Her nails dug into his back and her thighs tightened on his hips. Tanner could feel her legs start to tremble and knew she was close. He pressed his forehead to hers and began to speed up his thrusts. The pressure built in his lower back and his balls tightened.
Madison was whispering his name over and over in his ear, urging him to keep going, fuck her harder. In this he was her willing slave. His eyes never leaving her, he reached between their bodies and found her swollen clit. His thumb rubbed circles around it and she closed her eyes and cried out as her climax overtook her. Her pussy clamped down on his cock, and he groaned his own release. His dick seemed to swell and jerk as he pumped his hot seed into the condom. He watched her orgasm play out, the expressions on her face changing from joy to pain, and then back to joy. Her lips were curved into a smile as she relaxed back onto the rug. The perfume of their lovemaking hung heavy in the air. The only sound was her soft breathing, synchronized to his own.
Dear God, she was beautiful. His heart ached in his chest. She was everything.
He was humbled by her sweet response and empowered at the same time. This was more than fucking. She was more than simply a woman he was falling for.
He'd fallen. He loved her.
His soul felt renewed, as if he'd taken a healing potion. He still had his baggage but suddenly it seemed a lighter burden.
Anything was possible if Madison loved him.
Chapter Eighteen
Tanner pushed open the door to the coffee shop Wednesday morning, but stopped short when he heard shouting voices. He went on alert, used to domestic disturbances in his line of work. His ears rang and a shudder ran down his spine at the din. He'd heard one of those angry voices before. Many, many times in fact.
His gaze swept the room and came to rest on Abby standing over a purple-faced Fenton, shaking her finger at him. For once, Fenton didn't look so smug. She had him backed into a chair, but he looked like he still had some fight left him in.
Tanner could attest that Abby in full-frontal attack was a sight to behold. Her face was red, her jaw clenched. Her dark hair was wild around her face and her brown eyes looked like black marbles. He remembered those eyes vividly. He'd called it her "zombie stare", although he'd never said it out loud. He'd had some sense of self-preservation.
"You asshole," Abby groused. "Can't keep it in your pants can you? I can't believe this."
Trouble in paradise. Tanner hadn't known Fenton had some action on the side, but he wasn't surprised. The guy was sleaze personified.
It appeared Fenton hadn't expected to be found out. He shook his head as if to shake off his shock, and he patted Abby on the shoulder.
Dude, you are so fucked.
"You’re misunderstanding the entire situation. Sherilynn is just a friend."
"A friend you fuck? I talked to her when she called today, Fenton. She said you were her boyfriend. She said you’ve been seeing her for over three months. She was very surprised to hear I was your fiancée."
Abby's lips were trembling but her voice was strong. Fenton tried to hold her hand but she knocked his arm away.
"You heard wrong. It wasn't what you think. Sherilynn was joking with you," Fenton cajoled. He gave Abby his very best sincere look. To Tanner, he just looked slimy.
Her lips twisted. "I know what a joke is, and this isn’t one. Don't lie to me anymore. At least man up enough to tell me the truth."
Fenton's face turned from charming to cold in an instant. "You drove me to it. Always bitching and complaining about my work. I needed a way to relax."
Apparently Fenton had decided a good offense was the best defense. He was trying to turn it all around on Abby. Tanner almost laughed at the poor bastard's efforts. He of all people should know Abby was too savvy to fall for it. She was like a bulldozer, plowing through anyone that got in her way.
"Relax!" Abby screeched. "Don't make me the bad guy here. You're the one at fault. It's over. I'm taking my stuff and going to my mother's house. Don't call me, Fenton. Don't send me emails or texts." Abby ripped the ring off her left hand and threw it at him. It bounced off his forehead and onto the table, leaving a red mark on the skin. "Don't even think about me. Forget I ever existed."
Abby spun on her heel and marched toward the door. Tanner opened the door for her and she breezed by him. He followed her out, catching her elbow in his hand.
"Abby, are you okay? Can I help you?"
She whirled around, her breathing fast and irregular. "I suppose you're happy about this? I know you never liked Fenton."
