I bent over her, clutching her. Although I half-expected she’d go cold in my arms, I was never, ever going to let her go.
I’d been a fool to take a single second of my life with her for granted. And now it was all over. If she even lived, she’d be in the hospital for a long, long time. Instead of constant travel, she’d be under constant care. Would she be paralyzed? Would she even be able to talk?
She wriggled below me. Spasming, I assumed – trying to find a comfortable position – or it could be her last throes, the life seeping out of her. I grabbed her tighter.
My body shuddered with the sheer pain of it all. My chest was tight, my breathing shallow. Nothing would ever be the same. And I hadn’t even gotten to tell BJ I loved her…
Pushing me off, she sat tall. “Where’s the gun?”
“BJ!”
She was okay. She was breathing. Talking.
She hadn’t been hit at all.
“I can’t find my phone,” she said urgently. “We need to call the cops while she’s distracted. As in, now.”
“Oh-h-h-h.”
I scrambled to reach around her, my fingers quickly identifying the bumps and ridges of her phone case. Barbara was still wielding the gun, raving at nothing, as I pressed the nine.
“It’s all right.”
Both BJ and I turned to the unfamiliar voice. The motel clerk stood there, looking impressively calm. Where had he been this whole time? What had he been doing?
“The cops have been called.”
The faint sound of a siren came to my ears, and I gave Barbara Tripton a weak smile. “You might want to put the gun away now. The police are almost here.”
TWENTY-EIGHT — BJ
“You have to let me see her,” I told the nurse behind the desk.
She didn’t even glance at me. “Family members only.”
“With all due respect, that’s some motherfucking bullshit.”
“Excuse me?” Now I had her attention. And from the looks of it, she had her finger on the security button.
“Sorry,” I said, more quietly now. “It’s just, that’s my girlfriend in there. We live together. I have to make sure she’s all right.”
Her face twitched. “I’m afraid I can’t let you in to see Ms. Stevenson.” She dropped her voice, leaning slightly over the counter. “But off the record, she’s in that room to your left.”
I let out a huge breath. “Thank you so much,” I whispered. “You’re a wonderful person. Thank you.”
I jogged to the room she’d indicated, not even caring when I nearly ran straight into an orderly with a food cart. I needed to see Leanne again.
She was in the bed closer to the door, asleep like an angel. The other was empty, so I had no problem sitting right next to Leanne.
“Wake up,” I said, shaking her shoulder.
She blinked at me. “I’m awake.”
“You are?”
“Yeah.” Her voice was hoarse, but she was here. “And I heard everything you said out there. Heard you call me your girlfriend. You said that at the motel, too.”
My heart caught in my throat. “Was I not supposed to say that?”
“No, you were.” She squeezed my hand – weakly, but I guessed it was as hard as she could.
That warmed me inside. But as happy as our new couplehood made me, I had to be sure she was all right. “So what’s up? What happened?”
“Nothing,” she said. “Just a little panic attack. Everything only hit me once we were safe.” Her gaze was a bit fuzzy. “Don’t know if they’ll want to question me more after, but they let me go so I could get some care.”
The cops had already questioned me for a good amount of time, refusing to let me anywhere near Leanne in case we took the opportunity to make our stories line up. Although the whole situation had taken them by surprise, they pretty clearly believed me by the end.
“Have you heard anything about Barbara?” Leanne asked.
“Enough to know she’s not getting off the hook.”
She’d resisted confessing, but given that she was right there with four witnesses and a literal smoking gun in her hand, it’d been pretty obvious. The cops had made it clear that she was going to jail for a long time. Some new charges would be added to the ones Randy was already facing, too.
“You know what’s funny?” Leanne asked with a faint laugh. “I suspect both of them will have a hard time finding a defense lawyer.”
“So, are you drugged up right now?” I asked. “If I ask you something, will you have no choice but to answer honestly?”
