Kindred Souls (The Sable Inn Series Book 1)

by D. Camille

“What do you mean?” Derek stared at her. “Are you…”

  “It’s only been a little over two weeks since we were last together. It’s too soon to know for sure,” Lana told him.

  “You think, possibly?”

  “Things got pretty raunchy before you left,” she reminded him.

  Derek agreed and stroked her cheek. “You’re right and it was amazing.”

  Lana smiled. “I know.”

  He turned and laid her on the bed again. “I like it raunchy,” he told her, while pushing her legs apart. He studied his buffet before tasting it and Lana lost her breath until she reached her pinnacle. Derek reached for the foil on the bed and handed it to her.

  “You decide, because either way, it’s about to go down.”

  Lana scrambled to her knees, then tore the packet completely open. “If it’s meant to happen, it will.”

  Derek watched and held his own breath as she applied the thin sheath. He grabbed her hair, pulling her mouth to his when she was done and the next thing Lana knew, she was filled with a hot heat that mingled with her own.

  The deep strokes made her moan, first in the back of her throat then loud enough to fill the room. When he began to whisper her name in her ear, she pledged to give him whatever he desired. Derek’s mouth and hands were all over her body as Lana gripped his hard muscles. Deeper and deeper, she went higher and higher, until he exploded and sent them both into paradise.

  Derek sucked on her tongue and massaged her naked butt cheeks as they both came down from their individual peaks. She stroked his damp back until he moved off her, to her side, and Lana smiled when he began to play in her hair.

  “This is why it’s always a mess the next day,” she told him.

  “I can’t help it,” he confessed.

  Lana looked at him. “I know the feeling.”

  Derek smiled. “Are you hungry?”

  “Yes, I didn’t eat on the plane. I’m not really accustomed to plane rides,” she admitted.

  Kissing her quickly, he moved from the bed. “Let’s get you some food, baby.”

  Lana watched him walk into the attached bathroom and laid back on the bed, staring at the ceiling. She was here in his place after talking herself through a two-hour plane ride. Glancing around the room, she wondered if she knew this man that wore monogramed shirts and diamond cufflinks.

  The Derek she knew wore jeans, t-shirts and boots. He went fishing with her Daddy and carried trays downstairs. Lana realized that Derek really was a very important man. His friend Brian had told her of some of his accomplishments and Lana had been amazed. To her, he’d just been Derek, the Political Campaign Manager who’d stopped into her Inn, but apparently, he was far more than that.

  She felt a warm hand on her leg and looked over to see him standing next to the bed. “You okay?” he asked.

  Lana nodded. “I think I just need some food.”

  Derek located her clothes and handed them to her. “Do you want to go out or order in?”

  Getting dressed, Lana looked up. “Do you have food? I can cook something.”

  “Yes, I have food, baby. But you didn’t come here to cook,” Derek said walking to his closet and grabbing some sweat pants and a T-shirt.

  “It’s fine,” she told him as he came back to her.

  “In or out?” he asked again.

  Lana pulled her shirt over her head and down her stomach. “If you’re going to insist, then in please?”

  He kissed her lips. “Thank you.” Slipping into his sweats, he asked. “Chinese, Italian, Ethiopian, Mongolian?”

  She looked at him. “Are you serious?”

  Derek stood before her with his bare chest. “You want me to pick?” he asked.

  Lana reached out to touch his skin. “I’m going to have to get used to your world.”

  He cradled her jaw. “It’s okay, we have time.”

  “Seven days,” Lana reminded him.

  Derek shook his head. “No baby, we have the rest of our lives.”

  She wrapped her arms around him. “That’s a long time.”

  “I wouldn’t want it any other way,”

  “I’ll tell our kids that I met a slick city boy and he turned my world upside down,” Lana said softly.

  He gathered her up into his arms and told her, “At least I had shoes on.”

  ******

  Lana sat at the table eating the food Derek had ordered for them. When she looked up and caught him staring at her she paused.

  “Do I have food on my face?” she asked with a smile.

