by Tl Reeve
“Do you want to rest until then?” Dexter hedged. “You were woken up early because of my alarm.”
“I think I have too much adrenaline pumping through my veins right now to sleep.” She realized as she sat at the small B&B with her team and Marcus while talking to Sanders, the adrenaline rush she was feeding off of, would drop the minute the coast was clear, and she'd end up crashing hard.
“What can I help you do to take your mind off of it then, at least for a little while?”
Brittney grinned. “Did you have fun with Rai today?”
Pride filled his chest. His family loved Rai. “We did. He’s probably eaten all of the chocolate chip cookies my mom sent home with him.”
She laughed. “He’s a fiend when it comes to chocolate chip. I could never keep enough in the house when he was younger.”
“Jackie loves his hair. I think she’s also a little jealous of it.” Dexter wrapped his arm around her and pulled Brittney into his side. “I think Marcus found a tech guru partner in crime. He also said you’re working with him.”
Brittney sighed. “We are. The tech he’s looking to build is the same objective we’re going for too. If we can get it to work, it’ll save untold lives.
“Impressive,” Dexter said. “He likes you too, which is a bonus.
“I’m glad, but my main concern was Rai and how they’d react to him. I worried a little bit.”
“Because of our situation?”
“Yeah,” she answered. “Wouldn’t you?”
“I felt the same way,” he admitted. “I thought for sure they’d have some issue with it and reject him. It’s irrational, I know it, but deep down, do we ever know how people will react?”
Brittney sat up. “It’s the problem I have always had—finding the right time.”
“I think fate intervened for us,” Dexter said. “Putting us at the barbecue together.”
“True. Anyway, I am so glad they like him. He deserves the love of grandparents.”
“My father told me I should put a ring on it,” Dexter confessed.
Brittney jerked and turned slightly. “Run that by me one more time. I don’t think I understood what you said.”
Dexter smirked. “Yes, you did.”
“Me?”
“Yep. Said I should man up and fix this. Well, not in those words of course, but the intention is the same.”
Brittney stared at Dexter in disbelief. Them, get married? After everything they'd been through, could they even make a marriage work? Sure, a relationship was one thing, plus, they'd always be in each other's lives due to Rai, but marriage. She licked her bottom lip as a niggle of nervous energy caused the back of her neck to tingle. “What did you say?”
“I wouldn’t do anything you didn’t want to do. I said I would wait,” Dexter answered.
She blew out a breath. “I think I am even more stressed now.”
He pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Don’t be. My dad is old school. In his way of thinking, the minute you got pregnant, I should have married you. Now that Rai is sixteen, it shouldn’t even be an issue. We should have gotten married when I saw you at the celebration.”
“And, if we’d been married to other people?” she questioned.
Dexter laughed. “I’m sure my father would have pushed us to get divorced and then get married to each other.”
Brittney laughed. “That's ridiculous.”
“I’ve said the same on many occasions about many things my father has said.” Dexter shrugged. “Anyway, it’s up to us, not him or my mom. We’ll do what’s best for us and after that, we’ll let the chips lie where they fall.”
“Good plan.” She tucked herself into his side and sat there for a moment. The ease in which they could sit together and not say anything was comforting. Even though her mind swirled with what-ifs and procedures for the coming storm, for a minute, she forgot about all of it and allowed herself to breathe.
As her eyes drifted closed, her phone went off, startling her. She slipped it from her pocket and a welling of dread filled her. It was a text from Lars, something was wrong. She stood then and grabbed her pack and keys.
“Instead of you going to them, how about they come here?” Dexter motioned to the house. “You have tons of room here and you can also rest when you need to. If anything, I can take Rai to grab provisions and check in on my family too.”
Brittney nodded. “Good idea. Thank you, you know, for doing this.”
The corner of his mouth kicked up. “You don’t have to thank me. I want you to consider this house as yours too. Whatever you need, let me know.”
