Run (Never Waste A Second Chance Book 1)

by Whiteaker, Janice M.

“Any room for dessert?”

  “To go. A cream cake and a tiramisu.”

  “Excellent choices. I’ll be right back.”

  Ten minutes later, they were slowly meandering through the parking lot. Mina had the bag of food looped over one arm, the other was linked through Thomas’.

  He refused to be dropped off or picked up at the door, insisting he was more than able to make the walk. In the summer, she wouldn’t have minded, but it was freakin’ cold and with a belly full of carbohydrates, all she wanted to do was curl up on the couch under a blanket and go into a food coma, not take a leisurely stroll through the parking lot simply to prove a point.

  They were finally back at the van, getting settled when her phone rang. She started the van with one hand as she grabbed it from her purse.

  Nancy must be wondering what time she would be there to get the kids. “Hey.”

  “Mom, can we stay the night? Miss Nancy is helping us bake cookies and then she says we can make popcorn and watch another movie and have a slumber party.”

  She turned to look at Thomas in the passenger seat. He was sitting quietly, staring out the window. “Can I talk to Miss Nancy?”

  “Hey honey. How was dinner?”

  “It was really good. What is this about a slumber party?”

  “We were just having so much fun, and I thought you might enjoy a night to yourself.”

  Sure she did.

  “Well, they don’t have any pajamas, or toothbrushes or clothes for tomorrow.”

  “Oh honey, it will be fine. I’m sure I have some stuff lying around here we can make do with. Is it okay?”

  Mina sighed. Her kids didn’t have any grandparents close by, they probably did eat up getting to spend time with Nancy. “It’s okay. But I’ll be by to get them first thing in the morning.”

  “It doesn’t have to be too early. Sleep in. Relax. Whenever you get here is fine.” Did Nancy know about the third date thing? The idea of her friend thinking she would be having sex with her son tonight was more than a little mortifying. That she seemed happy to facilitate it was downright disturbing.

  “I’ll be there first thing in the morning.”

  “Bye honey.”

  Mina disconnected her phone and dropped it back in her purse, zipping it back up as she looked at Thomas.

  “Who was that?”

  Like he didn’t know.

  “That was your mother.”

  Now she wasn’t sure what to do. She imagined this as being dinner, a little kissing goodnight and off to grab the kids before snuggling into her big, comfy bed. Alone. “She wants to keep the kids tonight.”

  “Oh. She really likes kids.”

  Uh-huh. Right. That’s why.

  Mina pulled out of the parking lot, her mind racing. Should she just take him home? She glanced sideways at him and caught him leaned back in his seat, arm resting on the door, looking at her, the smallest of smiles on his lips. He was definitely in on this. Fine then.

  “Would you like to stop by my house before I take you home? Maybe we can watch a movie?”

  “And have dessert.”

  Holy shit. Did that mean what she thought it meant? No, no, no, no. No sex with Thomas tonight.

  “I ordered the cream cake for me.” Her pulse slowed. She forgot they actually had dessert in the back seat. He really did mean dessert. “I might be able to be persuaded to give you a bite though.”

  Or maybe not.

  FIFTEEN

  Mina could barely hear what sounded like the Fine Young Cannibals. She shifted, trying to determine where the sound was coming from, but a heavy weight on her left side kept her pinned. She squinted her eyes open and the cloud of confusion vanished instantly.

  A very large, very warm and surprisingly heavy Thomas was propped up against the back of the couch, one arm draped around her waist, his leg propped up on a pillow. She was flat on her back, a blanket crocheted by her mother tucked around her. The index screen of Shaun of the Dead glowed on the television across the room.

  What time was it? The room was still dark, so it was before dawn. She rubbed her tongue across her teeth. Gross. Her mouth tasted like old garlic and espresso. She needed to get to the bathroom.

  Slowly, carefully she slid away from the very handsome man sleeping on her couch. Years of sneaking away from sleeping children served her well and he didn’t budge.

