Mind Games (13 page)

Derrick hadn’t anticipated her forgiving him so easily, and he definitely hadn’t planned on her inviting him back to her house. It sounded like she was thinking about picking up where they’d left off last night. Nah, it was the early afternoon.

Too bad she’d insisted on driving her car. He might have gotten a read on her if she was sitting next to him in the passenger seat of his car. It didn’t matter. Obviously, she wanted them to be alone.

If she did want to make love, this time he wasn’t going to blow it. He wouldn’t allow his investigation into her father to get between them. He hadn’t hired a private investigator to dig into her father’s past. It was his curiosity about the doctor, and nothing more.

“Yeah, right,” he mumbled. His gut twisted from thinking about Dr. Von Langley’s “rice” method.

And only God knew what kind of visualization therapy he’d recommended. It sounded as absurd as telling a migraine headache sufferer to imagine sucking on a lemon. Supposedly focusing their mind on the taste of a bitter, sour lemon would alleviate the headache because they weren’t focused on the excruciating pain. Derrick wasn’t a pill dispenser; however, most people with migraine headaches courted other risks if the blood vessels constricted further. He prescribed an appropriate med.

Meds. Dr. Von Langley could prescribe psychotherapeutic drugs. How often, and what cases would require medication? All of them? Some of them? Derrick wasn’t an expert on mental illnesses. His temple started a slow throb. If he kept up this line of thinking, he’d end up with a migraine.

The only consolation he had for now was Angel. She’d appeared so happy with her stay at the Von Langleys that she’d begged him to allow her to stay there while she recuperated. A good sign.

Dr. Von Langley had treated her well, considering Mrs. Von Langley confined herself to her bedroom. What had caused her shock and agitation when she saw Angel for the first time? What was Cora Von Langley’s state of mind? Sparrow hadn’t gotten into specifics regarding her mother’s depression.

Derrick turned the volume up on the radio. To alleviate the gradual pounding in his head, he opted for the soothing sounds of classical music. He imagined making love to Sparrow, while the slow, seductive rhythm of a master composer’s concerto lured them toward passion. It’d been too long since he’d held a woman close. He sped toward her beach house, and the tires squealed to a screeching halt in the parking space.

He gripped the steering wheel. He blew out his breath. He hoped he hadn’t assumed too much about her invitation.

He looked at his watch. The Mobile Health Clinic RV was in the shop, but even without it, he wouldn’t miss a night of work. Those poor kids counted on him. Guilt wormed its way into his potential good time with Sparrow.

It’d been such a long time since he’d enjoyed the company and closeness of a woman. He deserved some happiness, and Sparrow made him happy. Her kindness, calm demeanor, and caring was everything he’d wanted in a wife.

Wife? He hadn’t even shared her bed. Had he fallen harder for her than he realized? His revved-up libido needed to shut up.

She appreciated his work, and it showed when she volunteered. He liked working with her, and looked forward to seeing her on those nights. They enjoyed helping people, and her compassion for the runaway kids they served showed. Building a life together and supporting each other’s charitable work would seem effortless with her.

He approached her front door. The desire to hold her and ask her about everything she wanted out of life overwhelmed him. He pounded on the frame.

“It’s open!”

She came around the corner and greeted him with a warm smile. He pulled her into his arms, kicking the door shut with the heel of his shoe. He knitted his fingers behind the small of her back. He ran his thumbs along her hipbones, tracing the sculpted curve of her sexy hips, and she twitched under his caress.

Her eyelids half closed under his touch. “That tickles,” she said, but didn’t resist his advances.

He dipped his head to hers and devoured her lips. She wrapped her hands around his neck, rising on her tiptoes, meeting his ferocious kiss with the same hunger. His tongue swept the inside of her mouth, tasting her sweetness, a combination of sugary lip gloss and warm tea.

Her fingers ran through his hair, twisting the strands at the base of his neck. His need for her ached. He picked her up, and her legs wrapped around his middle. Her thighs tightened around him, sparking the fire in their kiss. The urge to rip the clothes off her body and take her right here, pinned against the closed door, crossed his mind. Her lithe body moved with grace, and he imagined her flexibility made her an exquisite lover.

Like wild animals, the frenzy to mate with each other took hold. She pawed at his hair. He inhaled the subtly sweet scent of her warm body, her natural pheromones ever so present. He had to make her his. Now. Right now.

“Derrick,” she sighed against his lips.

“I want you.”

“Then take me.”

He carried her to her bedroom. His heart pumped with anticipation. He couldn’t wait to undress her, to touch her and get up close and personal with her most intimate parts.

They ripped and pulled at each other’s clothes. He yanked down the zipper on her jacket, while she tore the tie from around his neck, and buttons popped off his dress shirt. She stepped back and crossed her arms at her waist, peeling the camisole past her toned abs and puckered nipples and over her head. Derrick struggled to kick off his shoes and socks. She slid the tight yoga pants down her legs. Sparrow reached for the waistband of his dress slacks and fumbled to release his belt buckle. His pants fell to the floor, and she followed them. He stepped out of pooled fabric and kicked them to the side.

His heart revved several notches at the sight of her on her knees in front of him. She smiled up at him. He anxiously awaited her next move, excited by the tempting look in her sultry green eyes. His hands gripped her shoulders at the mere suggestion, and he decided to let her take the lead. For now.

She never took her gaze off him. She rocked the seductive temptress look well for a subdued yoga instructor. Her fingers tickled up his thigh, and she slipped her hand under the leg of his boxers. Not sure how much more of this he could take, he pulled her to him. Her eyes showed a woman intent on getting what she wanted. And what she wanted was him.

