Uncovering His SECRET Read online

  “What are you going to do to me?”

  “Hurt you. Just like you hurt my friend.”

  “We just used her as a lesson. Hall wasn’t cooperating.”

  “Hall men rarely do.”

  “I need his nephew.”

  “Join the club.”

  “You want the formula, too?” she asks, her eyes widening.

  “No, I just want the man. But just like you can’t have his formula, I can’t have him.”

  “Maybe I should be taking you instead of his uncle.”

  “Please try. Pretty please with a cherry on top.”

  “You’re crazy.”

  “That’s one of the nicest things anyone has ever said to me.” At her look of shock, I continue. “No, really. You’d think I was a direct descendent of Hester Prynne with all the shade thrown my way. I’d have been burned at the stake long ago if that kind of thing was still legal.”

  “I can’t compete with that. At all. Just go ahead and take me in.”

  “No fight?”

  “Um, no. I’m actually a little freaked out and scared by you.”

  “You keep saying those nice things, and I’ll think you have a crush on me.”

  “Can someone else arrest me? Anyone else?” she looks around, pleadingly. I love messing with pageant girls. Always have, and probably always will.

  “I’ve got her, Teeg,” Faith tells me with a laugh.

  “Fine. Take away my fun. But don’t worry, Beauty Queen. I’ll be seeing you again soon. You can think of some more pretty things to say to me while we’re apart.”

  “Is she for real?” she asks Faith as she’s led out of the room.

  “Yep. There’s not one fake thing about her.”

  I smile cheekily as I turn back to Brad. He’s smiling right back at me. “You sure know how to clear a room, my dear.”

  “I’ve had a lot of practice.”

  “I know.”

  “Are you okay?”

  “Yes.”

  “I’m going to go to the hospital with Yasmin, then.” I turn to where she’s being loaded onto a gurney by the EMTs who arrived a few minutes ago. “Can you take Brad to my place, Darcy?”

  “I’m not going into hiding.”

  “Yes. You are. You’re the closest thing I’ve had to a father for the past eleven years, and I’ll be damned if I’m going to lose you. You can stay in Faith’s old place.”

  “I love you, Tegan. You’re the daughter I never had, and I would never put myself in the line of danger.”

  “Unless it was to help a kid. I get it. That’s what your support staff’s for, though. You’ve trained everyone well, and they’ll step up.”

  “Only for you will I do this.”

  “Thank you.”

  “We need to go, Teeg,” Isa tells me.

  I hug Brad and follow her outside. The ambulance doesn’t have room for me, so I grab my bike and follow them. Yasmin lost consciousness, so I’m really worried. She shouldn’t have been put in this position, and Brad shouldn’t have been, either. We need to figure this out, and soon. Before anyone else gets hurt.

  Chapter 8

  Caleb

  Ethan’s trying to pretend like he’s not worried. He keeps telling me how tough Tegan and her friends are, which I already know. I can tell he’s scared, though, and I keep trying to distract him with movies. I’d throw in a video game, too, but I’m not sure if I should lift his punishment, even now. This parenting stuff is just as hard as I thought it would be. Well, with all our other issues, it may be harder right now.

  We’re both out of our seats the second we hear the door opening. It’s Uncle Brad and Darcy, and Tegan’s not with them. My heart is racing hard. If something happened to her, and the last thing we did was fight…I…I don’t know if I could survive it. Hell, even if we weren’t fighting, losing her like that would do me in.

  “Where’s my mama?” Ethan asks, tears in his eyes.

  “She’s fine, E. Yasmin Griffin got shot, and your mom wanted to go to the hospital with her,” Darcy says.

  “Will Yasmin be okay?”

  “Yes. She’ll probably need surgery, but her injury wasn’t too bad.”

  “I should go to the hospital, too. Scott might need me.”

  It’s my uncle who pulls Ethan into his arm as he answers him. “Your mama wants us here, Ethan. She’s worried about everyone being safe. You can call Scott later and let him know you’re thinking and praying about Yasmin. Okay?”

