“Honestly, yeah. My last course is online and at my own pace. Of course, my laptop was in my bedroom at the apartment.” I shivered where I stood. “I’m gonna have to get a new one now.”
“Honey, that’s not true. Yours can be picked up by one of us if you don’t want to go back there. It’s horrible what happened to Katrina but that wasn’t your fault. She was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Remember, we don’t question why we were spared. We send up our thanks to the Universe and God and we go forward with grace and gratitude.”
“I know, Mama. It just hurts that a good woman was killed for no other reason than to taunt me and the authorities.”
“You didn’t court a madman’s attention. You were also in the wrong place at the wrong time when he got into your car. Then Jonah was in the right place at the right time in order to protect you. It’s unfortunate and heartbreaking the same did not happen for your friend, dear, but again, you share no burden for a sick man’s transgressions. Do you understand what I’m telling you, sweet pea?”
“Yeah. It still hurts.”
“I know, baby, and it will for a while. These things are hard to shake because they are devastating to all involved. Just know that you will move on with grace and gratitude like I’ve taught all my girls. Now I want you to breathe with me. Let’s set ourselves up for the day.”
I grinned and closed my eyes.
“In for four full breaths and hold at the top…” She breathed in and I followed along. Her voice was tight when she said, “Now let it all go for four counts…three, two, one. And again.”
We did five full rounds of breathing and my entire body felt electric and alive, the fear and frustration that was clawing at my insides dissipated and finally disappeared on the last breath.
“I love you, Mama.”
“And I love you, my darling. Please contact your sisters. I’ll bring Rory to the shop today and visit. That will help keep your state of mind in a good place. Children make everything in the world seem better and less about you, and more about them.”
Seeing my gorgeous niece would definitely fix the little ’tude I’d woken up with. “Would love that, Mama. See you later. And thanks.”
“Anytime. That’s what I’m here for. My girls.”
I smiled and hung up the phone, bouncing through the room and into the hallway. Jonah was just coming out of the hall bathroom, one of his hands scratching at his bare chest.
My mouth watered and I stared openly at his gorgeous body. Broad shoulders that tapered into a V-shape at his ribcage. Boxed abdominals, six of them. Who had a real six pack these days? I mean, come on. It was insane. He had a smattering of dark hair across his pecs and down his abs heading to his crotch. His pants hung loosely off his hip bones so I could clearly see those crazy sexy indents that made smart girls stupid. Me included. My nipples hardened at the sight and my body warmed.
His hair was spiked up and all over the place as though he’d tossed and turned from side to side and had been running his fingers through it. His gaze slid to my bare legs and up my body. I was still wearing just his shirt and at seeing him I squeezed my legs together and bit my lip.
Something in him and me both snapped but he was faster. He stormed to me, cupped the back of my head as I lifted up on my toes, wrapped my arms around him, and took his brutal kiss. He grunted, turned me to the side, and caged me against the wall. His mouth drank deep from mine. One of his hands slid down my body, under his shirt, and straight into my panties to cup my bare ass. He ground his stiff length against my center and I mewled in delight. His mouth left mine but wasn’t gone for long when he ran his tongue along the length of my neck. I tipped my head to the side so he’d have better access and hiked a leg so I could get more action rubbing against my happy place.
We were going for it. Lost to the passion between us. He yanked my shirt off and tossed it somewhere, I don’t know where. Then he curled a hand around my breast, lifted it up to his mouth, and sucked. Hard. I moaned deep and clenched around him. Arousal spearing through my body at an alarming rate. I wanted him. Inside me. Now.
“Baby…please,” I begged.
At this he took my mouth, palmed my ass, and lifted me until my legs were off the floor and wrapped around his waist. I could tell by the grunt of pain it cost him but he wasn’t letting it get him down or stop this train from barreling to its most awesome destination.
Lost to each other, we didn’t notice Ryan storming around the corner until he blurted, “Oh, shit. Fucking hell.”
Immediately Jonah turned me around so all Ryan would see was his bare back. I smiled like a loon and waved at him.
“Dude, I’m sorry. You have no idea how sorry I am, but we have to go. Simone’s car was found. And shit, brother. There’s another woman’s body in it.”
I frowned and let my head fall to Jonah’s shoulder. He walked me into his room and kicked the door shut. I unhooked my legs and he let me slide down him until my feet touched the floor.
“To be continued,” I whispered and looked into his stony face, hopeful yet sad about why we were interrupted.
“Yeah.” His voice was thick as molasses but not nearly as sweet.
I cupped his cheeks. “I’m sorry, baby.”
He swallowed and I watched his Adam’s apple bob enticingly, wanting so badly to kiss it and other things, but knowing he had to go.
“Gonna hit the shower in the hall. You shower here. Be quick, yeah?”
“Fast as lightning. Promise.”
He dipped forward and took my mouth in a slow kiss that had a tiny touch of tongues. “We’ll have our time.”
“Yeah.” I let my head fall forward. “Go shower. I’ll be quick.”
“Thanks, baby.”
I nodded and let him peck me on the lips once more before he grabbed some clothes from his dresser. I rummaged through my suitcases for something easy to work at the shop in. When you worked in flowers and thorns, you made sure to cover the skin that might get punctured. I grabbed an old pair of jeans and a tank and my gold oval locket that had a picture of my biological parents in it. Mama Kerri gave me and Sonia each a locket on the one-year anniversary of living with her. Said she wanted our parents to always be with us, and while they weren’t, she would be. Apparently she’d found pictures of them online because we had absolutely nothing left from the house fire.
I took the fastest shower, leaving my hair wet and tossing my small makeup bag into my big fringed purse once I hit the kitchen.
“You gonna dry your hair?” Jonah asked while finishing up making coffee. He wore black slacks and a white button-up shirt. A deep navy-blue tie with black and white geometric patterns was hanging undone around his neck. His shirt was open at the collar showing a tasty morsel of skin that I wanted to explore. His hair was wet and combed back.
I shook my head. “Nah, it will air dry quick.”
He nodded and handed me a bagel with cream cheese wrapped in a napkin and a to-go coffee cup.
“Let’s hit it. Ryan already headed out. I’m taking you to the flower shop but won’t leave until a patrol unit shows.”
“You really don’t have to do that. There are tons of people in the shop working. I’ll be safe.”