  She crept up the stairs through her bedroom and into the bathroom. Flicking on the light, she inspected herself in the mirror. Holy hell, she looked like crap. Her hair was matted from too much window air and a night sleeping on the chenille couch. Eyeliner was smudged out the corner of one eye, almost reaching her temple. She needed a shower… and mouthwash.

  Ten minutes later, she felt like a new woman. Her face was scrubbed clean, her hair was washed, conditioned, and combed already waving into its preferred state of chaos. She brushed her teeth and quickly swished around a little Listerine hoping to kill any lingering Italian evidence. After throwing on a comfy top over a pair of grey leggings, she snuck back down the stairs her fingers crossed he would still be asleep. He was, but a new bedmate had taken her place next to him.

  “Daphne! Get down.”

  Her whisper yell only made the shaggy dog flop her head up as she gave Mina sad puppy dog eyes. “No. Don’t give me that look. You know you’re not supposed to be up there. Get down.” She pointed her finger at the floor for inflection.

  Daphne blew a raspberry through her lips and slowly rolled her way off the couch deciding if she couldn’t be on the couch she might as well go outside. Sauntering over to the door, she whimpered at Mina.

  “No.”

  She whimpered louder.

  Mina glanced at Thomas, still sleeping soundly on the couch. “Fine.” She disabled the alarm and slid the door open, trying to keep the noise to a minimum. Sliding the door closed behind Daphne, she turned back to look at the couch hoping the commotion hadn’t woken him.

  A dark shadowy figure loomed over her. She jumped back against the door, her hand on her chest. “You scared the shit out of me!” That man moved awful quiet considering he had a bum leg.

  “I see that.”

  The outside flood light she switched on for Daphne cast a soft glow through the sliding door at her back barely illuminating Thomas’ face.

  Her heart was pounding, but she wasn’t sure if it was from surprise or just being this close to him. “I’m sorry I fell asleep last night.” And she was. All that anticipation and she’d passed out fifteen minutes into the movie. They didn’t even get the chance to have dessert.

  “So am I.” He stepped closer, seeming far taller that he had before, forcing her to tip her head back to see his face. He continued closer still, until his body was barely touching hers, his shirt brushing the tips of her breasts through the thin knit of her sweater. In her haste to get back downstairs, she had forgotten to put on a bra. An oversight she was kicking herself for.

  One more small step and he was pressed against her, the cool glass of the door chilling her back as his hands gripped her hips before sliding back to cup her bottom. Her lungs seized as she watched the pale blue of his eyes darken as he gazed down at her. Before she could catch her breath, his lips were on hers, not soft and sweet like the kisses he’d given her before, but hot and demanding.

  His hands gripped her backside firmly and she began to slowly slide upwards against the glass until they were face to face. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and opened her mouth eager to taste him. His tongue immediately found hers, the flavor of mint barely discernable.

  He pulled her higher, tucking her legs around his waist, then pressed harder against her using his weight to keep her in place, freeing up his hands.

  One arm slid around her waist, pulling her against him. She gasped as he slowly drug his hips forward, rubbing his erection against her.

  He broke their kiss to trail his way to her neck. She took the opportunity to try to catch her breath. Holy shit she w
as panting.

  Don’t hyperventilate.

  She tried to force her breathing to slow, but the feel of Thomas’ hot mouth nipping at the sensitive skin just behind her earlobe was making it impossible. Add to that the slow rhythmic pressure he started with his groin and she might be finished before they even started.

  His mouth moved back to hers as his free hand traveled up her ribcage. His palm cupped her breast as his thumb slowly brushed back and forth across her hardening nipple, all while his hips continued that slow, maddening friction.

  Oh God. She was going to come.

  Thomas suddenly stopped. She heard a frustrated whimper and realized it came from her. Luckily she wasn’t the only one making that noise and Thomas was paying attention to the other guilty party.

  His arm tightened around her waist as he pulled her away from the door, sliding it open with the other hand to let Daphne back in. He slid the door back closed and his lips were immediately back on hers.

