Hold On To Me (Welcome To Redemption)

by Netzel, Stacey Joy

  She swallowed past an unexpected lump of disappointment. His mouth left a moist trail along her neck, and she voiced another concern she hadn’t even thought of until this moment.

  “Do you...um...do you have protection?”

  “I do.”

  The next words she had to force out. “Do you want me to put it on you?”

  Grant lifted his head, his gaze burning into hers. “When the time comes, be my guest. But for now, all you have to do is lie back and enjoy because we’ve barely even started.”

  “We haven’t?”

  Even she heard the surprise in her question, and he went still. Jenny stared as his initial disbelief was engulfed by anger, which quickly gave way for tenderness.

  “Tonight is all about you.”

  He kissed her, long, slow, and deep, until her entire being ached with wanting him.

  “Baby, I promise when I’m done, any comparisons you might’ve thought about making won’t be worth the effort.”

  He didn’t say the name of who she would compare him to, and she wouldn’t think it, either. Already, by his husky words alone, the contrast was blown out of the water.

  Then he went to work.

  In the midst of another incinerating kiss, his strong hand kneaded her backside before skimming up over her ribs to cup her breast. It filled his palm and he gave a light squeeze while rubbing his thumb across her nipple. Already pebbled, it tightened to a hard, sensitive bud. He deserted her lips to lick and nip his way down to her other breast. When his mouth suctioned over the tip, satin slip and all, she arched off the bed with a soft sound of pleasure.

  “That’s it; let me know what you like.”

  She brought her hands up to thread her fingers through his hair as his tongue pressed against the wet material, swirling and flicking, sending jolts of sensation straight to her core. The other side received equal attention until Jenny was impatient for more. Pressure built inside and she needed...more.

  “Grant,” she whispered, urging him up, ready to ask him to put the condom on. The insistent throbbing against her hip told her he was more than ready.

  He resisted her plea, dragging the top of her nightgown down to fully expose her breasts. Once they were freed for his attention, he moved his hand down to raise the hem of her gown. Jenny tensed, though she wasn’t sure if it was because of the erotic glide of his tongue on her bare skin or his questing fingers down below.

  He rose up to kiss her again, but his hand remained at the juncture of her thighs as he looked into her eyes and whispered against her lips, “Relax.”

  His lashes lowered and his tongue thrust into her mouth as his fingers slid into her, her body slick with want. Then he found her nub and began caressing back and forth and in little circles until she was helpless to stop the little jerk of her hips when he’d hit just the right spot.

  She closed her eyes and gave herself up to the pleasure he offered. Unlike anything she’d experienced, she rode the wave higher and higher, to the point she didn’t think she could take anymore. Her breath came in short gasps. Her fingers dug into his arms.

  “That’s it, baby, hold on,” he urged. “Hold on to me and just let go.”

  The wave crested. Jenny felt suspended for a breathtaking moment before her world shattered and spasms of pleasure radiated through her with such intensity she thought she’d died and gone to heaven.

  His hand retreated, but his warm lips nuzzled the side of her neck. As the tremors subsided, she gathered the energy to open her eyes.

  Grant lifted his head and gazed down at her, a tender smile curving his mouth. He trailed his fingers in a light caress along her thigh as his attention roved down her body and back up again, lingering on her breasts. “Do you have any idea how beautiful you are?”

  She became aware that the light was still on. And so was the satin slip—sort of. Her face flushed, but after what he’d just given her, she couldn’t do anything more than smile with contentment. She was comfortable with him in a way she’d never been with anyone.

  “There are no words for what just happened.”

  “Good. Then I did my job. Come on.”

  He pulled back the covers and slid underneath, urging her to do the same. As she settled in, he reached back to turn off the light, then snuggled up close in the dark, spoon fashion, his arm hugging her back against his front.

  Jenny laid her arm over Grant’s forearm, threading her fingers with his. She enjoyed the intimacy for a moment, but as his warm breath feathered over her bare shoulder, she became aware of his rigid arousal against her backside.

