Bidding Wars (Love Strikes) (11 page)

She picked up her glass of wine and took a long drink from it. He wanted to say something, but he wasn’t sure what. What did you say to someone who couldn’t have kids? She obviously loved children in her line of work. God, it must hurt her every day to be in the job she was.

“I’m really sorry.” He kept his tone low.

“It’s not your fault.”

“I know. Is that why your marriage didn’t work out?” He needed to know more.

She shrugged. “I’d like to say yes, but there were always problems there. The fact that I couldn’t be the woman he needed me to be—the woman who could bear his children—was all the confirmation he needed to step away from our marriage. He has since moved on to a younger woman, and through the grapevine I’ve heard they’re expecting their first child.”

“I—”

She placed a hand up. “I don’t want to hear you’re sorry. That’s all I’ve heard from everyone for the past year. Frankly, I’m tired of everyone feeling pity for me. I can’t have kids. I’ll never be the wife a man needs. And if you no longer want to pursue this, knowing I can’t have children, then I understand.”

Luke had wanted more kids one day. He didn’t want Sammy to be an only child as he had been. Luke had always wondered what it would be like to have a sibling.

“Why doesn’t your sister talk to you anymore?”

“Carrie blames me for my marriage falling apart. She was willing to be a surrogate, but I wasn’t willing to do that. I wanted to carry my own child, not someone else. I also wasn’t willing to try in vitro. Carrie says that my unwillingness to try either of those options was the same as giving up on my marriage. Deep down, I wonder: if I’d been with the right person would I have tried one of those options? Maybe something was telling me that things weren’t going to work with Steven. I don’t know. But I wanted to do it myself. Does that make sense?”

“Complete. And it’s not your fault. You’re not any less of a woman. In fact, you’re amazing. I want you to know that.”

She smiled, melting his heart. “Why am I amazing?”

“You just are.” Luke stood up and pulled her with him. “I really want to kiss you. Please tell me I can.”

She didn’t speak, but her head did move slightly up and down, and it was all the confirmation he needed before he claimed her lips. Wrapping his hand around her neck, he tilted her head back and deepened the kiss. Her tongue met his in the middle, and he groaned in delight. She tasted sweet from the wine.

She rubbed her hand along his chest. He could feel the hesitation in her, but finally her fingers tightened and she gripped his shirt, pulling herself closer to him. Her hips pressed into his hard bulge. She moaned, and he wasn’t sure if it was from his kiss or the fact that she could feel how excited she made him.

He didn’t want to stop kissing her. What he really wanted was to let his lips explore her body. Each and every spot until he knew her entirely. He traced his fingers down her neck, to her shoulder, and under her cardigan. Her shoulders were soft. Gently, he pushed the light material down her arms as his fingertips tickled her skin. He did the same on the other side, until he knew it was left up to her to remove the sweater or not.

Molly pulled away from the kiss and gazed up into his eyes. “I don’t know about this.”

“We don’t have to do anything you don’t want to. I would never pressure you into anything.”

She took a deep breath. “I want to make sure we are doing it for the right reasons, not to fill a void.”

He pulled her sweater back up to her shoulders. Pressing his lips to her cheek for a moment. “How about dessert?”

“I think that would be great. Can we eat inside?”

“Perfect. I’ll bring these plates in and meet you in the living room.” He moved away from her and missed her touch instantly.

* * *

Molly sat down on the couch, placing her hand over her heart. It was beating fast. God, that man could kiss. She wanted to know where things would’ve headed out there on the porch. Making love to Luke would be phenomenal. Maybe one day. But things were just too complicated right now, weren’t they?

The more she thought about it, the more she realized that things really weren’t that complicated anymore. She’d laid her deal out on the table and told him where she stood when it came to the house, and he was fine with it. It was obvious that he cared for her. But he’d also just learned she wasn’t able to have children. He needed time to let that soak in. Sure, he had one child, but did he want more? That conversation was important before she could get any more involved with him. She used to think she was broken, but she knew now she wasn’t, she would just have to find motherhood a different way. Maybe that was her calling.

“Molly.” Luke called from the kitchen.

