Defended & Desired

by Kristi Avalon

  With a disgusted huff, Trey shook his head. “What an idiot. He had a serious mental defect. Any guy who could walk away from you doesn’t deserve you.”

  She leaned her head on his broad shoulder, and he rested his cheek against her hair.

  “For the record,” he stated, “I’m not an idiot. I know a good thing when I’ve found it.”

  I won’t walk away from you. The suggestion underlying his words sent a flutter through her chest. A warm glow spread from her head to her toes. She snuggled closer to him, wishing they were alone so they could physically explore their raw, heartfelt moment.

  Why did Trey have to be so perfect? She believed she’d found the real thing, the right man, just when she was about to leave. Then again, she never would’ve pursued their attraction if she had known from the start she might fall for him. Life was either wretchedly unfair or had tricked her into her present situation. She wasn’t sure which was worse—or better. Nothing made sense except being here in his arms. She tried hard to trust that things would work themselves out. She also wanted to hate this sense of limbo and uncertainty. Yet if indecision bought her more time with him, she’d pay that price. He was the best thing that had happened to her years.

  The band finished the last song of their set, and he glanced at her with anticipation glinting in his eyes. “Want to head back to my place and see Peanut?”

  She leaped to her feet. “Yes!”

  He chuckled. “I figured.”

  They packed up their picnic, left the park, and drove in the direction of his house. Her usual concerns about going to a guy’s place and spending the night rattled around in her brain. She’d made a long-standing habit of bringing lovers to her house. That way she’d never know too much about their lives or the intimate details of their surroundings. That made her temporary romances easier to discard. In her own home, she felt confident and in control. She could kick the guy out whenever she wanted.

  Going home with Trey flew in the face of her usual self-preservation. But this was Trey, and she trusted him. She wanted to see his home and all the nuances and aspects of him, the things that surrounded him, that meant something to him. In a way, she wanted to become a part of him. She wanted to be a piece that fit into the secure puzzle of his life. Even if that made her insecure, off-kilter, and not in control.

  “I adore you,” she said, leaning across the car’s arm rest to kiss his cheek.

  Smiling, he gave a quiet nod. “Same.”

  The three-quarter moon shone brightly, erasing the stars within the wide circumference of its glow. The ethereal effect cast the woods, fields and houses they passed in a muted blue-gray hush with random pops of glitter.

  Trey downshifted and slowed his car, taking a left into a gravel driveway.

  When they’d briefly discussed his architecture plans in passing, she’d pictured a squat little ranch in need of massive updates. The layout that sprawled before her dwarfed her two story townhouse by at least a thousand square feet.

  Lifting up on the leather seat, she glimpsed through a monstrous window straight from the front of the home to the back, where the Denver skyline twinkled in the distant valley. Considering the massive scale of the addition he’d described, the house would top out at five or six thousand square feet.

  The man didn’t dream small. She grinned, picturing the barn with stables he’d envisioned in the sprawling field to the left of the house. The right portion of the property harbored dense woods as far as she could see, with no glimmer of a neighbor’s lights in view. He’d chosen well, she thought, thoroughly amazed by her first impression of the estate. Once he placed his personal signature on the expanse, it would certainly be considered an estate.

  “I’m sure Peanut will be thrilled you’re here,” he said, leading her to his front porch where he’d left the lights on in their antique carriage house sconces.

  She looked forward to seeing her baby, running her fingers through his soft fur. Trey unlocked and opened his front door. She heard the sweet scrape of Peanut’s claws as he scampered across the tile toward her.

  “Peanut!” She lowered to her knees and hugged his furry little body. He licked her face and yipped with enthusiasm.

  When Trey closed the door, Peanut wriggled in her grasp then abandoned her to greet his new best friend. Trey bent and patted Peanut’s head. “Hey, big guy. I brought your mama to see you.”

