Epilogue
Noah
Aweek later I have plates and screws in two places in my arm, an overabundance of bruises in various colors, and discharge papers from the hospital. Beryl wasn’t able to get away, so Tegan is my transportation home. Home.
On the way, I fill her in on the latest news concerning my assault. “My SUV was discovered crashed in a ravine. Some of the cacao bags had been ripped open and the beans scattered. The rest of the bags were untouched.”
“That’s good.” When I remain silent, she asks, “Isn’t it?”
Attempting to find a more comfortable position, I tug on my restraint. “Not really. Now those beans are wrapped up in a case involving assault, drugs, and murder.”
“Murder?”
“One of my attackers was found near the vehicle with a knife in his chest. The agents were able to identify him, so they have a good idea who his cohorts are and who they’re working for. The SUV and the beans are now locked away as evidence. I’ll contact our suppliers and see how long it’ll be until they can make another shipment.”
Tegan parks behind the shop and angles to look at me. “You’re not going to be doing much chocolate work for a few weeks anyway. Not with just one arm.”
“Hell of a way to start a new business.”
I dread the empty cases I expect to see when we enter Choco-Love. But the cases are full, with a wide selection for our customers to choose from. Tegan wraps one arm carefully around my waist. “I made a few calls to our cousins. Until you’re back in action, they’ve upped their production and are rush shipping us chocolates daily. Brooke is rapidly becoming a master of the taffy pulling machine. Our other part timers are learning quickly and Beryl’s mom steps in to take over the register most afternoons.”
“My god, Tegan. You’re a miracle worker.”
She blows on her curled fingers and rubs them against her collar bone. “Don’t you forget it either.”
The short trip back to Love Beach has exhausted me and as much as I hate the weakness, I need to rest. “Since everything’s going smoothly here, I’m going upstairs.”
Shaking her head, Tegan takes my hand and we return to her car. “Where are we going?”
“Beryl and I decided that for your recuperating time you don’t need to be climbing stairs multiple times a day. So, since she’s on the ground floor, we moved your stuff into Beryl’s apartment.”
I want to cross my arms and give her a stern look, but the cast and the joy filling my chest prevent those actions. “Presumptuous of the two of you to make that decision, wasn’t it?”
“Would you have said no?”
“No.”
“Fine then. We saved wasted time. Noah, be careful. She’s still a little fragile. She’s saying all the strong woman statements, but she doesn’t quite believe all of them yet. You’re not much better, you know.”
“I know. When the hell did you grow so wise?”
She drops me off at Beryl’s and makes some excuse to not stay long. When we’re alone, Beryl tells me Devin is at the gym and will be home after supper. Then she moves into my one armed embrace.
“I’ve missed you,” she whispers to my chest.
Without the medical attachments, I’m able to tangle my fingers in her hair and give a gentle tug. She sighs and looks up at me. “I love you, my sweet Beri.”
“Welcome home, Noah.”
“Beryl, baby, I need you.” I take her parted lips with a lingering kiss. She molds her body against mine and my dick responds. Unfortunately the rest of my body isn’t healed enough for making love. Reluctantly, I ease from her warmth.
Her shoulders rise with a deep breath and she studies me, scanning my body from head to toe. Damn me if her gaze doesn’t linger on my semi hard dick. She’s going to kill me. And I’ll die a happy man.
She takes my hand and draws me down the hall. “You know,” she says over her shoulder, “I want to fuck you so bad.”
“Beryl… I…”
Turning, she covers my mouth with her fingers. “Hush. We don’t need the movements of your whole body to feel good. All we need is my mouth on your cock and your mouth on my—oof.”
Slamming the door behind me I jerk her against my body. Not the smartest move and I grunt with pain when her hip connects with a still-tender bruise. She freezes until the insistence of my mouth plundering hers softens her stance and she melts against me.
Dropping my voice to its lowest register, I nuzzle her neck. “Hmm, baby. I love… baby, love how you… hmm… take care of me.”
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