Her eyes glazed over more. Definitely drugged. “I’d never lie to you.”
“I absolutely have to know…” I leaned over her, stroking slowly along her jaw. “What are your candid, unvarnished, one-hundred-percent honest thoughts about my vagina?”
Now her eyes drifted all the way shut. It just figured she’d fall asleep without giving me an answer.
“I fucking love it,” the sleepy answer finally came. “And I love you, too.”
TWENTY-NINE — LEANNE
The sun was already rising when I pulled the car into the condo parking lot. After taking the car down to the underground garage, I shook BJ’s arm gently.
“Hmm?”
“Wake up,” I said. “We’re home.”
She looked around, and I watched her confusion turn to remembering. It had to be a lot to take in. She’d slept for almost the entire ride back. After dealing with police questioning and then staying up watching me sleep in the hospital bed, she had to be exhausted.
“We’re home already?” BJ asked sleepily. “You could’ve asked me to drive.”
“That’s all right.”
Driving the whole way back hadn’t been pleasant — I’d been fighting to keep my eyes open for most of the way. But I hadn’t had the heart to wake BJ up after what she’d done for me.
I hated to think what would’ve happened if she hadn’t shown up. If my phone hadn’t automatically dialed her when I dropped it, she would never have known to follow me. Without her, the motel clerk would never have known to call the cops.
And when that shot was fired, she didn’t run or hide. Her first instinct was to dive in my way. To make sure I was safe. She was all right – the shot had hit a wall – but she’d had no way to know it would turn out like that.
Simply put, I owed a lot to BJ right now.
I let her lean on me as we headed for the elevator. “You had a nice rest?” I asked.
“Great,” she said, yawning. “Couldn’t be better, considering.”
I laughed quietly. I could say the same of my time resting up after my panic attack.
On the twenty-third floor, she put her hands in her pockets, looking for the key. I’d seen this coming, so I handed it to her. When I left last night, I’d hoped I’d be able to give it back.
“You must be even more tired than I am,” she said sleepily. “Are you going to work today?”
If I did, I’d have to leave in about ten minutes. “I’m going to have to call in sick.”
“You?” She poked me in the ribs, apparently not too tired to tease me. “But you’re not sick.”
“Not sick of you, that much is for sure.”
I gave her a lengthy kiss, one of many since we’d escaped from Barbara Tripton. After thinking I might never see her again, then all the adrenaline of being held hostage, I craved her more than ever.
BJ opened the door, and Teensy burst out at us. After spending the whole night alone, she was hyper and desperate for playtime — and for a walk. BJ could take her out while I called my boss.
She murmured to Teensy as she leashed her up, telling her how happy she was to see her again. They disappeared out of the door. I hoped they’d make it a quick one — I couldn’t stand to be away from either of them.
When Omar picked up, I told him I wouldn’t be coming in. “What? You haven’t missed a day since you were hired,” he said.
“I know. I wouldn’t miss
work if I didn’t have to, but it’s rather necessary. I’ll explain everything tomorrow, all right? It’s to do with Randy Tripton.”
“The Tripton case? Why, what’s going on, Stevenson?”
I fidgeted with the phone, eager to get back to my real life. Even a brief explanation would take a few minutes. Luckily Teensy’s walk would take about as long.
I hung up just as the door opened. As soon as the leash was off the puppy, BJ swept me into her arms once more. I clung to her, feeling the lean strength of her body. Pressing my face into her neck, I inhaled her unique scent. I adored this woman.
“Got everything sorted out?” she asked.
Still pressed into her, I nodded. “That means I have time to sleep. We should get to bed.”
Sleep wasn’t the last thing on my mind, but it wasn’t the first either. I knew BJ was tired, though, and after what she’d done for me I wanted to make sure she was happy.
The two of us headed to the bedroom, followed by Teensy, who I pushed out with a gentle nudge. By the time I’d shut the door behind her, BJ had already stripped down to nothing.
