Ayden's Secret (21 page)

He was just about to take a bite of the ice cream concoction when she yelped. The phone whizzed by his head and hit a photo of Page on the entertainment center shattering it immediately.

“Putting the ice cream down.” Smiling, Ayden set the bowl on the table and held up his hands. He scared her and she reacted all right. She almost took him out with that throw.

“Damn it, Ayden!” Charlie shouted then laughed and then cried and laughed at the same time. He scared the living daylights out of her. She had gone back upstairs to get the phone hoping he would call and instead he had snuck home.

“I didn’t mean to scare you, darlin’.” He laughed. “Come here and let me see you.”

“You scared me to death.” Charlie felt half hysterical and on the verge of passing out, but she laughed now because he did. Really, who breaks in and heads right for the ice cream bowl?

“You almost knocked my brains out.” He reached out and pulled her into his lap. So much stress combined with too many memories, but this piece of his past was worth whatever pain came with it.

“Ground floor is the least defended.” Charlie kissed his lips. “I’m sorry.”

“Me too. I won’t sneak in on you again.” Ayden gripped the back of her neck. “I slept like shit without you.”

“I didn’t go to bed till noon today, and Evelyn came over at four to drag me to dinner.” Charlie exhaled. “I should clean that up.”

“Later.” Ayden leaned over and grabbed the bowl of ice cream.

Charlie started to protest, but he shoveled a spoonful of ice cream in her mouth. Then he licked the whipped topping and chocolate syrup off her lips. When one bite was down, he had another ready.

“Oops.” Ayden missed her mouth by a mile and ice cream slid down the V in her nightgown.

“That’s cold.” Charlie sucked in a breath.

“Here, take this off. You don’t want to get it messy.” Ayden made quick business of undressing her and licking the ice cream, syrup, and whipped topping mixture that was sliding between her beautiful breasts.

“Ayden, this is too messy for the living room.” Charlie pulled the buttons and stripped his shirt off. “Let’s go to the kitchen.”

Ayden smiled. “I can’t wait to cover you in this and eat it all off.”

***

Ayden was upstairs and stepping into the shower as she was stepping out of it. Charlie slid into pajamas and into the bed. Ayden followed within moments, groaning and stretching the whole way. He had so many noises to learn. These were obviously satisfied and tired sounds. He pulled her in tight and kissed Charlie’s lips lightly several times slowly with feeling. She felt amazingly cherished as a lazy smile swept across his face.

***

The Elvis alarm went off at seven a.m.

“You packed?” Ayden grumbled and turned off the alarm. He slept like a rock last night. He needed it.

“Packed?” Charlie closed her eyes. She could steal a few more hours sleep.

“Yeah, we’re driving to Tennessee in…” Ayden lifted to look at the clock. “T minus two hours and counting.”

Charlie was settling in on his chest. Ayden swatted her butt. She yelped and gave him a scornful eye. “I’m still sleepy.”

“It’s a long drive, darlin’.” Ayden slid his arms around her and pulled her in for a bear hug as he rolled on top of her. “You need me to wake you up another way?”

She laughed. “What am I going to do with you?”

“Whatever you want.” Ayden kissed her neck. He loved waking up in the mornings with Charlie.

“Fifteen hours is a long drive.” Charlie kissed his cheek.

“Yep. Plus Evelyn will be here any minute.” Ayden smiled. They had a long drive ahead, and if he indulged in her flesh this morning, he wouldn’t make it out of the bed much less to Tennessee. He called Evelyn last night to make sure he wouldn’t be tempted.

“Good thing I packed yesterday, huh?” Charlie pushed and he rolled. Straddling him, she considered his expression. He smiled a lot now. He didn’t smile so easily ten years ago, and she had to really work to get a smile out of him every year thereafter. Now, Ayden smiled at her all the time.

“I still have to pack.” Ayden reached for a loose curl and twisted it on his finger.

“Just check over what I packed for you.” Charlie lifted off, of him and headed to his closet. She used two of her rolling suitcases and packed them each one.

“You are just too good to me, woman.” Ayden rolled to his belly and realized he was definitely falling for Charlie. Taking her home should make it all clear. He wouldn’t take her to his house. One of several investments he had made in his life. They would stay with his mother and see how she interacted on the ranch.