Relief flooded her. “Thank you.” She slid her finger across the screen and called Lars back. Before he could tell her, what happened, she instructed him to gather the team and meet her at Dexter’s place. The minute she hung up with Lars, she called Sanders. He answered on the second ring. “Sanders, something happened. Lars is on the way with my team. As soon as I know, I’ll patch you in.”
“Sounds great,” he replied. “We’re about an hour out of Dallas. The cloud layer is lowering the closer we get to our destination.”
She figured as much. “Be safe. If you see anything, let us know so we can get the word out sooner.”
“I will. I have a meeting with some of the Dallas affiliates when we arrive. NWS is another place I’ll stop at to update them on the progress of the storms,” he replied. “Look, not to sound ungrateful, but I feel like I am doing a ton of work here, more so than I have ever done.”
She grinned. “You wanted me for your team, this is the consequence—working both sides of the camera.”
Sanders laughed. “Touché. I’ll catch up with you soon. I’m glad you took us up on the offer. I think we can do good work together.”
“Me too.” She hit the end button on her phone then went to Rai’s room. She knocked once then stepped inside. Ria sat on his bed paying one of his games, the open bag of cookies on his chest. “Not sharing those?”
Rai’s attention snapped to hers then he smiled. “They’re so good.” He handed her the bag. “Take them away, before they make me sick.”
Brittney laughed. “So, are you in the mood to vlog what’s going on?”
Rai turned off his game and sat a little higher. “You know it. What’s the plan?”
“Everyone is on the way here. When they arrive, I want you to video the meeting. Lars has updates that might be a little frightening, but we have to get it out to the public, let them see what’s coming and get them prepared.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
“I also thought while we wait, you could order us some pizzas,” she added.
“Can do. How many do you think?” Rai grabbed his notebook from his pack along with a pen.
“I’d say four at least. You know how we like them, but ask your dad what toppings he likes as well.” Brittney sat on his bed. “Did you have fun today?”
Rai grinned. “So much.”
“Good, I’m glad,” she replied. “We’ll talk about it more, later. For now, I need to get ready for everyone’s arrival. Let me know what the total is, and I’ll get you the money.”
“Sure thing,” Rai said. “And, Mom?”
“Yes?”
Rai gave her the biggest smile she’d ever seen. “Thanks for bringing me here. I like it a lot.”
Warmth filled her. She’d worried about all of it. Telling Rai who his father was, letting them meet, and Rai spending the summer with Dexter. Now, she wondered, if she ever really had to. “You’re welcome.”
“Love you, Mom.”
“Love you too,” she said, stepping out of his room. To the moon and back.
Chapter 10
Lars pulled into the driveway with Shiro, Oz, and Wylder, and parked behind Brittney's truck. The rain, which had been a drizzle when she hung up with Lars, became a full-on downpour in only fifteen minutes. The uneasy feeling coursing through Brittney's body left her a bit jumpy and a whole lot unsure of herself. What i
f she hadn't given enough people time?
“I can see your wheels turning,” Shiro said, passing her as he entered the house. “You did everything right.”
Did she? She’d meant to ask Dexter if he and Angie had time to talk with the hospital administration about the patients who’d need to be moved and the fact, they’d also become a triage point as well. But they’d fallen asleep and then Dexter’s fire alarm went off. Now she felt as though they were woefully unprepared, and everyone would die. Ugh, okay Debbie Downer, put your big girl panties on and start acting like you have some sense.
“Same place as usual?” Lars entered the house carrying their equipment.
“Yep, on the table. Pizza is on the way.” Brittney grabbed the bag Wylder handed her then closed the door behind them. “Shit weather we’re having, huh?”
Wylder snorted and laughed while Spike shook himself out and went in search of a place to lay down. Dexter had been on his phone as well, while the others began putting everything together so they could get to work. Within twenty minutes they were up and ready to go. Lars handed her the new data he'd collected before coming to the house. The pressure on the system had dropped, giving it more energy. The way it used the air surrounding the system shocked her and it didn't show any signs of slowing down, which in the long run could be a good thing. It might waste its energy on travel then peter out into some isolated thunderstorms.
