Chapter 19 #2
“Yeah.” I wait for his reply, answering her, “It’ll finally serve a purpose other than preventing painful periods.”
Robbie
It’s a date
Drive safely
Mutt worries about you
“Oh my god.” Vale sighs, reading my screen. “He is so into you and speaking of being into you. Are you ready for him?”
“More than ever.”
“Go slow. Your hymen has grown back.”
I laugh at the impossibility. “That’s what I thought.”
“You’re still not telling me who your first was?”
“You’re still asking when I’ve moved on to my second?” I turn to her, damn lucky Vale’s the sister I never had. “Tell me how to rock Loch’s world. How to keep him coming back for more.”
“Easy”—she grins—“just keep him coming.”
“But how? Use that textbook brain, and be specific.”
She arches a brow. “Have you ever been on top?”
I blink. “No.”
She grabs my hand. “Okay, so, get on top and put one knee up, but keep the other down. It’s called the Sun Worship position.
It puts him deep inside you while he can watch it.
It’ll drive him insane to see your tits bouncing while you rub your clit and make sure you come first. Then, ride him fast and hard until he gets this trapped look.
Like you’re taking him to heaven, and he wants to die inside your pussy.
You’ll see it on his neck. His veins will pop, right before his cock pops off.
That’s when you start riding him so damn slow.
Oh, and squeeze your pussy. Milk his cock while he comes. ”
I arch a brow. “Milk? His. Cock.”
She may as well be telling me to milk a cow. Cow or cock: I have no experience with them.
“You’ll see. You’ll feel it.” Her smile grows. “I have a hunch you’re going to feel everything with Loch.”
Two hours later, I kiss my dad’s cheek goodbye before giving him a big squeeze. “Love you. You drive me crazy, but… I love you.”
He mutters into my hair. “I had you when I was so young; I’m still figuring this shit out, and I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be.” I angle back, grinning. “You’re still the best dad in the world.” I turn to Nadine. “And you? You’re too young to be my grandmother, but I love you like one.”
Nadine wraps me in a warm hug. “You make me proud as punch, and your mama would be too.” She whispers in my ear, “You have her strength. Don’t ever forget it.”
I feel it, blinking back sudden tears.
My dad’s not perfect, and Nadine isn’t my blood family, but the warmth flooding me is love.
Love that bubbles in my veins as I drive home toward the mountains, toward Loch. It’s pouring rain, but I don’t care. The hours fly by.
Pulling into the parking lot of my favorite convenience store at the bottom of the mountain, I park and run inside, dodging raindrops. “Hey, Jesse!” I call out, aiming for my cup of happy.
“Uh, hi… Ranger Allen.”
It’s odd. Jesse usually calls me Alena, so I turn to see him standing behind the counter, his nervous stare shifting to the man standing by the lottery tickets.
Clad in black hiking pants and a base layer T-shirt, the older man is dressed to fit in, but he doesn’t. There’s an air about him. It’s foreign. Elegant. Evil.
I scan his form. No gun. But he has Jesse on edge, while the man cracks a pistachio open with his teeth.
I lift my chin toward Jesse. “Everything alright?”
“He is fine,” the strange man answers, his American accent way too practiced. “Our friend here was just telling me about the park ranger who rescued a woman from the river.” His eyes narrow. “You must be the local hero.”
I must be sending fuck-you vibes because this man is a creep. Always trust your instinct. It’s how my dad raised me.
My glare notes the coffee pot to the right of him. It’s been boiling that brown sludge for hours. It’ll scald him if I throw it in his face before jabbing his neck.
I have a plan before I answer, “No one’s a hero because we never work alone. We tether to each other. We’re a crew.”
Like Loch.
I drove too fast. I’ve beaten him home by at least thirty minutes, and my gun is legally secured in my truck.
But this fucker doesn’t know that.
“Well, it is an honor to meet you, Ranger Allen.” The man bows his head like he’s high and mighty, not a hiker.
He leaves, sliding into a black, luxury SUV parked outside. Pulling out of the parking lot so fast, his tires bark on the wet pavement, but I catch the turquoise color. His New Mexico license plate.
“Jesse.” I turn my glare on him. “Who was that?”
