Conklin's Corruption (#3) (Conklin's Trilogy) (35 page)

“Good memories?” I cautiously asked.

He didn’t say anything at first then nervously laughed.  “Both.  I um… I remember missing my mom.”

I studied him intently, trying to grasp what he was feeling. 

“Did she ever come here with you?”

He shook his head no.  “When I was showing you around, I remembered waking up at night wanting her.  My gran would come in and try to soothe me, but I only wanted my mom.” I could barely hear his voice because it was so soft.  “I just remember nan telling me how my mom didn’t want to come with me, and that she wouldn’t play on the beach with me if she were here anyway.”

He looked so troubled and hurt.

Tyler’s chest started to rise and fall faster.  “We should bring your mom with us next time.  I bet she’d like that,” I murmured, tracing a circle with my fingertips on his chest. 

His eyes closed as he took a deep breath.  “Maybe.”

More silence passed between us as Tyler’s breathing slowed back to normal.  Just when I thought Tyler was going to be done talking about his childhood memories, he began to speak again.

“I wonder if my mom wanted to come, but RJ wouldn’t let her,” he said quietly, his hand stopping on my shoulder.  A slight laugh escaped his lips, “Or my grandparents wouldn’t let her.”

I furrowed my eyebrows at him.  “What do you mean?”

He shrugged his shoulders then continued rubbing my shoulder and bicep.  “What do you want to do tomorrow?” he asked while sighing.

I frowned at his change of subject but didn’t push him to keep talking.

“Doesn’t matter.  As long as neither of us is working.”

I sensed Tyler’s grin.  We left our phones in the car for a reason.  I’m sure we’d eventually go check them for emergencies, but I didn’t want Tyler to hole up in the cabin, stuck on the phone with a client or the office.

“I doubt we’ll have good service anyway.  Might have to find a bar so we can watch the Cubs game,” he teased, pulling me closer to him.

I groaned loudly.

“The Tigers play tomorrow too.  Would that convince you to go find a television somewhere?”

“I guess,” I sighed dramatically.

Tyler laughed, pulling me on his lap with both arms so I was straddling him.  I squealed by his sudden movement, grabbing his biceps to steady my balance.  We both were laughing from his playfulness, but the air quickly turned thick, immobilizing our laughter into passion.

Heat rushed through me as our eyes met, dilating into one another.  Tyler slowly bit his bottom lip then released it as his eyes locked onto my mouth. 

We hadn’t been intimate in a while.  His head wasn’t there, and I hadn’t had the urge to push him until now.  I knew he was worried about hurting me, worried his emotions would get the best of him.  He always wanted to be gentle with me, cherish me.  The thought of grabbing onto me and pounding his frustrations and confusions into me terrified him.  At first I wanted him to use me for a means to escape his own demons, but now I understood.  He did that for ten years with Margo, and our relationship was so much more than that.  Mixing the two together was sickening, and I was all for giving Tyler space until he could control his emotions.  And he was getting better, maybe enough for us to rekindle on a physical level.

My sex was aligned perfectly with his, and I’m sure one, tender, kiss would cause the space between us to disappear.  I was throbbing to move, the ache low in my belly wanting me to make that simple gesture with my hips.

Tyler’s chest started to rise faster as his grip around my back tightened.  I brought my forehead to his, silently praying he was ready, and hoping my body wouldn’t push him to do something he’d regret.

Moving my lips so they were barely a centimeter apart from his, I waited for him to make that final move.  Our breath was intermingling, building a frenzy of lust that I couldn’t control any longer.

I moved my mouth to his, sucking hard on his bottom lip.  His groan of pleasure vibrated through me, causing my hips to move downward on his lap.  Tyler’s hands held a firm grip on my waist, finding their way up the back of my shirt, fiddling with the strap of my bra.

Our heads automatically shifted the opposite directions, our mouths opening wider for our tongues to dip and dance with each other.  My hands found his face, one creeping up to tug his hair while the other cradled his jaw.

