by Jenna Jacob
The sheer sight of him made me want to weep.
For two long years, I’d dreamed of spanking Tori’s ass for lying to me that night. But now, I wanted to blister her cheeks raw.
“Who you?” the little boy asked.
Daddy.
“Ah—” I cleared my throat. “My name is Darren. What’s yours?”
“For heaven’s sake, what are you doing, Dustin?” an older man scolded as he moved in behind my son. I knew by the blue eyes and shock of red hair he was Tori’s father. “You know you’re not supposed to answer the door unless Mommy or I am with you.”
He gaped at me for a long second before slanting a glance at his grandson, then blinked back up at me. The affable smile slid from his face, replaced by an expression of bleak understanding.
“He Darren, Papa. He new friend,” Dustin announced happily.
The older man placed his hand on my son’s shoulder in a possessive gesture. It chafed, but I would have done the same in his shoes. Hoping to ease her father’s worries, I forced a smile and extended my hand.
“Good evening, sir. I’m Darren Ash.”
Seemingly still in a stupor of shock—one I could definitely relate to—the man kept a firm hold on my son and blinked at my proffered hand. His eyes widened when he spied my birthmark.
“Look, Papa! Moon kissy Darren,” Dustin screeched. “See? He friend. Me, him, and moon…friends.”
The sheer innocence and wonder dancing in his sparkling green eyes coupled with the fact that Tori had explained his birthmark exactly the way my mother had sent a lump of emotion to lodge in my throat.
“Yes. I see that,” the older man stated before turning all his attention on me. “Edward Combs. Tori’s not here right now, but I think you need to come in.”
I hesitated briefly, wondering if he wanted to grill me or kill me for violating his daughter and knocking her up. Praying he wasn’t going to bludgeon me to death in front of my own son, at least not right away, I nodded.
The second I stepped inside the clean and cozy home, Tori’s familiar scent slammed me like a punch to the gut while my cock stirred. Even after two fuck-all-endless years, my body still responded to nothing more than her ghost lingering in the air.
“Dustin, why don’t you go play in your room for a few minutes so Papa and Darren can talk.”
“K. You no go bye-bye,” my son said, wagging a chubby finger at me. “I be back.”
As the rambunctious mini-me scurried down the hall, I couldn’t help but smile.
“Wow,” I murmured, still reeling from the fact I was a father.
Hell, I’d never even thought about having kids. But seeing Dustin—a perfect little miracle that I’d helped create—filled me with a sense of pride and joy I’d never experienced before.
“Have a seat,” Edward said, gesturing toward a fluffy beige-colored couch. The bristling intensity of his stare warned me not to refuse. With a nod, I sat down. “First, I want to know who you are, what you do, and where you’re from. Then I want to know why you’re here after all this time and what the hell you want?”
His litany of questions baffled me. “Tori didn’t tell you anything about me?”
“Not a word. You’re not going to try and deny Dustin is yours, are you?”
“No, sir. There’s not a shadow of a doubt he’s my son.”
“Not a shadow here either. And call me Ed,” he said, studying me intently. “You’re not a drug dealer or murderer, are you?”
I blinked. “No.”
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to insult, I’m just trying to figure out why Tori has kept your identity a secret all these years.”
“No clue. I have some questions for her myself.” I slid a gaze down the hallway. “A whole lot more now.”
“You mean you didn’t know about Dustin?”
“Until he answered the door just now, I didn’t know he existed.”
“Well, shit. I was afraid of that.”
Clearly, the man was in the dark as much as me. The only one who could shed light on this clusterfuck wasn’t around.
“Do you know when Tori will be coming home?”
“I’m not really sure. She’s…out,” he replied cryptically.
It didn’t take much to read between the lines. She was on a fucking date.
The image of some horny fuck-nut putting his hands all over her sent a surge of white-hot jealousy cresting through me.
“She has a boyfriend?” I bit out, hoping my fury wasn’t bleeding through.
