Harbour of Refuge

by Aliyah Burke

  She adjusted her strap and made her way around the long way, not wanting to push through anyone. The conveyor belt hadn’t begun to run yet, so short of the people talking to—or rather at—Enzo, it wasn’t all that loud.

  Above all of the noise cut a young voice that had her freezing in her tracks.

  “Halyn!”

  She glanced to the corner of the island and saw Liev pointing at her with the hand that wasn’t securely in his father’s grip. Lifting her gaze to Enzo, she saw a slow grin cross his face as he moved towards her with Liev at his side.

  Without any pause, he gathered her close with one arm and planted a big kiss on her lips. His taste flowed into her and she moaned with pleasure. It totally rocked her world and ended all too quickly when he pulled away.

  “Hi, beautiful,” he murmured.

  “Hey,” she managed to stutter. Goodness, she was more than a bit lightheaded. His gaze remained solely focused on her and she shifted under the scrutiny. “Trying to get some headlines?”

  “Just letting everyone know you’re my girlfriend.”

  Her belly flipped at that announcement. He’d not tempered his voice and she knew anyone listening would have heard.

  “So wrong,” she teased. Tearing her gaze from his, she looked down at the adorable boy who’d called her name out. “Hi, Liev. How are you doing?”

  A small smile flitted across his face. It was brief and almost non-existent but, damn it, she saw it and would take it. The belt began to move and it didn’t take too long before her suitcase was in Enzo’s hand and they were making their way to the parking lot, Liev between them.

  “How is your father? How are they both doing?” Enzo asked, once they were in his vehicle and past the gate.

  “He’s recovering. It’ll take a while but they say the worst is over. I don’t know if it is or not. I’m scared to get my hopes up.” She settled deeper into the seat. “I’m thinking of moving back home so I’m not so far.”

  Enzo tensed at that statement but didn’t dispute it. In fact, all he did was reach across the space between them and take her hand, offering a squeeze.

  “It’s a bit of a drive. Why don’t you take a nap?”

  Halyn nodded and closed her eyes, her hand still connected to his. She felt much more refreshed when she woke. They were on her street and she let go of his hand, sitting up more.

  Enzo and Liev carried her things into the house for her. All her mail sat stacked on her dining room table, and she knew she would have to thank Mila for looking after the place.

  “I don’t have much in the way of food but I could whip something up,” she offered. It was almost six.

  “How about we order pizza?” Enzo countered.

  “Sounds good to me. Liev?”

  He nodded and put his nose back in the book he’d been reading.

  “I’ll order,” Enzo informed her. “What do you want on yours?”

  “I’m good with almost anything. No anchovies, shrimp, or jalapeños and I’ll be just fine. Oh, and no onions, eggplant, spinach, or carrots. And no nuts.” She headed for her bedroom only to turn back and add, “No squid, tuna, or really anything seafoody. Yes, nothing seafoody. Light sauce and a thin crust. Don’t like that really thick stuff. No mushrooms, I don’t like fungi on my pizza. No lettuce, peas, corn, squash or zucchini. I think that covers the basics. Except meatballs, none of those. Not much in the way of ham either. Or turkey or duck. And no chilli or artichokes.”

  He had this amused expression on his face. “Coulda sworn I asked what you wanted on it, not what you didn’t. Anything else, Ms I’m-good-with-almost-anything?”

  She grinned sheepishly. “Pepperoni or sausage works for me.”

  Enzo rolled his eyes and waved her along. Shooting a wink at Liev, she went to her room for a shower and change. She took her time and arrived to see him opening the door for the pizza. They ate around her kitchen table.

  Later that night, she took them out to her backyard and showed Liev the telescope she’d got for him. While he played with that and scanned the skies, she sat on her swing next to Enzo. He had his arm around her shoulders, keeping her close to him—something she didn’t have any problem with.

  “You sure you’re doing okay?” He kept his voice low so the conversation remained between the two of them.

  “I called Mama after my shower. Daddy is doing well. Still tired, but that’s to be expected.”

