Chapter 5 #2
“Linc and the Coast Guard searched until around ten last night. They were planning to resume the search in the Salt Pond at first light. We believe they were probably on Billy’s boat, so they might’ve tried to swim to shore when the boat sank. Might’ve been drinking…”
Blaine’s deep sigh was loud and clear.
“I can’t imagine how tough this is on his family and yours. We’re doing everything we can to find them.”
“I know. Thank you, and I’m sorry I woke you. I wasn’t even thinking about what time it was.”
“No worries. I need to get going anyway. Not sure which is worse, the storm prep or the cleanup.”
“Definitely the cleanup. What’re you hearing about Jeff and Kelsey?”
“Both are on the mend. He’s got a stint in rehab ahead of him before they can return to the island, but he should make a full recovery.”
“Thank goodness for that.”
“Indeed. I’ll never forget the sight of that barn collapsed on them.”
“Me either.”
“All right, I’ll let you get to work. I’m sticking close to home for now but call if you need me. My team is available for anything you need.”
“Will do. Please tell Tiffany that Jordan and I are thinking of her and Ashleigh.”
“That’ll mean a lot to her. Thanks.”
Mason ended the call, thinking about how weird it must be for Tiffany to be upset about Sturgil being missing when he’d been such a dick to her.
He headed for the shower, still pondering the mysteries of love and grief and hoping for Tiffany and Ashleigh’s sake that Sturgil was found alive.
But the longer he was missing, the less likely that became.
Even if he was a dick, he wouldn’t make his loved ones suffer this way.
He turned on the shower and was grateful for hot water. Power had been spotty since it returned over the weekend, so he never knew what to expect.
Mason turned his face up to the hot water and tried to relax muscles gone rigid with stress over the last few tumultuous weeks. Having their island under assault by Mother Nature had taken it out of him and everyone else who worked in public safety.
Because his eyes were closed, he had no warning before Jordan’s warm, sexy body was pressed against his back. Just that quickly, he wanted her. “What’re you doing up so early?”
“I wanted to see you before you leave.”
“I’m glad you did.” He moved carefully to turn to face her, wrapping his arms around her and holding her close. “Best way to start the day.”
“Mmm, for sure.”
“How’re you feeling?”
“Not nauseated for once.”
“I’m glad.” He hated how difficult her pregnancy had been so far and wished he could do something to ease her burden. “I hate when you feel shitty.”
“I do, too.” She looked up at him with the eyes that had captivated him from the first time he ever saw her—after saving her life. Then she’d turned right around and saved his. “But I’m not feeling shitty now.” She slid her hand down his chest and curled it around his straining erection.
His legs went weak under him as she stroked him and kissed his chest. “Jord… Uh…”
Her giggle echoed off the shower walls.
“Are you laughing at me?”
“Maybe a little.”
He put his arm around her and lifted her, pressing her back against the wall.
She batted her eyelashes at him. “Whatever is happening, Chief?” she asked in the coy tone that drove him wild.
Hell, she drove him wild simply by breathing.
He pressed his cock against her heat. “This is happening.”
“Yes, please.”
Everything about her did it for him, from the way she looked at him with pure adoration to her silky soft skin to the lips that skimmed over his neck, setting him on fire, to the tight fit that required him to go slowly so he wouldn’t hurt her.
He loved her madly, passionately, eternally.
She curled her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist as they moved together in the sort of perfect harmony that had eluded him before he found her. Now, his whole life was perfect, and it was because of her.
“Jord…”
She gasped. “Right there with you.”
He pushed into her and held on tightly as they hit the peak together, which was another thing that’d never happened to him before her.
For a long time afterward, they stayed where they were, joined and breathing the same air before he carefully withdrew and put her down.
“Nice way to start the day,” she said as she snuggled up to him under the warm spray.
“Best way ever.”
They took turns washing each other, which had him hard and ready for round two in a matter of minutes.
“You’re insatiable,” she said, laughing.
“Only with you.”
“Better be only with me.”
“Who else could I possibly want if I have a goddess like you at home?”
“That’s a good point.”
He adored the curvier body and fuller cheeks that had come with pregnancy, but he didn’t dare say so because he knew she was sensitive about her changing shape.
As they left the shower and wrapped up in towels, she looked back over her shoulder and caught him staring at her. “What?”
“You.”
“What about me?”
To hell with it. “You’re always sexy, but pregnant sexy is a whole other level.”
“No way.”
“Way.”
“How can that be? I’m huge.”
“No, you’re beautiful.”
“You have to say that. You did this to me.”
“I did, and I can’t wait to do it again.”
“Easy, stud. Let’s see how this one goes.”
“So far, it’s going great from my perspective. My baby mama is the sexiest baby mama on the planet.”
“We need to get your eyes examined.”
He gave her a playful pat on the rear. “My vision is perfect, and I like what I see.”
“Well, thank goodness for that, because anyone else would’ve sold me back to the aquarium by now. Whales are a big draw, you know.”
“Stop that.”
She turned to him, brow raised, unaccustomed to such a sharp tone from him.
“I don’t like to hear you saying stuff like that about yourself. If you could see you the way I do, you wouldn’t be thinking about aquariums.”
She came to him and flattened her hands on his bare chest. “Thanks for the ego boost.”
“I didn’t mean to snap at you.”
“You didn’t. You snapped me out of my prego pity party.”
“Please don’t be down on yourself. You’re growing a baby human in there. When I tell you you’re a goddess, I’m not just saying that.”
“I know and thank you for the kind words. I’m used to looking a certain way. Pregnancy has been a bit jarring.”
“As far as I’m concerned, you’re even more beautiful pregnant, and I wouldn’t have thought it was possible for you to be more beautiful than you already were.”
“You’re very good for the baby mama’s self-esteem.”
“Any time you need a reminder, let me know.” He kissed her and went to get ready for another long day of searching for the missing men and other hurricane cleanup. “Will you be okay by yourself today?”
“I’m going to Eastward Look to hang out with Nikki since the Wayfarer is still closed.
” Her identical twin sister was the general manager of the beachfront venue the McCarthys had restored and reopened last year.
They’d continued to have power issues that kept them closed after the rest of the island had reopened.
“Be careful on the roads. Still lots of downed trees and other junk.”
“I’m always careful.”
“How about I give you a ride there when you’re ready?”
“You don’t need to do that.”
“What if it would make me feel less anxious all day?”
She tipped her head, calling him out on the manipulative phrasing. “I can’t have you wound up in knots all day, so I’ll allow you to get away with being pushy just this once.”
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
Smiling, he came over to kiss her before he left. “Text me when you’re ready.”
“Love you, even when you’re overbearing and manipulative.”
“Love you all the time, every second of every minute of every day.”
“Nice recovery, Chief.”
“See you soon.”
“I’ll be here.”
Mason drove away in his department SUV, smiling the way he did most of the time since Jordan had come into his life in the most dramatic way possible.
She’d turned his life completely upside down, which was fine with him.
He’d never been happier than he was with her, and he knew she felt the same way about him.
They needed to get serious about planning their wedding as soon as they got past Nikki’s big day in November.
On the way into town, he drove around massive puddles and crews working to remove the debris that continued to come ashore since the storm.
As soon as things calmed down a bit with storm cleanup and the search for the missing men, they would start making plans for their own big day.