by Freya Barker
“My plan to get you so relaxed, you’d have no trouble falling asleep in my arms later, has hit a glitch.” Even as he’s talking, his hand slides down between my legs, cupping my sex. “I have exactly twenty minutes…” He moves his feet between my stretched legs, slowly spreading my knees as wide as they can go. “…to make you come…” Fingers slide along my crease, already slick with arousal. All it takes is the deep vibration of his voice behind me. “…and leave you enough time…” First one, and then a second digit slips inside, slowly pumping in and out. Already my hips undulate and soft groans escape under his ministrations. “…to get dressed before…” His other hand slides through my curls, finding my clit easily. Blood rushes in my ears, my mouth falls open as my own fingers pluck mindlessly at my nipples. “…they get here.”
“Oh God…ahhh,” I groan, as I’m washed away by a deep throbbing climax that sends tingles down to the tips of my toes.
“Hmmm,” Keith hums against the shell of my ear, sending an added shiver through my body.
“Who gets here?” I half slur my words, my body limp and sated, and my brain barely firing.
“Ramirez, Roosberg, Gomez, and Stan Woodard.”
I’m out of the tub faster than a bullet, dripping water all over the floor. He has the fucking mayor showing up? I bend down to rifle through the now soggy pile of clothes to find mine.
“Are you shitting me? How much time do we have?”
“Five, maybe ten minutes. Just enough time to—”
I don’t wait around to hear him finish. With my soggy pile of clothes under my arm, I dart out of the bathroom, sprinting butt naked across the living room, just as headlights hit through the window, catching me like a spotlight.
I think I’ve used up every conceivable curse word, in a multitude of languages, by the time I come out of the bedroom. My eyes find Keith’s and I shoot him the dirtiest look I can muster, before I turn a smile on our guests.
Apparently they’re here for some kind of briefing. Piecing together our collective experiences to form a cohesive whole. The urgency, to make sure all the pieces fit, is the press showed up at the scene shortly after we rushed off to find a vet. So far, no one has given any statements, but things tend to come out, and with so many first responders showing up at the scene, something is bound to slip at some point.
That’s why the mayor has offered a press conference with Special Agent Damian Gomez, Luna, Ramirez, and Keith in attendance. He also urges me to attend, insisting the public will be able to identify best with the victim’s experience. I’m relieved when Keith adamantly refuses subjecting me to any questions, and accuses the mayor of trying to use me as a token mascot to build his next campaign on.
Needless to say, there was some heated back-and-forth, before Damian—who like Keith, also appears to be quite outspoken—jumps in to referee, by verbally knocking some heads together.
There are a few moments where I find myself embarrassed, in particular the discreet details Keith shares of the times we may have been unwittingly observed. I get that those private moments have become an important part of the overall timeline, but sharing those memorable intimate experiences somehow stains them.
I’m surprised to find out the nature of the weird woodpile I’d seen in the back of the farmhouse. I didn’t pay it much notice, too preoccupied with the rescue of my cats, and I’m glad I didn’t after hearing the details. The poor woman apparently had been an elderly aunt, who took Jeffrey in as a teenager after his parents died in a house fire, while he was staying at a friend’s. Something happened—perhaps she suspected what he was up to when he showed up with the cats and confronted him—but at some point he snapped and killed her. Presumably by strangulation, but the coroner would have to confirm.
I shiver when Tony outlines his suspicions around the pyre, but as I recount his weird rant about honoring loved ones with fire, I realize he’s probably not far off the mark.
I have little to say about the actual confrontation, since I was hugging the porch floor at the time, but at the end the mayor, as well as SAC Gomez, are satisfied the shooting had been a just one.
Keith doesn’t waste time shooing them all out the door, but it’s already past eleven when he locks it and turns off the porch light.
“You look tired,” he says, his voice much gentler when he addresses me. Funny how I just notice that now.
“Exhausted doesn’t even touch it.”
“Why don’t you head to bed? I’ll just clean up and meet you there. You can sleep in tomorrow.”
“No, I can’t. I start at nine.”
“Like hell you are.”
Just like that we’re back on quicksand.
Keith
I know I fucked up the moment the words leave my mouth.
She visibly shuts down, her lips a thin line and her shoulders pulled up to her ears.
“Can I please rephrase that?” I plead, rubbing my hands over her shoulders. “Before you shut me down, please hear me out.”
I walk her backward into the kitchen and lift her to sit on the counter, wedging myself between her knees. At least that way I’m sure she can’t run off.
“We already know there are a few hot-button triggers in our relationship. Me tending to be overbearing in my concern for you, and you being sensitive to anything you perceive as control, is one. We also still have the housing situation, as well as your ongoing status in Durango to contend with. Am I right?”
Her lips are still tight but I still get a nod. I’ll take it.
“We’re both strong personalities, Red. We’re bound to butt heads quite a bit, but we’re also incredibly fucking good together, and I’m not just talking about the sex. If we could wrap our heads around this relationship being more of a joining of forces, than an endless compromise of our own identities, can you imagine how strong we could be?”
