by J. C. Wilder
Entering the spare bedroom, she picked up a few boxes she’d stashed there earlier in the week. She needed to start packing and there was no reason to put it off any longer.
* * * * *
Jay was bone-tired when he climbed through the window of the spare room, berating himself for not reminding Emma to leave the door unlocked. It was a little after two in the morning and he was ready to crash.
He left his gear bag in the living room next to a half-packed box of books. A small smile curved his mouth. Little did she know she wouldn’t need to pack up her apartment. He had high hopes of convincing her to stay in Haven…with him.
It was more than just sex, though that was reason enough to want her by his side. Never had he met a woman who was so open about her sexuality and her responses as Emma was. Once she’d gotten over her initial nervousness, she’d responded to him like no other woman had.
But it was much more than that. It was her intelligence and sense of humor that brought him back. The more time he spent with her, the more he wanted to learn about her, her life and her dreams. Things that had annoyed him in other women didn’t faze him in the slightest with Emma. Everything about her turned him on, even the way she ate oatmeal with brown sugar, no milk, in the mornings.
He shook his head. He was in bad, bad shape. Wouldn’t the guys love to see him now?
The bathroom light was on and the door was open a crack, spilling a beam of light into the bedroom. He paused in the doorway, allowing his sight to adjust, until he could see better.
A gentle snore sounded from the bed, bringing a grin to his face. Okay, so she wasn’t waiting up for him, but she was here and that was the important part. He unbuttoned his shirt before he approached the bed.
She lay on her stomach, her backside as bare as the day she was born. Her pink T-shirt was wound around her waist and she’d kicked off the covers. They were half wadded beneath her torso, canting her backside upward, one knee bent toward her waist. Her pillows were scattered, one was even on the floor. Judging from the condition of the bed, her sleep hadn’t been restful.
She made a soft sound like that of a sigh and turned her face away when he sat beside her. She had the most beautiful bottom he’d ever seen. He ran his hand over her soft roundness, stroking and squeezing her flesh with a gentle touch. Beneath his hand, her breathing hitched and she stirred ever so slightly.
He stopped, waiting for her breath to resume its normal rhythm before he kissed the indentation at the base of her spine. Her skin was fragrant with the body lotion he so appreciated and he nuzzled the generous curve of her buttock.
Already aroused, his cock strained against the fly of his pants, bringing him just short of the point of pain. Seeing her here, naked, her beautiful body his for the taking, brought a powerful rush of lust that threatened to bend him double. He wanted to take her from behind, to feel the slap of her soft bottom against his stomach when he brought her to fulfillment.
But first he had something else to do.
He stretched, bracing his arm near her waist, and kissed his way up her spine. “Wake up, sleepyhead.”
Emma shifted when he nipped the indentation of her waistline before nibbling a path over the curve of her butt. He lightly bit the tender flesh between her buttock and thigh.
“Mmm…” She stirred, her thighs opened wider.
“Yeah, baby. Just like that.” She shifted and he slid one of the pillows beneath her hips, canting her backside to just the right angle.
She arched as he slid his hand between her thighs, parting her flesh to expose her glistening dusky pink core with his fingers. Her sigh was muffled by pillows when his finger brushed her clitoris, still hidden by soft curls.
“So beautiful,” he whispered.
He parted her farther, exposing her. He slid his fingers deep into her damp flesh and his thumb caressed her. Her hips lifted and she gave a loud moan before pressing her face deeper into the bed. Her thighs tightened and her hands knotted the sheets as he continued his sensual assault on her body. Her hips rose with each stroke.
“Jay?” Her voice was faint, strained.
“Yeah, babe?”
“Please.”
He smiled at her tone of arousal. His fingers increased their gentle assault, stroking and teasing, and her body shook with each movement. He wanted to make her cry with ecstasy. No, he wanted her to scream and he’d accept nothing less.
“Jay!”