  Peanut pawed Trey’s shins, wanting more affection. Totally ignoring her. Feeling replaced, she shot Trey a dirty look. “I guess you two have gotten along just fine without me.”

  He scratched behind Peanut’s ears and shrugged. “I fed him every night and we watched TV reruns of Walker Texas Ranger. I guess he goes for kibbles and cowboys.”

  “Humph.” She crossed her arms and stood. She eyed Peanut who practically had a conniption trying to get Trey’s attention. “You little traitor,” she muttered.

  “Peanut’s still your baby,” Trey assured. “I’m just the new alpha male in the pack. Once he gets used to me being around you, and we’re together in this house, he’ll be all yours again.”

  Her spine snapped straight. He’d made a rather bold string of assumptions without batting an eye.

  To her surprise, instead of getting defensive, she relaxed. This definitely didn’t bode well for her heart. Even more surprising, that didn’t bother her or send her running for cover behind her prickly defenses. He’d gotten to her. And she wasn’t getting away. A thrill chased through her.

  “Do I get the tour?” she asked, glancing at the shadowy surroundings.

  “Later.” He pulled her into his arms. The stiffness in his pants pressed against her hip like a hot brand. “Right now, you’re mine. I want you naked in my bed.” His mouth claimed hers and he lifted her off her feet, carrying her to his bedroom.

  The room’s scent reminded her of the lavender and thyme incense from the yoga studio, with an added earthy undertone that made her think of rain dripping from leaves in a forest. He took her to the mattress, his hands clutching her against him as if he couldn’t bring her close enough.

  “I want you,” she whispered.

  Lowering her onto his mattress, he spread her on moss-green silk sheets then scraped his polo shirt from his back up over his head. His gorgeous torso glistened in the moonlight slanting in silver shafts through the skylights above. He came over her then, stripping her clothes as he kissed each body part he revealed. Taking hold of her waist, he lifted her with ease, positioning her where he wanted her. As if he’d pictured this moment a hundred times. She felt so desired, so treasured in this moment.

  The infatuation was mutual. She scraped her nails across his shoulders, urging him closer. He kissed her deeply, as though trying to draw forth the part of her soul she’d never shown anyone. His breath came in hot bursts against her lips. She unfastened his pants while he slid two fingers into her channel. His thumb circled her clit and she shuddered with a sigh of pleasure.

  “Please. I need you inside me.”

  Kicking off his pants and boxers, he slid inside her and hugged her tight against his body. She sighed as their hands clasped together. All thoughts drifted into the heated atmosphere surrounding them.

  Tonight, his lovemaking intensified. He lifted her easily from her back to her stomach, and continued his deep, insatiable drives. Then he moved them off the bed to take her against the wall. His mouth never left hers.

  Her shoulder blades were slightly chafed when he decided to take her back to his bed. He fit perfectly between her thighs, in every position, and she couldn’t get enough of him. “God, you’re amazing,” she breathed.

  He grabbed her wrists and slid them up over her head, clenching tight as he pumped into her with territorial force. “I wanted you in my bed the day I met you.”

  Swirls of excitement echoed through her. “I didn’t know until last week.”

  “You’ve haunted my dreams. You never left me alone. That’s why I had to pursue you.” He sent himself i
nto her with renewed vigor. “I need you.”

  As he thrust into her, she understood his admission. “I need you, too.”

  She wrapped her legs around his waist, tossed her head back against his pillows, and let her orgasm rip through her in clenching waves.

  “Yes!” she screamed.

  “Fuck, yeah.” He growled low and sent himself deep inside her. He gripped her hands with punishing force then came with uncontrolled shudders.

  Eventually, he released the tension in his muscular form. She welcomed his weight, wrapping her arms around his shoulders.

  He shifted to lean on his side, pulling her against his chest. “You’re amazing,” he said. “Thanks for spending the night with me.”

  I think I love you. The words were there, but her lips refused to say them.

