Page 29

Chapter Twenty-Eight

I woke up with my stomach rumbling, and I was also more than a little grumpy. I snuggled into Beau’s embrace a little more. God, it felt good waking up in his arms. He smelled so good, and I felt so safe. But seriously, my guy had a really strong competitive streak, and that was the reason I was grumpy. Capital ‘G’ grumpy.

I turned my head so I could get a good look at him. He looked more relaxed than I’d seen him since I’d come home from the hospital, but there were still dark circles under his eyes. After feeling him break down earlier, I could have kicked my own ass for not realizing just how much me being kidnapped had wrecked him. I was just so hyper-focused on him being the big, bad Marine Raider and my hero that I never considered just how scared he’d been for me.

I was a total dumbshit.

Then there was the fact that Mr. Hero felt the need to give more than take this afternoon. He’d been waiting on me hand and foot since I’d come home, not letting me lift a finger. I’d started to assert myself, but I’d figure things would work their way out over time. But here in the bedroom? No way. This needed to be equal. I needed to nip this bullshit in the bud! Plus, I liked doing for him.

Strike that, I loved doing for him.

I moved out of his arms and got off the bed.

“Maddie?” he asked sleepily.

“Bathroom,” I answered. “Go back to sleep.”

I waited until his breathing evened out, then bent down, picked up the T-shirt I’d been wearing, and put it on before going out to the kitchen.

I had a plan. It would handle both of my issues at the same time. I got the ice cream out of the freezer and put it in the microwave for fifteen seconds. It was easier to deal with when it was slightly melted.

As soon as I got the Chunky Monkey out of the microwave, I ate a couple of good-sized bites. It was damn good. Not orgasm good, but pretty damn good. I went back into the bedroom.

When I got in there, I couldn’t have asked for a better situation. Beau was sprawled on his back, and he had kicked off the covers. I looked between his thighs and spotted my target. However, painting his dick with ice cream while he was asleep would not be the sexy wake-up call I was going for.

But I had ideas.

I scooped out a mouthful of gooey goodness and sucked it off the spoon, then I put the carton of ice cream down on the nightstand. Beau still hadn’t stirred. It really made me realize just how tired and wrecked he’d been about my kidnapping. Normally, I wouldn’t wake him up because he really needed his sleep, but he could go back to his nap after I was through torturing him. After all, he’d be relaxed when I was done.

If my mouth wasn’t full, I would have giggled.

I moved closer and admired the bounty in front of me. Lucky me, my playground was on full display. I swallowed the last of the ice cream, then crawled up the end of the bed toward my man.

His eyes opened just as I closed my cold mouth over the head of his cock, and he jerked.

“Jesus! That’s cold! What the hell, Maddie?”

I gently cupped his balls as my cold tongue curled around his soft cock. It took no time at all for Beau’s body to get with the program. Soon I had much more than a mouthful to contend with.

I swirled my tongue around the head of his erection, loving the feel of all that strength enveloped by such rich, velvety skin. After a minute or two, Beau started moving with my strokes.

“Maddie. Yeah. Just like that,” he rumbled.

I breathed in through my nose and caught that mix of spice, heat, and male that never failed to make me a little crazy. We’d showered together after our marathon sex, but still there was a musk that was all Beau, and I wanted to roll around in it like a cat with catnip.

Now that he was fully engaged in my little project, I had to use one hand to hold him as I sucked him deep. I relished the way his length stroked along my tongue, in and out, in a mind-numbing rhythm. I made sure to tease the underside of his cock with the tip of my tongue each time I allowed him to slip upwards.

“My God, woman, don’t ever stop.”

I smiled around my prize.

In and out. Up and down. I squeezed his balls gently, and Beau groaned loudly.

Again, I smiled.

He was so close. His heels were digging into the sheets, his body trembling.

“Let up, Maddie. I’m close.” His voice sounded like whiskey over gravel, and it made me ache.

Made me yearn.

This was so good.

“Maddie I told you—” He was using the commander's voice, but I was in command.

I held on and sucked him deep.

He shouted his release, and I welcomed it, still smiling.

Minutes later, we were both resting against the headboard. Beau was done recovering, and I was salvaging my melted ice cream. Beau looked over at me. “You’re looking mighty smug over there.”

“Who, me?”

I scooped out the some of the last of the ice cream and held out the spoon to him. He took his time sucking the treat off the spoon. Damn, I was getting achy again.

“Give me another bite, Maddie,” he whispered.

I did.

He took even longer to suck the ice cream off the spoon.

My nipples were so tight they actually hurt.

Beau yawned. “I think I need another nap.”

He scooched down and pulled his pillow into his preferred position under his head and closed his eyes.

What the hell?!

Wait a second. I came here specifically to give him pleasure and make sure he got some rest. So, cool your jets, Avery . I put the empty carton of ice cream on the nightstand beside me, shoved the pillow down, planted my face into it, and began counting sheep.

Suddenly I was hauled into Beau’s arms, one hand cupping my butt, the other tangled in my hair. He was chuckling.

“You’re asleep,” I protested.

“Do you want me to be?”

“No.”

“Then let’s play.”

He didn’t have to ask twice.

An hour, two orgasms, and one ripped pillowcase, later, I was seriously considering awarding myself a medal. Bonus points for Beau now sleeping like a baby.

