Bewitched (Coronado Series Book 6)

by Lea Hart

  “I fucking loved it, but I want to come inside you. I’ve never been inside a woman bareback, and I can’t wait any longer.” He kissed her again, and she let herself be pulled under that wave of desire. Seemed he wanted to lead the show. Might as well let him.

  ***

  “Lie back, honey, I want to see what you look like.” Letting his eyes roam over her full breasts, he whispered, “So pretty.” He covered her breasts with his hands and noticed the contrast between his large tan hands and her pillowy white softness. Taking a ripe nipple into his mouth, he tasted her sweet skin and smelled her cinnamon scent. He brushed his thumb over one taut pearl while circling the tight bud of the other with his tongue, then sucked just hard enough that she whimpered with desire. The sexy noises she was making sent a bolt of desire through him. Kissing his way down to her panties, he hovered there, aching to taste her again. He kissed her inner thighs and stroked her hips as she rocked into him. Lifting his eyes, he saw her head thrown back, and a sigh of surrender left her lips. It was that sweet sound that had him ripping her panties off. “Mine,” he muttered as he lifted one of her legs over his shoulder. Dropping his mouth to her hot, wet center, he tasted her sweet honey. She was so damn enticing. He gripped her ass and angled her hips so she was completely open to him. He slid his fingers inside her heat and circled her clit with his tongue. Her hips started to move and his name fell from her lips.

  “Oh…Blake. Yes, please!”

  He felt her thighs tighten as he grazed his teeth over her clit and stroked her hard with his tongue. Her hips bucked as an orgasm tore through her. Slipping his fingers out, he heard her whimper. “I can’t wait to be inside you.”

  Heaving himself over her body, he sealed his lips with hers and thrust in deep. “Holy shit, you feel amazing, Paige. So tight and wet.” Their bodies moved in a perfect frenzied rhythm. Gripping her hips, he thrust deeply, wanting to fill her completely. Her fingernails dug into his shoulder as he drove himself as deep as she’d take him. Their mouths crashed together and he thrust faster and harder.

  “Don’t stop.”

  She gripped his forearms and clung tightly, and he felt her tighten around his aching cock. When she cried out, he thrust deeply as heat raced down his spine. His balls tightened and a fire spread through his body as he exploded inside her, one heated pulse after another. His mind unraveled as the most exquisite pleasure rolled over his skin. He’d thought what happened in Jordan was spectacular. It was nothing in comparison to what just happened.

  When he finally opened his eyes, he looked down and saw hers were closed. A satisfied smile curved her lips. Collapsing next to her, he let his head fall into her hair. He was surrounded by her scent, and for the first time since the night they had together, he felt peace. He rolled over, gathered her in his arms and heard her murmur his name. Her breathing evened out and she snuggled into him. Everything was right in the world. Paige was in his arms and they were together.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  Sunday Morning

  A sharp scream filled the air, and Blake jackknifed up. Instinctively, he reached for his weapon and realized he didn’t have one. He was naked in bed and Paige was in the throes of a nightmare. He flipped the light on, then lifted her into his lap. “Paige, you’re okay. You’re home, honey, and I’ve got you.” The shrieks continued as her arms moved around him. “Open your eyes and see that you’re safe.” He tightened his hold and ran kisses along her cheek. “Paige, I’m here and I’ve got you.”

  Slowly, her limbs started to quiet and she stopped screaming. Breathing heavily, she collapsed against him. Resting his head against hers, he kissed her hair gently. “That was a good one.”

  Breathing heavily, she relaxed against him. “They were shoving guns in my face and hitting me. I couldn’t get away. Then there was an explosion and I was surrounded by fire,” she said quietly. “Same damn dream.” Burying her face in his chest, she kissed his skin. “Why can’t I stop?”

  “You’re experiencing PTSD. It’s no wonder, considering what you experienced in Sakib.” He moved a hand to her back and cradled her head with the other. This told her body and, he hoped, her mind that she was safe.

