Chapter Twenty-Two
The next morning, rather than bury myself in work, I needed to go home.
My landlord was freaking out about the damages at my unit. I had renter’s insurance, so the repairs would be covered; but I needed to assess the extent of the destruction, beyond the building itself. I had furniture that was ruined, and who knew what else? I’d gotten out of there as fast as I could after the shooting. Now I needed to document a few things for the insurance company and box my living room and kitchen in order to clear the space for the contractors.
A part of me was contemplating boxing up everything. I wasn’t sure I could consider it home anymore. With my new job and higher salary, it wasn’t out of the question that I could find a new apartment. Maybe something a little bigger, with room for an office.
Since Roy and Kade were out looking for Hoffman, Jed was needed at the garage, but he arranged for Hank to be my escort for the day. Tired as I was of the whole babysitter routine, the last place I wanted to be alone was at my apartment.
Besides, Hank was pretty good company.
“You need anything, I’m keepin’ my phone close,” Jed reminded me as he held open my car door. “Got plenty of space here for whatever boxes you get packed today. And don’t be afraid to put Shep to work,” he teased, nodding to where the man stood waiting in the driveway.
“Okay,” I said with a smile.
“Plan on takin’ Lowe out for lunch, but I’ll be sure to wrap things up at the garage by five. If you’re still at your place, I’ll swing by.”
“Oh, right. Marlowe turns eleven today. Tell her I said happy birthday.”
“Will do.”
He kissed me goodbye, and I knew that was my cue to fold myself behind the wheel and get on with it, so I did. Hank and I made a pitstop at Walmart, so I could pick up some packing supplies. It was nearly eight-thirty when we parked in front of my building, and I was speechless when I got out of my car at the same time as Winnie.
“Morning,” she greeted with a warm smile and a wave.
I lifted my hand lamely as she made her way toward me. “What are you doing here?”
“Wrangler reached out, told me what you were up to today. I thought you could use some help.”
I shook my head in disbelief. “Your husband is gone because of me, and you want to—”
“Let me stop you right there. My husband is on a mission, tracking down a problem that needs to be solved. He’s done it before, he’ll do it again, and you’re not to blame. Anyway, in this case, I’m not the least bit worried.”
I opened my mouth to respond, but I couldn’t get a word out before someone called, “Who’s the tea drinker?”
Turning to find the owner of the voice, I found a petite woman with beautiful, long, thick, wavy-curly red hair she wore loose. She had on sunglasses and was dressed in cut-off shorts and a Guns-N-Roses tee—or what once might have been a tee before she cut off the sleeves and made it a crop-top. Simply put, she was every bit the biker babe that Winnie was—only closer to my age.
“Tea’s for Alexia,” answered Winnie.
“That’s you, huh?”
Even with her sunglasses on, I could tell she was eyeing me up and down.
“Yeah. I can see it. Wrangler definitely got himself an upgrade. Good for him,” she said, handing over a hot to-go cup. “Chai latte. I hope you’re okay with regular milk.”
“Uh, thank you?” I muttered, feeling a mixture of amusement, confusion, and gratitude.
“This is Phoenix, the bar manager at Steel Mustang,” introduced Winnie. “She’s here to help out today, too.”
The look on my face must have showcased what I was thinking, because Phoenix explained, “I heard what happened. When a man attacks a woman, it really pisses me off. When he does it with a gun , I kind of want to castrate him myself. Seeing as I doubt boss-man will offer me the chance, I figured I’d lean in where I could.
“With Mustang out, I can only stay until two, but as soon as I down this coffee, I’ll be ready to tackle whatever.” She smiled then yelled, “Shep! Got you a dark roast if you want it.”
Hank did, indeed, want the dark roast. There was caffe latte for Winnie, too.
My first impression of Phoenix was that I kind of liked her.
A couple hours later, after she packed up my entire kitchen, labeling each box very meticulously, I decided I really liked her.
Once we started, it didn’t take me long to decide I wanted to pack the entire apartment. While the place had good memories attached to it—most notably my time with Jed—I couldn’t deny how the apartment felt tainted by what happened. I wanted a fresh start. After I got rid of my couch and dining room set, which both now sported bullet holes, I didn’t want to bring in new furniture to an old space.
No matter where I went, I was never going to forget that day. But moving away from the scene of the crime would at least earn me a little peace.
When it became clear I was going to need more boxes, Hank made a call. Less than thirty minutes later, a couple of Stallions were at my door to deliver what we needed. It was kind of remarkable the way the Wild Stallions took care of each other—took care of me . I was beginning to understand their loyalty knew no bounds. There was nothing too big or small they wouldn’t do.
By two o’clock, when Phoenix had to leave for the bar, the majority of the packing was completed. All that was left were odds and ends that could be saved for another day, seeing as I didn’t yet know where I was going. We piled the boxes out of the way, while loading a few into my car so I could take them with me to Jed’s. They were mostly clothes. I wasn’t sure how much longer I’d stay with him, but I was careful to remind myself it was a temporary arrangement.