  He rested his lips along her temple. She closed her eyes and just enjoyed the moment. This was what she needed. Not sex. Not words telling her everything would be okay, just this. His strong presence offering a harbour of refuge. A place where she could just let go of all the stress. No need to be the strong one, or the brave one.

  She didn’t even know when the first tears escaped, all she knew was he’d tucked her tighter to him. His rough masculine scent offered comfort. The steady beat of his heart, coaxing hers to follow along and remain slow and steady. His deep, even breaths doing the same.

  He didn’t seem to care that she was currently soaking his shirt. Enzo never made like he was in a rush to move from her side. So content, she dozed off eventually. When she woke, she was in her bed.

  Wiping the tear stains from her cheeks, she swung off the bed and headed out to find Liev sleeping on the couch and Enzo bringing in the telescope. He grinned at her, the soft light showcasing his brilliant white teeth.

  “Where do you want this?”

  “It’s for Liev. Take it for him.” She shoved her hands in her pockets. “I’m sorry I fell asleep like that.”

  “Not a problem. I loved holding you. Just when he began to doze, I had to make sure he didn’t fall off the stool.”

  Enzo set the telescope down and moved towards where she stood in her bedroom doorway. He smoothed some hair away from her face, maintaining eye contact. She swallowed hard.

  “Do you have to leave?” she asked in a low tone.

  Heat from his gaze singed her. “No. Let me just cover him up.”

  “He can use the guest room.”

  “I’ll be in shortly,” he told her with a brief kiss.

  She stepped back as he knelt by his son. It didn’t take her long to get ready for bed. Butterflies flapped in her belly and she shook her head at her nervousness. She had nothing to be scared about. And yet, she was. Like it was her first time.

  “You’re insane, Halyn,” she muttered to herself.

  “And why is that?” Enzo asked as the door shut behind him.

  She turned and watched him remove his shirt in one singular, smooth motion. Her gaze focused completely on his chest. Hard. Defined. Sexy as hell. She licked her lips as she imagined tasting him. Licking his chest, trailing her tongue over the ridges in his abs.

  “Why is what?” Was she babbling? Yes, definitely.

  “Why,” he said, unbuttoning his jeans, “are you calling yourself insane?”

  “Um. Um. Damn.”

  Down over powerful thighs, they pooled at his feet, leaving him in a pair of stone-grey boxer briefs. Like it was a beacon, she homed in on the large erection restrained by the cotton.

  “You were saying?”

  She hadn’t a clue. Shrugging, she moved towards him. Splaying her hands on his chest, she purred at the feel of his flesh beneath her palms. “You’re hot.”

  He dipped his head, some hair tumbling forward. “And you are sexy as fuck. But you’re wearing too many clothes for me.”

  Yeah, for herself too, but she didn’t need to sound and act like a mannerless whore. Her blue strap top covered her to mid-thigh, and she only wore underwear beneath it.

  She dragged her nails over his skin. He hissed in response.

  “Keep that up, beautiful, and you’ll find yourself tossed on the bed.”

  Lifting her gaze to peer up at him, she gave him a sexy smile. “Promise?”

  Her question hadn’t faded from the air before she sailed through it to bounce on her bed. Enzo shucked off his final item of clothing and
she bit her lip in anticipation. He was long and thick. Pausing by his pants, he dug out some condoms and lobbed them beside her on the rich bedspread.

  She turned her head, began inching up her top, and said, “Only three?”

  Her slit pulsed when he grabbed his length and began stroking himself. The sight of him mesmerised her. Dampening her lips, she sat up and threw her shirt to the side. Now she only wore her leopard-print, lace-trim Cheeky panty.

  His gaze narrowed and she lay back until her elbows supported her weight. Blatantly, she ran an appreciative stare over him, returning her gaze once again to the large erection he sported.

  “Are you a fan of those?” His voice so low it resembled a growl.

  “My panties? Yes? I love Victoria’s Secret.”

