All these thoughts only momentarily pushed aside the real subject on his mind. Getting Stormi alone. Talk about filling in. He supposed nature would kick in. Still, his lack of knowledge dampened his excitement of the honeymoon night. He rubbed his chin. Already stubble covered his jaw. The heavy beard was always anxious to take over his face.
The doors slid open, and there Stormi stood at the hotel counter, finishing up their reservations. Tight jeans and long-sleeved t-shirt. The tats. They kept her covered even in these warmer temperatures. When she turned to him, a coy smile decorated her face and as she approached, she gave a low whistle. He rumbled a laugh. She slipped her hand into the crook of his arm and leaned in seductively on tiptoe and whispered in his ear.
“I’m going to take you on a ride.”
Ake’s ears flamed. She let out a provocative laugh and pulled him into the elevator. Once the doors slid closed, she was on him like a splat ball, pressing him to the elevator wall, her hands groping beneath his jacket, her demanding mouth on his. For a moment it knocked the wind from him, but he warmed up fast, and returned her fervor right back to her.
Her hands snaked up to his neck and pulled his lips harder against hers. Then she went to his neck and licked him before alternating kissing and gently biting his skin. He kept his hands at her waist, while she slathered him in her desire, wincing in pleasure as she nipped his earlobes. And this was just preliminary elevator stuff.
The bell indicated they’d arrived, but she didn’t stop her progression. Instead she backed out through the doors, still twined around him like poison ivy. A couple passed them in the hall, drawing their attention. She pulled away from him slightly, and then danced around him with giggles, touching him in places only his wife had full access. Preferably in private.
At their door, she tugged hard at his lapels and jumped on him, wrapped her legs around his waist. She threw her arms around him and stuck her tongue into his ear, and whispered. “That’s right, baby. You and me—you and me all night long.”
Whoa. He disentangled her from his body until she stood back on the floor. Her look of hurt confusion seared his heart. How could he tell her that while he thoroughly enjoyed her eagerness, he didn’t want it to feel like something he paid for. No. This was his wife. Given his experienced wife, and he’d willingly flown in that airspace. It came with a cost, yet…
“I love you, Stormi. But I don’t have to flaunt, you know, our stuff in front of others.” He cleared his throat. “I’m glad you, well, want me, but this,” he motioned to the closed door, “is God’s gift to us. I just want it to be—”
He searched for the right word while her brow crinkled. When he found it, he couldn’t believe he was going to use it. “It’s special.”
Her face cleared, and she sashayed forward to reach for his top button. “Oh, I’ll make it special all right.”
He set her from him once more. “No. Not just sex. But you and me being one. Part of each other’s soul. Joined.”
Suddenly the coyness fell from her face, and she nodded, looking terribly delicate and lost. The hands that had been anxious to wrench the clothes from his body just a few moments ago, grew still at her side.
“Can you open the door?” he asked when the silence had stretched too long.
She pulled the card from her purse and slid it into the metal card reader and tugged open the door handle. He stuck his foot into the door to keep it from latching locked again while she painstakingly returned the plastic card into a tight pouch in her wallet. Once she slung the small purse to her shoulder, he leaned forward and gathered her into his arms, fireman style. With their faces close, eyes to eyes, he entered the room and allowed the door to shut behind them.
He carried her to mid room and froze. She blinked at him. “Here’s the part where I get stuck. Sort of.”
A smile eased across her face and she laid a gentle palm on his cheek. “Oh, Ake. You’re just precious.”
She began unbuttoning his shirt, and he allowed her feet to slide to the ground. When she finished, she ran a finger down his bare furry chest hesitating on his belt buckle. “I don’t think you’ll be stuck long.”
And she was right.
Chapter Twenty-Four
They drove all the following day, stopping for another glorious night, and then continued driving. Shortly past Cape Canaveral on the left, Stormi let out a long stream of air.
“I think it’s warm enough.”
This drew a lazy glance from her husband and a quirked brow. “Here?”
A grin eased across her mouth. My, how he’d blossomed in their shared love. She grinned. “Yep.”
