Love So Wild

by Valentine, Marquita

He answered on the first ring, which didn’t support the thought she’d had this morning that he was avoiding her.

  “Did you find a place?” he asked.

  “No. Every apartment I went to look at suddenly wasn’t for rent anymore.”

  “Can’t say I’m surprised to hear that. Rentals are in high demand around here, so they tend to go fast.”

  She waited until the light turned green before speaking again. “Would you mind if Miles and I stayed another night or two?”

  “Like I said, sweetheart, you can stay at my place rent-free for as long as you like.”

  She bristled. “I didn’t come here to live off you. I came here so you could get to know your son and Miles could get to know his dad. Nothing more, nothing less.”

  “Well, if that’s all you wanted,” he began in an infuriatingly calm voice. “You could always go stay with my parents.”

  “That’s a great idea.”

  Elijah laughed. “You’d also have to live with Sophia and Caleb… and they’re planning on starting a family real soon. As in any day now.”

  “Big families never bothered me,” she countered.

  “Didn’t seem to be the case the other night.”

  It was completely maddening when he was right, and it galled her to no end that she couldn’t disagree.

  Skye gritted her teeth and forced herself to count to three before speaking. Something she hated to do, because this wasn’t them, or at least it wasn’t the old them. “When you come home this evening, we need to talk. Please.”

  “Whatever you need, sweetheart.”

  She needed peace. She needed consistency and a firm plan in place. Living like this, without a permanent home, reminded her too much of how she and her sisters lived when they were little. It made her uneasy, anxious, and apparently a raging witch toward the man offering her a solution.

  “By the way, I decided to take off work tomorrow. I thought I’d invite you and Miles to go to the Corn Pudding Festival with me. My sister-in-law, Lemon, is the Corn Pudding Queen. My brother will be insufferable as soon as she puts on her crown and sash, but the desserts are worth it.”

  “Like a date?”

  “More like a family outing.”

  As in… they were a family? That would give Elijah the wrong idea, and she didn’t want to do that him. Or to herself. “I, uh… have some things to take care of tomorrow, but you’re welcome to take Miles with you. Have a father-son day.”

  “You wouldn’t mind?” he asked.

  “That’s why I moved here.”

  “Yeah. Thanks for the reminder. You know what, I have to work later than usual if I want to be able to take Miles to the festival tomorrow.”

  “What about dinner and our talk?” she asked.

  “I’ll grab something on my way home. If you’re still up when I get there, we can talk… Otherwise, we can plan for another time.”

  “Oh.”

  “I’m not going anywhere, Skye.”

  “I know.”

  “Doesn’t seem like it.”

  He ended their call before she could reply, and she couldn’t help but think her plan to keep Elijah at a distance was working perfectly. She also couldn’t help but think that she didn’t like it one bit.

  Chapter Seven

  ‡

  As a child, Elijah had always looked forward to fairs, festivals, and parties. There was something about the thrill of it all, especially when it came to the fair and the rides. He was such a thrill seeker. Such a wild child as his momma accused him of being—affectionately, of course.

  He wondered if Miles would be like him, or if he would keep his feet firmly planted on the ground. Whatever his personality, Eli would make sure to nurture it. He knew it wouldn’t be easy, but at this point, raising Miles seemed like a hell of a lot easier than getting to know Skye again.

  How could they have fallen so quickly for each other before, only to have her be so standoffish this time? He hadn’t been the one to leave her… and yet, here he was, at the Corn Pudding Festival, without her.

  He hefted Miles higher on his hip, trying to figure out what would spark the boy’s interest.

  “Would you like to get your face painted?” a woman asked.

  Elijah almost went for it, but he shook his head. “Didn’t clear it with his momma first.”

  “Smart man. There are some baby animals over by the corn-husking station. I’m sure she wouldn’t object, and they’re about his speed.”

  “Thanks. Want to see some animals, Miles?” he asked.

