No words were exchanged after Zach made the comment. There was just a knowing look exchanged between the two. It was true. A stranger may not take care of her or understand who she was and why she was so precious.
Derek walked toward the large window and scanned the patio for Sandi. It didn’t take but a moment. She stood out in most crowds. Her blonde hair was shimmering in the sunlight, almost casting a glow around her. She was so beautiful. At certain times, like now, he would be struck by her and feel it deep down into his soul. He wanted to give her the world. If there was anything she wanted or desired, he wanted to be able to hand it over to her willing and proud to be the one who gave it to her.
He brought his hand up to his jaw and rubbed the stubbles as he thought. His thoughts were momentarily distracted at the sound of Zach closing the door behind him as he left the room.
He needed to think and clear his head. No matter how much he wanted those things, he couldn’t ignore the gut-wrenching feeling of jealousy and anger that came over him when he thought of Sandi and another man. It seemed as though he had been okay with it when he’d discussed it with her. When they were alone and in their bed where he was in control and there was no one else there to threaten to take all of that way, then he was okay with it. The reality of Zach’s offer and his reasons behind him were all too telling though.
Could it be that he was scared she could be hurt? That they would do something which would push things past the point of no return, perhaps placing an invisible wedge between them? Maybe he was just being jealous, subconsciously living by the caveman mentality of that was his woman, his property, and no one else’s?
He watched her as she took a sip of her juice and looked toward the double doors leading into the house. The way she was picking at her food, it was obvious she was nervous about whatever was happening inside. Typical Sandi, he thought as he smiled. Always concerned for others, always so damn sweet. He didn’t know how he’d lived without her for as long as he had. There was no way in hell he’d ever go without her again. That was the most important thing to him. As long as he had her by his side, with him and in his life, he would be whole.
The moment of reflection hit him like he had been running full force into a brick wall. Out of all his fears, that was his biggest. Losing her. Being without her. That was the thing he was most afraid of, that another man would be able to steal her away.
The only question now was, was he willing to give her everything she wanted and risk what they had? It would be the ultimate test of their love. That he was sure of. He was never one to gamble. Not like his father had been.
Watching her sit nervously at the small bistro table, he knew this was a decision he couldn’t make on his own. Together they needed to decide how strong they were and how much they could handle.
He picked up his plate and glass, heading out toward the patio. There was much they needed to discuss.
Chapter 23
Sandi watched Derek approach the table. His smile was meant to be reassuring, but she could see right through it. Something was on his mind.
No fantasy, no hidden urges she had would be worth causing problems in their relationship. She loved him. That was all that mattered.
“Hey, gorgeous.” He leaned over, kissing her cheek before he sat across from her.
“Is everything all right?”
Before shoving some eggs into his mouth, he answered her, “Things are fine.”
His casual demeanor was doing nothing to soothe her nerves. He was tense. No matter how he tried to act relaxed, she could feel it.
“You’re sure? Because it seemed like you were a little…I don’t know…upset maybe?”
Staring at her while chewing on his latest bite, she was sure she hadn’t seen this side of him before. She felt like he was sizing her up, trying to decide how he could answer her, rather than just answer her honestly.
“Upset? Nope.”
Again, he answered casually as though he had literally nothing on his mind. She knew that was far from the truth. Something had happened in that room. When she had left, no not left, but when he had forced her to leave the room so the boys could talk without the presence of the little lady being there, she was sure there was something inside him that was ready to boil over. She needed to know what he was thinking. What was more was she wanted him to want to tell her.
Hesitantly, she decided to push the subject. Whether it was a good idea or not, she wasn’t sure. There was only one way to find out though.
She placed her fork down on her plate, wiped her mouth with her napkin, and set it on the table next to it. Then she sat back in her chair and waited for him to look at her.
His face was downward looking at his food. He then glanced up at her. “Are you finished already? You’ve barely eaten anything.”
Crossing her arms, she tilted her head to one side. “I guess I’m just not very hungry.” She hoped he caught the hint of annoyance she put in her tone.
“That so?” he replied.
She tried to muster the best uninterested expression she could come up with, figuring she’d fight fire with fire. “Seems that way.”
In turn, he also set down his fork while working his tongue inside his mouth, clearly trying to get something out that was stuck in between his teeth. Oh how she wished he wasn’t doing that. The thought of his tongue brought to mind all sorts of thoughts that were going to distract her from her plan.
“We’ve been mating like bunny rabbits in their prime, you’ve barely eaten, and you’re just not hungry?”
“Yep.”
Don’t give in to his sexy stare, she kept telling herself. Normally, his gaze would make her weak in the knees and at his mercy, but if he was going to play this little game, she was going to be damn sure she won it.
“Seems to me like you should be starving.”
“Oh? Well, maybe, but I guess I’m not.”
Derek raised his right eyebrow at her. His look of curiosity she’d seen a thousand times before. “Okay, sweetheart, is this one of those things where a woman says everything is fine, but it’s really not fine, and in fact, you’ve got something on your mind which I’ll be sure to pay for later?”