  “You have no idea what you mean to me.” His whisper stirred the hair behind her ear.

  Fortunately, it was his pillow and not his arm that absorbed a rogue tear that fell from her lashes. This wasn’t all he wanted, but it was all she could hope for. Because he wanted children and she couldn’t have them, and these beautiful moments needed to last her long into the future, a time when eventually the thought of him made her smile instead of filling her with barren regret.

  She nuzzled against his chest. “Thank you,” she whispered, for everything he was, everything he could be, but all the things she’d never know.

  His hold tightened around her. “Whatever you need, I’m here.”

  Another tear almost dropped, but she clenched her eyes tight and refused to show her vulnerability. She wanted one perfect night. And he was giving that to her.

  Whatever happened from this point on, she could live with it. Even losing him. But tonight, she had these moments to cherish. Her heart expanded with love she couldn’t share but recognized as whole and true.

  Soon, she’d tell him she wasn’t as perfect as he thought. That she was flawed and damaged, and she couldn’t give him what he wanted in his future.

  But now, lying in the moonlight, he was hers. And she was his.

  Completely.

  Chapter 9

  “Is this it?”

  Trey glanced up as his brother waltzed into his office. “Is what it?” he questioned.

  “Devon,” he replied. “She’s it. Love, marriage, babies. She’s the one.”

  Grinning, Trey didn’t bother hiding his emotions or the truth from his brother. “Yeah, she’s it.”

  Cade collapsed into the leather chair across from Trey’s desk. “God, it’s about time.”

  Trey arched an eyebrow. “Why’s that?”

  Uncrossing his arms, Cade sat forward. “Do you know how long we’ve waited for you to get over Jenna and find a girl who deserves you?”

  “You…and who else?” he asked, disbelieving his cousins had any investment in his love life. They couldn’t even handle their own.

  “Me, Adam and Liam. You had us worried. You’re the family guy, Trey. The one who’s supposed to find the girl, get married, pop out kids. Carry on the family bloodline and legacy.” His brother grinned. “That frees us up to stay bachelors for as long as we want.”

  “Glad I could take one for the team,” Trey said dryly.

  “Dad always knew you’d find the right woman and give him the grandkids he always wanted.”

  Trey sobered. “You and I made some big promises at his deathbed.”

  Nodding, Cade glanced at the floor, his forehead tightening. “Do you think he heard us, even in a coma?”

  “I believe he did.” Trey stared down at his tightly folded hands. “After I vowed I’d get the family out of the business and give his grandchildren a safer future and you vowed to find the people who did this to him, he slipped away five minutes later.”

  “With a son on either side of him, holding his hand,” Cade murmured, his eyes misting.

  Cade blamed himself for their dad’s death. That fateful night, while he had dealt with Jenna’s overdose, Cade had declined to go with Dad on the bounty run that ultimately got him killed. Cade was also the one who had identified Dad’s bloody body for the police. While they both carried the burden of regret, he suspected Cade had internalized the blame and let it haunt him. Years later, that ghost still clung to him. A continuous dark presence beneath the surface of his easy grin and smooth debonair persona.

  Pinching the bridge of his nose, Cade blinked and shook his head slightly. “You know the girl I told you about, Kylie Cross?”

  “Was she the law student you met with a month ago?”

  Cade nodded. “I guess there’s a final argument she has to give in front of a panel of lawyers. She’d been looking into the case Dad was supposed to testify at, something about the Fourth Amendment. Well, she thinks she found a new angle that might break the old case wide open.”

  Trey rubbed his chin. “I remember you talking about new information, stuff that never made it to trial.”

  “Kylie and I got off to rocky start. I didn’t want someone prying into Dad’s life, like it might disturb the dust finally settling on his memory, you know? But she re-interviewed a witness who was dismissed by the defense, and she thinks there’s more to the story and Dad’s death.”

  Trey sat forward. “That’s incredible. Is she still in Vegas?”

