Running Target

by Kari Lemor

  “I like that answer. And I like you right here. The view is fantastic.”

  He wiggled his eyebrows and smirked then shifted their bodies slightly so she was sitting across his hips. His erection poked her butt and electricity coursed through her. Pushing backwards she might be able to slide—ooh, wait, hadn’t they just discussed this issue?

  “Damn, that protection thing is getting in the way.”

  “Hmm, yeah, there’s some in the drawer. I discovered it yesterday when Jonathan and I were napping.”

  Reaching out, trying not to dislodge her, he pulled open the drawer. His hand couldn’t quite reach inside. The other hand was doing things to her breast, causing her center to clench with anticipation.

  “I’ll get it.” She leaned over him and he nibbled on her nipple as she did. Holding in a moan, she grabbed a packet and sat back.

  “You are beautiful, Calico,” he said again. He made her believe it.

  “Flattery will get you everywhere,” she teased as she ran her hands over his chest.

  Returning the favor, he ran his hands up her torso, over her breasts, then back again to rest on her legs. Thrills rushed through her, longing, desire, passion all flared to life. How had she gone so long without this, without him? Jack.

  She needed to push their circumstances to the back of her mind, but the soft kisses she pressed to his bruised chest, was too much of a reminder. It tore at her heart to think of him lying under a pile of lumber, no one around to help. He could have been killed. Of course that was probably the point.

  “How painful is this?” Callie asked, tenderly touching the broken skin. “Don’t try and sugarcoat it.”

  “Not as painful as it’s getting with your cute little tush wiggling around where it is.”

  “You don’t like that?” she smirked, moving her hips in a circular motion. His hard member taunted her opening and she shivered.

  “I like it far too much.”

  Kissing her way down his chest, she finally reached his straining erection. “I can fix this, you know.”

  “Oh, God, please do.”

  She loved seeing him so enraptured. Sliding her lips around his engorged arousal elicited a groan from him. Ripping open the packet she’d taken, she sheathed him then hovered over to kiss his lips.

  He grasped her hips, positioning her right where they both wanted her to be. “I want to see your face when you slide onto me. Your expression alone could get me off. You have the most animated face when we make love. Pure poetry.”

  Pursing her lips and wrinkling her nose, she lowered herself on him. He laughed at her antics but couldn’t hide the groan as she rotated her hips from side to side, then back to front. The sensations were spiraling inside, growing bigger, higher, hotter.

  “You’re killing me, Callie.” Pushing himself to sitting, he pulled her in close, and settled his lips on her neck, finding her sensitive spot and nipping with his teeth. He always knew exactly what would set her off. Her pulse skyrocketed, heat building inside her. She clenched around him and he shivered with pleasure.

  His teeth continued tormenting her as her hips beat out a rhythm and fireworks exploded all around. Capturing her scream with his mouth, he pushed her on her back. He thrust his tongue inside her mouth in the same motion as his arousal. In, out, faster, harder, and soon his muscles tightened and he stilled over her.

  His arms shook, straining, but he held himself above her, always the considerate lover. She pulled on his shoulders, wanting the feel of him strong and solid against her.

  “I won’t break, Jack. I’m stronger than you think.”

  He rolled them onto their sides, compromising. “I know you are. I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone stronger. You put me to shame.”

  After he disposed of the condom, Callie pulled the covers up over them, the early morning chill still in the room. “No,” she shook her head, “you’ve got strength I could never even dream of. Living the way you have for almost three years, I could never do that. I would have gone crazy long before now and given up.”

  “No, you wouldn’t have. And how do you know I haven’t gone crazy? Last night I wasn’t exactly in my right mind.”

  “Sure, you were,” she corrected him. She couldn’t let him dwell on last night’s emotions. “You had enough sense to make love to me.”

  “I’m not sure it was sensible but it sure felt right.” He kissed her nose then her forehead.