  “I’m worried about Mama too, Uncle Brad. That’s my job, you know. I’m the man of the house.”

  Well, shit. I’d be lying if I said that didn’t just hit me in the heart like a bullet.

  “Yes, you are, Ethan. You do a wonderful job. No one could do it better.”

  “Well, maybe my dad could,” he says, making me smile.

  “That would involve him putting his pride aside as he removes his head from his ass. I’m not sure he’s ready to do that yet.”

  “Gee thanks. It’s nice to see you still have the same sense of loyalty that you did when you left eleven years ago.”

  “Darcy, can you stay with Ethan while Caleb and I have a talk upstairs?”

  “Of course. Faith’s apartment will be open for you when you get there.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Are you going to punch him for Mama?” Ethan asks him.

  “Probably,” he replies.

  We ride up the elevator in silence, and the silence continues for the first few minutes we’re inside the apartment. I look around and take in the giant kitchen that’s covering most of the first floor. And then I subtly move in front of the knives. I don’t really believe my uncle will hurt me, but now that I have a good idea why he left us all those years ago, I know that his loyalty lies with Tegan.

  “You don’t deserve her, or that boy,” he says, finally breaking the silence.

  “You’ve known about him all this time and never told me?”

  “When I came to visit and brought up her name, you spewed so much venom that it’s a wonder the trees didn’t shrivel up and die.”

  “She cheated on me. I loved her more than anything. I would have done anything for her. Yet my love wasn’t enough to keep her out of some other guy’s bed.”

  “You believe what you want to believe. You did it then, and you’re doing it now.”

  “I believe the truth.”

  “Greg’s truth? Because I sure as shit know you never asked Tegan what really happened that night. Why is that, Cal?”

  “People saw her.”

  “Did they now?”

  “You obviously think you know something.”

  “No. I’m sure I know everything.”

  “Then why don’t you enlighten me?”

  “It’s not my story. If you wanted to hear the truth, you’d ask her. But I don’t think you want that. You didn’t then, and you don’t now. I asked you why, but I’m pretty sure I know that, too.”

  “Everyone here thinks she’s so damn wonderful and special.” So do I, if I’m being honest with myself.

  “She is, and you know that, even if you’re too stupid to admit how much she means to you. If you can’t ask her about that night, you need to let it go. Because they’ll be no chance for the two of you if you don’t.”

  “How do you know I even want that chance?”

  “You’re right. Maybe it’s just wishful thinking on my part. The old romantic in me. You do what you want, Cal. You always have, and I expect you always will. No matter what it costs you.”

  “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  “Yes, you will. Goodnight.”

  I’m not mad enough to just walk out, so I walk over and hug him. I love my uncle, and it hurt when he left, coming back only once or twice a year. It hurts even more that he’s taking the side of the woman who nearly destroyed me. But I know he’s right. I need to face my demons and fears, or let go of them. And then I need to get my woman back. Then again, maybe I need to do tha
t first.

  It’s a little too quiet when I get back into Tegan’s apartment. “Ethan,” I call out, worried all of sudden, even though I know this place is secure.

  “He went home with Darcy for the night,” Tegan says, coming out of the kitchen.

  “Hey.”

  “Brad’s all settled?”

  “I guess.”

  “Ethan said he was going to punch you, but you look okay.”

  “He threw some emotional punches at me, but nothing physical.”

  “I never wanted to come between you.”

  “Well, you did.”

  “I know.”

  “Did you eat?”

  That’s not what I should be asking her, but I’m just not ready for the heavy stuff yet. Or ever.

  “No. I was going to make a sandwich.”

  “I saved you some dinner.”

  “Really?”

  “Well, Ethan saved it, but I cooked.”

  “He takes good care of me.”

  “Since he’s not here tonight, maybe I could fill in.”

  “What do you have in mind?”

  “Whatever you want.”

  “Anything?” she asks as she walks closer to me.