She smiled and headed downstairs.

***

Charlie watched Evelyn wave as they drove away.

“It’s a fifteen hour drive give or take.” Ayden set the odometer to zero, so he could keep track of the miles.

“I know.” Charlie pulled out the directions.

“What the hell is that?” Ayden snatched the papers from her hands. “Directions? You think I don’t know my way home?”

“No, I don’t think that at all. I wanted to keep track of where we were, so I went online and printed out the directions. It has a cute little map here, too.” Charlie snatched the papers back. She knew Ayden could find his way around anywhere, but he normally traveled by plane. “Why aren’t we flying?”

“I thought you hated flying?” Now she tells him.

“I’ve never flown before, but I would fly with you.” Charlie smiled. He knew her file. Who she was on paper, but that wasn’t going to tell him how much she trusted his judgment in life. She had faced so many fears just getting to North Carolina, then met family and friends. She went to a crowded beach on a holiday and out to dinner and a movie, all because of Ayden. She was getting her life back thanks to him.

Ayden shook his head. He couldn’t make anymore assumptions about what he knew or thought he knew about Charlie.

“I also like to be able to come and go as I please,” he conceded.

“You’re going to be sick of me by the time we get there.” Charlie smiled. They were now trapped in this truck for the next fifteen hours. She could talk him to death. She had so many questions.

“If you become unbearable, I’ll just leave you at a rest stop.” Ayden shrugged. Charlie pouted her bottom lip and crossed her arms. “You know I would never leave you, darlin’.”

“Not and live to tell about it.” She scowled.

Ayden laughed and reached for her hand. He pulled it to his lips and then set it in his lap gently stroking her long slim fingers. He felt so content. There was no way Charlie could talk to him for fifteen hours.

***

He thought for sure Interstate 40 would never end. Charlie had asked every question imaginable. She knew everything trivial he knew about his childhood and life right up to why he ordered extra pickles at the last drive thru. For twelve hours, she had asked questions. Finally, her voice gave out.

Charlie pulled the small pillow from the back seat and placed it near his lap. She slid out of the shoulder strap on the seatbelt and lay across the seat resting her head on Ayden’s thigh. The pillow supported her neck, and Ayden twisted her hair around his fingers as she drifted off to sleep. She had asked him at least a thousand questions, and he answered every one of them.

Ayden was tired the last few hours of the drive. He didn’t realize talking could be so exhausting. Of course, he had probably spoken more words to Charlie on that drive than to any one in his entire life. The woman was insatiable in her quest for knowledge. He couldn’t begin to remember what he had told her. A lot of one word answers about colors, food and things no one thinks about, except apparently Charlie.

He looked down at her sleeping a quiet sound sleep in his lap. Her pale hair was a stark contrast to his blue jeans. Charlie’s nose had the slightest upturn, and her full and delicious lips drew his touch. As he stroked his thumb over her bottom lip, she pulled her lips together and drew a deep breath. Ayden looked back toward the endless road and wished he had stopped hours ago and started fresh the next day.

A few hours later, he pulled down the long driveway to the house. The dogs were too tired to meet the vehicle. They just waited on the porch with wagging tails. His dad sat in the kitchen at the table reading the paper, and he safely assumed his mom was in bed asleep.

Ben Blythe had been up all night waiting for his son to come home. Ayden wasn’t his son by birth, but he loved him just the same. Ayden watched the man hurry to the front door and down the porch steps to his truck.

“Pops.” Ayden hugged him.

“I thought you had company with you?” Ben patted him hard on the back and then let him go.

“She’s asleep.” Ayden moved around the truck and opened the passenger door. Ben was tiptoeing behind him trying to see. Ayden unfastened the seatbelt and pulled Charlie, still sound asleep, into his arms. “Woman could sleep through anything, I swear.”

“Where’d you put the wings?” Ben could not believe what Ayden just pulled out of his truck. The woman was beautiful.

“Horns are more like it.” Ayden laughed and made his way for the porch. “She looks like an angel, but, Pops, she’s the devil in disguise.”

“You always have been a lucky S.O.B.” Ben held the door. “You know the way. Your momma tuckered out about four hours ago.”

