SomedayMyGoodOleBoyWillCome

by AliyahBurke

  “Can I go now?” she questioned in a resigned voice.

  “This isn’t talked about, Jace.”

  “What’s left to say, Derek? You damn near humiliated me tonight. What else?”

  “Jace, I’m sorry.” He walked toward her. “I’m sorry for what I said before you left. When your dad said what he did, I jumped to the wrong conclusion. I should have spoken to you instead of handling it how I did.”

  Derek closed in on her until she couldn’t go anywhere but down to the mattress. She sat down only to narrow her gaze when he dropped to his knees, putting them at eye level once again. Then he wedged between her legs, his hands settled on either side of her hips, touching the hem of her dress.

  “And tonight?”

  He shook his head. “I’m not sorry about tonight.” She opened her mouth and he covered it with two fingers. “I’m sorry if you felt humiliated, Jace, but I am in no way remorseful or guilt ridden for punching Meat. And I never will when it comes to another man touching you.”

  Jacey shoved his hand away from her mouth. “I don’t belong to you, Derek. And all I was doing was dancing.”

  His lapis gaze narrowed before he stood. “You think so? Let me ask you, Jace?” He drew her to her feet and grabbed her close like Meat had, grinding their pelvises together. Derek dragged the fingers of one hand down the bared skin of her chest, between her breasts and back across her belly to settle on her hip. She bent at the waist, her head and upper body bending back.

  Jacey gripped his forearms as their hips moved to their own beat. Her lids dropped closed as she enjoyed Derek’s touch. He placed a hand against her back and helped her rise slowly, his warm breath fanning along the hypersensitive skin of her chest, the hair on his head touching her lightly, adding more shivers. His exhalations skimmed along her chin and ear, drawing her eyes open. Derek’s mouth hovered so close to hers the heat from his lips singed her. Those molten eyes bore into hers.

  “Now, what if you were Shelby? Would this still be fine?”

  Her body stiffened as the splash of cold reality smacked her directly in the face. She knew Derek could read her reaction. Slowly, he stood them both upright, his hands keeping her close. He blinked once.

  “That’s how I felt when I saw Meat touching you,” he whispered.

  I don’t know what to do. Lord help me, I want him to be more to me than just a dream.

  “Talk to me, Jacey, please. Come away with me and let’s get this worked out.”

  “Just go?”

  “Yes. Just grab a bag and go.”

  “We can’t just leave, Derek.” Although, the idea had so much merit.

  “Why not?”

  “Umm…Caleb?”

  He moved his fingers on her back. “You know Uncle Frank and them will watch him.”

  He’s right. Why am I so hesitant? She swallowed back her hesitation and nodded. “Okay. I have to call Caleb though.”

  “I’ll talk to Uncle Frank.”

  She stepped from his embrace and went to her room. It didn’t take long for her to pack or place the call to her son. And before long they were driving toward Atlanta.

  “Where to?” she asked as she drove.

  “It doesn’t matter to me, Jace.”

  It was well after midnight when she pulled into a hotel parking lot. Derek reached for her hand and that was how they entered the lobby. She stood by quietly while Derek got a room for four days. With the key, Derek, guided her to the elevator where the ride up the sixth floor was done in silence. Once they were inside the room, her heart began beating all out of control again.

  “Come here, Jace,” he said, tugging lightly on her hand.

  Jacey sank into his strong embrace, closing her eyes and just allowing the feeling being in his arms brought her to flow over her. This…moments like this were what brought her world back to being centered. Inhaling deeply, Jacey felt her body relax as Derek’s masculine scent filled her pores.

  “Do you want to talk now, Jace, or sleep?”

  I don’t want to move. “Sleep,” she said.

  “Okay, Jace.” Not much later, Jacey burrowed against Derek’s warm body. His arms banded about her and his lips brushed her forehead. “I love you, Jace. I always have.”

  Those words escorted her to the land of Morpheus.

