Chapter 47
Chapter Forty-Seven
MILES
“How come I knew I’d be getting your ass out of jail?” Captain Sullivan asked as we walked out of the police station in Chattanooga.
I grinned, but the weight of the night lingered in my shoulders. “You know me too well, Captain.”
My one phone call had gone to Linc—not to bail me out, but to check on Loxley.
He’d dropped her off safely at my house and was now camped out in his truck at the end of my driveway, keeping an eye out to make sure no one found her.
I’d also asked him to call someone to come get me out of the mess I was in and I honestly thought he’d call West. But no, instead he called Captain Sullivan.
And while I was grateful the captain had driven all the way up to Chattanooga and somehow convinced the station to let me go without charges, I knew the drive home was going to be long.
He’d been holding back by suspending me for a week, but now?
Now, I was going to get a lecture that would make Gramps’ talks feel like child’s play.
And I deserved it.
I’d lied to him. Wasted his time. Wasted his assets.
In hindsight, if I’d been honest with him from the start, he probably would’ve had my back. Hell, he might’ve even helped me hide Loxley. But I didn’t give him that chance, and now I was paying for it as he kept repeating the same words:
"You're a damn good officer, Miles, but you can’t just pick and choose when to uphold the law and when to toss it aside. You’re supposed to set an example, not become part of the chaos.
How do you expect people to respect the law if you treat it like a suggestion?
Next time, I might not be able to bail you out. I might not want to, either.”
When we pulled up to my driveway, Linc was still there, his small Honda parked under the canopy of trees.
Captain Sullivan gave me a stern look before I got out and then gruffed.
“You tell that boy to take the day off and rest. I’ll have other units keep on watch in case anyone rolls into town looking for trouble. ”
“Will do, Captain. Thanks for everything.”
“Don’t thank me yet,” he muttered. “Just keep your nose clean, Miles.”
I stepped out of the car and walked over to Linc’s driver-side window. He was leaning back in his seat, arms crossed, and as soon as he saw me, he started laughing.
“Man, you look like shit,” he said, shaking his head.
“Yeah? Well, I feel like a million bucks.”
“A million bucks isn’t much these days.”
“That’s fair,” I chuckled, punching his shoulder lightly. “Still true, though. Won’t feel like a billion until I’ve had a shower and climbed into bed next to my girl.”
His eyebrows shot up, a small smirk tugging at his lips. “Still wild hearing you call Loxley Adams, your girl.”
“She’s definitely mine.” He shook his head, still half in disbelief as I shrugged and added. “Captain told me to tell you to take the day.”
“For once, I’m not even gonna argue,” he said with a yawn, starting up his truck.
We exchanged a quick goodbye before he drove off, leaving me standing alone at the edge of the driveway. It was a long, rocky path ahead of me, framed by trees that formed a shadowy tunnel leading to my house. The walk felt longer than usual, each crunch of gravel echoing in the quiet.
By the time I reached the front door, the sun hung high overhead, a stark contrast to the storm that had torn through the night before. I paused for a moment, breathing in the fresh air, letting the warmth of the new day set the tone for a fresh new chapter ahead.
Stepping inside, I kept quiet, scanning for Loxley, and found her exactly where she belonged: curled up in my bed.
The sight of her there, peaceful and safe, made my chest ache in the best way.
The only thing missing was my arms around her, but first, I needed a quick shower to rinse off the lingering grime from the jail cell.
When I returned, I didn’t bother with clothes.
I slid under the sheets and pulled her close, her back flush against my chest. Pressing my nose into her neck, I breathed her in, relishing the softness of her warmth against me.
My body responded naturally to her movements, and I couldn’t help but smile when her sleepy moans reached my ears.
But just as I thought she was melting into me, she suddenly jolted upright and let out a scream.
“Hey!” I laughed, sitting up against the headboard with my hands raised. “It’s just me!”
“Oh my God,” she gasped, clutching her chest as her wide eyes focused on mine. But before I could say anything more, she climbed onto my lap, straddling my waist. “Oh my God,” she repeated, her voice breaking.
Her lips crashed into mine, and I groaned at the contact, my hands instinctively sliding to her hips. Every inch of her felt like home, and I never wanted to let her go again.
Tears streaked her cheeks as she pulled back just enough to whisper, “I’m never running again. I never want to be anywhere without you.”
I cradled her face, brushing my thumbs over her damp skin. “You’ll never have to be, Lox. It’s you and me from here on out. No matter where life takes us, we’ll face it together.”
As much as we needed to talk, she felt how hard I was beneath her. Slowly, she lowered the sheet, freeing my cock so she could wrap her hands around me. Her strokes were steady and deliberate as she looked into my eyes, and I hissed, loving the feel of her soft skin.
“Mine,” she giggled shyly.
“Yours,” I nodded.
With a teasing grin, she peeled the pink Loxley Adams T-shirt over her head.
I took that as my cue and flipped her onto her back, sliding her panties down her legs.
