Chayton's Tempest

by Aliyah Burke

  on her.

  She knew he waited for her reaction.

  “Mom?” Dakota asked from behind her.

  Tempest shut the door on her Envoy. “Yes?” Her gaze

  remained on the wickedly handsome James Lonetree.

  “Does it bother you? Me calling him Dad?”

  The wind blew some of her hair into her face. Staring

  through the strands, she held Maverick’s black eyes. “No,

  Dakota. He is your dad.”

  The emotion on Maverick’s face nearly brought her to

  tears again. He dropped the bags on the ground and was before

  her in two powerful strides.

  Without a word, he pulled her into his embrace. Ironlike

  bands closed about her. She could smell tobacco and his

  own natural scent, and hear his beating heart.

  “Thank you, Tempest. For giving me my son,” he

  whispered in her ear. Before she could say anything he

  continued. “Come here,” he said in a gruff voice.

  In a second, she felt her son’s arms going around her as

  well. This was her family. No matter what, their lives were

  intertwined.

  The whisper that had been in her mind during Dakota’s

  birth and her time in the mountains returned.

  This is your destiny.

  Tempest just smiled. This was not the time to deal with

  voices in her head.

  They had dinner together with Shelia. It was almost like

  a family dinner. After the meal, Tempest and Maverick sat

  together in the living room as the younger ones cleaned up.

  “Thanx for dinner, baby. I should get going.”

  Going? She jerked her head toward him. “Where’re you

  going?”

  Maverick heard the shock in her voice as she blurted out

  her question. He smiled and turned toward her on the couch.

  “I have to get a hotel room.”

  Her eyes grew large briefly before she stammered, “Oh.”

  He smiled mischievously and asked, “Gotten used to

  sleeping with me, have you?”

  An adorable blush crossed her skin. His eyes lingered on

  her mouth as she struggled for some kind of response.

  He leaned close to her tempting full lips. “I’d love to

  stay in your bed, in your arms. Tell me, Tempest. Do I go,” he

  paused and touched her lips with his, “or stay?”

  “Stay,” she breathed. “Stay with me, James.”

  He kissed her and pulled her onto his lap, her khaki

  shorts riding high on her legs as she straddled him.

  “Why do you always call me James? Everyone else calls

  me Maverick.”

  “Didn’t mind me saying it when you were deep inside

  me,” she whispered. “But if it truly bothers you, I can call you

  Maverick.”

  A grin crossed his face. He didn’t care. He was getting

  used to her calling him James. Hell, he was beginning to like it.

  And didn’t want her to stop. “Baby, You can call me whatever

  you like.” His mouth moved over hers in a passionate kiss.

  “Ewww! Gross! Get a room!”

  Tempest jumped back and Maverick’s fingers dug into

  the flesh of her ass, keeping her on his lap. He winked at her.

  “Hush,” Maverick ordered lightly, glancing around the

  woman in his lap to his son standing there. “Are you done

  cleaning up?”

  “Yes. I was going to see you two were ready for

  dessert.” Dakota crossed his arms. “I guess you are.”

  Tempest squirmed again and Maverick let her off his

  lap, but kept her beside him. “I’d say we’re ready.” His hand

  moved up and down her bared arm.

  His son stared at them for a moment before heading

  back into the kitchen. Shelia took a seat on the loveseat and

  smiled at them both. Maverick returned her smile. He really

  liked her. Shelia was an amazing woman. He would bet

  anything somewhere in her past was someone with special

  abilities. She had an aura about her like his grandfather had.

  Within moments, Dakota reentered the room holding a

  tray with cake slices and coffee. Soon the talk had fallen on

  Shelia and her plans after college, and then they played Trivial

  Pursuit. As he watched the trio of people with him, Maverick

  knew this was what he wanted. They were his family.

  It was well after midnight when they called it a night.

  The sting of tears hit him as Shelia hugged him, kissed his

  cheek, and called him “Dad.”

  I’m becoming a sap.

  “’Night, sweetheart. Drive safely and call when you get

  home.”

  “It’s late,” Shelia protested.

  “I don’t care. Call me when you’re safe at home. How

  long does it take for you to get there?”

  Maverick watched the slight smile turning up Tempest’s

  full lips.

  “Twenty minutes or so,” Shelia said with resignation.

  “Good. I’ll expect to hear from you then.” Touching her

  cheek, he said, “Call from your home phone. Not cell.”

  “Okay, Dad,” she returned softly.

  Maverick took Tempest’s hand as Dakota walked Shelia

  out to her car.

  “They are a great couple,” he told her as he kissed the

  hand he held.

  “I know. They’ll give me beautiful grandbabies.”

  “Us. They’ll give us beautiful grandbabies,” he

  corrected.

  Tempest squeezed his hand before heading to the table

  and began stacking their empty plates on the tray. He watched

  her move effortlessly before he joined her.

  Reaching for the full tray, he said, “I got it.”

  The smile he received melted his heart. He was so in

  love with her it scared him.

