“I hope so.” She finished her coffee and set the cup down on the table as she came toward him. “I might also want to take advantage of you.”
She took his coffee cup from his hands and placed it down on the counter, pressing her body against him as she entwined her fingers with his and tilted her head back, so she could look up at him. Buck lost himself in the warmth of her body against his and the look of longing in her eyes.
“Are you trying to seduce me?” he asked roughly.
“I think I am.” She sighed, her breasts rising and falling. “We are not going to get too many hours alone. So I think we should take full advantage.”
He wanted to make sure he understood her full meaning. “Are you sure? Full advantage?”
“Unless you would rather wait.” She gave him a lopsided grin. “I’m the mother of two girls. I’m not a tender-hearted virgin. And ever since you walked into my kitchen, I’ve fancied the pants off you, Buck.”
He chuckled. “I like a woman who knows what she wants and isn’t afraid to ask.”
“Oh, I’m not asking.” She let go of his hands and tucked her fingers in his belt, pulling him toward her.
Buck followed, his arousal spiking as they reached the bottom of the stairs. Haley didn’t hesitate, she led him upstairs and into her bedroom as if they had no time to lose. Once inside her room, she shut the door, shutting out the world even though they were the only two people in the house.
Haley let go of his belt and walked to the window and pulled the curtains closed. Was she afraid someone might see them? Or was this her marital bed and she felt odd bringing another man here?
Buck was not going to shatter the moment by asking.
Haley turned back to him and began unbuttoning her shirt and kicking off her shoes. Buck did the same, yanking his T-shirt over his head. A sprinkling of salt and pepper hair covered his chest, but he’d kept himself fit through his job and was thankful he didn’t feel the need to suck his stomach in.
Haley also seemed comfortable in her own body, which ignited his arousal further. She moved with grace and poise, her chin held high as she came to him dressed in only her bra and panties.
Buck sucked in a deep breath as the air seemed to leave the room. This was actually happening, after all his long years alone he was finally going to claim his mate.
“Don’t worry,” Haley purred as she slipped her arms around his neck. “I’ve switched off that damn ringtone.”
Buck chuckled, loving the way she set him at ease. He had never been an alpha male, not around women. He preferred to treat them as an equal, which they were in his eyes. That wasn’t to say he wouldn’t fight to the death to defend a woman, especially his mate. Or a man, if the cause was just.
Strength, honesty and loyalty were his trademarks and they had served him well in both his business and his private life. And he swore he’d be all that and more to his mate.
“The only laughter I want to hear is from you,” he said in a seductive tone, then his brow creased. “I don’t mean I want you to laugh at me…”
“I know what you meant.” She stood on tiptoes and kissed his lips, her right hand pressed against his chest as she pushed him back toward the bed.
Buck bent down and picked her up. Haley wrapped her legs around his waist and his hardened length pressed against her core. She moved, inching her body up and down, pressing harder against him in an attempt to ease her own need. He placed his hand on the nape of her neck, his forearm running down her back as he held her close.
Their lips met and he kissed her, hot, eager. In desperate need to claim her as his own, Buck lay her down on the bed and hovered over her body, his tongue plundering her mouth, in the same way he wanted to plunder her body. But her undergarments stood as a barrier between him and his goal.
Hooking his fingers around the elastic of her panties, he tore them from her body. Haley’s eyes flashed open and met his, and he had a moment of concern when he thought she might tell him to stop. Instead, she put her hand between their bodies, yanked his shorts down and wrapped her fingers around his hard length.
She guided him into her, urging him on. Buck closed his eyes in ecstasy as he thrust forward, filling her completely. He should have taken it slow, enjoyed the sensation of skin against skin, but he didn’t have enough self-control. Not at this moment. Perhaps next time, or the time after that…
He would make love to Haley every day for the rest of his life if she wanted him to.
A sigh escaped Haley as he rested inside her, sheathed by her inner walls. She tensed, and he bit down on his bottom lip, it was all he could do to ease out of her slowly before thrusting forward once more.
Her fingertips dug into his back, her voice whispered in his ear words that urged him to take her. His resolve slipped, and he pulled out of her, lunging forward to fill her once more. Hard, fast, as his momentum increased. In and out he buried himself inside her, while Haley kissed his neck, nipping his skin, kissing his face, his lips, his cheeks as her orgasm reached out for her and took her.
She cried out, her inner muscles tightening around him, setting off a chain reaction in his body. As one they reached the edge of their climax and grabbed hold of it and didn’t let go, driving each other to new heights with kisses and touches.
At last, he strained forward as he jerked into her, completely spent. In his arms, a completely sated Haley let out a sigh of contentment as she rested against him.
“That was incredible,” she said as she rolled onto her side.
“More than incredible,” he agreed as he stroked her face and gazed into her eyes.
She rested her head on the pillow and ran her hand over his chest. “I never knew it could be like that.”
“Like what?” he asked, lifting her hand to his lips and kissing the backs of her fingers.
“The connection. It was almost spiritual. Rather than simply physical.” She inched forward, and he wrapped his arms around her and held her close.