  “What about you?”

  He shifted slightly away from her, so she could no longer feel his erection. “I told you, tonight was about you.”

  She rolled to face him, placing her palm against his chest. “That’s hardly fair.”

  “I’m fine.”

  Leaning forward, she pressed her lips to his while sliding her hand down across his tight abs and lower. She cupped his length through the cotton of his briefs and the hard ridge pulsed in her hand. His low groan vibrated against her mouth.

  “I want you, Grant. All of you.”

  This time she took control, teasing with her mouth and tongue until he rolled her onto her back with a sexy growl. She reached up to frame his stubbled jaw with her hands.

  “Make tonight about us. Make love to me, Grant.”

  Chapter 12

  Jenny’s words arrowed desire straight to Grant’s groin. An even more powerful rush of emotion pierced his heart. He could no more deny her request than he could deny the knowledge that he’d fallen in love with her.

  As soon as he shed his briefs, she took the condom he retrieved from the drawer in the nightstand and almost drove him over the edge just by rolling it down his rigid shaft. He returned the favor by stripping off the satiny black negligee that’d nearly given him a heart attack when she’d first opened his bedroom door.

  With her completely naked, he explored every inch of delicious, silky-smooth, apple-scented skin. When he finally nudged her legs apart and slid into her tight heat, her low-throated “Mmm” imprinted forever on his memory.

  He made love to her like she’d asked, building the fire between them with each stroke until passion overrode his controlled tempo. Just when he thought he could hold back no longer, she gasped his name with her climax. He followed seconds later.

  After a long moment, he lifted his weight and shifted to lay alongside her. Jenny’s chest heaved, drawing his still hungry gaze, but each breath came a bit easier than the last. She turned her head, strands of hair clinging to her damp forehead.

  “Now, aren’t you glad it wasn’t all about me?”

  “Hell yeah,” he agreed with a chuckle. Propping himself up on one elbow, he cupped her face in his palm. He’d give anything to have a lifetime of moments like this with her. After stealing a kiss, he said, “I need some water. Can I get you anything?”

  “I’m good.”

  “I’ll be right back.”

  He detoured to the bathroom to dispose of the condom and pull on his briefs, then made his way out to the kitchen for that drink. Nothing about his entire day had gone as expected, starting with his alarm clock going off at the crack of dawn only to find Jenny gone to work, and ending with watching Nadine pull her away from him down the hall only to have her show up in his bed.

  And in his heart.

  He suspected she’d weaseled her way in the day he’d fixed her closet door. Maybe even when she’d asked him on the phone if the new guy checked out.

  Back in the bedroom, he slipped into bed and pulled her close again. She murmured sleepily and snuggled right up against him. Emotion constricted his chest. He was going to have to see what he could do to keep her there for always.

  ****

  “Grant.”

  Lying on his stomach, face half-buried in the pillow, he grunted without opening his eyes.

  “Wake up, sleepyhead. I made coffee.”

  His
second grunt extended into a warning growl. Pretty as it was, he shifted away from Jenny’s soft, smiling voice. He was still tired and his alarm hadn’t gone off. Then again, he didn’t remember setting the damn thing.

  The mattress dipped. Fingers threaded through his hair, nails lightly raking his scalp before the hand lifted and repeated the action. Tingles crept down his spine. Okay, this he could handle. A low sound of appreciation vibrated his vocal cords.

  He became aware of two more things. The mouth-watering aroma of Columbian blend and the fresh scent of apples. The previous evening flooded back; images and thoughts alike. Apples were now officially his favorite fruit.

  He cracked one eye open, but all he saw were bare knees beneath the ruffled hem of some red and white floral print dress. That reminded him of how a light caress behind those knees would make her laugh. Soft and breathy; sexy enough to drive a man crazy.

  The thought made his mouth quirk up in what might have passed for a smile. “You made coffee?”

  “I did,” she confirmed cheerfully. “Want me to bring you a cup?”