Just as my hand was contemplating finding the inside of his shorts, Tyler slowly pulled away, his eyes closed, but his hands still firmly placed on my back.  The struggle was obvious on his face by how his eyes were screwed shut and the heavy breaths coming from his nose as his nostrils flared. 

I gulped, fighting the urge to feel disappointed that our kissing was about to come to an end instead of building into passion.

Tyler’s head suddenly jerked back to mine, finding my mouth hungrily again.  His desire was stronger now, his hands pressing harder into my back.  I whimpered from his unexpected drive, but he misunderstood my cry.

“I’m sorry,” he gasped, catching his breath, his hands moving like lightning from under my shirt to the wood of the swing.

My hands gripped his face; my head drastically shaking back and forth.  “No, no, I liked it, please, don’t stop.”

His eyes searched mine as his jaw ticked.  Tyler’s hands slowly found my thighs, making their way back to my waist as he continued but with slow, tender kisses.

The feeling of his lips caressing mine so lovingly, his hands moving in a simple rhythm up and down my spine, made my heart pound faster in my chest. 

My hands gripped his hair tighter, my hips pressing into his reaction further, making it blatantly obvious what I wanted.

Tyler grabbed my thighs, standing from the swing in one fluid swoop, carrying me back towards the cabin, our mouths never separating.

My back bumped into the screen as Tyler struggled to open the slider, holding me close with one arm.  I moved my mouth down to his neck, nipping at his collarbone.

His breath was harsher now, letting out a frustrated grunt as he finally got the door open.  Tyler nuzzled into my neck, his mouth sucking furiously on my skin as we made our way up the stairs to the loft.  The lights were off, and our bodies would randomly hit objects on the way.

Finally reaching the bed, Tyler set me down gently, his body pressing into mine.  Our lips locked again, hands feverishly pulling at his shirt.  I swore I could have ripped it right off him.

Grabbing the back of his shirt, Tyler pulled it over his head as my hands greedily swept over his chest and stomach.  The ripples of muscles were so hard and taut, I wanted to trace my tongue along each line.  Before I got the chance, Tyler tore my sweatshirt over my head, my tank top along with it.  His hot breath traveled down my neck to my collarbone, his tongue anxiously dipping into the cup of my bra.  He was so close, and I groaned, arching my back, wanting him to meet my skin with his soft tongue.

Fighting him long enough to yank my bra over my head, I laid back down, pulling his face back to my sensitive skin.  The sucking and the nibbling felt like heaven, and I never wanted it to stop.

Then he bit a touch harder, his arms wrapping underneath my back, squeezing me tightly.  It felt amazing, and I knew it did because of my state of mind.  His teeth tugged on my skin again, and I knew it would leave a mark.  Not wanting to upset him, I forcefully rolled so I was on top of him, taking control.

I kissed down his chest while I held his forearms on either side of his head.  Strangled moans escaped his mouth the further down my tongue traveled.  I kissed him through his shorts, running my nose along his length.

He quickly sat up while taking a sharp breath, grabbing my wrists from his forearms.  “Don’t tease me, Becca.  Not tonight.  It’s been way too long,” he groaned, yanking me upward and claiming my mouth with his.

His grip on my wrists was like vices, and I struggled to free my hands.  I wanted to hold him, not let him hold me down.  As bad as I wanted aggressive, teeth clenching, and controlling sex with Tyler, I knew it would only end badly in the morning.

Finally pulling my hands free, I cradled his face, slowing down his demanding and urgent kisses. His heaving chest slowed some, but his hands were still roughly holding me, pressing me as close to him as possible.  His erection was digging into me.  I needed him deep inside, my calm and soothing hands turning frantic, pulling off my shorts then tugging wildly at his.

Tyler grunted and released me, helping me rip his shorts and boxers off completely.  Before I could mount him like I had planned, he flipped me to my back, wedging himself in between my legs.  The shadows in his face were laced with lust and need as his desire filled eyes locked with mine.

I whimpered from his stare, my heart pumping blood loudly throughout my body.  Every nerve was on edge, and I felt the second he’d enter me, I was going to explode and never stop.

