by AliyahBurke
Derek couldn’t stop staring at her. He longed to hold her, kiss her, and tell her how much he loved her. Shoving a hand through his hair, he began down the stairs. Her eyes opened and focused on him, the warmth fading and leaving them cold and distant.
“Welcome home, Jace,” he said, ignoring the shaft of pain he got at her impersonal stare.
She kissed her son again and replied, “Thanks.” Pushing to her feet, she put Caleb on his. “Gonna help me carry this upstairs?”
“Yes.” Caleb grabbed the smaller bag and headed up to her room.
Derek’s fingers itched to touch her. She hefted a bag and walked to him. He held his ground, wanting, craving more interaction with her. She barely looked at him, brushing by and going up the stairs. He leaned on the rail and listened to Caleb’s excited chatter and Jacey’s husky alto.
How the hell did Caleb know she was home?
With a decision that really took no thought at all, Derek headed toward her room, stopping by Caleb’s first. Hanging over the knob on the post of his foot rail was an eight-corner hat. That’s how he knew. Derek inhaled sharply and went to Jacey’s door.
“Knock, knock,” he said, peering in. Caleb sat on the bed while she unpacked.
“Hi, Papa,” Caleb chirped.
“Did you still want to run today, Caleb, or visit with your mom before school?”
“Mama?”
She ruffled his hair. “Why don’t you go ahead and run? I’ll have some breakfast waiting for you when y’all get back.”
“Chocolate chip pancakes?”
“If we have the stuff to make them. Go on, go run.”
Caleb jumped off the bed and ran for the door only to spin around and run back to his mom. Derek watched in silence while Caleb pulled the Ankh off his neck and pressed it into Jacey’s hand.
“Your watch, Mama.”
A tender smile crossed her lips. “You got it, Marine. Thanks for keeping it safe.” She ran a hand down the side of his face. “Go on now.”
Derek stepped back after Caleb passed him, only to be drawn back in when she called his name.
“Derek.”
“Yes, Jace?” he asked, one hand on the doorframe as he leaned in.
“Thanks for keeping him safe.”
Again Derek found himself filled with the overwhelming urge to haul her up into his arms, to hell with the consequences. He didn’t, however. With a smile and nod, he went to his room and grabbed his shirt. Alone in the room, he rubbed his aching cock.
“Jace,” he whispered.
Dropping his hand, he prayed his erection would subside. Can’t imagine running with a hard-on will be very comfortable. Shirt on, Derek hurried down to find Caleb by the door tying his shoes, a big contented smile on his face.
“Ready, sport?” he asked, putting on his own shoes.
“Yes, Papa.”
Together they walked out the door, and they came back in that way after the run. Derek groaned at the smells which reached him. He could cook but he’d take Jacey’s any day of the week over his own. During breakfast, Derek listened to Caleb fill his mom in on everything that had happened while she’d been gone.
Derek stole frequent glances at Jacey, which wasn’t all that hard considering Caleb had all her attention. A tender smile turned up her lush lips but he could see the exhaustion in her eyes. With a sigh he finished off his last chocolate chip pancake and looked at the clock.
“Come on, sport. You need to brush your teeth so we can get you ready for school.” His heart faltered when Caleb glanced at his mom.
Jacey arched a brow at him. “Don’t look at me, Caleb. Listen to your father.”
“Sorry, Mama.” He got up and placed his dishes beside the sink. Then he left the room.
Jacey got up and began clearing the rest of the table. Derek took a deep breath and pushed to his feet.
“Jace?”
“What?”
“Did you want to take him to school?”
“Doesn’t he ride the bus?”
Placing more dishes by the sink, Derek shrugged. “Well, yeah. I wasn’t sure how you wanted to do it.”
“He can take the bus. I’ll pick him up in the afternoon.”
“Okay.”
Derek stood next to her while Caleb left on the bus. The moment it vanished from sight, Jacey headed back to the house. Derek watched her disappear inside. He felt like he floundered in unchartered waters. A blind man could tell she was still sore by his earlier stupidity. He paced outside for about three more minutes before a muttered curse left him. Jaw set, Derek headed straight up the stairs to Jacey’s room, pushing through the closed door.
