His Secretive Lover (The Thorpe Brothers) (10 page)

He tore his mouth away, looking down at her in the dim light of the garage light but she could see that he was feeling the same urgency that she was.  “Get out of the car, Cricket,” he ordered her. 

He left her a fraction of a second after that but by the time she realized what was going on, he was already on her side of the vehicle.  He reached in and lifted her out of her seat.  He didn’t stop there.  With demanding hands that only turned her on more, he lifted her against him, and then pressed her back against the side of the car.  She didn’t wait around to figure out what he might do.  With shaking fingers, she ripped his tie out of the way then worked on the buttons of his dress shirt.  When she finally got several buttons undone, she sighed with happiness as her fingers were able to touch his heated skin. But at that same moment, he freed her breasts from her bra.  Her arms were still tangled up in both her shirt and her bra, but she didn’t care.  His mouth was already latching onto her nipple and she screamed out with the intense heat of his mouth there combined with the cool, night air that was in the garage. 

His hand reached down and pushed her skirt up, ripping her underwear off.  When she felt his finger inside her, she couldn’t believe how perfect it felt.  “Yes!” she sighed, closing her eyes and leaning her head back once again against the top of the car.  But it wasn’t enough.  “More,”
she demanded.  “Please, Ryker.  Don’t stop,” she gasped and shifted her hips, trying to move in the way that she’d learned just a few days ago that caused so much pleasure. 

And then his finger was gone!  She opened her eyes, almost growling with the need to have him back there, moving inside her.  She heard the foil wrapper and wanted to help him, but her arms were trapped in her blouse and bra.  All she could do was hold on to his waist with her legs while his hands pushed the condom onto his erection.  A moment later, his large hands were back on her hips and he didn’t hesitate to fill her up.  Completely! 

She gasped, moving against him.  The urgency only intensified as he moved deeper inside her.  “More,” she begged of him.  And he delivered.  She was already splintering apart by his third or fourth stroke.  It didn’t take much more before he was also pounding into her with his own climax.  It was so intense, so mind-blowing, that Cricket was sure she was going to pass out from pleasure. 

When her breathing had finally returned to a somewhat normal pace, she opened her eyes and looked around.  Her arms were still around his neck and she thought she might be strangling him.  But then she felt his feather-light kisses along her shoulders and neck and smiled because he wasn’t about to
asphyxiate. 

“Sorry,” she choked out and released the stranglehold she had on his neck. 

She relaxed when she heard his chuckle.  “Please don’t apologize for anything, Cricket.  In fact,” he lifted his head and kissed her gently, “I think we might be able to do that again, but better, once we’re inside.”

She smiled, unable to hide her happiness after that kind of release.  “I don’t think I want to do it any better,” she countered.  “I thought I’d killed you that last time.”

He threw back his head and laughed, continuing to hold her in his strong arms.  “Please.  I’d love to be killed like that over and over again.” 

He pulled back and they straightened their clothing, but he took her hand and led her through his house, straight up to his bedroom.  There, he undressed her slowly, kissing every part of her gently until she was writhing underneath him once again.  He took her slower this time, pulling out of her almost all the way until she begged him to come back to her.  Over and over again, he took her just to the edge, but wouldn’t let her fall.  She was almost crying with her need before he allowed her to climax in his arms.  And he was right along with her. Cricket felt him come with her and thought he was the most incredible man she’d ever met in her life. 

As she lay in his arms that night, feeling his fingers stroke her gently, she worked out in her mind a plan that might allow her to enjoy his company for a little while longer.  It would be difficult, but if she were extremely creative and careful, maybe she could pull it off. 

For the next three
weeks, she snuck around in an effort to be with Ryker without her father becoming aware.  She was with him every evening and all weekend when possible but she’d never spend the night, always leaving his warm, comfortable bed about ten o’clock so she could get home at what might be a reasonable hour.  She knew he was exasperated with her but she couldn’t shake the feeling that her father was still around and would intervene if he found out who she was with. 

By Saturday night of that week, Ryker was fed up with her nervousness and he was irritated that she insisted on sleeping alone.  The only time she wasn’t looking behind her or jumping when he came up on her too quietly was when she was in his bed.  He also suspected that she wasn’t in this relationship for the long term.  He’d never been able to discuss the future because every time he’d brought it up, she’d changed the subject quickly. 

But that was going to end.  He wanted this woman in his life forever.  Whatever was holding her back, he was going to fix it and eliminate the issue. 

“Okay, what’s going on?” Ryker demanded as soon as they stepped into his house after dinner that night. 

Cricket turned away from the window where she’d been trying to determine if they’d been followed.  At his angry outburst, she blinked and looked up at him.  “What do you mean?” she asked
, already worried that she’d been too obvious. 

