Chapter 6: First Priority
Melissa
Working from home at the beach is possibly the absolute best outcome I could’ve ever imagined. Waking up to find Derek in my bed only makes it a million times better.
Leaning back on my sun porch as the waves crash a short distance away, I smile warmly remembering our incredible morning. Now he needs to stop being so stubborn and relocate.
It’s chilly, and I’m wearing fleece pants, a long-sleeved red tee with a fuzzy blanket wrapped around my shoulders. In my thick socks, I’m cozy enough to nap, but I’m working on a marketing plan for Aunt Bea to take her cupcake bakery online. She’s completely baffled by how it all works, of course, but with her skills and built-in clientele, she’ll take off in no time.
I’ve just hit send on the email explaining it to her in as simple terms as possible, then I wrap the cozy blanket a bit tighter around my shoulders and drift into a pleasant slumber, hoping that when I wake, my sweet love will be by my side again.
My sleep is troubled, and even with the blanket, I shiver. A sound like scissors flicks near my ear, and I flinch. Cutting… Something’s cutting… My hair?
No, that’s wrong.
The expression “someone walked over my grave” drifts through my hazy brain, and I feel so afraid, I might cry.
Derek… where is Derek? I need him here. I need him to protect me.
It doesn’t matter if I tell him I’m strong, and I can take care of myself. I’m afraid. The terror holding me won’t let go, and all I want is my big man.
It’s dark. My heart is thundering in my chest, and with a cold certainty, I recognize the sound of his footsteps, the spicy smell of his cologne. It stings my nose and makes my throat close up.
Sloan.
He’s here.
I can’t catch my breath.
The baby. I have to protect the baby…
Footsteps pound louder, closer, and with a loud gasp, I bolt upright on the couch.
But I’m alone.
It was just a dream.
“Oh, my god!” My trembling hand goes over my face, and I can’t stop the tears streaming down my cheeks.
“Melissa?” Apparently the footsteps weren’t a dream. Derek bursts through the side door, and without hesitation, I fly off the couch into his arms. Instantly they surround me as he kisses my head, speaking against my hair. “You’re okay. I’m here now. You’re safe.”
His voice is tense as he holds me tightly, and gradually, my shaking calms. He eases me back and bends down to look in my eyes. “What happened? Why are you crying?”
Even though his voice is soothing, his entire body is on edge. His muscles seem larger, like he’s ready to fight. That’s when I find my strength. Shaking myself, I place my palms flat against my cheeks.
“I’m sorry.” Breathe, Melissa, breathe. “I… I had the most vivid dream. I thought someone was here… I-It scared me.”
My fingers curl, and he holds me close again. I bury my face in his chest, and the last of my terror slowly recedes.
Derek isn’t satisfied. He covers me with the blanket. “I’m going to look around, make sure you weren’t picking up on something in your sleep.”
He steps to the screen door and turns the little latch, locking it. My brow lines. “What do you mean? Did you see something?”
His face is stoic, but it softens with a smile when he glances down at me. “No, but I want to check the place out just in case,” touching my cheek lightly, “you’re very attuned to your surroundings.”
“For a while I had to be.”
He continues into the house, his mouth in a firm line. I stay on the couch, pulling the soft blanket tightly as I wait.
It’s later in the afternoon than I normally nap, but having Derek here causes my sleep patterns to shift. More specifically, I don’t sleep as much at night—even though he tries to let me. It’s hard to care about rest with him in my bed.
The sounds of him moving around inside drift to me on the sea breeze. He’s opening closet doors and looking for any signs of disturbance. It’s very comforting, even though I feel silly worrying him so much over a bad dream, which was probably induced by all the preoccupation with my ex.
Further down below us the waves crash against the shoreline. One of the things I love about my new home is how secluded it is from the rest of civilization, but I confess, Derek’s current obsession with Sloan’s whereabouts has me spooked.
I can’t tell him what my nightmare was really about.
Joining me on the side porch, he pulls me close against his chest again. “Nothing seems out of place, but I don’t know what all you did while I was gone.”
“Just worked, came out here. Then I was tired and took a nap.”
