by Lori Foster
She tried to lever up closer, and Joe caught both her wrists, pressing them to the bed beside her pillow. “I’ve thought about this so many times, how it’d be, how you’d be. I wanted to fuck you about two minutes after you said hello.”
Lips parted, a glistening sheen of sweat on her upper chest, Luna said, “Me … me, too.”
His eyes flared. Now there was an admission guaranteed to destroy his discipline. “This is more than fucking.”
She stared at him, but damn it, he needed her to know, to understand, that this had grown into something more than just the physical. He emphasized his point by thrusting a little harder, going deeper, stretching her.
Her body arched—in pleasure, acceptance. She moaned.
Joe held himself firmly inside her and reached down to hook his arms behind her knees. Her eyes rounded in uncertainty. “Joe …”
“Shhh. I want everything, Luna.” He spread her legs wide and high, leaving her vulnerable.
Her pupils expanded until her eyes looked almost black. Her breathing became shallow, then jerky when he eased forward all the way, filling her up, touching her womb. He growled at the way Luna squirmed beneath him, how her teeth sank into her bottom lip, how her body squeezed him like a fist, milking him, urging him on.
He withdrew, then reentered her with a forceful thrust that shook the bed, jiggled her soft breasts, made her gasp and cry out. Her head tipped back, her fingers grasped his biceps as if to ground herself. A red haze of blinding pleasure rose up inside Joe. He saw her nipples, painfully tight, and lowered his hairy chest to lightly abrade them. The new position tilted her hips even more, buried him impossibly deep.
Luna moaned—and to Joe’s amazement and satisfaction, she began to come again.
It was enough. It was too much. Joe pressed his face into her throat and drove into her over and over again. Her legs were strong, straining against the hold of his arms. Her nails bit into his shoulders, leaving half moons. She screamed out her climax—and Joe came with her, his mouth open on her shoulder, his growls barely suppressed against her soft skin.
Seconds ticked by, the silence in the room broken only by their still-gasping breaths. Joe rolled to his back, one hand limp on his abdomen, the other possessively holding her thigh. His legs still tingled, his heart continued to thunder, and his mind felt like mush.
The rich, musky scent of sex permeated the air; they were both damp with sweat.
It took some effort, but Joe pulled himself upright and removed the condom, wrapping it in two tissues from Luna’s nightstand. Braced on one stiffened arm, he turned to look at her. Her eyes were closed, her hair wild, her legs slightly parted. Her nipples were soft now, but her chest still rose and fell with her deep breaths. What he felt for this one particular woman couldn’t be measured or put into words. She was so incredibly beautiful to him—her body, her spirit, her heart.
“You ready yet?”
She swallowed, got her eyes half open. In a croak, she asked, “Ready?”
“You didn’t think I was done, did you?”
Her eyes widened and she choked. “But …”
Joe turned and lowered himself atop her. Her breasts made a nice soft cushion that immediately fired his blood. “Not by a long shot. You put me off for too long for me to finish this any time quick. Maybe after a week of gluttony I can calm down enough to take you just once or twice a day. But we don’t need to get the kids for a couple of hours, I have plenty of rubbers, and you look good enough to eat. Again.”
Her eyes darkened and she swallowed hard. “Well … when you put it like that.”
During the rest of that week, they fell into a routine that suited Luna just fine. Each morning they drove the kids to school, then came home to make love. Every time with Joe was hotter, longer, more intimate. He was insatiable and undeniable. He took her in ways she’d never considered, but always left her screaming in pleasure. Luna felt addicted to his scent, his big, gorgeous body, and his exciting touch. The longer he stayed, the more she loved him, and the more she wanted him to stay forever.
She knew that was impossible, that eventually he’d head back to his apartment and his family and his sexual variety. But danger awaited him back home, so until Bruno Caldwell was caught and put behind bars, Luna prayed he would want to stay. So far, he’d shown no signs of wanting to leave.