Her hand comes up and hooks around my neck, the other planting in the middle of my chest, and she nods again, but this time with the beginnings of a smile.
“What I meant to say was, after the news conference tomorrow, I would like for both of us to take the rest of the week off. Use that time, without circumstances driving us, to see if we can’t make a start on those hot-button triggers.” I tilt my head to find her eyes. “What do you say?”
Her eyes now smile too and she takes my face in her hands.
“I think I love you too.”
Chapter 29
Keith
I would’ve preferred staying the last night of our self-imposed exile from the world at home as well, but Autumn was hell-bent on a game of darts and a Guinness.
For all our good intentions, we didn’t spend too much time talking about the future these past days; we were mostly enjoying the moment. Or moments. There were many, most of them while naked, but a few others were memorable as well. Like yesterday, when we picked up Autumn’s other two cats from the vet and brought them home.
I never was much of a cat person. Actually, that’s not true: I was mostly indifferent to them. Autumn’s cats have grown on me. I’m getting used to being woken up by Gizmo, who sits on my chest and meows in my face, butting her head on my chin if I don’t move fast enough. A real little diva. I’m also learning to appreciate Jake’s more aloof approach: when you pet him, he behaves like you should consider yourself lucky he even allows you to. He’s a cool customer. I’m already picking up some personality traits from Boots and Ziggy. On top of that, I actually remember which name goes with each cat.
The one subject we did discuss was making her stay in Durango permanent. It was actually a call with Sophie on Friday that started the conversation. Apparently Autumn had mentioned something about her contract with Mercy expiring, and Sophie encouraged her to talk to them now. Put a bug in their ear that she might be interested in making it a permanent position. See how they respond.
The moment she ended the call, she dialed the hospital and set up a meeting for Tuesday afternoon. Just like that.
“Ho
ney, are you ready?” I look up to see her coming down the hall from the bedroom, looking hot as fuck in a simple pair of jeans, a black tank top under some flowing kimono thing, but paired with some high-heeled contraptions on her feet with lots of straps and buckles. That red mane of hers all brushed out, cascading down her back and just a hint of gloss on those lips I love so much. For a woman who doesn’t put a lot of stock in fashion or fancy things, she sure knows how to pull off feminine in a major way.
“I like when you call me that,” I admit, folding her in my arms.
“What?”
“Honey. That’s the fourth time in the past couple of days you called me that.”
“You’re counting?” she asks, a saucy little smile playing on her lips.
“Damn right I am.”
“You’ll lose count in no time.”
“I’m hoping,” I confess, and her smile deepens warmly.
The first person we see walking into The Irish is Evan Biel, sitting at the bar. He takes one look and turns his back, much like he did at the funeral. Fuck. I probably owe the guy an apology. I’ve been all but crawling up his ass since this whole mess started.
Autumn pulls on my arm. “Let’s go talk to him.” She clearly caught that cold shoulder too.
“Since I’m the real asshole here, give me a chance to talk to him one on one.”
“Are you gonna piss him off?” she asks, an eyebrow raised.
“Probably.” I grin down at her. “But we’ll sort it out.”
I order her a Guinness and get her a set of darts so she can practice. She elbows me in the gut when I suggest it.
“Got a minute?” I interrupt the conversation Evan is having with a fellow firefighter. He reluctantly turns around.
“Here in official capacity? Should I call my lawyer?” he taunts sarcastically.
“Knock it off, Biel. Let’s find a quiet spot.” I order us a couple of drinks, and with a quick glance at Autumn—who apparently found a willing victim to practice her skills on—I lead the way to the same booth I sat in when I first saw her. I wait for him to slide in across from me. “Here’s the thing; I suspect if not for that gorgeous redhead over there, you would be more inclined to understand my position. By the same token, any victim other than Autumn, I might have been a little less…confrontational in my investigation.” He responds with a snort, but I ignore it and push on. “Durango is not that big, Evan. You can turn your back on me in here, or anywhere else we see each other outside of work—but you know as well as I do—our professional paths cross all the time. I’d much rather do my job knowing I have you at my back than having to watch my back. I’m sure you feel the same way.” This time it’s a grunt, which I guess is a moderate improvement, but he’s still not talking, so I decide to go balls to the wall. “I love her. She’s working on moving here permanently, and I want her to be happy here.” His head comes up and he first eyes me curiously before looking off over my shoulder, and I know he’s watching her. “She could use all the friends she can get, and she considers you one. Now I regret like hell you ended up as a suspect when you were innocent, but I will not apologize for doing my job, I just hope you don’t take your anger out on her.”
His eyes come back to me and he pointedly drinks down his beer, sets down his glass, and leans over the table. “Was that all?”
“It’s all I’ve got.”
Without another word, he heads back to the bar, but instead of sitting back down, he walks to the other side where Autumn is just picking her darts from the board. When she turns around, he’s right there, leaning down to kiss her cheek. A smile spreads on her face and her eyes quickly dart my way, gratitude clear in their depths.
I give them some time, head into the bathroom—and when I return—Biel is back on his seat by the bar and Autumn’s victim has disappeared.