She reached for his free hand and their fingers twined as she twisted beneath his touch. She cried, a long and hoarse sob of release, as she tightened around his fingers.
He rose and quickly removed his clothes before joining her on the bed. He stroked the sensitive skin of her lower back and she quieted. Her body was limp against the sheets, her skin damp with sweat. He took her hand once more, pleased when her fingers entwined with his. He stretched over her, nudging her thighs wider with his knees, then slid into her from behind in one smooth movement.
“Oh.” She arched her back, taking him deeper.
He raised her arms so her hands were near her head and he could balance his weight on his elbows. He brushed his lips over her cheek, her hair tickling his skin when he nuzzled her ear. Buried deep within her, with her soft buttocks cushioning his belly, was the closest a man could get to heaven.
He fought the urge to simply drive mindlessly into her body. His movements were slow, sensual, keeping them both aroused, doing nothing to bring them release. But her soft, wiggling motions and the rhythmic clenching of her flesh around his frayed what little self-control he possessed.
He gritted his teeth as she shattered beneath him. Her low cries of completion destroyed what little restraint he had left. Her body bracing his, he drove into her, hard, deep. The slap of her buttocks and the squeak of the springs resounded in the room. Once, twice, three times… His head reared back and he shouted his satisfaction.
Trembling, he collapsed over her, lacking the desire or the energy to move away. He let his head drop onto her shoulder.
“Jay?” Her voice was soft.
“Mmm. Yeah, baby?”
“We need to talk.”
“Yeah, we do.” He smothered a grin against her shoulder, disguising it with a kiss. “But not right now. I don’t think I can form a coherent sentence.”
He roused himself long enough to roll them both to the side. Lying spoon fashion, he gave a huge, face-splitting yawn and settled to sleep, his woman snug in his arms.
Tomorrow they would talk.
* * * * *
Jay slammed the door of his cruiser and headed toward the administrative offices of the fire station. He pushed the talk button on his shoulder mike.
“597.”
“597, go ahead,” the radio bleated.
“Tie me up on a 10-27 at the fire station.”
“Copy that, twelve thirty-four.”
He waved at the group of medics who were restocking the ambulance in the far bay. Not stopping to chat, he headed directly into the offices at the back of the building.
As he stepped into the blissful comfort of air conditioning, silence greeted him. All three desks were empty and he pushed away a slight sense of panic. He’d been unnerved that morning when he’d awoken at seven to find her gone, her side of the bed cool to his touch.
Something didn’t feel right, and he had the sneaking suspicion that Emma was the cause.
He backed out of the offices and headed for the firefighters’ living quarters in the middle of the building. Most of the staff had their lunches and breaks in the spacious dining area of the living quarters.
Firefighters, they got all the perks.
The scent of grilling burgers assailed his nose when he opened the door and heard voices coming from the direction of the kitchen. As he came around the corner, he saw the ladies from the office seated at the long table. His gaze centered on Emma. She hadn’t noticed his arrival and she was smiling at a probationary firefighter, Ray or Ron something was his name.
And the probie was eating it up.
“Jay!” Tiffany jumped up from her seat and clattered toward him on three-inch spiked heels. He noticed that her dress was about four inches too short.
“Ladies.” He nodded at them but kept his gaze on Emma. Her eyes rounded when she saw him and she looked away.
“Officer Barnes.” Battalion Chief Woods stood over the grill, a spatula in hand. “Just in time for lunch. I’m making my world-famous burgers.”
Jay shook his head. “Thanks, Chief, but I’m here on a mission.” He looked at Emma. “Can I speak to you a moment?”
“Sure.” She rose and tossed her napkin on the table. She gave Ray/Ron a light smile. “Keep it hot for me.”
Jay’s eyes narrowed as the probie blushed from his neck to the roots of his bright-red hair. Emma walked toward him and his gaze automatically dropped to the easy swing of her hips. She looked good enough to eat in her pale pink shirt and gray pants.