Tanner couldn't deny he was happy about this turn of events. He'd been flummoxed as to how to get Abby away from Fenton, and here she'd gone and done it herself.
"You're right. I never thought Fenton was good enough for you. You deserve better, Abby."
She exhaled slowly, the fight going out of her. "He's a jerk."
Her eyes were bright with tears and he squeezed her shoulder. "He is. You need to find a man who appreciates you. Someone who will treat you the way you deserve to be treated."
A few tears fell. "I thought he was the one," she sniffled. "I thought he loved me."
"I doubt Fenton loves anyone but himself. Don't forgive him and give him another chance, okay?"
Her shoulders straightened. "I may be dumb, but I'm not a pushover. I don't give second chances on something like this."
"Good. Are you really packing your things and moving to your mother's?" He held his breath.
"I am. Can you keep him here until I get my things? I don't want him to come to the house and try and talk me out of this."
Tanner nodded. "Leave it to me. How long do you need?"
Abby chewed her bottom lip. "An hour?"
Tanner grinned. "Since when have you been able to pack in an hour? When we would go on vacation it would take you days."
The corners of her mouth turned up. "I'm very motivated to get out of that house. How about an hour and a half?"
"Deal. You go on and get packed up. I'll handle things here. Text me when you leave the house."
Abby turned to go, and then turned back. "Thank you, Tanner. And thank you for getting Chris some help. I should have thanked you for that before now."
"I figure I owe you."
"You weren't a terrible husband, Tanner." Her expression softened. "You were a hard worker and you cared for us. You just drank too much."
"I'm sorry about that." He truly was. He wished he'd stopped drinking years earlier than he had.
"I think maybe it's time you stopped apologizing. Neither one of us was perfect."
Shock ran through Tanner's body, but it was followed by a peaceful feeling. "Maybe you're right. Now go before Fenton gets other ideas."
Abby turned and headed down the sidewalk. Tanner watched her until she was in her car and driving away. He turned and walked back into the coffee shop almost running into Fenton. Tanner placed his hand on Fenton's chest.
"You're not going anywhere. Abby wants some space to pack her things."
At some point Fenton had gathered his wits and he was in fighting mode. "Fuck you, Tanner. This is none of your business." He tried to push past Tanner, but Fenton only found resistance.
"I'm the law in this town and that makes it my damn business." Tanner leaned forward and got into Fenton's personal space. He had to look up and Tanner used his height advantage to his benefit. He crowded Fenton so the man was forced to take a few steps back.
"You can't keep me from leaving." Fenton's face was starting to get red again.
"Yes, I can, and yes, I will." Tanner turned to the staff behind the counter. They'd been watching the entire soap opera intently and he had no doubt rumors would be swirling before dinnertime tonight. Not much happened in a small town that was kept a secret. "Dana, will you fix my friend and I a couple of coffees and maybe some of those fresh bear claws?"
Dana, the manager, smiled. "Sure will, Sheriff. Here or to go?"
"Here, thank you. I think Fenton and I are going t
o sit a spell and enjoy our break."
Fenton's eyes narrowed. "I don't think I will."
Tanner couldn't stand this fucking piece of shit, but years of training came to the fore just in time. He would have liked to take Fenton out back and beat the shit out of him, but that wasn't going to solve anything except lower Tanner's blood pressure.
"Sit." Tanner pounded his finger on Fenton's chest. "Sit the fuck down before I run you in."
"For what?" Fenton's voice was soft, but menacing. Tanner could see why some people might be afraid of him. Too bad for him Tanner wasn't one of them.
"I don't fucking need a reason for twenty-four hours, but we can call it obstructing an officer of the law. How does that sound? If I arrest you I can take your fingerprints. I wonder what I'll find if I do that?"
Tanner rubbed his chin thoughtfully and watched fury practically vibrate out of Fenton Jacks. Eventually the man got himself under control. He straightened his tie and smoothed his hair. Clearly he didn't want to have his fingerprints taken. Instead he turned and stomped back to his table where Dana was slipping two cups of coffee and a couple of bear claws at each chair.
