Lex stood and went to the mirror. “Damn, I haven’t seen this side of myself in some time.” He turned his head from side to side as she stepped back and enjoyed the view of his trim waist leading to his firm ass wrapped in a towel. Aged ink on his back matched the beautiful bald eagle on his expansive chest. Without thinking, Thea sauntered over to him; their eyes met in the mirror. Thea reached out, her finger meeting warm flesh as she touched the weathered ink. Gooseflesh broke out across his skin as she tenderly dragged her fingers down his back and gripped the towel tightly wrapped around his waist. She tugged, once then twice until the towel pooled at both of their feet.
Lex turned around, his sex bobbing between them hot and heavy. “I don’t want this just to be fucking,” he admitted as he untied the sash of her robe. “I want more than just tonight.” He pushed the robe over her shoulders and down her body, revealing her figure to him once again.
Lifting his hand, he traced a light pattern over her heart. “You still care for me. I know it.”
Why can’t he just shut up and fuck me? Why does he feel the need to complicate things?
Goosebumps appeared, sending warmth over her skin, Thea sighed. “Do you?”
He nodded. Lifting her hand, he placed it over his heart. The organ thudded and jumped beneath his hot flesh. “I feel it in your touch.” Leaning forward, his tongue darted out and made a slow swipe over her bottom lip. “I taste it in your kiss.” His fingers lowered until they made contact with her puckered nipple, sliding down her stomach until he cupped her sex he added, “And I felt it as you came all over my tongue.” Thea trembled, her body’s reaction a confession to the truth in his words. Her heart soared, her body heated, and her core ached in need. “I couldn’t be with you back then no matter how much either of us wanted it.” Caressing her cleft as he spoke, Lex stroked the simmering heat flaring to life inside of her. “But I can be with you, now.” His other hand made its way to her breast to pull and pinch her nipple, lighting a fire in her belly only sex could extinguish. “I can find a job, move out of the woods, get my shit together, and I can do it for you.”
Biting her lip, Thea spread her legs, giving Lex access to her body. “Can you? Can you do that for me?” She believed he would try, but Thea had been preparing for the worst, the moment she had to put her Paw Paw to rest and move back to New York. Would Lex follow? Did she even want to move back to the hustle and bustle of the City? This wasn’t a decision one made without careful consideration. Thea wasn’t even sure she trusted Lex wouldn’t disappear on her again.
“Come back to me,” Lex coaxed. He dipped a finger between her lips, gently nudging her clit. Thea bucked at the sudden sensation, her body coiled and ready for a much deeper touch. His expert touch took her mind away from the questions and fears and forced her to feel instead of think.
“I’m here,” she moaned. “More, please.” Breathless, she gripped his shoulders and rode his fingers as he thrust them in and out of her. “Oh God, Lex.” Mindful not to wake her grandfather, Thea pressed her face into Lex’s eagle tattoo and moaned out her pleasure. Lex’s finger slid from her and he hefted her up, wrapping her legs around his waist. The tip of his cock nudged her entrance.
Thea pulled back, the haze of need tempered only a moment as she asked, “Condom?”
Lex nodded. “Yeah, baby.” Keeping her in his arms, his hardened member pressed tightly between them, he deftly knelt down, swiped up his pants off the tiled floor, and hefted her back up as he stood. Lex made quick work of exiting the bathroom and rushed down the hall to Thea’s bedroom. Once inside, he gently placed her on the bed and retrieved the condom from his pants.
A frown wrinkled Thea’s nose. “Ugh, throw those things out.” She pointed to the dingy pants.
Lex sauntered over to the bed. “Then what am I gonna wear … or are you gonna keep me chained up and naked in your bed?”
“Hmmm, that sounds … tempting,” she replied with a saucy wink. When he tossed her the condom, she caught it in one hand, and with a quirk of her brow she asked, “You want me to do the honors?”
Palming his cock, Lex pumped it as he met her gaze. With a nod, he released himself and crossed his arms behind his back. Thea glanced down at the condom in her hand. Reminded of the object’s earlier intended use, she froze.
“Hey,” Lex’s soft, compassionate voice called to her. “What’s wrong, Thea?” He started to head to her, but Thea held out a hand, halting his movements.
