Chapter 43
"You said this was a small boat," Taryn said, standing on the dock, looking at the Avventura in awe. “Nothing fancy.”
"I may have undersold it," I replied with a grin.
I escorted her across the passerelle.
Buddy barked and bounced excitedly at the prospect of a new guest. With his nose against the glass, wagging his tail, he could barely contain himself.
Taryn had that effect.
I pulled open the salon door and held the little Jack Russell back as he tried to pounce. Taryn knelt down and loved on the little guy.
Buddy ate it up.
I escorted her inside and set her up in a below-deck stateroom.
"I feel like I'm about to embark on a cruise.”
"Around here, anything is possible," I said. "I'm up on the bridge deck aft if you need anything."
She smiled and gave me a hug. In a whisper, she said, "Thank you again.”
The hug lingered for a moment. I didn't mind. I didn't mind at all.
We broke apart, and she slipped into her stateroom.
I left and climbed the companionway to the main deck. JD had already disappeared. It was late, and the sun would be coming up soon.
In my stateroom, I peeled out of my damp clothes, stepped into the shower, and washed off. The hot water felt good, and I took a Hollywood shower before climbing into bed and settling in for the evening.
The storm still raged, rain pelting down, thunder booming. The boat rocked with the tempest. Gusts of wind whistled.
I turned on the news to catch updates on the weather. The tropical depression wasn’t a named storm, but it was going to dump on us just the same.
Another deafening clap of thunder rattled windows and shook bulkheads. It wasn't long after that when a gentle knock at my hatch announced an unexpected visitor.
"Come in," I said.
"Are you asleep?” Taryn asked, poking her head in.
"Not yet.”
"I can't sleep. I guess I’m still amped up about everything, and the storm is not helping.” She paused. “If I’m disturbing you, we can talk later.”
“No, not at all.”
She slipped into the stateroom, wearing a T-shirt and cotton panties. We’d stopped by her place on the way back to the boat. She had packed a small bag, and we made sure her place was as secure as possible.
Taryn slid under the covers with me and snuggled close. “This bed is much more comfortable than mine.”
I chuckled. “Is it?”
“Most definitely.”
“What did you want to talk about?”
With a mischievous sparkle, she whispered, “Who said anything about talking?”
With that, she planted her plump lips on mine. It was late, and I was tired, but I wasn’t that tired. Taryn was warm and soft and felt good in my arms.
When we broke for air, she said, “We need to discuss ground rules," she said.
"Ground rules?"
"I'm leaving at the end of the semester. I don't want to start anything. I just got out of a bad relationship. I'm not in the headspace for anything serious."
“I can be very non-serious,” I teased.
“I’m sure you can.”
She then proceeded to start something. She kissed my lips again, and we fooled around.
The tension that had been brewing came to a full boil.
My hands traced her delicate curves. It wasn’t long before she peeled off her T-shirt, revealing hidden treasures.
Taryn’s petite figure inspired a vigorous and thorough expedition of all the delights she had to offer.
It didn't take long for my fingers to slip into the waistband of her frilly panties.
Soon, they were over her hips and on the deck.
We tumbled around the sheets, giving the mattress a run for its money.
Moans and howls of ecstasy filled the compartment.
Obscured by the clouds, the moon was still full and fat.
Taryn could definitely bring out the beast.
Our passion crescendoed amid claps of thunder. We collapsed beside each other, thoroughly satiated, slick, and sweaty, hearts pulsing.
Taryn nuzzled close. “I think I’ll sleep much better after that.”
“Anytime you need help getting to sleep, you know where to find me.”
“Careful, Deputy. Did I mention most nights I have insomnia?”
With a head full of pleasure chemicals, we passed out as the rain poured down.
I slept like a baby until noon.
There were no early morning calls from the sheriff. No emergencies. It was almost too good to be true.
We decided to get in another cardio routine before breakfast, just to make sure it wasn't a fluke. It was just as fun the second time around.
When we finally pulled ourselves out of bed, I fixed breakfast, and we chowed down at the breakfast nook as the rain continued to fall.
Afterward, I took Taryn back home. We measured the window, then went to a big box hardware store and had them custom-cut a pane of glass.
We picked up some glazing putty, along with a few other items. Back at her place, it didn't take too long to clean up the frame and set the new piece of glass. It would need to cure overnight.
Taryn was most appreciative and rewarded me handsomely for my efforts.
I spent the rainy day with her, helping her straighten up around the house after Oren had ransacked it.
“Do you think he’s really dead?” she asked with more than a hint of concern in her voice.
“I don’t think you have to worry about Oren anymore.” I just had to ask, “Do you still have the incantation?”
“I gave it to him. With any luck, it’s at the bottom of the ocean with him.”
I stayed with Taryn a while longer, then left in the afternoon and headed back to the Avventura. It was still overcast and rainy. I cruised down Deepwater Boulevard, feeling rather accomplished. We’d gotten a sadistic predator off the streets and solved Hannah Quinn's murder.
Grant denied any involvement, and the state’s attorney didn’t file charges at this time.
I noticed an animal in distress on the way home.
A black cat had gotten its head stuck in a chain-link fence.
It had probably chased a smaller animal through it.
In a panic, it screeched and clawed at the fence, flopping around, trying to free itself.
Its bone structure and ears kept it from backing its head out of the narrow space.
I pulled over, hopped out, and jogged to the fence. The poor thing continued to struggle, screeching and clawing, flipping and flopping.
"Easy there. It's going to be okay," I said in a calm voice as I approached.
The cat was anything but calm.
I knelt down at the fence and tried to pry the diamond-shaped wire open wide enough for the cat to remove its head. But the old galvanized steel wouldn't budge. Worse, it was cutting into the poor thing with every panicked movement. I didn't have anything handy to cut the fence with.