CHAPTER ELEVEN
– ELODIE –
“It’s called saving water. Great for the environment and shit,” Murray states and smacks my ass when I bend over to towel dry my leg.
There’s a huge smile on my face and a sense of serenity inside my chest. Even with the information we gained yesterday, everything suddenly doesn’t feel like pending doom.
I do realize there are still high risks hanging above our heads.
The biggest one above mine with Nolan wanting revenge because I killed his father.
And who knows what Royce is still planning behind everyone’s back.
Though, having a boyfriend rips open so many possibilities. I suddenly have new goals along with special cravings, and it gives my life the boost I need to feel lighter. To push through bad memories, leaving them in the past to focus on new and exhilarating things.
Giving Murray a sassy smile, I tell him, “Great for us too. Getting clean, dirty, and clean again.”
“Massive orgasms aren’t dirty, sweetheart.” He shoots me a wink and I can literally feel my heart jump inside my chest.
Either he doesn’t know how sexy he is with his rugged beard, wet strands of hair along his face, and drops of water sliding down his muscled chest..
.or he knows and is taking full advantage.
Either way, I really don’t care. He’s all mine and the way I feel is a complete one-eighty of my life before he swooped in to protect me.
I roll my eyes in reply to his statement and reach for my clean clothes.
After the sex yesterday, we both fell asleep and didn’t wake up until early this morning.
The fishing trip, being outside, the rough discussions, along with the sex afterward completely drained us.
Waking up early, energy pumping through our veins had us kicking off the day with a fresh round of shower sex.
Another whole new experience for me. Which leads to right now; getting dressed.
My stomach rumbles when I state, “I’ll whip up some breakfast if you make a pot of coffee.”
Murray opens the bedroom door and I hear Ballard state, “I already made coffee. I would sure like some breakfast too.”
I can feel my eyes widen. Shit. If he heard me ask Murray to make coffee...then he definitely heard us having sex. More than once.
As if the man can read my thoughts, or my wide-eyed shocked face, he smirks and says, “Thin walls.”
Annoyance hits me while I can feel my cheeks heat. Screw him and the need to embarrass me, all while being intimate with Murray has brought our relationship to a whole new level.
It’s why I snap, “This is our place, you’re our guest, and a grown man. There’s no need to protect your virgin ears.”
Murray places a hand on my hip and I can feel how he places a kiss on the top of my head. “Damn right.”
He stalks to Ballard and punches him in the shoulder. “Next time keep your mouth shut or I’ll knock your damn teeth out. I won’t share my woman and don’t like a reminder of you hearing the sounds I cause. Those are mine too and meant for my ears only. Got it?”
“How the hell can you be protective of the sound your woman makes? That’s just...” Ballard cuts off his words when Murray glares at him.
Ballard sighs, “Got it.”
I move into the kitchen to hide my smile. Murray’s reaction totally obliterated the awkward situation. My chest fills with warmth from his protective ways, making me feel adored, cherished, and special.
There’s barely any coffee left and it makes me wonder, “How much coffee did you have? Or have you been up for a few hours?”
“I didn’t sleep.” Ballard shrugs. “When I started researching shit I fell down a rabbit hole and before I knew it the sun came up. Oh, and I already walked your dog twice. You’re welcome.
Also, don’t think it automatically means I’d watch any kids you two throw into this world.
There’s a difference between watching a living thing poop and wiping butts. ”
“Don’t call my dog or any of my future kids things, Ballard,” Murray grumbles and bumps his hip against mine.
“I’ll make us some new coffee while you handle breakfast. Don’t make Ballard any, the fucker pisses me off.
” He turns to Ballard. “And no more coffee for you either. You sound like you’re bouncing on caffeine. ”
I chuckle and check the fridge to grab everything I need.
Then I remember something Jaxie told me. “Oh, did Seamus mention the fact that they turned you protecting me into an official assignment?”
“No.” Murray frowns. “This has been my own time off, which I already had planned due to Ruby. Shit. I still have to call Lisa back.”
“I heard,” Ballard rumbles. “They put you on the payroll to make it official. Jaxie didn’t want you to get any backlash from it, or issues with the company if you’re taking side jobs.