“No.” He paused and frowned. “No offense, but you need to ask her about her personal life, not me.”
“Fair enough.”
“I want to know about you.”
“Right.” I drew in a deep breath. “As I said, my name is Darren Ash. I was born and raised on a farm near Tulsa. I’m a musician. I’ve played lead guitar the past thirteen years for a band called Licks of Leather.”
“So, you don’t have a home or anything…just travel around with your band?”
“No, I do have a home…three, in fact. A beach house in Florida, a cabin in Montana, and a house I had built by my folks’ place.”
Edward narrowed his eyes as if trying to decide if I was lying or telling the truth. “Three homes? You must play guitar real good.”
“I do.”
He nodded silently as if absorbing what I’d told him before holding me with a stern stare. “Why are you here, Darren?”
“For answers. I’ve spent the last two years trying to find Tori. She gave me some…false information, gave me a fake phone number, and left while I was sleeping.” I clenched my jaw.
Though I hadn’t given Tori any dirt on the others that night, hadn’t shared anything about Ross’s past drug addiction, I had sliced myself open and given her more than enough personal information about my childhood, my grief over losing Mac, and a dozen spine-bending orgasms. I simply wasn’t sure how to break the news to her father that she took all that information and ran with it.
“Go on,” Ed prompted as if reading my thoughts.
“I made a mistake that night. I—”
“Neither Tori nor I consider Dustin a mistake,” Ed bit out angrily.
“No, I didn’t mean… He’s a miracle in my eyes, too. I meant I shared a lot of personal information with Tori that night…information she shared with the tabloids.”
“Oh, hell.”
“I don’t know why she betrayed me or lied to me. I’m here to find out.”
“What things did she tell you?”
“That she won her ticket to our concert from a radio station. I discovered a few days later, my promoter didn’t have any tickets to give the radio stations.”
“Good god. Why was she lying?”
“I don’t know.”
“Is there more?”
“Yeah.” I nodded grimly. “She told me her name was Elizabeth, not Tori, and that she worked as a secretary at a law firm.”
“What?” Ed barked. “Are you sure we’re talking about the same girl? My daughter doesn’t make up stories like that.”
“I’m afraid she did.”
“Shit.” Edward exhaled heavily. “I need a drink. Join me?”
“I wouldn’t turn one down.”
“Whiskey all right?”
“Perfect. Thanks.”
With a nod, he turned and disappeared into the kitchen.
The sound of little feet charging down the hall snagged my attention. I couldn’t help but grin when Dustin rounded the corner clutching a storybook to his chest. Without thinking twice, he raced to the couch and climbed onto my lap. As he snuggled against me, I closed my eyes and breathed him in. His scent…my son’s scent was a heart-warming combination of sunshine, play dough, and…spaghetti. It was without a doubt the most glorious fragrance on the whole damn planet. I savored the feel of his warm, soft little body, marveling at the peace and contentment filling my soul. It was the same sensation Tori had seared into my being so long ago.
“Moon book. See?” He tapped the cover with his chubby little finger. “Read?”
“You bet.” I smiled, ruffling his soft dark hair.
As I open the spine, Edward strolled back into the room. A flicker of pride darted across his face before he banked it and placed the tumbler of whiskey on the table beside me.
“Did you pester Darren to read to you, little man?”
“No, Papa. Moon, Darren, me all friends.”
In a rudimentary way, Dustin had grasped the fact that our birthmarks were more than a coincidence. I prayed I’d have the chance to know my son, and for him to know me as his father, not just his friend.
“You’re not obligated to—”
“I want to read to him, Ed,” I assured.
The old man was off his rocker if he thought I’d pass up this chance to bond with my son.
As I began to read, Dustin leaned back and rested his head on my chest. Blades of anger and envy sliced deep.
How many times had Tori held our son and read to him like this…rocked him, sang to him, and listened to his laughter?
