The Father for Her Son Page 13

  “I couldn’t believe I’d been so stupid,” Troy said now, staring at the carpet beneath his feet.

  Marlee put her hand on his back. He took comfort in that one small gesture. “I’m sorry,” she said. “Sorry for not answering your letters, and for not believing in your innocence.”

  “I was guilty, all right. I did drive the car, and I did try to evade the police. But mostly, I was guilty of being stupid.”

  “You trusted the wrong person,” she said. “That’s all.”

  Troy turned toward her, and she pulled him into an embrace that squeezed out much of the pain and fear that had lingered since that long-ago night with his cousin.

  He kissed her neck, the skin soft as satin and smelling of almonds. One kiss led to a dozen, and then a dozen more. She let out a low sigh, and sagged against him.

  He brought his hands up to cup the soft swell of her breasts. Her nipples hardened at his touch, pressing into his palms. She leaned her head against his shoulder. “Don’t stop,” she whispered.

  “I won’t.” He stroked her through the fabric.

  She moaned, and he tilted her head up to his, then kissed her, a long, deep kiss that told her how he felt better than words. He wanted to remind her of all the ways they had loved each other before, and could love again.

  She responded ardently, stroking his back and making small, murmuring sounds that encouraged him.

  He urged her to lie down on the sofa, and started to stretch out beside her, but as he did, he bumped the coffee table, overturning a candlestick, sending the candle rolling.

  They both jerked, startled. Marlee stared at him, dazed. “What was that?”

  “It’s just a candlestick. It’s all right.” He started to kiss her again, but she pushed him away.

  “We’d better stop,” she said.

  Understanding dawned. “You’re worried about Greg, aren’t you? Hey, it’s okay. He’s out like a light. He won’t hear a thing. Or we could go into your bedroom and lock the door.”

  She shook her head. “It’s not that. Or not only that. It’s—I’m not ready for this.”

  Whereas he’d been ready for months. Maybe years. But he didn’t want Marlee for just one night. He wanted the kind of love that lasted a lifetime, and he could wait for her to come to him.

  “Have dinner with me tomorrow,” he said. “Just the two of us.”

  “You mean…like a date?”

  “Yeah. A date.” He’d proved he could be a good father, now he would show her he could be a good partner to her as well.

  She looked doubtful. “I don’t think I can get a sitter on such short notice.”

  “I’ll find a sitter. Someone you’ll like. I promise.”

  She worried her lower lip between her teeth. He held his breath. Finally, she nodded. “All right. But I think you should go now.”

  “All right. I’ll see you tomorrow.” He got up from the couch and kissed her on the forehead, then turned and headed for the door. He had a lot to do before tomorrow night. Everything had to be perfect. The rest of his life depended on it.

  CHAPTER TEN

  MARLEE PACED back and forth across her bedroom floor the following evening, unable to settle down for a moment as she dressed. Were these earrings all right? Maybe she should wear her red blouse instead of the purple. Where were her shoes?

  “You look pretty, Mom.” Greg strolled into the room and plopped onto the bed.

  Marlee paused and stared at him. She didn’t have to ask where he’d acquired that tough-guy swagger or nonchalant tone of voice. It was the same place he’d learned his new way of standing, thumbs tucked into his belt loops, one hip cocked. Had he spent hours practicing in front of the mirror? Or had these new mannerisms surfaced naturally, heredity in action?

  The doorbell rang and she jumped. “I’ll get it!” Greg shouted and raced past her.

  She followed slowly down the hall, ignoring the furious pounding of her heart. It’s only dinner, she told herself.

  Dinner with Troy. Alone. And what would they do after dinner? They’d come so close to making love the night before. Tonight, with no interruptions, no child sleeping in the next room, would she finally surrender to temptation?

  She turned the corner and almost ran into Trish, who was coming out of the living room, carrying a grocery sack. “Trish, what are you doing here?” Marlee asked, confused.

  “Surprise!” Trish held up one arm. “I’m here to look after the G-man while you and Troy go out.” She opened her bag. “See, I came prepared. I’ve got videos, puzzle books, popcorn…”

  “I told you I’d get somebody nice.”