“Up for a game?” I offer when I walk up.
“What do you think?”
It’s not until she’s wiped the floor with me twice and we’ve ordered our last drink for the road, that she brings up our next hurdle.
“So…about that apartment…”
Autumn
I let my statement linger, waiting anxiously for his reaction.
He looks down at his beer before meeting my eyes, and I take courage from the fact I don’t sense any hostility from him.
“First of all,” I start hesitantly, “I want you to know I adore your house. I love it there.”
“But then—”
“Let me finish. Please?” He nods once, his full attention on me. “I like being there with you, I feel at home there, but I need a chance to get myself back on my feet. It’s important to me to come to you whole and independent—the way I know myself.” He moves to interrupt me again, but this time a lift of my hand is enough to have him sit back again—listening. “Staying feels like we’re taking a shortcut, and I don’t ever want either of us to think the other considers them a convenience. I want that step to be a conscious choice for both of us.”
He’s quiet. His eyes still on me, but he seems to be considering my words.
“Okay,” he finally says. “I get that. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t relish sleeping without you right beside me, or waking up and not having you be the first thing I see, but I get it. I’ll miss having you around—and believe it or not, I’ll miss those damn cats as well—but I can wait.”
I lean over the table and weave my fingers with his. “Not like I’m disappearing. I don’t want to stop seeing you, or even slow it down, I just want to do this right.”
“Perfect!” I hear over my shoulder and swing around to see Luna walk up to the table, a tall smiling blond guy right behind her.
“Tell me this wasn’t planned,” Keith groans, but before I can ask him what he means, Luna pulls out a chair and plops down.
“This is a happy coincidence,” she says, smiling. “Autumn, this is Jasper.” She indicates the blond man who pulls out his own chair, lifts his chin at Keith in greeting, and sticks out his hand across the table for me to shake. “He’s the colleague I was telling you about? The apartment?”
Suddenly I clue in to what Keith was asking, so my first, rather sharp words are to him. “I obviously had no clue.” Then I turn to Jasper, smiling wide. “Keith here seems to think I had some kind of hand in you showing up here, since we just happened to be discussing living arrangements.”
The man just grins, shaking his head and holding up his hands. “I know nothing.”
“Don’t be an idiot,” Luna says, punching Keith’s shoulder. “Jas and I just stopped in for a drink before heading home. But…” her face twists into a calculating smile. “Since we apparently arrived at such a fortuitous moment, why don’t we go see the apartment now? It’s just across the street. You’ve got the keys, right, Jas?”
“You’re pushing,” Keith growls at her, but she just grins back.
“I know.”
Twenty minutes later, Jasper opens the door to a gorgeous, loft-style apartment with large windows, lots of brick and stainless steel. Very industrial-looking. The first thing I notice is the furniture.
“It comes furnished?”
“It does. My in-laws use it from time to time when they come to town.”
“But then are you sure you want to rent it out?”
“Yup.” That’s all he says. Not a lot of information, but I guess I don’t need to know more.
We take a look around, Keith dragging his feet a little, and by the time Jasper locks the door behind us, I’ve come to a decision.
“I love it. Do you need me to sign a lease? Luna mentioned you’d be happy with shorter term?”
“I’m happy just going month to month. No fuss.”
“That would be perfect. When can I move in?”
“Any time. Tomorrow if you like.” Keith growls and throws Jasper a death look, but the guy doesn’t seem impressed much and just grins back. “Never thought I’d see the day, Blackfoot. I’ve gotta say, feels real good to be on
this side.”
“Ignore them,” Luna stage-whispers to me. “Your boyfriend loved poking fun at his buddies when they met their significant others. Guess he had this coming.”
“No real rush,” I tell Jasper, but my eyes are on Keith. He gives me a barely perceptible nod. “Next weekend is soon enough.”
Half an hour later, we walk into the house and he doesn’t even stop to turn on the lights, he keeps a tight hold on my hand and marches us straight to the bedroom. He stops by the side of the bed and turns to face me, the only thing visible: the reflection of the sparse light in his eyes. Wordlessly he reaches out and brushes my top off my shoulders, letting it drop on the floor at my feet. Slowly undressing me, he keeps his eyes on mine. Even when he goes down on his knees to unbuckle the straps of my sandals, easing them off my feet, before stripping down my jeans.
It’s not until he takes my glasses off my nose and sets them down on the nightstand, that he speaks.
“Get in bed, Red.”
His voice is rough and an involuntary shiver runs down my spine. I do as he asks, and watch from the bed as he strips out of his own clothes before joining me.
For the longest time he just holds me, and at some point I wonder if he’s fallen asleep, but when I lift my head from his chest, I see the glint of his eyes, still looking down at me.
“I love you, Autumn.”
I push up, swing a leg over his body and cover his body with mine, chest to chest and nose to nose. “I know, honey, and I love you. So much.”
Sitting up, I lift my hips and slowly slide down over the soft steel of his erection.
His eyes never leave mine.
-
Keith walks into the kitchen of my new apartment, bringing in the last of the bags.