Wishful thinking on her part, of course.
“Do we have an estimation on the time of arrival?” Brittney asked, while still considering the numbers.
“Between nine at night until five in the morning,” Shiro said. “Not a great timeline, but this storm...”
Yeah, she understood. It was unpredictable. “It’s something. Any word from NOAA and the NWS?”
“Ken from Austin’s NWS called me,” Oz said. “He’s watching the storms now and he’s not seeing any deterioration in the system.”
Neither was she. “What about speed?” she hedged.
Oz frowned. “Minimal, what are you thinking?”
“That it might blow out before it gets here?” She hoped.
“Isn’t everybody,” Lars said.
“It’s the one thing we can hope for,” she said with a lift of her shoulder. “Prepare for the worst, hope for the best.”
When the pizza arrived, they broke for dinner. Dexter pulled her aside to eat with her while she took a minute to gather her thoughts. He didn't say much, but in the situation, they were in, what could he or she say other than, they could only prepare so much for what was about to happen, the rest was chance.
“You should rest for a little while,” Dexter said, between bites of food.
“I wish I could. I’m a little too amped up.” The nervous energy coursing through her had spiked when she saw the new data Lars had pulled and the feeling of being out of control intensified.
Dexter held out his hand to her when he finished eating. “Come on, let me help you out.”
She narrowed her eyes. “I’m not sure right now is a good time to be having sex.”
He chuckled. “Who said anything about sex?”
“Who said it isn’t implied?”
He gave her a sheepish look. “I’m not trying to get into your pants, even though all I can think about is you naked in my bed. I want to help you recharge and relax.”
“Through sex,” she said, this time adding a teasing hint to her voice.
“You’re saying it not me.” He motioned for her to take his hand. “Come on. You have a very long night ahead of you and if you don’t do this now, you’ll be burned out before the storm has cleared.”
Dexter had a point. She’d been burning her candle at both ends lately and pretty soon something would fall apart if she didn’t take care of herself, first and foremost. She placed her hand in his and started for his bedroom. First, though, she stopped by the dining room where her team worked.
“I want you sleeping in shifts. None of us will be any good if we don’t get some rest. So, figure out the schedule and get some rest. Second, I want alarms set for Oklahoma. The minute the first tornado touches down there, we need to get out in the field. I have a feeling these storms will hit hard and fast.”
“I have sleeping bags and provisions in the garage, if you need them,” Dexter added. “Also, there is another bedroom down the hall from Rai’s room, you’re all more than welcome to use it as well.”
“Thanks,” Shiro said. “We have some stuff in our vehicle too.”
Dexter nodded. “I’m taking her to get some rest. My fire alarm went off early and I know she has to be on fumes as it is.”
Shiro gave her a knowing grin before taking a drink of his coffee. “It’s about time someone made her sleep. I swear she’d go for days before she’d knock out if we let her.”
“Well, you can't do your job efficiently or correctly if you're sleep-deprived.”
Brittney frowned. “Okay, you’ve had your fun ganging up on me.”
“We do it because we care,” Wylder said, feeding the crust of her pizza to Spike.
Her team laughed.
“Oh, ha, ha,” Brittney said in a droll tone. “Get me up if something changes.”
Dexter led her down the hall to his room. Twenty-four hours ago—maybe a little less, he brought her in there and seduced her. Made her want things she shouldn't have. Now, he undressed her for a different reason. His touch was feather-light, causing goosebumps to form on her skin where his fingertips grazed her. His warm breath brushed against the nape of her neck. He was large and imposing, yet, gentle and caring.
Brittney turned around in his arms and glanced up at him. “What did you want me in here for?”
The corner of his mouth twitched. “To sleep. You and I both need it if we’re going to be saving lives any time soon.”
