Part 21 (1/2)

Once back, they found out Brayden's fever had finally broken and the doctors were pleased with the progress he'd made in the past few hours. Sloane could hardly contain her relief at seeing her little boy more responsive than when she brought him in. The doctors explained he still wouldn't feel great for a few more days, but they were sure they'd caught it in time to keep it from progressing to anything worse. Brayden remained in the hospital for another day and once his fluids reached a normal level, Sloane and Gates took him home.

Avery decided to head back to Charlotte once she knew Brayden was feeling better. Gates stayed for the rest of the week to make sure that not only Brayden got rest, but Sloane did too. He cancelled his meetings or had Evan handle them, so he could spend as much time as he could with Brayden and Sloane. From getting up with him at night when he cried or reading him a bedtime story, Gates was so attentive and he and Brayden were practically inseparable. One night in particular, Sloane managed to quietly take a picture of the two asleep on the sofa. Gates had finished reading Brayden a story and the little boy had fallen asleep on his father's chest. Gates watched the little boy sleep until he nodded off too.

”He's definitely feeling better.” Sloane yawned and sat on the sofa beside Gates. They had just finished giving Brayden his bath and had put him down for the night. The little boy had splashed and giggled during the bath and was acting like his old self again, much to Sloane and Gates' relief.

”He's quite a character. I'm amazed at how fast he picks up on things.”

”He's a lot like you.” She laughed at the thought of how demanding the little boy could be.

”Oh? How's that?”

”Well, he has a tremendous amount of personality, a definite sense of humor and he can be very, uh, let's see, demanding when he wants something.” She leaned her head back on the sofa cus.h.i.+ons, leering at Gates.

”Demanding? I don't think he's demanding, maybe more like, determined.” He grinned as she laughed at his reply.

”Uh, yeah, sure Gates, determined. Either way, he's a lot like you.”

”You think so?”

”Yes. I'll never have to worry about him. He'll be extremely successful and everyone will love him.”

”Loved by everyone huh?”

”Uh, yes.” Blus.h.i.+ng, she looked away from Gates' hypnotic gaze.

”Wow. I had no idea that everyone loves me.”

”You know what I mean.”

”Do I?”

”Yes.” She nervously stood and walked into the kitchen to get a gla.s.s of water. She could feel her mouth getting dry hearing him walk in behind her and she had a feeling he wasn't going to let her comments go.

”Tell me what you mean by everyone loves me.” Taking the gla.s.s from her hand and placing it on the counter, Gates moved in closer. He stood so close that she became his prisoner when he placed his hands on either side of her on the counter. The whole week, she'd enjoyed spending time with Gates and they stayed up late practically every night talking and laughing. It felt good to have him there and she admittedly found herself more and more attracted to him.

”I uh...” She chewed the inside of her cheek as his body gently pinned hers against the cabinets. The smell of his cologne made her knees wobbly as he looked into her eyes.

”Well?”

”You know what I mean.” She stammered, trying to look away from him but failing miserably. His hazel eyes had her entranced.

”No, I don't. It sounds like maybe you still have feelings for me; maybe even you still love me like 'everyone' does?”

Ducking her head she gulped. ”And why would you think that?”

”Oh, I don't know, maybe because you can't seem to look at me.” He gently tilted her chin up to look him in the eye.

”Okay, okay, so yeah, maybe I do still possibly have feelings for you. But we do have a son together and we shared a life together at one point, so I do still care about you, and what happens to you.”

”And that's it?” She could hear his tone turn more serious and she noticed the sincerity reflected in his gaze.

”Well, yes, what else do you want me to say?”

He paused for a moment and she continued to stare at him. She noticed his demeanor s.h.i.+ft as he began to speak. ”I want you to tell me you forgive me for being an idiot. That you meant what you said about wanting only me to be Brayden's dad and that you feel the same way I do.”

”How's that?” She could barely hear her own voice dribble over her lips as she waited for him to continue.

”I want you to say you still have feelings for me that go deeper than just caring about how I am. That you want a chance to see what can happen between us. Really happen. And we could raise our son together as a family. I want you to say you need me as much as I need you.”

