Chapter 19
SHANE LEANED BACK on the sofa in his family room, plopping his legs onto the coffee table as he watched Kara beat his son in a game of NHL hockey on Xbox. He wondered if Kara knew he was letting her win, though Kara had some skills, which was shocking, but she did play the game well.
“No… No… crap,” Kevin said as the buzzer went off, ending the game. The final score was Kara with 3 goals, Kevin with 2. “Two out of three?” Kevin asked.
“It’s already almost ten and you’ve got school tomorrow.”
“Oh,” Kevin said. “I didn’t realize it was that late.” He pushed himself off the floor, reaching his hand out to Kara. “But I demand a rematch.”
“Sure thing.” She took his hand and let him help her up. “See you tomorrow.”
“Goodnight,” Kevin said.
“Not so fast. Come over here and give your old man a hug.”
Kevin rolled his eyes, but relented. “And before you say it, meds and brush my teeth, and blah blah blah.” Kevin then gave Kara a big hug before heading through kitchen and disappearing up the stairs.
“I know he let me win,” Kara said. “But it felt damn good.”
Shane laughed as he wagged his finger and patted the cushion next to him.
“I’m not in the mood to get caught necking by your niece again.”
“Just sit down,” he said. Theresa had actually made a point of saying she was up for the night. At least that’s how he took it when she said, ‘I won’t be back down, too much homework, and then I need some sleep’, but he also didn’t want to neck on the sofa. He wanted to wait half an hour, then take her to his bedroom, lock the door, and ravish her body seven different ways.
She snuggled in next to him, putting her feet on the coffee table and her hand on his thigh.
It was a good start. “Thanks for coming back here. It meant a lot to him.”
“He’s a really great kid. Kind of impossible not to love him,” she said. “Shall we catch the last few minutes of the news?”
He wanted to respond to the word love, but also wanted to watch some of the news. He’d approach the love subject later. He clicked on the television, then scooted all the way to the far end of the sofa, pulling her between his legs as he leaned against the armrest, the television angled in front of him. One thing he didn’t like about the family room was that the sofa and television were perpendicular.
He wrapped his arms around her, resting his chin on the top of her head. For the next twenty minutes they watched the news, saying nothing, even after the incident at the McCauley’s’ had been reported, which lead right into how Cleary had been picked up for a DUI. Once the newscaster closed the program, Shane clicked off the television. He pressed his lips against her temple, rubbing his hands up and down her arms. “Sorry I was an ass at my parents’ house.”
“Had I not grabbed your hand, it wouldn’t have happened.”
“What did you and my mother talk about?”
“Not much, but she made me feel welcome.”
“I told you they all would,” Shane said.
“Mike’s wife seems so different from everyone else,” Kara said.
“She is, but it was going to take someone very different to get Mike to settle down. We were all shocked when he said they were serious. He met her and six months later they were married.”
“They look happy.”
“They are,” Shane said. “Come on.” He pushed her from his chest, then took her by the hand as he turned off the family room light, then the kitchen light. She followed him until they got to the stairs, then she stopped, tugging her hand free.
“I don’t think this is a good idea.”
“I’m not taking you to the hotel. If you want to leave, I’ll give the keys to my car. You can come back and get me in the morning.” He reached out, hoping she’d take his hand. “I don’t want you to go.”
“It’s not that I want to go,” she said. “I just don’t think—”
“Just stay with me. I don’t care if all we do is sleep.”
She cocked her head. “Right.”
He laughed. “Okay, so I do care, but I won’t push.”
“I don’t believe that.” She reached out and took his hand. “You’re irresistible.”
He smiled, lacing his fingers through hers, and led her to the top of the stairs. Kevin’s door was open slightly. He tiptoed over, and peeked his head in. His son lay on his back, a book resting against his chest. Shane quickly and quietly entered his son’s room, shutting off the reading lamp, then gently closed his door. Theresa’s door was shut tight and Shane could hear the faint rumble of music.
Kara was already in his bedroom, leaning against his dresser. He shut the door, locked it, and turned on the television, which was hung on the wall across from his king-size bed. “I always fall asleep with the TV on,” he said.