“Are you sure you don’t want to load anything else into my trunk to take with you?” offered Winnie.
“No, thank you. You’ve done more than enough. Everything else can stay until I know where I’m going to go. I’ll spend the afternoon looking for my next place and shopping for a new living room set.”
“Okay. I should go check on my boys. But if you need anything, you know to—”
“Call you, yes,” I interjected. “Thank you. For everything. Your friendship has been invaluable to me.”
“You’re one of us, now. Get used to it,” she replied, pulling me in for a hug.
I returned her embrace, and we said our goodbyes, Hank following me back to Jed’s place. He helped me unload the few boxes I brought into an empty spot in the garage, then made himself comfortable in front of the television. He offered to pick out a movie both of us might like to watch, but I told him to go ahead and watch whatever he wanted. He’d done enough for me for one day.
Like I told Winnie I would, I spent the rest of the afternoon on my laptop, at the dining room table, perusing housing options and shopping for furniture. There were a couple places that looked promising I thought I’d check out soon—when Jed and I had a free weekend.
As promised, Jed was home shortly after five. Rather than rush off, I told Hank he should stay and join us for dinner. Jed agreed, offering him a beer, and Hank couldn’t say no. For the first time all day, he had the extended company of one of his brothers, and I was happy to let them steer the conversation.
At Jed’s request, I made my twice-baked potatoes to go with the pork chops he smoked for our meal. In spite of the fact that things were far from normal , we managed to enjoy the night just the same. It was nearly eight when Jed walked Hank to the door, and I busied myself loading our plates into the dishwasher.
“Hey, I forgot to ask,” I started to say, drying my hands as Jed retuned to the kitchen. “How was lunch with Lowe?”
“Great. She asked about you. Wanted to make sure you were still comin’ Saturday.”
“Did you tell her I wouldn’t miss it? Because I wouldn’t.”
“I told her,” he assured me as he propped himself up with one palm atop the kitchen island. “Saw your boxes in the garage,” he segued, changing the subject. “Thought you’d bring more.”
I sat aside the tea towel and took a step toward him.
“I know you told me you have plenty of room for my things, but it seemed silly to crowd your garage or your basement only to move it all out again when I find a new place.”
“Why bother findin’ a new place when you could just move in here?”
Rather than the sensation of my insides defying gravity, it felt more like gravity itself ceased to exist as his question hung suspended between us.
“Excuse me?” I barely managed.
“I’m sayin’, move in with me, gorgeous.”
I had to grab hold of the lip of the counter to maintain my balance.
“Jed—papi, that’s—that’s crazy. You can’t mean that.”
“Crazy?” He quirked an eyebrow at me, as if I was the one who wasn’t making sense. “Lex, what’s the point in furnishin’ a place you’ll only sleep at part time? Not to mention, payin’ rent there when you’re gonna want an office space soon. Way I see it, that’d be too leases drainin’ your bank account. And for what?”
“For what? Jed, this is your home . You live here with your children. My being here is a temporary arrangement. We’ve been together for a month . We can’t move in together. And I certainly don’t want to live with you because it’s financially practical . When we move in together, I want it to be because we’re in love and you—you want me here, not just because it makes sense.”
“Well, aren’t we?”
I shook my head in an attempt to clear it.
He couldn’t have been saying what I thought he was saying.
“Aren’t we what?”
He got close. Real close. Close enough that when I drew in a breath, I smelled the faint traces of sandalwood, leather, and smoke on his skin. He took my chin in his grasp and tilted my head back, until I had nowhere else to look but into his blue-green eyes.
“In love, darlin’,” he answered.
I let go of the counter in order to reach for either side of his kutte as all the air left my lungs.
“What?” I whispered.
“Far as I’m concerned, I’m lookin’ at my ol’ lady. A week, a month, a year—Lex, another decade wouldn’t make a bit of difference. I plan on marryin’ you and puttin’ babies in you one day. Until that time comes, we can live apart if you insist—but I know what I want, and that’s you. In this house.”
By the time he was finished speaking, I could barely see him, my vision blurred by the tears that had begun to pool in my eyes.
“ What? ”
It was, quite literally, the only word I could find in my brain.
Jed chuckled. “Still so damn cute.”
“You—you love me?” I squeaked, as my tears began to fall.
“Is that so hard to believe?”
“Yes,” I breathed without a hint of hesitation.
He reared his head back as a scowl tugged at his brow.
“Why?”
“Because you’re still too good to be true.” He freed my jaw from his grasp, slipping his fingers into the hair at my nape as I continued, “You’re still my Prince Charming. You’re still practically flawless. I can be in love with you, but you can’t be in love with me, too, because it can’t be this easy. Nothing in life ever is. Not for me.”
I watched as his face softened before he leaned in close, so close I could feel his breath against my lips. His eyes stared straight into mine as he replied, “If that’s true—then aren’t you about due?”