He chuckled. “Okay.”
When highway 520 approached, he exited in the flying traffic and guided them towards the east. She inhaled with happiness. Ake at her side and the distant smell of salt. All was good in the world. After forty more minutes of Ake’s golden oldies blaring from the speakers, and over several long jaw dropping bridges, they drove along the ocean’s side from hotel to hotel, looking for a cheap enough place. Her fingers flew over the screen of her phone, accepting or rejecting each suggestion. Settling on a reasonable one that still had plenty of amenities, they drove into the parking garage.
Stormi stepped from the truck and stretched her legs. It felt good to leave the confines of the cab for a while. She scooted around the truck to meet Ake unloading the suitcase. She launched herself into his arms. “We’re here.”
His chest rumbled with laughter, and he caught her in mid jump. “I reckon we are.”
She let him initiate the kiss which turned into a scorcher before he let her go. His self-conscious laugh made her smile. She linked her fingers with his as they made their way over the walking bridge. They picked up their code at the front desk and made their way to the twenty-seventh floor. Although she refrained from mugging him in the elevator, she couldn’t tamp down sending him a few provocative glances his way. He merely shook his head and let out a small chuckle.
The next three days were pure heaven. Wind, surf, beach, sun, and flaming nights. When Wednesday rolled around, she knew heading home weighed on Ake’s mind. Back to the snow, the cold, and the icy disapproval.
***
Stormi stood in the middle of her old house, hands on hips and rotated in a slow circle. Now what to do with this? Coming home to freezing cold weather had been unpleasant enough, but figuring out the details of their two houses dampened what was left of her positive spirit. Who would rent this place with a wall of open insulation stapled to wall studs? She glanced at the bed situated in the corner of the far wall. She wasn’t sure there was room for it in Ake’s pole barn house. He only had two bedrooms, and the second room held his treadmill and weights. Her brow wrinkled. Plus a desk with, ahem, beads organized into little color piles.
What was with that? Beads? She gave a huge sigh and crossed her arms over her chest, allowing her weight to sag to one leg. She knew very little about Ake. That had become apparent on the ride to their so-called honeymoon. The man had stacks of CDs of golden oldies from the 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s. And even a few from the 90’s. Apparently he owned none from this century. She let air rush from her mouth. Not that it was a problem, his taste in music. It just made it blaringly clear she didn’t know her husband well. That sort of irked her.
She reached up and yanked on the wedge of bangs in her eyes. Time for a cut. But before that happened, she had to clear out some of the stuff she no longer needed. Or—she could just hold on to everything. Just in case. Grrrr.
She rubbed her hands down her face. What a willy nilly she had turned into. She’d pledged to repay Ake for breaking his heart, and now, when she realized how little she knew him, she wanted her own private apartment to hide in? Yeesh. Not cool.
She strode over and collapsed on the jean-covered couch and stared at the cold fireplace. It was chilly in here using the alternate baseboard heat to keep the water pipes above freezing. She tugged on the sleeve of her sweater and caught sight of
the lace end of her tattooed sleeve. For once, it brought a smile. She regretted it with all her might, but Ake was very taken with it. Loved exploring it. Her cheek tightened with a suppressed smile.
Marla’s face intruded her mind, ridding the secret smile from her face right quick. She plunged her teeth into her lip. How could she have done that? Brought that horrid picture and paraded it in front of not only her future husband, but her future brother and sister-in-law as well. And probably that stodgy old judge with her chin all elongated as if she smelled rotted fish.
Stormi clamped her jaw and shook her head. She knew Marla was capable of a lot of ballsy stuff, but she had no idea her best friend would turn on her like a rogue pit bull. She pushed aside the sting of betrayal.
Where had that picture gone?
***
“Don’t let him touch the net.” Hoge’s voice echoed off the cold morning air as the water buffeted the boat.
Delbert and the red-headed twins stepped up to grab the ropes, squeezing Ake from the winch.
He spun and stared at his brother. “Why not?”
But Hoge ignored him and strode to the wheelhouse a few feet away. Ake followed and stepped inside the close quarters and kept his eyes pinned on his stern brother.
