her hips. She dropped the bottle. Water ran for several seconds before she shut it off. Then she turned.
Lucas put his hands on the edge of the counter on each side of her.
“What are you doing?”
“I think I’d like to prove you wrong.”
She angled her head. “Wrong?”
“That I’m not afraid.”
“Oh, you are afraid, Lucas. Of love.”
“Not any more than you are.”
Her head straightened but she said nothing.
“Let’s see what happens.” He slid his hand into her hair, his thumb caressing her cheek.
“What if I don’t want to see?”
He grinned. “You do. We’ve been dancing around this ever since your cabin.”
She met his eyes and he saw her uncertainty, her lack of trust. He couldn’t tell her she could trust him beyond this. He couldn’t promise to be with her for the rest of their lives and he doubted she’d expect that. She could trust him to be honest about this, though. He was ready to take this to the next level and he sensed she was, too.
To ease the stiffness, he lowered his mouth to hers. As before, that’s all it took to get the fire ignited. She moved her hands up his chest and looped her arms around him. Her body pressed to his. She fit him so well.
He kissed her awhile longer, until they both breathed faster, then he lifted her and carried her the old-fashioned way up the stairs, down the hall to his bedroom.
Placing her on the mattress, he undressed, watching her do the same.
She pulled the covers back, presenting her bare backside, and crawled between the sheets.
Naked, he went to her, getting hotter as her eyes lowered and took in the sight of him. He got onto the bed. He wouldn’t rush this.
Lying beside her, he began kissing her and running his hand down her body, her smooth and curvy body. She did the same, exploring, satisfying curiosity they’d long kept under wraps.
She rolled onto her back and he moved on top of her, still determined to take his time. He kissed her, soft and slow. Her bareness against him worked against his patience.
When she opened her legs, he lost control.
She put her hands on his butt, urging him on.
He proved and found her. Slipping inside, he moved back and forth. She made breathless sounds. He hoped she was as close as he was. So much restraint stole his usual stamina. Thrusting faster, he watched her close her eyes and dig her head back into the pillow with a cry.
He thrust harder and came with her.
Collapsing on her, he caught his breath and said, “I’m embarrassed.”
“Don’t be. It usually takes me longer, too.”
“I guess we can call this a resounding success.”
And, oh, what to do with that...?
* * *
Life had a way of changing one’s perspective. Demi had to fight to keep a smile from bursting free several times the next morning. Witnessing Lucas struggle over the amazing sex they’d had last night exhilarated her. She ignored the deeper problem of what this meant for her future. She tried not to think about that. She’d stay in the now.
She hung some ornaments on Lucas’s tree, the few she’d brought with her from her cabin. Christmas music played on the television. Lucas had a sound bar and a woofer that enriched the tunes. Lucas had gone on another patrol with Queenie, and Wolf was down for a nap. The weather had turned snowy again.
Finished with the ornaments, she went into the kitchen to bake cookies. She and her mother used to do this and it had become a tradition. She had just begun forming balls of dough when Lucas entered, bringing billows of snow in with him. Queenie trotted into the living room and shook, sending droplets of moisture and snowflakes flying.
After he finished removing all his outdoor clothes, Lucas came into the room. Their eyes met and locked. Demi could feel the heat spark between them. She smiled and he looked away, bending to pet Queenie and tell her she was a good girl.
“Baking cookies?” he asked as he straightened.
“Family tradition.”
He walked over to the kitchen island and sat. “You and your mother?”
“Yup. Thought I’d pick it up again for Wolf.” Wolf was too young to eat cookies, but Lucas wasn’t.
He fell quiet and she suspected he’d drawn that conclusion, her reference to family and all.
“You seem pretty happy today,” he said.
“As opposed to other days?” Cops weren’t chasing her to arrest her, only Devlin—to kill her.
“Are you okay with what happened last night?”
“Of course. Why wouldn’t I be?” She put a batch of cookies into the oven.
“My stance hasn’t changed on settling down.”
He seemed to need to convince himself more than anyone. “I don’t expect you to settle down, not with me.” That almost felt like a lie, despite their intimate relationship being so young. She had always been a rational woman. At this stage of their relationship, she could not and would not project the future.
He said nothing, but she could see he lacked conviction. He thought Demi needed commitment from him. Her heart did, but as she’d told herself earlier, it was too soon for that.
Wolf began to fuss, waking from his nap. Demi went to get him. As she emerged into the living room, she saw Lucas look at them, in particular, Wolf.
“Did you have a bad dream?” she asked a still-fussing Wolf. “You? My happy baby?” Wolf quieted and became riveted on her face, tugging a love-filled smile from her. “Who would have ever thought I’d have such an even-tempered kid?”