They spent the late afternoons tending to chores, and now the yard looked better than ever. Dinner was definitely a family affair with lots of conversation, joking, and the inevitable bickering between Willow and Austin. Afterward, they played or watched a movie together until the kids went to bed. Austin had no qualms about curling up at Joe’s side and talking through half the movie, but other than Willow grousing, they persevered.
Once the kids were tucked into bed, Joe would settle at the kitchen table and go over plans to reopen the lake, crunching numbers and figuring strategies for hours. He’d already applied for permits, so things were under way.
He also worked with Luna on setting up a budget, determining what it would cost to get the exterior of the house in order and keep it that way. Luna had never before been responsible for more than one—herself—and she appreciated his efforts. It amazed her the lengths Joe went to in trying to help out.
Whenever any of them left the house, Joe insisted on going along. Though nothing more had happened, he claimed his instincts told him to be on guard, so by God, he’d be on guard, and that was that. They were getting along so well, and Luna trusted him enough, that she didn’t make waves just because he was overly protective.
In fact, she understood how he felt, because she had her own store of protective instincts now—for Austin, for Willow … and for Joe. She tried not to let Joe know. He wasn’t a man who would tolerate coddling. Joe was arrogant enough in his ability to protect that he set himself in the path of danger to shield total strangers. It was what he did, who he was as a man.
And now he’d taken them all on as his responsibility. She hadn’t meant to do that to him, to burden him with her worries. Knowing he would willingly risk himself kept her awake at night. The damn bruises on his body were finally gone, but they’d been replaced with the web of tiny but deep scratches on his neck and arms that he’d gotten wrestling in the brambles.
None of the scratches were serious, and they were already fading, too, but Luna still remembered the awful panic she’d suffered watching Joe foolishly rush out the door into the night to face an unknown threat. The man had no sense of self-preservation. She’d wanted to clobber him for scaring her like that, yet his actions had made a startling impact on the kids, reinforcing the fact that they mattered and that they were loved.
Austin’s evening walks were shorter now. He wore himself out chasing behind Joe and just being a kid, playing hard and enjoying himself.
Willow found more reasons to smile, especially whenever Clay called—and he called often. Luna almost felt sorry for him because Willow hadn’t yet reciprocated Clay’s interest, was, in fact, downright cold to him. Luna knew it couldn’t be easy on her, because she did like Clay. But despite everything that had happened to her, Willow had a strong sense of self-respect, and she wasn’t going to be quick to forgive Clay for his unkind treatment. Luna was very proud of her, and she loved her more with each day.
Luna was beginning to relax in her role as guardian when on the forth morning, as they were preparing for school, Austin noticed a message left on the shed down by the lake. Standing in front of the window, he shouted for Joe, bringing them all together to read the hateful comment.
Dark red paint, dripping down the side of the shed like fresh oozing blood, made an incongruous picture against the serenity of the calm lake. The rising morning sun reflected off the placid surface with a myriad of colors. Birds chirped, happy to start another day. A duck glided across the surface. Leaves rustled in a warm breeze.
But those calming effects of nature couldn’t soften the message: Trash Go Away.
“Why?” Willow cried out, hold
ing her middle and backing away from the window. Big tears glistened in her eyes. “Why can’t they just leave us alone?”
Alarmed by Willow’s upset, especially since the girl was usually so contained, Luna put an arm around her and gathered her close.
Seeing his sister’s tears, Austin stiffened up and shouted, “I’ll stomp him into the dirt!”
“Him who?” Willow said, now clinging to Luna. “We don’t know who it is.”
Joe still faced the window, but his quiet voice soothed them all. “I know he’s a coward, not worth your tears, not worth Austin’s anger.”
Luna rubbed Willow’s back and at the same time reached over to the stove to turn off the scrambled eggs. She was so furious she could spit. “Joe’s right, you know. Only a complete sniveling coward leaves messages in the dark. He wants you upset, and he’s succeeding. Don’t you let him win, honey. You’re so much better than that.”
Willow pushed away. “No we’re not.” Her lip quivered, and tears still swam in her big dark eyes. “Everyone knows we’re bastards, that we’ve never had a daddy, that Mom was never married.”