  She woke at five in the morning, instantly awake, and it took a moment for her to remember where she was. Derek’s arms were still around her, tightening when she shifted. Jacey wriggled free and headed to the bathroom. Staring at her reflection, she sighed. Her hair was loose around her face, the pink of her camisole pale against her skin. She ran a hand over her face, did what she needed, and stared again while she washed her hands.

  Jacey found the light on and Derek resting back against the headboard, hands behind his head. Her gaze lingered along his body, drifting over his bare feet, up his lounge pants, and over that mouthwatering torso he had.

  “Morning,” he said, pinning her with his gaze.

  “Hey.”

  “Ready to talk?”

  A wry smile crossed her face. “Direct approach, I see.”

  “I wasn’t kidding, Jace.”

  Padding to the foot of the bed, she sat down and crossed her legs. “I know. I just don’t really know where we need to begin.”

  “Did you know it wasn’t only your dad who knew?”

  She ran her tongue over her teeth. “Once I realized Daddy knew, I assumed Uncle Frank did. I’m so sorry, I swear, I would have told you. I should have told you when I found out it was you.”

  “No. Jace, don’t. You kept your word and it’s damn past the time we let our families pull the strings on our lives.”

  Jacey frowned. “What are you talking about?”

  “You didn’t know?”

  “Know what?” Derek’s expression told her he didn’t wish to expound on his knowledge with her. “Tell me.”

  “Your dad told me a major part of the reason y’all moved was to keep us apart.”

  Disbelief slammed into her, but the unflinching look on Derek’s face turned it into the pain of betrayal. Jacey had to swallow a few times before she could formulate a single word.

  “Why?”

  Tenderness filled his eyes. “He wanted to give you the chance to live, experience all you could. I didn’t tell you this to be mad at him, Jace. I want there to be no more secrets between us.”

  Jacey fell to her side on the mattress. “I don’t…I don’t know what to think anymore.” A litany of “what if’s” floated through her mind.

  Derek readjusted so he could see into her eyes. “Jacob did what he thought best.”

  “No. He assumed I couldn’t make a good decision on my own.”

  His tongue snuck out and licked his lips. “Do you remember the day we sat out under the sycamore? You had been crying because of something Neely said,” he spoke softly, trailing a finger down the side of her face.

  She did. “Yes. I didn’t think you’d remember that.”

  “I remember everything that happened between us, Jace. Why did you come to me instead of, say, Honey or your parents?”

  “You always made me feel safe.”

  “Made?”

  Jacey captured his hand and kissed his knuckles. “Do, Derek. And I know you always will.”

  “Jace,” he rasped, a flicker of emotional pain crossed his face.

  “Problem is, you scare me, Derek Harmon Moser. Out of everything in this world, you scare me.”

  “You scare me, too, Jace. And I never should have let you leave the way I did. I was mean because of how you made me feel.” His hand settled along her face, his fingers moving in idle circles.

  Jacey lost herself in his gaze. Time passed and they lay there staring into one another’s eyes. Her lids fluttered shut when his firm lips pressed against hers. He nibbled lightly before gently slipping his tongue into her mouth.

  Yes!

  She moaned and pressed her body closer to him, moving his hand from
her face down to settle on her hip. Derek growled in the back of his throat and drew her in closer, draping one leg over hers, anchoring them together. Her hands settled against the hard muscles of his chest. Moisture pooled when he tugged on her lower lip with his teeth. Jacey opened her eyes and found him staring at her.

  “Jace?”

  “Hmm?”

  “Let me take you on a date. Let me spoil you.”

  “All right,” she said with a smile.

  “Walk in the park. Romantic dinner. Dancing.”

  “I didn’t bring anything nice to wear, Derek.”

  “We can go shopping, Jace. Or we can wear shorts and tee shirts. I don’t care as long as we’re together.”

  I love you, Derek. The words were on the tip of her tongue to say and she couldn’t slide them out into the open. “So what now?”

  “We sleep in.” Derek turned off the light and drew her between his legs so she lay on his chest. “Rest, princess, rest.”