Damn him. He was so cute, she couldn’t help but smirk just a little. “Do women do that?”
Smiling, he answered, “Yeah, babe. Women do that.”
“Hmm…I guess I never realized.”
“Yeah, I can see how that’d be hard to miss, what with you being a woman and all.”
She held up her finger as though a thought had suddenly struck her. “I wonder if that is anything like those big tough men who pound on their chest, ordering their woman away from their caves before he and the other Neanderthals duke it out over the last woman left in the village.”’
A boisterous laugh came from across the table.
“I hardly find this funny, Derek.”
He pointed and winked at her. “Ahh…see, there it is. The tone of the woman who clearly is upset about something but is so not okay.”
She shook her head in utter annoyance at him. How dare he be cute and sexy while she was trying to be angry with him and make a very valid point. If he would just be quiet, she could make him realize that…She would have finished her thoughts if Derek hadn’t reached over and abruptly pulled her out of her chair, yanking her arm until she was sitting in his lap.
“Just what do you think you’re doing?” She held her tone firm.
“Me Tarzan. You Jane. We go make whoopee in the tree house while all the monkeys watch.”
Unable to hide it any longer, a huge smile spread across her face as she laughed.
“There she is. You’re so pretty when you smile.”
Wrapping her arms around him, she whispered in his ear. “It’s a side effect of being with you.”
“Funny, I have the same side effect when I’m near you.” He winked at her.
This was it. She was happy. He was happy. They were happy. If they stood any chance of
making sure they stayed that way, she was going to have to stand her ground. Honesty, or the lack of it, was partially what destroyed them the first time. Not being up front with one another would surely cause them to repeat that same path which caused them such pain.
“Derek, I need you to tell me what happened with you and Zach. Remember? I seem to recall someone telling me how important it was to be honest with the person we love, even if we think it may upset them.”
He gave her a look of amusement. She wasn’t sure why. “And just why are you smirking at me?”
“Because you’re cute and utterly adorable when you agree with me.”
Laughing, she kissed him. “Oh, is that so? Someone is very full of themselves, I see.”
“No, babe. I’m just sitting here wondering when it was you got so smart.”
“I bet your pardon, I have always been smart!” Playfully, she nudged his shoulder.
“I know, but it’s kind of endearing. You using my own logic to convince me to talk about something that I’m trying to avoid.”
She didn’t respond but instead ran her fingers through his hair before hugging him tight. Then with confidence, she got up from his lap and went back to her chair.
“Hey, what are you doing? I happened to like where you were sitting.”
Picking up her bagel and grinning, she said, “I know. Me, too, but I’m starving!”
“I thought so.”
They ate their breakfast in comfort. This was a small step for them. One of many they’d make as they reconnected. There was still the same love there that she’d always felt for him. Somehow it was different though. It was as if their love had matured, like a fine wine or the way an elegant cheese would.
Once done with breakfast, they decided to take a walk on the grounds. They were really quite beautiful. Large trees surrounded the estate, and there were several sitting areas scattered amongst the acres of greenery.
Just beyond a row of shrubs and smaller trees on the north end of the property, they found a small pond. It was no bigger than the size of a car, but had three mallard ducks swimming around in it, quacking at one another while one of them flapped its wings.
There was a small boulder nestled on the far side of the pond surrounded by pussy willows. She looked at it and thought to herself that it looked like a chair God had created for people to sit there and throw bread crumbs at the loud birds.
Suddenly, she felt herself being picked up by Derek. “What on earth are you doing?”
Had she waited a moment longer, she would have known his intention. Not a minute later, she was sitting on the same rock she had just been staring at. His strong hands which just carried her to it were now massaging her neck as he stood behind her.
“That feels so good. So very relaxing.” She was all but moaning as his fingers worked her shoulders into the massage.
“Good. You relax because tonight we’re going to observe some scenes in some of the larger rooms. I want you to be as relaxed as possible.”
Observe some scenes? Together? She had seen some in the past, but never with Derek. He must have felt her tense under his announcement because he leaned over and whispered in her ear.
“Don’t do that. Take a deep breath. It’s okay. We’re going to watch some things together. Experience seeing them with one another. Then we’ll be able to tell each other honestly what we can and cannot handle.”
That was what had happened with Zach. He wasn’t sure if he could handle giving her the fantasy she’d mentioned. Oddly, she understood. No matter how happy she wanted him to be, she also questioned what limits their relationship could be pushed to before breaking. He knew that and also was worried about the same thing, and he was going to be there with her, so they could figure it out together.
“I love you, Derek.”
Kissing the top of her head, he answered, “I love you, too, babe.”
Chapter 24
Derek shook hands with Zach, not completely sure about what he’d just agreed to, but positive that, if they did decide to go ahead with it, he’d rather have Zach be the other man than a stranger. He had to place a call to his brother to be sure he’d taken care of the special favor he’d called in earlier after he and Sandi had returned from their walk. If things went his way, come tomorrow at this time, everything he’d ever wanted would become true.
