Chapter 12 #2
“It’s okay,” Logan said from between them. “I’ve heard bad words before. That guy at the door said a lot of them. I don’t know what some of them meant, but it was obvious they weren’t nice.”
Riley bowed her head and sighed. One more thing she regretted.
Then Porter’s hand was on her cheek. “Look at me, Ri,” he ordered.
She opened her eyes and looked up into Porter’s. The gray was a lot less stormy now than a few minutes ago. “I don’t want you anywhere near that guy.”
“I know, but maybe I can convince him I really don’t have his stuff,” she told him.
Porter pressed his lips together. “He’s gonna believe whatever he wants. Seeing you, especially right now, isn’t a good idea. But you’re gonna have to give a statement to the cops.”
“Okay,” she agreed.
Porter looked down at Logan. “Slugger?”
“Yeah?” Logan said.
“Good job on getting both you and Riley to safety. I walked right through this room and didn’t even think about looking behind the couch.”
Instead of looking proud of himself, Logan simply looked upset as he nodded.
Riley wanted to know what that was about, but someone cleared their throat in the doorway.
Porter moved faster than she’d ever seen him move before. He put himself in front of her and Logan, between them and the person at the door. But it was merely a police officer, not Miles or someone who might be a threat.
“It looks like you found them,” the officer told Porter.
“Yeah, they’re good,” Porter said.
“We’re gonna need a statement.”
Riley nodded and took a deep breath. She tried to step around Porter but he stopped her by putting an arm around her waist. Looking down at her, he said, “If you need more time, it’s fine.”
“No, I’m okay. I really just want to get this done so we can relax. I was looking forward to tonight.”
“Me too,” Porter whispered. Then he kissed her forehead and nodded at the officer.
The next hour was spent telling two different police officers what had happened, including her history with Miles.
They asked if they could look through her apartment for the game Miles was apparently still bitching about, and she agreed.
She had nothing to hide, especially not his ridiculous game.
She told the officers she was willing to give Miles fifty bucks to buy a new one, but Porter told her under no circumstances was she giving her ex even one penny.
By the time Porter closed his door behind the last officer, Riley could barely keep her eyes open.
“Come on,” Porter told her.
She followed him without comment as he towed her into his room, then to his bathroom. He turned on the water in the tub and, when it got warm, put the stopper in. He squirted a healthy amount of his body wash under the stream before turning to her.
“I know it’s not a fancy Jacuzzi tub, and it’s not one of those super-deep luxury jobs, but I think you need a nice, long, hot soak.”
Her eyes watered. She couldn’t ever remember a time when she’d been pampered like this.
He took her face in his hands and tilted it up. “I was so scared when I couldn’t find you. I think tonight took ten years off my life.”
“Mine too,” she admitted.
“You relax. I’m gonna sit with Logan for a while and make sure he’s okay.”
“He said he’d already scoped out that hiding place. I bet he even tried it out, to make sure he’d fit,” Riley told Porter.
He frowned. “I’ll talk to him. Will you stay tonight? Not for sex…I just…I want to hold you. Prove to myself that you’re all right.”
“I’d like that,” she said. And she would. She could take a bath in her own apartment, but she liked being here with Porter and Logan. And the thought of sleeping in Porter’s bed with him was too enticing.
Porter leaned down, and she went up on her tiptoes.
The kiss they shared was intimate and gentle instead of passionate and explosive.
It was as if Porter knew she needed soft right now.
She hated that she’d brought danger to his doorstep, and that Logan could’ve gotten hurt because of her.
The cops had told her that they thought Miles finally believed his game wasn’t in her apartment, but she had no idea if that would keep him away.
He’d been over-the-top pissed tonight—and it scared the shit out of her.
Pushing that thought away, she brought herself back to the moment.
To Porter’s lips on hers. He eased away from her and ran a hand through her hair.
“I’ll put one of my T-shirts on the bed for you.
I have no doubt it’ll cover you all the way to your knees.
But if you want something from your place, just let me know, and I’ll run over and get it. ”
He was always so sweet to her. “Your shirt is fine.” Riley had a feeling once she put his shirt over her head, she wasn’t going to want to give it back.
Even if nothing ever happened between them, which she doubted would be the case, she wanted something to remember this moment.
How cherished she felt. How wanted and cared for.
“Take your time in the bath,” he ordered before stepping away from her. He closed the bathroom door, and she closed her eyes and sighed, backing up to the counter and holding onto it with her hands as she leaned her ass against it.
Tonight had been bad. Scary. She’d planned on sleeping with Porter, but not sleeping sleeping. Though she couldn’t deny the thought of cuddling up with him and falling asleep in his arms wasn’t immensely appealing.
Riley had no idea how long she was in the bathtub, but she felt much steadier when she finally climbed out.
Better yet, she smelled like Porter. She cracked open the bathroom door with only a towel around her and saw the room was empty.
She grabbed the T-shirt Porter had left for her on the bed and scurried back to the bathroom.
She was more than ready to make love with Porter, but not as anxious for him to see her in all her naked glory just yet.