She spun around on the couch and looked toward the doorway that she assumed lead to the kitchen. “Yes.”

“Dessert is very rich. Want a glass of milk to go with it?”

What she really wanted was more wine, but knew any more would surely get her straight into Luke’s bed. And she was having a hard enough time not going to it now. “That’d be great.”

Turning back, she looked around. The room was filled with picture frames. On the table beside her, she picked up one that depicted Luke with a few other police officers. The background appeared to be a festival, and she noticed they were all fighting over a bowl of something. Peering closer, she had a good idea it was a bowl of his potato salad. She had to give it to him—it was good stuff.

Placing the frame down, she grabbed the one next to it. It was Sammy. She smiled. She’d only had the honor of meeting the child twice, but it had been a delight each time. He was a wonderful kid. She knew if she got the chance to know him more, he’d steal her heart for sure.

Setting the picture down, she saw Luke come in, carrying a tray this time. “I forgot about this thing. It would have come in handy earlier.” He laid it on the coffee table.

Two plates sat there with a delicious looking red and white square. “What is this again?”

“Red velvet cheesecake brownies.”

“What a combo. They look good.”

“This is my first time making them. I hope they taste as good as they smell and look.” He handed her a plate.

“Did you taste the batter?”

“You caught me red-handed. I did.”

“I don’t blame you. I always do too.”

“Ladies first.” He motioned toward her plate.

She didn’t have to be told twice. She couldn’t wait to taste it. This was a new recipe for her. The fork easily slid through the dessert. She opened her mouth and when the sweetness hit her tongue, she groaned. “Oh my God, it’s so good.”

Luke stared at her, watching her devour several more bites before he finally took a taste himself. She watched him the same way he’d watched her. When the fork entered his mouth, she could see the almost orgasmic look appear on his face. Yes, these were that good.

“Wow, these
are
delicious.”

They finished their dessert, silently watching each other. She wasn’t sure why, but the expressions he made as he ate his masterpiece made her feel connected to him. It was weird, and she couldn’t explain it. When her last drop of milk was done, she set the empty plate and glass on the tray and leaned back into the cushions.

“I’m stuffed. You’ve spoiled me tonight.”

“Good. You deserve it.”

She glanced at the clock hanging above the mantel on the brick fireplace. “It’s late. I should get going.”

“But I haven’t given you a tour of the house yet.”

“After the tour, I should probably head home.”

He pried himself off the couch and then held his hand out to her. She took it, letting him pull her up. For a moment, she wanted to push him back down and have her way with him, but then she reminded herself to wait.

He held her hand as he walked her around. The first stop was his kitchen, which was a wreck. It was a familiar site to her as a cook as well. When she got lost in a recipe, she didn’t care about the mess. The fun was all in creating it. After that, he showed her his empty formal living room, as well as empty formal dining room. She realized then he had about as much furniture as her, and he lived in a bigger place.

The hallway that led to the back of the house was dark and took several turns. It was unique in her eyes, because most hallways were a straight shot. They passed a bedroom that, he told her, was also empty. Next was Sammy’s room. She stood in the doorway and saw the perfect kid’s room. Luke had spent a lot of time making this room a little boy’s dream. From the captain’s bed to the posters on the walls. Luke tugged her by her hand, urging her forward. She knew what room was next—his.

At the end of the hallway, a door was wide open. Taking a deep breath, she walked with him to the last room. He flipped on the light, and the first thing she saw was the bed. “Is that a waterbed?”

“It is.”

“I didn’t know people still slept on those.”

“It’s heaven. Have you ever been on one?”

She laughed. “Years ago. Probably when I was in middle school and they were all the rage.”

“I love it. Come on; try it out.”

She hesitated.

“Don’t be a chicken. Climb on and see why I won’t give it up.”

She did as he asked and sat down on the bed, feeling it sway beneath her.

“Lay down now.”

“No funny stuff.” She knew it may have been a little too late for that.

She lay down on the bed, resting her head on a pillow. It was nice; she’d give him that. She wasn’t sure she could sleep in one of these every night, but every now and then, maybe.