Grabbing my palms tightly and pinning me to the bed, Tyler’s breath was hot on my lips.  “Becca, I love you so much.”

I groaned at his declaration and lifted my mouth to meet harshly with his, my tongue swirling and pulling him into me.  Finally, his hips thrust forward, entering me forcefully and sharply.  My moan vibrated through our kiss.  Tyler pulled away, his ragged breath rumbling into my neck as he pushed deeper into me. 

I gripped his hands, digging my nails into his skin, wanting him to drive harder.  “Tyler,” I moaned, meeting his hips roughly with my own.  “I’m so close.”

He cursed under his breath, raising his hips higher and pumping faster. The angle his hips were taking and the arch of my back gave his mouth direct contact with my heavy breasts.  The second his mouth clamped on to one, I came, spiraling hard and fast.  My body twitched and trembled as he kept his steady pace, carrying my orgasm further and further.  My moans were high pitched and pleading now, fearing I’d never see the end of this miraculous oblivion Tyler brought me into. 

With five or six hard and unsteady thrusts, Tyler was grunting into my chest, his mouth still clamped down on my breast.  Our moans peeked together, making me thankful we were miles away from anyone else.  Tyler’s jaw twitched as he slowly took his mouth from my skin, his breath fast and inconsistent.  I could feel his heart hammering against my abdomen, and I’m sure mine was thumping loudly in his ear.

“That was incredible,” I sighed in deep breaths.

Tyler nodded his head into my chest.  After our breathing calmed, I felt his soft, gentle kisses along my chest.  “I bit you too hard, didn’t I?” Tyler gulped, rolling to my side while caressing my breasts as if to give them comfort.  “Fuck,” he mumbled under his breath, holding his head low in shame.

I rolled to face him, barely being able to see his face because it was so dark.  “What part of incredible didn’t you understand?  Ty, I don’t mind if you’re a little rough when we make love.  The way you hold me so tight and put so much passion into us… it’s so hot.  I feel unbelievably loved.”

If I had to guess, his eyes were as big as saucers.  “I never want to hurt you, Becca.  I love you so much.”

Tyler Conklin stole my heart, and I fell recklessly in love with him.  He cared about me so much more than his own self, and that made me realize just how undeserving I was of his love.

But he wanted me.

Cared for me.

Tyler loved me, and I was going to do everything I could to keep him safe. I was going to do everything in my power to be deserving of this humble and broken man that I adored and cherished more than my own life.

Because I needed him.

I craved him.

We belonged together, forever.  Even if the most dangerous man in Grand Rapids was doing everything in his power to destroy my Ty.

To destroy us.

I wouldn’t let it happen.  The villain wouldn’t break what I’ve fought so hard to find.

Chapter 22

Tyler

“Tyler, he’s trying,” Nathan exasperated.

“No, he’s not!  I’m so sick of everyone saying that!  He’s not trying!”  I shouted.  “This bull shit business deal has gone far enough,” I said through clenched teeth.  I shoved past Nathan and stormed out of his office.

“Cooper!” I heard Nathan yell from behind me.

I pounded on RJ’s office door. 

“Tyler, you’re being irrational right now.  Calm down before you talk to him,” Nathan tried to convince me.

I hit the door harder with both fists.  “RJ, open the fucking door!” I yelled.

“Buddy, it’s not worth it. Don’t lose your head,” Cooper said on my other side.

“RJ!” I shouted again.  I was going to break the fucking door down.  I grabbed the door handles, figuring they would jiggle from being locked, but shockingly they clicked free.

“RJ I swear to God—” I lost my voice and my train of thought as the doors flew open.

The puddle of blood streaming out from under RJ’s desk caused my breath to hitch, but the bullet in his forehead stole my breath completely.

“Oh my God,” Nathan gasped, sprinting towards RJ’s desk.   “RJ!  Wake up!”  Nathan yelled, shaking RJ’s lifeless, hunched over body.  “Dad!”