Chapter Ten – Buck

What did Haley mean by I’ll be waiting? Was he reading too much into it?

He’d soon find out because he was parked outside her house, about to walk up to the front door.

He looked at the house nervously, and then got out of the truck and shut the door. This was ridiculous, he needed to get in there and be himself. Haley knew the score, she understood that this was different from any other relationship either of them had ever experienced.

Buck straightened up, locked the truck and walked toward the house.

Raising his hand, he knocked on the door. Haley answered almost immediately. “Hi.”

“Come in.” Haley’s face, flushed with excitement, had a big smile plastered all over it. He was immediately set at ease.

“Thanks.” He stepped inside, and she closed the door carefully behind him.

“Coffee?” She looked nervous. Buck hoped it was for a good reason, that she was filled with the same nervous energy as he was. The kind that made his stomach do somersaults.

“Yes, please.” He followed her through to the kitchen. “You’ve had a good clean in here.”

Haley looked over her shoulder. “I know it’s all going to get dirty again tomorrow, but I couldn’t bear to look at it.” She poured the coffee and handed him a cup. “How was your morning?”

“Not as productive as yours,” he replied, walking over to the hole in the ceiling and looking up. “I prefer the hands-on stuff, not the talking-about-it stuff.” He turned and watched her as she drank her coffee, her eyes flicking up to his face before looking at anything else in the room.

“I’m always nervous my ex is going to show up unannounced and say I’m an unfit mother,” Haley admitted. “So I clean like a mad woman every week.”

Buck’s breath caught in his chest and he forced the air into his lungs. “Do you still have contact with him?”

“Not for a couple of months. He raises his head every so often, tries to charm the girls into thinking he’s changed. Then disappears on them for weeks with no contact, which only solidifies their low opinion of him.” She pressed her lips together, her face a mixture of emotions. “I want them to have a relationship with him. But I can’t forgive what he did. What he made them witness.”

“And you shouldn’t have to. Not until he accepts what he did as wrong and tries to make amends.” Buck tried not to let his personal feelings cloud his words. “He has to earn his right to a place in your family.”

“I know.” She shook her head, as if shaking of her memories of Harrison.

“I do have some news,” Buck said, changing the subject. “I spoke to the architect this morning and he said he knows of a piece of land that might come up for sale soon. He gave me a rough map and I wondered if you wanted to come and take a look with me if I get a call confirming it’s for sale.”

“Really?” Her eyes lit up. “I’d like that a lot. I want to start looking forward, it seems as if I spent so long looking back, and now I’ve got myself stuck in a rut. This house, my life, it’s safe.”

“And I present a risk?” Buck asked.

“I’m not sure I’d call you a risk. You seem to be a sure thing.” She smiled as he raised his eyebrows at her.

“Does that mean you intend to take me for granted?” Buck asked.

“I hope so.” She finished her coffee and set the cup down on the table as she came toward him. “I might also want to take advantage of you.”

She took his coffee cup from his hands and placed it down on the counter, pressing her body against him as she entwined her fingers with his and tilted her head back, so she could look up at him. Buck lost himself in the warmth of her body against his and the look of longing in her eyes.

“Are you trying to seduce me?” he asked roughly.

“I think I am.” She sighed, her breasts rising and falling. “We are not going to get too many hours alone. So I think we should take full advantage.”

He wanted to make sure he understood her full meaning. “Are you sure? Full advantage?”

“Unless you would rather wait.” She gave him a lopsided grin. “I’m the mother of two girls. I’m not a tender-hearted virgin. And ever since you walked into my kitchen, I’ve fancied the pants off you, Buck.”

He chuckled. “I like a woman who knows what she wants and isn’t afraid to ask.”

“Oh, I’m not asking.” She let go of his hands and tucked her fingers in his belt, pulling him toward her.

Buck followed, his arousal spiking as they reached the bottom of the stairs. Haley didn’t hesitate, she led him upstairs and into her bedroom as if they had no time to lose. Once inside her room, she shut the door, shutting out the world even though they were the only two people in the house.

Haley let go of his belt and walked to the window and pulled the curtains closed. Was she afraid someone might see them? Or was this her marital bed and she felt odd bringing another man here?

Buck was not going to shatter the moment by asking.