She laughed. “When you used to sneak me in at night, we’d turn the TV on so no one would hear us.”
“That, too.” There was something very real about having her in his bedroom. In his home. “There’s a T-shirt in the top drawer you can sleep in. If you want, I have some pajama bottoms.”
She nodded. “Extra toothbrush?”
“I’ve got some new ones in the linen closet in the bathroom. I think I have everything you might need.”
“What about tomorrow morning?”
That reality hadn’t hit him. He thought for a moment. “Wake up early, take my car back to the hotel, then come back and pick me up.”
“I can do that.” She turned and opened the dresser drawer, pulling out one of his shirts. “Mind if I use the bathroom first?”
“Go ahead.” He pulled the black comforter and gray sheets back on both sides of the bed. It had been a long time since he’d slept with a woman. It felt like a lifetime ago that he’d held Kara in his arms all night long. He turned off the lights. The glow of the television was enough. He tapped on the bathroom door.
“Come in,” she said. She stood there in his T-shirt, which barely came down over her ass. He tilted his head. Her ass cheeks peeked out from under the fabric. He reached out and lifted it, noting a tiny thong before she batted his hand away.
“Well, my shirt doesn’t cover your butt and I was just checking to see what you had on under there.”
“Right.” She rinsed out the toothbrush. “You still like the left side of the bed?”
“I’m going to be on whatever side of the bed you’re on, so I don’t care.”
She pulled the shirt down over her ass as she padded out of the bathroom, shutting the door behind her.
He groaned and quickly got ready for bed.
He clicked off the light, and stepped into the bedroom. She was tucked under the covers on the right side of the bed. She smiled at him as he slid himself under the sheets. He lay on his side, staring at her for a moment. “I’ve never had anyone here before.”
“I’ve heard that line before,” she said. “I think the first time you tried to get into my pants was in your bedroom.”
“As I recall, I wasn’t very successful that night.”
“You got in there.”
“Not that night. I thought you were going to make me wait forever.”
His breath hitched at the sight of her wide, teasing smile.
“Was I worth the wait?”
“Hell, yeah.” He palmed her cheek. “Perhaps this isn’t the most appropriate thing to say while you’re half-naked in my bed, but while I moved on, fell in love again, and had a son, I never stopped thinking about you. I’ve always only wanted you to be happy.”
“I think that’s the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me.”
“Janet and I sometimes talked about you. She knew how important you’d been to my childhood, and she never tried to erase your memory or take away how much I loved you.”
“Are you trying to make me cry?” She leaned closer, brushing her plump lips against his, then abruptly pulled back. “Did you hear that?”
“It’s the heater kicking in,” he said with a slight chuckle.
“I should go,” she whispered. “What if Kevin wakes up? Or needs you in the middle of the night?”
“He’ll knock on the door.” Shane could understand her reservations. He had his own set, but since his time with her was limited he wanted to spend every moment he could with her…outside the confines of a murder investigation. “He suspects something is going on with us anyway.”
“He said that?”
“No,” Shane admitted, “but I know my son; the way he is around you is like no other woman he’s met since his mother died, and I think part of that is that you’re the only woman I’ve had any interest in.” He slipped his hand under the sheets, tugging at the hem of his shirt that draped over the middle of her thigh. “I want you.”
“It’s not that I don’t want you, but—”
“No buts.” Swiftly, he lifted her shirt over her head. He pulled back the covers and groaned at the sight of her mostly-naked body. She propped her head up with one hand, while she’d pulled her other hand away from his body and let it drop along the side of her leg. All her curves exposed. Her nipples tight and ready. He reached out and traced his finger from just under her earlobe, across her neck, and down the center of her cleavage. Her body quivered.
“God, I love that,” he said as he continued to trace a path with his forefinger across her flat stomach, circling her belly button, then down a little further, stopping at the top of her tiny thong. “This has to go.” He rolled it down her hips and yanked it off her legs. “You’re more beautiful than you were when you were eighteen.”
“You’re really working the lines.”