  “I go two or three days without a nightmare and then, bang, they return.”

  “That’s fairly typical. Have you spoken to anyone about what happened in Jordan?”

  “No. I didn’t want my family to worry, and I just hoped the dreams would eventually go away.”

  “That’s not how PTSD works, Paige. You’ve got to see someone and get the tools to work through it. You don’t have to live with it. There is a way through it.”

  Lifting her head away from his chest, she looked up, and what he saw broke his heart. There was a ton of sadness in her beautiful blue eyes that he wanted to vanquish. “You have to deal with it, honey. Otherwise, it gets worse and burrows into your soul.”

  “I know. Seems that avoidance is all I’ve managed to do since I got home. I went from a woman who was practically fearless to one who doesn’t want to face a thing.”

  Pressing his mouth to hers, he tasted her sweet flavor. When she kissed him back, he smiled against her mouth. “I know a thing or two about traumatic experiences and how to deal with them. Let’s get the help you need.”

  “Thank you. I’ve always been able to handle things, and lately, that doesn’t seem to be happening.”

  “Paige, you were kidnapped by terrorists. That’s not something you handle. Also, you left a career that’s been the focus of your life for the last several years, and oh—by the way—you’re pregnant. Most people have a hard time dealing with the end of a career. Add to that an unplanned pregnancy and it’s no wonder you’re having some struggles.”

  “My mama did not raise me to crumple. I’m a smart, resourceful woman and I need to be strong.”

  “I’ve seen that kind of thinking cause more problems than I can count.” He grabbed their pillows and pushed them against the headboard. Scooting back, he kept her in his arms and laid back. “I’ve been trained to be one of the most lethal warriors on the planet, and the only way to do my job is to go in believing success is the only option. That requires me to pack away any emotions not serving that mindset, which is something I’ve learned to do quite well. The problem is, once emotions and feelings get packed away, they don’t like to be unpacked. All those neat compartments like to stay undisturbed. Strong, resolute, impenetrable…that’s what helps me survive in battle. It doesn’t do a hell of a lot for me in life. So, my point is that no matter how strong you are, you’re going to come up against things that knock you on your ass. Real strength, real intelligence is allowing yourself to ask for help when that happens.”

  He rubbed his hand over her stomach and smiled. “This little girl is going to need the best version of you, and you owe it to her to face the monsters roaring in your head.”

  “Thank you, Blake. Of course, you’re right.”

  “Good thing an old sailor knocked you up. I have some experience with tough memories, and I’ll do whatever I can to help you.”

  When her arms tightened around his chest, he felt a settling wash over his body. The last twenty-four hours had flipped him upside down, but lying here with Paige made it seem like they were going to figure everything out.

  “You’re already proving to be a good father…by making sure Mama doesn’t go nuts.”

  He lifted her on top of his body and made sure that they were lined up properly. “I know something else that will help Mama.” Moving her legs, he made sure she was completely open, and he poised at her entrance. “A little physical therapy is as good a start as any.” One thrust and he seated himself against her core. He watched as she sat up and wiggled around. “How are you doing?”

  “Hard to describe.” Placing her hands against his chest, she braced herself as she slowly lifted herself off and then slid back down. “I guess the best way to describe it is…amazingly perfect.”

  “Ride me, honey. You set the pace and
show me what makes you feel good.”

  Her answer was a kiss and then the best torture of his life. Watching her move up and down his length as she found her pleasure was one of the top ten experiences of his life. Her full breasts bounced as she moved, taking him in her body. “That’s it, Paige. Take me as deep as you can.”

  The sounds coming from her were making control difficult. Moans and laughter had him gritting his teeth as he fought against his desire to pound himself into her body.

  When she stilled above him and started chanting his name, he slid his finger between their bodies and pressed her clit. That sent her crashing over. As she began milking him, he answered with three long thrusts and exploded.

