Loving Laney

by Evans, Harmony

  His eyes searched hers with the kind of passion that was completely honorable. “That’s what this baby means to me. You may not believe this, but I’m not just all about money and business, and I can prove it to you. If you’ll only let me.” His voice hardened, and she knew that he was running out of patience. “But you have to tell me the truth. No more secrets. If our baby had died, would you ever have told me?”

  Laney broke away from his embrace. “Yes!” she shouted roughly, so hurt by his distrust in her that she could barely breathe. “Now leave me alone. This discussion is over. I think it’s better if we communicate through our attorneys from now on.”

  Without another word, she ran into the house and slammed the door so hard that the plates in her kitchen cabinet rattled. She paused and listened to see if Austin would follow her, and when he didn’t, she walked slowly up the stairs to her bedroom.

  Lying across the bed, she stared up at the ceiling and wondered if she’d made the right choice by telling him the truth. Even worse, if he didn’t believe her, it would make sharing custody of their child even that much more difficult.

  Chapter 7

  Austin hooked his thumbs into the back pockets of his jeans and stared after Laney in sad amazement. She’d run away from him again. The thunderous sound of her slamming the back door echoed in his mind, and he felt as if she’d kicked the door to her heart closed, too.

  Perhaps permanently.

  He leaned against the pine tree for a few minutes, inhaling its heady scent to try to clear his head, before ambling away from her house toward his car, lost in his thoughts.

  Was she telling the truth?

  He shoved his hands in his pockets and walked on, desperately trying to believe that she had planned to tell him about the baby, miscarriage or not. If only he knew why she’d waited for months to tell him. Why had she kept their child a secret for so long?

  In the distance, Stella Rose neighed and he stopped in his tracks. The wind whipped through his shirt as he stared over his shoulder at Laney’s house, so perfect and neat.

  What the hell was he doing? Was he going to run away, too?

  He needed answers and he needed them now.

  Austin strode to the front door and lifted his hand to knock, but quickly decided against it. He tried the doorknob. It turned easily and the door opened.

  “Unlocked again,” he muttered. Not locking doors may be normal practice in Granger, but he still didn’t like it. Somehow he had to convince Laney to be more careful.

  Austin peeked inside, hoping to see Laney there waiting for him in the living room, but it was deserted.

  He walked in, closed and locked the door. For some odd reason, before Laney had ever invited him inside, he’d imagined her home would be decked out in red-and-white-checked curtains and other country kitsch, to go along with Granger’s small-town vibe.

  On the contrary, the furnishings were contemporary and sophisticated, just like her, and would be perfectly in style in almost all of the cities he often visited on business and for pleasure.

  However, with the large-screen television mounted on the wall and a sexy woman like Laney snuggled up in his arms, he knew it would be easy to put his feet up and start feeling very comfortable. Almost as if he was home, and that was a dangerous sign.

  Ignoring the urge to turn on the television to check the latest scores on ESPN, Austin made his way down a short hallway toward the kitchen, but discovered Laney wasn’t there, either.

  He was locking the kitchen door when suddenly his ears picked up the sound of water running through pipes. He stared at the ceiling. Although he’d never been on the second level of Laney’s home, that minor detail wasn’t going to stop him now. He started up the stairs, his heart pounding in his chest. It was time that he got answers to all his questions, and that he and Laney settled things once and for all.

  There were several rooms extending down the hallway, however only one door was closed. He put his hand on the knob, but decided against barging right in.

  A short time later he heard the water shut off and he knocked on the door.

  “Laney. It’s me. We need to talk.”

  She opened the door, wearing a short white terry-cotton robe, and he drew in his breath as his eyes flitted down her body. Water still glistened on her skin and her nipples puckered against the thin fabric. He hardened immediately, suddenly aware of how difficult it would always be to tamp down his desire for Laney, whether he was angry with her or not.

  If she was surprised to see him, she hid it well. Still he saw her upper lip tremble just a bit, as she held on to the door.

  “I told you there’s nothing more to talk about,” she said softly. Her voice had a glimmer of expectation.

  His hope for a resolution grew stronger when she didn’t slam the door in his face. Instead, she turned on her bare feet and he watched her drift slowly across the carpeted floor, her bare legs flashing and teasing him to distraction in her short robe, and he followed.

  Laney sat down on a tufted stool at her dressing table and began to brush her hair in long, even strokes. She stared straight ahead into the mirror, as if she were trying to ignore him.

  Austin stood behind, just inches away from her right shoulder. His erection strained boldly in his dark denim jeans, craving the warmth that emanated from her still damp skin, hidden under cotton.

  He took a deep breath and thought he saw her eyes dart toward his torso, or at least near the location of his hips. Blood rushed to his core, tightened and lengthened, his body betraying his attempt at restraint. Couldn’t she see what she was doing to him? he wondered. Just one turn of her head and she’d be...

  Seconds later, her eyes settled back in their original position. Staring ahead, brushing away, stirring his lust and driving him crazy.

  “I’m struggling to believe you, Laney, and I really want to understand.” He paused and swallowed, struggling to control his physical need for her. “It would help me a great deal if you would tell me why it took you so long to tell me about the baby,” he said quietly.