  He shook his head slowly. “No, I just can’t believe that you’re here.”

  Lana sat her fork aside. “I’m here because I wanted to be with you.”

  “What did your family say?”

  “They practically pushed me out the door,” Lana confessed.

  Laughing, Derek reached for her hand. “That’s why I love all the Sables.”

  “And we love you,” she replied and squeezed his hand.

  They went back to eating until Lana commented, “I guess I should have called. I didn’t know that you had a black tie affair.”

  “No, you didn’t have to call and this was an event that I really didn’t want to attend anyway.” Derek told her.

  “Why not?”

  He shrugged. “A politician that I have no intentions of working with. He’s a yes man to the lobbyists and corporations.”

  Lana looked around his house. “You told me that you were successful, but this is far beyond what I’d imagined. It’s almost like you’re a different person.”

  Derek looked concerned. “I’m the same man you met in Grayling.”

  She shook her head. “No, you’re much more than that.”

  “Is that a problem?”

  Lana looked away. “It’s a lot to take in.”

  Derek stood from his chair and walked over to her. Lana looked up before he helped her to her feet and gently wrapped his arms around her.

  “Let me show you my world,” he whispered.

  Lana returned his embrace. “What else are you going to surprise me with?”

  Derek picked her up and sat her on the table. He stepped between her legs and reached for the hem of her shirt. “Let me show you,” he told her as he whipped his shirt over his head and dropped it to the floor.

  Chapter 17

  The next morning, Lana awakened in Derek’s bed, seven hundred miles away from her home. Looking around, she had to admit, that Derek’s place was both beautiful and comfortable. She snuggled deeper underneath the fluffy comforter and Egyptian cotton sheets. Damn, her man lived in style.

  Lana smiled as a pair of strong arms pulled her closer. She felt the kiss on the back of her neck and arched her back into a hard body. Warm hands rubbed her naked skin and her smile broadened.

  “Lana…”

  She clenched her thighs and sighed as the sensual kisses moved to her shoulder. Lana reached back to caress his bearded face.

  “I could wake up in this bed every day,” she whispered.

  “Just the bed?” Derek asked lifting his head.

  Lana laughed. “I guess you could be here too.”

  “I’m the only one that’ll be here,” he said pointedly.

  She turned to face him. “Good morning, Derek.”

  He pushed her hair away from her face and kissed her softly. “Good morning, Lana.”

  “Is it really morning?” she asked. “It feels like we just went to bed.”

  Derek glanced at the clock on the nightstand. “We’ve been here a few hours.”

  Lana laid her head on his chest. “Do you have work to do today?”

  “It’s Saturday, so the office is closed,” Derek told her, gently stroking her back. “But I’d like to take you somewhere.”

  She looked up. “Where are you taking me?”

  “Somewhere that I promised.”

  Lana looked confused. “Okay, I’ll bite…where is that?”

  “You’ll remember once
we get there.” He said reaching for his phone. When he switched to the camera, Lana pulled the covers over her face.

  “Don’t start that!” she yelled from underneath the sheets.

  “Come on baby, you know the drill.”

  “No,” Lana protested. “I don’t want to take pictures.”

  Derek pulled at the covers. “Just one.”

  “You always say that and then it’s a bunch,” she reminded him. “At least let me wash my face.”

  “Okay, go ahead.”

  She peeked out from the covers. “Really?”

  He nodded and she slowly slid from the bed naked. Lana headed towards the bathroom then stopped and looked back at him with the phone in his hand, trained on her.

  “Derek!”

  He gave her a sexy grin. “I think I like videos even better.”

  Her mouth fell open and she covered herself before running into the bathroom. Lana heard his laughter as she moved to the sink. A few minutes later, he joined her in the mirror.

  “I can’t believe you!” Lana told him while he snaked a muscled arm around her midsection.

  Their eyes met in the mirror and he positioned the camera to catch their reflections. Lana became entranced by the beauty that was them, as she gazed at their naked forms.