  “Yes,” I say, moving towards her as well.

  “I want you to kiss me, Caleb.”

  * * *

  Tegan

  He reaches for me without hesitation, and I melt into him as our lips meet for the first time since we were teenagers. It’s the same, but also different. His lips are just as I remember them in my dreams. Soft, yet demanding. I can feel him holding back, trying to keep himself from taking control too soon.

  I tilt my head to slant my lips at a different angle, and then I open for him, sucking at his lips until he finally gives me his tongue, His scruff is rubbing against my face as our mouths play. It feels so good, but I want more. I need more. Even if it’s just for one night.

  I slide my hands under his t-shirt and start pushing it up. He breaks our kiss to reach back and pull it off for me. “Teeg.”

  “Make me yours again, Cal. I want to be yours. Even if it’s just for one night.”

  My words snap that control that he was holding onto, and he lets out a growl as he picks me up and carries me to the couch. Instead of laying me down, he puts me on my knees, facing the back. This is definitely new.

  “If you’re going to be mine, I need to have my hands and mouth on all of you. Then I’ll put my cock in your pussy and fuck you all night. Is that what you want?”

  “Yes. God, yes.”

  He slides my shirt up and off of me and then pulls my jeans off. I’m back to kneeling, only now I’m just in my lacy bra and panties. “So very pretty. Did you wear these for me today?”

  “Yes,” I admit.

  “I like that, Teeg. I like it a lot.”

  He runs a finger down my arm, and I shiver under his touch. “Are you going to take your jeans off, too?”

  “If you ask nicely.”

  “Will you please take off your jeans so I can suck your cock?”

  “No.”

  “You don’t want me to?”

  “Oh, I do. But right now is Tegan Time. So spread your legs and show me how wet you are.”

  “My panties are still on.”

  “These,” I say as I grab each side and pull, tearing them right off her. “Are no longer a problem.”

  “I liked those.”

  “You’re going to like my fingers and mouth better. Just not yet.”

  I groan, but it turns into a moan when he licks a path up my spine, removing my bra along the way. He licks, kisses, and nibbles on every inch of my back before moving up to my shoulders and neck. I’m squirming, and shaking, and he’s nowhere near the places I thought were my erogenous zones yet. I know my skin’s going to be red from all the beard burn tomorrow, but damn if it doesn’t feel good.

  After biting my left earlobe as I arch my back, Caleb lets go of my hair and turns me around. “Fuck, Teeg. You look good enough to eat, and I’m very, very hungry tonight.”

  He lays me down and gives me sweet kisses all over my face, before sucking gently on my neck. He keeps his hands on the armrest above me, and I know he’s doing it to make himself as crazy as he’s making me. It’s going to make it more explosive for both of us; although, I hate that we both know that. We didn’t learn it from each other.

  “You’re tensing up,” he says, leaning back to look at me.

  “Just thinking too much.”

  “I’m supposed to be making you feel so good that all you can think about is how many times you can come in the next several hours.”

  “I-I just wish there was no one else, ever.”

  “There’s no one else now. And I don’t want there to ever be anyone but us again. That’s what matters.”

  That right there is one of the reasons I love this man so much. He knows just what to say. He almost always has. I grab his face and pull his mouth to mine. He lets me be in control for a few minutes, before nipping my bottom lip and giving me that wicked hot smile of his again.

  His mouth descends on my collarbone, and each side gets a nice long lick. I arch my back as he starts licking the sides of my breasts. They’re small little licks, and as he starts doing it on the undersides of them too, I realize exactly what he’s doing. He’s licking the small stretch marks I have there. I’ve never been ashamed of them, or hidden them, but no one’s ever worshipped them. That’s what he’s doing, he worshipping my breasts. I nearly come out of my skin.

  “You fed our son from these, didn’t you? That’s where these sweet little lines came from.”

  “Yes.”

  “I love them even more now,” he tells me as he finally takes a nipple in his mouth and sucks hard.