"Thanks, Dana. Put it on my tab, okay?'
"Will do, Sheriff." Dana winked at him and gave Fenton a sour look. The town was none too fond of the man it turned out. He'd pissed off too many people in the eight months he'd been here.
Tanner pulled the chair out, the legs scraping the old wood floors. "Now we're going to sit here and be cordial until Abby is done packing her things, understand?"
"I understand." Fenton practically spat out the words. "Did you do this? You're a son of a bitch, you know that, Marks? I fucking hate cops."
"What else do you hate? Abiding by the law?" Tanner leaned back in his chair, stretching out his legs. "Seems to me you only like what you can control. Just so we're clear here, Abby isn't someone who can be moved around like a pawn on a chessboard. You're lucky she didn't shoot you when she found out. I applaud her restraint."
"You've poisoned Abby's mind against me. And what have you done with Chris and Emily?"
"Chris and Emily are somewhere safe. From you. I don't want you around my family, Fenton. I don't like you. As for poisoning Abby's mind, she makes her own decisions. Always has. If she thinks you're slime, she came to that conclusion on her own. Not that I disagree."
Fenton's lips were thin and his skin looked like it was stretched tightly over his features. No one would call him even remotely handsome at the moment. "Prick. You think you're some badass sheriff, running your little chicken shit town. You're nothing. Do you hear me, Marks? You're a speck of lint on my jacket." Fenton kept his voice low and flicked at his lapel. "That's how easily I can get rid of you. I hope your affairs are in order."
"Are you threatening me?" Tanner was unmoved by Fenton's demeanor. He'd faced much worse in the Middle East.
"I don't make threats. I make promises."
Tanner chuckled. "Did Clint Eastwood or Charles Bronson say that?" He leaned forward, his hands on the table. "Or maybe it was Tony Montana?"
Fenton's jaw tightened. It was obvious he wanted to rise to the bait, but instead he lifted his coffee to his lips, taking a drink before answering. "I don't know who Tony Montana is. Is he some sort of local hero?"
"For some I imagine he is. Drink your coffee, Fenton. You're not going anywhere until I hear from Abby."
Tanner sat there babysitting Fenton. He should have been out on patrol but he wanted to make sure she got away from Fenton's house. By the time the text arrived, the silence had stretched on for almost an hour. Tanner had chatted with townsfolk as they came in to the coffee shop, but Fenton never said a word.
"You're free to go, Fenton. Just stay away from Abby. Am I clear?" Tanner stood and Fenton followed suit, pulling on his coat.
"As crystal, Sheriff." Fenton turned to Tanner and moved close. "Let me make myself clear. I know you came between me and Abby. I won't forget it. You'll be sorry you fucked with me."
Tanner straightened and tipped his hat to the biggest bastard he'd ever met. "I already am. I mean it. Stay away from Abby. And my kids. In fact, just stay away from everyone in this town."
"I can't wait to leave this backwater turd," Fenton said, his lips curling.
"Don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out."
Fenton turned and strode out of the coffee shop. Dana came up beside him and started to wipe down the table. "Good riddance to trash, I say. That man is just unpleasant."
She didn't know the half of it. He was also dangerous and ambitious. Two things that were a deadly combination.
"Feel free to refuse service to him, Dana. Thanks for the coffee."
Tanner left the coffee shop and headed down the sidewalk to the station. He needed to call Jason Anderson and tell him Fenton was looking to leave Springwood. That would mean he thought whatever his job was to do was almost done.
Tanner wasn't going to let him finish.
* * * *
Fenton paced the expensive maple hardwood floor of his office. Talking to his boss, Lionel Warner, was always frustrating. He wasn't interested in hearing about what an asshole Tanner Marks was. No, Warner was firmly concentrating on the job at hand. He didn't give a shit about Fenton's personal crap.
"Stay fucking focused," Warner ground out. "Stay the fuck away from Tanner Marks. I told you that he's not to be underestimated."