  She collapsed against him. He held her tightly with his face buried in her hair. Streaks of electricity flooded his body as he emptied himself until nothing was left. It had taken him sixteen weeks to find his way back to where he belonged…buried deep inside the woman who had bewitched him from the start.

  With the last of his strength, he managed to flick off the light and pull up the sheets. “That will fix what ails us.” The only thing he heard from Paige was her soft, even breathing. Lifting his head, he saw a smile on her face. Taking care of her was going to be easier than he’d thought.

  ***

  Blake walked into the kitchen and saw Paige with her head in her hands and the phone sitting next to her. “Everything all right?”

  “That was my mama. She and Daddy noticed your SUV parked in the driveway this morning on their way to church, and then they noticed it again on their way home from brunch. Given my mother’s pathological need to know everything that’s happening in her daughters’ lives, she insists we join her and Daddy for dinner tonight.”

  “That sounds like fun. What time do we need to be there?”

  “Having dinner at my parents’ house is not going to be fun. Do you remember the Spanish Inquisition?”

  “Yeah, vaguely from some long-forgotten history class.”

  “Look it up, because that’s what tonight is going to be. Mama wormed your identity out of me and said, and I quote, “We’re dying to meet your baby daddy.” When did that ever become part of a normal conversation? They sent all of us to Catholic school. Mama told me to keep my knees shut until I was twenty-five. Now she’s all hippie-dippie free love. ‘Bring your baby daddy by for supper.’” Slapping her hands on the table, she yelled, “It’s not normal!”

  Slowly he approached because he figured if he treated her like an IED, he couldn’t go wrong. “I understand.” That sounded good. “I’m here to support you. Just tell me what you want me to do.” He watched her head swivel around and worried that some part of what he’d just said was wrong. “Tell me what your daddy drinks and what kind of flowers your mama likes so I can get them before we go over.”

  “Yesterday morning I thought the most exciting thing about my weekend was going to be watching the new Bourne movie. Things are spinning out of control.”

  “Take a breath and let’s figure this out together.”

  Standing abruptly, she drained her coffee cup and marched over to the fridge. “I need to make breakfast.”

  “You want to relax and let me make it?”

  “Can you cook?”

  “Not exactly, but I’m sure you can direct me.” He pulled her in, then leaned down and kissed her. Maybe if he kept doing that, she would know that she wasn’t in this alone.

  “Grab a cup of coffee and then sit on the other side of the island while I make us something to eat,” she said.

  “Okay.” He did as he was told and watched her pull things out of the fridge. “I haven’t met the parents of anyone I dated since high school.”

  Laying bacon in the pan, she gave him a smile. “You want to date me?”

  “We’re having a baby, so I want a lot more than dating. We have every reason to give this our best shot. After all, we’re in one another’s life one way or another.”

  Turning the heat up on the pan, she studied him. “Yes, I suppose that’s a valid point.”

  Leaning back, he drank his coffee. There was no mistaking her lack of enthusiasm for his suggestion. Maybe he didn’t say it with a lot of hearts and flowers, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t taking this thing seriously. The girl who had captivated him from the moment he’d seen her was now carrying his child. As far as he could see, there weren’t a lot of downsides to the situation. Sure, the whole fatherhood thing wasn’t anything he’d planned, but a lot of events in life happened that way. “Tell me about your folks.”

  She sliced fruit, then glanced up. “Where to start? Daddy is a highly respected criminal defense attorney, and Mama teaches high school English. They have been together since college and are the best of friends. Daddy is the calmest man in the whole state of Texas. I’m not sure if he was always that way or it’s something he developed as a means of survival. Mama is a tornado of activity, directions, love, and concern. Given enough time, she will strangle anything with love and good intentions. I love them both with my whole heart, but if I spend any amount of extended time with them, I go nuts.”

  “Is that why you chose a job in the diplomatic corps?”