I didn’t know what tomorrow would bring, but tonight, everything was right in my world.

* * *

The next day, Ruby called and wanted to know if she could bring over homemade tamales and all the fixings for carnitas tacos. I just wanted to know who I had to kill. She explained she had enough to feed an army, so if I wanted to invite more people, I might want to consider doing so.

That was how I ended up with Kai, his fiancée Marlowe, Ruby, Beau and myself, all sitting around my backyard having margaritas after filling up on the best Mexican food I’d ever eaten. The evening was perfect, not too hot, not chilly, just a sultry Tennessee night with friends.

“How did you learn to make such good tamales?” Marlowe asked Ruby.

“Tia was one of my best friends growing up in LA. Her parents owned a Mexican restaurant. Tia and I worked there during high school and after we graduated. I worked in the kitchen,”

“With your looks, I would have thought you’d want to be a waitress for all the tips you could have made,” Marlowe said.

“Tia was the pretty one. And you’re right, she made bank.”

“Oh, you must have been one of those late bloomers,” Marlowe laughed. “I bet everybody’s eyes popped at your high school reunion.”

“Nope, you’ve got it all wrong.” Ruby smiled. It was a bright, phony smile. “This has been me since I was fourteen. Nothing much has changed.” She gave a short laugh and shook her head. “It’s easier for a girl like me in Tennessee, but in LA, I stood out like a sore thumb. I was not up to spec, if you get my meaning.”

There was an awkward silence where we could only hear my next-door neighbors' wind chimes, so I jumped in. “That was California’s loss and Tennessee’s gain. So, tell me, Ruby, how many more years until your ten-year high school reunion?”

“Five. Does anyone else want another margarita?” she asked as she got up with her half-full glass.

“I could use another beer,” Beau said.

“So could I,” Kai agreed.

“I’ll take a refill on my margarita,” Marlowe said.

“Why don’t I come in and help you?” I scrambled up from my chair and followed Ruby into the house.

“Do you need another margarita?” Ruby asked me.

“Definitely. Yours are even better than Trenda’s.”

“It’s the balsamic vinegar. You just add a dash, and it enhances the strawberry flavor and brings out a subtle savory note.” She blended up another batch of margaritas for the three of us, and I got the beer out of the fridge for the two brothers.

“Every single time I’m around you, I learn something new. Your talents are wasted just being the barista at Java Jolt.”

“Karen is going to be leaving at the end of the month,” Ruby told me. “The owner has been talking to me about taking Karen’s place as the manager.” She poured out the margaritas.

“What do you think about that?” I asked.

“I told him it wasn’t going to be easy, because Jordan has been working there for five years, and he expects to be promoted. I flat out told the owner that Jordan is going to be resentful because I’m a woman and I’m younger.”

“What did he say?”

“Sam said he’d have a talk with Jordan.”

Ruby bit the end of her thumb.

“Do you want to take the job?”

“I really do. I think I could kick ass. I learned a lot about managing a restaurant when I worked at Tia’s parents' restaurant. And it would almost double my salary, but the hours would be a lot longer.”

“For what it’s worth, I think you’ll do great, but I’ll back you no matter what you decide.”

Ruby grinned, and we walked back out into the backyard.

* * *

“How are you feeling?” Beau asked me as he rubbed my feet later.

“I am definitely not feeling any pain. Between the foot rub and the third margarita, I am floating on a cloud.”

It was just about eleven o’clock on Saturday. I still had one more day off before I had to report to my first day back at work since my kidnapping. I was feeling really happy.

“Are you good enough to have a serious conversation?” Beau asked.

“Is there going to be a test afterwards?”

He dug in deeper on my arch and I moaned in pained pleasure.

“Nope, no test,” he assured me.

“Then I’m all for a deep, dark conversation. Fire away.”

“Speaking of that, ‘firing away’ I mean, tomorrow Kai and I are getting both you and Marlowe taser guns. Then we’re going to take you to Simon and Trenda’s house to train you how to shoot them on their land out back.”

I relaxed into the foot rub. “So, is that the serious conversation? Cause that was easy.” I wiggled my toes. He tickled the bottom of my foot.

“Hey! No fair.”

“I wanted to make sure you were paying attention.” He grinned. “Nope, that wasn’t the serious part.” His fingers slowed to where he was just tracing circles on the bottom of my foot. When I looked up at his face, I got concerned. He looked pensive. Not a normal look for Beau.

“What is it?”

“You love living here, don’t you?”

“Absolutely. I’ve lived in Tennessee all my life. The only time I didn’t live in Jasper Creek was when I was attending Eastern Tennessee State University and lived in the dorm, and then my apartment. But hell, that was only a two-hour drive back home. Plus, I had Zoe and Chloe with me when I was getting my masters.”

He blew out a deep breath. “Did you ever think of leaving? Tennessee, I mean? Trying a new place on for size?” He was now holding my foot in a tight grip, and I’d bet anything he had no idea he was doing it.

Was he talking about me moving to California?

“Yeah, I’ve considered it once or twice. Why?”

“I just know how much you love it here. It’s your home. It’s always been your…”

“You’re right. It is,” I nodded. “But I’m not afraid of change.”

He let out a deep breath. “That’s good to know.”

I frowned. “Is that it? Was that the big, dark conversation?”

He leaned forward and kissed me. “For now. It is, for now.”