Her Twin Surprise (Forsaken Sons Book 2) Read online

  Slowly, with a skill that amazed her, Janus pressed into her heat. Stevie lifted her legs, cradling him and urging him deeper into her body. He felt so good. So right! She lifted her hips, feeling him fill her perfectly. “Yes!” she gasped.

  That’s when he started moving. Last night, their lovemaking had been fast and furious, their touches out of control and their climaxes explosive. Tonight, he moved slower, building the pressure, increasing the tension as she shivered with the need to reach that pinnacle again.

  When it finally came, she whispered his name, clutching at his shoulders as he thrust into her over and over. She might have climaxed again as he found his own satisfaction, but Stevie was so swept up by the pleasure, she couldn’t be sure.

  And then he collapsed against her, his face buried in her neck and it was all she could do to breathe and not say something embarrassing. Like that she might be falling in love with him. That she really wanted to do that all over again. Or that maybe she could…well, none of that was relevant. This was Janus and, as well as he knew her body, knew how to make her scream with pleasure, she also knew him well enough. He’d be gone soon. And then she’d have to deal with the inevitable heartache.

  She wasn’t going to worry about that right now. At this moment, Stevie wanted to feel more of Janus, to warm herself at the furnace that was his body.

  “Damn woman! This just gets better and better.” He kissed the top of her head and rolled over, holding her against his chest.

  She wanted to sing and laugh and dance. And he…?

  Stop it, she told herself firmly. He was a guy. Guys don’t feel the same way about sex. Stevie hadn’t ever really thought about sex one way or another. With her past boyfriends, it had been fine. Nothing to write home about. But with Janus, it had been magical.

  Hiding her face against his hot chest, she reminded herself to get herself under control.

  “Are you okay?” he demanded, shifting so that he could see her face.

  Quickly, Stevie schooled her face and forced her lips into a smile. “Yea. I’m good,” she said, trying to be as casual as he was. But inside, she felt raw and vulnerable. He’d done things to her, taken her to heights that she hadn’t known existed!

  Keep it cool, she thought to herself. Cool and composed and casual.

  “So, how was your day?” he asked, trailing his fingers along her spine.

  She smiled, thinking he was sweet to ask. “It was good. I found some sticks I can use for my class.”

  “You found them?” he asked, lifting his head slightly. “Did you already buy them?”

  She laughed, her hand resting against his chest. “Of course.”

  “But you’ll be reimbursed by the school, right?”

  She laughed again, thinking he was cute. “Nah. This is my thing.”

  He shifted so that he was looming over her. “How much money do you lay out for your students?”

  “I don’t know the exact amount of money, but rest assured that I take it out of my taxes. So, no I’m not reimbursed by the school system, but it all evens out in the end.”

  Janus didn’t like that. Not one little bit. Especially since he could see for himself how little she earned. Not only was she working two jobs, but looking around, he noticed small things. Like the fact that she couldn’t afford a sofa for her apartment. There was a small kitchen table and a club chair, but the rest of the apartment was empty. “Where is your furniture?”

  Stevie lifted up onto an elbow and looked at him. “Please, don’t make me ashamed of how I live. It works for me. I like my job and get more satisfaction out of what I do for these kids than most people will ever experience with their high paying jobs. So, it’s worth it to me.”

  He brushed a lock of hair out of her eyes. “Fine. But I’m buying you some lingerie.”

  Her eyes revealed her surprise. “I don’t need lingerie,” she pointed out.

  His smile was slow and sexy. “I don’t care what you need. The lingerie would be for me.” He leaned forward to nibble on her neck.

  “You’re horrible,” she laughed.

  He got up and walked into the bathroom, still chuckling. But as soon as he saw his image in the mirror, Janus knew that he was in trouble. Big trouble! His expression looked too far gone for having only spent two nights in her bed. But Stevie felt right. She made him laugh, he loved touching her and feeling her climax around him was literally heaven on earth. She was light and happiness.

  Janus felt his heart pound at the realization of how much he liked Stevie. Already, Stevie had become…essential. He might not like that reality, but it was the truth.