“Being here, with you, doesn’t seem real,” she said. “You know I’ve thought about you over the years, Derrick.”

“I’ve thought about you, too.” He dipped his head toward her and gently kissed her lips, then whispered into her ear, “Let me show you how real I am.”

He slid his hands around her waist and down her backside. His finger slipped beneath the narrow piece of fabric crawling up her behind. He teased the erogenous area of her tailbone. Her thighs tensed, and her knees buckled. Her body fell against his. He snapped the fabric of her thong. “You’re incredibly sexy.” He slipped a hand along the front of her thigh. The muscles in her legs constricted. Her quad muscles popped. He admired the slight curve, tracing the stiff muscles with his index finger.

“Derrick, touch me.” Her voice barely a whisper.

He smiled at the need burning up in her eyes. “I am touching you.”

“Mmm, I know, but I need you to touch me down there,” she begged, tossing back her head, and arching her body back.

“Down here?” He ran his hand along the inside of her thigh.

“No, no. You know where.”

“Do I?”

“Don’t make me beg. Touch me.”

“Tell me where.”

She grabbed his hand, forcing it between her thighs. “Here, right here.”

“The proper medical term for here is…” He ran the pad of his thumb against her heat.

“I don’t want to play doctor, Derrick.”

“Are you sure about that?”

He pushed aside the triangle of fabric and teased her heat, probing her swollen desire with gentle fingers. Her eyes glazed over and fluttered. She rocked against his palm, seeking the pleasure she craved. Her aggressive lovemaking turned him to stone.

*               *               *

Sparrow thought she’d self-combust. Even in her wildest dream, she hadn’t fantasized about Derrick on his knees in front of her, worshipping her body. She burned up with a heat so intense she couldn’t remember a time when she’d needed to feel a man deep inside of her. His experienced hands touched her in all the right places, and she liked the slow torture he induced, making her insides quiver. She rocked against his massaging thumb. Her climax slowly built against the pressure of his hand.

“Derrick, I’m going to…”

He stroked her heat faster.

“I want to feel you inside of me,” she said, against the tingling sensation building in her core.

“You will.”

Perspiration dampened her skin. She needed him now. Her hips moved against his stroking fingers coaxing her over the edge toward a powerful climax. She whimpered. How many times had she wondered what it might be like to just kiss him? And now this. What a heady experience. The spasm tightened, releasing the pleasurable pressure from her body. His fingers plunged deeper, massaging at her orgasm. She had never experienced this kind of sexual satisfaction with Dana. And she had nothing to compare it to, since he had been her only lover.

He slowly withdrew his hand from between her wet and shaking inner thighs. He kissed her forehead. She could hardly stand.

“Do you feel better now, since I touched you down there?” He grabbed her thong and ripped the fabric from the side of her hip.

She gasped, her knees shot together, and she crossed her arms across her exposed body. “Are you making fun of me?” she asked, realizing how ridiculous she must look standing there pigeon-toed and covering herself in front of him.

“No way. It’s cute that you won’t say what you want or where you want it. But I’m going to change that.”

“Oh, really?”

“Oh yeah. Lie down, baby, I’m just getting started.”

For a woman who’d just had the sexual release of a lifetime, Sparrow couldn’t wait for him to touch her again. This time she’d know exactly what it felt like to have him inside her. She fell back onto the bed, slightly parting her legs for him.

He picked up his pants, withdrawing a condom from the pocket.

“I’m glad you came prepared.”

“I’ve had this with me for the last week, but our timing has been”—he paused—“off.”

He tossed the condom onto the bed next to her and then crawled up between her legs. The weight of his body hovered over her. The muscles in his arms bunched. She traced the back of his triceps.

“Derrick, kiss me.”

“Where?”

Was he serious? Her mind spun. She pouted at him, pushing out her lower lip.

“Kiss me.” She wrapped her hands around his neck and pulled his face to hers.

He fell onto his forearms. His hardness brushed against her center. She arched her hips forward, anticipating the moment their most intimate parts connected. She stroked him closer to where she needed him.

“Derrick, I want you inside of me.”

“Take me.”

She ripped open the condom and guided him down. He rocked forward, pressing deeper and deeper. She hooked her legs around his neck, sending her hips forward. She met him thrust for thrust. The gentle motion of their bodies pushed and pulled. Their eyes stared into one another, pulling them closer to what they desired.

“Derrick,” she whispered.

He crushed his mouth to hers. He gave one final hard push. Her nails dug into his back, and she forced her hips higher against him. Within seconds her insides shuddered.

“You’re exquisite,” he said, and rolled over onto his back. “Let me get rid of this.”

He rolled over to his side, kissing her cheek before he went into the bathroom to dispose of the condom. His naked body strolled across the room, sending a shot of excitement through her. Hopefully, he’d brought more than one provision, because she was ready to go again.

*               *               *

Derrick could forget about being a doctor for one day and start thinking about being with Sparrow. Work could wait until tomorrow. He wouldn’t allow himself to feel guilty about playing hooky from the Mobile Health Clinic RV. He didn’t even have the RV. What could he do from his car? Hand out Band-Aids and aspirin? He could.
You’re doing it again.
He rolled the soggy condom down and flushed it down the toilet.

Did he have any appointments tomorrow? He couldn’t remember. Not a good sign; his concierge patients paid a premium for his care, and without their financial support the Mobile Health Clinic RV would cease to exist. Sex clouded his mind and his judgment. Of course, he could simply check the calendar on his smart phone and put his mind at ease.

What about Angel? He should check on her. She was his responsibility, not Dr. Von Langley’s, who was creating additional stress for Derrick with his questionable treatment methods. He ran both of his hands through his hair and dropped his head back against his shoulders.