.jpg)
by Toni Aleo
Lucas said she wore his and Aiden’s hearts, and little did he know — or maybe he did know — that he held both theirs. No matter how much she didn’t want him having her heart, he had it and probably always would. If Fallon gave him her body too, she would be back to the way they were so long ago. Back to when she was convinced that Lucas did hang the moon and stars and that she would never love someone the way she loved him.
Which she never had.
Lucas was the only one she had ever loved and Fallon just couldn’t understand it. How could she want someone that hurt her so bad that she felt like her life was over? She had cried more over Lucas Brooks than she had over anyone in her whole life, and here she was still crying over him. This time though, it was more because of Aiden than herself. She was just so scared of Lucas and really didn’t know how to handle it.
Fallon moved her hand along her cheek, catching the tears that rolled down her face, when someone opened the door. She froze, praying that it was Audrey and not Lucas or Aiden. Her back was to the door since she was crying and she didn’t want to turn to look in case it was Aiden or Lucas.
“Audrey?” she asked, trying to wipe her face free of tears but she knew it wasn’t Audrey.
“It’s me.”
Lucas’ velvet soft voice ran down Fallon’s spine and her heart started to beat faster.
Shit, shit, shit.
“Um, I’m trying to sleep,” she whispered as she buried herself deeper into the bed.
“I heard you crying Fallon, stop lying to me.”
Fallon’s chest heaved as she held in a sob. She wanted him to leave and she wanted him to hold her all in one. She was so confused and screwed up in the head that it was a miracle she could actually function.
“What do you want?” she asked as she felt him sit on the edge of the bed. Her heart picked up in speed when she felt his hand rest on her hip. Her breathing was erratic and she didn’t know what to do or say.
The only sounds in the bedroom was their breathing, that was until Lucas whispered, “To make you stop crying.”
Chapter 18
Lucas’ hand burned against Fallon’s hip.
He had heard her crying when he was hanging up Aiden’s new clothes and since Aiden was downstairs watching a movie, Lucas decided to check on her. When he opened the door without knocking, he expected her to jump up and start yelling at him, but she just laid there. Her body shaking with the sobs that ripped from her. Fallon was always an intense crier. He hated watching her cry and this time was no different. He didn’t know what she was crying so hard about but he intended to find out.
“What’s wrong?” he asked as he moved his hand from her hip to her back, going up and down.
“Nothing,” she lied. Lucas rolled his eyes.
“Just tell me.”
“No, you’ll laugh or think I’m dumb.”
“I will not, tell me,” he said. She didn’t say anything for a moment and he watched as she moved her hand along her cheek, catching the tears that fell.
“I can’t buy Aiden stuff the way you can,” she whispered before turning so she could sit up in the bed. “I don’t have the money Lucas, and I feel like he,” she paused, looking down at her hands as the tears rolled down her cheeks into her hands, “that he likes you more than me.”
A small smiled came across Lucas’ face; she couldn’t be serious.
“Fallon, Aiden does not like me more than you.”
“You’re all he talks about and I mean, he doesn’t even know that you’re his dad yet, and when he does what if he wants to leave me and live with you? I’ve been the only parent his whole life and you come along and now you’re the shit while I’m just boring old Mom.”
Lucas chuckled as he slid his hand into her folded ones. “Fallon, you are all he talks about when he’s with me. Everything is ‘can my mom come, my mom loves this, did you know my mom does this.’ He loves you so much. I’m just new, that’s all.”
“Yeah and when you are the daddy that he’s been wanting, I’ll be nothing,” she said as she started to cry again. “I’ve fucked up so bad,” she whispered.
Lucas watched her cry for a moment before nodding and saying, “I’m not going to disagree with you Fallon, you did. But you are making it better. You’ve been understanding about letting me hang with him, and I bet we could be a good team together if you would let us be.”
Fallon glanced up at him. “I just hate how I get around you. I just want to be in control and be number one and I feel like I’m not when you’re around.”