  Grant rolled over to take her all in. That dress could only be described as flirty with its scooped neckline and little ruffled, off-the-shoulder sleeves. It was flirting alright—with his libido, which supplied a morning hard-on in the space of one breath.

  He lifted his gaze past the line of her neck framed by loose tendrils of hair that had escaped her just-out-of-bed tousled ponytail. The careless style made him want to drag her down on top of him and mess it up more. With effort, he kept his hands to himself and, bypassing the full lips shining from a swipe of her tongue, met the blue eyes grinning down at him.

  Her cheeks had flushed under his blatant appraisal; a hint of shyness to contrast with the allure of the rest of her. He liked.

  Better yet, in the light of day, she didn’t appear to regret anything they’d shared. Thank God.

  “You don’t have to wait on me,” he finally answered her question. “I’ll get up. What time is it?”

  “Eight-thirty.”

  “How long have you been up?” he asked, though the apple scent told him it’d been long enough for her to shower. Now, if she’d woken him up to join her in there, he might not have been so grumpy. Under the covers, hardness persisted and expanded.

  “A little while,” Jenny answered with a quick shrug. “I’d have let you sleep longer, except a couple squad cars pulled up a few minutes ago, and I didn’t want you to wake up and wonder where I was when I went upstairs to talk to them.”

  He reached for her hand and lifted it to press his lips against her palm. “I appreciate that.”

  A tug on her arm brought her closer for his kiss, but a sharp knock on his apartment door kept them apart. Jenny slid off the bed, and Grant threw aside the covers with an irritated frown.

  “I may have to post hours outside my door. And I’m taking Sundays off, dammit.”

  Jenny shook her head, grinning on her way out to the living room. Grant grabbed his jeans from yesterday and pulled them on. Before he could fasten them and grab a clean shirt, whoever felt it was imperative to speak with him bright and early on a Sunday morning pounded so hard the door rattled on its hinges.

  He hurried through the apartment, even more annoyed when he noted Jenny’s humor had disappeared under a cloak of anxiety.

  “Walker? Open up if you’re there.”

  The pounding continued until he jerked the door to find the sheriff on the other side. “What the hell’s going on?”

  “You seen Jenny?” Anxiety colored Lowell’s voice. “No one is answering up at Nadine’s—”

  “I’m right here,” Jenny called out.

  As Grant finished buttoning his jeans, Chase’s gaze shifted to her. Once he apparently assured himself she was fine, his attention swung back to Grant, eyes lit with speculation. Grant didn’t bother confirming or denying any of the thoughts he was sure were running through the other man’s mind. Truthfully, he was surprised to see Lowell again this morning instead of one of his officers.

  “I’m going to finish getting dressed. Come on in and help yourself to coffee.”

  “Don’t mind if I do,” Chase accepted as he stepped inside. “You and I need to talk anyway.”

  Not liking his grim tone, Grant left Chase with Jenny and headed to the bathroom first. Something told him he’d want to be fully awake for the upcoming conversation. After wetting his hands and running them through his hair, he splashed cold water on his face and chest before drying off. After a quick brush of teeth and hair, he continued to his bedroom.

  The rumpled bed made him pause, but muted voices told him he had no time for reminiscing. He shrugged into a blue shirt, buttoning it and rolling up the sleeves a few times on his way out of the bedroom.

  Jenny and Chase glanced up from where they sat at the table in front of the sliding patio doors as he went to pour his own cup of coffee in the kitchen. He held up the pot for them to see across the island counter, but both declined a refill as they continued their conversation.

  “She’s still working at Hutch’s, but I know she’s been considering culinary school.”

  “Hannah likes to cook?”

  “Loves it,” Chase confirmed with a grin. “And she’s the best—but don’t you dare tell my sister I said that.”

  Jenny laughed. “I won’t say a word to Carrie. You know, I’ve been thinking of looking into some photography classes at the technical college in Green Bay. Maybe for the fall semester.”

  “That’s right. I heard those were your pictures in the shop. They’re really good.”

