The Way Home (Chasing #3) (20 page)

Just maybe, I didn’t deserve to be alone, but was I willing to take that chance? To let someone in… only to have them ripped away from me again?

I felt her shift beside of me. The soft underside of her arm brushed against my chest, skin on skin, and I bit my lip trying to lay as still as possible and not groan out loud. Soft fingers curled around my wrist. I allowed my muscles to relax. She moved my arm across my chest. She was my guide. Curiously, I wondered what she was up to. There was the brush of silky fabric against the back of my hand then the scrape of lace. There was no denying the warm flesh or the pebbled hardness pressing into the center of my palm.

Opening my eyes, I stared into the depths of hers. A soft groan pushed past my lips. I was as hard as steel. I couldn’t speak.
What was this woman doing to me?
Everything I’d never allowed myself to feel, she left me with no choice but to face. For the first time in a long time, I felt something… something more than the rush of pleasure at feeling the weight of a breast in my hand.

“Nate,” she whispered, her voice husky with desire. I stared back at her feeling slightly dazed and confused. “Not everyone you care about is going to leave you. I’ve been hurt, too, but I’m still willing to try.”

At hearing those words, self-preservation finally reared its ugly head, and I slipped my hand quickly from the V of her dress. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

There was no way she could see through me
.

For an instant, a flash of anger registered in her eyes then it shifted into something more. Something that had my heart slamming in my chest. She half-way smiled, a sad smile that made me want to take her in my arms, but I didn’t move. I was afraid to. If I touched her… it was all over.

“But I do know what I’m talking about,” she argued. Her palms slid along my jawline cupping my face. There was no other option but to look at her. “I will fight for you, Nate. You only have to let me in.”

I closed my eyes, but even then there was no escaping her. In the darkness, her image was burned onto the back of my eyelids, and while lying there at war with myself, she took the decision completely out my hands. My eyes flew open at the sudden weight of her body covering mine. Her toned thighs straddling my hips had my attention completely and irrevocably focused on her. My hands suddenly had a mind all of their own.

That ass felt awfully damn good.

“What are you doing?” I asked, even though I’d just squeezed a handful of her ass, hard. I couldn’t help myself.

Without answering me, she leaned in closer. Her hair slid forward curtaining her face and she braced her hands on my shoulders. Her stomach was flush against mine. Her lips close and teasing.

“This is me fighting for you,” she answered, a whisper that sent her soft lips lightly dancing across mine in the gentlest of caresses. At the faint brush of her tongue, I was shaking.

I was drowning in her, and it felt like heaven.

My mouth moved hungrily — tasting and gorging on all of that sweetness — and thoroughly devoured her lips. She moaned low in her throat, a humming sound that vibrated deep inside of me. Her thighs were trembling as she squirmed to get even closer against me. The warm, smooth glide of her skin along my lower abdomen had my abs tightening almost to the point of pain. A sense of urgency threatened to snap what little control I had left.

I had to go slow.

Miley deserved slow.

One of my hands held hers while the other decided to explore what was hidden underneath her dress. I nudged her panties aside. She was hot, liquid heat; silky and sinful coating my fingertips. When I crooked my finger, my name rushed past her lips. I could come just from hearing that sound alone.

With her head thrown back in abandon, I increased the pressure in order to hone in on her frantic panting. She was close. My own skin grew increasingly tight, too tight for my frame. I was coming undone, but first, I had to take care of her, before it was too late. Slipping my hand from the warmth of her bottom, I reached for the nightstand, opening the drawer and fumbling for the box of condoms inside, where I successfully managed to snag one.

Fingers dove into my hair distracting my train of thought. When her mouth latched onto the side of my neck, it became hard to think. A groan rolled past my lips. I dropped the condom onto the bed. My hand slipped from her heat in search of the thin straps of her panties settled low on her hips. I tugged hard. At hearing the elastic snap, she grew still and so did I. With wide eyes, she stared down at me; her face flushed. Her breasts heaving.

She was so fucking beautiful
.

“I haven’t been with anyone since I found out I was pregnant with Sierra.”