I can see him thinking, and I almost jump out of my skin at the very loud and completely unexpected roar of a motorcycle engine. We’re both up, but I beat him to the door.
“Why is Patrick on a Harley?”
Derek’s lips tighten, and he catches me by the waist, pulling me back and flipping the lock on the door. “Stay here.”
Frowning, I watch as he stalks out to meet his partner.
Patrick’s royal blue Charger is in my driveway next to Derek’s black Audi, and I can only assume they got separated somehow. But how? I can’t hear what they’re saying. Patrick’s expression wavers back and forth between irritation and relief, and they talk for a few minutes longer. Then Patrick walks over and straddles the bike once more. He pulls the black helmet over his head and kicks the engine to life. Derek gives him a nod, and with a roar, his partner heads toward town.
Derek turns and heads back to the house. His brow is furrowed, and he studies the ground as he walks. One arm is crossed, and he’s holding his bicep, the other hand is a clenched fist.
Stepping back, I let him in the door, but he pauses to flip the metal lock again before taking my hand and leading me into the house.
“I feel like I’m the one out of the loop.” The blanket is still clutched over my shoulders as I follow him.
He doesn’t answer.
“How did you and Patrick get separated?”
We’re in the kitchen now, and I watch as he pulls down an unopened bottle of Scotch. “Patrick invited us over for dinner tonight.”
He cracks the seal and pours a small amount into a glass and shoots it back. A little wince creases his eyes, and he puts the glass in the sink.
“I’ve never seen you drink in the afternoon.”
I’m back in his arms, and his face is buried in my hair as he inhales deeply. A warm shiver travels up my arms despite my concern.
“I’ve never been so worried about you.” His voice is low against my neck. “But you’re okay now. And I’m here.”
I’m unsure how to pursue this. My dream-inspired panic is fresh in my memory, and now he’s behaving so strangely. I want to argue. I want to fight this type of existence, to insist this isn’t how I’m going to live, dammit. I won’t be afraid in my own home.
But anxiety is still holding my shoulders tightly. With a sigh, I step back and manage a smile. “If we’re having dinner at Elaine’s, I want to shower first. We always stay late.”
He smiles in response, but it’s not as bright as usual. “Not too late. I know you need your rest.”
Stretching up on my tiptoes, I kiss his lips. “Thanks.” Then I head back to my bedroom to get ready. For the short-term, I’ll trust him and put this discussion on hold.
Thursday night always feels like the start of the weekend, even though Friday is still a workday. Elaine stands by the stove, a glass of white wine in her hand when we arrive. The room smells like tomato-ey deliciousness, and my friend is still dressed from school in a navy pencil skirt and a pink sweater-set. She’s also barefoot, and her light-blonde hair is pulled up in a messy bun.
“Come in!” She calls, giving the pot one last stir before dropping the wooden spoon and stepping over to hug me. “I hope you’re in the mood for Italian. Oh, Mel. You’re absolutely glowing!”
She squeezes my arms before smiling up at Derek. “You’re now officially my third favorite person on the planet.”
He laughs and leans down to kiss her cheek. Her head tilts toward him. “I guess third is better than thirtieth.”
“Well, I have to count Patrick first, Melissa second—”
“I’ve been replaced!”
She laughs, and just then Patrick emerges from the side room, his arms full of laundry. “Hey, guys.” The sunshine is back in his voice, and it’s very reassuring.
“She’s got you doing laundry now?” Shaking my head, I glance up at Derek.
“I’ve got a service that comes once a week.” He almost sounds apologetic, which makes me laugh more.
Patrick pauses to speak low in my ear. “Not all of us are as set as Mr. Alexander.”
“Wait!” Elaine stops him and pulls a dress out of the load. “This is dry clean only.”
“Sorry, babe, but it’s got a little stain on it.” He gives her a wink, and she shakes her head.
She doesn’t notice that when she pulls out the dress, a gold silk tie goes with it. It hits the floor, and I pick it up, noticing how horribly misshapen and nearly torn it is. “Oh, no!” Flipping it over, I see an Armani label.
Patrick reemerges from the laundry room. “What?”
“Your tie is ruined. What happened to it?”