It might raise questions and it’s also to keep business and pleasure separate.
Though, I guess you two failed to keep it business, but those sounds last.. .”
“Think before you finish that sentence,” Murray growls at Ballard. “And why are you suddenly in a good mood? Making jokes and shit while you were a grumpy ass ready to kill Royce with your bare hands last night. Not to mention, drinking his daughter’s blood along with it.”
Ballard winces and I swear he mutters, “I’d rather drink from her pussy.”
I throw a quick glance over my shoulder. “What was that?”
Murray sighs. “Please tell me you don’t have the hots for the new deputy sheriff.”
“Then I won’t. I will tell you, however, that I’ve already talked to Seamus this morning.
They gave the file with documents to Orson, and Seamus thinks he’s on our side.
They’ll be swinging by any minute, and Orson mentioned his new deputy will come here as well.
She wants to talk to all of us individually. ” Ballard waggles his eyes.
“Cut that shit out,” Murray grunts. “You’re not sticking your dick in Royce’s daughter, who happens to be a deputy sheriff in town.
If she’s not linked with her father’s shit than we still have to work with her on a regular basis.
..if Royce doesn’t fuck Stalwart Ridge Security up for everyone.
And again, why did you change your mind about her? ”
I divide the scrambled eggs onto three plates, even if Murray didn’t want Ballard to have breakfast, and reach for the toast.
“Everything I found about Helena Elden, which was a lot, makes me believe she hardly had any contact with him. He didn’t even raise her because she lived with her parents in California when she was little.
Royce’s cabin was listed by a real estate company and it was a closed bidding.
Doesn’t mean Royce didn’t explicitly pick her, but.
..” Ballard shrugs. “Anyway, she had a life in a different state, miles between Royce and her half-sister.”
I place a plate in front of Ballard and wonder our loud, “Then why would she suddenly switch jobs and states to move and work here?”
Ballard grabs the laptop and flips through a few scenes until an online article appears. The headline alone makes me wince.
“Fuck, that’s rough,” Murray remarks.
I bob my head in agreement while quickly scanning the article. Helena was working a serial killer case and was kidnapped and held captive for three days before they found her.
“No wonder she moved to a small town in another state,” I mutter. “Starting somewhere new while still working law enforcement is what she needs.”
Ballard scrolls down to a photograph of Helena, taken by a photographer from a distance right after she was saved. Her long hair is drenched with blood, a blanket covering her while she’s standing barefoot on the asphalt.
“What a stunner, right? Even after she went through hell.”
Murray slams the laptop shut. “I’d smack you upside the head, but I think you have enough brain damage already.
Like I said, you keep your dick away from her, okay?
Fuck, man...from all the shit you read you think she’s not working with Royce.
So, damn well assume the woman wants to focus on herself by moving here instead of being hit on by a horny fucker. ”
“Listen to Murray or I’ll kick you in the balls myself,” I grumble and take his plate away. “Murray was right, you don’t deserve breakfast.”
Murray chuckles and takes his own plate, along with mine to the table.
Ballard reaches for the plate in my hands. “Hey now, I won’t go after her, okay? Besides, she probably doesn’t want to fuck after spending time with a serial killer. Who knows what that fucker did to her. Come on, lemme have breakfast. I’m hungry as hell.”
I don’t like the way he rambled out the harsh things about Helena, but at least he acknowledges the fact this woman doesn’t need a guy lusting after her.
“Fine,” I huff and let him have it.
We eat in comfortable silence for a few minutes. Hank is sitting beside my chair and once I’m done, I give him the tiny piece of egg I saved for him.
“Don’t spoil him,” Murray tells me with a smile.
I let my hand glide over Hank’s head. “He’s a good boy and deserved a small treat.”
Murray gets to his feet and takes his plate along with mine when someone pounds his fist on the door.
Ballard jumps up. “I’ll get it.”
I snort and mutter, “So much for not obsessing over Helena. Okay, the way she’s pounding on the door does give the impression she can handle herself.”
“Maybe it’s Seamus,” Murray says, and we both turn to watch Ballard open the door.
It’s neither Seamus nor Helena, and the shock of watching blood spray makes my scream a terrifying silent one.