Defending Hayden (Second Chances #7)(34)

“You mentioned your friend Emily. Is she still back in Raleigh, or did she move down here with you and Michael?”

The sting of her betrayal made my stomach clench. “No,” I grumbled, unable to take the bite out of my tone. “She’s still there, married to my ex and expecting their first child.”

“Fuck, that’s messed up. How long did you date him?”

Lifting my gaze, I focused on the trees above as the memories came flooding in. I could still see Jake and Emily the day I caught them in bed. I was so upset I threw a water bottle at Jake’s head. “Jake and I dated for three years. Only I didn’t know that he was screwing around with my best friend for over a year of it. I was too wrapped up in school to notice.”

“What a f*cking prick,” Derek said angrily. “How long ago was this?”

I blew out a heavy sigh. “A little over a year ago now. I found out right before I graduated from college. So when the opening at Stonebrooke became available, I saw it as an opportunity. I guess you can say I ran away from my problems.”

Derek placed a hand on my knee and rubbed my skin soothingly; it sent chills all through my body. “I’m sorry, Hayden. That guy’s a f*cking idiot.”

“That he is, but if it hadn’t happened, I wouldn’t be here today,” I said, meeting his gaze. “Things happen for a reason. If I hadn’t run away from my problems, it wouldn’t have led me to an amazing job. And I never would’ve met you.”

His fingers moved up and down my leg, and I thought I was going to go insane with his touch. The way he stared at me had me trembling. “Do you regret meeting me?” he asked, his voice low.

I shook my head, feeling more confident than I should have. I didn’t want him to know how I truly felt because I was worried about getting hurt again, but what if I never got the chance to tell him? What if I let my insecurities keep me from being happy?

Taking a deep breath, I sat up and clasped my hand with his. “I don’t regret a single minute of it. Just being around you has made me feel things I never thought I could feel again.”

His gaze darkened, his hand clenching in mine. I knew what he wanted because I could see it in his eyes; I wanted it, too. “What do you want from me, Hayden?”

My heart pounded so hard I could hear it in my ears. “You. Just you.”

“Are you sure? You can always say no,” he murmured.

I shook my head. “I don’t want to.”

—

Without another word, we hopped in his truck and started the short trip back to his house. My heart felt like it was going to pop out of my chest, but I was excited more than anything. Derek kept hold of my hand the entire ride, his thumb tracing circles on my palm. Everything inside me tightened. I’d fooled myself into thinking I didn’t want him, but it was all a lie. I’d wanted him from the very beginning.

Once we arrived at his house, the energy in the car spiked. It had been so long since I’d been with a man, I didn’t know where to start or what to say. The feelings I had for Derek went deeper than simple infatuation, which was scary but also exhilarating. He parked his truck and glanced over at me, concern in those light blue eyes.

“Ready to go inside?” he asked.

I nodded, hoping my voice didn’t shake. “Lead the way.” I was nervous, but it was an exciting nervous. My whole body ached to have him inside me, and fighting it wasn’t going to do any good. He held my hand as we walked inside, and as soon as the door shut, he pushed me against it, his hands clutching my face as he kissed me. I melted in his arms and opened myself up to him. His lips were firm, his tongue thrusting deep as he tasted me. Breathing hard, I caught my breath the second he let me go and rested my forehead against his.

“Fuck, I should’ve done that days ago,” he whispered heatedly.

“Then why did you stop?”

He lifted me in his arms, and I straddled his waist as he carried me up the stairs. “Trust me,” he said between kisses, “I didn’t want to.” The hallway was dark, and I could barely see a thing, but he carried me into a room that smelled exactly like him. He pressed a remote on the wall that turned on the lights and then dimmed them to a seductive glow. He laid me on the bed, and I sank into the mattress, watching as he took off his shirt. I wanted to run my fingers over his skin and trace every inch of him with my tongue. I’d never felt so needy in my life.

As he covered me with his body, I moaned; he rubbed his arousal against me. His hand slid up my shirt, cupping my swollen breast. He groaned and massaged it, pinching my nipple between his fingers. I arched off the bed and cried out.

“Does that feel good?” he asked, sucking my bottom lip between his teeth.

I nodded. “I want more.”

Groaning, he thrust himself against me and lifted my shirt. The second he closed his warm lips over my breast, I sucked in a ragged breath. I wrapped my fingers in his hair and pulled as he ravished my body with his tongue, sucking and biting both nipples, one after the other.

“You taste so f*cking good,” he growled.

Once my shirt and bra were completely off, he unbuttoned my shorts and threw them across the floor. Sliding off the bed, he raked his gaze up and down my body as he took off the rest of his clothes. He watched me squirm impatiently, and in return, he stroked himself, torturing me in the process; I wanted to touch him. Climbing back on the bed, he crawled up my body, spreading my legs with his knee. My whole body shook in anticipation.