“Oh!” Elaine charges back and snatches it out of my hand. Her cheeks are flaming red, and Patrick laughs loudly.
“Elaine, tell number two what happened to my best tie.” That devilish gleam is in his eye, and it takes me a second to catch up. “My kinky fiancée thought she’d play dominatrix, but I had to set her straight.”
“Patrick Knight!” My best friend’s voice is a loud command as she returns from dropping both items in their bedroom.
“There she goes again.”
Derek coughs a laugh, and my eyebrows fly up. “Well, okay then.” I’m trying not to laugh, too. “TMI, number one.”
“Good work.” Derek gives him a fist bump. I elbow my own fiancé sharply in the stomach. He grunts another laugh. “I mean… sorry about your tie?”
Elaine’s voice is high, and her back is turned while she stabs the wooden spoon in the pot repeatedly. “We can all just stop talking about it now!”
“I’m only teasing you, babe.” Patrick goes behind her and holds her waist before kissing her neck. “You know I love your little stunts.”
I cross to the cabinet and pull down another wine glass. “On that note, we should have drinks. Derek, wine?”
He nods, and I go to the fridge to pull out the bottle of pinot grigio Elaine’s having and a root beer. “You got my favorite.”
She glances over her shoulder past Patrick. “Yeah, I figured you were getting sick of ginger ale all the time.”
Derek takes the wine glass from me and follows Patrick into the living room. They immediately launch into a discussion, but Patrick’s speaking so low I can barely hear him.
“I touched base with Toni and assured them we’d be back tomorrow. Gabe wants his bike now, but he’ll give me twenty-four hours.”
Derek’s voice is equally low. “I don’t like leaving her while he’s still MIA.”
Frustrated, I go to where they’re talking. “Please tell me what’s going on. You know I don’t like being in the dark.”
Derek’s shoulders drop, and Patrick turns to me. “Sloan’s gone off the radar. We don’t like it in view of what happened in Baltimore. We still don’t have answers, and we’re not ready.”
My brow lines. “Ready for what?”
“We’ve been working on a plan since the Jessica Black report turned up. Derek was trying to establish a financial connection, but it was going nowhere. Sloan’s too experienced at covering his tracks.”
I look up at Derek, and he catches my hand. “Patrick’s idea could work, but we hadn’t started talking about it when my man in Baltimore alerted me that Sloan was missing.”
The dream, the memory of feeling like he was there watching me, causes a strange roaring sound to grow in my ears. Shivers fly up my shoulders, and I understand the meaning of Derek’s panicked appearance, Patrick’s following behind on the motorcycle. “You drove back today because you were afraid—”
“He left me stranded in Raleigh,” Patrick tries to laugh it off, but it isn’t working. “I had to borrow Lylah’s boyfriend’s bike, and that is not something those guys do lightly. I had to leave my watch with him.”
“Your Tag?”
“I’ll get it back.”
My eyes move to Derek’s, and I can’t decide which of the emotions surging through me is stronger—the intense love I feel for him or the intense hatred I feel for my ex.
The noise is pushing against my temples, and I step into the loving arms waiting for me. I hold his waist, and he holds me tightly until my trembling subsides.
“I hate this so much.” My voice is barely above a whisper, but he hears me.
His voice is a low vibration in response. “I’m going to fix it. You’ll never be afraid again.”
Hidden in his arms, inhaling the clean-woodsy scent I love, I find calm. Until finally I’m able to look around again, and I notice how quiet it is in the room. Patrick is back in the kitchen talking to Elaine.
Lifting my chin, Derek smiles before kissing my lips. “I’m not going anywhere if you don’t feel safe. You and the baby are my first priority now.”
Shaking my head, I push my hair behind my ears, working hard to regain my composure. “I can go to Mom’s office tomorrow and work. I’ll be okay. It’s like I keep saying, he cannot win. I won’t let him.”
Elaine calls from the kitchen. “Feel like eating something?”
Touching his rough cheek, I nod. “Let’s have dinner. You and Patrick keep your plans for tomorrow.”