“This way, Officer Barnes.” She led him through the doorway and back into the offices.
“Aren’t we a little past the formality?” He let the door slide shut before he reached for her. He was surprised when she moved away, her hand up as if to stop him.
“Let’s talk, Jay.”
He gave her a measuring look. Emma didn’t look like she was playing, not this time.
“Okay.” He propped his arms on his gun belt. “You first.”
She leaned against her desk and ran her hands down her thighs in a nervous gesture. “Jay, I really like you—”
“And I like you a—”
“No.” She held up her hand again. “I need you to let me finish.” She cleared her throat and he noticed that her gaze moved everywhere but toward him. “I think we need to end this here and now before one of us gets hurt.” She rushed on, unaware that she’d just knocked the wind from his lungs. “You’re a fantastic lover and I’m afraid that when it comes time for me to leave, I won’t want to go.”
“You don’t have to go,” he pointed out. “Columbus isn’t that far away, we can commute. Or you can get another job here.”
“No, Jay. I need to go back.” Her gaze met his and he was struck by the sadness in her eyes. Sadness and a touch of fear.
“Why? Why do you have to go back?” he asked. “You said you don’t have anyone special waiting for you.”
“But my life is in Columbus.”
“With your skills, you can get a job anywhere. Hell, the Council is already talking about the fabulous work you’ve accomplished here. Chief Lakeland won’t shut up about it. They’d hire you for the police department in a heartbeat.” He gave her what he hoped was an encouraging grin. “Have you seen the paperwork we’re saddled with? Hell, we need you worse than the fire department does.”
She gave him a sad smile.
“What are you afraid of, Emma?” He moved until he was close enough to smell the warmth of her skin and the scent of flowers he’d always associate with her.
“You,” she whispered.
“Me?” Now he was really confused. Why would she be afraid of him? “I don’t understand.”
She straightened and he moved to avoid getting hit in the nose with her head. “I don’t want to get involved with a cop.”
Jay reeled as if he’d been struck. She’d known from the beginning what he did for a living. Hell, it was how they’d met. He stared at her, dumbfounded. She trusted him, why else would she have allowed herself to be tied up? He knew she liked him and he’d been hoping she’d grown to love him, if just a little bit.
“What does my being a cop have to do with anything?”
“It has everything to do with it. It’s part of who you are.” She shook her head, her expression miserable.
“Well, it’s not like I dropped this on you, Emma. You knew what I did.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “Why didn’t you think about this before we got involved?”
“I don’t know. It all happened so fast and—” She sank onto the edge of her desk. “Jay, you knew I was leaving on Saturday.” She flung up her hands, her frustration apparent. “Why are you making such a big deal out of this?”
“Because I fell in love with you, damn it.” She flinched and he stalked to the window. His gaze centered on the smokehouse where he’d first kissed her. “I didn’t mean to do it, but I have.” He turned in time to see the shocked look on her face. “I don’t want you to leave.”
“And I feel I have to.” Her voice was soft.
“But you don’t have to, that’s my point. You want to leave because I’m a cop. Right?”
His words lashed at her and she cringed. “I just don’t think I could stay with you, knowing that at any time you can be called away and might not come back—”
“Emma, life is a crapshoot.” Frustration laced his words. “I could sell insurance for a living and get run over by a bus while walking home for lunch.”
“Being a cop is a lot different than selling insurance.”
“Yes, it is, but I’ve got thousands of hours of training and other officers to back me up. That’s where the difference lies.” He held out his hands. “Insurance salesmen don’t have that.”
She kept her gaze fixed on the floor and he could tell from her posture that she wasn’t hearing him. He fought the urge to get in her face and force her to look at him, to really see him for a change.
“I’ve got news for you, Emma. This isn’t the first time I’ve been dumped over my profession. Being a cop does one of two things to women. They either chase because they love the uniform or they run away because they’re afraid of the uniform. I may have a reputation of a ladies’ man, but I’ll say that none of them—not one—has seen the man who wears the badge. I’d hoped you would’ve been the first.”
