Leslie hadn’t taken her eyes from Morgan. For the first time in more years and days than she could count, she felt hopeful. “I believe you. You’ll help me,” she said, and believed her own words too.
Morgan took a notebook out of her purse and wrote down her cell phone number and handed the paper to Leslie.
“Will you be okay going to the hospital with your aunt and Officer McCormick?”
“I’ll be okay thanks to you.”
Morgan took Leslie’s hands and pulled her up with her as she stood, and then she held her in her arms. “You’ll be safe from now on.”
“Thank you, Morgan. You’re my gift from God.”
“I’m glad I could help you. You’ve been a gift for me, too. If you open that door, you’ll find your aunt waiting for you with Sam and Tyler. You can stand on your own now.”
“Because you’ll be there to support me if I need it.”
Overwhelmed by this girl, she had such strength welling up and just beginning to bloom. When she blossomed, she would be a force.
“Yes, honey. That’s exactly right. You’ve got me, and you’ve got your aunt. Lean on us when you can’t stand on your own.”
Leslie smiled shyly. “I think you should sit down, now. You look like you could use someone to lean on yourself.”
Morgan caressed her cheek. She did need to sit down. “Go. Your aunt can’t wait much longer to see you.”
Morgan dropped into the chair and laid her arms and face down on the table as Leslie went out the door and into her aunt’s arms. When she heard the happy hellos and the tears of joy, she blanked out.
Tyler and Sam found her that way, passed out with her head on the table.
“Did you two make up enough so you can take her back to the ship and stay with her until she recovers from this? Or should I call Happy Jack?”
“Happy Jack?”
“My new nickname for him since she likes him so much because he’s always happy.”
Tyler got the joke and the hint; don’t take her to the ship if he was going to bombard her with anything but happiness and benign emotions. “I’ll take care of her. We’ve worked out some things. Actually, I worked out a lot of things, and have finally realized I need her in my life. She’s the one.”
“We’ve been telling you that for years,” Sam said and slapped Tyler on the back. “Get her out of here before anything else happens.”
Sam turned to leave, but got blocked in by the half a dozen people behind them looking in the door at Morgan. “Back to work, people. She’ll be fine. She’s just drained.”
Tyler scooped up Morgan into his arms and held her against his chest. Sam grabbed her bag and they walked out of the room. Tyler felt ten feet tall when Morgan wrapped her arm around his neck and buried her face in his neck.
“I’ve got you, honey,” he said into her ear.
It’s just so sad.
He held her tighter when he felt her finally give out and fall asleep in his arms. They were walking through the many cubicles toward the lobby when the officers stood and applauded Morgan. Sam and Tyler stopped in their tracks and turned around. Morgan was completely out.
Sam put his palm on Morgan’s back and rubbed. “You feel that, Morgan. You did an outstanding job,” he said for only her and Tyler to hear.
The officers knew how hard it was to get a child to tell what happened to them. Not to mention the fact they all knew at one time or another they might have passed the girl in the lobby without a second thought. The worst case of child abuse they’d ever seen or heard had been solved because Morgan came into the office and saw Leslie’s secrets.
“Hear that, honey. I’m so proud of you.” Tyler held her tight and kissed her head softly.
Police work took a toll on the emotions, especially when the case involved a child. These officers just wanted to acknowledge Morgan and her gift. Tyler and Sam nodded to them and left the station to get Morgan to the ship where she could recover. He had no idea if the acknowledgement from the officers had gotten through to Morgan. He hoped it had. Quite an impressive sight to see all those officers recognize Morgan in such a way.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
* * *
MORGAN WOKE UP with the most wonderful feeling of contentment. She hadn’t felt this good in a long time. In fact, she couldn’t remember ever feeling like this. She snuggled deeper under the covers and discovered why. Her head rested on Tyler’s left arm and his right arm wrapped around her, holding her to his warm body. His rough whiskers tickled her neck as he kissed her and pulled her closer. Warm and wonderful pressed against the full length of her back and legs.
“Quit wiggling, or I’ll forget to be a gentleman.” His voice groggy from sleep, he nuzzled his nose into her hair. For the first time ever, waking up with a woman didn’t bring on any anxiety, or worry about what was or wasn’t happening between them. Waking up with Morgan in his arms seemed so natural, so right. Everything was perfect. He inhaled the fresh sweet scent of her and sighed.
“Gentleman? I’m half-naked under here.”
“Sam had you completely naked when you got shot and he brought you back here. I’m a saint. I only took off your pants—without peeking, I might add. The room was dark. I swear. Cross my heart. You should be impressed with my restraint.”
“Restraint, huh? What’s pressed up against my backside isn’t any indication of restraint.” She wiggled her butt against his straining cock. She wasn’t nervous or uncomfortable lying in bed with him. In fact, she didn’t want to be anywhere else. Well, maybe closer.
He groaned and spread his big hand over her hip to get her to stop fooling around. “A man can only take so much.” He sighed and hugged her. “Yeah, I took advantage and crawled into bed with you. I couldn’t stop myself. You looked so wiped out after everything you went through yesterday. I just wanted to hold you and be close to you. You scared me. You looked so drained and lifeless. I thought if I held you close, comforted you, you’d know I was here protecting and watching over you and it would help.”