He kissed me before I could so much as blink, and any response I might have had was forgotten the instant he parted my lips with his tongue. As I opened my mouth, he folded me in his arms. A hum sounded from the back of my throat, and I reached up to wrap my arms around his broad shoulders, wanting him as close as I could get him.
My mammoth.
My prince.
My Stallion.
My love .
I moaned, overwhelmed by the thought coupled with his kiss. It was wet, and deep, and sensational—but I needed more. He was offering me everything, and in return I wanted him to have all I had to give.
Reaching for his kutte, I began to coax the leather from his shoulders. He let me go in order to shrug off the garment. He caught it with his hands, tossing it onto the island before he lifted me up and sat me on top of it. He made space for himself between my legs as he reached for the hem of my shirt. It was gone with my next breath, my bra soon to follow.
I gasped in delight when he wrapped his lips around my nipple, swirling the pebbled bud with his tongue. My fingers buried in his hair, I let my head fall back and my eyes drift closed as I got lost in his affection. When he was finished with one breast, he showered the same attention upon the other, until I was practically squirming with need.
I tugged at his hair, and he lifted his head, offering me precisely what I wanted.
His mouth.
A moan spilled over my tongue as I tangled it with his, unable to get close enough. His hands slid up my spine and around my waist, his warm, rough skin causing goosebumps to spread along my arms. Wanting more of his heat, I began to pull at his shirt. He broke our kiss when he reached between his shoulders and yanked the fabric from his body. Only, rather than kiss me as he dropped his clothing to the floor, he reached for the top button of my jeans.
My breath caught as he began to tug, and I was quick to plant my hands on either side of me, lifting my hips in assistance. Soon, I was naked—the only thing between my bare bottom and the kitchen counter his kutte.
“ Papi ,” I shuddered, touching my forehead to his as he reached between my legs, coating his fingers in my arousal.
“I want you, darlin’. You believe that?” he muttered, grazing his fingertips across my entrance.
I nodded, spreading my legs open wider in invitation.
Still, he only teased me, increasing my longing, making me short of breath.
Just when I thought he might slip inside of me, he pulled away.
I was only slightly disappointed. The next thing I knew, he was naked with me—and that was even better.
I sighed, reaching for the back of his neck as he took hold of his hardened length, gliding the tip from my entrance to my clit and back again—still only teasing me.
“Jed,” I begged on a whisper.
“You’re mine, gorgeous. You believe that?”
“Yes. Yes,” I insisted with a nod.
Finally, one arm wrapped around my hips, he eased his way inside of me—ever so slowly—until I was full. His eyes locked with mine, he paused for a beat, then pulled out of me as slowly as he entered before starting all over again. He rolled his hips gently. Deliberately. Taking his time in a way he never had before.
And it felt incredible .
He brought his lips to mine, never breaking his steady rhythm as he kissed me thoroughly. I knew, for the first time and without any doubt, this wasn’t too good to be true.
It was real.
It was us.
On his next return thrust, I rolled my hips with his, longing to move with my man. He hummed his approval, grabbing hold of the side of my neck as he kissed me deeper, and I swore I was in heaven. I never wanted this moment to end.
For a while, it didn’t.
Instead, the passion within me burned gradually, growing bigger and warmer with every stroke. I held onto the feeling, willing myself not to lose hold of it even when Jed pulled me closer, and thrust harder.
“Papi,” I breathed against his lips, squeezing him between my thighs.
“You feel that, Lex? Hmm?” he grunted on his next return thrust.
All I could manage was a nod, the passion I felt inside on the brink of overwhelming me.
“You believe this?”
He jerked his hips harder, jolting my entire body, and I tightened my grip around him as I gasped in delight.
“I love you, gorgeous,” he declared, filling me once more. “You believe me now?”
Before he could finish his question, I was coming. The pleasure made me tremble in his arms as I moaned uncontrollably, holding onto him with all my might. I was still consumed by my own bliss when he succumbed to his climax. He swore under his breath, his rhythm forgotten as he filled me with his release.
When we were both spent, I took hold of his face in both of my hands and touched my nose to his. Breathless, I confessed, “I love you, too. I think I fell in love with you the second you showed up at that storage unit to rescue me.”
“Then say you’ll move in,” he replied, tightening his hold around me.
I bit my lip, hesitating before I responded.
It wasn’t doubt that made me pause. It was wonder. I couldn’t help but to marvel at him—the man unlike any who had ever existed in my orbit before the day he showed up at my office. He was as self-assured as he was handsome. He was a force to be reconned with and a safe harbor, in whom I found refuge. He knew who he was and what he wanted; and I understood who he wanted was me .
As crazy as it might have felt by the world’s standards, my heart wanted what his did.
And I wanted him to be right.
Maybe, for once in my life, I was due a little ease.
If being loved by a man like him was my reward, I couldn’t have asked for better.
“Okay. I will,” I promised.
“Good. It’s settled. Now, kiss me, darlin’.”
And so, I did. Happily.
Until he was ready to make love to me again.