Lucas shrugged his shoulders. “It's going to take getting used to on both ends. I have to get used to the way you do things, and you’ll have to get used to the way I do things, but in the long run we both have Aiden in mind. We both love him. Yeah, he talks about me all the time, but Fallon give him a week or two, he’ll be sick of me. You’ll always be his mommy, his number one. Look at how much I love my mom — that’s how Aiden feels about you. You are a great mom, Fal.”
Large tears rolled down from her wide eyes as she said. “I don’t know. I’m just so jealous of you, isn’t that sad?”
Lucas smiled. “Don’t you think I’m jealous of you? You’ve had seven years with him, I’ve had seven days. You said you fucked up Fallon, but really I did. I can’t tell you how much I regret what I did to you because not only did I lose you, I lost seven years with my son.”
She started to cry harder and Lucas couldn’t take it anymore. He wrapped her tightly in his arms, nuzzling his nose in her hair as she cried into his neck. “I’m so sorry Lucas,” she whispered against his neck.
Her apology struck cords in his heart as he held her. It felt so good to have her in his arms again, the feel of her hair against his nose, the smell of her shampoo, the feel of her skin under his hand, it was all pure bliss. She pulled back too early, looking up at him with tears leaking out the corners of her eyes. He moved his hands up to her cheeks, wiping the tears away with his thumbs as he stared into her beautiful caramel eyes. Lucas took in a deep breath and his hands started to shake from the closeness of her mouth to his. His eyes fell to her plump lips before he moved in, taking her mouth with his.
Lucas thought she was going to pull away but when she didn’t, he deepened the kiss, moving his tongue against hers, drinking from her moist and tasty mouth. He had missed it so much, and he loved the way her mouth moved with his. When he pulled back for air, it was only for a second before he went back for more, kissing and biting at her beautiful succulent mouth. Fallon’s hands went up his thighs, moving around his middle to go under his shirt before coming up his shoulder blades, pulling him closer. The coolness from her hand made his hot skin break out in goose bumps, but he didn’t mind, he loved the feel of her hands on him. Since his shirt was around his chest because of the way she was holding him, Lucas pulled back, pulling the shirt over his head and throwing it across the room before reclaiming her mouth with his.
Her hands roamed his body as he laid her back, pressing his rock hard body against her soft one. Her quiet moans filled the room, and Lucas fought the urge to rip off her clothes and screw her brains out. But that wasn’t what this was, this was supposed to be slow, sensual and damn it, he was going to show her he could be romantic!
Even if it killed him.
As Fallon’s hands moved down the center of his back over his jean-covered ass, Lucas wished he was naked. Even through the thickness of his jeans he could feel the heat of her, and his own heat begged to be inside her. Lucas moved his hands up her body, pulling her shirt up so he could get to her bare breasts. He took one of her perfect, rosy nipples in his mouth while he tweaked the other.
Fallon started to move against him, and when she bit down on his bare shoulder Lucas swore he was about to come. He moved up her chest, his breathing out of control, as he lightly sucked on her neck. He savored her neck and bit her chin before taking her mouth with his again. Her fingers teased his hips and butt before she ran her nails up his back and then
back down. Lucas needed more, and by the way Fallon was rubbing against him, he knew she wanted more too. He moved his hands down her belly and started to untie the ribbon that held her shorts together.
“Oh God, please,” she moaned.
Lucas’ control was snapping, and just as he was about to slide his hand down her shorts, a knock came at the door.
“Mommy?”
Lucas wasn’t sure if he jumped off Fallon or if she pushed him, but he landed on the floor with a thud.
“Bathroom!” she said in a loud whispered. Lucas took off on his hands and knees to the bathroom just as the door opened. Lucas shut the door and leaned against it, trying to catch his breath.
Shit!
Fallon rolled onto her stomach, moving her hair out of her face as Aiden opened the door and popped his head in.
“Mommy, is Lucas in here?”
“Yeah baby, he’s in the bathroom, he’ll be out soon,” Fallon said as she tried to control her breathing. Aiden had never seen a man in her room and Fallon was freaking out. What was Aiden thinking? And what the hell was her problem!?