“Surprised he isn’t an angry child?” Lucas chuckled and came to them. “Must be Bo in him.”
“Maybe. Hopefully Wolf won’t grow up to be something of a Loki.”
“You thought Bo was a god of mischief and strife?”
“If I was being generous.”
“He wasn’t always like that.”
Demi wouldn’t know about that.
“When we were kids he was always the one who helped others, a good friend and brother.”
“What changed him?”
Lucas didn’t respond at first. The storm picked up in intensity. Demi heard a strong gust pelt snow against the windows. Low gray clouds dimmed the interior of the cabin.
“I don’t know. Maybe life didn’t turn out the way he expected. Maybe he wanted more than he had. Maybe he met the wrong people. Lost faith.”
Lost faith in the goodness of mankind? Demi could believe that. She could believe that’s what made many men deviate from an honest path.
“What happened to Devlin?” she almost quipped, going to turn on a couple of lights and loving how cozy it was in the cabin, the smell of cookies beginning to waft from the kitchen.
“His is more of a mental health issue.”
Anyone who obsessed the way he did over a woman had to have a few nuts and bolts loose in their minds.
Wolf made a gleef
ul sound and reached for Lucas as he often did now. Reluctantly, Demi handed him over.
Lucas seemed hesitant, as well. He held the baby and looked down at the angelic, raptly curious face. Wolf waved his little arms as though trying to touch Lucas.
Lucas lowered his face and Wolf flattened his hand on his cheek, then patted it a few times. When Lucas chuckled, Wolf went still at the deep sound. He clumsily touched Lucas’s mouth as though trying to figure out where the sound came from and why, which only made Lucas laugh again.
“You’re going to be the death of me, kid.”
Yes, and Lucas would be the death of her, Demi thought, and moreover, her heart.
* * *
Early in the morning, Lucas woke to Queenie growling and what sounded like a muffled explosion. Groggy, he wasn’t sure he heard an actual explosion or if that had been part of a dream. Queenie’s growl hadn’t been, though.
Sitting up, he became aware of Demi in the bed beside him. She’d come to bed with him last night, surprising him at first, but then, why wouldn’t she after their night together? Part of him wondered if she’d done it on purpose, as though pushing his limits to see if or when he’d break. Did she hope for something meaningful to develop between them? Love? Marriage? More kids?
He dressed in jeans and a sweatshirt and walked out into the living room, the concept of him a father and husband clashing with his old ideology. He could definitely love Wolf. He refused to let his mind travel into the realm of loving Demi.
Queenie waited by the door. He put on a jacket, boots, and a hat and gloves and went outside with a flashlight and his gun tucked in his jeans. Queenie trotted with her nose to the ground. She headed for the back of the cabin.
Lucas followed her but stopped abruptly along with her when a loud explosion cracked the silence.
“Queenie, heel.”
His dog immediately came to stand beside him. Cautiously he proceeded forward. As he came close to the property edge, he saw flames. Someone had blown a gap in the fence.
Seeing a figure moving, he drew his gun. A man ran from the cover of a tree.
Lucas ran to chase him. The man leaped over licking flames.
“Queenie, stay.” He would not have his dog in the line of fire.
Jumping the flames, Lucas ran after the stranger. His boots sank into snow as he followed footprints. Then Lucas heard the unmistakable sound of a snowmobile starting and racing away. That had to be Devlin.
He stopped chasing and turned to head back to his property. He should call police but that would draw attention to Demi. He wished she wasn’t afraid of being arrested. He also wished he’d stop trying to win her trust and do what he should have done when he’d gotten her into his cabin—not hide her and go through the proper channels. He supposed it was too late for that, anyway, since he’d broken into Devlin’s condo and his place of employment without a warrant.
Reaching the broken section in the fence, he and Queenie jogged back to the front of the cabin. Inside, he found Demi up and dressed.
“What happened?”
“Devlin blew up a section of the fence in the back.”
“Wha...”
“He drove off on his snowmobile. You try and get some rest. I’m going to stay up with Queenie and keep a watch.”
“I won’t be able to go back to sleep now.” She folded her arms and walked across the room. “That’s been established.” More than once.
She walked back toward him and crouched to pet Queenie, who looked up at her. Demi had developed quite a bond with his dog.
“Queenie heard something.”
“I heard her growl.” Demi kissed the top of Queenie’s head. “Thank you.”
Queenie gave her three gentle licks on her chin, which made Demi laugh lightly and wipe her face. Still smiling, she went to the kitchen to wash her hands.
“I’ll have the fence fixed this morning, as soon as I can get a hold of someone.”
“A lot of good that will do. What if he blows it up again?”
He went to her, putting his hands on her shoulders as she dried her hands. “I’ll be ready.”
