Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
Bodie woke to the soft press of Rowan’s head on his shoulder, her low murmurs feathering across his chest. Not quite talking in her sleep, just nonsense syllables that had him pulling her tighter against him as he ran his hand along her arm. She burrowed closer, stilling a few moments later.
He inhaled, stared up at the ceiling. God, she felt good in his arms. As if she’d always belonged there. Like a missing piece that had simply slotted into place. Made him whole. Which he knew sounded crazy.
Sure, they’d known each other for a couple years. Or maybe, it was more they’d know about each other for years. That they existed. But they hadn’t really talked. Shared anything remotely personal. Still, seeing her behind the waterfall that fucking night…
It had been the wakeup call he’d needed. And he wasn’t going to waste the chance she’d given him.
“That’s a pretty serious expression for six o’clock in the morning. Do I want to know what you’re thinking about?”
Bodie shifted his gaze, stared into Rowan’s insanely blue eyes, said the first words that popped into his head. “God, you’re stunning.”
She smiled, and his damn heart stopped. Just froze. “Good answer.”
She beckoned him to her with a tilt of her head, sinking her fingers into his hair as he leaned down, claimed her mouth.
The future.
That’s what she tasted like. Promise with a side of danger.
He breathed her in, taking them both back on the couch, her chestnut hair fanned out across the cushions.
He went to his elbows, right leg protesting a bit, but he didn’t care.
Not with Rowan snugged beneath him, every inch touching, a light blush staining her cheeks.
Looking up at him as if she’d been waiting for this moment all her life, too.
That magic he’d mentioned, only real.
She hummed, damn near stopped his heart, again, nodding at his right side. “Your leg.”
He dipped lower, kissed her until lines streaked across his vision, either lack of oxygen or just being with her. Neither mattered.
He nuzzled her nose. “My leg can suck it up.”
She laughed, the easy sound washing away any doubts that she wasn’t all-in. Didn’t feel half as lost as he did. “Then, kiss me, again, tiger.”
He lowered, took her mouth with his, making the first seem tame, almost platonic because this was a tactical assault. The first wave in a campaign that could only end with their mutual surrender.
Just not quite yet.
He wouldn’t take it that far. Despite the way she writhed beneath him, wrapping her right leg around his left, he sensed the slight unease.
That she wasn’t quite ready to fully commit.
And he respected it. Hell, he wasn’t sure he was ready, either.
Not when he suspected this was more than just a romp.
That this was the start of forever.
Rowan moaned as he nipped his way down her neck, sucking on her pulse point. “God, Bodie.”
Two words had him rethinking his position because, damn, he wanted her. Wanted to kiss every inch of soft, pale skin. Feel her muscles jump beneath his fingers. Taste the anticipation hanging in the air.
But more than anything, he wanted to watch her give herself to him.
See her reaction when he gave everything in return, because there’d be no holding back.
No saving some of his heart, just in case.
She was worth the risk, and for the first time since he’d left the army, he’d jump without worrying if he had a safe place to land.
Rowan seemed onboard, slipping her hands under his shirt, tracing her way up his back, dragging his sweater with her. She stopped with it just under his arms, smiling as if she had every intention of teasing him — holding it there until he lost control — when his damn phone buzzed.
She jumped, then groaned, letting her head sink into the couch cushion as he dropped his forehead to her chest, cursing.
He reached over, snagged the cell off the coffee table. “It’s Shirley from the sheriff’s station.”
Rowan sighed. “Guess that means you can’t ignore it.”
Bodie swiped across the screen, put the call on speaker. “What’s up, Shirley?”
The woman breathed into the phone. “Sorry to call so early, Bodie, but I was trying to reach Special Agent Scott, and I thought the sheriff said she was staying in your guest suite. I tried her cell, but it went straight to voice mail.”
Rowan closed her eyes as she shook her head.
Bodie grinned. Not quite his guest suite.
In fact, if he played his cards right, didn’t screw up what could be the best thing that ever happened to him, she might end up sharing his bed, and for more than just the assignment.
“We had a pretty late night. She probably forgot to plug in her phone, but she’s here, and you’re on speaker. ”
Shirley laughed as if she knew exactly what they’d been doing, how Rowan was still tucked beneath him.
Rowan pushed onto one elbow, arching a brow when her chest brushed Bodie’s as he simply held his ground. “First, it’s just Rowan. Second, I’m sorry. I can’t believe I got so caught up in the case, I didn’t charge my phone. What’s up?”
