I start laughing.
“A bit heavy on the drama, don’t you think?” I tease.
“Me, drama? Fuck, man. I thought that was your department, judging from your Romeo interpretations, including that near death scene the other night,” he fires back.
I shake my head, but I do it chuckling. It was only a matter of time before the ribbing started. Instead of feeding into it I change the topic.
“You ride?”
“What kind of stupid question is that? Of course I ride. It’s just been a while.”
“You should come out some time. Couple of nice trails down by the river. And don’t worry, I’ll take it easy on you. I’ve got this sweet, docile mare that would be just perfect for you.”
Blackfoot has one of those faces that’s almost impossible to read, but finally he gives in to a grin.
“Fuck you too, Rookie.”
Then he claps my shoulder and walks to his car.
Meredith is waiting inside the door, worry on her face.
“Everything okay?”
I wrap my arms around her, pulling her soft body flush to mine.
“It’s all good. Just a little bonding with my partner.”
Her hands slide up my chest and around my neck.
“Bonding, huh?”
“Mmm.” I roll my hips so she can feel the effect she has on me. “I have another kind of bonding in mind with you.”
She opens her mouth with what I’m willing to bet will be a reminder I’m still recovering, so I shut her up with a kiss and don’t let up until I feel her nails digging into my skin.
“You can take the lead.”
Her face is flushed and her eyes smoldering when she puts her teeth in her bottom lip.
“Okay,” she whispers.
Then she slips from my arms and takes my hand, leading me down the hall.
Chapter 30
Meredith
He throws his head back, his face a grimace and the tendons of his arched neck pronounced with strain.
His arms keep my legs spread wide, as he powers inside me, his rhythm faltering until he comes on a deep groan.
“Ahh, Merry,” he mumbles, dropping his head to my shoulder as he lets go of my legs.
He made me come twice already, but still my fingers dig into the muscles of his ass, trying to keep him rooted deep inside with his weight covering me. I like feeling his cock soften and eventually slipping from my body naturally.
I crave the connection, this feeling of being anchored to him while both of us float on the afterglow. It feels solid. Safe.
“I love you.”
The words are rusty and for a moment I think maybe he didn’t hear me, but then he lifts his head. His eyes change from their bright blue to the dark indigo of a clear night.
“Now I’m gonna have to fuck you again,” he growls, already hardening while still inside me.
This time he moves slowly, his touch tender as his eyes stay locked on mine. Both still sensitive, it doesn’t take long for a climax to roll over me. Not as explosive as earlier, but languid and delicious, wracking my body with bone-deep shudders.
“Stay,” he mutters when my alarm goes off.
“I can’t. I need to drop the animals home and get to work.”
I was supposed to have gone home yesterday, but he managed to convince me to stay one more night.
It’s been almost two weeks since he got shot. On Thursday his stitches were removed and he was told with another week or so he could return to modified, part-time desk duty. That didn’t exactly make him happy, but if I’ve learned one thing about Jay, it’s he has the patience of a saint.
Going home had been my idea. Not that I don’t enjoy being here, because I do, but as right as this feels, I would have preferred a less tumultuous road. We haven’t had any ‘normal’ yet, rolling from one crisis situation to the next until circumstances landed us here.
I don’t want to fall back into old habits and need to be sure I make choices for the right reasons. Not because it’s convenient, or to please someone else, but because it is something I want for myself.
On top of that, I’d like some more time in my mountain retreat. One last summer. We talked about logistics, and although Jay said he didn’t care where he ended up as long as it was with me, I couldn’t see that work. The reality is my house would be cramped with the both of us and the animals. My kitchen is small, my bedroom half the size of his, and most importantly, there is no room for the horses.
In addition to all of that, I just really like being at the ranch.
Instead of pushing me to stay, Jay presses a kiss to my shoulder before rolling to his back, and I head for the bathroom.
Twenty minutes later he helps me carry my stuff to the car and takes me in his arms by the driver’s side door.
“I’m gonna miss you,” he rumbles, and I smile up at him.
“I’m not moving to Alaska,” I tease. “Besides, I gave you my spare key. You can let yourself in any time.”
He leans down and rubs his nose along mine.
“Same goes for you.”
I lift up on my toes and press my mouth to his.
“I should really go.”
He reluctantly releases me and opens the door, closing it again when I’m seated. I roll down the window, mostly because otherwise Beau’s heavy breathing fogs us up, and start the car.
“Merry?” Jay peeks in. “Can I pick you up for dinner tonight?”
I realize with a grin we haven’t been on an actual date yet.
“I’d love that.”
It’s after lunch when Paul walks into my office, a folder under his arm.
“Do you have a minute?”
“Sure.”
I indicate a chair and wait until he’s seated. He seems a little uncomfortable as he fiddles with the folder in his hands and doesn’t say anything else.
“So what’s up?” I finally ask.
“Oh, right.” He leans forward and hands me the folder.
I flip it open and it takes a second for me to realize what I’m looking at.
“This is incredible.” I’d all but forgotten about Paul’s offer weeks ago to put together a cost analysis for lab equipment. “Is this for real? Only five years to make the investment back?”
“Could be off by a couple of months, but yeah, about that. Also, check the last page.”
I flip through the pages until I get to the last document. An endorsement letter from the Durango Chief of Police, signed by Joe Benedetti.
I look up at him.
“You wouldn’t happen to know when the next council meeting is, would you?”
“Next Tuesday,” he answers promptly, a smile playing on his lips. “Janey has copies ready to go to each of the members in preparation.”
I hate to get my hopes up, but I have a very good feeling about this.
“Send them.”
Jay
A wave of dizziness hits me when I swing my leg over the saddle and I grab hold of the horn.
Carlos steadies Hunter who shifts restlessly.
“You sure you’re okay?”
“Yeah, I’m good.”
I don’t get dizzy much anymore, only when I move too abruptly or get up too fast, but it passes almost as fast as it hits me. Perhaps a bit of a handicap in my line of work, but manageable otherwise. According to the doctor it’s quite common and will likely disappear over time, along with the occasional headache.