by Lis Lucassen
Epilogue
One year later
The sun cast its timid rays of light through the attic window. The beams danced across the dark wooden floor and traced mysterious patterns on the walls. Behind her, Dan snuggled up to her, his chest against her back and his arm possessively draped across her waist. His thumb lightly caressed the space where her breasts fell.
“What time is it?” His voice was a bit hoarse. She loved the way his voice sounded in the morning.
“Early. Eight-thirty.”
“You nervous?”
Lynn shook her head. “No. It’s all beyond my control now, anyway. It is what it is.”
Dan propped himself up and kissed her bare shoulder. She turned around and pushed him onto his back before she covered his body with hers. Under her ear, she heard Dan’s heart beat out its steady and calm rhythm. Slowly, she turned her face to kiss the jagged skin just below his right shoulder.
“Mmm,” Dan sighed, and she felt his hands on her back, trailing down to her behind. “I’m not saying no to that…”
Lynn straddled him, took his face between her hands, and kissed him. At the beginning, she went slow, careful to build up the tension in the same pace as she felt Dan come to life between her legs. He slipped his hands around her hips and entered her unhurriedly. Tantalizingly slow.
This feeling of having him so close, the crackling sexual tension building between them and the total, blissful satisfaction afterwards – she’d never take this for granted. It made her heart contract almost painfully, overflowing with a feeling she couldn’t describe. It was more than love. It was the realization that she’d found someone who knew her deepest secrets and yet chose to be with her one hundred percent.
Dan took over and dictated the tempo now, taking her all the way to the top. He ran his thumbs up her ribcage and cupped her breasts. He closed his eyes and took her with him to the end of the world and back.
When she’d had enough time to catch her breath, Lynn slipped out of bed. She sauntered over to the chair where Dan had put his bathrobe and bumped her toe against the sports bag that he’d left there in the middle of the room. Sleeping socks were a thing of the past. Dan kept her warm at night. In all likelihood, his sweaty basketball uniform was still stuffed inside. He could be quite sloppy with his laundry. She shoved the bag toward him with her foot.
“Smells like something died inside this bag.”
Dan sat up. “Playing sports means sweating a lot, baby.” He cocked his eyebrows. “You still got something to say? Means I didn’t take your breath away enough. Come back to bed, then.” He patted the comforter next to him.
“Yeah, yeah. I’m gonna hit the shower.”
“What a coincidence. Me too!” He flung back the comforter and leapt gracefully out of bed.
“Uh-huh.” Lynn laughed and rushed out of the room and down the stairs. It was a good thing that Dan’s parents and Jason had left for a short vacation after Dan’s graduation party, or they’d have woken up the entire house.
By eleven, they were finally in the car and ready to leave. Dan was driving, his fingers drumming along to the song playing on the radio. By now, she knew he only did this when he was nervous. Lynn recognized John Mayer’s Your Body is a Wonderland. She stared out of the window herself, her eyes on the landscape flashing by and her mind trying to focus on the lyrics instead of the nagging insecurity she’d have to face this afternoon.
And if you want love, we’ll make it – swim in a deep sea of blankets. Take all your big plans and break ‘em… this is bound to be a while.
Dan turned into the parking garage belonging to the courthouse and the transmission fizzed out into static. He turned the radio off and looked left and right for a parking spot.
Lynn felt her legs shake when she got out. Fortunately, Dan was there to support her. He took her hand and led her along toward the elevator bank. They traveled up to the third floor. The public prosecutor was waiting for them there.
“Are you ready for this?” His calm baritone boomed down the long hallway. In the back, a few people turned their heads to look at them.
“No, I’m not,” she replied honestly. “But at least it’s easier than last time.” Because last time, she’d had to tell her story in court, where Rodney was staring daggers at her back and Aunt Elsie’s continuous crying had been the backdrop to her testimony. After the hearing, her aunt and uncle had joined her to go to the cemetery, where Aunt Elsie had thanked her.
“Esmee deserves this,” her mom had said, followed by: “I’m so proud of you.”
Those words had convinced her that she could do this – another day in court. More questions fired off at her by Rodney’s defense attorney. Her family’s support and Dan’s presence would guide her on her path in this cold, giant room. If she got into trouble, if she ever felt like she would break down crying, all she had to do was look at Dan. All would be well. He’d been there for her all this time, during the long wait as they were putting together a court case.
The public prosecutor patted her on the shoulder encouragingly. Dan kept holding her hand when they followed the prosecutor into the courtroom. Her parents, aunt, and uncle were already there. Lynn took a seat next to her mom. Dan let go of her hand and folded his hands in his lap. He was wearing the polo shirt they’d picked together at the store. The light colors made his eyes seem darker. Lynn briefly touched his bare arm. He leaned sideways and pressed a quick kiss to her cheek.
Lynn’s gaze drifted to the table up front. It was just his attorney – Rodney hadn’t even bothered to show up for the final verdict. The fact that he was in detention on remand, somewhere in a prison on the other side of the country, made her feel peaceful. It was the peace she needed to successfully pass her first preliminaries. Studying physics in college turned out to be a whole lot harder than studying it in high school.
Rodney’s attorney had tried to reach out to her because he had a letter for her from Rodney, but she’d refused to talk to him on the phone. Eventually, he had stopped calling.
“Decision in the court case against Rodney Blankevoort.” The messenger ruffled a few papers and waited until the judges emerged from a side door and climbed the elevated stage to take their seats at the long table.
“I see your client didn’t think it was important enough to be present today?” The judge sitting in the middle – an elderly man who had arranged for a glass of water to be brought to her several times during the last hearing – peered at the attorney and cocked an eyebrow. He didn’t wait for an answer but continued his speech.
“I would like to stress, in this case, that we have not just taken the offenses committed by the defendant into consideration. We are deeply shocked by this turn of events because the defendant in his capacity of police officer had once vowed to protect innocent citizens. By his actions, the defendant has not just broken the boundaries of socially accepted behavior, but he has truly undermined the meaning of his duty as a police officer.” The judge picked up the paper on top of the pile in front of him and addressed the room.
“The evidence is clear. We, the judges, find the defendant guilty of manslaughter. No legal grounds are present for exculpation. The defendant is guilty of these charges. Therefore, the court will impose a penalty of…”
Slowly, the words sunk in. Lynn blinked.
Rodney had been found guilty. He would be punished for Esmee’s death. Justice would be served. She looked at her parents, at Esmee’s parents. She looked at the relief on their faces shining through the sadness still present there. She looked at Dan. And she saw her own emotions reflected in his eyes.
Freedom. And deliverance.
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Acknowledgments
It’s a wrap.
What started as an idea for me while sitting by the hotel swimming pool in Mallorca in 2014 turned into a full novel in less than half a year. Heat is my first new adult story, and I couldn’t have pulled off this feat without Natasja Storm (my publisher), Michael Mandersloot (my Dutch editor), Eva Moraal, Jolie Teigeler, Marijke Jansen, Marlies Mansveld-De Vries, Kim Mulder, and Ellen de Ruiter. Critical proofreaders. Good and honest friends. They made sure Heat is what it is today – the wonderful book you’ve just finished reading.
A shout-out to Lisette Jonkman, whose books inspired me to relive my own memories of college romance. College is where I found my true love. We’re still together today!
A special thank-you to my family. You are always on my mind in everything I do.
And of course, thank you, reader! Thanks for picking up a copy of Heat and taking the journey alongside Lynn and Dan. If you’re up for another trip soon, then please subscribe to my newsletter to get updates about forthcoming books in the Steam series!
Yours sincerely,
Lis Lucassen.