His breath got sucked from his body at the sight of her side profile. She stood there barefoot, cammies, black bra, and in the process of reaching up to take her hair out of its bun.
“Jace,” he rasped.
Jacey turned her head to him and said, “Such a shame I didn’t have the door closed or anything like that.”
He held her stare and walked closer. Derek longed to gloat when he watched her nose flare and the pulse in her neck increase. You can’t hide how much you want me, princess. Her black eyes narrowed and she faced him completely.
“Don’t do this, Derek. I’m not in the mood.”
“Stop lying, princess. You’re as wet as I am hard.”
He ripped off his shirt and dropped it to the floor. Her nose flared again as she stared at him. Before her, Derek unpinned her hair, his touch gentle despite the raging river of need within him. He licked his lips when her luxurious hair tumbled around his hands and her shoulders. The pins scattered to the floor. Derek lay one hand along her face, his thumb stroking her high cheekbone. His cock jumped when her tongue snuck out and moistened her lips.
“Don’t, Derek,” she whispered. “I have to shower. I’m dirty.”
He unhooked her bra and slid one strap from her smooth brown shoulder. “Me, too. So, since we’re both dirty, who cares?” Derek lowered his mouth to hers and traced her lips. “We can fight later, Jacey. Let me love you for right now,” he murmured against her skin.
“Damn you, Derek,” she grumbled before her hands grabbed the back of his head and mashed their lips together.
Possessive need rocked him. Answering her growl with one of his own, he surged through her mouth, taking all she gave and demanding more. Before long both were naked on Jacey’s bed, Derek between her legs, thrusting his cock home deep into her wetness. They made love until exhaustion overtook them.
Derek woke, shrouded by contentment. A light blanket covered their naked bodies. Opening his eyes, he lowered them to where Jacey lay, her face pressed against his chest. Her thick hair spread about her. With two fingers, he lifted some and moved it so he could see her face. Her full lips slightly parted as she continued to sleep.
She never looked more beautiful to him then when she had her guard completely down. That wasn’t common for Jacey, so he took full advantage and memorized her in that state. He watched while she slept, rubbing some of her soft hair between his fingers.
How can I be a part of your life, Jace? I want more than a room down the hall. I want a ring on your finger and my last name after yours. I want you pregnant with a daughter who will be as beautiful, smart, and feisty as her mother.
He glanced at the watch on her wrist, but it was at an odd angle so Derek circled her wrist to adjust the view. Nice watch. He liked it. A few minutes before two. Reluctantly, Derek shook her lightly.
“Jace. Come on, Jace. Wake up.”
“Mmm,” she mumbled, burrowing closer.
He stiffened with each moment her lithe body rubbed along his. Grinding his jaw, Derek fought off the need to be buried deep within her again. He would never get enough of her.
“Jace. You need to get up. Caleb gets out of school soon.”
Her body become rigid before she climbed off him. “Shit,” she muttered looking at her watch. Running a hand down her face, she looked between him and her. “Shit,�
� she cursed again.
Derek watched her, making no move to get out of bed, nor to hide his arousal which had begun to tent the blanket. “Jace,” he began.
“No, Derek. I have to shower and go to my son.” Her gaze drifted to his erection.
He moved his hand under the blanket to her leg and stroked the firm muscle of her inner thigh while he tugged the covering from his stiff cock, exposing it to her lecherous gaze. “Our son, Jace. You have to go to our son.”
She tore her eyes from his throbbing shaft to his eyes. “Our son,” her whisper came.
Derek maneuvered his hand and thrust two fingers up into her tight slit. Her velvet heat clamping around his digits greedily.
“Ahhh!” she moaned, dropping her head back.
Fisting his cock, Derek stroked himself while pleasuring Jacey with two fingers. Her hips ground down and he scissored his fingers within her. Jacey lifted her head and stared at him, hunger blazing in the black orbs she had for eyes, before slowly moving to watch his slide his hand along the length of his rigid penis. She pulled on the blanket and threw it to the floor.