She lifted her head, putting down the towel. With her face so close and so pretty, eyes flashing trust he’d never seen before, he didn’t think. He just kissed her.
He seemed to do that a lot with her, act without thinking. Lifting his hand, he held her soft chin and deepened the caress. Kissing her felt phenomenal.
Turning between his arms, she slid her hands up and over his shoulders. Unable to resist, he held her closer, running his hand down over her rear. If this kept happening he’d have an issue he wasn’t prepared to handle.
Breaking the kiss, he withdrew, seeing her startled look change into understanding. She must know why he’d pulled back.
* * *
Demi wasn’t going to let Lucas off that easy. She felt his passion and she saw his fear. Somehow he had to be shown love wasn’t anything to be afraid of. He had to be shown his fear had no real foundation. She followed him to the couch, where he evidently intended to spend the rest of the early morning studying police reports.
Demi began undressing on her way over to him. At first he didn’t notice, so adept was he at pouring his attention into distracting, therapeutic work. When she removed her shirt, to reveal she was not wearing a bra, and threw it to the floor, his eyes lifted.
She smiled and slid her jeans down her hips, stopping at the ottoman to step out of them and her underwear. By now Lucas was a rapt viewer. His gaze went down and up, his mouth slightly open, his fingers still poised above the keyboard.
Liking this way too much, she stepped around the ottoman and then over his knees, straddling him. Putting her hands on his chest, she pushed so he leaned back and then she lowered herself onto him.
“Demi...”
His voice sounded deep and gruff, full of warming desire. That only fueled her purpose.
Leaning closer, she kissed him, slowly moving her lips with his. He moved his hands up her back and down to her rear, fully engaged and satisfying her further.
Moving back, she unbuttoned his shirt first, indulging in the feel of his chest for a while. He returned the favor and cupped his masculine hands on her breasts. She unbuttoned and then unzipped his jeans.
Seeing he wore no underwear, an involuntary “Mmm,” came out of her.
Parting his jeans to expose him, she rose up and then positioned herself at his tip. Bracing herself on his muscular shoulders, she sank down onto his stiffness.
Tingles drowned her senses and she had to stay still for a moment, not wanting this to be over too fast.
He apparently had other ideas. He began pumping his hips, bouncing her gently up and down.
She couldn’t take it. She cried out and ground on him as an orgasm built.
“Lucas.” She met his upward thrusts and came apart.
A low, lustful groan came from him and he followed shortly after.
How in the world could he not see how good they were together? He must see, but he denied it.
She lowered her forehead to his as the sensations gradually eased and she caught her breath.
When she reached a less intense state of mind, she kissed his mouth again. He kissed her and then they took turns kissing each other. She grew so hot she thought she’d come again just with him kissing her.
Unexpectedly, he lifted her and put her onto her back on the couch. Pushing her knees apart, he found her sweet spot with his tongue and worked magic on her. Seconds later she had the most incredible orgasm she’d ever had in her life.
When he finished, he moved up her body and lay on top of her, kissing her deeply. Then he let his head rest to the side of hers.
“Why did you do that?” he asked.
“I felt like it. Why did you do what you did?”
“I could tell yo
u weren’t finished.” He lifted his head to meet her eyes.
“That was amazing.” She smiled up at him. “How did you get so good?”
“I’ve never done that with anyone.”
Wow. He hadn’t? She felt special and was sure he didn’t mean to make her feel that way.
“Are you trying to trap me?”
“You’re the one who kissed me first.”
Unable to argue, Lucas said nothing, just continued to look into her eyes, maybe trying to figure out his feelings.
Let him figure away. She felt like she’d made progress with him. Whether that progress would win her a prize—him—she didn’t know and wouldn’t for some time. But that was okay with her. She wasn’t going to attempt any predictions. And she also would not think about what she’d lose.
Chapter 14
Mae Larson still lived in the same house where she had married her husband some forty-plus years ago, not far from The Pour House. Lucas welcomed being busy and not alone with Demi at his cabin. He couldn’t believe they’d made love again. Even more, he couldn’t believe she’d so boldly come on to him—and how much he’d enjoyed that.
Where did all that confidence come from?
Then he realized Demi had never lacked confidence. She only lacked trust in men. Trust that might be a practical and justified defense mechanism, especially when it came to him.
Mae opened the door with narrowed, suspicious eyes moving from Queenie to Lucas to Demi, disguised as Lucas’s girlfriend.
“What do you want?”
Mae must not have recognized Demi, Lucas noticed. She had recognized Lucas, though. “We’d like a word with you regarding your grandsons’ friendship with Devlin Harrington.”
Colton's Fugitive Family Page 17