Austin turned his cannon on his sister. “Shut up, Willow!”
“It’s true,” she shouted right back. “That’s why they want us to leave. That’s why they hate us. Our own father didn’t want us.”
Joe caught Austin and pressed him into a chair. “That’s enough.”
“I’ll say it is.” Luna kept her voice firm, her gaze direct on Willow’s tear-ravaged face. “People are not judged by their parents, Willow. And thank God for that, because mine didn’t care much about each other, or about me.”
Joe’s sharp gaze jerked toward her, and Luna felt him watching her so intently, her skin prickled. Through their physical intimacy of the last few days, their emotional intimacy had also grown. Luna hadn’t expected that. She’d thought, or maybe feared, that once Joe got sexually sated, he’d tire of her and be on his way. Instead, the opposite was true.
He just seemed to grow hungrier, and the more they made love, the more he wanted to talk, to know about her. Yet, she shied away from sharing her background with him. They were so different, and like Willow, she hadn’t wanted him to judge her by her past. She wanted everyone, including Joe, to see her as a strong woman, not a wounded one.
“They weren’t good parents, Willow, and that means we didn’t have much of a family. I’ve pretty much felt alone since I was Austin’s age. But you, well, your mother was a better single parent than many couples are. She loved you and Austin and that made you a family, the best kind of family, with or without a father around. If anyone did judge you by your mother, they would already know how wonderful you and Austin are.”
Willow glanced at her little brother, dashed away a tear and nodded. “She did love us.”
“I know. That’s plain to see anytime I think about how special you and Austin are.”
Willow looked at Luna a long time, then whispered, “She did a lot of the stuff you do. Talking with us, hugging us when we don’t expect it.”
Austin nodded. “All that mothering stuff. Patricia never did it, but I’m glad. I didn’t like her anyway.”
Luna just knew she was going to start bawling. If she looked at Joe, she’d lose it, so she turned away to the stove. “Well, it was Patricia’s loss. And your father’s, too, because he’s missing out on some pretty special kids.”
“Maybe he has other kids now. Like your father got other kids.”
Austin scrunched up his face. “Do you think maybe he does? Do you think we’ll ever meet him?”
Luna’s heart slammed into her chest, but she managed a credible shrug. “I don’t know. Do you want to?”
Willow said immediately, “No. He wasn’t here for my mom, so I don’t care if I ever meet him.”
Austin frowned. “Me either.”
Knowing they both lied, that their hurt probably went bone deep, Luna turned back to them and did some of that hugging they’d accused her of. “Maybe someday you’ll change your mind. But for now, if anyone is stupid enough to judge you only because your mother didn’t marry, then they aren’t anyone you need to be concerned with. Okay?”
Joe kept one hand on Austin’s shoulder while reaching out to stroke Luna’s head. Very gently, he tucked her hair behind her ear. When she chanced a quick glance at him, he smiled. Before she could decipher that smile, he turned to Willow.
“I will find the guy harassing us, honey, I promise. His shenanigans will end, but in the meantime, don’t let him know he got to you. I want you and Austin to go on with your business, heads high, showing him that he can’t hurt you, that he’s not important enough to be bothered with. Okay? Do you think you can do that?”
“I can,” Austin bragged, nodding hard.
Willow sighed. “Me, too.” Then, in a small voice, “But I wish it’d end.”
“It will.” Joe tipped up her chin. “You have my word.”
And if it didn’t, Luna thought to herself, well, then maybe she should consider moving the kids away.
She met Joe’s gaze and knew he was thinking the same. They loved the house, but the important thing was that they’d have a home, stability, and less worries. “I need to finish breakfast so we won’t be late.”
“I’ll call Scott and fill him in, then go down and wash the paint off the building.” Joe turned toward his room but was stalled when Austin jumped up.
“I’ll help you.”