“Wow, you’re quick at that,” I said, taking in the delicious curve of her ass.
She slipped between the sheets. “Going to get in here, or what?”
I took my time pulling off my clothes. The suit was what BJ first liked about me, so I gave her a bit of a show. Even if she was too tired for anything to happen, she could enjoy watching. Even if, as I dropped the last articles of clothing, I really hoped she wasn’t too tired.
Reaching out for me, she trailed her fingertips down from my belly button. “Looks like you don’t want to sleep yet.”
“That’s up to you.” I got in the bed next to her and held her close, feeling the heat of her body and her breath on my skin.
Even as my pulse began to race, she touched me again, running her full palms over my body. Every nerve under my skin cried out for the contact, and yet every inch she passed only made me crave more.
I let out a soft sigh, closing my eyes in deference to the now-throbbing need between my thighs. I should’ve known BJ would never let me go to bed unsatisfied. Still, I had to check again that this was okay before I could allow myself to enjoy this.
“We don’t have to do anything,” I murmured. “I know you’re exhausted.”
“Me? I slept in the car.” She rose to straddle me, her breasts pressing against mine. “You’re the fragile flower who had a panic attack.”
I couldn’t argue with that. I acknowledged her with a slight nod.
“You sure you’re up for fooling around?” BJ asked.
Now I nodded my head vehemently. “I want to. I need you… miss.”
Where I’d expected her face to light up at the name, her eyes went downcast instead. “You shouldn’t be calling me ‘miss’ after the way I took off on you.”
“Don’t say that. You might’ve saved my life tonight.”
“Still.” She bent to place her lips against my collarbone, lowering her voice to a whisper. “I was an idiot. I couldn’t see how you make me happier than I’ve ever been. You mean the world to me, and I was going to give you up for the sake of my pride.”
“What are you saying?”
She slipped her leg between my thighs and we rubbed against each other, both of us shivering. “I don’t know if you remember telling me in the hospital that you love me, but either way, I have to tell you I love you. And I don’t want to be without you.”
“I definitely love you, if you hadn’t figured that out already. Didn’t drive five damn hours to beg someone I hated to come back.”
“That’s what you were planning to do at the bus station?”
I laughed softly. “Would it have worked?”
“Probably, but this way was a hell of a lot more exciting.” She gave me a kiss on the lips now, a long, searching one with her body pressed against mine. “I had some stupid vision about how my life was going to go. I guess you’re not the only one who was a slave to her plans.”
“We both know better now.” I reached up to caress her breasts, my palm gliding over her nipples until they pebbled for me.
After a second, BJ moved my hand away. “Promise me something,” she said.
“What?”
“If I ever get any dumb ideas in my head again, don’t let me leave.” Stroking my face, she stared deeply into my eyes. “I know now that I need you. You make me a better person, and me… I don’t know why you want to keep me around, but I intend to stick around as long as you’ll have me.”
My heart swelled, feeling like it was going to expand right out of my chest. “I’ll always want you.”
She gave me a small smile. I bit my lip, desperate to feel her in any way possible. I knew both of us preferred tongues over fingers, but right now I wanted her body against mine while we looked into each other’s eyes. Slipping my hand between her legs, I guided hers between mine.
We took a moment to just caress each other. I took in the sight of her beautiful body, keenly conscious that I’d almost lost the right to ever see it again.
“Touch me,” BJ breathed.
Holding her with one arm, I found her clit with my free hand. Her lips parted in a gasp — and then mine mirrored hers as she did the same to me. My whole body tingled. I adored this woman so much. The only thing left to do now was to give her a long, searching kiss. So I did.
When we finally pulled apart, we gazed into each other’s eyes. The bed creaked under us as BJ slipped her fingers inside me. My teeth sank into my bottom lip again, my fingernails digging uncontrollably into her back.
“Feels so good, miss.” Calling her that was automatic now — it’d slipped out.