Quinn answered on the second ring. “Hello.”
“You take care of it?”
“Take care of what? Been kinda busy today, man.”
Sarcastic son of a bitch. That was his brother. If there was something he could razz him on, he would surely do it.
“Cut the crap. Did you get it in time for same day delivery or not?”
“Hmm…” Quinn hummed into the phone. “It? What was it again? Dude, I’ve been really busy. Was I supposed to do something for you?”
“God damn it, Quinn! Brother or no brother, blood or no blood, I will kick your ass first thing when I get home!”
Derek shook his head as his brother laughed in hysterics on the other end of the phone. Finally, he heard the sweet voice of his sister-in-law chiding her new husband for acting like a child.
“Listen to her, man. She’s the only good thing you got going for you.”
He waited while his brother said something in his defense before he apologized to him.
“I want you to know I think it’s hilarious how she holds your balls like that,” Derek mocked him.
“Shut the hell up, wiseass. I sent it. Got it there in the nick of time. I was told, barring any weather emergencies, you should expect it around nine o’clock.”
Derek smiled. He couldn’t help it. His heart was racing. Not with nerves or fear, but with excitement.
“You there?” Quinn asked.
“Yeah, man. I’m here. Thanks, and tell Anne she’s an angel for putting up with you. You’re a pain in the ass.”
“She likes my ass!”
Derek just shook his head and smiled. “All right, dude. Keep telling yourself that. I gotta go. Lots to do.”
Quinn stopped him before he hung up. “Hey.”
Derek was about to hit the red button when he heard his brother. “What now?”
“Happy for you. Don’t let her go this time, asshole.”
“Thanks, man.”
* * * *
Hours later, Derek stepped out of the shower and watched Sandi as she sat at the small vanity in the bathroom applying her makeup. She was wearing the pink robe he’d gotten her all those years ago. The sight kicked him in the gut. She had been so young then. So innocent, and in some ways, still a child. He hadn’t realized it then. To him she was a beautiful woman, always had been, always would be.
Now though, as he watched her from across the steamy bathroom, he noticed a change in her posture. Her eyes seemed older, wiser even. Her smile was no longer carefree but instead powerful. Everything about her, the presence which she exuded, was a complete contradiction. He wanted to protect her from everything in the world, shelter her from all bad and evil things, anything that would hurt her or cause her pain, but seeing her in that moment, he knew that while he would protect her, she didn’t need it. She looked strong, confident, and ready to take on the world.
“Jesus.”
She smiled at him through the mirror’s reflection. “Something wrong?”
Her cute, little smile told him that she knew he’d been watching her. “You’re gorgeous, baby.”
The cute, little smile disappeared and was replaced with a huge blushing grin. “So are you, Derek.”
Drying off with the towel, he shrugged. “This is true.”
“Oh puhleease!” She rolled her eyes at him.
He walked out into the bedroom, dropping his towel on the way out. He had to snicker to himself because he knew that used to drive her nuts when they lived together. She was going to have to get used to all his annoying little habits though, and no sense in not starting now.
The outfits they decided to we
ar were already lying out on the bed. He would be wearing the same pants he had the night he’d first come here and found her. They weren’t his first choice, but he’d seen her eyes light up when she saw them in his suitcase. He wasn’t sure why she liked them, and it could have been the leather or the flap which opened so easily in the front. The reason didn’t matter. He knew she liked them, so that was what he would wear.
For her, he’d asked her to wear a form-fitting, black dress. It was short, easily hiked up, and had spaghetti straps at her shoulders. His favorite part of the dress was how it accentuated her breasts, lifting them and barely covering her gorgeous pink nipples.
He cocked his head to one side when he saw a black G-string sitting next to her dress. “Babe, what’s with the panties?”
“What’s with them? As in what are they for?”
“Yeah,” he answered.
“Well, I usually wear them.” She laughed. “Don’t tell me you want to.”
He glanced back into the bathroom to give her a look of humor. “Hardly. I mean, why are they out? You certainly don’t think you’ll be wearing panties tonight under that sexy, little dress do you?”
“Oh…no I guess I’m not.”
“That’s my girl.”
He was just finishing pulling up his pants when a knock came at the door. Before Sandi could ask who it was, he went to answer it. He didn’t want to ruin any surprises in case the package had arrived early.
Opening the door, he found Zach on the other side. “We have several couples joining us downstairs tonight.”
Derek hadn’t been expecting that. “I see. What time?”
“In an hour, and they’ve requested an audience, and anyone who wishes to participate is welcome as long as he remains in charge.”
He gave Zach a nod and sent him on his way. They both had already discussed the rest earlier. Now it was just a matter of time before the decision was made. They’d watch together, learn together, and decide together what was going to be good for them.
Turning, he saw Sandi standing before him naked, her arms up high in the air, as she attempted to let the dress shimmy down her body.
Morgan, Nicole - Intimate Confessions [Intimate Temptations 2] (Siren Publishing Allure) Page 15