His lips press into a smile, and he takes my hand in his, kissing the backs of my fingers before walking with me to the table. Elaine smiles and steps around to squeeze my shoulders. “If you ever want to hang out with me at school, I can always use an extra set of hands.”
“Thanks.” I pat her back. “I think I’ll spend the afternoon with Mom tomorrow, but I’ll keep your offer just in case.”
“We’ll have the information we need by tomorrow, I expect.” Patrick joins us at the table. “Then it’ll just be a matter of timing. We can plan it all out from here, where we can keep an eye on you.”
He winks at me, but when Derek speaks, his voice is serious. “I appreciate you watching her for me these past weeks.”
Shaking out my napkin and putting it in my lap, I pretend to be offended. “All this time, I thought you kept inviting me over because you enjoyed my company.”
Elaine passes the basket of bread. “You’ve been eating us out of house and home. Jeez! I’m glad Derek’s finally here.”
“I have not!”
She bursts out laughing. “I was only teasing! But I want some beachside dinners at your place now.”
“You got it. I love having you guys over.”
The rest of dinner conversation is devoted to easy subjects—the weather, Patrick’s newfound desire to own a Harley, Elaine’s loud protests over the dangers of motorcycles. It’s not very late when we call it a night, and as we say our goodbyes, I catch Patrick’s arm, pulling him aside. Derek and Elaine continue talking.
“Thank you for watching over me.”
He smiles and shrugs. “I promised Derek. Besides, it wasn’t any more than he’d have done for me.”
My eyes narrow. “You say that, but I know better. I also won’t hear anything bad about you ever again. Everybody’d better look out.”
“That might be hard. There’s plenty of bad about me that’s true.”
“Not for me. It’s all good now.” He breathes a chuckle, but I’m not through. “Would you promise me something this time?”
Golden-hazel eyes meet mine. “What?”
“Promise you’ll look after him now. For me.” I touch his arm. “Don’t let him do anything…” What’s the right way to say it? “Anything that could mean he’ll be taken away from me?”
His warm hand covers mine. “You mean anything illegal or potentially deadly?”
“Exactly.”
“I promise. I’ve got his back.” Patrick isn’t smiling, and I know I can trust him. He means what he says.
Derek’s with us, and we drop the subject, acting casual, like we were just discussing how to get Elaine onboard the Harley train.
My fiancé takes my hand, pausing before we go out the door. “I’ll meet you at ten. We should be there by noon to wrap this up and make a plan.”
“See you in the morning.”
The cottage is dark and quiet when we arrive. Derek stops in the kitchen to check his messages, but I go straight through the house, flipping on lights, refusing to be timid in my own place.
I go to the bathroom and switch on the hot water. An oversized, jetted bathtub is one of the perks of living in an intended vacation residence, and tonight my whole body craves the comfort of a steaming, swirling bubble bath.
Digging under the cabinet, I find the jar of foaming bath salts I bought at the spa in Scottsdale and add several scoops to the stream rushing from the faucet. Once the temperature is right and the bubbles have risen, I strip out of all my clothes, tie up my hair and slide down into the cactus-flower-scented jets.
The water is the perfect level of hotness. My head rests on a foam pillow attached to the side, and I close my eyes, allowing the swirling water to soothe away the night. I don’t realize I’m asleep until the soft press of Derek’s lips against my forehead followed by the light scruff of his beard against my brow wakes me. My eyes flutter open, and he smiles down, fully dressed and leaning over the tub.
“Tired?” His voice is gentle.
Nodding, I lift one hand out of the now-warm water and touch his cheek. “Join me?”
I watch as he unbuttons his sleeve and rolls it up to his elbow. One hand on the wall behind my head, he leans forward and captures my lips as his other hand slides beneath the foam to cup my breast.
A breathy moan slips from my mouth into his, and keeping my eyes closed, I cover his hand with mine, following his movements from one breast to the other, his thumb slowly circling my hardening nipples.
He leans up and our eyes meet. “Good news.” My eyebrows rise with curiosity, and he continues. “Sloan’s back on the radar. He’s in Charleston. Bennett’s watching him and promises to keep me updated.”