She didn’t seem to mind. “You feel amazing on me.” She gave a sharper thrust. “The way you finger my clit…”
Her wrist moved faster, sending sparks through me with every thrust. I rubbed her harder, until she gave a low whine and I slid a finger inside. Her core was so incredibly wet. I loved how much I turned her on.
“Never let me go again,” she breathed. “Never let me leave you.”
“I will never, ever let you go.”
I placed a kiss on her collarbone, then moved down the curve of her breast. When I came to the nipple, I teased it gently with my tongue. I could already feel her getting even wetter. I switched to the other nipple, nibbling gently and enjoying the sound of her lustful moans. I had a feeling I was getting wetter, myself.
At last I moved up to lace my arm around her neck and kiss her, thrusting my tongue into her mouth. She moaned, enjoying the moment enough that the measured thrusts of her hand slowed to a stop.
My hips moved up instinctively, taking over the rhythm for her. Our bodies pressed against each other, driving the heat in my body to a nearly unbearable level. I’d almost reached a boiling point.
“Give me more,” I panted, not caring if begging took away my dignity. I needed what I needed, and I needed it now. “Fuck me good. Hard. More fingers.”
BJ pulled back enough to look at me, a steely undertone to her gaze. I quivered just from seeing her eyes. Even before she spoke, I knew I was going to love what she had to say. I loved every time she got like this, all take-charge and dominant.
“Fuck you good, who?”
“Miss.” I bounced my butt upward, trying to get her hand deeper inside me again. “Fuck me, miss, hard, rough — however you like it.”
“That’s better,” she said.
And then she did some kind of move that made the back of my eyelids flash blinding white.
I cried out, screaming as my nails dug into her shoulder. This was more than sex now. Having her back in my arms was pure ecstasy. She fucked me good and fast, until I forgot all about giving her pleasure. All I could do now was take what she was giving me.
I rolled onto my back, allowing her to straddle me. She could fuck me harder like this. Fuck me deeper. In a frenzy I raked at her back, bucking under her with each new thrust of her han
d. I knew I’d leave scratch marks all over her, but I couldn’t seem to stop myself.
For her part, the pain only seemed to spur her on. A low growl emerged from her, and she squeezed my waist with her other hand as she pounded four fingers into me.
“I want to come.” My entire body was tight, tense. “Is it okay if I come?”
“You’re asking for my permission?”
“Yes, miss. Please, may I come?”
A kind of evil glee came over BJ’s face. “Not yet.”
I hadn’t been prepared for that answer. Was it even possible to stop the inevitable? I spasmed, every part of me working to stay back from it. “But, miss…”
She didn’t let up, still drilling into me as powerfully as ever. “I said not yet.”
The tension in my body ratcheted even higher, finding a level I wouldn’t have thought possible. Holding onto her was the only way I had a hope of fighting down the urges that burgeoned inside me. And even then, it felt close to unbearable.
“You’re going to come when I tell you to come.”
Somehow the words turned me on even more. My hands tore at BJ, maybe drawing blood — I didn’t know, didn’t care. She had to bring me over that cliff of ecstasy. My urge to reach it had stopped being a “want” long ago, and now it was an urgent, soul-deep need.
“Please,” I said, too far gone to be ashamed of my desperate tone. “Can’t — hold — back. Please!”
Her half-lidded eyes told me she had no intentions of giving in. “One more minute, and then you can come as hard as you want to.”
My limbs trembled around her, going into paroxysms of violent craving. I needed this release like nothing I had ever known. Holding off for another full minute was going to be one of the most difficult things I’d ever gone through. But for the sake of pleasing BJ, I would try.
“How much longer?” I gasped out.
Another hard, deep thrust. “Thirty seconds.”
I closed my eyes and hung on, trying to tell myself all the suffering would be worth it. Sweat beaded at the base of my neck, and the space between our bodies grew slick. I trembled wildly, barely able to keep control.
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