My hands paused their explorations as I noted the seriousness of her expression. I couldn’t allow myself the opportunity to contemplate the depth behind her words.

Why me?

Why now?

Refusing to think about it, I skimmed my hands up her arms. My fingers finding the straps of her bra and dress. “I’ll be gentle,” I promised, and began slowly tugging down the material covering her curvy body, carefully exposing each inch by perfect inch of her radiant skin.
I wanted to savor this.
Cleavage swelled above the tiny scraps of white lace cupping her breasts, and I was mesmerized.

This woman… she meant more to me than I cared to admit.

I leaned forward reaching behind her back to undo the clasp of her bra. Greedy lips skimmed my ear, sucking and nibbling as I tugged the lace from her arms and tossed it onto the floor. Her dress pooled around her waist. Bare skin met mine as she arched closer pressing against me. Warm breath fluttering in my ear sent a shiver running straight through me.

“I don’t want gentle,” she whispered, her voice low and urgent.

Emotions I didn’t dare contemplate, swelled to life within my chest, threatening to swallow me whole. Without warning, the thin thread by which my control hung chose that exact moment to snap. When I flipped Miley over onto the bed, Hank yelped and scrambled for cover. I’d completely forgotten all about him. Miley giggled and my own lips curved a fraction of an inch into a smile. My hands continued their search and found the hem of her dress.

“Lift your hips,” I ordered, and in a matter of seconds the dress was tossed aside.

She had grown quiet, studying me from beneath her long lashes; just watching me, and I wondered what she was thinking. It amazed me that she had no clue as to how much power she really held over me or how hopelessly helpless I was against her. I took in the breathtaking sight of her laid bare before me; the soft flush of pink porcelain skin, legs a mile long, and breasts that were absolutely fucking perfect. Her body was mine to explore, and I didn’t plan on missing a single inch of it. First, I’d start off by teasing her with my hands, and then my mouth would soon follow.

Only when she finally lay beneath me trembling did I tear open the condom wrapper. With our eyes locked on one another, I took care of myself and, in a matter of seconds, I was positioned once again between her thighs. Fingers clenched my back as I teased her without mercy. At times, it was almost painful, and other times, there was so much pleasure I fought against the urge to come. I stilled my teasing and patiently hovered over her. It didn’t matter what my mind kept telling me… I wanted her.

“Miley,” I whispered, and her blue eyes met mine. She was more than ready.

Slowly, I pushed forward, easing inch by inch into bliss until I was seated to the hilt. If ever there was a heaven on earth, it lay spread beneath me, open and receptive to my every touch and every stroke. Her mouth met mine, greedy and seeking. The urge to gorge on all of her sweetness had the nerves at the base of my spine tingling. I moved my hips while gauging her reaction. She was tight, and met me thrust for thrust until her muscles began to clench uncontrollably.

It was only then I had no choice. I had to let go. She gasped in my ear. Her body bowed against mine. My name spilling uncontrollably from her lips. Over and over, she called my name as I fell head first into her, forgetting everything except her taste on my tongue, the chaotic calm of release, and the insatiable craving only she could inspire.

Hell, I’d only just had her and I was more than ready to go again.

THE FIRES OF
hell were slowly roasting me alive. With a yawn, I opened my eyes. One of my arms was stretched over my head and it was numb. I lay on my side with Miley tucked against my chest. My hand holding the weight of one of her firm breasts. A groan escaped my lips. I wanted to hold her tighter. Now that I’d had her, all I could think about was getting back inside of her once again. Her round bottom made the perfect cushion for my morning erection.
I was so hard; I could hammer nails with my dick
. I looked down at the woman in my arms. Even asleep, she was flat out gorgeous. I twisted my head to the side already knowing exactly whose furry hide lay fused against my back
. No wonder I was burning up alive, I was wearing a fur coat in the middle of summer.
Hank’s head was turned at a rather awkward angle. He appeared dead; his mouth stretched open and wide and his tongue hanging out. His eyes were rolled back in his head.