  Marlee looked up and saw Troy sauntering toward them. She drew in her breath, struck dumb by the sight of him in a black leather jacket and biker’s chaps over black jeans. Even his shirt was black, and looked so soft her fingers itched to touch it.

  “Talk about tall, dark and handsome,” Trish whispered in Marlee’s ear. “My roommate just about dropped her teeth when she answered the door and found him standing there.”

  “What are you two whispering about?” Troy halted in front of them. Greg stopped beside him. The little boy ran his hand up and down the leather chaps. Marlee’s knees felt weak as she wished she could do the same.

  “Wouldn’t you like to know?” Trish teased.

  “You look great, as always,” Troy said, smiling at Marlee.

  She smoothed her hand down the front of her short, full skirt. The skirt was black, setting off her purple silk blouse. She liked how the combination made her feel, but now, judging by the way Troy was looking at her, she wondered if the outfit wasn’t too revealing, showing too much leg, the blouse clinging too tightly. But then, Troy wouldn’t need much imagination—at one time he’d known her body as well as his own. The thought sent a quiver through her stomach.

  She knelt and drew Greg to her in a hug. “You be good and mind Trish, okay?”

  He squirmed and nodded. “All right, Mom.” He looked up at Troy, obviously embarrassed. “Why do girls have to get so mushy?”

  “Oh, I don’t know. When you get older, you might not think it’s so bad.” Troy chuckled and held out his hand. “Put her there, partner.”

  Marlee released her son so he could exchange high fives with Troy. A few last-minute instructions to Trish and they were out the door.

  Troy’s motorcycle sat in the driveway, the chrome shining in the glow of the porch light. He picked up a bright red helmet and handed it to her. “Put this on.”

  He helped her adjust the chin strap, then donned his own helmet and lowered the visor. “I remember when you used to ride behind me on my old bike,” he said.

  The engine rumbled to life and a corresponding tremor shot through her. “Climb on,” he said, his voice raised over the steady throb of the engine. “Use the footrests there and hold on tight.”

  She gripped the seat beneath her and stared at Troy’s broad back as he guided the bike down the driveway. He negotiated the turn onto the street and sped forward. Instinctively, Marlee reached for the only handhold in sight—Troy. She pressed her cheek into his jacket, closing her eyes against the dizzying sight of the street disappearing under the wheels.

  He turned onto the highway, toward the lake. As she adjusted to the sensation of speed and open air, Marlee began to relax. She eased her constricting hold on Troy and raised her head to look around, though she still kept her arms securely around him.

  She’d forgotten how exhilarating this could be. The world looked different from a motorcycle—closer, not shut off by protective metal and glass the way it was from a car. She noticed sights she’d never seen before, like graffiti on a bridge railing, and the almost fluorescent yellow and purple of wildflowers growing below lighted billboards.

  The sensation of holding Troy so close distracted her, yet he seemed oblivious, his attention on guiding the bike. They drove along the lake, past marinas and dry docks, up a narrow street to a small park beside the water. Marlee felt a cat
ch in her throat as she recognized their destination. She and Troy had spent many an evening in each other’s arms in this secret hideaway.

  He parked and shut off the engine. The silence closed in around them. Gradually, she made out the sound of water lapping against the shore, and the hum of the mercury-vapor light at the tackle shop. “Why did you bring me here?” she asked.

  “We needed someplace private to talk.” He swung his leg over the bike and climbed off. “I brought dinner. Why don’t we eat first.”

  She dismounted and watched Troy unpack a small cooler and a quilt from the saddlebags. He threw the quilt over one shoulder, then headed into the trees.

  She followed him, ducking under low branches, feeling almost as if she were walking back in time as she made her way along the narrow path.

  The path opened onto a clearing, twenty yards or so across. A picnic table sat on a swath of green grass beside the water, shielded from the rest of the park by trees. A full moon bathed the area in a silver glow.

  He spread the quilt over the table. “I stopped by the Central Market on my way to your house.”