He stood at the end of the bed with a mischievous look on his face. Before she had the chance to say anything, he leaped onto the bed, sending her bouncing up into the air. She screamed out and laughed when she landed back down, rolling right into him.

“Oh God, that was fun.” Molly laughed.

“See, I told you; waterbeds are fun.”

“You’re just a big kid at heart, aren’t you?”

“Being an adult is no fun. Sometimes it’s nice to let loose.”

“I couldn’t agree more.” A wave of confidence came over her. She scooted in a little closer, and before she could talk herself out of it, she kissed him.

He pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her waist. The kiss was sweet and tender. She ran her hands through his hair and groaned in delight as he traced a small circle on her lower back.

She tossed one of her legs over his, pushing her center right into his erection. His kiss became more desperate and his hand drifted down, squeezing her backside. It felt so amazing to be touched again. She wanted more—a lot more. Maybe she could do this, just one time. Then they could have the talk that needed to be had.

As his hand rubbed her butt and got closer to her sex, she felt the switch go off. She needed sex. She needed the connection it would bring and the intimacy. And she needed it to be Luke.

She pulled away from the kiss and sat up. He gazed up at her. She stole a glance to his lower half, seeing he was turned on as much as she was. Meeting his eyes again, she slipped off her cardigan and dropped it to the floor. Next, she lowered the straps to her sundress and began to remove it slowly.

“Wait, I thought you said…” He grabbed the strap before it slipped too far down.

“I know what I said, but I need this. Just once, with no questions asked.”

He sat up. “You’re sure?”

“Yes.”

He pushed her hands away and then pulled the dress down, revealing a white lace strapless bra. Molly lay back on the bed while he tugged the dress off. His grunt, she hoped, meant that he liked what he saw. He quickly unbuttoned his shirt. Reaching up, she did her best to help him along. As he worked on his shirt, she unbuckled his belt. She had to tease just a little though, letting her hand slid over his erection. He was big, and she couldn’t wait to see it. The only thing that had been inside of her in the past year had been her purple plastic vibrator. And it was nowhere near as long or thick as she imagined Luke was.

With her foot, she helped him wiggle out of his jeans. They were both down to just their undergarments. He was a boxer man, a plaid boxer man to be precise. And if it wasn’t for the button that looked as though it was ready to pop off, she’d have an eyeful.

He lay back down beside her, his hand rubbing her stomach. With each stroke, he got closer to her breasts.

“Touch me, please.”

He caressed her and dipped his finger under her cup. She sighed and then pulled his mouth to hers. As his hands worked their magic all over her body, she finally reached down and popped the button lose, letting him spring out. Wrapping her hand around him, she was able to give a few strokes before he placed his hand over hers to stop her.

“It’s been way too long since a woman has touched me. I don’t think I’m going to last long.”

She reached behind her and released her bra, tossing it off the bed. She then wiggled out of her panties. “I need you in me just as much as you. It’s going to be quick for us both.”

He kissed her neck and removed his boxers. With his knees, he pushed her thighs open and climbed between. He detoured to her breasts, taking turns drawing each one into his mouth before he kissed his way back to her lips. He then leaned away from her and fumbled inside the nightstand drawer.

“Damn.” He was pushing around things in the drawer. “I don’t have any condoms.”

She pulled him back to her. “I’m clean. Are you?”

“Yes.”

“Then it’s fine. And it’s not like I can get pregnant.”

And with that, he entered her, and every coherent thought she had went out the window.

Chapter Fourteen

Luke left the lawyer’s office Monday afternoon feeling as though he had just taken two giant steps back. Leslie had passed the required drug test, which meant his case was getting weaker. His lawyer had advised him to continue collecting evidence at this point, but right now they didn’t have enough to prove Leslie was an unfit mother.

His lawyer did say they could go to court and he could fight for more time with Sammy. Or even split the kid’s home life to two weeks with him and two weeks with Leslie. But, how could that be best for his son? He’d never have anywhere to truly call home. Plus, they lived in two different school districts. Where Luke lived was the better district, and he really wanted Sammy to attend those schools.