Haley turned back to him and began unbuttoning her shirt and kicking off her shoes. Buck did the same, yanking his T-shirt over his head. A sprinkling of salt and pepper hair covered his chest, but he’d kept himself fit through his job and was thankful he didn’t feel the need to suck his stomach in.

Haley also seemed comfortable in her own body, which ignited his arousal further. She moved with grace and poise, her chin held high as she came to him dressed in only her bra and panties.

Buck sucked in a deep breath as the air seemed to leave the room. This was actually happening, after all his long years alone he was finally going to claim his mate.

“Don’t worry,” Haley purred as she slipped her arms around his neck. “I’ve switched off that damn ringtone.”

Buck chuckled, loving the way she set him at ease. He had never been an alpha male, not around women. He preferred to treat them as an equal, which they were in his eyes. That wasn’t to say he wouldn’t fight to the death to defend a woman, especially his mate. Or a man, if the cause was just.

Strength, honesty and loyalty were his trademarks and they had served him well in both his business and his private life. And he swore he’d be all that and more to his mate.

“The only laughter I want to hear is from you,” he said in a seductive tone, then his brow creased. “I don’t mean I want you to laugh at me…”

“I know what you meant.” She stood on tiptoes and kissed his lips, her right hand pressed against his chest as she pushed him back toward the bed.

Buck bent down and picked her up. Haley wrapped her legs around his waist and his hardened length pressed against her core. She moved, inching her body up and down, pressing harder against him in an attempt to ease her own need. He placed his hand on the nape of her neck, his forearm running down her back as he held her close.

Their lips met and he kissed her, hot, eager. In desperate need to claim her as his own, Buck lay her down on the bed and hovered over her body, his tongue plundering her mouth, in the same way he wanted to plunder her body. But her undergarments stood as a barrier between him and his goal.

Hooking his fingers around the elastic of her panties, he tore them from her body. Haley’s eyes flashed open and met his, and he had a moment of concern when he thought she might tell him to stop. Instead, she put her hand between their bodies, yanked his shorts down and wrapped her fingers around his hard length.

She guided him into her, urging him on. Buck closed his eyes in ecstasy as he thrust forward, filling her completely. He should have taken it slow, enjoyed the sensation of skin against skin, but he didn’t have enough self-control. Not at this moment. Perhaps next time, or the time after that…

He would make love to Haley every day for the rest of his life if she wanted him to.

A sigh escaped Haley as he rested inside her, sheathed by her inner walls. She tensed, and he bit down on his bottom lip, it was all he could do to ease out of her slowly before thrusting forward once more.

Her fingertips dug into his back, her voice whispered in his ear words that urged him to take her. His resolve slipped, and he pulled out of her, lunging forward to fill her once more. Hard, fast, as his momentum increased. In and out he buried himself inside her, while Haley kissed his neck, nipping his skin, kissing his face, his lips, his cheeks as her orgasm reached out for her and took her.

She cried out, her inner muscles tightening around him, setting off a chain reaction in his body. As one they reached the edge of their climax and grabbed hold of it and didn’t let go, driving each other to new heights with kisses and touches.

At last, he strained forward as he jerked into her, completely spent. In his arms, a completely sated Haley let out a sigh of contentment as she rested against him.

“That was incredible,” she said as she rolled onto her side.

“More than incredible,” he agreed as he stroked her face and gazed into her eyes.

She rested her head on the pillow and ran her hand over his chest. “I never knew it could be like that.”

“Like what?” he asked, lifting her hand to his lips and kissing the backs of her fingers.

“The connection. It was almost spiritual. Rather than simply physical.” She inched forward, and he wrapped his arms around her and held her close.

“We are joined by more than the physical,” he told her. “The bond between a shifter and their mate is unbreakable.”

“I hope so,” Haley replied sleepily, snuggling closer to him.

“Hey, don’t go to sleep, we’re both due back at Mason and Tiana’s and you have to go to work.” He sat up and looked down at his mate. “I’d offer to look after you and tell you to quit your job, but Mason tried that, and Tiana insisted on carrying on at work.”

Haley turned onto her back and covered her eyes with the back of her hand. “I’ve always worked and paid my way. Except when the girls were very young. The job at the restaurant fit around Harrison’s hours so it was perfect.”

“But?” Buck asked, easing her hand away from her face.

She reached out and stroked his face. “It won’t be the same if T and Sorch go off and have babies.” She gave him a half smile. “And no, that doesn’t mean I want to have a baby just so that I can be part of the mommy club.”