Derek watched the lust overflow her gaze. His fingers continued to drive home into her core. Her nipples were hard like nubs and he craved them in his mouth.
“Derek,” she whimpered, grinding on his hand, taking his digits as deep as possible.
“You want more, Jace, all you have to do is take it.” He tightened his grip on his cock, her cream dripping down his other hand.
“I need…” She rotated her hips.
“It’s right there,” he said in a graveled tone.
“For me?”
“Nobody but you, Jacey.”
Seconds later he groaned in pleasure as she straddled him and, after shoving his hand away, lowered her soaking pussy onto his cock.
“Ohh fuck,” he uttered after his entire length had been buried within her. “Ride me, Jace. Take what you need.” Derek sucked her essence from his fingers and stared at her through heavy-lidded eyes.
She shoved her hair back from her face. “Mine!” she growled possessively.
“Always,” he vowed as Jacey began riding him.
Derek couldn’t keep his eyes open as she brought him to an intense eruption deep within her womb, her muscles milking every drop they could from him. She collapsed on him, both bodies covered in sweat. Derek wrapped his arms around her while they floated down from another plane.
* * * *
Jacey sat on the picnic table and watched Caleb run around with TC. Savannah was at another friend’s house but since Susie and Bubba had an anniversary, she’d offered to keep TC for the night. Sitting there, her gaze drifted to where Derek was in the corral. The October sun shone down on his skin, deepening the tan he already sported. He worked at replacing some rails. Tipping her head, she cut her eyes back to the boys.
All too soon, however, it floated back to Derek Moser. He wore tight jeans and a medium blue shirt which hugged his torso and biceps. Moisture pooled between her legs when she remembered their exchange two days ago, when she’d returned from her last mission. Since then she’d kept their contact at a minimum. Almost like he knew she watched him, Derek looked at her. Heat spiraled through her when his incredible blue eyes moved up and down her body, as though peeling away her clothes. An arrogant smirk flitted across his masculine features before he turned back to the job at hand.
She could only think of one thing. Going over to him, stripping him down, and enjoying every inch of his hard body. Damn it all! I have to stop thinking like this.
“Mama?”
“Yes, Caleb?” She tore her gaze from Derek and stared at her son and TC, grateful for the interruption.
“Can we have a snack?”
“Hmmm.” She rubbed her chin. “Will y’all still eat your dinner?” Both boys nodded. “Alright. Let’s see what we can find.” Jacey stole one more glance at Derek before herding the boys inside.
Once dinner was over and the boys were tucked in bed, Jacey left the room and headed downstairs to clean up from having s’mores. She entered the kitchen and stopped at the sight of Derek washing dishes. The radio on low, filling the room with soft strands of country. The smile lifted her lips before she could stop it. She leaned against the doorframe and folded her arms.
“I would have done that.”
Derek glanced at her briefly over his shoulder. “I know, princess, but I don’t mind helping out.”
Jacey’s skin prickled at the use of his endearment. “Stop calling me that.”
He turned to her and dried his hands on the towel over his shoulder before tossing it down on the island before him. “Why? Why does it bother you so much, Jace, for me to call you princess?”
“It’s not my name.”
A sexual grin spread across his features and did nothing to calm her already frayed nerves. “I think it fits you.” He pushed away from the sink and stalked her. Stopping inches before her, Derek lowered his face so his mouth hovered over her ear. “I like you as my princess.”
She swallowed hard and walked to the fridge for the pitcher of iced tea. Jacey pulled down two glasses and filled them, adding ice and a lemon wedge for each. “I’m not your princess, Derek.”
His chuckle, dark and decadent, only heightened her awareness of just how potent Derek Harmon Moser truly was to her. She felt him pressing against her back, his erection stiff and unyielding.
“Care to test that theory, Jace?”
Her pussy creamed. His breath fanned her neck and she cursed herself even as she tilted her head, offering more to him. “Damn you,” she groaned, reaching back with one hand and sinking it into his hair.