She put the T-shirt over her head and smirked at how it did indeed cover her almost down to her knees. She brushed her teeth and hair, then headed for the door. She wanted to lie down, but first, she’d make sure Porter knew she was out of the bathtub and decent.
She headed for the living room—and stopped when she looked inside Logan’s bedroom.
Porter was sitting on the floor, staring at Logan, who was sound asleep on his bed.
“Porter?” she whispered.
He looked up and immediately stood. The heat in his eyes almost scorched her as he took her in from head to toe.
“Is he okay?”
Porter nodded and left the room, pulling the door almost shut. Then he put his hand on the small of her back and walked with her back to his room.
Once they were inside, he closed his own door almost all the way, leaving it open about four inches, then finally spoke.
“I just…once he fell asleep, I couldn’t leave.
I love that kid so much, and I hate that I missed out on years with him.
He told me tonight that he hates his school.
That there’s a group of kids in his class who are mean, not just to him, but to nearly everyone.
I’m thrilled he finally opened up, but I hate that I can’t do more to help him. ”
“I think tonight showed him that he could rely on you to be there when he needs you,” Riley said.
“Yeah, I guess. But I think he’s still keeping stuff from me.”
“Porter, he’s not going to tell you every little thing that’s bothering him. You have to give him more time,” Riley said gently.
“I know, but it still tears me up to feel like he’s hiding something.”
Riley realized she wasn’t the only one who needed pampering tonight. Porter had recently gotten back from a mission, which had to have been stressful, and now he had a kid to look after. Tonight had scared him, he’d admitted it earlier, so he needed her to be there for him just as she’d needed him.
“Go change,” she ordered. “Then come to bed.”
He smiled tiredly. “Any other night, those words would have me immediately sporting a hard-on.”
“It’s a good thing we already decided we weren’t going there tonight then, isn’t it?” Riley said.
“I’m glad you’re here. And that you’re all right,” Porter told her.
“Me too. Now go. I’ll get the lights.”
He nodded, then turned and headed for the bathroom.
Riley turned off the overhead light and climbed under the covers. It didn’t take long for Porter to finish up and join her. She caught a glimpse of his wide shoulders, a smidgen of chest hair, and long, muscular legs before he lifted the sheet.
Then she was in his arms. His skin was warm and smooth, and while she knew she should feel shy, being with him simply felt right. The shirt she was wearing drifted up her leg as she turned into him and hitched up her knee, resting it against his thigh.
He sighed deeply, and Riley felt the tension seep out of his body. This was what she needed. What they both needed. She didn’t feel awkward, wasn’t worried about what she should be doing or how she touched him. They were simply two adults soaking each other in.
“You smell like me,” he murmured.
“I know.”
“I like it better when you smell like you,” he told her.
Riley smiled. “Noted.”
A minute went by where neither of them spoke. Then Porter said, “I like this. A lot.”
“Me too.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t get home earlier.”
“Uh-uh,” she scolded. “Miles was gonna do what Miles was gonna do, no matter what. It’s done. I’m okay. Logan’s okay. You’re okay. We’re moving on.”
She felt Porter smile against her hair. “All right, Ri.”
“What’s on tap for tomorrow?” she asked.
“I’ve got more meetings to wrap up the mission we just got back from.
I need to deal with Logan’s school, because if he’s unhappy, I gotta see what I can do to fix that.
I’m about done trying to deal with the red tape about any stuff Logan might have left at Becky’s place.
I hate it, but he doesn’t seem to really miss anything he might’ve had from before, so I’m going to move on with that.
I also want to update my family care plan and get you listed as the person Logan will stay with when I get deployed again… if you’re okay with that?”
“Of course I am. He’s easy. It’s not a hardship to be with him when you’re not here, Porter.”
“I just don’t want you to think he’s the only reason I want to be with you. I’d want you even if he wasn’t in the picture.”
“I know. It’s weird that not too long ago, I was ready to be done with men for a very long time. Then I met you and Logan. Now I can’t imagine not seeing you guys every day.”
“Do you regret how fast we’re moving?” he asked.
“No.” And she didn’t. Porter was so different from anyone she’d ever dated, it wasn’t even funny. She’d be a fool to put the brakes on when she was happier than she’d ever been.
“How’s your job going? Are we putting a crimp in your time?”
“No. I’m good,” Riley told him, pleased that he’d asked. “I haven’t really changed how many hours a day I work, I just work different hours now. It’s nice to put my computer and headphones away in the afternoons and just chill with Logan, and you when you get home.”
“Good. The last thing I want is for either of us to mess with your livelihood.”
And that was just another reason why she was head over heels for the man in her arms.
Neither said anything else, and Riley loved the feel of Porter’s fingers at the small of her back. He absently caressed her as he held her against him. Eventually, he relaxed completely under her, and Riley realized that he’d fallen asleep.
Smiling as she heard his deep breathing—that wasn’t quite snores, but definitely not exactly quiet—she closed her eyes herself.
She supposed some women might be annoyed by the noise he was making, but it made Riley feel not quite so alone.
Like Logan, she liked knowing he was right there, just in case.