by Kara Parker
Falcon and Grace stood at the counter of her kitchen and he reached to the cabinet above her refrigerator and pulled down a bottle of whiskey. He couldn’t help but smile; why was it always the cabinet of the fridge where the booze was kept. Falcon had kept his in the same place.
He poured them each a glass and moved out to Grace’s back patio. There were Adirondack chairs on a stone deck that was set into the earth. It faced a thin forest and they could see the last remaining rays of the sun as they poured up from the western skyline.
Falcon moved his chair next to Grace’s as she winced and lowered herself down. She had two pills in her pocket and she swallowed them both with the whiskey. “I never listen when doctors tell you not to mix your medication with booze,” she said with a shake of her head and crooked smile.
“Doctors,” Falcon joked. “What do they know?”
They fell into a comfortable silence as the stars, one-by-one, blinked to life above them.
“Where do you think they’ll send me?” Falcon asked.
“I don’t know,” Grace said, choking back tears. “Probably somewhere very far away.”
Falcon reached over and took her hand and gave it a squeeze. He held on afterward, feeling her warmth as it spread to him. “You know, I was just thinking that no where on earth could be as beautiful as California, but then I realized I’ve never really been anywhere else. I’ve never wanted to be anywhere else. I still don’t,” Falcon said as he finished his drink with one heavy sip.
“I’m sorry, Falcon,” Grace said shaking her head.
“It’s not your fault,” Falcon said, squeezing his hand. “I didn’t mean it that way. It’s just that I’m leaving and Sophie isn’t the only reason I want to stay.”
“What’s the other reason?”
“You,” he answered. “I don’t want to leave you. I’m never going to meet anyone who’s as smart and sexy and strong as you. I know that now. Grace,” he said, turning to face her, “I love you.” He looked into her green eyes as a beautiful smile spread across her face.
“Really?”
“Really.”
“I love you, too.”
“I want to be with you.”
“I want to be with you, too.”
Falcon leaned over to her and took her cheek gently in his hand; he kissed her deeply and sweetly beneath the stars.
“Come to bed,” she said to him, looking up into his eyes.
Falcon nodded and together they walked inside.
Chapter Forty-Seven
They kept the lights off. It was such a jarring transition from their morning of gunfights and death, but Falcon appreciated the dark and quiet nature of her bedroom. He stood next to Grace and helped her out of her shirt; she winced as she raised her arms above her head, and Falcon kissed her on her shoulders when her arms came down.
She kicked off her sweatpants and was left in nothing but a black thong. Falcon caressed her ass and her thigh with his hand, running his fingers over her smooth and perfect skin. Then, he swooped her up in his arms, cradling her as he carried her to the bed. She giggled at first, but when he gently lowered her onto the mattress she smiled and looked up at him, bringing her hand up to his cheek and resting it there.
He leaned down and kissed her gently. He didn’t yet touch her; he was terrified of hurting her. He knew she was tough and strong, but she was still only human and she had been through a lot these last couple of days. But she was less shy. As they kissed she buried her hands in his hair, grabbing on tightly when he gently bit her lower lip.
Falcon stood up off the bed and quickly removed his own shirt and pants and he climbed into bed next to her. He laid on his back and she came over and rested on his chest, her fingers running up and down his taut stomach and shoulders. She was raking his skin gently with her nails and goose bumps were spreading across his skin from her touch.
He leaned over and kissed her as he began to massage her breasts. He wanted to touch and kiss and lick every part of her. He wanted to remember their every moment together so that when he was in Montana or Mississippi or wherever they sent him he could relive these moments.
“Yes,” Grace sighed as she arched her back making her breasts even more prominent. Falcon continued to kiss and caress them as she fell back to the bed. “I love you,” she whispered as he made his way to her neck and kissed her softly before licking her collarbone and biting down gently right at the nape of her neck. She dug her fingers into his back as she shuddered from his touch and whispered the word yes over and over again.
Falcon slipped into bed next her and hovered over her. His fingers teased with the edges of her thong as he slipped underneath it and gently stroked his fingers up and down her skin without going inside. She moaned in pleasure and arched her hips trying to urge him inside, but he held himself back
He pulled his hand out and began to stroke her over the thin fabric of her thong and she moaned in frustration. He was massaging her breasts and kissing her neck until she grabbed his hair and pulled him up to her mouth where she greedily kissed him. She slipped her tongue under and over his and sucked on his lower lip and his cock grew.
He was already hard. His blood was pounding and some animal part of him was ready for her, right then and there. Just lying down next to her made him hard and touching her only made him want her more. She was so beautiful and so good in bed. It wasn’t fair. If only she had been a good cop but a bad lover, if only she had been smart, but ugly. But, no, Falcon wasn’t going to be so lucky. Grace was hot and smart and sexy and fantastic in bed; she was everything he had ever wanted.