  Eyes closed, Derek holding her tightly, Jacey did just that.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  Derek watched Jacey while she slept. In his hand he held a pale blue jewelry box. He sighed and reached out to lift some of her hair, running it through his fingers. Jacey lay on her side wearing one of his shirts and nothing else. Her thick lashes rested against her skin. The room smelled of her apricot lotion and he shifted to relieve some of the pressure his erection was applying.

  With another deep breath, he rose to put the small box back into his bag.

  “Derek?” her soft voice stopped him one step from the bed.

  Turning back to her, he groaned at the wanton longing in her eyes. “Yes, princess?”

  “What are you doing up?” Her gaze flickered down to his hand and back up. “What’s going on?” She rose to a sitting position.

  Swallowing, Derek walked to her side and sat next to her. “I have something for you.” He shoved the box at her, suddenly completely unsure.

  Her fingers skimmed along the light velvet cover. Jacey met his eyes and he could easily read the question in the fathomless depths of hers. Brows furrowing, she crossed her legs and slowly lifted the lid. Derek held his breath.

  “Oh, Derek,” she said on a soft gasp, her eyes flew up to meet his. “This…this…”

  Jacey clamped her mouth shut and launched herself into him. Her arms slipped around his neck and she buried her face into his neck. What shocked him was the moisture he felt on his skin.

  Crying?

  Derek set her away from him and saw the hot, fat tears sliding down her dark skin. He frowned and brushed some away with his knuckles. “Jace, I’m so sorry. I…didn’t mean to make you cry.”

  “This is one of the best things I ever could have received, Derek. Thank you.” She laid her hand on his arm. “Will you put it on me?”

  “Of course.”

  Jacey handed him the box and moved to stand before the mirror. She held her hair out of the way and he could feel her holding her breath while he reached around and fastened the necklace.

  “There,” he said, kissing her neck when he finished.

  In the mirror he watched Jacey slowly take one trembling hand and bring it up to grasp the pendant. Her eyes closed simultaneously as her fingers did around the onyx spade. More tears had clouded her eyes when they opened again. Jacey stared at him in the mirror.

  “Where?” she asked.

  “I know you were devastated when you lost the first one. So I called Gavin and had him ask Sanura where y’all got them. I wish I could give you back the original. But it was made in the same place.”

  She spun to face him. “Derek, this is more than I could have asked for. And the fact you hunted down so much information to make it as close to the original means more than you’ll ever know.” Jacey placed a hand on either side of his face. “Thank you.” She kissed him. “Thank you.” Another gentle kiss. “Thank you.”

  This kiss was different. Her fingers wrapped in his hair and she tugged on it while her tongue asked his to dance. A quick smile pulled up on corner of his mouth before he answered her passion with a low growl of his own. Without preamble he lifted her and grunted his approval when her strong legs gripped his waist.

  Derek backed her into the wall beside the dresser and mirror. “Mine,” he rumbled before recovering her mouth hungrily.

  Her arms tightened around his neck. The intoxicating scent of her arousal increased his own. His cock hard and desperate to be cradled by her wet heat.

  “Jace,” he mumbled while his hands moved up under her only article of clothing.

  “Hmm?”

  “You need to tell me to stop, because I won’t otherwise.”

  “I can’t, Derek. I want you inside me. I need you inside me.”

  “Princess,” he uttered in a graveled tone, even as he used one hand to shove his pants to the floor, freeing his stiff erection. Derek gripped himself and placed the head of his cock at her moist entrance. One flex of his hips and he sank balls deep into her hot pussy. Into heaven.

  “Shit!” she hissed, biting down on his shoulder.

  Eyes squeezed shut, Derek struggled not to blow his load already. The way he held him made it a difficult job. “Jesus, princess. This…this...is where I belong.”

  He withdrew, clenching his jaw at the exquisite torture her tight muscles created. Back and forth, he stroked within her. A slow, thorough motion which soon had them both covered in a sheen of sweat. Derek had his hands on the wall, leaving her to hang one while he continued to thrust within her. Her heels dug into his flesh as did her nails.

  Each flex of his hips, each ripple of the tight walls of her slit, made him grunt. His balls tightened and he knew it was close. Searching for her mouth, Derek devoured her while he increased his speed.