  Marlee stared at the feast Troy placed before her. The food looked delicious—filled bites of puff pastry, stuffed mushrooms, cheese, fresh strawberries, chocolate. Exotic, sensuous food. Food for lovers to feed each other.

  “I wasn’t sure what you’d want, so I got a little bit of everything.” He met her eyes expectantly.

  “It…it all looks delicious.”

  “Yeah, well, better than what we used to eat here.” He chuckled.

  She thought his laughter sounded forced. Was he thinking the same thing she was—that what they’d eaten had never mattered? The French fries and cheeseburgers had only provided the energy to satisfy the more insistent hunger between them.

  “Why don’t I pour the drinks.” He twisted the cap on a bottle of soda, then filled a pair of plastic cups. “Not very elegant, I’m afraid.” His voice was steady, but his hand shook as he handed her the cup.

  She sipped the drink, the carbonation tickling her nose. Troy settled onto the other end of the picnic bench.

  Alone with him in such an intimate setting—one that brought back so many memories—Marlee wasn’t sure how to act. She told herself she’d have been nervous on any first date. But with Troy, every interaction was complicated by knowledge of what they’d had before, and all that had happened since. Her feelings for Troy were more complicated, as well. This wasn’t the Troy of their youth, but a more serious, determined man who had touched her heart and soul.

  “These mushrooms look wonderful.” She popped the hors d’oeuvre into her mouth. “Mmm. I wonder what kind of seasoning they use.” The mushroom might have been seasoned with sawdust for all she could taste it.

  Troy shifted on the bench. “Seasoning? Uh…I don’t know. I just picked up a few things so we could eat in private.”

  Private. Alone. Where they were free to do almost anything…. She drained the rest of the soda from her cup. “Wow. I was thirsty. Would you pour me some more?”

  “Marlee, why are you so nervous?”

  “N-nervous?” She leaned away from him, one hand going involuntarily to her throat. She felt naked beneath his gaze.

  He slid across the bench toward her. “What are you afraid of?” he asked, his voice a velvet growl.

  “I’m not afraid.” She leaned farther back, holding her breath and staring into his eyes, mesmerized.

  “Are you afraid I brought you here to seduce you?” He bent over her, his powerful body covering her, surrounding her. “You know I want you, don’t you?” He trailed one hand along her cheek, his touch as gentle as a feather, but with the possibility of power and strength. “Do you want to leave?”

  “No.” The word was a gasp. As she said it, she closed her eyes, and felt him pull her into his arms.

  She sighed as his mouth covered hers, his kiss insistent, searching. He swept his tongue inside her mouth, tasting, teasing, tantalizing her with promises of the delight that could be hers.

  Her fear evaporated, replaced by a hot urgency. She gripped the front of his jacket, letting the teeth of the zipper bite into her palms. She wanted to merge her body with his and never let go.

  He resisted her grasp, moving away and holding her at arm’s length. The seductive look he gave her made her squirm in frustration. “We’ve waited so long already,” he said, his voice rough with desire. He kissed her gently on the forehead. “But I won’t rush. I want to make it right for you…so right.”

  He caressed her with his gaze, telling her how much he wanted her, needed her. Eyes locked on hers, he freed her blouse from her skirt and eased his hand up her side. He stroked her ribs, sending delicious tremors through her, then cupped her breast in his palm. The heat of his touch burned away her last hesitation.

  She let her head fall back. “Don’t stop,” she breathed. “Please, don’t stop.” With the cool night air around her and the moonlit sky overhead, Marlee felt wild and wanton, like a teenager again, but with a woman’s knowledge of life to deepen her lust.

  But Troy did stop, one hand covering her breast, the other at her back, supporting her. “Marlee, we can’t do this here,” he said.

  She blinked, bringing her surroundings into focus. This was a public park and they were adults, no longer irresponsible teenagers. “We could go to your place,” she said.

  He shook his head. “My place is a mess—a typical bachelor pad.” He stroked her cheek with the back of his hand. “You deserve better.”

