Uncover Me (14 page)

Even though I wanted it to last for hours, I was fucking exhausted. Tomorrow night, I’d make up for my lack of stamina. I had too much shit going on in my head to take my time. I’d wanted to come and leave my seed in her. I’d wanted to say, “Hey, world. I’ve been here. I own this shit.”

Mission accomplished, I held her in my arms as my happy cock shrank before eventually sliding out. “I love you, Sarah Roxanne Parker,” I whispered in her ear, grabbing her face and bringing her eyes to mine. Searching her face, I saw water collecting in the corners.

“I love you too, Thomas.” She inhaled deeply, her chest puffing out as her rock-hard nipples rubbed against my chest.

“Want to go to bed?” I asked, running my hands up and down her arms, trying to stave off the cold. The water was hot and the air conditioning had kicked on, causing a chill in the air I hadn’t noticed while we’d been fucking.

“I’m exhausted and happy, and I want nothing more than to sleep in your arms.” She pushed off my legs, using them as leverage to stand.

I held her thighs, steadying her from falling. Standing, I helped her from the tub before I got out and grabbed towels. Wrapping her up first, I slowly dried her skin, rubbing the soft cotton against her goose-bumped flesh. She smiled, watching me closely as I touched her. Looking at her, I saw the person underneath. Roxanne was her sex-kitten persona, but Angel was the real girl many people never saw. I knew her, though. She was the one I’d fallen in love with.

After I sheathed her body in a towel, tucking it near her breasts, she repeated the process on me. But before we walked out of the bathroom, I snatched her towel and threw it into the tub along with mine. I didn’t want anything between us as we slept tonight.

She screamed before giggling. “Hey, it’s cold!” Rubbing her arms, she danced back and forth, her lips chattering from the chill.

“I’ll keep you warm. I need to feel you against me tonight—and every night forward.”

“Baby, who knew you were so sweet?” She batted her eyelashes.

I smiled as her lips touched mine. This moment with her was the happiest I’d felt in longer than I could remember.

“Come on, Roxy.” I lifted her in my arms, trying to warm her with my body as I carried her into the bedroom. Then I set her on the edge before I undid the blankets.

“Babe?” she asked, looking up at me and grabbing my wrist.

“Yeah?” I stopped moving and stared at her.

“Can you not call me Roxy anymore? It just brings me back to the club and taking my clothes off. It was my stage name, and I’d prefer not to hear it again anytime soon.”

I hadn’t thought about that. “Hmmm,” I said as I rubbed my chin. Staring at her, I took in her features. “I’m just going to call you Angel.”

“Whatever floats your boat, Thomas.” She drew out my name, laughing and clicking her tongue as she spoke. “As long as it isn’t Roxy.”

“I’m not saying I won’t slip up from time to time.” I bent down, kissing her lips and brushing her cheek with my knuckles.

“I’m going to come up with another nickname for you. Blue is so damn good, but I don’t want to think about the past. Only our future,” she whispered against my lips.

“Anything you want.” Pulling back the covers, I captured her in my arms, taking her mouth, hard and wet, before releasing her.

She slid across the silky material, lying on her back and looking up at me.
Fuck.
I wanted her again. Before we closed our eyes, I fucked her one last time. This time, I lasted until the muscles in my legs gave out and exhaustion took us both.

Chapter 12

When I woke close to noon, Thomas was still in a deep sleep. Tiny snores passed his lips as his chest rose and fell with his breathing. I took a moment, drinking him in, and thought of how fortunate I truly was. Living a dead-end life, with no one to call mine and no family, I’d felt like my existence was hopeless. He’d changed all that, though. My life had veered off course and changed direction without my consent, and I couldn’t have been fucking happier.

After slowly inching out of bed as I tried not to wake him, I grabbed a fluffy black robe from the back of the door and went to explore the house. I stopped at each open door, peeking inside and not trying to be too nosy. There were three other bedrooms and a bathroom as I made my way to the stairway. The house seemed a little excessive for a single guy, but it was decorated with masculine finishes. The hardwood floors were a dark wood that showed my reflection in their glossy finish.

The place was spotless. Everything was put away, and it all sparkled or shone from the cleanliness. It didn’t look lived in and had that “maid” feel to it. Walking down the staircase, I ran my fingertips over the smooth railing, feeling the coldness of the wood. I took in the foyer as I descended the stairs. It was opulent, with marble floors that formed a circle and were surrounded by the same dark wood he had upstairs. The space was two stories, with windows above the door that let the sunlight cascade inside.

I wasn’t sure where to start. The place was a mansion. My entire apartment building could have fit inside and there still would have been room for more. Turning to my left, I saw the family room and headed to check it out, but a group of photos on the wall caught my eye.

I walked straight toward the photos as if drawn to them. There was so much I needed to know about this man. There had to be ten photos on the wall with different people in them—including Thomas. They were laughing and hugging, and I could see the love practically jumping out of the frames. My heart ached as I wondered what it would’ve been like to grow up like him, surrounded by love.

Moving closer, I touched a picture with my fingers. I could see by the eyes and extreme facial features that, in it, he was a young boy, probably no older than four, cradled in the arms of a beautiful woman. She stared at him with love in her eyes as he smiled, facing the camera.

I wanted that. A mother like her—someone who looked at me like I was the only thing that mattered.