  She was waiting to feel the press of the door at her back, but instead he turned, carrying her across the room. She soon felt herself falling backwards. Pulling her lips from his she tightened her arms around his neck in panic.

  “Relax angel. I won’t drop you.” His mouth was on her neck, moving down to run his tongue along her collar bone as she landed softly on the couch, his weight on top of her. She tightened her legs around his waist, trying unsuccessfully to encourage him to begin moving against her again.

  She needed his mouth. She unlinked her arms from around his neck, sliding her hands across the width of his shoulders, the muscles taunt as he supported his weight above her. Continuing around, she ran her fingertips across his pecs and up the sides of his neck, finally reaching his face.

  His beard was soft against her hands. She dug in her fingers feeling his warm skin beneath. She pinched her fingers together, trapping the hairs between. “Come here.”

  Gently, she used her grip to pull him back into a kiss immediately plunging her tongue into his mouth, his subtle taste of mint teasing her palate. He growled into her mouth, pressing his weight against her giving her the contact she craved.

  His reaction to her boldness egged her on. Releasing his beard, she clutched at his shirt dragging it up his body. She could only get it half way up his torso, the weight of his body against hers keeping it trapped. Frustrated, she tugged it back down, settling to slide her hands under the uncooperative fabric and up his sides.

  His body was substantially wider than hers, leaving her quite a bit of unobstructed area to explore. Her thumbs brushed against the edges of his abdominal muscles as her fingers felt their way up his back. As she felt the tickle of chest hair, she moved both her hands to his front.

  Her palm rubbed against one flat male nipple, feeling it tighten under her touch. She slowly ran back across, teasing the hard bead with her fingers. Thomas sucked in his breath and wrestled her hands free, gripping both wrists with one hand and pinning them above her head.

  “You’ve got to stop angel.” His voice was hoarse in her ear. “I can’t.”

  Knowing what she was doing to him made her feel unbelievably sexy. She wanted more. Tightening her legs around him, she raised her hips rubbing her swollen mound against him.

  “Jesus Christ.” His free hand gripped her hip, his fingers digging into her flesh, as he shoved her away from him, pinning her to the couch. “Not a very good listener, are you?”

  She loved seeing him this way. Knowing it was because of her.

  Shaking her head slowly, she felt a smile creep across her lips. Lying here underneath this big man as he held her pinned down, able to do anything he wanted to her, she should have felt intimidated and nervous. But she didn’t. She felt powerful and in control. And ridiculously turned on.

  He leaned towards her, his good leg between her knees. She closed her eyes waiting to feel his lips against hers. Instead, she gasped as heat enclosed the peak of her breast through her shirt. The wetness of his mouth quickly soaked through the thin fabric, as he swirled his tongue around her hardening nipple. He sucked it into his mouth, tugging gently.

  He suddenly released, her breast gently bouncing. Cool air moved across the wet fabric as he blew softly until her nipple was so tight it was almost painful.

  “Please.” Her voice was barely a whimper. She tried to rub her legs together to find some relief from his teasing, but his thigh blocked her, hard and immovable.

  He chuckled into her chest as he rubbed his face across her sensitized bud. “What’s wrong angel?” He moved across, gently grazing his teeth across the fabric covering her other nipple. “Don’t want to be beat at your own game?”

  Part of her wanted to kill him. Part of her wanted to screw him first. All of her wanted release.

  She writhed under him, straining against the hand keeping her arms above her head, but he held fast as he continued to tease her with his mouth. Suddenly, he released her hip and used the fingertips of his now free hand to gently pinch and pluck her chilled nipple. He pulled her other breast into his mouth, wetting and warming it as his tongue rubbed back and forth. The different sensations were almost enough to send her blissfully over the edge. Almost.

  He slowly trailed his way up her neck pausing to suck her earlobe between his teeth, letting it slide gently between them as he released it on his way to once again taste her mouth.

