by Lara Lacombe
After a moment, Wyatt shifted. “Maria’s right,” he said, his voice quiet. “You still need rest. Let’s get you to your room.”
“What about you?”
“Me?” He looked confused.
“You didn’t get any more sleep than I did last night,” she pointed out. “You’ve got to be tired, as well.”
“Yeah, but—”
“No buts,” Isabel said firmly, cutting off his protest. “Come upstairs with me. We can take a nap together.”
“In your bed?” Wyatt looked shocked at the prospect. “Won’t Maria and your grandfather have something to say about that?”
She laughed at his prim-and-proper response. “We’re all adults here. Besides, they’re not hypocrites.”
Wyatt’s eyes practically bugged out of his head. “You mean... The two of them...?” He whispered the last, turning to stare at the doorway and into the empty hall as though he was afraid the pair of them would reappear and catch them gossiping.
She nodded, enjoying his reaction. She’d picked up on the signs years ago, but it didn’t surprise her to know the men in her life were less attuned to the interpersonal dynamics of the household. “Of course. What did you think?”
He shook his head. “To be honest, I didn’t consider it. I generally don’t spend a lot of time pondering the details of other people’s sex lives.”
“Can’t say I blame you. And you’re in good company. I’m not sure Diego knows about it.”
“Really? Even though he lives here?” Wyatt sounded surprised at her brother’s blinders, which struck her as funny given his own ignorance.
Isabel shrugged. “I’m sure on some level he suspects the two of them are more than friends, but denial is a powerful force.” She got to her feet, held out her hand. “So what do you say? Ready to do something scandalous?”
Wyatt took her hand and stood, blue eyes twinkling as he stared down at her. “Lead the way.”
Chapter 9
Wyatt woke slowly, emerging from the depths of sleep to float on the surface of consciousness on one long exhale.
He opened his eyes to find the room bathed in shades of gray. A glance at the window showed the sun was on its way down. Somehow, they’d managed to sleep away the afternoon.
Isabel stirred next to him. He watched her stretch, still half asleep as she shifted on the bed. There was something almost feline about the languid way she moved, her legs straightening, her arms reaching above her head as she slowly blinked awake.
She caught him watching, gave him a smile.
It was an invitation he couldn’t pass up.
Wyatt leaned over and kissed her, unable to resist the temptation any longer. He’d behaved himself earlier when she’d brought him to her room. She’d laid down on one side of the bed and he’d taken the other half, and aside from a chaste peck on the cheek, they hadn’t touched. Looking back, he was surprised at how quickly he’d fallen asleep. He’d thought his proximity to Isabel would keep him awake, but his lack of rest last night had taken its toll.
Now he felt refreshed and ready to pick up where they’d left off on the bench outside the hospital that morning.
Isabel’s lips were soft against his own. She hummed low in her throat and ran her hands through his hair, holding his head in place to keep the kiss going.
Wyatt was only too happy to oblige.
Zings of sensation zipped along his skin, leaving goose bumps in their wake. They inched closer to each other, their bodies closing the distance between them until it was gone.
The first thing he registered was her warmth; every point of contact between them felt like a live coal. As he wrapped his arms around her, he felt her body change against him. The languor of sleep began to fade, replaced by a building tension in her muscles. She was like a spring, coiling tighter and tighter as the kiss deepened.
Desire nipped at the edges of his mind, a chorus of need that grew stronger with each passing second until it threatened to drown out logical thought. It was time to end the kiss. If they didn’t stop now, he was going to have a hard time backing off later.
He pulled away reluctantly, putting space between them. The air was cold against his lips, an unwelcome sensation after the heat of Isabel’s mouth.
She blinked at him, confusion plain in her eyes. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” He knew he should stop touching her, but he reached out to push a strand of hair off her cheek. “I just figured we should pace ourselves.”
“Is that what you want?”
No! his body cried. “Well...” he hedged. “Don’t you want to take it slow?” He wasn’t going to push her, or try to rush into resuming a physical relationship. He couldn’t deny he felt a sense of urgency, a desire to make up for lost time now that they were both on the same page. But he didn’t want to move too fast and risk spooking Isabel. He was interested in a long-term relationship with her, not a quick roll in the hay at the expense of an emotional connection.
A smile spread slowly across her face. “I don’t, actually,” she said. “I think we’ve been stuck in the slow lane for the last ten years. I’m ready to shift gears a bit.” She lifted one leg and rolled on top of him, straddling his hips.
The blood drained out of Wyatt’s head, rushing south to where Isabel sat upon him looking like a goddess with her dark hair flowing over her shoulders and down her back. “Are you okay with that?” she asked.
His body responded before he could say anything. She felt his arousal against her core and grinned slyly. “Should I take that as a yes?”
He nodded, reaching up for her. She leaned back a bit, evading his grasp. In one fluid motion, she hooked her thumbs under the hem of her shirt and pulled it up and over her head. Then she reached around and unhooked her bra, shrugging free of the straps.
Wyatt’s mouth went dry as he stared up at her, hardly daring to believe this was happening. He didn’t want to look away for fear that he’d glance back to find it was all a dream.