Lifting the condom, she displayed it to him. “This.”
Confusion furrowed his brow. “You don’t want to use it?”
She shook her head. “No, I—”
“Are you on birth control?”
Licking her lips, she prepared to lay her insecurities out in the open. “No, and no it’s not that. It’s the fact that you were searching for a—”
“Wait.” Shaking his head, Lex dropped to a knee; staying where he knelt would give her the space she needed in the moment. His touch inflamed her and caused her brain to forget the past. “I thought it was my only option. I assumed you were in New York, happy and whole. I didn’t know you were in Blackwater, and I didn’t know my actions had left you so …” He paused and took a breath.
Thea desired to hear this. She wanted to hear that Lex would never want another woman no matter how irrational the need seemed, she couldn’t help but pray he would say just that. Because if he didn’t, if Lex didn’t say the right words, Thea would feel as if she were that stupid, naïve child handing a grown man a pink-shaped heart asking to be loved. She couldn’t handle that right now. She could no longer be so vulnerable, but here she was, condom in hand, heart on sleeve begging for acceptance and love. Thea couldn’t be his second choice tonight, because he was and would always be her first. “I didn’t do it. I couldn’t do it.”
Taking in his gaze, she asked, “Why?”
“I know you want me to say because she wasn’t you, but I can’t tell you that, Thea.” Lex stood. “But I can tell you what I’ve always wanted to tell you. I’ve always loved you and all the good shit that happened in my life was because of you and Earl.”
Thea dropped the condom, sighing. “You once told me I was like a little sister to you and Earl a father figure.”
“I fucking lied.” He said emphatically.
Her eyes widened. “What?”
His sultry gaze met hers. “The night I saw you take that dip, I knew you were a woman and not a child. The day I taught you to shoot, swim, and later when I watched you walk across that stage, diploma in hand, to become something great, I knew I wanted to be in your life, but you needed to experience life first.”
Thea nodded. “Had I known you loved me, I would have never left you here.”
He chuckled. “I wouldn’t have gone with you to New York. I would have just saddled you down with my fuck the world attitude. I had a lot of growing up to do, too. We needed the time apart.”
Thea offered him a small smile. “Looks like you and Earl did the right thing.”
“It brought me back to you.”
Agreeing, Thea picked up the condom. She opened the packet and got to her knees on the bed. Crooking a finger at him, she motioned for him to come closer.
Instead, Lex shook his head, denying her silent command.
“Are you gonna make this hard for me?” she crooned.
He glanced down at his bobbing member. “Any harder and I’ll burst.”
Climbing off the bed, Thea made her way to Lex; this time she was the one who fell to her knees before him. Taking his sex in hand, Thea fitted the protection over him and then peered up at him from her kneeling position. Lex reached down, wrapped his hands around her arms, and pulled her up from the floor.
Thea wrapped her arms around Lex’s waist. “You don’t want me on my knees?” She placed a kiss on the beak of the bald eagle tattooed on his chest. The old ink had been inked into his flesh long ago she realized. Possibly, right after he’d left her.
His li
ps curved in a roguish grin. “Yeah, but not right now. I’m too on edge, and if those lush lips and hot tongue touch me I’ll explode.” The evidence of his words lay hot and heavy on her stomach. His smooth, bare skin heated hers, adding to the passion between them.
Lex’s arms tightened around her as he lifted her, once again laying her gently on the bed, only this time, Lex didn’t retreat. He crawled over her; one arm beneath her back allowed him to pull her with him to the middle of her bed. Lex lifted using an arm to hold his weight above her.
The pausing drove her insane and she ached for the moment their bodies would be passionately entangled; it’d been too long for her. Life had interrupted her love life and Thea now more than ever realized how Lex must have felt earlier as he searched out someone to scratch his decadent itch. Her heart galloped in her chest when his husky voice met her ears.
“Open for me, Thea.”
She complied, easily allowing his big body to slide between her thighs. His thick fingers eased into her slick passage, and a groan was torn from her lips. Lex eased in and out, while teasing her heated flesh with whisper soft kisses. Thea’s hips moved in cadence with his easy thrusts. Lifting her hips from the bed, straining to take him deeper, Thea reached down. Covering Lex’s hand with hers, Thea greedily increased his speed and pressure.