  Sighing, he washed up and contemplated life with Stevie. She never mentioned his football career and it was nice to just…be himself. It sometimes felt like everyone in the Seattle area wanted to be armchair quarterbacks. Janus considered the comments of the fans part of the job, a part of the job that he didn’t like, but still part of the job. Every play, every toss was fair game for analysis, from sports writers to high school football coaches to the people sitting on the couch watching him play.

  But Stevie…she’d never offered him advice. In fact, she never talked about football at all, although she probably heard about his efforts when she listened to the news.

  Even as he thought about her lack of critique on his football performance, he relaxed even more. It was nice. Really nice, to just be with Stevie. He wasn’t a celebrity. He wasn’t a football player. And he definitely wasn’t a cash cow to her. She liked him. Him the man. Just being with her was pretty damn nice, but add in the fact that she liked the real guy, that only increased his amazement.

  “Are you okay?” she called out from the bedroom.

  Janus jerked, realizing that he’d been lost in thought.

  “I’m great,” he replied and finished washing his hands. He came out of the bathroom only to find that Stevie had pulled on a tee shirt. “What’s that for?” he asked, sliding his hands underneath the soft cotton. “You know that we’re not done yet, right?”

  She laughed and the sound sent another bolt of lust through him.

  “I learned last night never to assume anything when it comes to you, Janus,” she replied, her hands sliding up his chest.

  He smiled. “You’re starting to understand me pretty well.”

  Chapter 4

  Stevie hummed happily as she scrubbed her kitchen floor, wondering if she’d see Janus tonight. He’d had to rush this morning, kissing her tenderly before saying, “I have to go do my thing this afternoon. I will see you later!” Then he’d kissed her again and ran out the door. It had barely been dawn when he’d left and Stevie had wondered about that. It was Sunday!

  She stopped scrubbing and knelt back against her feet, staring at nothing as a thought occurred to her. She didn’t really know what he did for a living. Was he a minister? It was Sunday! How many people had to work on Sunday?

  No! That didn’t make sense! There was no way Janus was a minister! The idea just did not compute.

  So, what did he do for a living? She looked down at her half-scrubbed floor and sighed. “I’ll ask him the next time I see him,” she muttered as she continued scrubbing. Unfortunately, as much as she loved having a clean home, the process didn’t distract her from her questions. What did Janus do for a living? And what did he mean that he’d see her later? When was “later”? In her mind, she’d love for him to come back here after he finished whatever it was that he did on Sunday.

  But did that mean that he was coming over after whatever he had to do at his office? Or did that mean that she’d see him later this week? Unfortunately, she obviously didn’t know him well enough yet to be able to interpret his comments. She certainly hoped that he’d come over tonight. Why wouldn’t he? He’d been pretty ravenous last night. And this morning, she reminded herself with a smile.

  The phone startled her out of her contemplation. She picked her cell phone and glanced at the phone number. She didn’t recognize it, and normally, she ign
ored phone calls from numbers she didn’t know. But this might be Janus, so she answered with a smile and a happy, “Hello!”

  Was he already finished with whatever he needed to do? Was he on his way back now? She glanced at the clock. It was barely two o’clock. How long did he work normally?

  There was a moment’s pause at the other end of the phone call and she almost hung up, assuming the call was a telemarketing robocall. “Ms. Hunt? Ms. Stevie Hunt?”

  That still sounded like the introduction to a robocall and she reached for the hang up button, ready to simply end the call. But then she heard, “This is Gail at Providence Regional Medical Center. I’m calling to–”

  Providence Hospital? Stevie didn’t hear the rest of the woman’s sentence. Instead, she heard a ringing in her ears. Providence Hospital was in Snohomish County, north of Seattle. That’s where her mother lived!

  “I’m sorry, but could you repeat that?” she asked, feeling a bit breathless.

  The woman hesitated again. “I’m calling to see if you could come to the hospital.”

  Stevie’s stomach twisted uneasily. “Why?” she whispered. “Is it my mother?” The long silence was bad. Stevie knew that it was bad. “Please. Just tell me what’s going on?”