  “Now this…is perfection,” Derek growled in her ear. “Look at it.”

  When their eyes caught again, Lana couldn’t help but smile and Derek snapped the picture. He showed her the finished product and she looked back at him.

  “I agree.” Lana touched her lips to his. “This is perfection.”

  ******

  A few hours later, Lana was seated next to Derek in another private car headed to his surprise. He’d told her to dress comfortably, so she’d chosen a casual outfit that was both sexy and practical. Her hair was in her back-up bun, thanks to him.

  Derek was typing on his phone as Lana stared out of the tinted window at the passing scenery. “Are we going to see the monuments?” she asked and he turned to her.

  “We can do that this week,” he answered.

  “Am I going to like this?” Lana asked.

  Putting his phone away, he slid an arm around her shoulders. “I hope so.”

  Lana frowned. “That doesn’t exactly inspire confidence in your decision.”

  “Trust me, it’ll be fine.” He looked her over. “You look so pretty.”

  She pursed her lips. “Don’t try to sweet talk me.”

  He moved closer. “You know you’re pretty.”

  “Okay, Derek.” Lana glanced at his attire of jeans and a casual shirt and shoes.

  “So pretty, that I dream about this face,” he whispered.

  She watched him. “You’re nervous, I can tell. Which isn’t like you…so what’s going on?”

  The car stopped and Lana glanced out of the window before doing a double take.

  “Derek, why is there an airplane out there?”

  He cleared his throat. “It’s a private charter.”

  Lana turned. “Where the hell are you taking me?”

  The driver opened the door on Derek’s side and he exited. Lana took a deep breath then followed him onto the tarmac.

  Derek slid an arm around her waist and gently led her to the waiting plane. Lana glanced back at him as an attendant welcomed her up the stairs. When she was seated, Lana stared out of the window then turned to him.

  “Where are we going?” she asked quietly.

  “Virginia.”

  Her eyes widened. “We could’ve driven to Virginia.”

  “I only get you for seven days. I have to make things happen quickly,” Derek told her.

  “You’re taking me to your home…” Lana said softly and he nodded.

  She smiled. “Why didn’t you just say so?”

  Derek leaned closer. “I don’t know if you’ve realized this, but you take a long time to decide things.”

  An attendant arrived with glasses of champagne and served them both.

  “So this is how you roll?” Lana asked looking around the plane.

  He smiled. “I have connects in D.C.”

  “I see,”

  Derek lifted his glass. “Drink up baby, you might need to be a little tipsy to take in my Momma.”

  Lana laughed. “I thought you don’t like me tipsy.”

  Leaning in, he kissed her. “That’s when I’m having my buffet.”

  Touching her glass to his, Lana took a sip of the cool liquid and let it slide down her throat. The plane took off a short time later and Derek took her hand.

  “You look so pretty,” he told her again.

  “You told me that in the car,”

  He lifted a brow. “I know and you didn’t respond.”

  Lana chuckled. “Thank you Derek. If I’d known I was going to meet your mother, I would’ve tried to look even prettier.”

  “That’s why I didn’t tell you,”

  “What?”

  “Momma knows the real.” He looked her over. “You look perfect.”

  Lana shook her head. “Oh, I don’t look like the woman who flew in to wake up in your bed?”

  “You look like the woman I fell in love with,” he told her.

  “You know you can talk that talk.”

  He tasted her lips. “We’re not staying overnight although my mother will try to encourage you to do so,” he told Lana.

  Giving him a sexy look, she asked, “Is there a reason we’re not staying overnight.”

  “Yes, we didn’t bring luggage and you’re spending every night you’re here, in my bed,” he confirmed.

  Lana kissed his cheek. “I have no complaints about that.”

  Derek and Lana spent the rest of the short flight in each other’s arms. They landed and he led her to the door. Together they walked down the stairs, hand in hand, until they reached the ground.

  “Baby Boy!” Derek heard the voice and threw his head back.

  “What the hell is she doing here?” he muttered under his breath.