Ryker took her hand and led her deeper into the house, setting her purse to the side of the couch while he pulled her down next to him.  “Cricket, we’ve been sneaking around the street
s of Chicago for too long.  Anytime I want to talk to you, I have a new phone number to call.  We always meet at out of the way places first instead of just going to your place or coming here to mine.  And there isn’t a moment when you aren’t looking behind the cab or in my rear view mirror, as if you’re trying to find out if someone is following us.”  He paused before he continued with, “Are you in some sort of trouble?”

Cricket actually laughed at that idea.  “No.  I can honestly say that I have committed no crimes for which I am running from the law,” she said with a smile.  She scooted closer to him, feeling his heat and enjoying the way his arm
s automatically wrapped around her shoulders protectively. 

“So why all this cloak and dagger stuff?” he asked, relaxing back against the cushions of the deep sofa.
Instinctively, he knew that something was seriously wrong, something that was keeping her from committing to him completely.  But for the life of him, he couldn’t figure out what it was.  She was jumpy and nervous and he was damn well going to fix anything that might harm her.  He’d never felt protective towards any of the women he’d dated in the past.  But Cricket was different.  He’d known that from the first moment he’d laid eyes on her and he wasn’t going to let anything happen to her. 

For the moment, he relaxed though.  She was in his arms and she was safe.  He had a security system
in his house that was state of the art.  So if anyone were trying to break in, he’d know about it before they got too close. 

“What’s cloak and dagger about what we’ve been doing?” she asked, running her hand along his thigh to distract him.  She knew he was becoming impatient with her, which meant she
only had a little longer to be with him before he called it quits.  No one could put up with her kind of behavior for long.  He’d move on to a woman who didn’t have her complications. 

She knew it had only been a short time, but she
also knew that she was head over heels in love with Ryker Thorpe.  She’d known from the start that she needed to protect herself from just this sort of occurrence, but the man was just too wonderful to not fall in love with.  Every moment with him she considered a gift.  Something to be cherished and stored as a memory of their time together.  In too short a time, he would find someone new and she’d need all the memories to keep her warm.  Because she knew she’d never find anyone as wonderful, sexy, intelligent and funny as Ryker. 

Ryker sighed.  “The burner phones,” he started off and felt her stiffen in his arms which told him he was right on target, “the meandering drives through streets where we double back to make sure someone isn’t following us, the
out of the way restaurants where you’re less likely to be recognized…they all add up to a person who is trying to hide something.”  He waited a moment then said, “What are you hiding, Cricket?  I can help you if you’ll just trust me.”

She moved over so she was sitting on his lap.  “There are some things you just can’t fix,” she said, then bent to kiss him tenderly.  It was the first time she’d ever initiated any kind of touch.  Normally, he was the one who kissed her, pulled her into his arms or even just held her hand while they were walking somewhere.  It startled him initially, but she knew him well enough, knew his body and how to distract him.  He’d done it often enough to her lately, although she didn’t think he’d done it as deliberately as she was now doin
g to him.  She had a small pang of guilt over her actions, but then his hands came up to cup her breasts and she wasn’t able to think any more than he could.

A long time later, Ryker leaned over her.  “You did that on purpose, didn’t you?” he asked.  He might have been angry about it another time, but she just felt too good in his arms right now. 

“Did what?” she asked, running her fingers over his arms, then down his chest.  If it had worked once, surely it could work again. 

Unfortunately, this time he wasn’t playing her game.  Grabbing her fingers, he rolled over so that he had her trapped underneath him, pressing his knee between her legs so she was thoroughly under his control. 
To further tease her, he pulled the sheet down from her chest – not allowing her to cover up.  “Now that you are subdued…” he reached over to his bedside table and pulled something out of the drawer. 

She knew what he normally pulled out from that drawer and she smiled in anticipation.  But what he was holding definitely wasn’t what she’d been expecting.  “I know we’ve known each other for only a short time, but…” he opened the square, black box and Cricket gasped at the stunning diamond ring that was revealed.  “Will you marry me?” he asked softly, watching her to try and
gauge her reaction. 

Her fingers shook as she
reached out, barely touching the diamond ring.  It was possibly the most beautiful diamond she’d ever seen in her life, and that was saying a lot due to her mother’s past. 

She didn’t say anything for a long time, just stared, unaware that her mouth was open and there were tears forming on her lashes. 

“Should I take the absence of a rejection as an acceptance?” he teased, taking the ring out of the box and sliding it down her finger.  “I love you, Cricket.  I know you have secrets, but I’ll eventually get you to trust me enough and we’ll figure them out together.” 

Cricket shook her head, her eyes never leaving the gorgeous diamond that was now on her finger.  She couldn’t believe it.  He wanted to marry her? 

“You can’t mean this,” she said, reaching out to touch the ring with her other hand.  Shaking her head, she turned to face him.  She could barely see him through her tears, but since he was less than a foot away, his face was only a little bit fuzzy. 

“I do mean it.  I want you to marry me.  I want to have kids with you and grow old with you and I want to live and laugh with you.”

