Chapter 32
Chapter Thirty-Two
JESSE
I paced, hating the fact that I had agreed to let Casey make the phone call on her own.
She had decided to turn down the offer, deciding her dream had changed.
She no longer wanted to roam, searching for something.
To move constantly. She wanted to stay here with me.
Run her business. Be here with me—always.
And she loved me.
We’d talked until we were hoarse. So exhausted we could barely stand. We fell into bed together, holding each other, and slept.
I woke up with her beside me, her hand on my heart.
The heart that was now truly hers.
We had coffee and made some plans. I wanted to move her in to my side right away.
She practically lived here anyway. Then I wanted to start on tearing down the walls and refitting the house to have as our home.
The first real home she had known as a child would become her permanent place for the rest of her life.
With me.
She walked through the closet, looking contemplative. She met my gaze, hers thoughtful but calm.
“What did he say? How did he take it?”
“He said he felt my hesitation, and he had a backup plan. He offered me a different scenario.”
I sat down, pulling her with me. “Which is?”
“I would still undertake the project, but with an assistant of my choice. I would fly there and get it rolling. Be available every day for meetings and Zoom. Fly back when needed and promise to be there at least one week a month. The money would be less, but still substantial. And I would split the bonuses with my number two.”
“That sounds great.”
“I’d still be gone for a week every month.”
“So we schedule your week for when I start my two-day shift. Then I only have to get through five days without you. And I’ll use my saved-up time and come with you every second month.”
“You would?”
“Yes.”
She worried her lip. “I’d be gone for about three weeks to start.” She paused. “What about Barney and Miller?”
“I’ll make arrangements. And while I’m off, I’ll rip down walls. And visit if you want.” I waggled my eyebrows. “Think of the hotel sex.”
“I’ve never had hotel sex.”
“I’ll make sure you enjoy it.”
“And you’d be here…?” She trailed off.
“Waiting. Yes. We can do this, Casey. You get your dream, I get you. It’s not forever. You told me you always come in early on projects.”
“Yes.”
“Then tell him to send the contract and sign it.”
“I already did.”
I smiled. “Good. I think we should celebrate.”
“How?”
“Pot roast sounds good.”
She laughed, and it was good to see the smile on her face. “I should have known. Onion gravy?” she asked.
I kissed her. “You know it.”
CASEY
I turned to Jesse, burrowing myself into his arms. “I don’t want to go.”
He laughed quietly, his breath ruffling my hair. “Yes, you do. You are going to be amazing, Pix. And I’ll be waiting here when you get back. You can call me anytime. Text me. Zoom. We’ll see each other every day. Talk all the time.”
He stepped back, lifting my chin. “I am so proud of you, Casey. And I love you more than I thought was possible.”
“I love you too,” I whispered, trying not to cry.
“It’s only three weeks.”
“Sooner, if I get things done fast.”
“Then do that. Work hard and fast. Come back to me.”
“What will you do while I’m gone?”
“Tear down walls and eat my way through the freezer.”
I had to smile. I had cooked for days, filling the fridge and freezer with food.
“I hope there’s lots of onion gravy in there.”
“Oodles.”
“Good.”
I sighed, and he pulled me back into his arms. “Go, baby. Before I change my mind and not let you leave.”
I loved the fact that he didn’t really want me to go either. But he knew how important this was to me, and he was putting me first. Something I would have to get used to.
“Don’t eat all the cookies at once.”
“I would never,” he said with a scowl. “I do have some control.”
“Not when it comes to cookies.”
He bent and kissed me. “Or you.”
“I have to go.”
“Yes. Text me when you land and when you get to the hotel.”
“Okay.” But I didn’t move.
He smiled. “The sooner you go, the sooner you’ll be back, Pix.”
“Are you just saying that because I reminded you there are cookies at home?”
He grinned and turned me around, pushing me gently toward the security checkpoint.
“Yes.”
JESSE
The station was quiet, everyone asleep. I still had problems sleeping without Casey now. It didn’t matter if I was at home or here. I liked her beside me, and I missed her warmth. Her scent.
I wandered out to the empty staff room, but no one else was awake. I sat down and lifted my phone, scrolling through pictures I had taken in the weeks before she left. Smiling, laughing, cooking, sleeping. Even crying, she was beautiful, her eyes saying so much.
I missed her so fiercely, I ached with it.
As if she sensed my thoughts, a text appeared.
You awake, Hulk?
I chuckled.
Yes.
How’s the shift going?
Quiet. I ran a lot of stairs in practice. My calves hurt.
If I were there, I’d rub them.
If you were here, I’d have you rub something else.
I got a laughing emoji for that one.
How’s it going? Getting all your ducks in a row?
Right now, I’m not sure where my ducks are.
I sent her back the same emoji.
Are you sure you don’t want me to come out to you?
No, I’m so busy I wouldn’t see you. I stay at the office until ten or later every night. Back by six. I want to see you, but it wouldn’t be fair.
Okay, Pix. Whatever you need.
I need to relax.
I settled back on the sofa.
I can help with that.
Oh yeah?
Absolutely. What are you wearing?
Your T-shirt. Nothing else. You?
A smile.
Yay! Is your hose working?
My hose needs to stay put. I’m in the staff room, and someone could walk in at any moment. This is about you. Send me a picture.
A moment later, it appeared, Casey looking tired but lovely. My shirt hung off her shoulder, the bare skin smooth.
You are beautiful, Pix. Take off my shirt. I want another photo.
I gazed at her breasts, the tips rosy and taut. Despite my denials, my cock lengthened, and I wrapped my hand around it, stifling my groan.
I want a picture too.
I snapped one and sent it.
I love your cock. It’s so…big. Smooth. Hefty.
Hefty?