“Jay—”
“No, let me finish this time. I’ve sworn my life to uphold what this badge represents and I won’t toss that aside for anyone. You and I both knew what we were and what we wanted before we got into this relationship and I’ll make no excuses for how I feel about you. I’ve put my cards on the table while you still hold yours close.” He walked toward the door. “If you let your fears rule your life, you’ll have no life at all. I’m asking you not to go, Emma. Stay here and give me—the cop and the man—a chance.”
His fingers closed around the doorknob and their gazes clashed. Her eyes were filled with tears, but she made no move toward him.
“You know where to find me.” He walked out the door and didn’t allow himself the chance to look back.
Chapter Eight
Why had she let herself get talked into this?
The Founders’ Day celebration heralded the end of summer and it seemed to be attended by every resident of Haven. There were at least several thousand people surrounding Emma, most stretched out on blankets as they settled to watch the fireworks that would begin shortly.
Her last night in Haven and she was going out with a bang at least.
Her clothing felt stuck to her skin, thanks to the relentless humidity. She brushed her hair off her forehead, then grimaced when it slapped back in place again. What she needed was something icy cold to drink.
“I’ll be back in a few minutes.” She rose to her feet. “Do you guys want anything to drink?”
Brenda and Tiff both declined. Sliding her purse strap over her head, Emma hiked through the crowds toward the minimart on College Street, two blocks away. She should be able to get back before the first blastoff.
Haven was an all-American town. Kids ran with sparklers in hand, their faces sticky from cotton candy and flavored ices. Their parents gathered in small groups, talking and laughing, knowing their kids were safe here. It wasn’t like that in Columbus.
Every few yards, it seemed like there was a police officer or firefighter working to help someone. She’d seen Jay directing traffic at State and College earlier. Her heart had given a queer little jerk and she’d forced her gaze away.
She was leaving in sixteen hours.
Not that she was counting.
As she crossed the street, a child came out of nowhere and jostled her. Emma laughed and caught the girl, making sure she didn’t fall on her red-, white-, and blue-clad butt. The dark-haired beauty gave her an orange-stained smile before tearing after her friends toward the field for the fireworks display.
With a bemused smile, she continued across the street. The lights of the convenience store were bright and she hurried, sighing with delight when she entered the air-conditioned store to the tune of tiny bells. She pulled her shirt away from her chest and fanned it in an attempt to cool off.
A young pregnant woman behind the counter reading a confessions magazine looked up and grinned at her. “It’s just terrible out there, isn’t it?”
Emma nodded. “If I could only figure out how to air condition the outside, I’d be good to go.” The other woman chuckled and Emma opened the cooler to select a drink.
As she pulled out the bottle of water, she heard the door open again. Not paying any attention to the new arrival, she moved to the candy aisle for a snack. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a figure in dark clothing approach the counter and a few seconds later, she heard the cashier stifle a scream.
Emma turned, water in hand, to see the young man holding a gun on the cashier.
“I said give me all your money.”
Emma stood frozen, not sure what to do. Did the store have an alarm? If so, where was it? The cashier was deathly pale, her gaze fixed on the gun. She curled her arm protectively over her swollen belly. Her other hand was shaking so hard, she couldn’t get the register open.
“Move it, bitch.” The man snarled and gestured at the register with the gun. “Open it or I’ll shoot you and your baby dead.”
The cashier swayed on her feet, her complexion a sickly shade of gray, and Emma thought for sure she’d faint. She hurried to the counter to give her assistance. “Let me help you.”
“Who the fuck are you?” The man’s gaze darted around the store as if looking for others lurking behind the stand of cheese doodles and snack cakes.
“Just a customer.” Emma held out her hands to show that she carried only the bottle of water. “I just want to help.” She glanced at the cashier. “You’ve really scared her.”