Chayton's Tempest (36 page)

“Stop, James!” she exclaimed, shoving her elbow into

him. “Be serious.”

“I
am
serious.” His hands unfastened the button that

held up her shorts. With a small push, his hand delved inside

and his fingers teased her wet slit.

“What about the swim?” she panted, spreading her legs

further apart.

 
“We’ll start here and work our way toward the water.

How’s that?”

She reached behind her and placed a hand over his rigid

erection. “Sounds like a solid plan.”

He dipped three fingers into her, loving how she

tightened around him and moaned in contentment. “I think so

too.”

Twenty-Three

Tempest drove slowly. Fear filled her at the thought of

facing her son and his reaction to her disappearing act. For the

umpteenth time, she glanced in the rearview mirror.

He was still there.

Maverick had been behind her the whole trip back. His

rental car dogged her and she knew he was going home with

her. And she didn’t mind. In fact, the prospect pleased her. His

presence was comforting.

Tempest got off I-25 and merged onto I-40. It wouldn’t

be long now before she was home. Her moves were almost

automatic as she drove. The stretch of road was extremely

familiar to her and calming in a sense.

Even still, her heart skipped when her gaze fell upon the

vehicle behind her. Deep down in her soul knew she loved

Maverick. She always had and always would. The big question

was what to do about it now?

Turning up her music, she took a deep breath and hoped

her reunion with Dakota would be okay. Her nerves began to

tighten again. She pulled into a Circle K to fill up her gas tank

give herself a tiny bit more time.

“You okay?” Maverick’s voice came up from behind her.

“Yes,” she muttered, keeping an eye on the pump.

“Look at me,” he commanded in a deep timbre.

She did. His eyes were full of emotion. “I’ll be right by

your side, Tempest. You don’t have to do this alone.”

Tempest believed him. “Thank you.” She put the pump

back, replaced the gas cap, and took her receipt.

“Ready,
mitawin
?”

Looking over her shoulder, she questioned, “Are you

ever going to tell me what that means?”

 
“One day. I promise.” He brushed a quick kiss over her

mouth and smacked her on the ass.

Tempest climbed in her vehicle, a smile sprinkled on her

face. He knew just how to distract her.
Man, did he ever.
Her

lower body convulsed at the thought.

Pulling onto the street, she tried to concentrate on the

road. Soon, she turned into her own driveway. Dakota was out

the front door even before she had a chance to turn off her

engine.
Maverick must have called him.

“Mom!” he hollered, hurdling the cactus in his way.

His arms circled her the second she was out the car.

Tempest felt the sting of tears prick her eyes as he held her.

“I’m sorry, Mom. I’m so sorry. I never meant to hurt

you. I was just being stupid and callous. I swear, I never meant

to hurt you. I was so worried.”

Tempest hugged him back. This was her reason for

living. This young man. Her son.

“It’s okay, Dakota,” she said rubbing his back. “I

overreacted. I’m sorry for disappearing.”

“No,” he insisted.

Dakota drew back and looked down at her with a

seriousness so like his father’s it stopped her heart briefly.
So

like his father.

“No, what?” she asked.

“You didn’t overreact. You’d come all that way because

of me. You faced your demons because of me. And when it

came down to it, I didn’t want to see it. I’m sorry.” He kissed

the top of her head. “I understand now.”

Tempest’s heart swelled with love for her son. “You

understand now?” She touched his cheek gently. “I just did

what I thought was best for you. I know you’re twenty-one and

a man, but you will
always
be my little boy, my baby, and I will

never stop protecting you.”

“I know, Mama. I know. And trust me, I’ve already been

read the riot act about my heartless words.”

Surprised, Tempest glanced up at him. “By whom?” She

knew
Mili
had a fiery temper, but didn’t know if her friend

would do that.

Dakota smiled and nodded to the left and behind her.

“Dad.”

Dad.
He’d called Maverick Dad. She didn’t know what

to say, so she turned and looked at the man who’d fathered her

only child. Maverick had both his and her bags in one hand.

His eyes moved over both her and her son before they rested

on her.

She knew he waited for her reaction.

“Mom?” Dakota asked from behind her.

Tempest shut the door on her Envoy. “Yes?” Her gaze

remained on the wickedly handsome James
Lonetree
.

“Does it bother you? Me calling him Dad?”

The wind blew some of her hair into her face. Staring

through the strands, she held Maverick’s black eyes. “No,

Dakota. He
is
your dad.”

The emotion on Maverick’s face nearly brought her to

tears again. He dropped the bags on the ground and was before

her in two powerful strides.