“You want me to come back down?” Ayden headed up the stairs.

“No. I need to hit the sheets, and so do you. Day starts early around here.” Ben smiled again and walked past the kitchen toward the bedroom behind the stairs.

Ayden climbed the wide wood stairs and carried Charlie into the guest bedroom. Noel’s old room was across the hall. Ayden was well out of the house when they bought the ranch, but Noel lived there until she married Tom. He crossed the carpeted floor and pulled the blankets back. After laying Charlie in the bed, he debated letting her stay in her clothes.

“Charlie.” Ayden shook her. She swatted and growled. “Charlie, help me out here, darlin’.”

Charlie sat up long enough for him to take her shirt off and put his shirt on her. “Gee thanks.” He mumbled at the sleeping woman.

Ayden unfastened her shorts and pulled them free. He was dead tired and still had his own clothes to contend with. He crossed the floor then shut and locked the bedroom door. He removed his shoes and pants as he walked leaving the trail behind him. Finally, it was time to sleep. He snuggled into Charlie turning her to face him and pulled her right leg up to push his left between her legs. He twisted a lock of hair until he fell asleep.

Joshua knew Evelyn was being a little too nice to him. She always treated him good, but tonight she had prepared his favorite meal, made his favorite dessert, and smiled entirely too much for having done all that.

“What are you up to?” Joshua crawled into bed and waited for Evelyn, who was in the bathroom.

“Me?” Evelyn stepped into the bedroom. “Now what makes you think I’m up to something?”

“Damn!” Joshua sat up. Evelyn was wearing lingerie. The woman only wore cotton underwear, and she was dressed to the nines in a silk and lace number that let him know two things. One, she wanted something other than sex. And two, she was probably going to get it from him, whatever it was.

“You like?” Evelyn pulled the silk string loosening her breast line. Charlie had talked her into it, said a man needs to be visually stimulated sometimes. They get used to seeing a woman naked, so they like to see her dressed up. Apparently, she was right.

“Hummina. Hummina.” Joshua wiggled his fingers in anticipation. Evelyn moved slowly as she crossed the floor to the bed. “What’s the occasion, baby?”

“Oh, I don’t know. I just thought you might like it.” Evelyn shrugged. She went to touch him, but he pulled back.

“Hold up.” Joshua slid out of her reach. “Did you do something to my truck?”

“No.” Evelyn waved that thought away.

“Then what?” Joshua crossed his arms and shook his head. He wasn’t stupid.

“Oh, I just thought I could get you to help me snoop a bit at Ayden’s maybe.” Evelyn crawled into the bed and sat on his lap running a finger along his crossed arms.

“Are you nuts, woman?” Joshua could have sworn she just asked him to risk his life and hers. Ayden would kill them both and probably had the place under surveillance anyways.

“No, I’m curious about a woman who now lives with my brother, who I genuinely believe loves him, but I also feel is in trouble.” Evelyn batted her eyes at him and then ran her short nails along his abdomen.

“Will you stop that?” Joshua flipped her to her back and held her arms down. “Don’t think because you come in here all sex personified that I’m going to…”

Evelyn lifted up and took his lips shutting him right up.

“Joshua, you should know better than that. I already had this part planned.” Evelyn kissed his neck, and he let go of her arms. “But if you want, we could do them both at the same time.”

“Excuse me?” Joshua peered down at her with his green eyes aflame.

“Well, he does have a new marble countertop.” Evelyn licked his lips.

“Put your coat on.” Joshua was up and dressing in no time. Evelyn had given up a life of danger and adventure to be with him. There wasn’t anything more dangerous than prying into Ayden’s life, or having sex with his sister in his house. “He is going to kill us, you know that?”

“He’ll never know.” Evelyn smiled. Joshua was indeed a dog. He had taken Evelyn in every space of their house. Now he could mark new territory. It worked like a charm.

***

Two hours later, Joshua laid butt naked on his back on Ayden’s kitchen floor. Evelyn had worn him out, and now she was getting sleepy, cranky and especially bossy. Sugar was irritating his naked wet flesh.

“Think Joshua. She closed her accounts, got a passport…” Evelyn adjusted so that she remained on his body not touching the cold floor.

“You find the passport?”