Isabel took his hands and brought them to her breasts. Her curves fit perfectly in his hands and the weight of them nearly pushed him over the edge.
She leaned forward, lowering her head to kiss him again. He slid his hands to her back, then down to her hips, gripping tightly so that she rocked against him. Isabel let out a small squeak when he flipped her over, reversing their positions so that he was on top.
Moving slowly, Wyatt lowered his weight onto her body. He was determined to savor every touch, every sensation. He’d lived off the memory of their first encounter for years, torturing himself with the thought he was never going to hold Isabel close again. But fortune had smiled on them and he was grateful for it. He wasn’t going to take this time for granted.
They shed their remaining clothes and took turns exploring each other’s body, getting reacquainted after so long apart. Their first time had been earnest but fumbling. Now they were both more experienced and more attuned to one another’s needs. Every sigh, every soft gasp, told him she was enjoying herself, and her pleasure only served to heighten his own.
Eventually, Isabel stretched out her arm, reaching for the bedside table. Wyatt watched her pull open the drawer and fumble inside for a few seconds. She withdrew a small foil square and handed it to him.
“I can get back on the Pill,” she said. “But for now, this will have to do.”
“Whatever you prefer.” His last health check had come back normal, but he knew they weren’t ready for babies yet.
He could feel the heat from her gaze as she watched him slip on the condom. He’d always thought of birth control as a necessary precaution, but seeing Isabel lick her lips as she tracked his every move changed the experience from an extra step to something sexy.
Once the protection was in place, they came together again, touching everywhere. Isabel welcomed him into her body with a soft cr
y that was sweeter than any music.
The first time they’d slept together, Wyatt had lost a piece of his heart to Isabel. Over the last ten years, he’d wondered if his feelings that night had been real or just the hormonal flares of a young man.
Being with her now, he knew the magic between them went beyond the physical. This was a union not just of bodies but of hearts and souls, as well. Isabel was the only woman for him, the only person he’d ever connected with so fully.
She tensed under him, her breath catching. Her body shuddered as she let out a sigh of satisfaction, her core gripping him tightly.
The added sensation sent Wyatt over the edge. He thrust again then dropped his head to nuzzle her neck. Her warm scent filled his lungs as his body emptied, a combination that left him dizzy.
After an endless moment, Wyatt moved to the side so he wouldn’t crush Isabel with his weight. She let out a soft sound of protest at the change in position. He hooked his arm around her waist and drew her close, tucking her against his chest. He tugged the sheets over their bodies to ward off the chill of the room.
“Wow.” She sounded dazed and a little breathless.
A swell of masculine satisfaction pulsed through him, making him feel ten feet tall.
“Yeah.” He kissed her shoulder.
“So the first time wasn’t a fluke.” There was a note of wonder in her voice, as though she couldn’t quite believe it.
Wyatt laughed, amazed at how in sync their thoughts had been. “Definitely not.”
She rolled to face him, her brown eyes bright with mischief. “What about the third time? How do you think that will go?”
A wave of heat rolled through him. He leaned forward and nipped at her bottom lip.
“Give me a few minutes and we’ll find out.”
* * *
It was well past the dinner hour by the time Isabel and Wyatt left her room to sneak downstairs for a snack. They’d spent the last several hours making love and talking, tucked away in the sanctuary of her room. With the door closed and the curtains drawn, it had been easy to pretend like they were the only two people in the world. All the stresses of the past several days had receded as they had focused on each other.
It would have been nice to stay in her room forever, loving and chatting and sleeping. But their stomachs weren’t on board with that plan and eventually their hunger pangs grew too intense to ignore much longer.
Isabel felt like the rebellious teenager she’d never been as she and Wyatt descended the stairs. She was careful to step lightly so as not to wake Abuelo. There was no chance he and Maria were unaware that Wyatt was still in the house, and they likely had no illusions as to what Isabel had been doing this afternoon. Still, discretion was always in style, at least in Isabel’s mind.
“Do you think Maria will get mad at us for rummaging in her kitchen?” Wyatt whispered behind her.
“Not if we clean up after ourselves,” Isabel whispered back.
There was a faint glow coming from the room; Maria must have left the light on over the stove, knowing they’d need to eat at some point. Isabel smiled, but her lips froze as she stepped into the kitchen and saw it wasn’t empty.
Diego sat at the table, chewing on a sandwich and staring into the distance.
He glanced up as they walked in. His gaze flicked from Isabel to Wyatt and then back again. Anxiety was a sour taste in her mouth as she braced for her brother’s reaction.
To her great shock, Diego didn’t say anything. He merely nodded at them both and took another bite of his sandwich.
It was Wyatt who broke the silence.
“Hey, man,” he said. “You doing okay?”
Diego swallowed, took a sip from the beer bottle in front of him. “Who’s asking?” He tilted his head to the side, studying Wyatt. “My friend, or my sister’s boyfriend?”
Isabel flinched. You ass.