He forced himself to stop thinking about it. He had one last night with Grace and he didn’t want to ruin it by focusing on the future he would have without her. He wanted to be present, to be in the here and now with her. He wanted to focus on every detail, every muscle twitch, every gasp and sigh, every movement from her beautiful body.
He moved down the bed and settled himself between her legs. He leaned over and he kissed her breasts and then kissed his way down her stomach. He kissed her sensitive inner thigh and he felt her shudder with pleasure when his tongue touched skin. She moaned loudly as Falcon slipped his tongue inside of her. He knew where her clit was, but he was in no rush. He slipped his tongue over her in long, lazy, slow strokes.
“Falcon, yes that feels so good,’ Grace moaned. She arched her back up off the bed as his tongue slipped slowly over her clit and then came back for more. Her hands were wrapped up in his hair and she was almost sobbing from how good it was. “Yes, yes. Falcon please,” she whispered. She was wet, ready for him.
He could sense and taste how close she was to coming. A little attention to her clit and she would be pushed over the edge, but he didn’t want her to go over the edge yet. He wanted her to stay on this side as long as he could.
He felt her body tense beneath his and then he stroked her again and she tensed even more before he stopped. She gasped and her eyes flung open and she looked at him in confusion as he came up and kissed his way up her body.
“I want you to wait for me,” he whispered into her ear as he kissed and nibbled on her neck. She let out a low moan of frustration, but he knew there was nothing she could do. He lay down next to her and her hand snaked low and she began to gently stroke his cock, her fingers taking the shaft and then slowly travelling over the head, making him moan loudly with her every gesture.
She nibbled on his shoulder and kissed his neck as her fingers continued to work their magic. Her hands on him felt wonderful and Falcon could have easily let himself go with her touch alone. But he wanted to come inside her. He wanted his cock buried in her when he came; he wanted Grace wrapped up in his arms.
Falcon pulled her hand off him and kissed her. He moved so he was kneeling between her legs and drew his finger up her wet center as she shuddered and whispered his name. He reached into her bedside table and found a condom which he tore open and rolled over his hard cock.
She lifted her kne
es and he gently pushed himself inside of her. The sensation of her tight wet body around him was almost too much and he groaned loudly as she took all of him in. He sunk deep into her and then pulled all the way before pushing himself inside of her again. Grace was splayed out beneath him, her breasts heaving and her face flushed. She looked sublimely beautiful.
He moved his hand and began to gently stroke her and he watched as she gasped and pleasure spread through her body. There was something about the way her body reacted to his touch that drove Falcon crazy. She didn’t hide anything or hold anything back; she wasn’t shy or embarrassed; she was perfect.
“Falcon, yes,” she whispered. He slowed his strokes down, matching the slow pace of his fingers with the slow pace of his thrusts as he worked inside of her. He took his time. He held himself back moving slowly in and out of her as his pleasure grew.
“Oh God, Falcon. Yes!” Grace whispered as her hands ran up and down his chest and over his shoulders. “Oh. That feels so good.” But still he made her wait. He was barely touching her, his fingers just the ghost of a touch as forced her to wait.
She was moaning and crying out beneath him, writhing against him for a stronger touch. She grabbed his neck and pulled him down for a deep kiss as he continued to thrust into her.
He was close, so close; any movement from her would push him over the edge. He knew she was close, too, but he was still making her wait, teasing out her orgasm as long as he could.
“Falcon, please, I’m so close,” she whimpered as she moved her hips to match his thrusts.
He looked down and took all of her in, her face, her body her breasts, the sight of his cock as it pushed into her and then he was gone. He gave one final long, deep stroke to her clit and Grace screamed his name as her orgasm crashed over them. Her body convulsed around him and it pushed Falcon over the edge and with a final moan and a few more thrusts and Falcon was spent.
He stayed inside of her for a moment after they were done. They were both panting for breath, but Grace was smiling up at him as her hand caressed his chest. Finally, he pulled himself out of her and flopped down on the bed. He took off the condom and tossed it into the trash as Grace turned on her side and he pulled her close.
He kissed her shoulder. “I love you so much,” he whispered.
“I love you, too,” she said, leaning back against him.
He was spent and exhausted and there was a beautiful woman in his arms. He gave out a long sigh and pulled her closed. Her body was warm and it felt so right to lie with her like this. Their bodies fit together too well. It was like God had made them for each other. They were perfect together; it was the rest of the world that was the problem. But Falcon was here with her now, and that was enough – it had to be.
Chapter Forty-Eight
He woke up to a room filled bright rays of sunlight. The clock next to the bed said nine-thirty and Falcon felt like he had slept for days. Grace was asleep on her side next to him and he couldn’t help but put his arm around her and pull her closer to him. She gave out a quiet moan as she settled back against him, but her breathing was deep and even and he wasn't sure if she had woken up at all.