”Gates, I don't...” She hadn't expected him to be so blunt and honest with her. He'd opened up and put his heart on the line and it was something so unexpected that she thought she'd heard him wrong. She could see the apprehension in his eyes and for the first time in a long time, she saw the man she'd fallen in love with so long ago.

”Say you'll think about it.”

”I...I can't.” She could see the disappointment in his face as she spoke and he moved to turn away, but she reached out and grabbed his arm. ”Gates, there's nothing to think about. I know I want the chance for us to be together again. Honestly, it's all I've thought about since the day I left. I didn't know if you would ever be able to forgive me, or if you even wanted me back.”

”You mean that?” She could see relief in his eyes.

”Yes.” For the first time in a long time she felt a weight being lifted from her chest as they stood in her kitchen holding each other.

Lowering his head to hers, he kissed her hard and she wrapped her arms around his waist. His hands left searing paths across her back as he pulled her to him. Gasping for breath, she glided her hands between them to unb.u.t.ton his s.h.i.+rt. She quickly undid each b.u.t.ton and he sucked in softly as her nimble hands pushed the material over his strong shoulders, grazing his skin, and she could feel his body react to her touch. Before his s.h.i.+rt could drop to the floor, he picked her up and placed her on the counter.

She wrapped her legs around his midsection, pulling his body back in contact with her own. He looped his hands beneath her t-s.h.i.+rt, pulling the soft cotton material over her head. Her hair cascaded across her shoulders and he cradled her face in his hands before recapturing her slightly swollen lips with his. His soft yet firm lips left b.u.t.terfly kisses across her skin, from her mouth to her neck and she moaned as she felt his hands tracing her sides. She kept her legs tightly wrapped around his bare waist as he picked her up and carried her to the bedroom. He sat down on the bed as she straddled his lap and he reached behind her and undid the clasp on her bra. Sliding the lace material down her arms Gates looked into her eyes briefly before dipping his head to capture her taut nipple in his mouth.

She whimpered, throwing her head back and relis.h.i.+ng in the feel of his tongue ravis.h.i.+ng her. ”Please...”

Breaking from his a.s.sault, he ran his hand up the back of her neck into her hair and gently positioned her head to look into his eyes. ”What do you want from me, Sloane?”

”Love me.” She begged him to satisfy the deep hunger and yearning radiating from the very core of her being. She could barely get the words out before he moved back to his previous task. Turning, he gently pushed her back to lie on the bed and torturously removed the rest of her clothes, taking time to tease her with light feather kisses across her skin. Their rushed pa.s.sion in the kitchen turned into a steady burn and her body felt like it was on fire everywhere he touched her. She bit back the urge to scream when his firm lips grazed the overly sensitive spot beneath her chin. ”Gates, please don't tease me?” She panted like a dog on a 90-degree summer day and she felt light-headed from his ministrations.

”Shhh, love. I've got a lot of time to make up for.” She trembled, feeling his breath roll over her midsection and she glanced down to watch him strategically place kisses over every exposed inch of her skin. He was a thorough lover and she knew he knew exactly what to do to make her body react. He carefully ma.s.saged her thighs with his powerful hands as he continued his a.s.sault, loving every part of her, and she dug her hands into his short-cropped hair, knowing she could take no more of the sensual bout.

Moving slowly up her body, Gates settled his hips in between her legs and slowly pushed himself into her as he stared into her love-filled eyes.

”Gates.” She struggled to catch her breath, digging her fingernails into his muscular shoulders and pleading for more. The more she begged, the slower he moved, taking his time to make sure she felt the love she asked for. Soon, both were moaning in sheer delight as they climaxed together.

For a moment, they both lay in euphoric silence before he pulled her into the crook of his arm and kissed the top of her head. Stroking her bare arm, he looked in her eyes and smiled.

”You're quiet. You okay?”

”I am now.” Looking up at him, she kissed him on the lips and settled into his embrace.

Chapter 16.

”So, how're you feeling?” Liyah played with Brayden, who had squeezed behind her on the couch and was trying to climb on her back with his hands tangled in her hair.