  His lips fused with hers, harder this time distracting her until all at once the sensation of his thumb slowly circling focused all her attention on one small bundle of nerves. She whimpered as he lowered his head to her breasts, moving from one to the other as he sucked, stroked and gently nipped, continuing his slow stroking across her clit, the thin fabric between them barely buffering the sensation.

  “Oh God, please don’t stop.” He gently pinched her sensitive flesh. She moaned, her hips bucking involuntarily.

  “It’s time for you to come angel.”

  On command, her body exploded. Her back arching as she ground herself into his hand. He released her hands and she clung to him, fingers digging into the muscle of his shoulders, riding the waves of her climax unable to focus on anything outside of how wonderful he was making her feel.

  As the puzzle pieces of her living room began to put themselves back together around her, music played faintly in the background. Thomas brushed his lips across her forehead, at her temple and down the line of her jaw.

  Regaining her composure, she tucked her face in the crook of his neck, suddenly feeling a little shy and self-conscious. Did you really just get off without even taking off your clothes?

  What began as mere embarrassment bloomed into full on mortification. What the hell just happened? How did an innocent little make-out session turn into that? Her face burned.

  She needed to go regroup. She tried to think of a way to escape and get behind a closed door where she could kick herself. But then she heard the sound of Thomas’ voice, soft and gentle in her ear. He was whispering, his words stopping her in her tracks.

  “You don’t know how long I’ve wanted to be able to touch you.” He nuzzled her neck as his hands gently tangled in her hair, softly rubbing the strands between his fingers. “I never thought it would happen.”

  The feeling was mutual. Only it still hadn’t happened for her.

  With his confession, all thoughts of embarrassment disappeared. He didn’t know how long she had been waiting to touch him. She decided the wait was over. Her heart pounded in her chest, the anticipation of exploring him bringing her to the brink of a heart attack.

  Sliding her hands down the length of his back, every muscle tensed under her touch. Since the first night she brought him dinner and caught a glimpse of his perfect ass sneaking down the hallway, she fantasized about what it would feel like in her hands while she pulled him into her. She was going to find out.

  Slipping her hands into the pockets of his jeans, she pushed her hips up as she pulled him down, feeling the full length of his impressive member on her belly.
She felt her cheeks flush again, but this time not in embarrassment.

  Thomas groaned into her hair as she continued rubbing her body up and down, using her grip on his backside as leverage. Almost as soon as she started, he pulled away from her. “God you’re a terrible listener.”

  She was about to show him just how bad she was, when the sound of someone pounding on her door made them both jump. Thomas glanced at the door, then back at her. “Expecting someone?”

  She craned her neck to look out the sliding door. It was still dark. It couldn’t even be 5:30 yet. Looking back at Thomas she shook her head.

  Pushing himself off the couch, he headed toward the door, his limp more pronounced than normal. “Stay there.” He glanced down at her damp shirt. “You might want to wrap up in the blanket just in case.”

  She looked down. Her shirt was beginning to dry, but her nipples were still hard and obvious through the fabric. Grabbing the blanket off the couch and swinging it around her shoulders, she crept behind Thomas as he made his way in the dark.

  The heavy pounding came again, making her stomach tense up. She could come up with very few people who would come pounding on her door like that, none of them good.

  “Tommy! Please.” More pounding. “Mina! Oh my God, please be here.”

  Nancy?

  The voice registered and Thomas yanked the door open, his sobbing mother falling into his arms.

  “Mom what in the hell is going on?”

  Mina stood in the entry, eyes wide as she tried to process what was happening. Thomas looked at her, confusion covering his face as his mother sagged in his arms, holding onto him for dear life.

  Mina’s mind was racing. What was happening? Suddenly her stomach dropped and she felt sick. “Where are my kids?”

  Her face went cold. Oh my God. Oh my God. She headed for the front door praying to find them on the porch, instead she ran head on into two uniformed police officers. “Where are my kids?”

  “They are fine. Still asleep at Nancy’s. One of our officers is with them.”

  “What the fuck is going on?” She flinched as she realized what she said, but right now she wasn’t too focused on her word choices.