I’d missed out on every facet of his life…every precious milestone. I wasn’t around to hear his first word, watch him take his first step. Hell, I wasn’t even there to welcome him when he came into this world.
Shoving down my fury, I continued reading.
“And the moon said…” The front door opened. The words died on my lips.
Tori and her date stepped inside.
“Mommy!” Dustin cried excitedly as he leaped off my lap.
Ignoring the beefy GQ model with his hand possessively pressed to the small of her back, and the jealously singeing my system, I locked my stare to Tori’s pale blue pools.
The relief of finally fucking finding her was instantaneous.
So was my fury for her lies, betrayal, and hiding my son.
But damn if I didn’t want to haul her back to my hotel, strip off that forest-green lace-covered dress hugging her lush breasts and every delicious curve of her body, drag my tongue over her milky skin, and brand her sweet taste to my soul all over again.
I’d spread her legs, scrape my whiskers up her soft thighs to watch her squirm, then stab her silky core with my tongue, fingers, and cock and milk mindless orgasms from her hot, wicked body, all night long.
But that’s what had gotten me in this mess to start with.
Ignoring the ball-churning visuals flooding my brain, I narrowed my gaze on Tori. Her eyes were wide and her dark lashes fluttered like hummingbird wings against her porcelain cheeks.
And fuck if that invisible bolt of lightning and clap of thunder didn’t nearly knock me on my ass. I felt the same baffling connection we’d shared that fateful night pulse back to life.
Hunger hummed in my ears.
My heart pounded against my ribs.
My palms itched to take her over my knee and blister her pert little ass until it was purple.
The thought of touching her again made every muscle in my body turn to granite…every muscle.
I watched the smile fade from her lips, her jaw sag open, and all the blood drain from her face.
♫
Tori
What the…
Darren flippin’ Ash was in my living room…standing right in front of me with fire shooting out of his eyes.
Dear god.
How had he found me?
A million more questions whizzed through my brain as Darren’s angry gaze continued boring through me. He had every reason to be pissed, several, in fact, but even through his obvious rage, something inside me awakened again.
Tingles and sparks sputtered and exploded through me.
The air froze in my lungs.
My heart thundered against my ribs.
And for the first time in…forever, I felt alive again.
His reproving glare flared as he darted his gaze to Brice’s hand, still molded to the small of my back. Suddenly, my boss’s touch burned through the fabric of my dress like acid.
The irony that Darren had shown up the same night I’d decided to go out with another man for the first time in two plus years did not escape me. I had no idea what the odds of that happening were, but I knew they were astronomical.
And he was pissed.
The air was dragging in and out of my lungs as if I’d just run a marathon, or spent the night in Darren’s arms.
Fat chance that’s ever happening again.
“Mommy! Mommy!” Dustin cried, incessantly tugging the hem of my skirt.
It suddenly dawned on me…Darren had been sitting on the couch reading a book to our son when I walked in the door.
The buzz in my ears grew louder.
A cold sweat broke out over my skin.
I tried to blink away the black spots invading my vision but couldn’t.
Mommy!” Dustin cried again, only this time his voice sounded distant…far away.
Twisting from Brice’s caustic touch, I stumbled to the ottoman in front of the rocking chair and unceremoniously plopped onto the cushion.
No. No. This can’t be happening. Not here. Not now.
My breaths grew shallower as the blinding spots behind my eyes doubled.
I’m going to pass out.
Biting back a whimper of panic, I dropped my head between my knees.
“Tori!” Brice yelled from far away before his hand was frantically rubbing my back. “Sweetheart, are you—”
“Get your hands off her,” Darren roared. “You call her sweetheart again, I’ll break your jaw.”
No. No. Please let this be a dream, or no, a nightmare. It doesn’t matter! Just please god, let me wake up!
“Stop acting like cavemen, both of you,” Dad admonished.