“No. No money, nothing. A woman doesn’t carry her life savings in a purse.” Evelyn frowned.

“It’s in one of the safes.” Joshua exhaled.

“What?” Evelyn sat up. When her shins touched the floor, she yelped.

“Cold huh? Try putting your ass on it for the last twenty minutes.” Joshua sat up and began searching for their clothes. He wiped at the sugar granules then gave up. “You know we have to clean this place up now.”

“I didn’t mean to knock it over.” Evelyn shrugged. She had gotten, a little carried away, and sugar was now everywhere. “Well, where would you keep a safe?”

“Only one safe would be an option.” Joshua pulled his shirt on. He had sugar stuck to his back and everywhere else, thanks to Evelyn’s kung fu kick.

“How do you know?” Evelyn was annoyed by his arrogance. Joshua had figured out way too much information about her when she was sure to be careful to hide it years ago. Now he was narrowing down options she hadn’t even considered.

“Because when you threatened to kill me all those years ago, that was the safe I put your gun in. You would look for my safe, but you wouldn’t look here…” Joshua pulled his pants on and started opening cabinets.

“In the kitchen?” Evelyn pulled her lingerie back on and realized it did nothing to cover her or help with the chill in Ayden’s house. He kept the air set so cold. She flipped open cabinets, and sure enough in the back of the second, one she looked into was a safe.

“You think you are so damn smart.” Evelyn crawled farther into the cabinet to pull out the safe. A big hand landed on her butt cheek, and she really howled. “Oww”

“Be nice to me.” Joshua was now on his knees next to her, and he soothed the afflicted area.

“I’m sorry.” Evelyn rolled her eyes because he couldn’t see her. She still didn’t like apologizing.

“So what do you think the combination is there, big bad bounty hunter?” Joshua laid his head on her back, so he could see into the cabinet. “Birthday, high school graduation…”

“Anniversary.” Evelyn punched in the day she understood meant the most to Charlie. The safe cleared. “Like a charm.”

“Damn you’re good.” Joshua sat back and leaned against the cabinet. Hopefully, Evelyn would find a passport, a few bucks, some jewelry, and they could go home and never spy on Charlie again.

“Huh.” Evelyn sat back on her heels. Looking at him, he held out his Tshirt for her. He really was her personal savior. “There’s an envelope of newspaper articles.” Joshua was not going to be that lucky. He pulled up and got a note pad. They could find the articles online and decide at home what they meant.

Chapter 19

Charlie woke up in Ayden’s arms snuggled into his neck and apparently in a bed somewhere. She had to use the bathroom in the worst way, but it was still dark and she had no idea where they were. Ayden was sleeping, and she hated to wake him up, but under the circumstances, she had no choice.

“Ayden?’ Charlie whispered.

“Uh?” He grunted. Ayden had just started to doze off and now Charlie was awake. He was getting too old for all nighters.

“I have to go pee.” Charlie spoke softly and felt her way around his body in the dark finally finding his face.

“Bathroom’s in the hall, darlin’.” Ayden smiled under her palm pressed against his lips.

“You come with me.” Charlie didn’t like being in a strange place, and the hall could be two feet or two hundred feet away for all she knew.

Ayden growled and let her go. He flipped on the switch to the lamp on the nightstand and rolled out of the bed. “You coming?”

“Ayden, this is such a nice room.” Charlie took in the soft colors and the soft carpet as her feet hit the floor. It was warm cozy and country, with cowboy hats lining the top of the wall as a border.

“You can tell my momma in the morning. I need to sleep.” Ayden ushered her two feet out the door to the bathroom. Charlie’s voice was a little hoarse from all the talking on the drive. “You sound like me, darlin’.”

“Wait for me?” Charlie smiled and shut the door. She was wide awake and excited about meeting his family and horseback riding and Graceland. All the things Ayden told her he had planned for them to do.

“Why the hell not?” Ayden stood with his hands on his hips in the hallway waiting for her. In a few more hours, his mother would be awake and then Noel, Tom and the baby would come over. That was the routine. Ayden kept running over the schedule in his mind trying to find time for a nap since two hours would not sustain him anymore. He was getting older and needed sleep.

“Did you know there’s a lasso in that bathroom?” Charlie came out of the bathroom with bright eyes and a big smile.