“Get out. I’m busy.” The big man growled as he tapped the gauges and checked the screen hanging from the roof for current weather.
A grunt squeezed from Ake. He may not be the keenest hook on the line, but he knew when Hoge faked busyness. “Hoge. I won’t hurt myself.”
The big man turned his face towards his then, temper petrifying his features. “Well, we’re not gonna find out, are we?”
Ake took a swipe down his face before pulling himself up to full height, which only clipped the bottom of Hoge’s earlobe. “I know you’re mad. But I gotta do my job.”
A humph cut off any more of Ake’s softly spoken syllables.
He studied his older brother, standing there at the wheel, dodging his gaze. Then he glanced to the horizon where the misty sky kissed the silver shimmers of the water in the distance. He sent up a quick prayer for Pop, now learning to cope with a full-time health aide instead of his mom, and for Hoge, stubborn and distant as always.
“All right, Hoge. Have it your way. I know you think I can’t cut it. You never have. Reckon I’ll just wait.”
He stepped from the dingy enclosure and meandered back to the stern, keeping his back to the activities behind him, his face to the west where Stormi waited for him. The heaviness Hoge created only lifted when she crossed his mind. He tucked his weather-roughened hands into the canvas bib at his chest. Hoge knew about love. He knew how it stole your will, changed a man forever. Ake would never be the same. He’d given his all to her, and it was never coming back.
A twitch caught in his cheek when he remembered the rolled up photo tucked in the inner pocket of his borrowed suitcoat. He had to remove it and store it somewhere secure. It was dangerous, he supposed, to love a woman like Stormi. Hoge had begged him to leave her there at the courthouse. He had to admit, that although the thought of abandoning her never entered his mind, the picture had sent a shockwave through him. To see her so wanton. Brazen. Raunchy. Wild. It had stopped his breath cold.
He could hear the thumps of their catch hitting the deck, and the smell of fish washed over him. Good cast. They would bring in a nice profit which would sweeten Hoge’s disposition for a few days. He turned. Surely pitching fish into the icy hold wouldn’t place him in any immediate danger. He stepped closer to grab a flopping cod from the wet deck.
Delbert kicked several that shuffled beneath his feet, but didn’t say one word. That just wasn’t natural either. Now, Heff and Neff, they seldom opened their mouth but to guffaw at the sharp retorts, but Delbert could never resist a good dig. Hoge. He’d told them all to shut their mouths.
Ake shrugged. It would wear off. He had nothing but time. Hoge appeared from the wheelhouse, and despite his sulky expression, Ake couldn’t keep a grin from crossing his face. Even with his brother mad at him and the other three sealed in silence, he’d revel in his new married state and all that entailed. Boy, howdy would he.
***
Just another freaking happy family dinner.
Stormi stared at the broccoli cheese soup in her bowl. With all the dysfunctional family meals she’d survived, this one ought to be a snap. Obviously, Joni had done a good job with the dish. Overall the meal was delicious. And dairy. Seemed it slithered down her throat where it soured and curdled in her stomach. Why couldn’t she just sip it down without her stomach tumbling? She glanced around the dining room. All was silent. Hoge at the end of the table, elbows out, Joni to his right, then Lucy who now grinned at her, cheese dripping to her chin. She shot the tot a small grin.
Then Linus, the eldest, sporting a ’tude at having to sit through family bonding time. Ake sat beside her at the other end of the table. Then the younger boys, Deacon and Crew, whom she swore were twins but were separated by a year. Then Pop was seated by Hoge on the other side, having to be reminded to put the spoon in his mouth.
She focused on one large chunk of broccoli in her bowl. Near the center. Green covered in greasy floating cheese. Squelching a desire to puke, she dipped her spoon properly in the bowl. Just like ships go out to sea, I spoon my soup away from me. Her first grade matronly teacher had drummed the silly rhyme into her head. Had they really eaten that much soup as young children? She shook her head to clear it.
“I take it that’s a no?”
Stormi took a gasp of breath and glanced up to find most of the eyes around the table on her. Only Pop stared at the wall in front of him. What had Joni asked? “I’m sorry, what?”
