Chapter 15
Sounds like you do, Sue
Clay
I march across the bedroom, closing the gap between us in three long strides before I have her face in my hands. My thumbs press into her jawline, tilting her face up toward mine.
“Are you sure?” My voice comes out rough, gravel in my throat, my body vibrating with the sheer need I feel for her. She nods, and that’s all it takes for me to snap. One last look into her eyes, and I crash my mouth into hers.
She surges into me with an intensity I feel burning me from the inside out. She’s so fucking beautiful, so fucking perfect. Her hands glide over the stubble on my face before sliding back to sink into my hair. I moan when her fingernails scrape my scalp.
I’m fucking lost to her. Gone. Died and found myself in heaven.
Kissing Leni feels like taking my first real breath in years.
She’s the feast after a famine. An oasis in the desert.
She is life itself, breathing oxygen into my starving lungs.
I want her like I’ve never wanted anything in my entire life. She—this—is everything.
My right hand slips into her hair, fisting it, taking the kiss deeper.
She gasps, her lips parting enough for me to sweep my tongue inside.
Without hesitation, her tongue meets mine stroke for stroke, like she needs me just as bad.
As if she wants this as much as I do. She arches into me, the front of her body pressing into mine, rubbing against me as my left hand drops to her lower back.
Hauling her even closer, wishing there was nothing between us.
No space. No clothes. No past full of wasted time and second-guessing.
Leni pulls away, and I groan, holding myself back. Big green eyes look up at me through her dark lashes, her soft, pillowy lips curving into a smile.
“Hi,” she whispers, her hands slipping from my hair to rest on my chest.
“Hey, pretty girl.” I smooth her hair back, tucking wild strands behind her ears. Bouncing my eyes between hers, I keep one hand on her face, the other on her hip.“You’re so fucking beautiful.”
Her cheeks are already flushed from the kiss. She turns away, hiding her embarrassment, teeth sinking into that juicy bottom lip of hers. I want her mouth back on mine, fingers in my hair. As if she can hear my thoughts, she glances at me, fire in her eyes. The twin flame to mine.
“Kiss me again.” She steps onto her tiptoes, her hands sliding up my chest and around the back of my neck, pulling me into her.
“Yes, ma’am,” I breathe into her mouth. Her lips part, body arching into mine.
This kiss is slower, more intentional. I take my time, memorizing every hitch in her breath, every gasp and moan as I explore her.
My hands take on a mind of their own, wandering down her sides, over her hips, exploring every inch of her they can reach.
I grab her ass with both hands, squeezing hard enough to make her squeal.
“Fuck,” she giggles, her voice breathy and light.
“Yeah,” I mutter, my lips brushing hers again.
“Go.” She gives me a nudge. The motion is so halfhearted, I’m not sure she means it. “Go shower.”
“You gonna be here when I’m done?” I don’t ask her what I want; I’m not sure if I’m ready to know if she regrets kissing me.
“Where would I go?”
“I don’t know, just…don’t.”
Her lips quirk into an amused smile, eyes dancing with humor. “I’m not going anywhere, Cowboy. Are you going to go in there and overthink this?”
“Probably,” I admit. My thoughts are already swirling with a million questions. A million reasons why that kiss was a bad idea. And why it can’t happen again.
“Hmm.” She settles back onto flat feet, taking a step back. Her hand still resting on my chest, an index finger tapping on my pec, as her eyes turn toward me, concern written across her features. “I won’t chase you again. If you want me, you’re going to have to prove it.”
I cover her hand with my own, running my thumb up and down her index finger. “Yes, ma’am.” Picking her hand off my chest, I bring her finger to my mouth, pressing the tip to my lips.
“Now be a good boy and go take a shower so we can go to bed.”
Leni Kane, standing in her bedroom and using the phrase “good boy,” is downright diabolical. My dick twitches in my jeans, bringing my attention down to the uncomfortably hard erection I’m sporting. Her gaze shifts down. A smirk plays on that sinful little mouth of hers when our eyes meet again.
“Take your time.” She winks, turning around to give me an eyeful of her perfectly shaped ass before she disappears down the stairs.
Well fuck.
I wake up feeling heavy...literally. Somehow, Leni ended up nearly on top of me; her left leg draped across my midsection while her upper body practically covers my chest. Soft brown waves tickle my chin, and if my alarm wasn’t blaring, I’d take the extra time to lie here and savor the way her body feels on mine.
She stirs, grumbling about the noise as the obnoxious ringtone continues to get louder.
We’re in the middle of the bed, too far away for me to reach my phone. I slip out from beneath her. “No,” she grumbles, blindly reaching for me as I get out of bed. “Come back, you’re warm.”
I chuckle as I silence the alarm and lean forward, kneeling on the bed next to her. I plan to kiss her temple, like I did yesterday, only Leni has plans of her own. When I’m close enough to kiss her, she flips herself over and grabs my face, pulling my lips onto hers.
Goddamn, this woman can kiss. The second my lips open, she takes control, exploring my mouth, pulling my body closer as she surges up to meet me. I’m off balance, barely managing to straddle her body with my limbs, so I don’t end up crushing her.
Warm hands slide beneath my shirt, her skin searing mine as she traces them around my chest, then down my abs. My cock jumps, growing harder as her fingers get closer to my waistband. I groan, nearly coming in my pants when she crooks her leg and rubs her knee into my groin.
“Fuck,” I breathe into her mouth, lips brushing hers when I do.
“Have a good day at work,” she says in such a sweet voice. Her eyes look anything but innocent and sweet right now.
“You’re going to kill me,” I mutter.
She leans forward, pecking me on the lips one more time before she sinks back into bed. “Hopefully not any time soon, Cowboy. There are things I’d like to do to you first.”
