She fought against the urge to give in; when she came, it would be with him and because she wanted to. She increased her movements, leaning her body weight onto his upstretched arms as she got faster, and faster still. His eyes remained locked on hers, staring into her as if he could see past all her walls and into her very soul. And then she felt him buck beneath her, his climax rocketing through him, his body straining against hers, and she let go, allowing herself to disappear on the rolling crescendo of satisfaction that stole the breath from her body and the memories from her mind.
This was what she’d wanted, needed. Oblivion.
Thirteen
Making love with Peyton had been everything he’d dreamed of, and more—every single time. And yet, while they’d reached physical perfection together, there was still a disconnection between them. She’d blindsided him last night. Both with the news about the child she’d surrendered for adoption and then with their lovemaking.
He’d willingly let her take the lead, instinctively understanding that was what she needed, but while he’d made it clear that if they took that step in their relationship it meant they couldn’t go back, he wondered if she hadn’t simply been paying lip service to get what she needed right then.
So what happened next? He knew what he wanted out of their marriage, even if he hadn’t exactly gone into it with an expectation of falling in love. But if how he was feeling right now was any indication then it was clear his expectations had done a U-turn.
Peyton shifted in the bed, her body suddenly tense.
“You okay?” he asked.
She stretched and rolled over to face him. “I’m good. And you?”
He reached out and smoothed her hair from her face, enjoying the intimacy. “I’m great. No second thoughts?”
He had to ask, needed to know what she was thinking, what she planned to do now that the cocooned world of night had been shattered by day. Peyton’s eyes were slightly shadowed as she sat up abruptly, the sheets falling from her body and exposing her naked form to his hungry eyes.
She shook her head and looked back at him over her shoulder. “Not me. I’m going for a shower. Then I’ll cook us a huge breakfast. I’m famished.”
He smiled back, feeling the tension in both his mind and body ease. “That sounds like a great idea. Need help washing your back?”
She laughed. “If you do that, breakfast might be more like lunch.”
“I can wait,” he said.
He watched her as his words sank in. Her pupils dilated and her nipples tightened into dark pink buds. Buds that had felt perfect as he’d rolled them with his tongue last night. She’d been a very open lover, giving as well as receiving. Last night had been exceptional and, under other circumstances, would have left him sated. But there was something about Peyton that drove him to want more—physically and emotionally. He swung his feet to the floor, stood up and walked toward her. Her gaze roamed his body, coming to rest just below his hips.
“I see that you have something else in mind,” she said with a saucy smile.
As her lips curved he felt something pull tight in his chest. Was this what love was? he wondered. This sense of being knocked sideways by something as precious as a smile? This overwhelming need to touch her and be touched by her? This wanting to know and understand her every thought? To make her happy? If it wasn’t love, it was pretty darn close.
Galen held a hand out to Peyton and tugged her forward, aligning her naked body against his and relishing the heat in those areas where their bodies touched. He didn’t think he could ever have enough of this, of her.
“Oh, I have a lot of things in mind right now. Every single one of them centered on you.”
Her breath hitched and he saw a look of yearning on her beautiful features. A yearning that was swiftly masked by something else. She was good at that, he realized. Far too good. His wife was an expert at masking her true thoughts and feelings. In fact, the only time he thought she’d been 100 percent open and honest with him had been last night, in the sanctuary of his bed. Well, if that was what it took to get to know and understand her, then he’d gladly step up to the task. Keeping her loved up and satisfied would be both an honor and a pleasure.
“C’mon,” he said, his voice just a bit gruff. “Let’s shower.”
* * *
“We’re going to have to hurry if we’re to meet Ellie’s bus,” Peyton said with a laugh as she whisked eggs in a bowl.
“I can do the bacon on the outdoor grill if you like. It’ll be quicker.”
“Thanks. These will only take a few minutes.”
“I’m onto it.”
Galen snagged the packet of bacon with one hand and started to whistle as he went out onto the deck. He hadn’t felt this happy in forever. Maybe it was the sense of letting go of his control over his emotions that left him feeling like he’d just been on the most incredible roller-coaster ride of his life. Whatever it was, he liked it.
He looked through the window to the kitchen and watched Peyton as she moved around. It was quite the scene of domestic bliss. Something that had been sadly lacking in the weeks prior. She’d been so wary, but then again, he had been, too. Last night, when she told him about her daughter, it had opened things up between them. But he knew she was still holding back. Peyton was complex, with multiple layers. He’d only uncovered one—a very important, deeply scarred one.
She was scarred, but strong, as well. A person would have to be, to get through that without becoming a wreck. He didn’t know if, in similar circumstances, he’d have been able to face the same thing.
He thought for a minute about his female cousins. Each one of them strong and independent, benefiting from their grandmother’s example. But if any one of them had faced a situation like Peyton’s she’d have had a wealth of support behind her. Peyton hadn’t had any of that. No wonder she was so reserved and aloof. No wonder she feared love. The more he began to understand her, the more he realized that it was fear holding her back, whether she knew it or not.
“Are you planning on burning that bacon?” Peyton called out from the kitchen, snapping him out of his reveries.