“Now you don’t have to worry.” My voice is thick from napping followed by all the steamy kisses and touches. “I can stay home and work tomorrow.”
“I’d still like it if you had someone with you.” His voice is soft with a touch of sexy, fanning the heat he’s aroused in me.
“I’d like it if you were less clothed and in here while we discuss it.”
“I’m not sure we’ll do much discussing that way.”
Sitting forward in the tub, I carefully unfasten his buttons with the tips of my fingers until his olive chest is revealed. A scattering of dark hair covers the top of his lined torso, and I chew my bottom lip remembering how it feels against my breasts. With the pad of his thumb, he touches my mouth.
“Don’t bite your lip.” He leans in and brushes his against mine. “Let me do that.”
He gives me a little nibble, and I’m coming undone. “You’re taking too long.”
In a flash he stands, pushes his dark jeans down his hips, taking his boxer briefs with them. My breath catches at the sight of his gorgeous body nude in front of me. He’s fully erect as he steps in and slides beneath the foam at the opposite end of the tub.
“Mmm… warm.” Large hands slide to my waist, pulling me onto his lap as he leans back in the water. I’m already slick, so it doesn’t take much. I reach around behind me and guide his tip into my throbbing opening. We both sigh as he rocks deep into me.
I lean forward, holding the tub on each side of his head while his mouth covers my breast, sucking a tight nipple.
A loud moan from me, and he moves up, his voice cracking in my ear. “We’ll probably get water everywhere.”
The sound of his growing desire sparks mine even hotter. “That’s what towels are for.”
His lips consume my words, his tongue sweeping in to find mine, and his hands grip my ass beneath the surface. Holding my body still, his hips rock into mine. Our mouths break away with a groan, and the water is swaying with us, splashing over the side. His mouth is at my shoulder, and he gives me another little bite. I tremble, holding him as his thrusting increases in speed and depth.
My orgasm mounts, and I feel my brow tense in ecstasy as he moves. The tightness below my navel becomes unbearable until at last it breaks, leaving me crying out his name. His movements don’t slow, and I clutch his shoulders. The sound of me coming seems to push him over, and after a few final thrusts, he groans low, shooting off deep between my quivering thighs.
His hips move slower, and I kiss him along his rough jaw. My body is so relaxed and satisfied. I make my way to his ear, whispering my love for him as his arms wrap tightly around my waist. He kisses my neck, moving his hands out of the water to cup my cheeks, bringing my face so our eyes are level.
“Nothing is going to take you away from me.” His blue eyes are intense, and his brow lowered.
Nodding, I lift my own hands out of the water, lightly holding his neck, my thumbs at the corners of his mouth. “Nothing.”
An inhale, and he pulls me against him, my cheek at his forehead, his face against my chest. For several moments we hold each other, until I notice the water is growing cold.
Lifting my head and sliding back down to kiss his nose, I smile. “Let’s move this party to the bed, okay?”
A sexy grin spreads across his lips. “I’ll have to get used to being with you longer than three days. We don’t have to be so urgent, trying to make the most of every moment.”
“Hmm.” I can’t help a frown. “I’m not sure I like the sound of that.”
“You won’t always be the ‘horny pregnant lady,’ as you like to say. I’m sure you’ll appreciate me pacing myself.”
My lips poke out as I consider this suggestion. Then my eyes roam from his thick dark waves tipped with bath water, hanging sexy in his blue eyes, his scruffy beard and full lips hiding straight white teeth. His amazing body…
“I think we should just play this whole ‘pacing ourselves’ thing by ear.”
He laughs and pulls me against him, rolling us in the tub so that we’re chest to chest, our bodies touching from head to toe under the water. I shriek and laugh, loving his possessiveness.
“Nobody. Is taking you away from me.” He emphasizes the words softly before covering my lips again with his.
Chasing his kisses, laughing as happiness radiates through my core, it’s hard for me to ever imagine having enough of him. But I wiggle, struggling to free myself from his vice grip. At once, he releases me.
“We’re going to catch a chill if we don’t get out of this tub. Not to mention turning into prunes.” Standing, I reach for a fluffy white towel as his hands slide up my leg.