“Some man that ain’t right.” Jesse shakes his head. “Came in here ’bout five o’clock, shopped for snacks for fucking ever, askin’ about your water rescue, then you pulled up.”
“What did you tell him?”
“Jack shit.” With trembling hands, he tugs a cigarette out of his front pocket. “I know better than to sell out a ranger ’round here.”
“So, he asked about me?”
“Like he saw the news, yeah.”
Lost in thought, I pour my cherry cola Slurpee. I need it to calm me.
I’ve done other rescues; I’ve been in the news before. But I know if something feels suspicious, it is. I need to call the Feds about that man. I don’t have much to tell them, but they can get warrants to pull the camera footage from this place. Maybe get his full tag and see what they can find.
It’s still scratching in my veins when I pull up to my cabin. Sliding out of my truck, I sling my pack over my arm and grab my Slurpee, squinting through the rain as Loch’s truck parks with a mad crunch of gravel beside me.
His door flies open. His handsome face scowling as he charges my way, “Goddammit, Alena! You ever heard of a speed limit?”
Why is this rubbing me the wrong way? Why, after my overbearing father and that creepy man, am I not in the mood for another man giving me shit? Even cute, worried about me shit?
“I’m fine.” I sigh. “I took defensive driving. I know what I’m doing.”
I’m getting wet in the rain. So is Loch, stabbing his finger toward my tires. “Not with those. You need new ones. And you got a taillight out. Get it fixed.”
No, moods need to be fixed. He’s worried, and I’m tired.
“Okay.” I exhale. “Thanks for worrying about me. I’ll get it fixed.” I turn toward my cabin.
“Where are you going?” He sounds angry, almost hurt.
I turn back. “I need to wash the road off me and catch my breath.” I nod toward his huffing chest. “So do you. I think we both had a day and need a break.”
“I’m sorry.” His chest falls. “Yeah, it was a shitty day, and I’m being a dick, and—”
“It’s okay. We’re okay. I’m not mad at you. I just need a night alone.” Softly, I grin. “I’ll knock on your door with pancakes in the morning.”
His forehead furrows. “You sure we’re okay?”
“Yeah, I’m sure.” I huff a frustrated breath, “If you knew my dad, you’d know why I need a night with no alpha men.”
“Gee, thanks.” A grin plays on his lips. “Maybe I’ll meet your dad one day.”
“Maybe you’ll meet a bullet.”
He laughs softly. “He’s that bad?”
“Yep.”
Slowly, Loch prowls my way in the rain, his hands cupping my cheeks. Like magnets, our lips meet in a warm kiss before he vows, “You’re worth taking a hundred bullets for, Alena Allen.”
I sigh against his whiskers. “You’re making a night alone, very hard, Loch Waring.”
“Oh.” He grins over our lips. “It’s hard.”
I’m so tempted to crawl into his bed tonight and never leave.
But it’s like I told Vale. I’m not a teenager, despite how I’m treated sometimes. I’m an adult. I know it’s healthy to be alone sometimes.
“If I bring you blueberry pancakes in the morning.” I nip his bottom lip. “Will I make it even harder?”
“Like a diamond.” His eyes sparkle. “It’s what you make me do for you, Alena.”
A diamond.
It’s way too soon for that, but I can see it—Loch’s ring on my finger. I’ll put a ring on his finger too. He deserves it.
I kiss his lips. “Night, Waring.”
He kisses my neck. “Night, Babygirl.”
It is a good night once I call the FBI agent in charge of Sasha’s case and leave a voicemail about that creepy man.
After I take a long shower, I’m warm and relaxed, ready to curl up with a book in bed, when I get a notification on my phone an hour later.
It’s an email from @LuvPounder, inviting me to a video call date tonight.
And though I need a night off from alpha men, I am Loch’s.
Not like I was ever @LuvPounder’s anything. We’re not breaking up. We’re practically strangers.
But I’m not a heartless bitch. I owe @LuvPounder the courtesy of a goodbye. Even a thank you. I can’t ghost someone. It’s rude.
Besides, he helped me find parts of myself I love. Parts that made me feel powerful and sexy on my own terms.
All the folks in our chat, I’m going to miss them.
But I’m moving on to something real.