“Hmmm, greedy girl,” he crooned. “Take it easy.”
Thea groaned, “Hurry.” She grasped his cock in hand. Lex’s hips bucked forward as she squeezed. He threw his head back as she stroked and grasped his pulsing sex.
Gripping her hand, Lex stopped her stroking. “Fuck.”
“You started the teasing with those fingers of yours.” Thea, ready for more than words and soft caresses, opened wider.
“Yes, I did,” he returned. Lex gripped his cock and slowly guided it to her wet sex. Wetting himself by guiding his cock through the seeping moisture of her cleft, Thea, unable to wait any longer, lifted slightly. She reached between them and helped pilot the tip of him to the entrance of her sex. Taking her leg and hefting it over his shoulder, he bared even more of her sex to him. With one sharp thrust, Lex embedded himself to the hilt. Thea cried out as the thin line between pleasure and pain claimed her. He pulled out and plunged deep again. A pleasured cry fell from her lips. The sting of pain abated when his fingers made it to her clit. Thea held on for dear life as his powerful body thrust above her. Back arched, nails embedded deep within his skin, Thea felt his power in every cell of her body. Entangled in his arms, penetrated by his sex, Thea reveled in the sultry slide of his body against her and his deep, masculine moans falling from his lips. Lifting her head, Thea took his lips in a passionate kiss. Tongues battled for dominance, flesh collided, and the first tingle of her orgasm blossomed deep in her core. Thea was not ready to give in just yet. Thea pushed on Lex’s chest until he followed her lead and swapped positions. Lex lay on his back, glistening cock pointed north like a beacon signaling her home, and without hesitation, Thea straddled his body and guided him inside of her. He gripped her hips and wasted no time, Lex creating a rhythm that had Thea’s knees weak and legs shaking. There was no way she would be able to draw this one out. Thea bounced, the sound of slapping flesh drowning out her pleas and moans. Again, Lex’s fingers found their way to her clit, flicking and pinching until the tightening coil inside of her released. Thea screamed; Lex bucked once, then twice, burying his spasming cock deep inside of her as he came.
Body weak, Thea fell to Lex’s chest. “Next time, don’t make me wait ten years.” The last thing she heard was Lex’s soft chuckle before she drifted off to sleep.
Lex woke to a sated body, aching muscles, and an empty cock. Yellow rays of sunshine poured into the window, forcing him to turn away. Covering his head with the pillow, Lex groaned as a second later, an annoying ringing sounded somewhere in the room. Throwing the pillow to the foot of the bed, he sat up and glanced around. Last night, in the heat of the moment, Lex hadn't bothered to explore Thea’s room. He’d felt the bed shift about an hour ago, and watched as her cute little ass bent down to retrieve her robe before she headed out of the room.
Lex stood and searched the table beside him for the noise. An iPhone buzzed and lit up. Picking the blaring thing up, he read the screen and an alarm labeled ‘breakfast for Earl’. Lex frowned. Earl was always the one up bright and early and in the kitchen making his homemade biscuits and gravy.
Searching for his pants and coming up with nothing, Lex glanced at the head of the bed and discovered an old pair of sweats and a T-shirt folded nicely. Throwing the clothes on, he headed out of the room and made a quick stop in the bathroom before going to the kitchen.
Thea stood with her back to him, round ass high in the air searching the bottom shelf of the refrigerator for an item. Lex scanned the kitchen to see that she was fixing bacon, eggs, and toast.
He grinned. “Smells good.”
Squeaking, she shot right up. “Hot damn.” Her hands flew to her chest.
“Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you.” Entering the kitchen, Lex took the package of mushrooms from her hand.
“It’s okay,” she said distractedly. “Normally, it’s just me running around the house.”
“Damn, you forgot I was here already?” He plopped the food on the counter and then wrapped her in his arms. “Even after last night? Way to make a man feel inadequate.” Giving her a kiss, he let her go back to cooking. Lex, for the first time since he’d entered the house, actually looked around and what he saw was shocking. Making his way to the small counter, Lex picked up a pill bottle. Why in the hell would Thea need drugs that contain opioids? He scanned down to read the name on the label.