Lucas tells her she is a good mom and she jumps his bones?
Good Lord, she needed help! She knew Lucas was a bad idea, and it didn’t seem to matter!
“Oh, okay. Tell him I’m in my room,” Aiden said with a smile.
“I will, honey.”
She gave Aiden a lopsided grin and he giggled as he came into her room, wrapping his arms around her neck. “I love you Mommy,” he whispered against her ear. Fallon closed her eyes as she wrapped an arm around his back.
“And I love you more, baby,” she said as he pulled back, kissing her lips lightly. The same lips Lucas had just devoured.
“You’re the best. Thank you for letting Lucas stay.”
Fallon smiled, bringing him to her for another kiss. “No problem baby, go on. He’ll be in there in a few.”
“Okay, goodnight.”
“Night darlin’,” she whispered as he left.
When the door closed, Fallon sat up, looking towards the bathroom door. Lucas opened it and came out, a grin on his face. Fallon’s eyes fell to his body and noticed that along with the tattoos she had already known about, he had another one down his ribs that said ‘The past was practice’. Her mouth watered at the sight of his perfectly sculpted body and she ached to touch him, even though she knew it would lead to things she shouldn’t be doing with him.
Lucas stopped and bent over picking up his shirt. Fallon watched as he threw it on before looking over at her. “I know that look Fallon.”
She looked down. “What look?”
“That ‘I can’t believe I just did that’ look,” he said as he crawled onto the bed. She watched as his hands came to the spots beside each side of her legs and his mouth was only inches from hers. “If I remember correctly, the last time I saw that look on your face, we had the most amazing summer of our lives together.”
Fallon’s eyes fell shut when he pressed his lips against hers softly. When he pulled back, her eyes stayed shut as he said, “I’ll let you think about what happened to death, baby girl. Remember though, when you open those eyes and you are ready to be with me, I’ll be here.”
When she opened her eyes, Lucas was going towards the door with a grin on his face. As he shut the door, Fallon’s face dropped onto her mattress and she let out a frustrated scream, praying that Lucas and Aiden didn’t hear her.
What the hell did she just do!
And damn it, why did she want more!
*********************************
“My mom makes the best French toast ever,” Aiden said the next morning as they drove to Lucas’ house. It was a foggy morning and it gave all the trees that led out to Lucas’ house a spooky feel, but it was still beautiful. That was the thing he loved most about Nashville, it had such beautiful scenery.
“Your mom made those? I thought Audrey did,” Lucas said as he turned onto the road that would take them out to his house.
“Nope, Mom made them before she left for work. AA can’t cook,” Aiden said with a small giggle. “Mom says that she cooks on burn all the time, but she does make the best cupcakes.”
Lucas chuckled. “I wondered where your mom was this morning.”
Fallon wasn’t there when Lucas and Aiden came down for breakfast. Only Audrey sat at the table with a plate in front of her. Lucas didn’t want Audrey thinking he was stalking Fallon so he didn’t ask where she was as he ate the most amazing French toast he had ever had. Even Aiden didn’t ask. It was as if it was expected for Fallon not to be there that morning. It didn’t really surprise Lucas any either. If he knew one thing, it was that Fallon was a runner and after last night, he knew she would run.
“I think she had meetings this morning.”
Lucas nodded while pulling up to the gate that lined his property. After putting in his access card, the gate opened and Lucas drove through. He drove around the large tan stucco home, down the driveway and into the garage. When Lucas first came to Nashville and saw the 19,000-square-foot home, he thought it was too big for just him and Levi, but now that he knew of Aiden and hoped to be with Fallon soon, the home was perfect.
He loved the Tuscan villa-style home that sat in a private setting away from the road. No one knew he was there unless they drove down the long driveway that took them to the beautiful home. The backyard was probably one of his favorite things about the home. It had two patios, a huge in-ground pool, a pool house, and a really nice grotto. He also had a big field that at first he was annoyed with but now he figured he and Aiden could go out and play soccer, or have Aiden’s birthday parties there.