Minutes later, Willow watched Joe and Austin heading toward the lake. She stood there, silent in her thoughts, eyes still wounded. Then she shook her head and turned to Luna with a heartbreaking smile of determination. “I’ll help with breakfast.”
They were both so special, Luna had to wonder how she’d gotten so lucky. She was no longer alone, because she had Willow and Austin. She glanced out the window one last time and saw Austin take Joe’s hand as they trekked across a grassy field. Was Joe hers, too, or was he only on loan?
It didn’t really matter to the moment. For right now, for as long as he wanted to be with her, she’d take what she could get.
Chapter Thirteen
It hadn’t been easy to look for clues with Austin dancing around him, talking like a chatterbox. Joe had known kids, plenty of kids. But he’d never realized the strength of their individual natures. They were complex little people, and he found he enjoyed uncovering and understanding each facet of their personalities.
It hadn’t taken him long to conclude that Austin used bold statements whenever he felt threatened. Bravado masked his biggest fears, those of losing Willow and being left alone. He was pugnacious when riled, loud when uncertain, and forever bursting with questions about everything and everyone.
He was a proud little guy, refusing to admit to insecurities.
Willow reacted to her worries just the opposite. She said what she thought and felt, and when she wasn’t comfortable doing that, she said nothing at all, closing up tighter than a clam and keeping to herself.
For two years, she’d had the weight of the world on her frail shoulders, but she’d handled it like a trooper and kept her priorities straight. Circumstances had forced a level of maturity on her normally expected of someone five or six years older, yet she still had an adolescent’s vulnerability.
She’d broken down that morning—and crushed Joe’s heart in the process. How anyone could deliberately hurt that little girl was beyond him. Like Austin, Willow was very special to him now. She was family, damn it, and Joe protected his family.
He thought about Luna’s comments in the kitchen—and he felt like a pig. He’d been in such a rush to get her into bed, not once had he ever really asked her about her life. Now his brain was bombarded with questions. If she wasn’t close with any of her family, where did she spend her holidays? Alone, eating Lean Cuisine? Just the thought of that made his stomach cramp and nearly suffocated him in tender thoughts. He’d be willing to bet that no one did anything special for her on her birthday—hell, he di
dn’t even know her birth date. But he’d find out. In a thousand different ways, he’d make up for her losses. She understood the responsibility of family; now Joe wanted to show her how fun family could be.
While cleaning the paint off the shed, Joe carefully inspected the area. Footprints remained in the loamy, dew-wet ground, showing large, adult-sized feet. Surprisingly, the tread wasn’t that of a sneaker or athletic shoe, but rather a smooth-bottomed dress shoe.
The prints were fresh, and they weren’t Joe’s.
Bent weeds and crushed wildflowers left a very visible path. Whoever had painted the vile words had come across the same bramble-laden field where Joe had gotten scratched up after the last incident. It served as a prime location to leave a car while approaching the property.
A hidden camera at the road would be a good idea. He’d see to that first thing today. Joe no sooner had that thought than he shook his head.
A trip to the security store would be second on his list of things to do. First came Luna. He wanted to make love to her, to continue his daily campaign to win her over. She hadn’t realized it yet, but he’d staked a claim. Not a temporary claim, either. No, Luna was his, and she was staying his.
She’d figure it out soon enough when he refused to leave.
Willow meandered outside, not really looking for Clay. She wasn’t. But Ms. Rose had given her a break while she and Austin worked on bugs. Ick. She didn’t even want to be in the same room with the creepy things, so Ms. Rose said it was okay for her to go out to the playground as long as she didn’t leave the fenced-in area.
Since her first day at the summer school, she’d seen Clay hanging around outside. She’d deliberately ignored him. He hadn’t been with his friends, but stood outside alone. Waiting. For her?
As she stepped away from the building, Willow glanced around and there he was, leaning over the chain-link fence that surrounded the playground as if he’d known she would come. She hated him.
She was so glad to see him.
The second his gaze settled on hers, Willow put her nose in the air and turned away, purposely snubbing him, wishing she could hurt him as much as he’d hurt her.