He sits up and kisses the side of my thigh. I reach back and slide my hand through is hair before stepping out. “Come on.”
The grin on his face as he watches me dry myself tightens my stomach. His expression is a mixture of raw desire and pure appreciation. And love. Always love.
I can’t help feeling a little self-conscious about my new figure as I drop a few towels around the tub to soak up the spilled water. “Meet you in the bedroom.”
I head down the hall, hurrying to my dresser. I have something red and lacy in mind, something I know is Derek’s favorite, but I pause in front of my mirror, my eyes searching my neck in the reflection.
A flash of panic hits me, and I quickly feel all around the dresser top. I don’t know how I didn’t notice before. The excitement I was just feeling is gone, and I grasp my neck. Where is it?
Running back to the bathroom, the towel still tied under my arms, I pass him headed in my direction.
He steps back against the wall. “Melissa?”
Confusion is in his voice, but I can only think one thing. “No!” I cry, plunging my hands into the receding water and feeling around frantically.
I can’t find it. I sit back on my heels watching the water disappear. “No no NO!!!” Diving forward, I plunge both my hands in the half-inch left, frantically sweeping dying bubbles aside, feeling all over the bottom of the large tub.
Derek grasps my upper arms. “Mel, you’re scaring me. What’s wrong?”
“It’s not here.” My throat is so tight, I almost can’t speak the words. Jumping up, I run to the kitchen, my eyes sweeping every inch of the floor as I go.
My bag is sitting on the counter, and I grab it, flip it over and dump the contents all over the bar. Lipstick, wallet, keys, pens, peppermint, loose change, dental floss… I sweep my fingers through it all, desperate. “No!” I whisper, my voice cracking with tears.
Derek’s right with me as I run out to the side porch, flipping on the light. So much adrenaline is pulsing through me, I don’t even notice the cold. Shoving my hands into the cushions, I grasp and feel…
Nothing. Nothing…
It’s not there.
“Oh, god!” I collapse against the small couch, a flood of tears streaming down my cheeks. “I’ve lost it… I’ve lost it.”
“What, baby?” Derek’s voice cracks now. “What have you lost?”
“Your necklace…” A sob hiccups in my throat, momentarily stealing my words. “Your heart… I lost it. Oh god…”
More tears soak my cheeks, and he pulls me against his chest. We’re both sitting cross-legged in towels on the floor of my screened-in side porch. It’s freezing, but I can’t tell if I’m shaking from the cold or the heartbreak.
One large hand holds my waist, the other smooths my back, but even Derek’s massive strength can salvage what’s happened.
I lean back to look at him, but I can’t speak. The shivering and crying have stolen my words.
I can tell he’s lost. His brow creases with helplessness. “But… It wasn’t really my heart. It was just a symbol—”
Shaking my head, my chin drops. “No. You gave it to me. It was the first thing you ever gave me, and I loved it so much.” Tears are streaming down my face. I can’t stop them.
I’m on the verge of ugly crying, and I don’t even care. That little necklace was more precious to me than the most expensive piece of jewelry I might ever get in my life, and now it’s gone.
“Melissa. Stop. Look at me.” He lifts my chin and pulls my face close to his, kissing the tears on my cheeks. “My heart is here, with you. You always have my heart, even without a symbol. I’m always yours.”
I slip my arm around his neck, burying my face against his shoulder, and he gathers me to his chest and stands, holding me. For the briefest second, I wonder at his ability to do that so easily. Then my memory floods as he walks us back to the bedroom and fresh tears come.
“You’re so tired.” His voice is quiet and soothing as he places me on the bed, pulling back the blankets. “We’ll look for it tomorrow. It’ll turn up. I promise.”
I want to believe that, but somehow, I’m certain it’s gone.
Untying the towel still under my arms, he removes it then lifts my legs and puts them between the sheets. We’re both naked when he slides in beside me. Hugging me close, he strokes the top of my arm slowly.
“Just rest, and trust me. We’ll find that necklace.” His voice is warm and comforting, and I must be more tired than I realized. Or the sadness has taken my strength.
Either way, it’s not long before my heavy limbs relax, and I succumb to sleep.