“Hank,” I hissed, trying not to wake Miley since I’d kept her up most of the night, but lying here squashed between the two of them had me feeling like a sardine sandwich.
I couldn’t take it.
One brown eye lazily popped open regarding me with disinterest. The other soon followed.

“Move.” I nudged him, but he refused to cooperate and continued to lie there looking back at me with big sad eyes. He acted as if I’d never even spoken to him.

There was no other way around this, and it had to be done. I eased my hips carefully away from Miley’s and then suddenly pushed hard. Hank ended up moving at least a half of an inch. It was progress. The next time, though, I really let him have it. Cool air rushed along my back. I heard his paws land on the hardwood floor. He was just like a cat, I thought with a smile, as I eased my arm from underneath Miley’s head.

“No,” I ordered, keeping my voice low as I tried to quickly untangle myself from her hair and from the sheets. Hank, that bastard, already had his front paws up on the bed. If he tried to climb back in, he was a dead dog. I moved to the edge of the mattress and stood looking around the room for my underwear. It was mission impossible.
Who knew where in the hell I’d slung them last night?
I pulled a new pair from one of the dresser drawers and quickly slid them up my thighs. All the time, Hank sat quietly watching.

There was never any privacy with him around. The freaking word didn’t exist
.

In the early morning hours before dawn, I’d thrown Hank out of the bedroom and woke Miley for round two. She’d been just as receptive as the first time.
She was amazing, and I was one lucky son of a bitch.
A wave of self-doubt and guilt reared its ugly ass head and I shoved it aside, determined not to let anything ruin my good mood for the day — not even that damn dream I’d had of Ryder Blade. My gran would have called it a premonition. It was just a stupid dream. It didn’t mean anything. If he so much as showed his face around here, I’d gladly detach it from his body. With Hank hot on my heels, I headed downstairs and let him outside before I made my way in to the kitchen.

As I waited on the coffee, I thought of how we could spend the rest of the day. Miley wasn’t supposed to pick Sierra up until later this evening. This meant we still had the entire day to ourselves. Carrying two mugs of coffee, I climbed the stairs, recalling Miley’s words; the ones she’d spoken last night that had led to the both of us ending up naked, hot, and sweaty…
She’d fight for me, but could I let go of my guilt and fight for her and Sierra also?

I couldn’t shake the way her words had made me feel. No one had ever fought for me, well, except for Gran and Natalie. Hell, my own parents hadn’t wanted me.
Could I be the man that Miley and Sierra needed?
The thought of greedily accepting everything she offered was beyond tempting. It would be so easy to just take and take, but I didn’t want to hurt her, nor did I want to hurt Sierra either.

I cared, but could I allow myself to love Miley… love her the way that she truly deserved to be loved… whole heartedly and without reservations?
The thought of being a father absolutely scared me shitless.
What if I couldn’t protect Sierra? What if something happened to her? Worse, what if something happened to Miley? Then what?
My head was filled with all of those “what if’s” and it was pissing me the fuck off.

Over the last eight years, when had I ever thought of anyone besides myself?

The sight greeting me when I walked into the bedroom had my heart rate accelerating and made me rock hard. Miley lay on the bed stretched out on her stomach. Her slender back bare. The sheet was dipped low and draped along her curvy hips. She was breathtaking. Padding softly across the floor, I set our coffee mugs on the nightstand by the bed and stood staring down at her. When I couldn’t stand it another second, I leaned in to place a soft kiss in between her shoulder blades. Her skin was warm and smelled delicious. There was also a trace of something manly.

The scent of myself on her skin made me feel possessive.
Hell, I was ready to go all fucking caveman on her. I needed to get a grip.
I’d never taken the time to pay any attention to all of those tiny details, at least not with anyone else besides Natalie. It had been a long time since I had truly noticed… until now.

Miley rolled over half-asleep baring herself to me. My stomach muscles clenched. Heat rushed to my dick like a rocket. Every single inch of her was absolute perfection. I wanted her, but there were still all of those nagging doubts plaguing me since I’d woke this morning with her in my arms, and it was those doubts that had me standing frozen in place beside my bed staring down at her.