  Her hand stopped in midair and she looked down at her lap, the hairbrush now clasped in her palms.

  She heaved a deep sigh. “Because we’d only been together one night and I was afraid that you wouldn’t think it was yours.” She looked up, her eyes flashing. “And that’s exactly what happened, isn’t it?”

  Austin closed his eyes a moment against her accusing stare and the memories unwittingly came flooding back. The stark truth was that he’d lost valuable time with Laney because he’d been fooled in the past.

  “You’re right,” he confessed, opening his eyes. “A long time ago, another woman I’d had a brief relationship with had claimed to be pregnant and that the child was mine, and it turned out not to be true. All she wanted was to extort money from me.” He took a shuddering breath. “I knew you didn’t want money, but I was stupid and I initially lumped you into the same category as her, even though I knew deep down that it was wrong. I’m truly sorry. Will you ever forgive me?”

  Laney didn’t turn; instead she peered at his reflection in the mirror, and her face wore a hesitant smile.

  “It would be easier to forgive you if you forgave me, too,” she whispered.

  Austin placed his hands on her shoulders. They felt small, but strong underneath his palms. “I already have, Laney. I forgave you on the day you gave me the sonogram of our child. I knew that you had accepted me as the father of our baby.”

  Slowly, he bent forward slightly and moved his hands down her arms, until his cheek was next to hers. He stared at their reflection in the mirror, and he felt like a king. She was so beautiful and the desire to kiss her was so strong that he reached for her brush to distract himself.

  He stood and when he began to brush, he watched her eyes flutter closed, a tiny smile of p
leasure on her lips. Her thick hair felt so soft flowing through his fingers and he bit the inside of his mouth as his erection began to pulse more urgently.

  Moments later, he gave in to his urges and swept the hair away from her neck with one hand. Without warning, he bent and softly kissed the skin behind the crest of her ear.

  “But, Laney, I still don’t know if you will accept me.” He mouthed low, watching the mirror closely for her reaction.

  Her mouth pursed deliciously as he placed his fingers in her hair and massaged her scalp. At the same time, his tongue traced the soft flesh of earlobe over and over again. She begin to writhe in her seat and Austin saw that the tie that held her robe together was beginning to loosen, and some of the fabric had inched up her thigh.

  He moved to her other earlobe, took it into his mouth and sucked, enjoying the sweet moan from the woman he loved.

  The woman he loved.

  The thought took him by surprise, but he knew it was true. He also knew he wasn’t ready to utter the words. Right now, he only wanted to show her.

  The robe loosened even more, revealing Laney’s rounded abdomen and the dark nest of curly hair beneath that hid his favorite place to lick and explore.

  Her eyes met his in the mirror, and Austin expected her to tighten the sash. Instead she allowed her robe to slip from her shoulders and fall to the floor, her eyes taunting him to look and desire her body.

  His mouth went dry and the hair on his arms tingled at the sight of her in the mirror. The area around her nipples seemed larger and darker than he remembered, and he had to mentally restrain himself from reaching out and grabbing her breasts.

  Suddenly, Laney swiveled around in her seat and, without a word, laid her head against the front of his jeans and began to roll her soft cheek against the expanse of his hard length.

  Austin weaved his hands into her hair as she tugged his shirt from his waistband, then began to unbutton it slowly. Too slowly for him, and he quickly finished the rest and tossed his shirt on the floor.

  The air felt cool on his skin, but Laney’s fingers felt like fire as she traced the muscles of his abdomen, while licking around and in his bellybutton.

  She undid his jeans and his thigh muscles twitched in anticipation as she slowly eased them down, followed by his underwear. He swift-kicked both articles of clothing aside and his hips involuntarily thrust forward toward her mouth.

  When she turned toward him, grasped and began to noisily suck, his mind went completely blank and all he could do was feel.

  Her hair strung between his fingers, the exquisite pull of her lips and the greedy swirl of her tongue on his penis, the feel of her soft hands clutching his tightened buttocks.

  His breaths were short. Hitched here and there with the deep groans of a man completely controlled by a woman, as she took him into herself deeper and deeper.

  It was like she was trying to possess him and it was working. Austin was completely under her tortuous spell. But he didn’t want their lovemaking to end so quickly.

  “Oh, God, Laney.” He drew away reluctantly and caught her face in his palms as they separated. He watched, completely mesmerized as she spread her legs, until she was straddling the stool. His body shook from intense need as he stroked her cheek over and over again with one thumb.

  Unable to resist any longer, Austin reached down and felt Laney’s breasts, his mouth watering at the feel of her large, tight nipples.

  “I’m not leaving you. Not ever,” he muttered thickly.

  He gently squeezed one nipple and she abruptly stood up, nearly knocking him from his feet, and he feared he had hurt her somehow.

  But when she faced the mirror and looked at their reflection, he was relieved to see that her eyes were filled with desire.

  “Then stay with me tonight,” she whispered, drawing his arms loosely around her waist.