He wanted to let her sleep. His kissed her shoulder and rested his head against her. This was what he wanted. He wanted to be in this bed with her forever. He didn’t want her to wake up because once she did they would have to face reality. If he were the only one awake he could lie to himself and pretend that this was a life he had built, one he would never have to leave.
Her phone rang; it was that jangly antique ring tone and it snapped Grace out of her peaceful slumber. She woke with a gasp and blinked a few times before reaching for her phone on the nightstand. “This is Detective Santiago,” she murmured into the phone, and then she quickly got up and scrambled out of bed. “No, sir, I’m up. I’ve been up for hours.”
He couldn’t help but smile at her lie. She looked back at him and held up one finger, asking Falcon to wait. He sat up in bed and nodded. She was wearing a tank top and pair of black panties and he was glad of the view when she left.
He could hear her out in the living room, but he couldn’t make out any of what she was saying. With a sigh Falcon got out of bed and, still naked, he walked over to the bathroom and stepped into the shower. The warm water pulsed on his skin and he closed his eyes as it poured over his face and down his shoulders and back.
He stepped out and went to get dressed, pulling on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt Grace had borrowed from her partner. When he was dressed he walked out into the kitchen where Grace was finishing up her call.
Falcon heard Grace say, “Yes, sir. Thank you, sir. I really appreciate it,” as he walked over to the coffee pot and poured himself a cup. Grace hung up the phone and smiled at him.
“Who was that?” he asked.
“The Captain,” Grace said as a tear slid down her right cheek. She gave him a smile, but it cracked almost immediately as she tried to stifle her tears.
“What’s wrong?” Falcon asked, wrapping Grace up his arms pulling her flush against his chest. She wiped the tears out of her eyes hastily as she pressed herself against Falcon’s firm chest. He could feel as she relaxed against him and took a few choked breaths before she calmed down.
“Nothing’s wrong,” she said. “That was my captain; he said everything is good. They found a lot of evidence in the bunker and Ernie’s lawyered up, but they’re pushing for life in prison and they think he’s gonna take it. The rest of the Screaming Eagles have been arraigned. All that’s left is the paperwork.”
“So why are you crying?”
“I’m not crying,” she said softly, she pulled away but only so she could look into his eyes, his hands were still resting on her hips. She was still his, still waiting in his arms. “They want you in witness protection now. Apparently the Feds are pissed we waited this long,” she wiped another errant tear away and looked up at him.
“Yeah,” Falcon said with a sigh. “But we always knew this was going to happen, right?”
She swallowed and nodded. She looked so beautiful in the morning light. Her messy hair was hanging over her shoulders and he could see her legs and the outline of her perfect breasts in her white tank top.
“What if I stayed?” he asked. She let of a half-stifled sob and fell into her chest. “We arrested so many of the Screaming Eagles. How can they still hurt me?”
She sighed and pulled away from him, and his arms were left barren without her. “It turns out your boy Ernie wasn’t fucking around,” Grace said as her shaking hands brought a cup of coffee to her lips. Tears were forming in her eyes and she kept wiping them away in annoyance. They seemed a foreign thing to her, like she didn’t know what they were or how to stop them. “He hired hit men, a lot of them. He was a smart guy your boss and very vindictive by the looks of it. He had a lot of plans in place should anything like this happen. Money had already been spent on the hit men. He paid them up front to kill you, Falcon. The money’s been spent and they’re looking for you.”
Falcon’s heart sunk. Hit men, professional assassins, Ernie really did have it in for him. The boss had ensured that even if something happened to him, even if he were arrested or killed, Falcon would still die.
“Wow,” Falcon said. “I guess I really did piss him off.”
Grace let out a shaky laugh and nodded at him. “Seriously. We know that he’s hired two of them to get you. That’s a pretty normal tactic; it turns it into a competition. Winner gets a big bonus.”
“But he’s in jail...”
“Jail doesn’t stop them,” Grace said with a shake of her head. “They still get phone calls; they have people on the outside. And Ernie was smart. He must have known that this was going to happen to him some day. He made a lot of plans for his future life in prison. We just can’t trust him not to do anything. Besides, he’s getting life in prison, no chance for parole. What will he have to lose?
“We won, so why does it feel like I’m losing everything?”
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“Don’t look at it that way,” Grace begged him. “Think of your life as a blank canvas, going forward it can look however you want it to look.”
He put his hand on her cheek and pulled her to him for a deep kiss. He finally let her go, but he kept his hand on her cheek as he looked deep into her deep green eyes. I have to remember this, he thought to himself. He needed to remember all of this, her eyes, her skin, her hair; he needed to sear it into his memory so he would never forget it no matter how much time passed.
“I know what I want my life to look like; I’ve already painted that Canvas. But it’s here, with you and Sophie, not me alone in some far away town.”
“It’s not fair that you have to go alone!” Grace said with a sudden fury as she slammed her hand onto her counter. “You did so much for us. You deserve better. You’re the one who deserves the parade. Instead you get nothing.”