  Unable to find any words, he stood and carried the stuff

  to the kitchen. Tempest followed behind with the coffee pot.

  He could feel her eyes on him as he loaded the dishwasher.

  “Just planning on staring at me, mitawin? Or did you

  have something to say?”

  “Thank you.” Her whisper floated around him like a

  cloud.

  Closing the door of the machine, he looked at her. Her

  eyes were shiny with tears. He frowned and stepped toward

  her. “What’s wrong, baby?”

  Tempest held up a hand to stop him. “Nothing. I just

  want you to know how much having you with me has helped.”

  Tempest licked her lips and wiped her palms on her shorts.

  “Part of me did want to step off that cliff. I just wanted

  something. Needed something.” She moved toward him. “You,

  James. You were what I needed.”

  Maverick pulled her into his arms and she never

  hesitated. She sighed as his strong arms closed around her.

  “Thank you for not letting me fall,” she mumbled into

  the fabric of his shirt.

  “I will always be there for you, Tempest, if you’ll let

  me,” he said in a sincere voice.

  “I just wanted you to know how much what you did

  means to me.” She held him as tight as she could.

  “Baby. I’m so sorry I put you through all that.”

  “Hush. Stop apologizing. It’s over. I just wanted you to

  know, how much it meant to me having you here with me.”

  His heart constricted at her
words. Tell her, his mind

  screamed. Tell her you love her.

  He opened his mouth, but the words didn’t come.

  Instead, he closed his eyes and tightened his hold on her. His

  nose buried into the thick strands of her hair.

  They stood in silence until Dakota stuck his head in and

  shook his head with a slight smile. “I’m going to bed.”

  “Night, Dak,” Tempest said, turning her head toward

  her son.

  “Night, Mom.” He walked over and kissed her cheek.

  “I’m glad you’re back home.”

  Without leaving his embrace, she touched her son’s

  cheek. “Me too.”

  Maverick watched as eyes identical to his glanced at

  him.

  “Goodnight, Dad.”

  “Night, Son.” He laid a hand on Dakota’s arm and

  squeezed.

  Dakota trotted out of the kitchen, yelling, “Don’t do

  anything I wouldn’t do!”

  Tempest buried her head deep in Maverick’s chest and

  moaned. He could only laugh and then he kissed her.

  “I’m gonna kill him,” she groaned.

  “Well, I think we have a pretty open book on what we

  can do tonight.”

  She smacked him. “Shut up. I don’t want to think of my

  son having sex.”

  He laughed again. “Where do you think you’re going to

  get grandbabies from?”

  Pulling back, she stuck her lower lip out at him. “Is it too

  much to pray for a stork?”

  He scooped her up in his arms. This was where she

  belonged. In his embrace. Spinning her around, he said, “No

  storks for you.”

  “Damn. I was hoping to keep him a virgin forever.”

  His phone vibrated. “Hang on, baby.” Once her arms

  tightened around him, he used on hand to answer. “Maverick,”

  he answered.

  It was Shelia calling as ordered. He said goodnight to

  her again and clipped his phone back on his pants. With a

  quick move, he tossed Tempest over his shoulder and smacked

  her on the ass. He kept her there as he locked up her home,

  despite her struggles. Entering her room, he shut the door and

  set her on the floor.

  “You are an amazing woman, Ms. Burnell.”

  She winked and pulled off her shirt. “You’re not so bad

  yourself, Mr. Lonetree.”

  His cock pulsed in his pants. The white of her bra was

  vivid against her beautiful skin. He arched a brow and prowled

  closer. His hands ached to touch her. He wanted to lose

  himself in her body. Longed to make love to her in her own

  bed.

  I want her for the rest of my life.

  Her dapple-brown gaze was filled with mischief as she

  undid the button on her short shorts. He growled low in his

  throat an immediately closed the remaining distance between

  them.

  “Temptress.” He hauled her up against him. I have plans

  for this woman. “My sexy little temptress.”

  The buzz awoke Tempest. She cracked open her eyes in

  time to see the man in her bed reach for his cell phone.

  “Maverick,” he said in a low whisper.

  She snuggled deeper into her mattress. They’d been

  asleep for barely an hour. Maverick had made slow tender love

  to her until both were exhausted.

  “Really?” he asked. “Okay. I’ll be leaving now. I’ll get

  the next transport and meet you there.” He paused. “Yes, I’m

  with her. She’s sleeping.” He grumbled. “No, I’m not letting

  you talk to her. I’ll call for a ride. Goodbye.”

  Tempest rolled toward him and scraped her nails down

  his muscled chest. His skin was smooth, hairless, and warm.

  One of his hands covered hers as he placed another call. He

  brought her hand to his lips and pressed a kiss on it. His voice

  smoothed across her naked skin as he spoke to someone on the

  other end. She knew he was leaving. That was what a call at

  four in the morning meant.

  She slipped beneath the covers and took his cock in her

  mouth. A chuckle escaped her as he gasped and hung up

  within seconds.