  “For now. I’ve asked Kylie to come out here, told her I’d pay for all her expenses, but she keeps avoiding me. Now she corresponds through email only. After I bit her head off the first time we met, I can’t blame her, but I’m anxious to find out the details.” A tortured expression twisted Cade’s features. “Since you’re following through on your promise to Dad, making plans for the future with Devon, I want to find some closure for him, too.”

  Trey felt protective of his younger brother, distressed that Cade still carried that burden of guilt. “What happened to Dad isn’t your fault. I think we’ve both made him proud.”

  “You especially, when you bought Logan’s company and moved us into the corporate world. Devon’s like icing on the cake. I wouldn’t have pictured you and her as a couple, but seeing you together, you make perfect sense. It works.”

  “It better,” Trey murmured. “I don’t have any second choice or alternative options when it comes to her.”

  Cade crossed his ankle over his knee and nodded. “It’s great to see you with a woman who makes you happy. Should I plan the bachelor party and order a tux for the wedding?”

  “Not yet.” Trey wasn’t totally confident that if he popped the question, Devon would say yes. She might, but “might” was a far cry from diving into the rest of their lives together. They had both made that mistake once, but this time he knew he’d found the one. “We’re working on it.”

  Cade’s sly smile told Trey he’d already expected the inevitable. “So I shouldn’t walk up to Devon and say congratulations?”

  Trey’s eyes flew wide and he shot out of his chair. “Don’t you dare.”

  “Whoa, okay. Got it, she’s not there yet, but you are. I’m glad you’re there, bro. Will I be the godfather of your first kid?”

  Trey rolled his eyes. “Yeah, now for God’s sake, leave me alone so I can do actual work.”

  Cade grinned and left, shutting the door behind him.

  If Devon had been witness to this discussion, she might’ve run in the other direction. The Sorens were a rather proud, genetically territorial group.

  Still, he didn’t want his family hounding her about when they’d get married and start replenishing the gene pool. He trusted Cade to keep the news of their advancing relationship to himself, since his brother would never sabotage something this important for him, but clearly his cousins knew the score. It was only a matter of time before Adam opened his big mouth and put Devon in an awkward situation.

  Which meant, sooner rather than later, he needed to approach her with the option of making their relationship permanent. While that might shock her into a decision, maybe the two of them needed a boost of momentum. Something to p
ropel them forward with his intention to take her as his woman, his wife, and the mother of his children.

  Hopefully, she’d say yes.

  Because he couldn’t imagine his life without her.

  *

  When a knock sounded on her office door Friday morning, Devon knew it wasn’t Trey. He would’ve strolled in without the formality of knocking.

  “Yes?”

  The last person she expected to see was Adam. They’d never exchanged more than a few words, and they weren’t on the friendliest terms. “Can I have a few minutes?” he asked.

  Arching her eyebrows, she nodded, wary but curious. He wore his dark brooding personality like a shield that said get back. Before Trey, her own shield of sarcasm and calculated emotional distance had kept her heart safe. She wondered about the source of Adam’s conflict with the world and why he put up barriers, and if his trust or his heart had been as damaged as hers once was. Although she’d finally ventured beyond her barricades to meet Trey halfway, she recognized a kindred spirit. She’d never stopped to think about Adam in those terms. She suspected he had his reasons for his prickly characteristics, and her attitude toward him softened for the first time.

  Having never seen him out of his leather jacket, she noticed the sleeve of tattoos on his left arm. She gestured to the impressive artistry. “Nice tats.”

  He nodded. “Thanks. You got any ink?”

  “Nah.” She shrugged. “I never found anything so profound I wanted to imprint it on my body for life.”

  “Every mark I have tells part of my story.”

  She found his statement rather philosophical for a muscle-bound biker and decided to extend the olive branch. “Someday, over beers, I’d like to hear those stories.”

  Surprise registered on his face, though he nodded. “Sure.”