Wide load.
I had to laugh.
Are you touching yourself? If I were there, I would be sucking your nipples and playing with your sweet little clit. Making you moan.
I am now.
You’d be so wet. Opening your legs, begging for more. I’d slide my fingers inside you.
Please.
Two. Then three. And they’d glide in. Wet. Hot.
Jesse.
I’d finger-fuck you and use my thumb to keep your clit hard. Toy with it until you begged me to stop. But I wouldn’t.
I pumped my shaft, imagining it was her. Her hands wrapped around me. Her mouth on me. I bit my lip to stop the sounds I felt building.
Are you doing that, Pix? Playing with yourself for me?
Yes.
Do it harder. Turn on your camera.
I stroked harder. Faster. My balls tightened at the image in front of me. I kept the sound low in case anyone was around. But I heard her whisper.
“I’m coming.”
That was all it took. The way she flung her head back, her mouth open, the vision of her pleasure. I orgasmed, my back arching off the cushion, shooting my load into my hand, the pleasure intense.
And messy.
I sat back, shaking my head. She turned off her camera, and we went back to texting.
Only you could get me off in the staff room from hundreds of miles away.
It’s a talent.
I need to clean up. Can you sleep now, Pix?
I think so. You?
Yeah. I love you.
I love you, Thorne.
Jesse.
I love both of you.
I was good with that.
A week later, I sat at the kitchen table, the new plans in front of me.
The house was going to be incredible when we were done.
In preparation, I had knocked some holes in the wall, thrilled to discover the ornate railing to match the other one hidden between sheets of drywall.
We also discovered the original double front doors in the back of the basement, and I planned to restore them.
We were knocking the walls out everywhere, replacing them with the needed headers for support anywhere that was necessary.
Casey’s old living room would become the dining room again, and the living room/dining room on my side would once again be an inviting living space.
But we were keeping it as open as possible and planned to remove both kitchens and blend it back into one more usable space.
Move one half bath to a better location.
The back stairs that led to Casey’s bedroom would be gone and all bedrooms once again accessed from the main staircase.
The expansive area would make two good-sized bedrooms.
Casey was going to love it.
I scrubbed my face, glancing at my watch.
I hadn’t heard from her since this morning.
I missed her more than I thought possible, doing everything I could to fill my days, waiting for her to come home.
Only three more days and she’d be here. I could show her the plans and listen to her excitement.
Hold her in my arms and sleep next to her.
I swore I wasn’t letting this length of time go by without her again.
I heard a noise and stood, walking into the living room, not seeing anything. Then the closet door opened, and there she was.
My pixie.
I held my arms open, and she flew into them—or would have, if she hadn’t tripped, stumbling into me with a loud gasp and sending us both crashing to the floor.
I groaned as she landed on top, the wind knocked out of me. I huffed and looked up at her.
“Making an entrance as usual, Pix.”
She grinned, and I pulled her down to my mouth, kissing her. I had missed the taste of her. How well she fit against me, her soft curves melding to my harder planes. I groaned, fisting her hair and kissing her until we were breathless.
And Barney jumped on her back, startling us both, meowing at Casey.
Miller started to bark, caught up in the excitement.
We yelled at the same time.
“Barney!”
“Miller!”
Then we started to laugh, and I kissed her again.
My pixie was back.
Once we got up off the floor, I held her, then cupped her face. “You’re early.”
“I needed to come home. I wanted to surprise you.”
“It worked.”
“I’m hungry.”
“I’ll order pizza. Where’s your bag?”
“By the front door.”
I called the pizza place, grabbing her bag and laptop case.
I found her in the kitchen, already examining the plans. “Thorne, these are amazing!”
“You like our new home, Casey?”
“I do!”
I sat down, pulling her to my lap, wanting her as close as possible. “Tell me everything.”
Even though we spoke daily, I wanted to share in her news. Watch her expression as she talked. Kiss her whenever I wanted to.
She filled me in, excited. When she finally slowed down, I smiled. “I told you that you’d rock this.”
“My assistant is great. I worked with him and his partner on another project, and we hired Tony too. He keeps Lyle in line. They watch out for me.”
“Good.”
The pizza arrived, and we sat on the sofa, eating, still talking, and smiling. I shut the empty box, sliding it onto the coffee table.
“How long are you home for?”
“Barring anything happening, three weeks.”
“I’m coming with you next time. I’ll book it off tomorrow.”
“I would love that. I missed you.”
“I missed you too, Pix.”
We smiled at each other, and I saw how tired she looked. I stroked her cheek. “I’m glad you’re home.”
“Me too.” Her lip quivered, and then she cleared her throat. “Anything interesting happen here?”
“Not really. Except…” I paused dramatically, wanting to make her smile. “Chris.”
Her eyes went round. “What?”
“He took another date to pasta night.”
“Oh no.”
“Me, Mark, Linda, and a couple of the other guys were there for supper. The pasta is pretty good,” I added with a wink. “I might take you.”
She laughed and smacked my arm. “And?”
“And another girl was there who he had taken out a few weeks prior. Same old, same old for Chris. She took exception and confronted him and his date for the evening. And this time, he insulted them both with some crap line about lots to share, meaning himself, and he got the spaghetti dumped on his head, followed by a glass of wine. Red.”
“Oh my,” she breathed.
“He’s been banned from Dusty’s.”
“What is he gonna do on Monday nights?” Casey wailed theatrically. “He has nowhere else to go!”
I laughed and stood, pulling her from the sofa. “How about I show you where you need to go?”
“Hopefully to bed.”
I swung her up into my arms. “You know it.”
She sighed and laid her head on my chest. “My hero.”
I pressed a kiss to her head.
She rested her hand on my heart. “My favorite hero.”
I was good with that.