“As if I’d do such a thing,” he called back and quickly snatched up a set of tongs and a plate to take the strips off the grill. “I hope you like yours crispy,” he commented wryly as he reentered the kitchen.
A gurgle of laughter bubbled up from inside her, the sound making him stop in his tracks and simply drink in the joy of watching her unguarded, happy. Hell, he’d almost burn the bacon every day if it meant he could hear her laugh so honestly.
“You’re lucky I do,” she said, spooning a generous serving of scrambled eggs onto his plate.
“Hey, leave yourself some,” he protested.
“Oh, I won’t miss out, don’t worry.”
He looked at the clock. They had half an hour to eat and clean up before collecting Ellie at the pickup point. If only they had more time alone together. Somehow, the dynamic of having Ellie around changed things between them. He didn’t regret having the little girl in his life one bit, but he suspected that sometimes being around her was like rubbing salt in the wound for Peyton. Some of the looks she’d given Ellie began to make sense now. The looks that spoke of longing and regret. Looks that were tempered with a please-don’t-love-me vibe because she was too afraid to love in return. He had to break through those barriers. Somehow, he and Peyton and Ellie would become a real family.
* * *
Peyton stood with Galen’s arm draped around her as they waited with the other parents for the bus to arrive. It all felt so normal and so foreign at the same time. Things had changed since they’d been here in the same spot yesterday. Then, she’d been full of trepidation for Ellie, an emotion that had been swiftly chased by pride in the girl as she’d shouldered her anxiety and climbed on board the bus.
And hadn’t she done so
mething similar herself last night? She tightened her hold on Galen’s waist, taking strength in his nearness and his solid presence beside her. Was this what marriage had been like for her parents before her mom had gotten sick—before her dad had changed? The sad thing was, she couldn’t even ask him. He’d been so filled with seething anger, even going so far as destroying the photo albums her mom had so patiently and lovingly made up for Peyton as a way of remembering her when she was gone.
She wondered where Ellie’s parents’ pictures were and made a mental note to ask Galen. While she knew that Ellie’s old bedroom from her parents’ home had been faithfully replicated at his apartment and then more recently in their new house, she had no idea what had happened to everything else. Maybe it would help Ellie to feel more secure and connected if she had access to more of her happy memories with her mom and dad.
And when you move on, what then? Her conscience pricked sharply.
Beneath her hand, she felt Galen’s body tense.
“There’s the bus,” he exclaimed. “And there she is!”
With his free hand he began waving madly. Peyton felt her heart constrict. They had been very occupied during Ellie’s absence, but it was clear Galen hadn’t stopped worrying about her.
The next half hour was filled with a blur of retrieving the overnight bags and girls saying goodbye to each other until, finally, they were able to climb into the car and get back to the house.
“You had a good time?” Galen asked after Ellie did up her seat belt.
“I had the best time.”
“So you’re glad you went?” Peyton pressed.
“Yeah, thank you for making me go. It was really cool.”
Their ride home was peppered with Ellie’s excitement, which stretched out into the afternoon. Peyton helped her unpack and put her things in the wash, teaching her how to do each step.
“My mommy used to do this but at the hotel apartment Galen just sent our laundry out. Do I have to do this all the time now?” Ellie asked as she turned on the washer.
“If you want to. It’s good to know how to take care of yourself.”
“But what if I don’t want to?”
“Well, you have me and we have Maggie.”
“Did your mommy teach you?”
“No. My mommy got sick and wasn’t able to do a lot of stuff.”
“I’m sorry.”
“It was a long time ago.”
Ellie enveloped her in a hug. “I’m glad you’re with us now. You don’t need to be alone anymore.”
The child’s simple words cut her to her core. Alone? She felt like she’d spent her entire life alone from the day of her mom’s diagnosis. And now that she actually had something, she was gearing up to leave it all behind her again. She awkwardly returned Ellie’s hug and then pulled away.
“C’mon, you can help me prepare a salad for dinner. Galen’s grilling steaks and baking potatoes.”
“Yum!”
And just like that the moment changed. Kids were so adaptable, she thought as she followed Ellie through to the kitchen. Maybe she needed to be a bit more like that.
The evening went quickly and it wasn’t long before Ellie was drooping with exhaustion. After Galen had seen her to bed, Peyton went into her office to work on her article. She read through the opening paragraphs, but instead of the sense of triumph she expected, she ended up with a knot in her stomach. She sighed in frustration and dropped her head in her hands. Why was writing this so hard? She’d planned it for years, relished the opportunity to depose Alice Horvath from the heady pedestal on which everyone put her. This should be the easiest thing in the world to her. It didn’t involve political upheaval; it didn’t involve genocide or massive environmental damage—all of which she’d written about to great acclaim in the past. So what was wrong with her? Was it that she was too close to the subject matter? Too biased, perhaps?
No, it wasn’t personal bias. She’d found others, like her father, who’d been summarily dismissed from their jobs at various Horvath Corporation branches. Locating them had been like finding needles in haystacks, and a handful had signed nondisclosure agreements on their termination, so they had politely, but firmly, rebuffed her attempts to interview them. But the others backed up her father’s experience.