True. If they went out into the field even a little tired, there were chances they'd screw up, or worse. She allowed him to finish undressing her, then grabbed one of his shirts from his dresser. Their fingers touched as he handed it to her, and a spark of electricity shot up her arm. The knowing charge had her tilting her head up. Desire swirled in his dark-brown eyes. He stared at her with open adoration and yearning. It tugged at her. It would be so easy to give in to the pull and jump into bed with him for some not-so-sleeping activity.
“You’re right again,” she said. “This is going to be a long event and if I’m not at my peak, people will get hurt.”
“Same. We have a community to protect and we can’t do it if we’re yawning every five minutes.” Dexter removed his shirt then opened his belt before undoing his pants, while she put his shirt on and removed her shorts.
When they got into bed, she laid there staring at the ceiling counting the dots of the popcorn stucco. Dexter was insanely close to her. The heat of his body was like a warm blanket to her, trying to drag her into sleep, but her mind continued to churn and twist, not willing to turn off, even for a couple of hours.
“You’re thinking too hard,” Dexter murmured, turning her face to him. “Go to sleep.”
“I’m trying,” she replied.
He kissed her then and the heated coil in her belly twisted in delicious pleasure. She tingled from head to toe. Arousal pooled low in her belly. Tendrils of bliss spread through her, setting her ablaze. No way in hell she’d be able to go to sleep now. He wound her up tight in a ball of anticipation. Dexter pulled back. His lips were parted. His eyes were heavy-lidded. “Shit.” He brushed his lips with hers again. “I lose my head with you. We should be sleeping.”
“I’m trying,” she said again, kicking herself for sounding like a parrot.
“Me too.” He kissed her again, this time with a deeper, ravenous passion. His hands slipped under her shirt to palm her breasts and tease her nipples. “I love these.” Dexter skimmed his thumb across the underside of her breast.
Brittney whimpered. “We shouldn’t. The house is full. Rai’s awake too.”
Dexter nuz
zled her. “Then we should be very quiet. Don’t you think.”
She shivered in response as he leaned back and pushed her panties to the side. “Are you sure?” She bit the corner of her lip.
“I've never been surer of anything in my life.” He yanked down his boxer-briefs and groaned. “I've stayed hard just thinking of the next time you'd have sex with me.” He turned her around so her back was pressed to his chest and lifted her shirt. “Shh...”
With the blankets pulled up around them and the air going, they were in their little world. Dexter placed her leg over his hip then ran the length of his erection along the slit of her sex. She shuddered and let out a soft moan, lifting her ass in invitation. If she thought he would take her up on the offer, he didn't. He continued to tease and play with her until she thought she'd go insane.
Then he filled her.
Her world shattered with one thrust of his hips, stretching her to the point where pain and pleasure mixed. Her pussy flexed around him throbbing and pulsing through her orgasm as it hit her hard. Brittney grabbed his wrist, digging her nails into his soft flesh there as he pulled out then entered her again. It stole her ability to breathe. It was as if her features had been frozen in shock, surprised by the intensity of their coupling.
Dexter wrapped his arm around her, holding her to him as he shifted his hips. The pace was sedate. It drove Brittney insane. She wanted it hard and fast while he seemed content with drawing out their combined pleasure. Behind her, the soft erotic sounds he made, had her blood boiling. It was sexy as hell, turning her on. Being with him like this, gave her a dirty thrill. The idea everyone was only right down the hall also added to the powerfully emotional event.
She pressed the back of her head to his chest, sinking into the sensations careening through her body. Each time their hips brushed together, her breath hitched and the impossible coil of arousal in her lower belly tightened, sending a flood of pleasure through her. She shuddered, meeting him stroke for stroke until their pace quickened. Dexter cupped her breasts and squeezed while he ran the pads of his fingers over her nipples, causing them to pucker under his attention. It was all too much, but not enough. She wanted more of him.