  “Then I suggest you remove them, because I’ll tear them from you otherwise.”

  Laying back, she hooked her thumbs in the waistband and slowly drew them down over her hips. His eyes were liquid fire and he moved towards her. One hand still stroking himself, he used the other to grip her underwear and jerk them off her.

  “Impatient?”

  He arched an eyebrow and cupped her. She whimpered and wriggled against him, encouraging penetration. When he merely dragged a finger through her slickness she mewled.

  “Impatient?” he asked.

  “Yes.” She wasn’t ashamed. Allowing her thighs to fall apart, she reached for her clit, only to have him grip her wrist.

  “Mine.” After sliding her up along the bedspread, he crawled between her legs, then hooked them over his shoulders and put his mouth on her.

  Clenching her jaw, she kept her scream inside. Up and down he licked, sending her spiralling into her own private mix of heaven and hell. The pressure he applied was perfect. He knew just what she liked and needed. When he added two fingers to her, she called his name out.

  After blindly reaching for a pillow, she held it over her face as more and more cries escaped her. With her free hand, she reached down and sank it into his thick hair, holding him tight to her. Over and over the need built up to the point of being painful, he’d ease off, allow her to calm, then start all over again. She writhed beneath him, but he was far too strong for her to dislodge him.

  When his teeth grazed her clit, she tugged on his hair as a scream was wrenched from her mouth. The pillow fell to the side and she put her other hand in his locks as well.

  “Enzo…please…let me… I need…”

  He didn’t make her beg any longer. Thrusting two thick fingers deeply inside her, he flicked her nub with his tongue and over she fell. Pleasure raced over her, sending her into a tailspin of bliss. Her back arched from the bed and she cried his name.

  Before she came down from that high, he was over her, kissing her as he slid his cock fully in her with a single stroke.

  It took her a moment to realise the noise came from her. He didn’t take his time. No. He thrust, withdrew, and did it all over again, setting a relentless rhythm. With her knees on his shoulders, he hit deep and her eyes closed with the intensity of the pleasure rocketing through her.

  Teeth clashed, tongues duelled, and breath mingled as they made use of the entire bed. She was in a suspended state of amazement. It seemed she hardly got over one orgasm before another poured over her.

  He lowered his head and bit the side of her neck—not hard, but enough that it launched her over the cliff one final time. This time, he followed her over. His roar of release echoed in her ear as she felt him jerk and pulse inside her.

  Sweaty and exhausted, she lowered her legs from his shoulders as he sagged on top of her. Still keeping him deep inside her, she hooked her legs around his waist.

  “Damn.”

  His chuckle reverberated through her. “You can say that again.”

  “I think I need a shower.”

  His lips teased the place he’d bit. “Give me a minute and I’ll take you.”

  She closed her eyes and waited for her breathing to slow. Once they’d regained normal heartbeats, he carried her to the shower. They got dirty again before they got clean, then climbed out.

  She fell asleep in his embrace, her head on his chest and her arm around his midsection. No nightmares woke her that night and when she rose in the morning, she took a moment to just enjoy the sight of the man in her bed.

  Enzo slept on his back, one arm draped over his eyes. The sheet—lucky sheet—pooled around his waist and she had to dig her fingers into her palms to keep from lifting it and taking his shaft in her mouth. Rain had moved in overnight and the morning was grey and wet as it continued to fall.

  With a regretful sigh, she moved from the bed, barely containing her groan as she did so. Every inch of her was sore. She dressed in the bathroom and piled her hair up on top of her head. Once finished in there, she made her way to the kitchen.

  Since she had no idea what time Liev woke, she figured she’d start breakfast. Soon she had a hash brown casserole cooking in the oven. As she cleaned up from cooking, she looked up when she felt someone watching her.

  Liev sat on the stool.

  “Morning,” she said with a smile. “Did you sleep well?” He nodded and she poured him some juice. “Wonderful. So did I.” She reached for the colander and glanced at him. “Would you like to help me?”