I groan into her collarbone. My dick’s practically weeping in my pants. “So mean,” I whisper.
“I think you’ll survive. Now get. I’m going back to sleep.”
I shake my head into her shoulder, stopping to press a kiss to the hollow of her neck. “There’s no surviving you, Leni girl.” I wink, push off the bed, and make my way to the bathroom and get myself ready for work.
I call dispatch from my truck and clock in on my phone, debating if I’m going into the office or if I’ll start patrolling right away instead.
Mercer still wouldn’t look at me yesterday, and I don’t feel like continuing the silent treatment at work.
On the other hand, I should go talk to him and make him work this shit out.
I don’t like being on the outs with my best friend.
I came back here to set things right, not let our relationships get rocky.
Fuck. I try to clear my head of all things Leni as I make my way into the Hillcreek Courthouse. I don’t need to lay all my cards out on the table for the boys, but I do need to settle things with Mercer so we can get back to normal.
I scan my badge to let myself into the Sheriff’s office.
Removing my hat, I send a wink to Miss Patsy, who, despite being nearly sixty years old, blushes like a schoolgirl whenever a deputy smiles at her.
I head for the break room when I hear Mercer call my name.
He’s across the hall with Deputy Nathan Clark, his other best friend.
He doesn’t wave me over, so I wait until he’s done.
“My office,” Mercer mutters as he shuffles past me.
I follow behind him, biting back a “yes sir.” Automatic from my time in the corps, but dripping with sarcasm, I’ve seen Mercer get stuck in a tunnel slide at the park.
It’s hard to take him seriously. “Sit,” he commands when we enter, walking around his desk to take his seat on the other side.
I do as I’m told, putting my cowboy hat on my knee, trying not to let my leg bounce.
I knew he’d have things to say; knew he’d be mad at me.
I’m a big boy. I can take a little verbal sparring from my boss.
..I think. Mercer taps his fingers on the desk before pulling something out of his shirt pocket. He tosses it down onto the surface.
It’s a photograph. But not just any photograph.
It shows Leni’s soft brown waves, her ears, her neck, but her face?
My stomach churns. My hand balls into a fist as I struggle to swallow the rage threatening to spill out.
One eye is swollen shut, hair in disarray, the other eye wide, wild.
Her lips are split, the bottom one torn, a bruise blooming across one cheek, the other cheek sliced open as well.
“Did you do that to her?”
My head snaps up, eyes searching his in disbelief. “The fuck did you just ask me?”
“Did you...” He leans forward, pushing up from his chair, looking down at me with the wrath of God on his face. “Do that?” His finger jabs at the photo of Leni. My whole body coils underneath me as I let the weight of his question sink in.
“Are you serious? Do you really think I could—”
“Answer the goddamn question, Traeger. Did you do that to my sister?”
“No! Jesus, Mercer.”
Mercer flops back into his chair, his shoulders slumping as he breathes out a harsh breath. One hand scrubs down his jaw as his gaze settles on me, the friend I’ve known since junior high, finally peeking through.
“Do you seriously think I could have done something like that?”
“You?” He quirks an eyebrow. “Hell no. Twenty-one-year-old you with an axe to grind and night terrors plaguing you…I don’t know, Clay. Felt like shit to ask.”
“Damn right it did, you asshole. I would never lay a hand on her.” My teeth grind together, fingertips digging into my jeans, temper barely at bay.
He sighs, resting his elbows on the desk, head in his hands. “I know—I know that. Fuck. Why did she lie, though? It was messed up enough that she lied about where she was, but to lie about finding you?”
“I don’t know, Merc. Maybe she thought she was protecting me. She was there to help me. I don’t think that desire changed after I scared her.”
“You didn’t hurt her?”
I look down at my hands, trying to shake the image of my fist buried in the drywall, inches from where Leni’s head had been. “I was rough,” I sigh. “More than I should have been, but I swear to God, Mercer, I’d rip my own heart out before I ever did that to her. Or anyone.”
He nods. His eyes still holding some of that heat. The Kane boys are fiercely protective of their loved ones, and none more than Leni. There wasn’t a boy in town who broke her heart and got away with it. They were lucky if they only ran into one brother, much less the pack of them.
“No more secrets.” He jabs a hand my way. I flinch. “Motherfucker, you’re hiding something else! What is it?”
I shake my head, rising from my chair because if I stay, and he keeps talking, I will tell him everything, and there are some things that aren’t mine to tell.
“Sit your ass back down!” he hollers from behind me. “Clayton Sue Traeger! Tell me your secrets!” He’s screaming as I make my way out of the office. Deputy Clark quirks an eyebrow as I pass.
“Don’t have a middle name.” I grin.
“Sounds like you do,” he grunts. He’s quiet, more reserved, like Brooks.
A couple of years younger than Mercer and me, and probably closer to Toby’s age.
I don’t know that much about him, but I know Mercer has mentored him.
I know he plays one hell of a poker game.
Last time we played, he cleaned house. Toby was furious.
“Nah, the Kane boys didn’t like that they all got triple-named, and I never did. They gave it to me.”
“Like I said.” He gives me a wicked grin. “Sounds like you do, Sue.”
“Fucking goddamn it,” I curse as I get into my cruiser. My phone vibrates in my pocket.
Mercer
I swear to God
if I have to camp outside the cabin to learn your secrets…I will
You have to have better things to do with your time
Sheriff
Mercer
I. Don’t. Like. Secrets
Yea well I don’t like nosy little bitches
Mercer
Watch it. Or I’ll take this to the group chat.
I’ll get there Merc. There are some things I know that aren’t mine to share
Mercer
Fine. Have your secrets.
Let them eat you alive
*evil laugh*
asshole.