  “I have to go, Tempest,” he ground out.

  “I don’t want to keep you; should I stop?”

  His hands delved into her hair, holding her in place.

  “Hell no!”

  She took him in her mouth and didn’t stop until he

  tossed off the covers and lifted her up only to bring her down

  on his wet and ready erection. It didn’t take long before she

  was screaming her release into his mouth. He shuddered

  beneath her, thrust up two more times, and exploded within

  her.

  Her heart pounded as he rolled them over so she was on

  the bottom.

  “I have to go, mitawin.”

  He pulled out of her but she kept her legs tight around

  him. She didn’t want to be sad, but it was hard. “What does

  that mean?”

  He kissed her nose, got out of bed, and tuned on a light.

  “It is a word I will never call anyone else. I have to get ready. A

  car will be here soon to get me.”

  “I could drop you off.”

  “No, it’s fine. But thank you. I’m going to use your

  shower real quick, okay?”

  Tempest nodded. Why didn’t he want her to take him?

  Sitting up more, she wondered what to do. She climbed out of

  bed and tugged on some sweats and a heavy tee shirt. She had

  the outside light on and a cup of coffee for him when he

  emerged from the bedroom, bag in hand.

  “Here,” she said, handing him the mug.

  “Thank you.” He took a drink.

  Words were clogged in her throat. She didn’t want him

  to go. As if he understood, he dropped his bag, set the cup

  down on the table, and gathered her close to him.

  “I’ll miss you, icamna sapa.”

  What was she to say? She didn’t know the appropriate

  words at a time like this.

  Headlights flashed in her living room as a car turned

  into her driveway. Maverick had returned his rental before

  dinner so there wasn’t even that reason for him to come back.

  “Ride’s here.”

  She walked from his arms to the door and opened it. A

  very attractive blonde woman in a uniform greeted her.

  Tempest ran her hand through her bed hair. She felt dowdy

  next to the sharp-eyed woman before her.

  “I’m here to pick up Lieutenant Lonetree,” she said.

  “I’m ready, Petty Officer. I’ll be right out.” He pressed

  up against Tempest and his clean, masculine scent swarmed

  her.

  Tempest crossed her arms and turned sideways so he

  could pass. He stopped in front of her. The pretty blonde came

  for the bag and she disappeared again, leaving Tempest alone

  with Maverick.

  He stared down at her, his expression muted by the

  partial lighting. “Until next time, mitawin. I’ll see you soon.”

  Blinking back tears, she said, “Goodbye, James.”

  “Not goodbye. I will come back to you. I will always

  come back to you.”

  She swallowed her tears. “Goodbye, James.”

  He frowned at her. “I’ll be back, Tempest.”
>
  “You should get going.” Her voice was gruff and she

  knew he could hear her tears.

  His kiss was gentle, yet extremely thorough. “Don’t

  forget me, mitawin.”

  He walked toward the car with the waiting blonde and

  climbed in. Tempest couldn’t see his eyes, but she felt them on

  her. They were intimate and searching.

  As the car backed out of her driveway, she closed the

  door, not wanting to see him go. She headed back to bed,

  shutting off lights on her way.

  “James,” she whispered once more as she climbed into

  bed, her nose burying into the pillow he used. Tears fell as she

  returned to the world of Morpheus.

  Twenty-Four

  The days flew by. B’s Quarry being so extremely busy

  helped keep Tempest’s mind off Maverick. Funny, she thought,

  I think of him as Maverick but call him James. Either way, helped

  was the operative word. It was hard not to think of him.

  As she wiped down the top of her bar, the door opened

  a lone, beautiful woman with long blonde-brown hair and a

  black bag slung over her shoulder entered. Golden skin was

  obvious by her tan shorts and white tee shirt. She moved with

  an elegance that made Tempest stop and take a second look.

  Wow!

  Tempest noticed the men in the bar watching her as

  well. I hope trouble doesn’t start because of her. It wouldn’t be the

  first time a fight had started over a woman in her bar.

  The woman came straight up to the bar and slid onto the

  last vacant stool.

  Tempest moved toward her. “What can I get you?” she

  asked.

  “Cuervo Black and Coke, please.” She had an accent

  Tempest couldn’t place.

  “Comin’ right up.” Tempest placed the drink down

  before her. “Here you go.”

  “Thank you.” She slid some money across the table.

  Tempest smiled and quickly made change. “Enjoy.”

  As she moved away, the woman said, “Are you

  Tempest?”

  She turned back slowly. “Yes. Do I know you?”

  The blonde smiled over the rim of her glass. “No. I’m a

  friend of Maverick’s.”

  Tempest’s heart sank. Do I have to go through this again?

  “And?” she questioned, not censoring the bite in her tone.

  The woman chuckled. “Oh, sorry. I didn’t mean for it to

  sound like that. I’m married to Hondo. My name’s Xaria.”

  Tempest smiled as she recalled the sole black man of the

  group of men that had come to see Maverick, and, apparently,

  her and her son.