She shook her head.  “You don’t know me.  You don’t know my family,” and she cringed with those words.  They were too close to the real problem.  “And don’t you need someone who is a bit more…” she couldn’t figure out how to say it. 

“I don’t want anyone more anything, Cricket.  I’ve wanted you ever since I first saw you.”

“No,” she denied.  She grasped onto the one reason they wouldn’t work that she could openly discuss.  “You need a more social person.  I’m not.  I don’t like going out and attending parties.  I don’t like the social whirl that you need in your business.  I like staying home and being with close friends.  I can barely form words when I’m around someone who intimidates me.  You should know.  I was like that with you the first time we met.  In fact, I think I ran away.”

Ryker laughed.  “That you did,” he confirmed.  “But I thought you were cute.  And yes, I have to socialize for my business, but not nearly as much as you might think.  Besides, I have three other brothers who can do that for a while.  We can stay home and practice making babies,” he said with a lascivious grin
.  Then he moved his hand moved down her waist to her hip.  And then lower.

A long time later, Cricket lay in his arms, listening to his deep, even breathing as he slept, his arms wrapped around her as if he couldn’t release her, even in his sleep.  She knew exactly how he felt, she thought, running her fingers down his arm, reveling in the rough feeling of the hair on his forearm and the muscles
on his shoulder that were bulging even in his sleep. 

Cricket knew she couldn’t accept his proposal. 
She looked down at the ring on her finger, twinkling even in the darkness.  It was more beautiful because it wasn’t just a ring.  It had meaning.  It was an important message he wanted to convey to her.  And because of that, it was more precious than anything she’d ever owned. 

Cricket pulled on her clothes, ignoring the tears streaming down her cheeks as she looked down
at the man sleeping on the bed right next to where she’d been a moment ago.  This would have to be the last time she saw him.  It would even be better to find a new job just so she wouldn’t be tempted to spy on him while he walked from his office building to his car. 

She wiped her cheeks mercilessly as she picked up her purse. 
She went directly to his security system and plugged in the code, then re-armed it before slipping out the door.  She might be leaving him, but she also wanted him safe in his house.  Not that the alarm would keep out a serious intruder, but she doubted anyone like that was lurking about at this point in the pre-dawn morning. 

S
he didn’t call a cab until she’d walked several blocks down the street, getting strange looks from several others who were driving by.  This wasn’t the kind of neighborhood where a person walked places.  At least not unless they were wearing exercise clothes.  The people of this neighborhood walked only for cardiovascular health, otherwise driving cars worth six figures to and from their destinations. 

Ryker heard the door close and rolled over, sighing as he tried to figure out what was going on with Cricket.  Damn her!  She had him tied up in knots worrying about her safety
and what she was going to do or say next. 

He looked around and breathed a sigh of relief that at least she was still wearing his ring.  That was something, at least.  Of course, it was no guarantee that she wouldn’t hand it back to him as soon as he got into the office today.

As he stared up at the ceiling, he decided then and there that it was time to be a bit more proactive about the lovely lady.  He knew she wasn’t a criminal, which only meant that she was running away or trying to hide from someone who was less than savory in their daily dealings with the law. 

Tossing the covers aside, he decided to go ahead and get ready for the day.  He was too angry to sleep any longer and his mind was already plotting to corner his lovely new fiancée and get the information he needed.  He suspected she was trying to leave him, but there was no way he was going to allow that. 
As he showered and dressed, he formed a plan, one that would hopefully result in Mark helping him protect the little lady until he could get her down the aisle. 

He also thought about calling an old friend.  Mitch Hamilton ran one of the best security firms in the world.  They’d been college buddies a long time ago and had kept up with each other over th
e years.  He’d recently married a woman named Claire, he remembered.  Maybe Mitch could get together for drinks and offer some advice.  Ryker decided to give Mitch a call as soon as he got into the office.  He could fly down this afternoon for drinks with him and be back in time to be back in bed with Cricket before she fell asleep for the night.  Or even better, maybe he could wake her up! 

In the meantime, Ryker knew he had a lot to get in place before the stubborn woman got to work.  He’d have to tell his brothers, he supposed.  That would be an irritating conversation under the circumstances.  He smiled as he thought about the expressions on their faces, almost laughing at how stunned he knew they would all be. 

Well, maybe not.  Ash had mentioned that his work defending Mia Paulson was important.  Although, last time he checked, Ash hadn’t figured out how important.  Ryker realized that he’d been so caught up in what was happening with Cricket, he hadn’t really checked in with his brothers lately.  They’d all been going separate ways. 

Something occurred to him suddenly.  Autumn and Xander hadn’t been sniping at each other as often as normal lately.  He wondered if something had finally happened between the two of them. 
And Axle, come to think of it, had been acting strangely yesterday.  Yes, something was definitely going on. 

He finished showering and grabbed a towel, wrapping one around his waist and
using another to dry his hair as he walked to his closet and considered the possibility that perhaps his brother had finally ignored his irritating resistance to being with Autumn and might have done something about it.

He certainly hoped so.