  He adds his teeth to the mix, and I lift off the couch. If he keeps this up, I’m probably going to come before we even get to one of the main events. I feel him smile across my skin as he gives the other nipple the same treatment. He knows exactly what he’s doing to me.

  My ribs gets a few nibbles on them, and then the stretch marks on my stomach get the same reverence that my breasts did. I’m nearly incoherent by the time he bites my hip. He stops and looks down at my pussy as I widen my legs to show him how wet it is.

  “Do you remember the first time I went down on you, Tegan?”

  “The barn.”

  “You screamed so loud that I thought every ranch hand would come running.”

  “They did.”

  “And you told them you’d seen a spider. Like you were ever scared of a spider.”

  “Would you rather I told them that you made me scream like that by eating my pussy?”

  “As a fifteen year old boy? Hell yeah, I would’ve loved it.”

  “Are you going to make me scream again, Cal?”

  “Once I’m done with the rest of you, I sure am.”

  “The rest of me?” I ask on a groan.

  I’m more than ready to have his mouth on me. Or mine on him. I’m not picky. I reach for his jeans, but he pulls back.

  “Not your turn yet, naughty lady.”

  “You don’t want me to be naughty?” I ask, pouting.

  “Trust me, I’m looking forward to all the naughty things you have planned for me, but I haven’t finished claiming all of you, yet. You told me to make you mine, and I intend to.”

  He turns me over and kisses me all over the globes of my ass. He always loved my ass, and it seems like nothing’s changed. Well, it’s a little bigger, but he doesn’t seem to mind that at all.

  After my legs and feet have been conquered, he flips me back over and starts working his way back up to where I know he wants to go. He wants it just as much as I do. I see it in his eyes when he gets there and looks up at me.

  He keeps eye contact with me as he gives me one long lick up my center. I bite my lip, and force myself to maintain eye contact. I want to watch. I need to watch as he twirls his tongue around my clit before plunging it inside
of me.

  I hold on as long as I can, but once he plunges his fingers inside of me and uses his tongue exclusively on my clit, I’m done. I give him the screams he wants, and he rewards me by taking me over two more times in a matter of minutes.

  “You’re mine, Tegan Kelly. Mine.”

  “Always,” I tell him as I rear up, and push him down onto his back. It’s my turn now.

  “Have at me.”

  I smirk as I get his jeans and boxers off. He still wears boxers, and I love that one thing I knew about him is still the same. “I plan to.”

  I lick my lips as I lean over, and he sucks in a breath. I ignore his hard cock, though, and place kisses all over those mouth-watering abs of his. I had a glimpse of them the other day when he was wrestling with Ethan and his shirt got pulled up. I nearly orgasmed from the sight. Besides, he needs a little torture, too.

  “So you were checking me out the other night. I knew it.”

  “You don’t want me checking you out?”

  “The fuck I don’t. I want you so crazy for my body that you can’t control yourself.”

  “You were controlling me pretty well a few minutes ago,” I remind him as I bite into his biceps.

  I’ve always loved his arms. I’ve loved watching him work the ranch with his muscles flexing, and then having him wrap them around me. Tonight, I want them wrapped around me as I sleep. That will be hours from now, so I get back to my fun.

  Licking my way down his “happy trail,” I reach my destination. Or rather, it reaches me. That cock—the first cock I’ve ever known, and the only one I still fantasize about—jerks up as I move over him. I kiss the tip, earning a groan from Caleb.

  I torture him a little by just kissing up and down every side. He can’t stop himself from moving under me. When I can’t take it anymore, I plunge my mouth onto him, taking him as far as I can down my throat.

  “Fucking…God…fuck me, Tegan. Holy. Shit. Fuck.”

  I don’t let his continuing stream of curse words stop me, or even slow me down. I suck him hard and then roll his balls in my fingers. I move to straddle one of his thighs, and I know he feels the moisture pouring out of me when he starts moving it under me. I moan as he rubs against me while I suck him off.