  “Mooo.”

  “I’ll take that as a yes.”

  Making sure his son still had his favorite toy airplane, he headed to the baby-animal exhibit. As soon as Miles’ feet touched the ground, he ran for the fence and almost tumbled right into the pen. Elijah caught him by the back of his pants just in time.

  That’s all I need.

  He’s a boy. Let him get dirty.

  I would, but his momma’s not too happy with me right now.

  At least give her something to be legitimately angry about.

  He could, but he wasn’t petty like that.

  Or… he wasn’t petty like that anymore. Hadn’t been for a long time.

  Part of his adventurous nature was to push people to their limits. See what they could take and what got them mad, sad, or happy.

  When he was younger—a lot younger—it worked for him, until it didn’t. It was then he’d had to decide if he wanted to have clients or show up his boss for the day. Common sense won out, thankfully.

  “Moo. Moo.”

  “That’s a sheep. Say baa. Baa.”

  Miles wrinkled his nose. “Booo.”

  “Close enough.”

  “Booooo.”

  The handler gave them a look.

  “He’s not booing the animals,” Elijah explained. “He’s mashed up baa and moo together.”

  That made the young man smile. “Easy to do when you’re that little. Would he like to come in and touch them?”

  Elijah looked at Miles. “Want to pet the animals?”

  “I wouldn’t do that, son,” Eli’s father said, startling him.

  A smile crept up his face. “Dad. Where’s Mom?”

  “Judging the corn pudding, where else?”

  “Wouldn’t mind having that job myself,” Elijah said. “Anyway, why shouldn’t I let Miles pet the animals?”

  David’s faded blue eyes twinkled, his white hair gleaming in the sun. “He’s not as adventurous as you were, and I don’t want you to get your feelings hurt.”

  “I promise I won’t get my feelings hurt.”

  “That’s what I said, but I did anyway.”

  “Over what?”

  Miles looked over at David and started waving his arms. Immediately, Elijah’s dad kneeled and motioned for Miles to come closer. “That’s my boy.” He hugged his grandson tight, and Miles lay his head on David’s shoulder. “He sure loves people and hugs. I think that’s his love language.”

  “Isn’t he a little young to have a love language?”

  His dad laughed. “Not that kind of love. Love language is what makes you you. What fills up your well, and makes you feel safe, secure, and loved. And it’s also how you express your love to other people, too, which can be tricky if that person doesn’t share the same language.”

  “Oh, yeah, that sounds much better than what I was thinking.”

  “You know, it applies to adults as well,” David said, carefully standing with Elijah’s assistance. “For instance, your mother’s love language is acts of service and words of affirmation. Nothing pleases her more than helping and doing things for those she loves and likes… and to dole out praise. She also likes getting praise, too.”

  “What’s yours?”

  “Gifts—I love giving and receiving them—and quality time.”

  “Guess you and Mom had to figure out how to compromise, huh? Loves makes you feel all crazy inside, I guess.” He wasn’t dumb. He kne
w his dad was trying to give him advice on how to work things out with Skye, only his dad made things sound a lot simpler than what they really were.

  “Love isn’t a compromise or a feeling. It’s an action. If I love her, then I do for her what makes her feel loved and safe. Doesn’t matter if she does it for me or not, because love isn’t about keeping score.”

  “Have you considered writing this down?”

  His dad threw his head back and laughed. Miles copied him, and Elijah felt nothing but joy in that moment. He felt like he’d finally come home.

  “Men and women far smarter than me came up with that stuff. The only thing I had to be was smart enough to implement it.”

  Elijah considered his dad’s words for a moment. “How would you and Mom feel about keeping Miles this afternoon? Maybe letting him spend the night—after I clear it with Skye, of course.”

  “I’d feel like you’re on the right track.”

  Chapter Eight

  ‡

  Skye was sitting at the kitchen table, waiting on Miles and Eli to get home so she could start supper. After yesterday’s disaster of a phone call, followed by a night of him ignoring her, she was determined to make things right.