Thea snatched the bottle from his hand before he was able to see the name. “What are you doing?”
Raising a brow, he crossed his arms over his chest. “You bringing your work home with you?” His question didn’t have its intended effect as Thea reached past him, picking up the other two and shoving them inside a drawer.
“No, I am not.” Lex took a gentle, but firm hold of Thea’s arm and turned her to face him. “Mind your own business,” she warned.
“Then what the hell were those for?” He didn’t imagine Thea to be a pill popper. Yeah, the stress of an ER doctor was high as hell, but not his Thea-bear. She’d always been strong and able to take pressure most would crumble under.
Glancing up at him with watery eyes she said, “It’s not my information to tell.” Pulling away from him, Thea wrapped herself in an embrace. He stared at her pointedly until she abashedly continued. “They are for Earl.”
His heart sank. Why hadn’t he thought of that? Moreover, what the hell did Earl need with hydromorphone, Diclofenac, and what he thought was an antidepressant? Shit, he’d gotten a look at all the medicines’ names, but hadn't been able to scan up for the patient name.
“Earl called me as he was leaving the doctor’s office a few months ago.” Returning to the stove, Thea cracked a few eggs in a bowl and pulled a fork from the drawer to whisk. “I knew it was serious before he even said the word.” Her words caught; the emotion in her voice almost too deep for Lex to take, he leaned against the counter for support.
Not Earl. Is that why he’d gotten word to him? Lex patted his pocket in search of the scrap of paper with Earl’s address and the message, ‘time to come home,’ in Earl’s neat script. He stopped when he realized he was wearing the sweats Thea had set out for him.
“He told me they gave him six months to a year, and even less without medicine.” The whisking stopped, and Lex watched as the joy he'd seen in her eyes dimmed. His heart gave a painful thump as his brain caught on.
“Shit. I'm sorry, Thea,” he said morosely. He’d been not far away, sleeping in the woods while Thea and Earl, his only family, rallied together. He should have been the one to take that call, move from the woods and support his ailing friend. Thea should still be in New York, in her fancy apartment, living life to its fullest and in the arms of another man. A less
selfish man. The thought of that had his chest tightening even more. Throwing a hand over the organ, he suppressed a pained groan.
“Sorry for what, Lex? Disappearing for so long you almost missed the last moments of Earl’s life?” Her words struck a chord within him, causing shame to vibrate throughout him. Lex glanced away from her, unable to take the disappointment filling the room. He left Blackwater with the intention of doing something good. And somehow, he always believed that he’d be able to come home to old, dependable Earl. And now, he risked losing Earl right along with Thea. Life wasn’t guaranteed and Lex, as a military man well acquainted with death, knew this just as he knew the sky was blue. Perhaps the reason for the inevitable and undeniable tug back to his roots lay in Earl’s sickness and not just a note urging him to come home.
“What is it?” Lex asked, though he already knew the answer.
Honey eyes met his gaze. “Stage four colon cancer with a life expectancy of six months to a year.” She swallowed hard. “And that was five months ago. They’ve placed him in hospice care. A nurse comes twice a day and I am here, so that helps.”
Lex felt the bile as it raced up his throat. Making a b-line to the trashcan in the kitchen, he puked up what little he had in his belly. Taking a few deep breaths, he spat and stood. Thea stood in front of him with a glass of water.
In a reedy voice, Lex thanked her. “I don’t know where that came from,” he confessed before drinking the cool water. His stomach settled and suddenly Lex felt more like a man and less like a weakling.
“Well, I know. Despair, fear, anger, denial. You name it I’ve felt it.”
Lex placed down his glass. “Has every avenue been exhausted?”
She turned and Lex felt the heat in her gaze as if he were standing in front of an erupting volcano.
“Well, I don’t know, Lex. I’ve spend about two hundred thousand bucks and I continue to bleed money. I am dead fucking broke, yet Earl is still going to fucking die.”
Rogue In Love: Thea and Lex: Love Against the Odds Page 6