  Snuggling into his chest, she felt content for the first time in a long time. It wouldn’t last. Not as long as Victor was free, but she’d been without companionship of this kind for far too long. She was being selfish. I don’t care. I’ll take what I can get for now.

  Jack stroked up and down her spine, tingles erupting wherever he touched. It was early and she should be tired as they’d spent part of the night passionately exploring each other. But when she’d slept, it had been sound. His presence allowed her to feel safe and cared for regardless of the fact his lifestyle and circumstances were anything but safe.

  Caressing his chest, desire stirred once more inside. She couldn’t possibly want him again. It was too soon. Moving her hand lower, she found him hard and aroused too.

  “Ready for another go, Calico?” he drawled, his mouth near her ear. “Maybe I’ve created a monster.”

  Rolling on top of her, he crushed his mouth to hers. “I won’t complain though.”

  She lifted her legs and wrapped them around his waist. The cry from the hallway made her freeze.

  “Mama, daddy?”

  “Jonathan,” they both said, and sprinted apart. Jack slid out of bed, pressing her back down. “I’ll get him. You might want to do up a few buttons.”

  His face grimacing in pain, he slipped on his boxers then opened the door. She rushed to button his shirt she wore. Seconds later he reappeared with their son, a smile lighting the boy’s face as he stared at his father. After a quick trip to the bathroom, they jumped back in bed.

  “Good morning, Mommy.” Jack leaned over kissing her.

  Jonathan wiggled out of his arms and kissed her too. “Mornin’, Mama.”

  “Good morning, sweetheart. Did you sleep well?”

  “Yup. Daddy here.” His eyes stayed glued to Jack.

  “I see him. I told you he’d be here for a little while.”

  Jonathan leaned against his father and held up the book he’d brought in. Her son never missed an opportunity to be read to.

  “Daddy, wead?”

  Callie pushed away the jealousy niggling inside that Jonathan wanted Jack to read to him and not her. But this was something the child didn’t have every day.

  “Mama Bear, Papa Bear, Baby Bear,” Jonathan called out, pointing to each of them sitting on the bed. The boy giggled and Callie laughed with him.

  Jack started reading the story and Callie listened along. Right now they were very much like the happy family in the fairy tale. But soon enough someone like Goldilocks would come along to mess things up and there was nothing she could do about it.

  Chapter 18

  “A little more to the left. Yes, right there.”

  Jack tilted the evergreen tree to the left, hoping it was finally in the correct spot. “Is this straight?”

  “Perfect,” Callie said. “Now hold it still while I tighten the stand.”

  He gritted his teeth at the ache in his ribs. But he’d be damned if he’d appear too weak to hold up a friggin’ Christmas tree. This afternoon when they’d cut it down had been bad enough. Callie and Heather hadn’t said a word, but he’d felt ridiculous and emasculated that he needed help cutting and dragging the tree back to the stand where they paid.

  The bright spot had been Jonathan. The boy couldn’t hide how excited he was to have his father with him. His incessant chatter with the tree guy was all about his dad and how he’d cut the tree. The
tree guy didn’t need to know the women had helped. Hopefully way up here in Vermont no one knew who they were so being called Jonathan’s dad wouldn’t cause a problem.

  “There, all tight. Let it go. Hopefully it won’t fall.”

  Crossing his arms over his chest, he checked out the tree. “If it does, it’s not my fault. My job was to hold it in place.”

  “Oh, you.” Callie playfully slapped at his arm then snuggled into it. He pulled her in with his other and held her tight. This is where he wanted her every second. She lifted her face as if asking for a kiss. A request he’d never refuse.

  The kiss was light and playful. He couldn’t do much more in front of Heather and Jonathan. That could wait for tonight. When they were in his bed. They’d shared his bed for the last two nights and she gave no indication she wouldn’t join him again. She and Jonathan were here for five more days before they went back to Connecticut. Five days of bliss, and pretense that his life was normal. If it was all he’d ever get, he’d take it.

  Heather snapped a few pictures of the tree and them in front of it. She’d been clicking away on her phone the last few days and sending them to him. He appreciated she was helping him store memories.