Maybe he’d gone too far and taken too many liberties. Last night it seemed like a good idea. He’d needed to keep her close. Nervous and worried, he hated to think he might have jeopardized the tenuous bond they’d reconnected.
He hid a mischievous smile. “I told the truth though; I didn’t look.”
He wanted to, but he hadn’t. At this point, nothing much escaped his imagination.
Her hips shifted and rubbed against his throbbing cock. He squeezed her hip and she did it again. “Come on, baby, you gotta st—”
She cut off his words by rolling over and planting her mouth over his. She snuggled her body down his full length. Holding herself above him, her full breasts pressed to his hard chest, she looked down into his sleepy eyes and beard-stubbled face. “Is that come on, baby an invitation?” Her voice notched down into a deep sultry whisper.
Her eyes danced. Bright, the clearest softest blue he’d ever seen. Completely on top of him, her toes softly rubbed his shins. She gave him a bright smile, something mysterious and wonderful not quite hidden in her grin.
“Honey, you don’t need an invitation. I belong to you. I’m the happiest man alive waking up with you in my arms.”
“I can feel it.” It wasn’t his thick arousal that told her he was blissfully happy. The overwhelming sensations rippling off him crashed over her like a wave of joy. She’d never felt him this happy and content, and it filled her.
“That’s not what I mean.” He cupped her face, met her ice blue eyes. “I don’t want you to think this is all about sex. Yes, I want you.” Unable to hold back his intense response to her, he rubbed his throbbing cock against her soft belly, locked his jaw and clamped down on his baser needs. “I want you so bad, I hurt. But with you, I need more.” For the first time, he knew they could be more together.
“Did you mean what you said last night?” Her smile softened, her words hesitant and so filled with hope. She needed his words as much as he nee
ded to say them to her and make her believe. She had to believe, because he couldn’t live without her.
Still holding her face, he pulled her to him for a kiss. Soft, tender, a brush of his lips to hers, he poured the overflowing feelings from his heart into the simple poignant touch.
“I’m sorry for being stubborn and selfish and stupid and pushing you away when underneath it all, I always wanted you here with me. With every fiber of my being, everything I am, I love you, Morgan.”
“I feel it. Remember how I told you happiness can make me feel exhilarated? Your love makes me feel euphoric.”
“You’re glowing.” His voice held the wonder he felt inside, looking at her radiating above him. He ran his hands down her shoulders and back, over her hips, only to circle back and repeat the long soft caress, pulling her T-shirt over her head.
He couldn’t believe this was real. She’s real. Here with him, in his arms.
“You feel so damn good against me. Your skin is so soft, and you smell so good.” Her hair was like silk along his chest and shoulders. He traced his finger along the top of her shoulder, pulling the stands aside. He planted a soft, open-mouthed kiss at the base of her neck and she shivered in his arms.
He undid the bra clasp at her back and drew the straps down her arms. She willingly let it go without the slightest blush of embarrassment. Leaning over him, her hands planted on the bed by his shoulders, he had a perfect view of her lovely, full breasts. He cupped her pretty face and let his hands slide down her neck, fingers tracing the long column down to her chest. Warm, soft, he cupped her breasts and brushed his thumbs over her nipples, making them hard. She sighed and moaned at the intimate touch. He wanted to take them into his mouth, but took his time and explored, sliding his hands down her ribs to her slim, taut belly.
“I love you,” she whispered in that husky voice he’d missed so much hearing in his head.
His desire to claim her, make her his forever, radiated heat through his whole body. His hands slid down her spine and over her hips, dipping into her panties; he cupped her bottom and pressed her down hard against his thick erection. They both let out a soft moan. He took her hips and pulled her forward. Their lips met, his tongue slipped in to taste and tease. He took the kiss deep and rolled her to the side and slipped her panties down her long, supple legs. With her hands free to roam, she spread her fingers wide over his chest and swept them down over his stomach in one long hot sweep. Propped over her on his elbow, she leaned up and kissed him again, trailing more kisses along his jaw and down his neck. He fell back onto the pillows and let her have her way with him, his hands softly tracing her skin anywhere and everywhere he could touch. She leaned over him, her breasts pressed against his chest, her lips and tongue driving him insane as she worked her way down his body to his stomach. Her hands traced a path over his corded stomach muscles to the hard length of him. Her fingers wrapped around, stoking up and down over his boxer briefs. He sank his head into the pillow and let out a gruff growl, enjoying every torturous moment. When her hands dipped inside his briefs and she took him in her warm hand, he nearly disgraced himself.
Impatient and wanting more, he gently pulled her hand away. She immediately tugged his briefs down and he helped her rid him of the last barrier between them. Lying on his side beside her, he stared down and took in her creamy skin and toned body, lush with soft curves that drew his eye and made him ache to be inside her.
“You are so beautiful.”
“I love all your hard strength. The way you look at me with so much passion and need in your dark eyes.”
“I want to be gentle with you.”
“Just love me.”
“I do.”
“Show me.”