  She thought of her own bed, so clean and comfortable…but Trish and Greg were there. “We could get a room somewhere,” she said.

  Hope brightened the desire in his eyes. “If you’re sure…”

  “I’m sure.” She stood and began gathering up the picnic. “Come on.”

  They didn’t speak on the ride to a hotel on the lake.

  She waited with the bike while Troy checked in and returned to her with the room key. Though she couldn’t imagine eating, they carried the picnic into the elevator with them. They stood on opposite sides of the car, watching the numbers light up as they rode to the fourteenth floor. They were careful not to touch, as if aware that to do so would break down their last inhibitions.

  Only when they were safely inside the room, with the lights on and door locked, did she turn to Troy.

  “This was a good idea,” he said. “Much better than my place.”

  “Shh.” She put two fingers to his lips. “Kiss me,” she whispered.

  There was nothing gentle about the way Troy crushed his mouth to hers, but the ferocity of the caress matched her need for him. She rose on her toes, straining to be even closer, and they tugged at each other’s clothes.

  They fell upon the bed, still half-dressed, and lay facing each other. He ran one finger under the edge of her bra, his rough skin snagging on the smooth satin. She quivered at the first stroking touch of his finger, and pressed against him, wanting so much more.

  He lifted his head. “Look at me,” he whispered.

  Marlee opened her eyes and his gaze stripped her emotions of all pretense, laying them bare. The intensity of his expression made her shiver with desire.

  He began to lavish kisses along her jaw, down her neck, across her shoulders. He unbuttoned her blouse and blazed a path to the top of her breast, then continued across the fabric, suckling her hard, aching nipple through the satin.

  She moaned at the contact, writhing beneath him as he transferred his attention from one breast to the other.

  “I’ve dreamed about this for seven years,” he murmured as he unfastened her bra. “Sometimes I thought I’d go crazy from wanting you so much.” He began to lick and suckle each naked breast in turn until she thought she’d go mad with longing.

  He smiled at her, full of the knowledge of his power over her, then he edged one finger up her leg, to the aching juncture of her thighs. She arched toward him, urging him closer.

  He stopped and moved a
way. She whimpered and reached for him. “Hush,” he soothed. He unzipped his pants, then pulled a package from his pocket. “I’m not going away.” He tossed the condom onto the nightstand, then leaned over to help her out of her panties.

  He bent his head and kissed her curls, his tongue finding the center of her desire and coaxing her to the brink. She was panting now, reaching for that wonderful height.

  He stopped and raised his head. “Say you want me,” he said.

  “Wh-what?”

  He slid up her body, bringing his face close to hers. “I want to hear you say it. Say you want me.”

  She stared at him, at his passion-darkened eyes, his mouth wet with her own arousal. She had never wanted anyone more. “I want you,” she breathed.

  He kneeled between her legs and sheathed himself in the condom. Then he was filling her, stroking her, driving her to the edge.

  TROY WATCHED the play of emotion on Marlee’s face and felt a storm of feeling he struggled to control. So many dark nights and lonely mornings the memory of their lovemaking had tortured him. To have another chance to love her was too sweet a blessing to take in.

  His passion threatened to overwhelm him, but he forced himself to wait for her, as she’d waited for him all these years.

  He coaxed her toward her climax, felt her muscles tense, then throb with the strength of her release. Closing his eyes, he abandoned himself to his own driving need. He came powerfully, emptying himself completely.

  Eyes shut tight, he pulled her close and rolled onto his side. She wrapped one leg around him as if to keep him near. He kissed her ear. “Don’t worry. I won’t ever leave you again,” he whispered.

  “I won’t let you leave.”

  He stroked her back, waiting for his heartbeat to return to normal.

  She snuggled closer and chuckled softly.

  “What are you laughing about?” he asked.

  “Before, I was so nervous…and excited, I couldn’t eat. Now I’m starving.”

  “Oh, you are, are you?” He pushed himself out of bed and crossed the room, naked, aware of her gaze on him. He quickly filled a plate from their picnic leftovers and brought it to her.