  “Build no-man, Mama?”

  Callie looked down at their son’s hopeful face. “I have to help Auntie Heather put lights and decorations on the tree first.”

  “I’ll take him out. You ladies can do all the frou frou stuff to the tree. We men will go out and build a man made of snow and maybe gather some sticks for the fire.” He pounded his fist against his chest and grunted. Jonathan mimicked him.

  Chuckling, Callie shook her head. “Do you need help getting him in his snow gear?”

  “I may not have been around much, but I think I can manage putting one little boy into snow pants and a coat.”

  Helping a small child into snow gear wasn’t as simple as he first thought. There was an order to follow that he hadn’t gotten the memo on. Snow pants did not slip easily over boots, and mittens were best put on before the coat so they stayed neatly tucked inside. He shrugged on his own warm sweater, coat and the hat and gloves Heather had picked up for him at the store yesterday.

  “Before we start the snowman, let’s pick up some of the fallen sticks and place them by the chalet door, pal. This way we’ll have them nearby when we’re cold and it’s time to go in.”

  “I not told, daddy.”

  “You aren’t cold now but later you might be. I know I will be since I don’t have the same warm coat and pants you do.”

  They wandered around picking up sticks tossed there from the strong winds that had blown last night. The sound had been eerie and Callie had subconsciously snuggled closer to him in her sleep. He hoped the wind would continue each night they were here.

  “Great job, pal. I think we have enough. Let’s get to making this snowman.”

  Jonathan nodded and they spent the next half hour rolling and patting snow into place. They kept it small as Jack wanted Jonathan to be able to put some of the face details in place himself. He hated to admit picking his son up still hurt like a bastard.

  They’d just shoved the stick arms into the side of the snow figure when a plop landed on his head and ice slid into the neck of his coat. He turned. Callie stood there, an impish grin on her face and another snowball in her hand.

  “Why you—” Scooping up some snow, he ignored the twinge in his side and wrist, packed it tight and let it fly at her. She ducked behind a snow-covered rock then peeked out and threw the snow at him again.

  “Jonathan, I need help, pal. Your mom is beating up on me. Snowballs. I need some snowballs. Can you make some for me, quick?”

  Their son looked up and laughed as he and Callie exchanged projectiles. She was a damn fine pitcher.

  “Oh, sure, target a wounded man with a bum wrist.” His hand did hurt but he loved teasing her anyway. She stopped for a moment, her face filled with concern. Using that split second of indecision, he whipped another snowball in her direction, landing on her shoulder. The look she gave him shouted loud and clear: All. Bets. Are. Off.

  Jonathan mostly jumped up and down yelling, “Mama, daddy, no-ball.” He cheered each time one of them got a direct hit. It didn’t matter who. The fact he didn’t automatically cheer for Callie meant a lot to Jack. She’d been the boy’s only parent his whole life. His little skips in and out could hardly count.

  He bent down to scoop up more snow when several wads of slush hit his head. Callie had moved closer and held another few snowballs in her arms. Rushing at her, he tackled her around the middle, ignoring the pain in his side. She fell back and he landed on top of her, pushing some snow into her neck.

  “Ah, that’s cold,” she yelled. “Jonathan, I need help.”

  The child merely laughed as he cavorted, throwing snow into the air.

  “Sneaking up on me, huh? Hardly fair.”

  Her face softened as she stared at him, her eyes so expressive. He could see right into her soul but he hated what he saw. The feelings she had for him were close to the surface and there was fear behind them. Not of him, never of him. He’d never hurt her. He hoped she knew that. Never intentionally anyway, but she’d still be hurt when he had to leave and say good-bye to this idyllic scenario they’d been playing out the last few days.

  Kissing her nose, he rested his forehead against hers. “I’ll never stop trying to get back to you and Jonathan. I swear until my last breath, I’ll get you out of this situation with Victor.”

