Page 39 of Embers of You (Amity #1)
Sutton
Waking up in Jameson’s arms while our dogs both snore on the ground below us is something new, something I would have never expected to happen. But I showed up last night, and now here we are. We’ve never stayed the night together, but it felt right.
This feels even more right.
I snuggle into him even more and he stirs, pulling me tightly against him. Our naked bodies are pressed together because we didn’t bother putting any clothes on last night. I don’t usually sleep naked, and I’ve definitely never felt comfortable enough to do it with someone else.
Jameson isn’t just someone else, though. He’s become so much more than that.
“How’d you sleep?” His voice is so much deeper in the morning, and I’m a little ashamed at how something as simple as that has me turned on and wanting him again.
“Better than expected,” I answer with my lips grazing his skin.
“Any particular reason you think?”
“Hm.” I pretend to think. “No, nothing comes to mind.”
“Nothing at all?”
“Nope, not a single thing.”
He rolls me onto my back as I giggle, feeling his hard length against me and I can’t help but roll my hips into him.
“If that’s the case, then why’re you trying to rub yourself against me?” He raises an eyebrow.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I run my foot up the back of his leg before hooking it around his waist.
“Not at all?”
“Nope.”
“So you don’t want me to push my dick inside your soaking pussy again?”
I hum, pulling him down with my leg around him. “Why would I want that?”
“Because you love it.”
I wrap my arms around his neck, pulling his lips down to mine. “You’re right, I do.”
After getting lost in each other so many times I finally lose count. We manage to get our clothes on and make some food. I would have been content, not worrying about eating, but Jameson wasn’t allowing that. He basically forced me to get dressed and I think it was to stop his own temptation.
“I think Duke needs another bath,” he says while frying a grilled cheese.
I look over at the lump curled up with my fluff on the dog bed. “You think he needs to be bathed way more than he does.”
“He’s not a city dog. He’s out here running in the mud and animal poop every day so I think he needs one more often than those dogs you’re used to in California,” he says with a fake exaggerated country accent that makes me laugh.
“If you say so; you can bring him by whenever I’m working. I’ll always squeeze him in.”
He plates a sandwich, walks over, setting it in front of me as he leans down so our faces are only inches apart. He looks like he wants to say something, and I just wait to hear what it is. After what seems like forever he bends down so our lips graze. “Thank you.”
Some part of me knows that’s not what he was wanting to say, but I don’t question it. Instead, I lean into his gentle kiss, trying to chase him for more when he pulls away.
“Eat,” he instructs, going back to the stove.
“So bossy,” I grumble, taking a bite of the hot, perfectly melted sandwich.
“You seem to like it when I’m bossy.”
“I also like it when you’re sweet.”
“Good thing I like being sweet to you, too.”
I take another bite. “Good thing.”
I decided to surprise Jameson one of the days he’s working. It’s a bit of a risk, and one that may have me crossing over some lines, but I don’t think he’ll mind. I go to his parents’ place, nervous about being here without him.
I’m parked outside, chewing on my bottom lip, debating whether this is a good idea or not. I’m about to turn around and leave because this was a dumb idea. It feels weird, and I should leave the cute stuff up to him. He’s better at being a romantic than I am.
As I turn my car on, Jameson’s mom steps out onto the front porch and waves to me. I guess there’s no leaving now. Pasting a smile on my face, I step out to greet her.
“Sutton, sweetie, what are you doing here?” She has a wide smile on her face, her eyes are tired and I can tell she’s struggling to stand, but hides it by holding onto the doorknob.
“I came by to get Duke, actually,” I tell her, walking up onto the porch. “Jameson said he needed a bath and I thought about surprising him while he’s at work.”
“How nice of you. Come on in for a minute.”
“I don’t want to impose.”
She waves me off. “You could never.”
Even though I’m not sure if I should, I follow her inside. That’s when I see Duke lying on his back on the couch with his front paws up in the air while he snores loudly.
“Don’t tell Jameson I let him sleep on there.” She puts her finger up to her mouth.
“Your secret is safe with me.”
“I’ve never seen him so happy, you know,” she says, pulling my attention from the sleeping Pit Bull.
“He’s probably pretty happy to be back home and spending time with you,” I tell her with a smile, but she just snorts out a laugh.
“Oh sweetie, do you really not see it?”
“See what?”
“I know my son, trust me. That man is so head over heels for you. I truly have never seen him like this before.”
My cheeks flame and I look down at my feet unsure of what to say to that. “I don’t think that has anything to do with me.”
She smiles. “It has everything to do with you.”
I’m not going to argue with her about this. I want to believe that maybe she’s right, but I feel like there has to be more to it.
“I feel bad waking him up.” I change the subject back to the reason I’m here in the first place.
“I don’t think he’s going to mind. His person isn’t here anyway.”
I nod as she says his name. He perks up, twisting his head to the side, but not moving to get up. “Come on, bud, you’re going to get a bath.”
He slowly rolls over and gets off the couch with a stretch.
“I’ll give you a prime spa treatment,” I tell him and he wags his tail. “I’ll bring him back once I’m off work.”
“Take your time, I’ll be here all day.”
“Sounds good. Thank you, Mrs. Turner.”
“Sweetie, please call me Emily.” She pulls me into a hug, and I hesitate for a moment before hugging her back, but there’s something about her and Jameson that makes you feel incredibly comfortable.
They make me feel like I’m home. Maybe because I finally am.
I park, looking over at the fire station where the bay door is open. I was going to wait to surprise Jameson until after Duke was all clean with a cute bandana, but I want to see him.
Duke and I walk over, and I recognize the tall man who makes my heart skip a beat every time he’s around. He’s not facing us, so I just stand there, waiting for him to turn and see us. When he finally does his face instantly lights. He looks from me, to Duke, and back to me.
“What are you two doing here?” He approaches us, his smile never dimming.
“I wanted to surprise you. You said he needed a bath and I was going to bring him over here all pretty for you, but I saw the door was open so I just decided to?—”
He cuts off my rambling, cupping my face, and pressing his lips to mine. “You’re amazing, you know that?”
“It’s not a big deal, I just wanted to do something for you.”
He looks into my eyes, his blue ones locked onto mine as his thumbs rub my cheeks lightly. “Sutton, I lo?—”
He’s cut off when a loud siren goes off along with someone talking. I’m too disoriented by the sound to hear what’s being said. Jameson’s face hardens. “That’s a call, I gotta go. I’ll see you when we get back.”
I nod, and he presses another quick kiss to my lips and then is springing into action. I bring Duke over to the grooming salon, watching as the firetruck and ambulance drive away with their lights and sirens on, and a pit of dread settles in my stomach.