She opened her mouth to respond, angry on Wyatt’s behalf. But his hand on her shoulder stopped her.
“Can’t I be both?” Wyatt asked. “There’s enough of me to go around.” His tone was light but Isabel heard the note of strain in his voice.
Diego finished his beer and rose, carrying the empty plate and bottle to the sink. Isabel stepped aside to let her brother pass as he approached, but Wyatt didn’t move.
The two men stood facing each other for a moment, the silence between them growing thick with everything they weren’t saying. After what seemed like an eternity, Diego spoke.
“Night, y’all.”
With that, he sidestepped Wyatt and headed down the hall.
Wyatt stared after him, his expression bewildered. Isabel touched his arm and he turned to look at her.
“Do you want to go after him?” It was clear the two of them needed to talk.
Wyatt frowned then shook his head. “He’s not in any mood to listen right now.” He smiled at her, but it was strained. “Let’s get something to eat.”
She followed him deeper into the kitchen, her thoughts whirling as she collected the ingredients for sandwiches. The last thing she wanted was to come between Diego and his best friend. But... Wyatt had her heart. As much as she hated to admit it, she wasn’t going to let him go without a fight.
Even if that meant she had to battle her own brother.
On the heels of that thought came another realization; she wasn’t the only one in this relationship. What did Wyatt think? Would he go along with Diego’s game and make a choice between them, which was what her brother seemed to want?
And what if he didn’t pick her?
She frowned, indignation filling her as she played the scenario out in her mind. It was possible Wyatt might decide his friendship with Diego was more important than their developing relationship. After all, they’d had a chance ten years ago and it hadn’t worked out. And they hadn’t reconciled their differing opinions on the drilling proposal, which was still a point of contention. Would he want to let go of his best friend to take a shot on her when their track record was so spotty?
“Penny for your thoughts.”
His voice broke into her reverie, bringing her back to the present. “What?”
Wyatt gestured to her hands. “You’ve been spreading peanut butter on that slice of bread for the last few minutes. I don’t think it needs any more.”
She looked down to find he was correct. Feeling flustered, she shoved the knife into the jar and reached for another slice. “Sorry,” she muttered.
“It’s all the same to me,” he said. “I love peanut butter. The more the better.”
When she didn’t respond, he reached for her hand. “Are you going to tell me what’s bothering you?”
“I’m fine,” she replied automatically. In truth, she wasn’t sure how she felt—her thoughts were too disorganized, her emotions too disjointed. How could she be expected to think rationally about their relationship when her muscles still twinged from their earlier encounters?
“Isabel.” She glanced up to find Wyatt watching her, his blue eyes knowing. “I’m not going to dump you to appease your brother.”
Her jaw dropped as she stared at him. “How did you...?” Was the man psychic?
He smiled. “You’re thinking very loudly,” he said. “And you have a terrible poker face.”
She snorted. “It’s not that bad.”
“Hey.” He stepped over to her and drew her close, wrapping his arms around her and resting his chin on the top of her head. She placed her ear flat against his chest, directly over the steady thump of his heart.
His voice vibrated against her as he spoke. “I care about you. A lot. I want to see what happens between us. I’m not going to let your brother get in the way of that.”
“But what about the drilling? Despite my theories on the cyanide, I still think we should consider that company’s offer. It could have
been a rogue worker, if they were involved at all.” Would he be able to overlook her pragmatism, especially since it flew in the face of his life’s work?
He shrugged. “I don’t agree with your stance, that’s true. It’s not enough to make me want to walk away, though.”
It was exactly what she needed to hear. Her body relaxed against him as some of the stiffness left her muscles. “But what about Diego? You guys have been friends for ages. I don’t want you to lose that.” And it wasn’t just Wyatt she worried about; Diego didn’t have a large collection of friends. If he and Wyatt parted ways, who would her brother turn to then?
“I won’t.” He sounded supremely confident. Isabel wished she shared his optimism.
“How do you know?”
“Because I’ll get him to see there is no choice here. He and I can stay friends, and you and I can be...something more.” He punctuated the last with a subtle thrust of his hips that left no room for doubt as to his meaning.
Warmth blossomed low in her belly. “That sounds nice,” she said softly. He made it seem so simple. If only that were really the case...
“Stop worrying,” he commanded.
She pulled back and looked up at him. “How did you know?” He hadn’t been able to see her face, so her expression couldn’t have given her away.
He smiled and dropped a kiss on the tip of her nose. “I can feel you getting tense.” He placed his hands on her shoulders and kneaded gently. “Come on, let’s finish making those sandwiches. It’s easier to think on a full stomach.”
“I suppose that’s true,” she said. He released her and they turned back to the counter.
“Please don’t worry, Isabel,” he said. “This is between me and Diego. We’ll work it out.”
“I’ll try,” she said. “But I can’t make any promises.”
His mouth tilted in a half smile. “I guess I’ll just have to keep you distracted.”
“Promise?”
He kissed her again, this time on the mouth. When he pulled away a moment later, Isabel’s skin was flushed and she was no longer thinking about her brother. Or anything else, for that matter.