  “Thanks, but there’s so much more I’d like to learn.”

  The sheriff nodded his understanding. Grant carried his sugar and cream coffee to the table to sit beside Jenny, and the mood shifted in the space of a heartbeat.

  “I was going to show Tara and Wes some of my work, but after this…”

  Grant leaned his shoulder into hers. “Don’t worry about that. We’ll replace your stuff this afternoon and get you set up in the storage room.”

  “But what if your insurance doesn’t cover my personal items?”

  Knowing she wouldn’t accept any money outright, he shrugged. “Then you can pay me back after you get the job.”

  “If I get the job.”

  “You’ll get the job, Jenny. I have no doubt.”

  After watching them with unconcealed interest, Chase withdrew a notebook and flipped it open on the table before pulling a pen from his shirt pocket. He clicked it and scribbled on the paper—the date, Grant read upside down—and lifted his gaze to Grant’s. The look in the man’s eyes reminded him of the sheriff’s tone earlier, and he felt his muscles tense as Chase shifted his attention to Jenny.

  “It might be best if I speak with Grant alone.”

  She shot Grant a glance before asking, “Why? Is it about the break-in?”

  “It is.”

  Jenny’s gaze bounced between them. “I don’t understand. Why wouldn’t you tell me, too?”

  “It’s okay,” Grant assured Chase. “She knows I think it was Roy.”

  “You might prefer we have this conversation in private. We can do it here, or you can come down to the station with me,” the sheriff advised.

  “Wait a second,” Jenny said. “Don’t you question suspects at the station?”

  Grant sat up straighter, fingers tight on his mug as he held the other man’s gaze. “Here is fine. I’ve got nothing to hide.”

  Chase sighed and tapped his pen on the notebook. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

  “What is going on, Chase?” Jenny demanded.

  “Do you own a hammer, Jenny?”

  “No. Why?”

  He scribbled in his notebook. “As luck would have it, I ran into Roy at the gas station after I left here last night. He pulled in behind me to fill up, so I asked him what he’d been doing that afternoon. He said he’d been in the office all day and Walter Fitz could verify his whereabouts.”r />
  It’d only taken their one brief meeting for Grant to deduce Walt Fitz was an unreliable source. Surely Lowell knew better, too?

  “You can’t take Fitz’s word for it,” Jenny protested as if she’d read Grant’s mind. “Roy’s his bread and butter.”

  Chase cast her a glance without turning his head, then he refocused on Grant, pen poised above his paper. “He did provide some information that I have to follow up on.”

  Definitely not going to like this. There was a reason Chase was being evasive and asking questions that didn’t appear to be related. Grant took a shot of caffeine and plunked his mug back down. “Shoot.”

  “Where were you yesterday afternoon?”

  “You know he was with me,” Jenny answered before Grant could. “We told you that last night.”

  “I know he dropped you off at the Dolinski’s at two and came back to pick you up shortly after five. What I don’t know is where he—” Chase transferred back to Grant “—where you were for those three hours.”

  Grant unclenched his jaw and managed to ask fairly calmly, “What’s this got to do with Adams?”

  “He said he saw you threaten Jenny outside the building with a hammer last Monday.”

  “What?” Jenny exclaimed. “That’s an outright lie.”

  Grant absorbed the words. Through his anger came the realization that Jenny had seen Roy that night. That’s why she’d been spooked enough to hang out at his place for the evening. It also confirmed in his mind that Roy had broken all the lights on Jenny’s floor.

  Had he been up there when Grant left her at her door? Had he been lying in wait for her to be alone? The thought chilled his blood.

  “I believe you,” Chase said to Jenny. “The problem is, we have a corroborating witness to the hammer.”

  “That’s not possible,” she argued. “Grant never—”

  “Jenny.” Grant slid his hand over to cover her fisted one on the table. “Calm down.”

  “No, I will not calm down! Don’t you see what he’s doing?”

  “Anyone with half a brain can see what he’s doing, but I can speak for myself,” he informed her.