Her new sister-in-law took a breath before she answered, almost as if drumming up some sort of concern. “I asked if you felt well.”
A denial perched on her tongue, but she hog-tied it. She had to give some reason for not finishing the soup. “Well, I’m struggling a bit.”
Not totally a lie. Of course, she didn’t struggle with sickness, just the nippy atmosphere of the room.
Joni shrugged and gave a weak smile. “You don’t have to eat it.
“What about me, Mommy?” Lucy chimed in. “Do I hafta?”
“Yes,” she replied without a hitch.
“Eat your soup, Lucy,” Hoge insisted from his throne.
“Oh, okay.” The child slumped in her chair.
“And no pouting,” her father admonished. “Or no treat tonight.”
Lucy’s eyes opened wide. “You won’t tippy-toe dance with me, Daddy?”
Spoons lowered. Deacon and Crew smacked each other and snickered. Even Linus turned bored eyes to his father.
“Dad’s probably got a pink tutu hidden away in Luce’s closet,” Deacon hooted.
Well, this was interesting. Stormi tilted her head to take in Hoge’s lazy scowl at his middle son.
“No, he doesn’t,” Lucy thundered. “He’s the Nutcracker. He’s got big scary teeth. But he’s nice.”
“Right.” Linus stood, oily hair falling in his eyes. “I’m done here, can I leave?”
Hoge nodded. Joni dabbed her mouth with a napkin and studied her eldest’s departure.
“Hey Luce, does Dad prance around the room like a girl?” Crew wouldn’t let the subject drop.
Lucy leaned back with a wide smile, cut her eyes to her father, and giggled. He pointed a spoon at her and lifted a brow. “Remember your promise.”
The little girl covered her grinning mouth with both hands.
The playfully stern expression on Hoge’s face led Stormi to believe perhaps he wasn’t quite the horrible ogre he pretended to be. Then he glanced in her direction, and his gaze fissured into ice shards. Yeah. Maybe he was.
Hoge shifted his eyes to Ake and gave a side nod to Pop. “You’re on parent duty this weekend.”
Ake nodded.
“Watch him every minute.”
“I will.” Her husband continued to eat.
> Stormi straightened. “I’ll help.”
Apparently the cold in the room dropped below zero for everyone flash-froze. She cleared her throat and spooned the liquid cheese into her mouth to cover the awkwardness. At last Joni spoke.
“I think that would be a great help, Stormi.”
She glanced to her sister-in-law for a quick litmus test of authenticity. Did she really mean that? But Joni’s face held real appreciation. Or just a really great false rendition. Stormi cracked a small smile.
“Can Stormi spend the night?” Lucy inserted after a long slurp on her spoon.
Joni grabbed a napkin and swiped it across the girl’s mouth while the two boys roared in laughter.
“Cut it.” Hoge grumped at Deacon and Crew.
“No, honey. Aunt Stormi stays with Uncle Ake.” Joni replied, giving the rambunctious boys ‘the look.’
Lucy studied Stormi. “Do you dance?”
The horrid picture at the courthouse flashed across her brain, but she pushed it firmly away. “I took ballet for two years.”
Lucy brightened and Joni leaned forward. “Really? How interesting.”
Stormi shrugged as she glanced away. “Yeah. Mom was convinced I was going to be the latest, greatest prima ballerina.”
“You must have been very good.” Joni again.
Most everyone stared at her. Only Pop continued to study the wall in front of him. Dear Pop.
“No, not really. It was just one of Mom’s many manic phases.” Crud. Why had that slipped out?
Joni looked more confused than ever, and Hoge’s brooding stare didn’t help.
“Can we be done?” The boys’ voices merged into one.
Stormi dipped her head, thankful for the diversion.
“Of course. You can go now, too, Lucy.”
The children left in a flurry and then thundered down the basement stairs. Hoge shook his head.
“At least the noise level is in the basement,” Joni chuckled as she patted her husband’s hand. “But let me get back to your comment, Stormi.”
The Secret Storm Page 20