  His eyes widened and she beckoned him around. Positioning him at the sink on a stool, she put him to work washing the fruit while she cut it up.

  “Did you like the telescope?”

  “Yes.”

  It took a minute for her to not overreact that he’d spoken. Trying to carry on as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened, she focused on the peaches before her.

  “I’m glad. I remember you said stars that night.” She shrugged. “Well, I mean, I didn’t understand since I don’t speak Russian, but I asked your Aunt Jaydee. Thankfully she knew.”

  “I’ve never had one before.”

  “Well, I am so glad to have gotten it for you then. I am sure your dad will set it up for you back at your house.”

  “You could come see it some night, and we could look at the stars.”

  Heavens, she wasn’t sure she could continue hearing full sentences from him. “I’d love to.”

  Chapter Eleven

  Enzo watched as Liev talked to Halyn. Actually spoke. Hell, if he hadn’t been standing there, hearing it, he wouldn’t have believed it. It wasn’t easy even though he was right here.

  It spoke such volumes to know that Liev trusted Halyn enough to talk to her. He stood there and listened as they continued chatting while working in the kitchen. Part of him wanted to go make his presence known and join in. Deep down he knew it wouldn’t work—Liev hadn’t got to that point with him yet.

  So while it hurt to know his own flesh and blood felt more comfortable with someone else, he wasn’t about to ruin it—he would wait on the outskirts while his child got more confidence.

  Liev had his back to him as he washed fruit. Halyn however, looked up and saw him standing there. She gave him a smile and his heart pounded at the simple gesture. With a tilt of her head, she invited him in to join them.

  He hesitated and she seemed to understand. “Enzo,” she said. “Can you grab the bananas from the table and bring them here. I think we need some of them as well.” Liev looked over his shoulder, his expression sobering. “So, Liev, tell me more about your favourite constellation.”

  Enzo moved to the table, smiling over the way she kept the conversation with his child moving. He listened to the response, granted it was a bit softer than before, but at least he hadn’t clammed up.

  She handed him a cutting mat when he returned with the fruit, along with a knife, and he got to chopping. They spoke, Halyn asking questions and Liev answering. She sounded so interested in him that Enzo could see why the child was taken with her. He laughed silently as she tried to get Liev to teach her some words in Russian.

  “Are you staying for lunch?” she asked.

  Enzo waited for
a response from Liev but soon realised she spoke not to the child but to him. “Um, sure, if you don’t mind having us here.”

  “Not at all. Liev has agreed to help me out in my garden in the back. I just needed to know so I could make a pie for lunch.”

  “I like pie,” Liev popped out.

  “Me too,” Enzo said with a grin to his son.

  “You two keep chopping and washing, I’ll get started on the pie so it can cook and cool in time.”

  She manoeuvred around Enzo and had him next to the sink and Liev in less time than it took him to blink. Then she was hauling stuff out of cupboards and mixing something in a bowl.

  “We can set the telescope up when we get home. What do you think?” he asked Liev.

  “Okay.”

  It wasn’t much, but it was a response. Enzo glanced at Halyn who gave him a look, encouraging him to continue.

  “Did you want it in your room or maybe in the living room? I’m not sure which spot would be the best for you.”

  “On the balcony.”

  “Right, already outside. Why didn’t I think of that? Sounds good. We can get that taken care of this evening and you can be using it tonight.”

  Eyes like his own met his gaze. It was a brief smile, but one Enzo knew he’d never forget as long as he lived. How could he? Today was the day his son smiled at him for the first time. He put the fruit for breakfast on the table and moved back to the counter.

  “What are you making?” he asked her, brushing a kiss along her cheek.

  “I told you, pie.”

  “In a nine by thirteen?”

  “Works best this way. Graham cracker crust, lots of fruit, topped with chopped pecans, which are over there by the way for you to get to work on, and also some orange blossom honey on it.”

  “Sounds delicious.” He grabbed an actual cutting board this time and she shook her head, grabbing a dicer for him to use.