  Austin drew in a sharp breath as she hastily pushed the stool away with her foot, bent and leaned her elbows on the dressing table. He dropped his arms from her waist in surprise and his eyes widened at the sight of her round ass. It seemed to glow and beckon him as he moved slowly toward her. His penis sprang forth painfully and when he made sudden contact with her flesh, she moaned.

  He wanted just to drive himself into her right now, but he had to make sure she wanted him to. She was pregnant with his child. He didn’t want to hurt her and was willing to sacrifice his own pleasure to keep her and their baby safe.

  Still, she wasn’t making it easy for him.

  He swallowed hard and blurted, “Are you sure?”

  Laney turned around, wrapped her arms tightly around his neck and nodded. “Completely.”

  “But what about the baby?” he muttered stupidly, not sure if he would somehow harm their child by making love. “Won’t it hurt?”

  She shook her head and leaned it against his shoulder. “I’ll let you know if anything is wrong. Right now, all I want you to do is kiss me.”

  He pressed against her and she lifted her head. When his lips found hers it seemed as though his world had just begun. Her tongue dipped into his mouth as she swayed against him, and he opened one eye to watch himself in the mirror as he cupped his hands around the lower curve of her buttocks.

  Austin broke away, grabbed her hips and spun her around, and she bent at the waist, balancing her weight on the dressing table with her palms. He licked his lips and watched in the mirror as her breasts hung in the air, her hardened nipples pointing down like blunt daggers.

  He stepped forward, reached one hand around her waist and then angled down through the dark mass of tight yet soft curls. Laney’s head dropped forward and she panted while he explored her folds, so vibrant and wet, with his fingers. She was ready, and so was he.

  Austin drew his hand back, but she caught it and licked her wetness from his fingers, so slowly that he thought he would come without even being inside her. He groaned and pulled his hand away and placed it on the small of her back, gently pushing her down, until her body was parallel with the dressing table.

  Laney braced her hands on the surface and stared at him in the mirror. He stood stock-still, rooted in place by her sensuality, as he watched her eyes glaze over with desire. She was no longer a fantasy.

  Every beautiful sight he’d ever seen could never compare to seeing Laney, her eyes wide, mouth slightly open and her ass tilted up, waiting for him with a wicked half smile.

  “If you don’t make love to me right now, I’ll scream,” she said breathlessly.

  He positioned himself behind her, reached out and placed one hand on her waist as he clasped the other hand around his thick penis.

  “How about I make you scream anyway?”

  She bit her lip in response and her eyes slid shut as he ran a finger down the cleft of her buttocks and slowly guided himself into her.

  At the first contact, Austin gritted his teeth as her inside muscles clenched him firmly, so warm and insistent. He grabbed her hips, planted both feet firmly on the floor and began to slip inside and out. Slowly. Cautiously.

  But soon, Austin was caught up in the raw sound of her moaning and the sight of her breasts keeping time with the slick-slap of their coupling. The erotic vision in front of him, Laney’s mouth open and, at times, her head rolling from side to side in ecstasy, was almost too much for him to handle.

  He closed his eyes, gripped her hips tighter and steadily picked up his pace, not drawing out of her body as much, staying close, yet pumping hard, his entire being homed in on bringing them both to that invisible point of no return.

  He opened his eyes to meet hers and they openly watched each other in the mirror. In the reflection was seared the sensual, desperate and unforgettable clamor of mutual release.

  * * *

  Hours later, Laney awoke in semidarkness. Austin lay on his stomach
asleep beside her, his arm cradling her lazily just below her breasts. She traced a circle around his bent elbow with her fingertip, remembering the intimacy of his touch and the passion of their lovemaking. She could never have imagined it would have been better than New Year’s Eve, but it was, and she knew that the longer she was with him, the more pleasurable sex would be.

  As she watched him sleeping, tears leaked from her eyes, a delayed response, but one she knew couldn’t be helped. There was no doubt about it now—she was in love. Not just because he was great in bed, but because he was everything she’d ever wanted in a man. He was masculine and gentle and powerful all at the same time.

  But did he feel the same way about her?

  She wiped her tears away, turned her head and stared out the windows.

  In the distance, she could see the mountains. Snow-capped and majestic, they seemed to buttress the blue-black sky that was infused with streaks of orange and pink. The sun was setting, but to Laney, it felt like a brand-new day.

  She turned back and gazed at Austin. He was a beautiful man, a good man, and she knew he would be a wonderful father. Her heart swelled and she knew that her deepest wish was that maybe one day they would be a family.

  “I could wake up next to you every day,” she whispered.

  A few second later, she felt a series of kisses on her rib cage and hitched in a breath.

  “Then you’d have to get used to this,” Austin said thickly.

  He lifted his body up slightly on his right elbow and moved his lips from her rib cage to the swell of her left breast. She closed her eyes as he rolled her sideways to face him.

  “Think you could handle it?”

  When she opened her eyes, his lips hovered just above hers. The hint of a beard covered his jaw.

  She nodded. “Keep kissing me like that and I can conquer the world.”

  Austin regarded her through half-lidded eyes. “I don’t doubt it. You’ve already conquered my heart.”

  Laney gasped and she put her hand on his chest. “Do you really mean that?”