  She scooped the fruit into a bowl and laughed. “Of course. I had to go to the other side of the world to find out who I was and what I liked. If I’d stayed here in Texas, I never would’ve found that out.”

  “Makes sense.” Tapping the counter with his knuckles, he then looked up. “What did you discover?”

  “I found out that I was braver than I thought and more curious than I ever gave myself credit for. I loved most of my experiences abroad, and I’m disheartened that they’ve ended so soon. I’d hoped to do it for at least five more years.” Shaking her head, she pushed the bowl across the counter. “I think if I stayed in Jordan after the kidnapping, I would’ve been better off. It’s like getting back on the horse after you’ve been thrown. The longer you wait, the harder it is.”

  “Then you found out you were pregnant and couldn’t go back,” he said quietly. Watching the myriad of emotions cross her face made him realize how much her life had changed because of their one night together. His had as well, but in not the same way. He didn’t have to change his career because of the baby. Hell, he could just send her checks and be done with it. Not one thing in his life would have to change. Except everything had, and he wasn’t a man who wanted to be absent in his child’s life. “So, what would you like to do next?”

  “The million-dollar question. I have a lot of money saved, so I don’t have to do anything until well after the baby is born, which is good news for me, because I have no idea. Not one little inkling of what my next step is going be.”

  “Well, we can figure it out together.”

  “That’s sweet, but eventually you’re heading back to your life and I’ll be here. I’m a big girl and I’ll figure it out.”

  He watched her turn, grab a carton of eggs out of the fridge, and then flip the bacon over. Every time he said something about them doing this together, she brushed him off. Why was the idea so abhorrent to her? Was he so bad a bet that she wanted no part of him, or was it something else entirely?

  Maybe he should take her out on a date and show her that he was a good man to have with her. What happened between them when they had their clothes off was reason enough to stick together. But he figured that wasn’t going to be nearly enough to convince Paige to keep him around. And that’s exactly where he wanted to be: around. Was he purely motivated by the baby? Or was it simply…that she got to him in a way that no one else ever had?

  Paige popped some bread into the toaster and then leaned her hip against the counter. “Please don’t say anything to my parents about wanting to stay here. If you do, then they’re never going to give me a moment’s peace.”

  “We do have a future. We have a baby to raise together. One way or another, we have a future.”

  “Hell’s bells, you know what I mean. Don’t give them any idea that we�
��re going to be a couple. I’m not asking for anything from you except that. I’m not going anywhere, so I’m the one who must live with their disappointment when nothing happens. I don’t want to give them false hope.”

  Frowning, he ran his hand through his hair. “Thanks for your faith. It’s making me feel all warm and fuzzy.”

  Straightening, she walked over and stood between his legs, then took his hands. “I’m being realistic about our prospects. The chances of anything happening romantically long-term are not great. All I’m asking is that we not drag my parents into it. They’re going to like you. Let’s just leave it at that.”

  Pulling her forward, he wrapped his arms around her. “For a woman carrying my baby, you sure are playing hard to get. You’d think you would be a little more open-minded about me, considering I made you come three or four times since last night.”

  Slapping his shoulder, she let out a chuckle. “Sex is not the same as love. And love, despite what the songs tell us, is not all we need. I’ve seen my parents’ marriage, and they are well-suited with common interests and goals, and they have worked most days to make their union a success. I don’t have any rose-colored glasses on about what it takes to make a happy life with someone. Just because we made a baby doesn’t mean we have to make a life together.”

  “Or it could be the very best reason in the world to give it a try. Just leave the door open and let’s see what we come up with.”

  “Okay. Why not? It’s not like I can go out and date now anyway.” Pressing her mouth to his, she managed to give him one hell of a kiss.

  “You’re stuck with me for a while, so let’s just keep kissing.” Before she could respond, he kissed her again. It seemed to work better than anything else, so he might as well.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  Monday, April 10

  Standing on her tiptoes, she peered through the peephole and let out a loud sigh. Let the inquisition begin.