  It wasn’t good for Miles if they weren’t getting along. Plus, she didn’t want to ruin their relationship by becoming the type of person the other parent had to avoid. Eventually, kids noticed that sort of thing, no matter how hard you tried to keep it from them. Her friends back in Denver had assured her of that, and since quite a few of them had more experience than she did in co-parenting, she was going to follow their advice.

  Except… one of her friends, Leilani, had cautioned her against hardening her heart toward Elijah. Instead, she’d encouraged her to find more than common ground—to maybe even start an all-new relationship with Elijah. One that started with the truth, instead of ending with lies.

  The back door opened and Elijah came in, a bouquet of wildflowers in his hand. “These are for you.” He thrust them at her.

  “I—I don’t know what to say.” She took the flowers from him, and breathed deeply. “Thank you. They’re beautiful. Do you have a vase I could put them in?”

  “Dammit,” he muttered under his breath in a very un-Elijah-like way. The calm and cool manner that he wore like a second skin seemed to have left him. “I’ll get you something. We can use a tea pitcher instead.”

  She watched as he rummaged in his cabinets, pulled out a glass container, and filled it halfway up with water.

  “Try this,” he said, setting the makeshift vase in the middle of the island.

  Carefully, she placed the flowers in it. “Perfect.” She should apologize for her short temper, as well as for missing out on what could have been a great co-parenting experience.

  “I’m sorry—”

  “I’d like to take you out on a date. I’ve already arranged childcare for Miles, and I made reservations at every restaurant in town, so you could pick which one. And if you’re feeling a little wild, I have a plane on standby, too.”

  “Wow.” Skye blinked at him. “You’ve thought of everything.”

  “That’s good, right?” He studied her face for so long that she took a step back. “Unless it’s not, then forget what I said. We can Netflix and be very platonic instead.”

  That would make for an interesting meme. “It’s really good… and really overwhelming. You didn’t have to go to all that trouble, but I appreciate it.”

  His chest puffed up. “I figured it was the least I could do—take you out, let you feel like a woman instead of a mom for once.”

  She raised a brow, trying not to laugh.

  “Not that feeling like a mom’s a bad thing. It’s not,” he added. “Man, I’m screwing this up. You wouldn’t happen to know your love language, would you?”

  She wrinkled her nose. “My what?”

  “Love langu—never mind. My parents have Miles. With your permission, he can spend the night, so you can have an evening out—worry free—with me. Or by yourself. Whatever you pick.”

  “Oh.” His thoughtfulness filled her with warmth. “What time are our reservations?”

  “Our?”

  “Doesn’t seem right to leave you out of the plans you made for me.” She took a step closer to him, feeling the pull of desire that was always just below the surface when they were in the same room.

  “Are you sure?”

  She paused, considering the consequences. But there wouldn’t be any, because this time, they would be smart. Besides, she wasn’t falling for him again. It was simply lust.

  “How poorly would you think of me if I said I wanted to be very unplatonic with you tonight?”

  “Before or after dinner?” he asked, his voice husky and his eyes half-closed.

  “Either one. Maybe both.” She traced an invisible line on his shirt, then peered up at him. “I had a really big lunch.”

  His hands opened and closed. “Skye… I want you, but I don’t want you to get the wrong impression.”

  “Don’t worry, Mr. Lawson, your virtuous reputation is safe with me.”

  He grinned. “That’s not what I—”

  Skye kissed him before he could explain himself. She didn’t want an explanation. She wanted to prove that she could be a woman in lust with a man who just so happened to be the father of her child.

  “Do you have protection?”

  He nodded, his hands at the back of her skirt. “I have everything you need.”

  She slid her fingers down his chest, all the way to his groin, where she cupped him boldly. “Yes, I believe you do have what I need.”