“We are joined by more than the physical,” he told her. “The bond between a shifter and their mate is unbreakable.”
“I hope so,” Haley replied sleepily, snuggling closer to him.
“Hey, don’t go to sleep, we’re both due back at Mason and Tiana’s and you have to go to work.” He sat up and looked down at his mate. “I’d offer to look after you and tell you to quit your job, but Mason tried that, and Tiana insisted on carrying on at work.”
Haley turned onto her back and covered her eyes with the back of her hand. “I’ve always worked and paid my way. Except when the girls were very young. The job at the restaurant fit around Harrison’s hours so it was perfect.”
“But?” Buck asked, easing her hand away from her face.
She reached out and stroked his face. “It won’t be the same if T and Sorch go off and have babies.” She gave him a half smile. “And no, that doesn’t mean I want to have a baby just so that I can be part of the mommy club.”
“So what do you want?” Buck asked.
She blew the air out between her lips. “I don’t know. Something different.”
“How about working with me?” Buck asked, and he could see from the expression on her face she was tempted but unsure if he meant it. “When we start work on the warehouses you could come along, and I can teach you how to project manage.”
“Really?” Haley asked, suddenly awake as she sat up in bed beside him. “You aren’t just saying that to get in my bed?” Her eyes widened. “Because you’ve already done that.”
“No, I’m not just saying it. I think you’d be great. And you can help me with the small print in all the damn contracts and instructions. Words are not my thing.”
“You can’t read?” Haley asked with surprise.
“I can read. Just…I’m dyslexic. The words jumble themselves up. Or my brain jumbles them up.”
“I can’t believe you’ve gotten this far in life without being able to read properly,” Haley said in surprise. “I’m pr
oud of you.” She slipped her arm around his shoulders and rested her head on his chest. “If there’s ever anything I can do to help, just ask.”
He turned his head and kissed her. “I will. It’s never held me back, but sometimes I’d love to sit down with a good book and read. I love stories, I love watching movies. When I can, I like to listen to books on audio.”
“Maybe I could read to you. Or help you read yourself. I know you’ve said you’ve tried, but there might be a way. We can persevere together.” Haley’s sweet offer only made him sure she was the right one for him.
“I’m not sure if I’m too long in the tooth to learn to read now,” Buck confided. “I’ve scraped by this long on what I know.”
“Never say never, right? If I can become a project manager for your construction work, then why can’t you learn to read better?” Haley asked.
“We can both try,” he agreed.
“That’s all you can do. Although it’s different for you. I realize dyslexia isn’t something you can overcome by making yourself get out there and do something.” Haley slipped out of bed and retrieved her clothes. “Come on, you are right, I have to get back to the girls and then go to work.”
Buck flung the covers off and got out of bed. “I can’t remember the last time I was in bed at this time of day.”
“Good, that means you don’t fall into bed with every woman who gives you a smile.” Haley pulled on her pants and then her shirt, which she hastily buttoned up. “Coffee before we go?”
“Sure.” Buck dressed quickly and went downstairs to join Haley in the kitchen. “I’ll go out to the truck and grab the tools I need. I want to inspect your ceiling before we go.”
“Since that is why you came over.” She gave him a knowing smile.
Buck held up his hands. “You got me.” He backed out of the door and then turned around, heading for the front door, hating to leave his mate. Yes, he was coming straight back in, but still, the idea of walking away from her made the breath catch in his lungs. The invisible thread connecting them pulled him back toward her.
With an effort, he opened the front door and walked out to the road where his truck was parked. Opening the back door, he retrieved his tools. That’s when he saw the flat tire.
“Damn it.” He slammed the door shut and went around to the rear driver’s side wheel and sat down on his haunches as he examined the damage. Running his fingers along the jagged edges of rubber, he cursed again. This was no accident, he hadn’t driven over a sharp object that had punctured the tire. No, this slash was too high.
Buck stood up and looked around. The street was quiet, no one walking along the sidewalk, and yet he had a feeling someone was watching him. He rubbed the back of his neck. Who?
Keeping his head down as if he were looking at the truck, he circled it, using his peripheral vision to seek out the person who was responsible. No one. Nothing.
The sense of being watched passed. Perhaps he’d imagined it.
Grabbing his tools, he went back to the house. “I have a flat tire,” he told Haley.
“No.” She turned to face him, a folded T-shirt in her hands as she sorted through the laundry she’d done earlier. “I feel bad.”
“It’s not your fault.” He dumped his toolbox down on the floor.
“If you hadn’t come here, you wouldn’t have gotten a puncture.” She came around the counter to stand next to him.
“It could have happened anywhere.” It was true, even if the tire had been slashed, it could have happened anywhere. The chances were, it was someone walking past who thought it was funny. So he decided to keep his suspicions that it was slashed to himself.
“I guess.” She didn’t sound convinced and he stood up and wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close.
“Honestly, I would trade a flat tire for the time we spent together in a heartbeat.”
Haley clasped her hands around the back of his neck. “You say the sweetest things.”
He chuckled as he lowered his head and kissed her lips. “It’s a gift.”
