17. Sophia
Chapter 17
Sophia
When Jared, the other deputy, came to pick up Jimmy and take him to county jail, Colt told Pecker to take the rest of the night off. Unless there’s a call that desperately needs their attention, they’re both staying home with Leslie and I.
“How are you doing, baby?” Pecker ducks his head to meet my gaze.
As soon as he brought me back to his house, he curled up with me on the couch. Sydney was a sweetheart and brought us some hot tea and hot chocolate with a few cookies. She said she wasn’t sure what type of drink I’d prefer, but it would warm me up and the cookies would help me feel better.
I’m going to have to thank her later. I think I was still in shock and exhausted now that my adrenaline spike is gone.
“I'm ok. How are you doing?”
“Well, I was scared shitless something would happen to you. All I kept thinking is how I promised to protect you and what if I couldn’t?”
“It wouldn’t have been your fault.” I lift my shoulder in a shrug. I wouldn’t blame him if something had gone wrong, only Jimmy.
“It doesn’t matter. I’d never stop feeling guilty for it. You’re all that matters to me, Soph.” He’s quiet for a few seconds before he says anything else. “What did Mason mean when he said you might have to use your training?”
“My dad, Uncle Mason, and Maddox taught me some self-defense things before I came here. They wanted me prepared in case anything happened. They made me practice for so long and made sure I took it seriously. Aunt Kelsey, Uncle Mason’s wife and my dad’s sister, was kidnapped by sex-traffickers. She was almost raped and killed. They wanted to make sure nothing like that happened to me.”
“I don’t like you thinking you need to protect yourself, but I'm glad you were taught how to. You know I’d do anything in my power to keep you safe though. I'm not joking, Soph. You mean the world to me.”
I lift my chin and meet his blue eyes. They’re so light and captivating. I could look into them forever. The way he’s looking at me makes me feel so loved. Like I'm the only woman in the world to him.
“I love you, Peck,” I whisper.
“I love you too, Soph.” He cups my cheek and slowly leans in to kiss me.
This kiss is full of so much more emotion than any of our other ones. It’s fireworks, but also love and commitment. It’s slow and lazy, yet deep and passionate. I’ve never been kissed like this before and I hope Pecker gets to kiss me like this for the rest of my life.
“Knock, knock!” Sydney calls from the top of the steps. She never comes down without permission and I find that so sweet. It’s her house, yet she respects Pecker’s space.
“What’s up, Syd?”
“Well, dinner is ready, but I also had an idea I wanted to run by you.” She sounds so excited and it makes me grin.
“We’ll be up in a second.” Pecker drops his head back onto the couch cushion with a groan. “I need to get my own place if you move here. I feel like every time I try to kiss you and they’re awake, we get interrupted.”
“Stop it.” I chuckle. “I love your sister. She reminds me so much of my family, it makes me feel a little less homesick.”
“I love her too, but not when she’s kiss blocking me.”
“Kiss blocking?” I arch a brow with amusement.
“Well, it’s not cock blocking.” He shrugs, making me giggle.
“I was talking to Leslie earlier today…” I start, unsure if this is a smart decision. My head says it is, but my heart is still a little unsure. I’ve had my heart broken so many times, but I trust Pecker more than I’ve ever trusted anyone else and I don’t think he’d ever do anything to hurt me.
“Yeah?”
“I’m going to move into Leslie’s house. Before Jimmy found us, she said I could stay there once he was located. I don’t see any reason I couldn’t move in there soon.”
“I like the sound of that.” Pecker grins. “So, you’re going to stay for a while?”
“At least a month, then I'm not sure. I don’t want to stay here forever, Peck. I'm not sure what that means for us.” I stare down at my hands, unsure of where our relationship is going. The thought of losing him makes my chest ache. I want him in my life, but I don’t know how that would work.
“What’s going through that pretty head of yours? You’re going to get wrinkles if you keep frowning like that. Plus, you look like you’re about to cry and that’s breaking my heart.” He places his knuckles under my chin and lifts until I meet his gaze.
“I don’t want to lose you,” I confess.
“Who said you would?” His brows tug together.
“If I go back to Mulberry Lane…”
“Depending on if Sydney still needs me and if I were invited, I might like Mulberry Lane.” A slow grin spreads across his face.
“Maybe we could go visit sometime soon?”
“I’d love nothing more than to meet your family in person, baby.”
After we’ve eaten a delicious stew Sydney made for dinner, she smiles at me like she’s waiting for the perfect opportunity to spill her idea on us.
“Just say it, Syd,” Peck groans.
“You’re not allowed to sound annoyed! You don’t even know what it is. You have to listen before you start groaning.” She scowls at him.
“Tell me! I’ll wait to groan until after I hear what it is.” I grin.
“Suck up,” Peck mutters under his breath, making me giggle and snuggle a little closer to him.
Since we got home, he hasn’t stopped touching me. I'm not sure if it’s to comfort me or to make himself feel better. Either way, I like it and I don’t want him to stop.
“If you keep this up, I'm going to like her more than you,” Sydney singsongs.
“Hey! You don’t already like me better?” I pretend to glare at her, but there’s no anger behind it. I'm just joking.
“It’s a close call, but I’ve known him for over twenty years. I think we’re at a solid four days.” She chuckles. “I need help filling some orders for Christmas. I was wondering if the two of you would want to come to the shop tomorrow and help me. I know I said I didn’t need you until the twenty-sixth, but I figured it could keep you busy and I know when I'm stressed out, baking helps.”
“I don’t know what Peck has planned, but I would love to help. Would you mind if I cook a few batches of things in your kitchen to take for Christmas? I don’t really have a place to bake unless I take over Colt’s kitchen and I feel like they need some alone time together.”
“Not at all! You can use my kitchen whenever you want.”
“I'm following you around like a puppy until I have to go back to work.” Peck wraps his arm around my waist and presses a kiss to my temple. “I'm not letting you out of my sight unless I'm forced to.”