He placed his palm on her stomach and leaned down and kissed her, sliding his hand down, fingers sliding past the soft folds to her hot, wet center. She opened her mouth to his tongue and spread her thighs wide as he dipped his finger into her slick sheath. Within moments, he had her writhing on the bed and his own need straining against his will to go slow.
Morgan took the reins, pushing him over onto his back as she rose up and straddled his hips. Glorious above him, her hair cascaded down her back in a mass of glowing golden waves. Her eyes danced with light. She gave him a soft, knowing smile and rocked her hips against his hard cock over and over. She leaned down and kissed him with a hunger and need that matched his own. He held her hips firm and thrust hard and deep. Mouths fused, bodies joined, they fell into the rhythm of their love.
Beckoned by her fire, he went willingly into the flames, and she made him burn.
What started off slow and sweet built to a passion he’d never felt. He kissed her neck, she caressed his cheek, and sank her fingers into his hair. He took her rose-tipped breast into his mouth, suckled, and made her moan. She held him to her, rolled her hips, and made him groan. And that made all the difference. For once, it was a mutual give-and-take. She gave a kiss and a caress of her tongue. He gave back her kiss and squeezed her breasts and reveled in her moan when he took her sweet nipple into his mouth again, suckled hard, feasted, savored, loved her.
She took him deeper, and he pushed her higher.
She sat up, rocked her hips, ground hers to his and he thrust hard. He marveled at the fall of her golden hair over her shoulders and down her back. The feel of it as it whispered over his thighs as she moved. Her eyes closed, her fingers dug into his chest, and she lost herself in the feeling and rhythm of their lovemaking. Her fingertips brushed over his nipples. She raked her hands down his chest. Lost in the spell, he sat up, wrapped his arms around her, held her close as she moved over him. He took her breast into his palm, licked, laved, suckled to his heart’s content. She made those wild little noises and made him ache even more.
Lost in him, every touch of his huge hands on her body sent shivers over her skin and warmed her to her soul. The building heat and ripples spread from her center, tightening her core. She rode the waves, felt Tyler’s passion swelling with hers. He fell back to the pillows, thrust deep, and pressed the pad of his thumb to her soft, wet center. The rising tide within reached a crescendo. Her head fell back and she moaned on a deep exhale, so filled with ecstasy she couldn’t contain it.
He arched off the bed and buried himself deep inside her and let go of the world and knew only his love for her and the return of that love from her. She leaned forward and took his mouth, swept away by waves of pleasure. She trembled, her body rocked with aftershocks. She collapsed onto his chest with a cloud of golden hair raining down and draping over them.
Too spent to say anything, the soft hum of contentment and the brush of her lips on his shoulder told him the feeling was mutual. He wrapped his arms around her and held her tight, close. She snuggled into him; her breathing fell into an even, soft whisper against his heated skin. He closed his eyes and savored the feel of her in his arms as they both drifted on the cloud of bliss they’d created.
About to succumb to a deep sleep, the beeping of her cell phone jarred them both awake and alert again.
She groaned, lifted her head, and brushed her hair away from her face, dropping it over her shoulder. She kissed him and said against his lips, “I have to check that. I gave Leslie my number and email in case she needed me. I promised.”
He gave her hips a squeeze, kissed her to let her know he didn’t mind, and fell back onto his pillow.
Nothing, not even his satiated, sex-hazed lethargy, would stop him from watching the way her hair bounced against her back as she hopped out of bed. Beautiful, her skin a soft tan, the glow enhanced by the fall of golden hair down her back, reaching almost to her waist in long waves. His eyes traced the slope of her bottom and the sway of her hips as she walked to the corner table to grab her phone from her purse. She answered and turned toward him completely unfazed by his gaze on her naked body. His eyes locked on her upturned breasts, tipped with rosy nipples that tasted so sweet. She smiled and his heart turned over. Beyond lucky to have her in his
life, to be loved by her, and finally feel the kind of love his friends felt for their wives within himself, he sighed his contentment.
She frowned while reading the email, then dialed a number. “Hi, it’s Morgan. No, I haven’t seen her.”
Everything in him went still. The bright smile on her face fell, replaced with a look of concern and inevitability.
“She wouldn’t call me. How long has she been gone? Last night. Where are the children? You have both of them.” He felt her relief like his own. “Good. He did? Why didn’t you just say that? Hell yes, he wants money. No, I’m not giving you the money for the kids. Just tell me what he said. Fine. Give me the number. I’ll get her back. I said, I’ll get her back.”
She hung up. Tyler stood and zipped up his jeans. He pulled his shirt on over his head and grabbed his own phone and started dialing. She hated to see that gorgeous, strong body of his covered up. A sight to behold, all those rippling muscles and tanned skin with his dark hair and eyes made her want to crawl back into bed with him and forget the terrible things happening around her. They finally managed to come together, both body and mind. She hated to end the too new and fragile intimacy. Somewhere deep inside her, something whispered, This is only the beginning.
She held onto that precious promise.
She gave herself a mental shake and pulled on a clean pair of jeans and a turquoise blouse. She could fantasize about Tyler later. Right now, she needed to focus on her missing sister and getting her back from their father, James.
Chasing Morgan Page 22