“It’s the truth.” He smiled. “I was thinking about the night I suckered Dave into letting me use his car even though I didn’t have a license yet, and I took you to the train tracks near his house. You surprised me that night.”
“I surprised myself.” Her sweet smile made every inch of his body ache for her gentle touch.
“I liked that very much.”
“I remember,” she said. “Why don’t you take your boxers off and see if you still like it?”
He didn’t hesitate, tossing them onto the floor.
She reached out and ran her finger across his chest, grazing one of his nipples.
He hissed.
Then she did the same thing to the other one before running her hand down his side, moving closer as she squeezed his ass. Her hand then slid down his thigh, then up again, this time cupping him in the most intimate way.
A guttural groan escaped his lips. It took every ounce of control not to stop her. She could do things to him that would bring him to an immediate climax, but she knew that, and enjoyed teasing him as much as he did her. So he let her gently stroke him, wrapping her fingers around him, then sliding one finger over the head, and down the shaft as she cupped him again. He stared into her eyes as she toyed with him. She smiled, licking her full, rosy lips.
She scooted halfway down the bed before rising to her knees. Brushing her hair to the side, she bent over, her tongue darting out of her mouth, licking the length of him. She looked up at him as she took him into her hot, moist mouth. He propped himself up on his elbows, fisting the sheets, watching as she held him with her hand, moving him in and out of her mouth. Her tongue danced across the tip before taking all of him in again.
He took a fistful of her hair and tugged, pulling her mouth off. “Come here,” he said. His mouth found hers, thrusting his tongue deep, swirling around inside, desperate to love her again.
He cupped her breast, rubbing his thumb over her nipple, twirling it, pinching it, tugging at it. He pushed her down onto her back, sucking hard on her nipple. He dug his fingers into her ass, pulling her all the way to him, pressing his knee between her legs. He could feel her wetness dripping onto his thigh. He reached between her legs, shoving two fingers inside her, while his thumb fanned across the swollen, hard nub. She moaned, panting. Her hands cupped his head, eagerly pushing him from one breast to the other. Her legs spread wide open for him, her body rocking with his strokes. His name spilled from her lips, perhaps a little too loudly.
He lifted his head and looked in her passion-filled eyes before gently covering her mouth with the palm of his hand. He continued to rub and finger her, while stifling her loud moans. She was close to the edge, so he eased up and reached for the condom. He fumbled with the package, finally tearing it with his teeth, but not having much success removing it from the package.
She took it from his hands and pulled the condom out, then gently rolled it over him before straddling him, taking him inside her, grinding her hips back and forth. He propped himself up on one hand, the other holding the small of her back, his tongue toying with her nipple.
She rocked her body faster and her moans became louder.
“You always were a bit noisy,” he whispered, before shoving his tongue deep in her mouth, capturing her moans. Their bodies rocked back and forth, her hips grinding wildly. He could see her riding him in the small mirror on his dresser and his release exploded at the erotic sight. He wrapped his arms around her and fell backward while she continued to grind her hips in a panicked frenzy. He rolled her over. “Be quiet,” he said as he lowered his head, running his tongue down her belly, lapping at her while stroking her with three of his fingers. When he knew she was right there he sucked on her nub, pulling it into his mouth, holding his fingers all the way inside. Her body convulsed violently, and he heard a few muted groans. When he lifted his head, he let out a soft chuckle when he saw she’d covered her face with a pillow. He kept one hand on her stomach, enjoying the small trembles that continued to ripple across her body.
When her breathing slowed, he lifted the pillow from her face. “Everything okay?”
“It’s amazing we never got caught having sex in your parents’ house.”
“I do remember covering your mouth a lot.” He lay down next to her, drawing the covers over them and pulling her close. “Don’t get me wrong. I like the noises. The other day at the hotel, I wanted to make you scream.”
“I think I did.” She rested her head on his chest, looping her arm over his middle. “We need to set an alarm for me,” she said.
“I already did.” Shane clicked the television off. “Set for five. Should give you enough time to go to the hotel, get dressed, and come back and pick me up.”
“Thanks.”
“We’re going to have to figure out how to make this work,” he said. “I still love you.”
“I’ve never stopped loving you,” she whispered.