“Did you know that it’s real and if you don’t let me get some sleep, you’re going to find yourself tied up with it?” Ayden huffed.

“Is that a promise, cowboy?” Charlie actually looked as hopeful as she sounded at that prospect.

“Behave.” Ayden swatted her on the butt and redirected her to the bedroom. That wasn’t the reaction he had wanted, but it almost gave him a second wind, definitely something to dream about.

Ayden crawled into the bed and turned out the lights. Charlie’s big blinking eyes were looking at him the whole time. He lay on his back and folded his arms under his head. He closed his eyes and let out a deep breath.

“Ayden, are you asleep?” Charlie whispered.

“Woman,” Ayden warned.

“I know. I just wanted to tell you I’m glad we came here.” Charlie snuggled into his side. It would take some self restraint to keep from talking. She would try.

Ayden lowered his arms and pulled her on top of him. She had hoped that maybe he was going to kiss her. Instead, he pushed her head to his chest and patted her softly. Charlie tried to be still, but she couldn’t help it. Her fingers started to trace his shoulders and neck.

“I’m going to get the lasso.” Ayden rolled her to her back.

“What?” Charlie gasped.

“You won’t let me sleep.” Ayden kissed her neck. He was awake now.

“I’m sorry. I just can’t help it.” Charlie stroked his back.

“You will have to be quiet.” Ayden gently nipped her neck. “Later I’ll take you out to the barn and then you can scream.”

“Promise?” Charlie adjusted her legs around him. She was still sore from yesterday. Ayden was a large man in all aspects of the word, his personality, his body, his cock. Charlie doubted he could ever date a petite woman without snapping her in half.

He pulled her panties off and then pushed his boxers down. Charlie was already wiggling to reach him. He slicked a hand between them and spread her apart. She surprised him by reaching down and guiding him in.

Ayden rocked into her gently taking her as slow as he could force himself to go. Charlie kissed his neck and urged him on with a husky whisper. All the while, lovingly stroking his back and quietly moaning. Her teeth bit into his shoulder, and his eyes closed on a low guttural moan of sensation.

Nothing in the world was better than making love to Charlie. It cost him sleep, cost him his heart, and would probably cost him his life someday. Ayden shook that thought from his head. He wasn’t sure how it got there.

Charlie felt his full weight bearing down on her, and she relished it. He covered her like a hot blanket from head to toe. His breathing grew slow and deep and she knew he was finally asleep. She pushed up a little trying to get more air in her lungs, and he rolled to his side.

After a couple hours, she could see him more clearly, as the first bits of light peaked through the curtains. The downstairs of the house was beginning to move about with noise, doors and the smell of food. Charlie kissed his forehead and slipped out of bed. Ayden needed to sleep, and she needed a shower.

“Where are you going?” He mumbled.

“I need a shower, sleep.” Charlie was amazed at how in tune he was to her. Charlie could sleep through anything. It scared her so much she had three bolted locks on her apartment in Las Vegas. With Ayden near, she could sleep sound and not worry about anything. He would protect her should the occasion arise.

“I’ll go get your bags.” Ayden opened an eye.

“You didn’t bring them in last night?”

Charlie sounded surprised, and that struck him the wrong way this morning. “I brought you in last night. Maybe I should have brought in the luggage and let you sleep in the truck. At least then I would have gotten sleep.”

There was the morning Ayden she knew. Cranky, maybe he was only cranky all those years ago because he wasn’t sleeping. “The bags are in the bathroom. That’s why I asked. Go to sleep, Wolf, before I really use that lasso.”

Ayden huffed and pulled the blanket over his head. Shit. His Pop must have brought them in last night. He thought he heard someone in the hall but assumed it was the dogs. They would have been in his bed had Charlie not been there. He drifted back to sleep, deciding to get up when Charlie came back.

Charlie was finished with her shower and dressed when she heard Noel and Tom’s voices downstairs. She didn’t need Ayden to meet them the first time. They could introduce her to his parents now.

Charlie entered the kitchen, and Lacy Blythe all but lit up like the sun itself. She wasn’t much bigger than Noel, and Charlie was amazed something as big as Ayden had ever been a part of such a tiny woman.