"I want him dead, goddammit. He's interfering in my life." Fenton snarled into the phone. He'd already thought of at least three different scenarios where he killed Marks. Slowly. Painfully. Maybe he'd even get his wimpy-ass son and bitchy ex-wife to watch. There was nothing Fenton loved more than to use his long Bowie knife. He could filet Tanner Marks, keeping him alive for a long time. The man would beg for death.
Fenton could already hear the pleading, see the pain etched on Marks's face. But Warner was being a total asshole as usual.
"You aren't going to do a goddamn thing, Jacks. Jesus, if a sheriff goes missing or turns up dead now we'll have the Feds all over the fucking place. If you fuck this up, I'll make sure you are so gone Google won't be able to fucking find you. Do you understand what I'm saying? Am I making myself clear?"
Fenton pulled the phone from his ear and swore under his breath, resisting the urge to throw it against the wall. As soon as this job was done, he was going to take out Warner and his cronies. It was simply the next step in Fenton's campaign for power. The fact that he hated Warner's fucking guts would make it enjoyable.
"You're clear. I got it." Fenton's anger simmered, but he pushed it down into his churning gut.
"Good. Now fucking listen to me. You know what to do tonight, right? You take this last cartel guy out and we've got this route. The cartel is on the fucking run and I don't want any fucking mistakes. Your ass in on the line for this, Jacks."
No, your ass in on the line, old man. If I fail, I'll be out of here and in the Caymans with all the money I've stolen from you over the years. You'll never find me, you son of a bitch.
First, I'll kill Marks.
"There won't be any screw ups. The plan is in place. It's foolproof."
Warner snorted. "There's no such thing. Make sure this happens. You only have a few more days there. When you're done, I'm sending you down to our Central American operation. Be ready to leave at a moment's notice."
There was no fucking way Fenton was going to the hot, humid, deadly jungles of Central America. Warner might think that's where he was going, but Fenton didn't intend for Warner to be the boss much longer anyway.
"Don't worry. I'll be ready." To slit you open like a fish, and watch your guts spill out on to your carpet.
"And stay the fuck away from that sheriff, do you understand? I’m only going to say this once more, dammit. I don't want you anywhere near him. The last thing we need is a local fucking hero sniffing around in our business. Shit, the DEA is bad enough."
"Got it," Fenton bit out. He was ready to blow. This job couldn't b
e done fast enough. "I'll call you when it's done."
"Don't fucking bother. I'll know when it's done." Warner hung up as abruptly as usual. Fenton slammed his phone down on his desk and took several deep breaths. He ran his fingers though his hair and looked out his office window.
Abby was gone. She'd taken everything she owned including all the gifts Fenton had given her. It was probably just as well. Thinking she might be okay with his somewhat shady business was a pipe dream. She may not be the sheriff's wife any longer, but her sense of right and wrong was as strong as ever. She could consider the clothes, handbags, shoes, and jewelry payment for services rendered. It was easier that way. Make the deal up front. Let the woman know you weren't in it for the long haul but you would be generous along the way.
Tonight Fenton would close the deal on the drug route. Only one other man stood in his way and he didn't know it yet, but he was as good as dead. Once that was done, there was only the one other job and he was gone.
But he would definitely send Marks a message tonight. A harbinger of things to come, so to speak. Before Fenton left town, he would take great pleasure in killing Tanner Marks.
* * * *
Madison and Tanner were heading home after dinner out when his cell phone rang. His expression grew darker and darker as the conversation went on.
"I'm heading there now." Tanner ended the call and shoved the phone back in his pocket. He leaned forward and turned on the sirens and lights before making a U-turn and heading out of town. The needle on the speedometer was up around a hundred when he turned to her. "Honey, we're going on a little field trip. I hate to make you go, but you live in the opposite direction and I want to get to the scene as quickly as possible. I'll have a deputy drive you home, okay?"
Tanner didn't wait for Madison's answer. His foot pushed more firmly to the floor and she felt the powerful engine growl as it built speed. The sirens were wailing and the lights whirling as people pulled over to let them by. She held onto the armrest as he navigated a turn at way too high of a speed.
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