Peyton had always prided herself on balanced reporting. Up until now all she’d accumulated was one side of the story. And there was her answer. She needed to go straight to the source. She needed to interview Alice. Her stomach knotted in anticipation. Would the grand matriarch grant her an audience? It was well known that Alice didn’t do interviews. Hey, she could ask, right? But what would be the best way to approach her?
A sound behind her made her minimize her open computer window, swivel in her chair and look at the door. Galen stood there, one arm casually propped against the frame and looking far too sexy for his own good. Her body tightened on a surge of remembrance. This afternoon had been about Ellie, but right now her mind was crammed with all the things she and Galen had done together last night.
“Everything okay?” Galen asked.
“Yes, and no,” she admitted. How could she approach this? she wondered. Just ask him straight-out if his grandmother would talk to her, perhaps? But for what reason? An idea sprang to her mind. “A part of my article focuses on strong women in business. Would Alice agree to an interview, do you think?”
What she’d said wasn’t a total lie. Galen straightened and took a step inside her office. He frowned a little.
“She’s not a fan of interviews. You probably know that already.”
“I had heard something like that,” Peyton said lightly. “But there’s no harm in asking her, right? If she says no, it’s no.” She shrugged as if it didn’t matter.
Galen stroked his chin thoughtfully. “I could talk to her for you.”
“No, I wouldn’t ask you to do that. Using you as a go-between would be cowardly.”
“You’re probably right. In fact, I know you’re right. Nagy would probably see it as a weakness and dismiss the idea immediately.”
Peyton nodded. “I’ll call her tomorrow, and just get straight to the point.”
Galen moved closer and rested his hands on her shoulders, massaging the knots of muscle that had formed there while she worked. “Good idea. What will you do if she says no?”
“Move on to the next person on my list. Alice’s input isn’t vital to my article, but I’d be keen on hearing her out.”
“Then let’s hope she’s in a magnanimous mood tomorrow,” he said on a chuckle. “Jeez, you’re so tight. Is this what working on your articles does to you?”
“Sometimes, especially when things aren’t going as well as I’d like. But y’know what?”
“What?”
“I know something that loosens me up like nothing else.”
His hands stilled and she heard his sharply indrawn breath. “And that might be?”
“Oh, I think you know what I mean,” she answered as she rose to her feet. “Or have you forgotten already? Perhaps I need to refresh your memory.”
She entwined her arms around his neck and lifted her face to his, taking possession of his mouth in a kiss that she knew would leave him in no doubt of what she was talking about. Thankfully, he was a quick study. She felt his body’s instant response to her invitation, and when he scooped her in his arms and stalked with her across the landing toward the master suite, she allowed herself to thrill in the anticipation of what she knew would come next.
Fourteen
“Thank you so much for agreeing to see me, Mrs. Horvath.”
Alice forced herself to smile. “Please, dear. I’ve asked you already to call me Alice or Nagy. If you keep referring to me as Mrs. Horvath I’ll think you’re not really a part of the family.”
She had kept the censure from her voice but she di
dn’t miss the swiftly masked expression on the younger woman’s face. Was it irritation, perhaps, or embarrassment? Or maybe something else? Since her operation she didn’t feel quite as sharp as she used to be and it annoyed her intensely. Getting old certainly wasn’t for sissies. Luckily, she’d never been a sissy in her life.
“I’m sorry, Alice,” Peyton apologized.
“That’s better, dear. See? It didn’t hurt a bit, did it?” Alice allowed herself a small smile. “I hope you enjoyed your flight?”
“Having a company jet at my disposal isn’t something I think I’ll ever get used to but, yes, it was a smooth trip.”
“Good. Now, please, take a seat and tell me what this article is about. It must be important to bring you all the way to California. You know I don’t usually give interviews.”
“Yes, I do, and I really appreciate you making time to see me.”
“Time seems to be something I have a great deal more of than I wish to these days.”
“Oh, isn’t Match Made in Marriage keeping you busy enough?”
Alice waved a hand in front of her. “Oh, yes, that’s fun. But it’s hardly the cut and thrust of the corporate world, is it? And I have to say, since my surgery earlier this year, I’ve been forced to slow down a little. A temporary thing, I’ve been assured.”
She firmed her lips before she said any more. She didn’t like exposing her infirmities to anyone, least of all this newest member of her family. “Tell me, how is Ellie doing now that you’re settling into your new home? It must have been a big adjustment for all of you—getting married and living together. But you’re doing all right, I trust?”
She listened as Peyton filled her in about the little girl, nodding and smiling where necessary. She wondered if Peyton knew how her expression changed when she talked about Ellie, about the small elements of pride that shone through when she mentioned Ellie’s bravery at going on the overnight visit to the museum and her latest school results. And then, how her expression became softer when she talked about Galen. Yes, Alice had made the right choice here. It had been a risk, thrusting a husband and child onto a young woman for whom career appeared to be everything, but as with so many things in life that were worthwhile, you had to take a leap of faith at some point.
Vengeful Vows (Marriage At First Sight Book 3) Page 11