  Lana turned to the woman that approached them and knew instantly this was Derek’s sister. She walked up to Lana with her arms open and hugged her tightly.

  “You’re so pretty!” she exclaimed.

  Lana returned her hug and laughed softly. “Thank you, so are you. I’m Lana.”

  “I’m Dina, Baby Boy’s oldest sister.”

  Derek frowned. “Don’t call me that.”

  Lana laughed and Dina hugged her brother. “I’m sorry…I’m messing up your game?”

  “How did you know I was here?” Derek asked suspiciously.

  “Derek, you had Gina confirm the plane for two passengers.”

  He shook his head. “I swear I’m firing her.”

  “No, you’re not.” Dina told him. “Now, come on, Momma’s cooking up a storm.”

  Derek turned to Lana and placed a hand on her back to lead her to the waiting car. Dina looked around as they walked away.

  “Hey, where’s your luggage?”

  Derek kept walking. “Not staying.”

  “Momma isn’t going to like that!” she yelled to him.

  “Oh well,”

  Dina laughed. “Ooohhh, Baby Boy’s not playing.”

  On the drive to Ms. Wells’ home, Lana watched the siblings interact. Derek had insisted on driving and Dina had finally given in.

  “You know I drove here,” Dina said getting in the back seat.

  “Well, I’m driving now,” Derek told her, closing her door. “You’re not about to chauffeur me around.” He then held the passenger side door open for Lana and helped her inside.

  While he walked around the car, Dina leaned forward. “I love messing with him, but that’s my heart.”

  Derek climbed inside the driver’s seat and started the car. He looked back at Dina. “Can you sit back and put a seatbelt on?”

  “Can you just drive the car?” Dina questioned.

  Shaking his head, Derek took off.

  “Welcome home
,” Dina told him.

  “Thanks, you too. I didn’t know you’d be here,” Derek said glancing at Lana.

  “Oh, I wasn’t going to miss this.” Dina said happily. “And I was already in town.”

  Derek glanced back at her. “For what?”

  “Giving a lecture at Hampton on our Constitutional crisis.”

  He smiled proudly. “That’s my sister.”

  Lana looked back at Dina. “That’s wonderful.”

  “Thank you,” Dina replied. “But Derek is the star.”

  “Don’t start Dina,” he moaned.

  Lana smiled at Dina. “I know, he’s so impressive,” she told his sister.

  “Et tu Lana?”

  Dina laughed. “You just concentrate on driving. Let us womenfolk talk.”

  Lana and Dina talked and joked all the way to their destination. When they arrived, Dina jumped out of the car and rushed inside and Derek watched her while he went to open the door for Lana.

  “So this is about to be a circus,” he told her as she stood in front of him.

  “I like the circus.”

  Derek kissed her solidly. “I’m going to remind you of that.”

  Lana wiped her lip gloss from his lips with a thumb. “I know.”

  Smiling, he led her inside his mother’s home where the aroma of delicious food assaulted her nostrils. Derek walked her through the home into the kitchen, where Dina stood next to her mother with a smile.

  “I told you he was bringing her, Momma,” Dina whispered.

  Derek glared at his sister as his mother walked over to where he stood with Lana. He switched to a smile and introduced Lana.

  “Momma, this is…”

  “I know who this is. I told you to bring her here,” his mother cut him off. “You’d better not had brought anybody else.”

  Lana smiled. “It’s a pleasure to meet you in person, Ms. Wells.”

  His mother touched Lana’s face gently. “So chocolate, so pretty.”

  Derek rubbed his eyebrow. “Hey Momma.”

  Ms. Wells hugged Lana tightly, just like her daughter had. “Welcome home, baby.”

  “Thank you,” Lana said touched.

  She then turned to her son and held out her arms to him. “And welcome home to you to, baby.”

  Derek hugged his Momma and she rocked him from side to side. He kissed her cheek and took her hand.

  “You look good, Momma.” He looked around. “There’d better not be an old man sniffing around here.”