I hadn’t known what that felt like until I’d met him. Even when he hadn’t said the words, I had known. Some things can be felt without having to hear the words “I love you.” He treasured me and never made me feel cheap.

Still staring at the photo, I jumped when I heard his raspy morning voice.

“Angel.”

“Jesus,” I said, flinching and putting my hand over my heart. “You scared the hell out of me.”

I laughed at how silly I had been. Who else would have called me that but him? I hadn’t heard him walk in, so I needed to learn the sounds of the house. Every place has them—the small squeaks and creaks that make you feel at home instead of on edge.

I stared back at the photo, feeling my cheeks heat from embarrassment. He wrapped his arms around me, the mint of the toothpaste ticking my nose as his warm breath skimmed my neck.

“Whatcha doin’ down here alone?”

“I didn’t want to wake you up. I just thought I’d make us some coffee,” I lied. I was nosy. Wanting to see the house and get to know the man by seeing what he had surrounded himself with.

As he squeezed me, his soft laugh vibrated against my ear. “I’ll make us some. I think Izzy stocked the pantry.”

“Izzy is—” I remembered her name that he whispered in his sleep.

“She’s my sister, babe. Don’t worry. There’s no one but you in my life. Unless you count my extremely nosy and pushy family.”

I sagged against him, a feeling of relief washing over me. “Is this your mom?” I asked, pointing at the photo I had been admiring.

“Yeah. It’s my favorite childhood photo with her. I can’t wait to see her.”

“I can see how much she loves you. She has to be excited to see you.” I stroked his arm, feeling the hairs move under my fingertips.

“She doesn’t know I’m here. I wanted to surprise her.” He slid his hands to my waist, turning me in his grasp.

“Why would you do that to her? She’s probably worried sick.” I rested my cheek against his exposed chest, nestling my face between his pecs. I could hear his heart thumping inside.

“If she knew I was coming home, there would be a house full of people. I want to spend time with my parents and my siblings. The others can wait. My mom loves to throw a party. You’ll see.”

“She’s going to have a heart attack when you walk through the door.”

“Maybe. Want to come find out?”

I bit my lip, not wanting to hurt his feelings but not ready to do the entire family thing just yet. “Not today, baby. Give me a couple of days and I promise I’ll go with you.” I brushed his back with my fingertips, feeling his body quake in my arms.

“Okay,” he said before kissing the top of my head.

“I want this day to be about you. There’s plenty of time for them to get to know me.” I hugged him, wanting to never let go.

“Will you be okay here today by yourself for a while?” he asked, holding me by the shoulders and looking down at me.

“I will,” I said with a smile. “I’m going to snoop through your shit while you’re gone. I figure that will take a couple of hours, easy.” I bit my lip to hide my laughter.

“Don’t be too naughty. I’ll have to spank you if you do.”

“Thomas, you know I love when you’re rough. I may be bad just so you give it to me good.”

“Babe,” he growled, his voice growing deeper. “I’m going to fuck you so hard later you won’t be able to walk for a week.”

“Promises, promises,” I teased. “If I don’t get coffee soon, I’m going to be real grumpy.” I pouted, batting my eyelashes.

After he made a pot of coffee, he ran around the house, getting ready before saying goodbye and heading to see his family. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little jealous that someone missed him, but I told myself that Thomas missed me when we were apart. I wasn’t alone anymore.

Chapter 13

I stood outside the door. Cracking my neck, shaking my fingers at my side, I took a deep breath before I walked inside. My mom would lose her shit. Hell, the entire family was about to lose it when I came through the door. I had to ready myself for the ear-piercing screams and blood-curdling shrieks of happiness that only the Gallos could deliver.

The house looked the same. Life had marched on without me. Sunday dinners had gone on as planned since I had been a child, whether I’d been in my chair or not. Nothing had changed but me. I was the wild card, the different one. My life had been forever altered through my actions undercover. Didn’t matter if the shit was justified or not—I was no longer normal. I had become a criminal like the others, just as guilty for my actions as they were. The only difference was I wore a badge and they wore a cut.

Without knocking, I opened the door and walked inside.

“Hello.” I didn’t see her, but I’d know my mother’s voice anywhere. It haunted me in my dreams and comforted me in my times of self-doubt.

“Ma!” I yelled, moving toward the kitchen, where I heard her voice coming from.

“Tommy?” I could hear the shock in the single word.

She flew out of the kitchen, jumping into my arms and kissing my face. “Baby! Oh my God. You’re home!” she yelled in my ear, squeezing me so tightly that I could barely breathe.

“Ma,” I repeated, trying to pull in a breath.

She drew back and stared at me. “Is it really you?”

I chuckled, taking in the changes in her appearance. Time had passed, and my mother looked older than I remembered, with a few more lines around her eyes and cheeks. A majority of her stress had probably been caused by my absence. Then again, she had an entire family of people who would cause any normal woman to age early.

“It’s me, Ma.”

Releasing her legs from my body, she placed her feet on the floor but kept her arms wrapped around me. “You look different, Tommy.” I smiled and didn’t fucking dare say the same thing to her.

“Tommy!” my dad called out, walking into the foyer.

“Pop,” I replied, holding out my hand, since my ma was still attached to my body, squeezing me.

“Maria, let the man go. You have to share him sometime,” Pop said without moving from his spot.

“If I do, he may disappear.” Her voice was muffled, since her lips were against my skin.