  “Wild child,” he said, the endearment washing over her and making her want him more.

  Skye ripped his shirt up and away from him, pulling it over his head while he worked at the buttons of his jeans. She kissed him, unable to stop herself from rubbing against him.

  He grabbed her by her thighs, lifting her into his arms. She wrapped her legs around his waist. “Hold on, baby. I’m taking you to bed.”

  “The kitchen would have been fine.”

  “Later,” he promised.

  Unceremoniously, he dumped her on the bed. She spread her arms wide, laughing. “Hurry up, Elijah, or I’m liable to change my mind.”

  “While you are perfectly free to change your mind, may I remind you of all the reasons you shouldn’t?” He all but paraded around the room as he finished taking off his clothes, and then got a condom.

  As he stroked his hot, thick length and rolled the condom down, her mouth went dry.

  “The reasons are quickly coming back to me,” she admitted as she sat up. Hurriedly, she took off her top and bra.

  “Leave the skirt on.”

  Slowly, she inched the material up past her thighs and higher still, so he could see the lace panties she wore. “And these?”

  “Take those off.”

  She slipped them down her legs, kicking the scrap of lace across the room.

  He stood at the side of the bed, his blue eyes practically glowing with lust and… She mentally gave herself a shake. Lust and desire, that was all there was between them.

  She had needs.

  He had needs.

  They could satisfy one another.

  “You are more beautiful than I remember,” he said.

  “And you are more handsome.”

  “We’re getting better with age.”

  She widened her eyes in mock outrage. “I’m only twenty-nine!”

  “And I’m thirty-five.”

  “Ancient.”

  He leapt on the bed. “I’ll show you ancient.”

  His hands were everywhere. She was just as wild, exploring him like he was her. He got her hot, got her wet, and had her writhing on the bed.

  He kissed her nipples, jerking back in surprise when he got more than he bargained for.

  “Sorry,” she whispered, her face heating. “Miles isn’t here for dinner.”

  Eli smiled tenderly. “Don’t
be embarrassed. I’m not.”

  “I’ll do my best,” she said, feeling better. “But I can’t control my body.”

  “That’s exactly what I want to hear.”

  She cupped his cheek. “You don’t have an ego like that.”

  “Sorry to break it to you, but every man does. The ones who say they don’t are lying their asses off.”

  Tipping up her chin, she kissed him, devouring his mouth and tongue with her own until he was fully pressed against her, his fingers teasing her clit.

  She clutched at his shoulders, bit at his chest, and when she came, she screamed his name so loud she made her own ears hurt.

  As soon as she came down from her high, Elijah slid inside of her, gently but insistently.

  “You okay?”

  She nodded. “I feel so full.”

  “I can keep you full for as long as you want, wild child.” When he began to move, her hips rose to meet him, thrust for thrust. He gripped the material of her skirt in his hand, bunching it tightly against her side. “Next time, I’m going to make love to you from behind, just so I can watch your ass jiggle each time I smack it.”

  Stars sparked, her vision becoming foggy as desire rolled through her body once more.

  “Promise?” she said on a groan.

  “Promise,” he echoed, rubbing her clit hard and making her come again.

  With a growl, he pulled her legs tight around him and thrust hard. Once, twice, and then half a dozen more times before he pushed deep and held himself still, moaning her name.

  “You hungry yet?” he asked, nuzzling the tops of her breasts.

  “Only for you.”

  He smiled and claimed her lips once more.

  Chapter Nine

  ‡

  One week later

  Skye lay in Elijah’s bed, luxuriating in the decadence of it all. Miles played with his plane in his pack and play at the foot of the bed, something Elijah had come up with earlier this morning when Miles first woke up and had finished eating breakfast.

  Elijah skimmed his hand over her back, all the way to her bottom and back up again. She shivered at his touch, enjoying it far more than she had a right to. She’d enjoyed him more than she had to a right to, as well, and lust was only a small part of what she felt.