  The woman on the other end of the phone line seemed to hesitate again. But eventually, she explained. “Your mother was admitted earlier today. It would be better if you came to the hospital, so the doctors can explain in person.”

  Stevie might have replied, although, afterward, she could never quite recall. The next thing she knew, she was halfway to her car, keys in hand. Her fingers shook so badly that it took several tries to unlock her car. She paused, leaning her forehead against the steering wheel in an effort to calm down. “She’s fine!” she whispered to herself. “She’s perfectly fine!” Stevie had been to her mother’s house just last week for dinner and her mother had been in perfect health. The hospital had called so that Stevie could help her mother for some reason.

  Taking several deep breaths, she calmed her racing heart. For a moment, she considered calling Janus, but realized that she didn’t know his phone number. He’d written it on a piece of paper, but that was up in her apartment. Right now, she needed to hurry.

  Driving carefully, she made her way through the busy streets of Seattle until she reached Interstate Five. From there, she picked up speed, but stayed in the right hand lane and drove at the speed limit, afraid of going any faster in her current mental state. Driving on autopilot, she got off the interstate, taking route five-twenty-two towards Bothel, then veering left onto Route Nine. From there, it was a straight shot into Snohomish County. It was less than a ninety minute drive from her house to the hospital, but for Stevie, it was the longest drive she’d ever taken. Her imagination was good on a regular day. But knowing that her mother was in the hospital, possibly in pain and needing her, Stevie was on the brink of tears.

  She’d lost her father to cancer years ago. It was just her and her mother now. There had been no other siblings and both of her parents were only children as well. So, she didn’t have any aunts or uncles, no cousins or grandparents. Just her mother.

  Stevie pulled into the parking lot of the hospital and quickly located the office Gail had mentioned. As soon as Stevie knocked, she knew that something was horribly wrong.

  “Please,” she whispered through numb lips as the door opened. “Grief Counselor” had been the nameplate on the door, which only made Stevie’s stomach clench harder.

  Gail gestured to a sofa. “Please, will you have a seat?”

  Stevie stared at the sofa. Then at the box of tissues on the coffee table. “Please, tell me what’s wrong.”

  Gail smiled, but there was a wealth of pity in her eyes. “Please, have a seat and we’ll talk.”

  Stevie didn’t want to sit. She didn’t want to even be in this office. She wanted to get away, to hide from what this Gail-person was going to say.

  But Gail looked as if she wasn’t going to say anything until Stevie sat down. Resentment boiled up inside of her as she perched on the edge of the sofa. Gail sat next to Stevie and took her hand. “I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news. Your mother was in a car accident this morning. She was stopped at a stoplight and, another car was speeding and lost control. They hit your mother’s vehicle.” Gail took a deep breath before continuing. “Paramedics were called, but your mother…” she paused again, squeezing Stevie’s hand, “the doctors weren’t able to save her. She passed away about two hours ago. I’m so sorry.”

  Gail handed Stevie a tissue. Stevie took the tissue, but wasn’t sure what she should do with it. Staring down at it, Gail’s words echoed through her thoughts. Accident? No, that was impossible. Her mother was such a careful driver. Red light. Accident. Paramedics. Those words whirled through her mind over and over again. But none of them made any sense. What couldn’t the doctors do? Save her mother? No, that wasn’t right. Her mother was at home. Her mother was at home, working in her garden. Or just returning from church. Her mother was…

  “Do you have any questions for me?” Gail asked gently.

  Stevie lifted her gaze from the tissue to stare at Gail, trying to understand what she was talking about.

  “She’s…?”

  Green eyes. Gail had green eyes. Eyes that filled with sympathy. For her? For the world? Surely it was for the world because…Stevie didn’t need pity. She needed…? She needed to find her mother! This was all a big mistake! “Yes, dear. Your mother passed away this morning.”

  Stevie shook her head, refusing to believe this woman’s words. “No. That’s wrong. She’s fine.”