Without a word, he pulled her into his embrace.
Ironlike

bands closed about her. She could smell tobacco and his

own natural scent, and hear his beating heart.

“Thank you, Tempest. For giving me my son,” he

whispered in her ear. Before she could say anything he

continued. “Come here,” he said in a gruff voice.

In a second, she felt her son’s arms going around her as

well. This was her family. No matter what, their lives were

intertwined.

The whisper that had been in her mind during Dakota’s

birth and her time in the mountains returned.

This is your destiny.

Tempest just smiled. This was not the time to deal with

voices in her head.

They had dinner together with Shelia. It was almost like

a family dinner. After the meal, Tempest and Maverick sat

together in the living room as the younger ones cleaned up.

“
Thanx
for dinner, baby. I should get going.”

Going?
She jerked her head toward him. “Where’re you

going?”

Maverick heard the shock in her voice as she blurted out

her question. He smiled and turned toward her on the couch.

“I have to get a hotel room.”

Her eyes grew large briefly before she stammered, “Oh.”

He smiled mischievously and asked, “Gotten used to

sleeping with me, have you?”

An adorable blush crossed her skin. His eyes lingered on

her mouth as she struggled for some kind of response.

He leaned close to her tempting full lips. “I’d love to

stay in your bed, in your arms. Tell me, Tempest. Do I go,” he

paused and touched her lips with his, “or stay?”

“Stay,” she breathed. “Stay with me, James.”

He kissed her and pulled her onto his lap, her khaki

shorts riding high on her legs as she straddled him.

“Why do you always call me James? Everyone else calls

me Maverick.”

“Didn’t mind me saying it when you were deep inside

me,” she whispered. “But if it truly bothers you, I can call you

Maverick.”

A grin crossed his face. He didn’t care. He was getting

used to her calling him James. Hell, he was beginning to like it.

And didn’t want her to stop. “Baby, You can call me whatever

you like.” His mouth moved over hers in a passionate kiss.

“
Ewww
! Gross! Get a room!”

Tempest jumped back and Maverick’s fingers dug into

the flesh of her ass, keeping her on his lap. He winked at her.

“Hush,” Maverick ordered lightly, glancing around the

woman in his lap to his son standing there. “Are you done

cleaning up?”

 
“Yes. I was going to see you two were ready for

dessert.” Dakota crossed his arms. “I guess you are.”

Tempest squirmed again and Maverick let her off his

lap, but kept her beside him. “I’d say we’re ready.” His hand

moved up and down her bared arm.

His son stared at them for a moment before heading

back into the kitchen. Shelia took a seat on the loveseat and

smiled at them both. Maverick returned her smile. He really

liked her. Shelia was an amazing woman. He would bet

anything somewhere in her past was someone with special

abilities. She had an aura about her like his grandfather had.

Within moments, Dakota reentered the room holding a

tray with cake slices and coffee. Soon the talk had fallen on

Shelia and her plans after college, and then they played Trivial

Pursuit. As he watched the trio of people with him, Maverick

knew this was what he wanted. They were his family.

It was well after midnight when they called it a night.

The sting of tears hit him as Shelia hugged him, kissed his

cheek, and called him “Dad.”

I’m becoming a sap.

“’Night, sweetheart. Drive safely and call when you get

home.”

“It’s late,” Shelia protested.

“I don’t care. Call me when you’re safe at home. How

long does it take for you to get there?”

Maverick watched the slight smile turning up Tempest’s

full lips.

“Twenty minutes or so,” Shelia said with resignation.

“Good. I’ll expect to hear from you then.” Touching her

cheek, he said, “Call from your home phone. Not cell.”

“Okay, Dad,” she returned softly.

Maverick took Tempest’s hand as Dakota walked Shelia

out to her car.

“They are a great couple,” he told her as he kissed the

hand he held.

“I know. They’ll give me beautiful grandbabies.”

 
“Us. They’ll give
us
beautiful grandbabies,” he

corrected.

Tempest squeezed his hand before heading to the table

and began stacking their empty plates on the tray. He watched

her move effortlessly before he joined her.

Reaching for the full tray, he said, “I got it.”

The smile he received melted his heart. He was so in

love with her it scared him.

Unable to find any words, he stood and carried the stuff

to the kitchen. Tempest followed behind with the coffee pot.

He could feel her eyes on him as he loaded the dishwasher.

“Just planning on staring at me,
mitawin
? Or did you

have something to say?”

“Thank you.” Her whisper floated around him like a

cloud.

Closing the door of the machine, he looked at her. Her

eyes were shiny with tears. He frowned and stepped toward