Why did that sound breathy?
I moved back. He stepped forward. Crap on a cracker, I was in deep trouble.
“Hmm. Liar.”
Our dance continued until I was flush with the wall. Trapped, gloriously trapped. My breaths sped up to match the pounding of my heart. We were touching, yet he was too far away. I wanted his skin on mine. His lips. His tongue. His…
“Are you wet, Sunshine?”
Freaking drenched. But I didn’t say that. I couldn’t say anything over the ringing in my ears. I’d forgotten how much his dirty talk turned me on. Duncan wrapped his arm around my waist, holding me tight as if he knew his support was the only thing keeping me upright. He’d be right.
“Are you aching to feel my fingers stretch yourtight pussy? What about my cock?” He rocked his hips forward, pressing the evidence of his arousal into my stomach. A groan slipped free from my mouth. “That right there. I can’t wait to hear you make that sound again when I’m buried deep inside you.”
Without warning, his mouth was on mine, his tongue swiping my bottom lip, demanding entrance. Immediately, I complied, becoming lost in the torrent of emotions which flooded my system when he deepened the kiss. Only this wasn’t just a kiss. It was a claiming. And I’d never wanted anything more. My fingers speared through his light brown hair, while his hands roamed lower, cupping my backside. We were consumed by each other.
Until…
“Mommy,” Reagan yelled.
“Shit.” Duncan reared back. “To be continued.”
“This is a lot to process. Like a lot, a lot. How are you not freaking out?”
I’d just finished giving Shannon the gory details of my past. Soon after she arrived, Duncan went home to pack a bag, making me promise to keep the doors locked until he returned. His overprotectiveness knew no bounds. It was one of the things I loved about him. Yes, I said it. I loved him. I never stopped.
My sister and I were relaxing in the living room while the kids played a game of Twister in the hallway. I felt horrible. She’d come all the way from Texas to meet us and I’ve been too wrapped up in my own drama to be able to spend any quality time with her.
“Give me a minute. I’m sure I will once the shock wears off.”
“What about our dad and your mom? Do you know what you’re going to do about them?”
“I’m done with my mom. She’s gone too far.” Shannon nodded her agreement. “As far as Dad goes, I’m conflicted.”
“How so?”
“He’s dying.”
“Please. Do you know how long someone can live on dialysis? Years, Sloane.”
“I know.”
“Then stop making excuses for his behavior.”
Dang it. I’ve been doing exactly that for years. I blamed the tumultuous relationship between Finn and Dad on their desire to outdo each other in the business world, when in reality, it started way before then. Finn was expected to be the best. Anything less ended in punishment. It wasn’t the same for me. Dad doted on me because he didn’t see women as competition. He never would.
“You’re right.” I stood, picking up one of my favorite photos from the bookcase. It was Finn and me on the day I graduated from university. He’d flown in from New York for the occasion, yet my father couldn’t make the two hour drive. At least Mom called the day before to say she’d missed her flight, though thinking back, I wonder if she even had one to begin with. Up until recently, my brother was the only constant in my life. “I’ve spent my whole life trying to prove my worth to a man who won’t ever see it and a woman who doesn’t know her own. They’re both toxic.”
“So what are you going to do about it?”
“Whatever it takes to protect my kids.”
7TRY NOT TO DROOL
Duncan
It took three days to track down Donald Lester. The guy proved to be more resourceful than I gave him credit for. He didn’t immediately return home, instead he chose to lay low in a small town ninety minutes to the southeast of Huntington. Keaton and Noah made the trip early one morning. When I tried to join them, Waverly pulled rank, telling me I was too close to the situation. Karma was indeed a ruthless bitch, since I’d done the same to her during Finn’s stalker investigation.
A few hours later, they returned with confirmation. Maeve Beckington was the one who hired the private investigator. The guy had notebooks filled with everything from what grocery store they frequented, the route Sloane used to take the kids to school, even when she turned the lights off in the house at night. According to Lester, his job was to keep tabs on Sloane and the kids, nothing more. It should’ve given me a modicum of relief, but it didn’t. Something wasn’t adding up, so Waverly––with my permission––askedNoah and Keaton to quietly start digging into Maeve. I’d deal with the fallout if my girl ever found out.