  Gail’s head tipped to the side and she squeezed Stevie’s hand again. “I know this is a lot to take in, dear.”

  Stevie wanted to tell Gail to stop calling her “dear”. Gail was trying to help by making the relationship seem more intimate than it was. But Stevie didn’t like it.

  “Could you…” she stopped, not sure what she needed to hear. Her mother was…gone? Gone-gone? As in, never to be here again? No more hugs? No more phone calls “just to check in”? Stevie loved her mother. They talked at least once a week, if not more often. They met for lunch, her mother cooked dinner on Sunday nights at least once a month. They spent their holidays together and laughed together and…whenever Stevie needed a shoulder, her mother was always there for her! It was just the two of them, so they were close.

  Now, she was…gone?

  Gail walked over to her desk. “Here is some information for you. About funerals and things to do after the service. There is also a list of support groups that I know can be helpful.”

  Stevie took the folder, still struggling to make sense of it. “Can I…can I see her?”

  Gail hesitated, looking uncomfortable. “That probably isn’t a good idea, Stevie.”

  Stevie lifted her dry, bewildered eyes to the woman. “Why not? I just…I can’t believe she’s gone.”

  Gail sat down beside her again. “Car accidents are never easy. It would be better if you remembered her the way she was.”

  Stevie nodded, not sure if she agreed with the woman. But this was too much to take in. She couldn’t process this.

  “Do you want to tell me about your mother?” Gail asked.

  Stevie looked at the woman, not sure what she meant. Tell this stranger about the most perfect mother in the whole world? Why would she do that?

  “I…” Stevie stopped, not sure what she needed. She knew that she didn’t need to tell a stranger about her mother. Home! Stevie needed to go to her mother’s house. Surely, this was all a huge joke!

  Yes, that was it. Stevie would walk into her mother’s house, the small, pretty cottage-style house with the hydrangeas that bloomed every June. Stevie would call out for her mother and Evelyn would walk out of the kitchen, drying her hands on a dishtowel. They would laugh about this. Stevie would explain that the hospital had made a ghastly mistake and the two of them would laugh. Stevie would help her mother finis
h making dinner and they’d talk about what was coming up at work.

  Stevie headed for the door, not sure where she would go or what she’d do next, other than to hurry over to her mother’s house, needing to see her mother coming out of the kitchen.

  “Wait,” Gail called out. “Here is her purse and…” she paused, seeing the shock in Stevie’s eyes. “Well, her personal things. They are yours now, dear.”

  Stevie took the familiar purse. The next thing she knew, she was parking her car outside of her mother’s house. There was no car there. Accident. So, her mother’s car would be…? Stevie had no idea. What did one do with a car that had…she couldn’t finish that thought. Nor did she want to even think about the car.

  Stevie stared up at the house. It was a fairly small house. Just three bedrooms. Stepping out of her car, she walked in. She’d grown up in this house. There were so many memories of life and laughter. But her mother didn’t come out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on the dishtowel and reaching for a hug. There was no sound. Nothing at all. Her mother wasn’t in the kitchen. She wasn’t upstairs cleaning or ironing. Stevie slipped into the kitchen and stared out into the backyard. Her mother wasn’t there either. She wasn’t muttering curses because she had to mow the grass.

  Her mother was gone. Her mother had passed away…Stevie looked at the clock. Everything was silent. Too silent. Her mother wasn’t here.

  She sat down on the sofa in the family room, still trying to come to terms. Her mother was gone? It seemed surreal. Impossible! Her mother was always so full of life and love and laughter. No way could she be gone!

  Then Stevie looked down at her lap. Her mother’s purse was cradled in her arms. That’s when it hit her. Her mother was gone! Her mother had been in a car accident and…she was gone!

  Stevie curled up into a ball and cried. Soft whimpers as the tears streamed down her cheeks as the pain slashed through her heart like a knife. For a brief moment, she wanted to call Janus. She wanted to feel his arms around her, to lean into him and be surrounded by his strength. This wasn’t happening, and yet, as the morning turned to afternoon, and then faded to darkness, Stevie cried out her heartache.