Uncovering Hope (Uncovering Love Book 3) (26 page)

I nod and gulp down my fear. Yes, we really should talk. And thanks to my ex we’ll be holed up in Derek’s apartment for a few hours. At the thought, my sex clenches and tingles with expectation. From the corner of my eye light catches on his studded tongue.
Oh God, Carly. Is sex really all you can think about at a time like this?

I bite my lip and observe Derek’s movements. From the way his fingertips tap across the leather covered wheel, to the way his muscles bunch and strain through his shirt, to the smooth skin of his freshly shaved head and to the tight bulge in his pants. Yes, yes, triple yes.

Talk. Yep. That’s what we should do.

“WE NEED TO TALK.” I
pull Carly inside my apartment and close the door.

“Yes, we do.” She bites her lower lip and stares at my mouth.

“But I also really want to kiss you,” I admit.

“I want that, too.”

“Listen. Wait, what?” She wants to kiss me? Not expecting that.

“But I think we should talk first. I have some things I need to say to you, to ask you. Did you mean what you said last night?” Her gaze drops to the ground. I reach out and lift her chin with my finger.

“Every damn word,” I say, trying to convey every ounce of sincerity I feel.

“I want to believe you. I do. But there’s this part of my brain, it’s always second guessing your motives, why you want to be with someone like me.” She looks away and I drop my hand.

“Someone like you?” I shake my head, confused. “Carly, you realize you are way out of my league. Simple and sweet and everything good I’ve always wanted. I don’t deserve a woman like you in my life, but I want you regardless.”

“Why were you in the parking lot today?”

“I came to find you. To apologize. I’m sorry for being a jealous idiot last night. I let the thought of you with another man fuel my anger. We aren’t together and that wasn’t fair. I’ll never come into your workplace and do that again.”

“I appreciate your apology, Derek.” She nods.

“Thank you.” I blow out the breath I didn’t realize I was holding.

“You were being an ass,” she says, and I can’t help but laugh. Her lips twitch. “But I was trying to tell you last night. I’m not with Garrett. I never was. We went on a few dates. Nothing more.” I believe her.

“You make me crazy, you know that?” I murmur. I run my hand up and down the skin of her arm.

“What does that even mean?” She laughs.

“You. Carly, I love you.”

“You love me?” Her brows furrow and she shakes her head. “No. I’m sure you don’t.”

I laugh and slide my arms around her waist to pull her close. “Oh, but I do, mama. I love you so fucking much.”

“Oh,” she whispers.

“Yeah. Oh.” I drop a dry kiss on her lips. “What I feel for you . . . when I’m with you . . . things are different. Life is better, brighter, and I crave that. The sun you bring to my storm; I need it. I can’t ignore it and pretend I’m okay with just being friends. I want you. Do you want me, too?”

“Of course I do.” Her eyes flutter shut and worry lines cross her forehead. She opens her eyes and meets my gaze. “But how does this work? You’re going on the road? How are we supposed to date when you won’t even be here?”

“I don’t know exactly how, but I want to try. I’m not asking for your hand in marriage. Just a chance, to see where we go. Will you take a chance on me?”

“Yes.” At her reply I can’t fight the smile that takes over my face.

“Yeah?” I dip my chin so that our foreheads touch and just breathe her in a long moment. “I’m so fucking happy to hear that.”

I kiss her with everything I feel. With slow, purposeful movement, her lips open and I sneak my tongue inside. She moans and the sound goes straight to my dick. I pull back. My chest heaves with each breath.

“I want to show you something.” I grab her hand and lead her to sit on the couch. “Wait here.” I jog to my room and grab my trusty Fender. I want her to know how I feel about her. That what we have is more than anything I’ve ever felt.

“Can I play you a song?” I ask and she nods. “Then I want to kiss you some more.” I stick my tongue out and watch the pink stain her neck and cheeks as she blushes. God, I love that I do that to her.

I strum a few times to make sure my guitar is in tune and play her the song. The one I couldn’t shake. The one I won’t ever sell. The one that’s just for her.

Lips cotton candy pink,

Eyes that hide secrets deep,

A heart of a warrior with her quiet resolve,

She’s the one I can’t ignore.

A healing touch, she’s like magic with her love,

Be high or be low, this mama’s got my soul,

To have or to hold, woman you own my love.

I’ll never compare,

She makes me a better man,

I only hope to be what she needs,

She’s my one and only home

A healing touch, she’s like magic with her love,

Be high or be low, this Mama’s got my soul,

To have or to hold, woman you own my love.

Please let me be your home.

I sing the last line and lift my gaze. Carly jumps to her feet. Her eyes shine and a few tears streak down her face. I barely get the guitar out of the way before she straddles my waist and cups my face in her delicate fingers.

“Derek, I love you, too.” Her lips meet mine, hard and demanding, and I let her set the pace. My hands don’t know where to go first, her legs, her ass, stomach, breasts, back. I want it all.

“Damn clothes,” I mutter between kisses. “They really need to go.” I pull at the waistband of her scrubs and she covers my hands with her own. Our foreheads touch and she squeezes her eyes shut.

“What, mama?”

“I just . . . it’s stupid, I know, because we’ve already been together, it’s just—”

“What is it? You can tell me.” Fuck. My mind runs through all the worst possibilities. She’s changed her mind. She’s having doubts. She’s sleeping with someone else.

“I’m just not . . . perfect. I want to see you, to be naked in the light, but I’ve had two babies. My stomach is covered in stretch marks, and other parts of me too. My boobs haven’t been perky in years. I know it sounds stupid when I say it aloud, but your body is so amazing and mine’s not.”