“So what do you want?” Buck asked.

She blew the air out between her lips. “I don’t know. Something different.”

“How about working with me?” Buck asked, and he could see from the expression on her face she was tempted but unsure if he meant it. “When we start work on the warehouses you could come along, and I can teach you how to project manage.”

“Really?” Haley asked, suddenly awake as she sat up in bed beside him. “You aren’t just saying that to get in my bed?” Her eyes widened. “Because you’ve already done that.”

“No, I’m not just saying it. I think you’d be great. And you can help me with the small print in all the damn contracts and instructions. Words are not my thing.”

“You can’t read?” Haley asked with surprise.

“I can read. Just…I’m dyslexic. The words jumble themselves up. Or my brain jumbles them up.”

“I can’t believe you’ve gotten this far in life without being able to read properly,” Haley said in surprise. “I’m proud of you.” She slipped her arm around his shoulders and rested her head on his chest. “If there’s ever anything I can do to help, just ask.”

He turned his head and kissed her. “I will. It’s never held me back, but sometimes I’d love to sit down with a good book and read. I love stories, I love watching movies. When I can, I like to listen to books on audio.”

“Maybe I could read to you. Or help you read yourself. I know you’ve said you’ve tried, but there might be a way. We can persevere together.” Haley’s sweet offer only made him sure she was the right one for him.

“I’m not sure if I’m too long in the tooth to learn to read now,” Buck confided. “I’ve scraped by this long on what I know.”

“Never say never, right? If I can become a project manager for your construction work, then why can’t you learn to read better?” Haley asked.

“We can both try,” he agreed.

“That’s all you can do. Although it’s different for you. I realize dyslexia isn’t something you can overcome by making yourself get out there and do something.” Haley slipped out of bed and retrieved her clothes. “Come on, you are right, I have to get back to the girls and then go to work.”

Buck flung the covers off and got out of bed. “I can’t remember the last time I was in bed at this time of day.”

“Good, that means you don’t fall into bed with every woman who gives you a smile.” Haley pulled on her pants and then her shirt, which she hastily buttoned up. “Coffee before we go?”

“Sure.” Buck dressed quickly and went downstairs to join Haley in the kitchen. “I’ll go out to the truck and grab the tools I need. I want to inspect your ceiling before we go.”

“Since that is why you came over.” She gave him a knowing smile.

Buck held up his hands. “You got me.” He backed out of the door and then turned around, heading for the front door, hating to leave his mate. Yes, he was coming straight back in, but still, the idea of walking away from her made the breath catch in his lungs. The invisible thread connecting them pulled him back toward her.

With an effort, he opened the front door and walked out to the road where his truck was parked. Opening the back door, he retrieved his tools. That’s when he saw the flat tire.

“Damn it.” He slammed the door shut and went around to the rear driver’s side wheel and sat down on his haunches as he examined the damage. Running his fingers along the jagged edges of rubber, he cursed again. This was no accident, he hadn’t driven over a sharp object that had punctured the tire. No, this slash was too high.

Buck stood up and looked around. The street was quiet, no one walking along the sidewalk, and yet he had a feeling someone was watching him. He rubbed the back of his neck. Who?

Keeping his head down as if he were looking at the truck, he circled it, using his peripheral vision to seek out the person who was responsible. No one. Nothing.

The sense of being watched passed. Perhaps he’d imagined it.

Grabbing his tools, he went back to the house. “I have a flat tire,” he told Haley.

“No.” She turned to face him, a folded T-shirt in her hands as she sorted through the laundry she’d done earlier. “I feel bad.”

“It’s not your fault.” He dumped his toolbox down on the floor.

“If you hadn’t come here, you wouldn’t have gotten a puncture.” She came around the counter to stand next to him.

“It could have happened anywhere.” It was true, even if the tire had been slashed, it could have happened anywhere. The chances were, it was someone walking past who thought it was funny. So he decided to keep his suspicions that it was slashed to himself.

“I guess.” She didn’t sound convinced and he stood up and wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close.

“Honestly, I would trade a flat tire for the time we spent together in a heartbeat.”

Haley clasped her hands around the back of his neck. “You say the sweetest things.”

He chuckled as he lowered his head and kissed her lips. “It’s a gift.”