“I’m sure you were otherwise… occupied.” Another hushed laugh, the pause impossible to miss. “Special Agent Kaine just called. She’ll be here in about twenty minutes. I thought you’d want to know.”
Rowan collapsed again. “Absolutely. Thanks, we’ll be in shortly.”
Bodie ended the call as Rowan laid there, one arm over her forehead, the other still making circles on his skin. “Were you?” He went back to his elbows, nipped at her neck. “Occupied?”
She swatted his ass, moaned when he kissed his way up her jaw, claimed her mouth. Her breath panted across his chin when he finally released her, the feathery touch sending goosebumps prickling across his flesh. “Starting to think not nearly enough.” She palmed his cheek. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“Holding me all night. It’s one of the few I’ve actually slept through.”
“Sounds like you need a better nighttime routine.”
She tilted her head, smiled. “I like last night’s. Maybe we can try it again, tonight?”
“That sounds like a challenge, sweetheart.” He dropped one more soul-searing kiss on her mouth. “Consider it accepted.” He motioned down the hall. “You want a quick shower?”
“Will you make coffee? Because I need both, but I doubt we’ll have time to stop.” She rose, swung her legs off the edge of the couch. “And people wonder why I don’t like working with the feds. They’re either too early or too late.”
He nudged her. “And here I thought it was because you don’t like sharing your toys.”
“That, too.” She stood. “So, coffee?”
He pressed against her as he pushed to his feet, ran one hand down her side and across her hip. “Coming up.”
Her breath hitched, and for a moment he thought she’d tackle him back onto the couch. Instead, she tiptoed up, kissed him. “Thanks.”
She headed for the hallway while he sent off a text to Buck and Dalton — told them to meet him at the station once they were vertical. “And Bodie?”
He looked her way. “Yeah?”
“It was also the best morning I’ve had in forever. And I absolutely wanted to trip you back onto the couch, make out some more.”
He watched her disappear down the hallway, mind reeling, heart still tapping triple time. And he had a bad feeling it wouldn’t slow anytime soon.
The fact it hadn’t changed by the time she pulled into the station parking lot twenty minutes later only validated his assumption.
That he’d already fallen way too hard for her.
At least, she seemed equally affected, constantly shifting her gaze his way, looking at him as if she planned on launching her own assault at a moment’s notice.
She snuck in a quick kiss before climbing out of her Tahoe, visibly calming herself as she headed for the door.
Buck walked out from inside, held the door open, smiling smugly. “You two looked comfortable out there.”
Bodie stopped next to the other man. “Are you going to be an ass about it?”
“Nope.” Buck motioned over his shoulder. “Dalton might be, though. Started singing that song about sitting in a tree.”
Bodie rolled his eyes. “Why aren’t you two sleeping? I know damn well you did patrols, all night.”
Dalton edged forward, dancing his gaze between Bodie and Rowan. “We spelled each other off. Besides, neither of us sleep well, so…”
Bodie sighed. While hearing Dalton open up more about the aftereffects of his captivity was a positive mental step for the man, everything Bodie learned only made him more impressed Dalton wasn’t off rocking in a corner. That he’d had the strength to push forward — start fresh.
Shirley walked over as the door closed behind them. “Sorry to drag you all in so early. Special Agent Kaine should be here any minute.”
Bodie waved off her concern. “Not a problem. We were already up.”
Shirley smiled. “Sounded like it.”
Dalton chucked, grinned at Bodie when Bodie flipped him off.
Rowan didn’t seem to care as she pushed past Dalton and grabbed another cup of coffee.
Dalton leaned in, whispered something that made her smile as she glanced Bodie’s way.
She answered, too soft for Bodie to hear, but he had a feeling he didn’t want to know.
That he might end up kissing her, again, right there in the sheriff’s station.
Blow any hope of keeping the change in their relationship on the down low.
The door creaked open behind him, a swirl of cool air breezing through the office. He turned, expecting Special Agent Kaine to waltz through, when Greer grinned and ambled over.
She leaned against her desk, practically glowing. “Guess we all got the call.”
Bodie crossed his arms. “Aren’t you supposed to be working less these days?”
She looked down at his thigh. “Aren’t you supposed to be resting that leg?” She snorted. “So, we need to talk about last night because you claimed it was a recon-only mission, and yet, I heard there was gunfire and explosions—”
“Recon mission, my ass. It was a damn shitshow.”