Chapter 32
Derek
God, she was fucking beautiful. And maybe those words weren’t meant to be used in the same sentence, but Hannah was, in fact, the most beautiful woman I’d ever met. Full of flaws, full of insecurities, but that was what made her all the more special. She didn’t see herself like I did, didn’t realize exactly how perfect she was.
A few days had passed since we found out about her stalker and by then we’d settled into a routine. Nathan would pick her up for work or she would work from home, and I was only gone a couple of hours in the morning or afternoon hoping that if our schedule was unpredictable, whoever the hell was stalking her, wouldn’t try to harm her. She still wasn’t talking to Evie, but had promised she wasn’t mad...only disappointed.
The last days had brought upon our lives a whole bout of insanity and yet, I could see her taking strength from the situation. I could see her finding peace in the midst of it all.
She would say it was thanks to me, but it was all her.
Hannah was stronger than she imagined.
Detective Wilson had been in touch with us every day to give us updates...or tell us if there was none, though I imagined he was making progress but he wouldn’t say a word until he was sure.
We didn’t talk about it much, Hannah and I, but we didn’t bother anymore. I wouldn’t let this steal her happiness.
“I can feel you looking at me,” she said, her eyes still closed as she rested her head against the tub. Bubbles covered her body, except for her legs which were bent, exposing her knees. I didn’t need to see what hid beneath the water, I already knew every part of her body, every curve, every crevice.
“You should join me.” She raised a single eyebrow as she bit her bottom lip and my cock stiffened, always reacting to her. She didn”t even need to try, she aroused me just with the tiniest actions. I got rid of my clothes, tossing them to the laundry hamper and missing, something she would surely fuss about later, but for now, she didn’t seem to care.
The water was warm when I stepped in. I didn’t fit in the goddamn tub and sat across from her between her legs, looking at her chest as it rose with every breath she took. She’d had a glass of wine and was clearly a little tipsy as she leaned in and kissed me. Hannah took in a shaky breath as she pulled away and my thumb traced her lip, the smell of alcohol invading my senses, but all I could feel was her.
She reached up, touching the stubble on my face with such tenderness that my chest tightened, but didn”t say a word, waiting for her.
I”d always wait.
”Remember when we talked about where we would live? Whether we”d buy a house or stay here?”
I hummed, running a hand over her leg. She squirmed, but didn’t stop me.
”I”ve been thinking, and I don”t want to unpack. After this is all over I want us to buy a house.”
Interesting. ”You do?”
”Yeah. Staying here is not what I want.” She spoke with confidence, sure of herself. That’s all I needed to know. I didn’t need details, I just wanted her to be where she wanted. “This house is pretty, and at the time, it served its purpose but this isn’t my dream. I want a house big enough that Evie can stay over, and her kids, or Lisa, Blake...our loved ones. It doesn’t have to be a mansion, just enough for the girls to each have their own room...or maybe if we have another baby, too.”
The mention of another baby caught my attention, but I didn’t say a word. This was her time to speak.
“And I do want a piano. I want a room where I can play and escape and we need an office for you and me, one we can share. And I want a big backyard where the girls can play and maybe a dog...” Hannah laughed quietly, shaking her head, but there was nothing funny about it. She meant every word. “It doesn’t have to be now, it doesn’t have to be right away, but that’s what I want, if you want it, too.”
“And if I don’t?”
Hannah rolled her eyes, already knowing I was bluffing. “Then we negotiate,..maybe. I think I’m going to call the shots on this one. You don’t have good taste when it comes to houses...or decorating.”
I brushed a strand of hair out of her beautiful face and watched as the color rose to her cheeks. I couldn’t get mad. It was true. All I cared about was neutral colors, and her being with me. “You know all you have to do is tell me what you want, Hannah. I’ll give it to you.”
The playfulness returned to her face. “Really?”
“Of course.”
“Then kiss me.”
I did. I kissed her again and again until she was breathless, until my lips found her jaw and neck and my tongue traced her skin. I kissed her until my teeth nipped at her skin, leaving love bites all over, until little moans left her mouth and her nails dug into my skin.
But I didn’t touch her.
Not until she asked.
Two could play this game.
“Derek,” she groaned, leaning back against the tub. The bubbles were gone by now and her chest heaved, but she didn’t give a damn.
“You haven’t told me you want me to do anything else,” I said, running my hands up and down her legs. They were on each side of my body, spread and vulnerable and I wanted nothing more than to touch her.
Fuck her.
She looked like she was barely holding it together, running her hand through her hair and the other one resting beneath her belly button.
Beautiful.
Finally, her hand lowered and she touched herself...
Fucking hell.
She smiled, only enough to let me know she was testing me, to see who had more self-control. I held her legs apart, my focus on her fingers and every one of her movements, so uninhibited I could barely recognize her. Hannah bit her lip, stifling her moans until she couldn’t anymore.