  Raising her mitten covered hand, she placed it on his hat. “No talking about Victor or leaving. Not this week. This time is for us, no one else. Promise.”

  “Promise.”

  He sealed it with a kiss. This one started out gentle but the need in him grew. She must have felt it because she wrapped her arms around him and held tight like she’d never let go. Not that he wanted her to. Grabbing her and Jonathan and getting away, that’s what he wanted. Far away where Victor couldn’t reach them. For now he’d simply kiss her.

  He couldn’t get enough of her mouth and plundered the recesses with his tongue. The little noises she made spurred him on. Damn, he wanted these clothes gone and her in a warmer place.

  “Mama dot a boo-boo?” Jonathan’s concerned face appeared next to Callie’s. Jack leaned back and pulled the boy into his lap.

  “No, I simply like kissing her because she’s so pretty.”

  “Mama pwetty.”

  Turning pink, she lifted herself from the snow. “You two.” She shook her head. “Why don’t we go in and have some hot cocoa? Auntie Heather and I got all the decorations up and we can plug in the lights and sit and watch them.”

  Callie had to take a few pictures of Jonathan with his snowman before he would go in but she’d made Jack be in a few also. As they stripped off their wet coats he saw her clicking away at the phone, her face tense.

  “What’s up?” He slipped his arm around her shoulder. She looked up, her expression almost guilty.

  “I sent one of the pictures to Victor. So he’ll know we’re fine and Jonathan’s enjoying himself. Hopefully that way he won’t bother us while we’re here.”

  “You didn’t send him one with me in it, did you?” he teased.

  Her head whipped back down to her phone as she checked. She let out a huge breath. He hugged her close.

  “I knew I hadn’t but then you got me nervous.” Her eyes flew up to his. “Oh, my God. What if he asks Jonathan about making the snowman? And Jonathan says he did it with his daddy? Jack?”

  Taking the phone from her hands, he set it on the end table then pushed her in the direction of the roaring fire. “I’ll be over with hot cocoa soon. Relax.”

  Heather had already heated the water so all it took was scooping the chocolate into cups. Adding extra milk to Jonathan’s to cool it quicker, he then settled on the floor, h
is back against the couch. First, he pulled Callie between his legs and she did the same with their son.

  As they sat and watched the fire, he calculated odds of getting close enough to Victor to actually kill him. Yes, it was murder and he might go to jail, or get killed himself, but it might be the only way to get the man out of their lives. The odds weren’t good. But maybe…his mind went back to information he’d gotten when he worked for the mob boss. The risk was worth it. Callie and Jonathan were worth it. He’d do anything for them.

  Finishing the drink, he set the cup aside and wrapped Callie in his arms. Nestling his nose in her curls, he inhaled her floral scent. Jonathan was practically asleep in her lap. She leaned against him and sighed. A contented sigh. That was the sound he wanted to hear always.

  Slipping his hand under her thick sweater, he caressed the skin on her stomach. She looked over her shoulder at him and frowned.

  “Jack? Our son is right here and Heather’s in the kitchen.”

  A tiny snore drifted from Jonathan’s mouth and Jack quirked an eyebrow. “I don’t think he’ll notice anything unless you start moaning loud like you sometimes do.”

  Her eyes narrowed. He let both hands roam now and cup her sweet curves. Her eyes drifted closed and her back arched slightly. When he nibbled on her neck, she trembled.

  “No fair.”

  “No one said life was fair, Calico. If it was, I’d be here with you and Jonathan all the time and not—” No talking about Victor she’d said. Remember that.

  Moving his hands again, he skimmed them over her soft skin. He’d love to slide them into her pants and drive her to the edge of insanity, but she wasn’t always quiet when he pushed her there so he’d wait. Tonight was soon enough. Once their son was in bed they’d be free to explore all they wanted. And he definitely wanted.

  As she stared into the fire, a tiny smile appeared on her face. What was she thinking? If he asked it would break the peace of the scene. For now, and the next few hours, he could sit and watch her and their son and imagine a life that was like this always.