The house he once was annoyed with was now something he was glad he had.
Aiden jumped out the truck and ran to the back to get his equipment. Lucas followed behind him, grabbing out his bag before handing it to Aiden. Aiden leaned to the side from the weight of the bag and Lucas chuckled as he grabbed his own bag and their sticks. As they walked towards the back door, Aiden stopped at Lucas’ 2012 Dodge Charger SRT8, and looked up at Lucas, smiling.
“That’s a pretty car,” Aiden said, and Lucas laughed.
“Yup, it’s a special car,” he said with a smile. He had gotten the Charger because it was what Fallon used to drive. He had loved that car, and the things they had done in it. Having his own reminded him of the times him and Fallon shared.
Aiden nodded his head. “It's really shinny.”
“Yeah, maybe we’ll go for a ride later?” Lucas asked and when Aiden gazed up at Lucas with excitement in his eyes, Lucas grinned.
God, he loved this kid.
“So we can’t go in the house yet? Aiden asked as they went through the back door to the hall that led upstairs or to the hockey rink.
“Not yet, they should be cleaned up and gone by lunch, so I figured we would play for a couple hours and then head up.”
“Cool, I wanna see the inside of this huge house.”
Lucas smiled. “Is it too big?”
“I thought so at first, but Mom said you like things big,” Aiden giggled, causing Lucas to laugh.
“Your mom is right on that one,” Lucas said as he led Aiden into the ice rink. When Aiden took in a sharp breath, Lucas smiled.
“You do like big things!”
Lucas laughed again and threw his bag down as Aiden did the same. His eyes were wide as they looked around the rink, and Lucas felt good that he had impressed Aiden. He wanted Aiden to think his house was cool because the following day, Fallon and Lucas were going to tell him about Lucas being his dad. Even though Levi was extremely against telling Aiden without the paternity papers, Lucas felt good about it. There was no doubt that Aiden was his, plus Fallon wouldn’t lie to him.
Hide a child? Yes. Lie? No.
Lucas shook his head as if he was shaking the thought away and started pulling his equipment out the way Aiden was. After getting Aiden dressed, Lucas started to get dressed as he watched Aiden try to skate out on
to the ice. It was one of the funniest things Lucas had ever seen — Aiden would skate an inch and then fall down, get right back up and fall again. Lucas tried not to laugh but it was so hard, and he almost fell off the bench laughing at one point. Aiden had fallen so hard that his stick and gloves flew off.
“Are you laughing at me?” Aiden asked as he lay down with his face against the ice.
“Not at you bud, with you,” Lucas laughed as he stood up after lacing up his skates.
“I’m not laughing.”
Lucas let out a gut-busting laugh before going onto the ice and skating around Aiden’s little body. He skated around the rink a couple times while Aiden stood up, getting his balance. He looked over at Lucas as Lucas skated over to him, stopping in front of him.
“Alright bud, it’s all in the way you move your feet. Left, right, left, right,” Lucas said, showing Aiden with his own feet.
“Okay,” Aiden said nervously as he tried to throw his stick away but Lucas grabbed it, shaking his head.
“No, bud, keep the stick. It helps with your balance.” Aiden nodded and looked up at Lucas with a nervous look but excitement in his eyes. “Okay, I’ll skate in front of you. Let’s go.”
“You’re gonna skate backwards?”
“Yeah,” Lucas said with a grin.
“That’s so cool,” Aiden gushed as he put his stick down and started skating. Lucas probably encouraged Aiden a little too much as they skated, but he wanted him to be confident. Lucas would probably tell the kid anything as long as it gave him the confidence he needed.
Hell, Lucas would say and do anything for Aiden.
“Alright, I’m going to time you,” Lucas said after watching Aiden skate around the rink a couple times. Once he got his feet right, he was flying. Lucas was having a hard time keeping his cool — even at the age of 30 he was on the edge of jumping up and down while yelling out how proud of Aiden he was. The kid was spectacular.