Darren growled. I knew it was him. I’d seared that sound to memory long ago.
“Tori? Come on, baby girl, just breathe.” The reassuring voice of my dad did nothing to assuage my panic. Neither did his warm, wide hand caressing my shoulder.
“Look, I don’t know who the hell you are or why you’re here,” Brice bit out, “but you’re obviously upsetting Tori. Leave.”
“Mommy. Mommy.” Dustin continued tugging at my skirt.
“Listen here, you little pissant,” Darren countered angrily.
Dad cursed under his breath.
“Mommy,” Dustin whimpered.
Though the chaos around me was swirling like a tornado, I had to pull myself together if only for Dustin’s sake. He didn’t understand the fallout raining down around me, and him. Lifting my head, I pulled him onto my lap, hugging him fiercely.
“Knock it off! Both of you, right now!” I spat.
Brice arched his brows in stunned surprise at my harsh demand. Darren simply scowled. Concern was swimming in my dad’s eyes as Dustin squirmed out of my arms and raced to Darren’s side. Tugging his sculpted arm, my son pressed his alongside Darren’s and began pointing emphatically to their matching birthmarks.
“Look, Mommy. Moon kissy Darren. We friends.”
Brice let out a condescending grunt.
My days of hoarding Darren’s identity to savor just for me were long gone. As my stomach-churned and burned, the black spots returned, threatening to swallow me whole. Dropping my head between my knees again, I let out a pitiful wail.
“This is the scumbag who knocked you up and walked away?” my boss barked.
“Brice…shut up,” I groaned.
“Shup bad word, Mommy. You no say shup,” Dustin reprimanded as he returned to my side.
“I didn’t walk away,” Darren bellowed. “She did. And who the hell are you?”
While my emotions were being tossed like a sailboat in a hurricane, Darren’s voice was doing wholly inappropriate things to my psyche and my body. Still, I knew if I didn’t get myself together and sep
arate him and Brice, fists were going to fly.
“Mommy?” Dustin whispered, patting my shoulder with his tiny hand. “You sick? Get frowup pan?”
I shook my head.
“I’m Tori’s boss, Dr. Brice Bennett.”
“You’re dating your boss?” Darren scoffed.
Drawing in a deep breath, I lifted my head and pinned him with a glare. “What I do and who I see is none of your business, Darren.”
“Maybe not before, but it is now.” He leveled a pointed stare at Dustin. “Everything you do is my business, beautiful.”
Hearing the word beautiful roll off his tongue again sent my pathetic little boat slamming against the rocks. Ripples of hunger roared through me as my neglected hormones joined the fray.
“Are you threatening her?” Brice barked, bowing up as if ready to start kicking ass.
“Enough,” I snapped.
Suddenly Brice blinked as a look of shock crawled across his face. Eyes wide, he glanced at me, then back to Darren. “Holy crap! You’re…you’re Darren Ash. You’re Dustin’s—”
“Brice,” I screeched before he dropped the D bomb in the middle of the living room. “Dinner was great, but as you’ve probably already guessed, I need to talk to Darren, privately.”
Still wearing a look of shock, the good doctor nodded as Dad led my date to the door.
“Brice?” Darren called as a flicker of worry darted across his face. “If you care about Tori and her family, you’ll forget you ever saw me. Understood?”
My boss nodded and left.
I was mortified that Brice had witnessed all my skeletons dancing out the damn closet. The only good thing about this little impromptu spring clean was that he’d likely never ask me out again. Thank god.
“I’ll see you Monday morning,” I called as Brice stepped onto the porch.
“Yeah. Monday morning.”
I sent my dad a nod of thanks as he shut and locked the door, then bent and plucked Dustin off the floor. “Come on, big man. Papa’s going to give you a bath and tuck you into bed tonight.”
“Mommy do bath.”
“Not tonight, little man. Mommy and your friend Darren need to talk,” my father calmly explained as they disappeared down the hall.
