Nineteen
When I wake on Sunday morning, Ashley still has me pulled tight against his chest. I smile and sigh, but not heavily because of his hold on me. I really don’t mind though. Especially as I recall how we were able to end our night.
After a few hours of phone tag with his supervisor and mine and some other agents, he had one of the agents watching the cabin take him in town so he could bring back dinner. And wine. We ate by the light of some candles I found in the junk drawer. When we finished eating and had cleaned up, we took a shower. I expected him to get us dirty first, but he shocked me by gently cleaning me from head to toe. By the time I’d brushed my teeth and climbed into bed, I was truly relaxed for the first time since I took that bullet.
But it’s what happened when Ashley joined me that has my body enjoying the new aches that he caused. Mostly between my thighs, though. Just like he said he wanted to do when he caught me in a towel the night we met, he licked me from head to toe. Twice. Then he feasted on my pussy until his face was dripping with my release before he finally covered himself and pushed his cock inside me.
God, I never thought sex could be that fucking good.
I’ve certainly been missing out. And Ashley made good on the rest of his word. Every man who’s ever taken me to bed before is a lost memory. As far as I’m concerned, I just started having sex this weekend. And hopefully, I’ll keep having it for a long time.
With Ashley.
I sigh again. Then I gasp when Ashley shifts his position, so his hardening cock presses against my ass. Now I moan. He growls. And in a matter of minutes, I’m underneath him once again. But this time, it’s slow. And sweet. And somehow perfect.
“Jesus, Lorna,” he breathes. “This is so fucking good. You’re so good.”
I can’t form words to agree, so I just hum and nod my head. It doesn’t seem to bother him, as he keeps on…loving me. That thought sends me flying to the edge of an orgasm. My breath catches. But it’s Ashley’s words that finish me.
“Come on, Lorna,” he whispers. “Fall with me.”
For a split second, I wonder if he’s talking about orgasms or love. But the pleasure that crashes over me the second after that wipes the thought from my mind. His name passes my lips like a plea for more. His hips jerk against mine as his words come to fruition. I stay suspended in the moment for what feels like forever. And I slip away while I’m still floating.
***
I’m smiling down at her when her eyes fall shut. And the words leave me on a soft whisper.
“I love you, Lorna.”
A soft sigh leaves her. And I hope that her subconscious heard me. Because I’m afraid that her conscious brain isn’t ready to hear those words.
When her breaths are deep and even, I reluctantly pull free of her and clean up. Then I rejoin her in bed, just as happy to hold her close than to make love to her. And both of those things happen for the rest of the day. Knowing we’re here until tomorrow morning, things finally relax between us as we get to know each other better. On every level possible.
There are enough provisions in the cabin to provide our meals. And even though my mother taught me and all of my brothers the basics of cooking, I never picked it up very well. But with Lorna beside me, everything just feels…right.
When we turn in for the night, after another phenomenal round of lovemaking, my mind overrides my orgasm sated body as I wonder how to keep things going between us. Once we wake up in the morning, things could get complicated. Until I’m briefed on Diamond, his whereabouts, and whether his intentions about Lorna have changed, we’ll have to take things one step at a time. I’m probably going to hate it, but if it puts Lorna in my life indefinitely, I’ll make it work.
After I finally resign myself to that, sleep claims me. Hard.
But not for long.
The sound of my phone is like a disaster siren going off inches from my ear. With my first thought being not to wake Lorna, I scramble off the bed to answer it.
“Hughes.”
No one responds right away. And the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. After one more second passes us into an awkward silence, an unfamiliar voice greets me.
“Pitbull.”
My gut instinct provides my response.
“Diamond”
“That’s right, motherfucker,” he laughs roughly. “I’ve got your number. And I’ve got your girls, too.”
Now, my gut instinct is silenced by the protective male prowling inside me. And I speak before I think.
“Come near her again, and I’ll take you out myself,” I growl.
His barked laughter chaps my ass. Because I know I just made a mistake. Not only did I, a federal agent, threaten his life, but I also offered him a challenge.
“Damn, you one ballsy motherfucker, ain’t you?”
This time, I manage to stay quiet. Long enough for him to finally speak up again.
“That bitch cost me some of my territory,” he growls. “And I’m going to get my revenge one way or the other.”
What he’s not saying could be the only way to save Lorna. But I say what’s necessary to keep the ball in my court.
“I’ll be in touch.”
Then I end the call. But when I turn around, Lorna is awake. Sitting up in the bed as she clutches the sheets to her chest.
“Who was that?”
I grimace at her question. But I give her the answer she already knows.
“You know who it was,” I say. “And that means we’re going to headquarters. Now.”