Without hesitation, I buried my face between her thighs, my tongue delving into her folds.
Her fingers tangled in my hair, and she moved her pelvis, trying to take control.
But I held her steady, needing to savor her, to take my time.
When she tried to pull at my hair again, I caught her wrists with one hand and reached into the nightstand with the other.
With a mischievous smile, I secured the handcuffs to her wrists and locked her to the headboard. “I’ll give you control in every other aspect of our lives, Lox. But not your pleasure. That’s mine.”
She groaned as my tongue pressed against her clit, then closed my lips around it, bringing her to the edge.
But I didn’t let her tip over. I pulled back, savoring the frustrated sounds she made, punishing her for running away.
I edged her again and again, her screams echoing in the room, but eventually, I wasn’t just punishing her anymore, I was punishing myself, too.
I should’ve gone after her the moment I realized she’d left. Waiting was my failure.
Unable to hold back anymore, I uncuffed her and flipped her over, pulling her hips toward me and lining myself up behind her. There would be a lifetime of making love to her, but right then, I needed her in the most primal way. When I entered her, she groaned my name, making my pulse race.
She was so close to the edge from my mouth being on her that she came instantly, her body clenching around me. I had to stop moving to keep from coming myself. “Fuck, Lox.”
“More,” she begged, her voice raw with need.
Once I was sure I could control myself, I started moving again, thrusting hard. Frustration, passion, and relief coursed through me as I lost myself in her. The rhythm was harsh, driven by the anger of a week spent apart, questioning everything that had become so clear now.
Her body tightened around me again, pulling me over the edge with her. “Oh, shit,” I moaned, letting go completely. We both collapsed, spent, her body sinking into the sheets while I fell beside her.
“You’re making a mess,” I teased, brushing her hair back from her face.
“You started it,” she whispered, her voice weak from the orgasms I’d given her. Even so, she managed to turn onto her side, propping her head up to reach for my chest. “You still have this on?”
I didn’t need to look to know that she was talking about the crocheted necklace around my neck. My gaze dropped to hers, noting the matching one she wore. “I told you I’d never take it off.”
“Good,” she laughed softly. “I’ll need your help marketing these when I’m sued for breach of contract.”
“Why would you be sued?”
“I’ll be punished,” she said with a playful pout, “and not the fun way you just did to me.”
I smirked. “I think you should finish your tour. You’d avoid any backlash that way.”
Her brows shot up in disbelief. “You’re kidding.”
“You’re amazing up there, Lox. You were in your element last night. I saw it for myself.”
“That was after I saw you there. I can’t do it alone, Miles.”
“You won’t have to,” I assured her. “No matter where we need to be, we’ll be together.”
“What about your job? Your family? Your town?”
“This is our home, Lox. When we can be here, we will. But I’d rather be anywhere you are.”
“I can’t ask you to give up your career.”
“You know why I pulled you over for going eight miles over the speed limit? I was bored. I was miserable. I love this town, but I love you more.”
“What if you get bored with me?” Her voice wavered. “Wait… you love me?”
“You know I love you,” I said with a smirk.
“But that’s the first time you’ve said it.”
“That’s twice now,” I replied, leaning in to kiss her. “And I plan on saying it way more than that, so don’t try keeping count.”
Her arms wrapped around my neck, pulling herself closer to me. “I love you too. I think I fell in love with you the moment you said my full name.”
“Well, Loxley Belle Anderson, for the record, I will never get bored with you. Life with you will never be boring.”
“I’ll make sure of that,” she laughed. “I promise to always burn your big catch.”
“Oh, hell no,” I laughed, tickling her as she tried to get away. I was tempted to pin her down and—
The incessant knocking on my front door made us freeze. It wouldn’t stop, and I sighed, getting out of bed to grab my gun from the safe.
“Get some clothes on,” I said, pulling on a pair of sweatpants. “Let me go scare whoever it is away.”
“Is the gun necessary?” she whispered.
“It’s just to let them know to back off. You better get used to it because I’m not letting anyone near you again.”
She rolled her eyes, but I tucked the gun into the back of my waistband anyway and headed for the door. Peeking out, I expected a mob of reporters or Sam himself. Instead, I saw my entire family, with West leading the charge.
“What the fuck?” I yelled, yanking the door open. “I almost shot you.”
“That would’ve been a shame, considering I owe you a new boat,” West said dryly, strolling inside. Grams and Gramps were right behind him, followed by Easton and Jesse.
“Well,” Grams declared, throwing her hands in the air, “where is she?”
“Grams,” I sighed, “how do you even know she’s here?”
“Do you seriously think your captain bailing you out of jail in Chattanooga wasn’t going to spread through town like wildfire?” Easton laughed.
“So the whole town knows she’s here?” I groaned.
“I didn’t say that,” Easton said. “But we can put two and two together. Hard to believe you’d come back here without your girl.”
“So, where is she?” Gramps asked.
“I’m right here,” Loxley said, stepping into view with a bright smile. “He caught me again.”