  In and out.

  Harder and faster.

  Jacey clung to him, her hips undulating and keeping up with him. He could feel her body stiffen as her orgasm ripped through her, her velvet muscles clamped on him like a vice, and he lost it. A primitive roar welled up inside him as he powered unending into her core. Stars exploded behind his eyes when his cock jerked within her and he erupted, coating her womb.

  “Fuck me,” he swore.

  Jacey looked at him. Her lips were swollen from his kisses, her skin flushed by passion. She trailed her index finger down the bridge of his nose to sink between his lips. “More,” she whispered.

  Nipping her fingertip, Derek carried her to the bed, pulled out of her, removed her shirt and flipped her over onto her hands and knees. Stroking himself, he grew harder as their combined juices made his hand slide easier. He stared at her and placed himself back against her pussy.

  “Yes,” she whimpered as he once again slid home. His hands sank into the flesh of her hips and he gave her what she wanted.

  Derek lay naked in the bed, Jacey and a sheet draped over him. His hand stroked idly up and down one of her arms. He had an arrogant smile on his face and was absolutely content. Exhausted, but content.

  “I think you killed me,” Jacey said, shifting against him.

  “I know you killed me, princess.” He kissed the top of her head. “I think I’m ready for another nap.”

  “You do realize we’ve not left this room all day, right?”

  “Oh,” he purred, “I’m well aware of that fact.”

  “I need nourishment, man. You need to feed me.”

  Derek was in no rush to get up, much less dressed. “Know what you want?”

  “My date.”

  “Tomorrow, princess. It’s an all-day kind of date.”

  She rolled onto him, straddling his waist. “Then tonight we get room service.”

  His cock began to harden again. “I like the way you think, princess.”

  A sexy smile lifted the corners of her mouth. “I like the way you do a lot of things, Derek.”

  Drawing her close, he kissed her, trading one kind of communication for another. The lovers never did get around to order
ing room service.

  The next day, it was early afternoon when Derek watched Jacey as they walked through Zoo Atlanta. They held hands and ambled slowly along. Her mouth had a lovely smile on it.

  “What are you thinking?”

  “I think Caleb would love this.”

  He tugged her in close. “And what about you?”

  “I love the zoo. And I’m having a great day. Thank you.”

  Derek boxed her in along a railing, kissed the hand he held and stared deep into her eyes. “Jace—”

  Ring. Ring. Ring. Her phone went off.

  “Staff Sergeant Thompson,” she said. “Yes, sir. On my way. I’ll grab the first flight. Yes, sir, I’ll go there. Sir, I’m not with my stuff could my bag be…yes, sir, thank you.” She put the phone back on her belt and sighed heavily. “Guess our date is going to be cut short. I have to go.”

  “Jace,” he murmured, kissing her.

  “We have to go,” she answered after kissing him back. Tightening the hold she had on his hand, Jacey pulled him into a gift shop and purchased some cards. Then they headed for the exit.

  The ride was quiet and didn’t take too long. She stopped them by a private hangar. Derek frowned when a handsome man in a ball cap and blue coveralls approached.

  “Hey, Jack,” the guy said.

  “Howdy, Steve. Give me a few, will you?”

  “No problem. She’s still being fueled.”

  Steve nodded at him and walked off without an introduction. Derek looked at Jacey to find her writing in the card.

  “Derek?” she spoke without looking away from what she was doing.

  “Yes, princess?”

  “Can you give the Ankh to Caleb along with this note?” She glanced at him while she smiled briefly and removed it from her ankle to hand to him.

  “Of course. Jace, you need to call your father too. He misses you.”

  Her gaze hardened and she focused back on the card, writing again. “Don’t get into it, Derek. I’ll call him when I’m ready.”

  He pursed his lips but let it go. “Any special instructions?” Jesus, Jace, I don’t want you to get on that plane.

  “No.” Jacey reached over and put the envelope in the glove box. Then she stared into his eyes. “You’re doing a great job. All I need is for him to be safe.”