“Why are you cursing me, princess? Still trying to convince yourself you aren’t mine?” He licked along her collarbone. “Let’s test your theory, princess. Spend the night with me. Let me kiss,” he kissed her skin, “every inch of your body. Allow me to touch and caress you,” his fingers teased the waistband of her pants and the skin beneath it, “and take you to a place we can only get to with one another.”
Her knees shook and she tightened her fingers in his hair. “Stop,” she begged squeezing her eyes shut.
Derek gripped her hips in his large hands and rocked his shaft against her. Slow, steady movements as if he were sliding deep within her core. “Is that what you truly want?”
No! “Yes,” she gasped.
Just like that, his arousing touch was gone. He also removed her hand from his hair. One strong arm reached around her for a glass of tea, then he stepped back. A low moan of frustration threatened to escape. Clamping it back, she turned in time to see him lower his powerful body onto a stool at the island. His face a mask of control.
Facing the cupboards, Jacey sighed and put the pitcher back. After which, she went to the other end of the island and looked at him. This had become their time, to unwind and figure out what was going to happen the next day in terms of Caleb. The air between them crackled with charged energy. Her own body felt like it burned on the inside and it pissed her off to no end to see Derek sitting there as if totally unaffected.
“Did you have plans for him tomorrow?” she asked, grateful her voice sounded normal. Relatively so.
“No, not really. Uncle Frank needs some help with the farming. So I’d planned on helping with the back sixty.”
She stared at the ice cubes in her glass. “Did you try the tractor in the back of the barn? If we could get it running y’all’d get done sooner.”
“There’s a tractor out there?”
Jacey laughed. “Yes. Hidden in the mess. Let’s go see. I just need to check on the boys.” She drained the rest of her tea and put the glass in the sink.
Derek drank some tea and snagged her around the waist when she walked by. “I’ll check on the boys, Jace. Meet you in the barn.” His fingers caressed her through her clothes and just like that her body temperature had shot through the roof.
“Okay,” she whispered, lost in the depths of his blue eyes. T
hey darkened and swirled with desire.
Derek released her and left the kitchen. Jacey swore and grabbed an ice cube from the freezer and held it to her neck to try and cool down. It didn’t work. Frustrated, she fixed herself some ice water to take.
Still extremely aroused, Jacey headed to the barn and moved through the part her father had converted to his shop. There. In the way back the other door she saw the heavy army green tarp covering a large object. Placing her water a way off, she reached for an edge of the tarp and began to pull. Dust billowed and she coughed as it fluttered around her. The moment the material sank to the floor, Jacey put her attention on opening the door. Throwing all her weight in on it, she managed to roll the door along its rusty track so the debris cloud could leave.
“Wow,” Derek said. “I think that’s been buried for a while.”
Jacey turned with the sound of his voice and froze at the sight of him striding towards her. He had a thick quilt over one shoulder and in each of his hands sat tucked the one of each young boy. Caleb and TC were with him dressed in their pajamas. She lifted a brow.
He shrugged. “They were still awake, talking when I checked on them. Didn’t want to leave them alone. So I brought a thick quilt they can rest on.”
“Okay,” she said.
Before long the boys sat on the quilt, whispering amongst themselves while she and Derek went over the tractor. Looking at the oil she currently drained, Jacey asked, “Do you see another filter up there for it?”
“I think so,” his muffled voice came back.
“Try the cabinet along the north wall. Papa used to keep all his extras in there.”
A few moments later, Derek’s face, streaked with dirt, popped up by hers. A teasing twinkle lingered in his eyes. “Couldn’t have said that before I searched where I did?”
“It just came to me?” She tried desperately not to laugh at the exasperation in his tone.
“I bet,” he quipped, tugging on some of her hair. With a wink he vanished.
A smile on her face, Jacey got back to work. She was dirty when she crawled out after grabbing the full oil pan. Setting it on a fifty-gallon drum, she reached for her water. Wiping her mouth with the back of her wrist, she took a long drink.