Chapter Eleven – Haley
Buck was a gift. All wrapped up in an incredible body, with a wonderful sense of humor.
His mouth, soft and yet firm, moved against hers, his tongue sliding along her lower lip and she opened her mouth, sucking on his tongue before he pulled back and nipped her bottom lip. “I should get this done.”
“You should. I don’t think Mr. Monroe will accept you as an excuse for being late.” She let him go and went back to folding her laundry while Buck stood on one of the kitchen chairs and looked at the water damage in the ceiling.
“Well, he should. I’m the best excuse you’re ever going to have.” He took a flashlight out of the tool belt he’d clipped on and shone it at the ceiling. Placing his hand on the wooden supports and the floorboards above his head, he examined the extent of the needed repair.
“How does it look?” she asked, hoping his reply would be positive.
“It still needs to dry out some more, but it should be okay for us to repair tomorrow.” He finished looking and then switched off the flashlight. “We can check it again before we start work. If it’s not dry, you might have to spend another might at Tiana’s.”
“As long as it’s not in a tent, I’m good with that.” She smiled at him as he got down. “I swear I have a bruise on my hip from tree root poking through the foam mattress.”
He jumped down off the chair. “I have a bed you can share.”
“That sounds like a plan.” She kissed him then went back to her laundry. “Do you need a hand with the tire?”
“I can handle it, thanks.” Buck collected his tools. “Are you ready to leave?”
“No, I have a couple more chores to take care of. You go ahead. I’ll follow when I’m done.” She watched him as he left the house. She wished he could use her hands instead, but that would have to wait until tonight.
Then she would be his once more.
Haley turned her full attention to her chores. However, her brain wanted to constantly conjure up images of Buck. How did she get so lucky?
He was everything she could ever want. And more.
Buck was the kind of man who knew how to take care of a woman, but also knew how to let a woman take care of herself. He’d be there when he needed her and cheering alongside her when she didn’t.
Folding the last of the laundry, she went upstairs and put it all way, before cleaning the bathroom and vacuuming through the house. A glance out of the window had shown her Buck changing his tire. Although she longed to go to him, she wanted the house cleaned from top to bottom. It was almost like she was building a nest, making it comfortable for her family.
Haley’s thoughts turned to the house Buck wanted to build. That would be one hell of a nest.
How would she feel working alongside him, though? Giving up her job at the restaurant would be like giving up her independence. Or was she simply afraid of giving up her security blanket? Working at the restaurant was safe.
“Time to step out of your comfort zone.”
“I can help you with that.” Harrison’s voice filled her with dread. He stood leaning back against the counter, a cup of coffee in his hand.
“What the hell are you doing here?” Haley asked, resisting the urge to grab hold of the countertop to steady herself. Her knees were like water, her blood like ice in her veins and her lungs seemed to have lost the ability to draw in air.
“I came to check up on my girls.” He sipped his coffee as if he belonged.
He didn’t, and she planned to make damn sure he knew it.
“They aren’t here. So get out,” she spat.
He pushed off from the counter and circled toward her. Haley stood her ground. She would not let him intimidate her. She no longer feared him.
So why did her hand tremble as she brushed her hair back from her face?
“You’re my girl, Haley.” She hated the way he said it, so sickly sweet.
&nb
sp; “No, I’m not. I haven’t been your girl for a long time. I asked you to leave.”
“No, you demanded I leave.” He put his hand to his chest. “And that wounded me. After all we shared. You carried my babies in your womb, I held your hand while you gave birth. We have an emotional connection.”
“You severed that connection when you hit me.” She took a step toward the door. If he wanted her, he’d follow and the closer she was to the front door, the easier it would be to get him out of her house. And he was going. She just wasn’t sure how she was going to make him.
“That was a mistake. I admit it. But you are still my wife.” He didn’t follow, he simply stood sipping his coffee, framed in the doorway of her kitchen where only minutes earlier she and Buck had stood talking about their future. Harrison was her past and she didn’t want him invading her privacy or her life.
“We’re divorced. Remember?”
“Not in my eyes. You promised me until death do us part.” He placed his hand over his heart. “I’m still alive. And so are you.”
“Get out, Harrison. We’re done.”
“No, we’re not.” He took two quick steps toward her.
His attempt to frighten her failed, this was one of his many tactics meant to intimidate her. Well, it wouldn’t work this time.
Haley put her hand up in front of her and yelled, “Stop!”
He did, the tone of her voice unexpected. “I wasn’t going to hurt you.”
“So you always say.” She glared at him, willing him to leave, to disappear from her life. “Right before you hit me.”
“I’ve changed.” He held up his hands as if protesting his innocence.
“Prove it. Leave.”
“But then I wouldn’t be able to warn you about that man of yours.” Harrison’s voice so friendly, as if he were doing her a favor, alarmed her more than his quick advance.
“I don’t know what you are talking about.” There was no way she was going to discuss her private life with Harrison. It was none of his business, although he seemed to think otherwise.
“It is my business when he is a threat to my girls.” Harrison inched closer. Haley didn’t flinch. He was an expert at mind games, but Haley had learned to play them well.
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