I stand up from the couch and with Carly still plastered to my front I march us straight to my room. Determination, challenge, and a little bit of anger runs through my veins at her concerns.

“You.” I drop her onto my bed and step out of my shoes. “Are so fucking beautiful and sexy and sweet.” Her eyes go wide and I pull my shirt off my back and over my head with one hand; the other goes to the zipper at my jeans. “And if you don’t believe me by the time we’ve both had at least one orgasm, then I’m a horrible boyfriend.”

I flash a grin. “And I’ll just keep making you come until you believe me.” I drop my pants, boxers and all. Carly bites her lip, eyes trained on my erection.

“That’s not really a punishment . . . more like a reward,” she says.

I crawl over her body and kiss her hard. “Fuck yeah, it is.” I lick her lips. “There’s too much talking, and still too many clothes.” I kiss my way down her neck and my fingers work open the drawstring of her pants while she slides out of her jacket and scrub top. She winces and I look up to find a trail of dried blood marring the skin by her ribs.

“Fucker,” I bite out. “Did he do that to you?”

She nods. “Yeah, but honestly, it doesn’t hurt that bad.”

I sit back on my heels. “No!” she almost shouts. “Don’t stop.” I have to grin.

“I won’t, but I’ll be right back.” I stand up from the bed. Before I leave the room I slide off her shoes, one at a time, then socks, and pull at her pant legs until she’s left in nothing but black panties and a matching bra. She watches me from where she lays propped up on her elbows.

“That’s better. Stay here.” I walk to the bathroom and pull out my first aid kit, along with a few condoms from beneath the sink. I wet a clean hand towel and walk back. Carly waiting for me in just her underwear sparks something possessive and hungry inside. I want her always.

“You’re gorgeous. You know that.”

She laughs and studies me as I sit back onto the bed. “Derek, I’m bleeding.” She rolls her eyes and I chuckle.

“
Were
bleeding. I think it’s pretty much dried up.” I wipe at the skin and gently clean her. Rage boils within, threatening to ruin this moment, and I have to swallow it down. I won’t let her ex get away with this. But I’m not letting him take one more damn minute of her time. Of our precious time together. I plan to make love to her and then make sure Jon sends his ass back to prison where he belongs.

“Look who’s playing naughty nurse now?” Carly teases and I grin as I secure a Band Aid across her cut. She reaches out and grips my erection in her hand and I clench my teeth. God damn that feels so good. “I want to suck you.” Her thumb rubs over the tip, rolling my PA piercing. “I like this.” She pants. I swear under my breath.

“Is that okay? Did it hurt when you had it done?” she says softly and I groan. She really is my closet vixen. She can do anything and everything she wants.

“Didn’t hurt that bad and the extra stimulation is . . . fuck!” I swear and blow out a breath. “You take the lead, mama.”

Carly smiles and pushes me onto my back. She scoots down the bed and I reach over to my music dock to press play. Thankfully the mix I had on earlier fits the moment. I’m not sure I can remember how to operate the damn thing to change selections.

Carly peels off her underwear and kneels between my legs. She licks up and down my dick like it’s a damn lollipop, looking up at me with those big green eyes. I try to keep her gaze but when she goes to cup my balls and suck me deep inside her mouth I throw my head back and squeeze my eyes closed.

If she keeps this up I’m going to embarrass myself like a pubescent teen. This is what she does to me. Picking through my brain I try to focus on something else to wane my erection. Puppies. Kids. Kids playing with puppies. Damn it. Now I feel wrong all over.

I sit up and pull Carly from my lap, flipping her onto her back.

“Hey!” she chides playfully. “You said I could lead.”

“Change of plans. My turn.” I kiss her once and dip my head straight between her legs. She gives a squeal and I spread her legs wide open, holding her down with my forearms so I can get my fill. I lick, suck, taste, and tease until she’s a mess of moans, hips bucking, and curses flowing. I can feel her trying to fight it, to hold back.

“I want you to come on my face,” I say, and then lick her hard and flick my metal stud over her clit until she finally screams out, body shaking and gives me what I need. I suck the flow of juices before I release her legs to move up her panting body.

Her face glistens with sweat. A few wayward strands of hair stick to her face, and she’s never looked more beautiful to me. Completely undone. Totally bare.

“I love you,” I say.

“I love you, too,” she whispers back.

Our lips meet again and she pushes me, rolling me to my back so she can straddle my hips.

“My turn again.” She grins and the look on her face steals my breath. Beautiful. She unwraps one of the condoms and covers my erection. She lifts and then slides down onto my cock. Fuck, yes. I love being inside her. I let her lead as promised but allow my hands to trace patterns on her hips and thighs. She rocks back and forth, over and down, quickening her pace. My hands go to her breasts to squeeze and pull at her nipples.

“Oh, yes, do that,” she says on a breath and I continue playing with her tits as she rides me. I hold out as long as I can, but she’s too tight, too wet, too much.

“I’m gonna come,” I say, and she grinds down harder, moaning and gasping. I grab her hips and thrust up, matching her rhythm and she squeezes my dick as she orgasms. She yells my name and it sets me off. I hold her tight and capture her lips as my seed fills the rubber barrier.

“Oh, fuck.”

Oh, fuck is right. This woman owns me, body, mind, and soul, and I’m overjoyed. Everything in this moment is perfect and my heart taps to a beat that matches hers. My home.