“Touch me.”
Her breathless command was all I waited for. I buried my fingers inside her, feeling her body tense in front of me. Hannah threw her head back as I pumped my fingers inside her, touching her clit and leaning in to take a nipple in my mouth. Cursing, she unraveled in front of me, her eyes squeezing shut as the pleasure washed over her perfect body, and all I could do was watch.
She was mine.
Every part of her, every single inch of her was mine, and I’d be damned if anyone took it from me.
***
Saturday mornings were busy. Most of the time I’d be out the door first thing in the morning but that morning, I’d chosen to stay. I’d have to go to the restaurant eventually, but preparing breakfast for Hannah was the best I could do after her failed attempt at cooking. I chuckled as the taste of the salty spaghetti came back to me.
She tried, but somehow she’d managed to completely screw that one up.
It dawned on me that despite every single thing going wrong, Hannah was at peace. I didn’t see the hopelessness in her eyes, didn’t see the heartbreak I thought would be consistently there. Something about her had changed, and it was damn beautiful.
Do you think this will ever end?
That was the question she’d asked as we laid in bed. She’d been so quiet I thought she’d fallen asleep but then the question came. There was a hint of sadness in it, but also acceptance, as if she knew the answer already.
She did.
We both did.
Her past would always find its way to haunt us.
It wouldn’t destroy her, though. I could see it, I could feel it when she spoke.
“It doesn’t matter. I’ll be here regardless,” I answered.
A knock at the door pulled me from my thoughts. I furrowed my brows, glancing at the car in our driveway, surprised that Blake was here so early.
“Hey,” he said, forcing a smile. “I brought breakfast for Hannah and the girls.”
“You did.”
Blake shrugged, holding up a bag of bagels. “I stopped at the bakery on my way to work and figured I’d bring some since it’s only a few minutes away.”
I gestured for him to come in and he did, setting the bag on the dining room table.
“Has Hannah told you what’s going on?” I asked, taking a sip of my coffee. I nodded toward the coffee machine so he could make his own, but he sat down instead.
“Going on with what?”
“Someone stole from the gallery.” Blake’s eyes widened and he sat back with a sigh, like it was a tired situation. It was. As her best friend though, I needed him to protect her like he’d always done. “Hannah was really upset about it.”
He scoffed and shook his head. “I bet. Do you know who did it?’
“Nope. But that’s not the worst part.”
Surprised, Blake followed my movements as I reached over to grab the envelope that sat at the middle of the table. I handed it to him, watching as he opened and waited for his reaction. He skimmed through the pictures, one after another until he got the point.
“Holy shit.”
I let out a humorless laugh and muttered a “yup” before I drank more of my coffee.
“We think it’s connected as well as the break in a few months ago.” Blake’s eyebrows shot up. “And our private investigator—”
“You hired a PI?”
I nodded. “We did. Figured it was the way to go since we don’t know who it is to present it to the police. Besides, there’s no threat being made, per se.”
Blake scratched the back of his head, still staring at the pictures in his hands. He was livid, I was sure, especially seeing how he was such close friends with her.
“I need you to take care of her for me,” I said, standing up and setting my cup in the sink. Blake sighed, placing the pictures on the table. “Hannah trusts you and you’ve taken care of her this whole time while I was away. I need you to keep doing that while we figure out what’s going on.”
“Well, it can’t be good,” he muttered, tapping his fingers on the table.
“I know.”
The words lingered in the air. There would be no other reason for following her around other than hurting her in some way and we all knew it.
“I’ll be there,” Blake finally answered. “If she needs anything or if you need me to be with her when you’re away, I can be here for her and the girls.”
I nodded, feeling like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I needed everyone close to her on the same page, willing to protect her.
“Hannah really cares for you,” I said. Blake let out a small laugh and nodded once again. “She trusts you and that’s a very hard thing for her to do.”
“I know.”
“I know what she did after our fallout.”
“You do?”
“She told me after all this—” I waved my hands over the pictures, “—happened. In many ways I think you kept her alive, kept her from giving up.”
“She would have done the same for me.”
She would have, in a heartbeat. I heard her soft steps behind me and turned around, watching her as she appeared. A soft smile adorned her face as she tightened the robe around her body before she reached up and kissed me, whispering a quiet good morning. Her hair was a mess, but she didn’t seem to care.
“He brought you bagels,” I replied, nodding over to Blake.
Hannah grinned, and walked over to her best friend, also embracing him. He was her confidant in the midst of the storm, and I could accept that, as long as he kept her safe.
They picked up the bag of bagels and headed to the patio, sitting outdoors to chat.
The day that this was all over couldn’t be here fast enough.