Page 24 of More Than a Hero (Baytown Heroes #12)

He finished his paperwork, then sent a message to Angie. Long day. Just heading home.

Unfortunately, her short but simple reply didn’t tell him anything. I’m sorry. Talk to you later.

Pete stared at his phone, rereading her text for the third time. Talk to you later?

That was it. There was no … I’ll see you soon, or I can’t wait to see you, or do you need anything? He wasn’t sure why he wanted more, but for some indescribable reason, he did. Yet his own text had been just as brief.

His fingers drummed absently against the steering wheel as he debated stopping by her place on his way home.

Angie’s house sat between the station and his, a natural detour that wouldn’t take him more than five minutes.

But her message hadn’t exactly been an invitation.

If she’d wanted him to drop by, wouldn’t she have said so?

He sighed heavily, rolling his shoulders to loosen the tension gripping them. He’d never been the kind of guy to second-guess himself, but somehow, Angie had him overthinking every damn thing. In the end, he kept driving, pushing aside the urge to turn down her street.

By the time he pulled onto his own driveway, his mind was tangled in a mess of thoughts.

Relationships were complicated—at least, the real ones were.

The ones that mattered. And maybe that was what scared him a little.

He and Angie had been easy from the start.

Good chemistry, incredible sex, and an effortless way of working together on their project.

She listened to him without judgment, never tried to change him, and made him feel like who he was, even flaws and all, was enough.

But it had only been a few weeks. Was that just the so-called honeymoon phase? And what the hell did he even know about a honeymoon phase? He hadn’t exactly been the poster boy for long-term relationships.

His grip on the steering wheel tightened… then immediately loosened when his gaze landed on the car parked in his driveway. His breath caught at the sight. Angie.

A slow smile tugged at his lips as he shoved the truck into park.

Before he could even get the door fully open, she was stepping out of her car, bending over the passenger seat to grab something.

He barely registered the cool night air as he crossed the distance between them.

By the time she stood with a large paper bag in her arms, he was there.

She looked up at him, nerves flickering in her eyes… or maybe it was uncertainty. Her gaze mirrored his, and he didn’t like it. When it came to him, he wanted her to feel nothing but confident.

“I brought some dinner,” she said, her voice soft. “I knew it was a bad day. Cora called me and told me what was happening.”

Pete huffed out a chuckle, reaching for the bag. “Looks like our medical examiner has decided to play matchmaker.”

Cora Wadsworth was as dedicated as they came, but like Pete, she wasn’t exactly an open book. The fact that she’d gone out of her way to make sure Angie knew what kind of day he’d had? That said a lot. And maybe it meant Cora thought Angie was sticking around.

He wasn’t sure why that thought hit him square in the chest, but it did. Love changes all of us. The thought came unbidden, making him jolt inside. Love? No, not yet. It was too soon. But falling… maybe that was happening. Shit…

“Pete?”

Angie’s voice pulled him back, her forehead creased in concern.

He shook himself. “Sorry. My brain’s running in too many directions.”

She let out a breath, shifting her purse onto her shoulder. “I just thought maybe you hadn’t eaten since breakfast, so I wanted to make sure you had something. I’m not inviting myself in,” she added quickly, the nerves he’d seen earlier flashing again. “I just wanted to see you. Even for a minute.”

Dammit. He’d made her feel like she wasn’t welcome, and that was the last thing he wanted. He took a step closer, bent as he lowered his voice, and said, “Angie, I’m glad you’re here. And there’s no way I’m letting you go anywhere else tonight.”

Before she could reply, he leaned in and brushed his lips against hers. A soft, fleeting kiss—just enough to feel the warmth of her mouth before he pulled back. With his free hand, he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and guided her toward the house.

Inside, he set the bag on the kitchen counter, glancing around. He wasn’t worried about any messes since he kept his place neat. But compared to hers, it lacked personality. No cozy touches, no small details that made it feel like home. Just a place to sleep, eat, and go back to work.

“It’s small,” he admitted. “But it works for me.”

Angie smiled, looking around. “The house is adorable. And the yard… I’m guessing the landlord takes care of that?”

He shook his head. “I do it. Maintenance, too. Keeps my rent from going up.”

“I like it.” She turned to face him fully. “It fits you.”

He nodded. “I don’t need a lot of space. I don’t have a lot of… stuff.”

She tilted her head. “Because you don’t like clutter? Or because you don’t let yourself settle?”

He stilled. He could tell she wasn’t asking to pry, but because she really wanted to know him better.

Before he could answer, she gestured toward the counter. “Let me heat this up.”

He hesitated. “Would you mind if I took a shower first? I smell like a long day in heavy gear.”

She laughed, rising on her toes to rest her hands on his shoulders. “I wasn’t going to say anything, but…”

He groaned as she leaned in, pressing her lips to his. Her tongue darted out in a quick, teasing lick before she stepped back. Christ. His cock twitched in response, a slow throb of heat pooling low in his stomach.

She knew exactly what she was doing. “Go on,” she urged, her grin downright wicked.

With a muttered curse, he kissed her forehead and headed down the hall. In his bedroom, he secured his weapon, stripped off his uniform, and grabbed clean boxers, sweats, and a T-shirt. Then he stepped into the bathroom, turned on the water, and let it run until steam curled into the air.

The moment he stepped under the spray, tension began to unwind from his muscles.

He braced his hands against the tiled wall, letting the massaging showerhead do its job.

This was one of the few things he’d upgraded in the rental—no soft rainwater nonsense for him.

He needed pressure and force to dig into his muscles and strip away the day. He exhaled, tilting his head back?—

The sound of the shower door sliding snapped his eyes open. Cool air hit his back as he shifted. He turned, and his heart slammed against his ribs.

And then she was there. Completely, stunningly naked. A slow, knowing smile curved her lips as she stepped carefully into the shower. “I thought maybe I could make a long day even better than just bringing dinner.”

Pete swallowed hard, heat roaring through his blood. He reached for her, his voice rough with need. “Angie, sweetheart, just seeing you makes any day better. Knowing you brought food warms my heart. And seeing you now, like this? You’re rocking my world.”

Her smile widened, a spark of mischief in her eyes. And just like that, the rest of the day faded into the background.

Steam curled in thick tendrils around them, the heat from the shower matching the heat simmering between their bodies. Pete stood under the spray, watching as rivulets of water cascaded over Angie’s bare skin, glistening against her curves. Every inch of her was breathtaking.

She reached for him first, her soft fingers trailing over his chest, her nails scraping lightly as she moved downward. The simple touch sent a tremor of desire racing through his veins. “Let me take care of you,” she murmured, pressing her lips against his collarbone before moving lower.

Pete caught her chin, tilting her face up to his. “You already are,” he rasped before claiming her mouth with his.

He took his time kissing her, slow and deep, pouring everything he felt into the press of his lips.

His hands explored, tracing the elegant lines of her back, the curve of her waist, the swell of her hips.

When his fingers brushed against her slightly swollen knee, he paused, brows pulling together.

“Does it hurt?” he asked, voice rough with concern.

She shook her head. “It’s just a little stiff.”

He dropped to one knee, ignoring his own desire for a moment as he took her leg in his hands, rubbing slow, firm circles over her knee. “Let me help.”

Her lips parted on a breathy sigh. “That feels good,” she admitted.

He continued massaging the sore joint, his hands gentle. He’d seen the way she favored her knee earlier, and he didn’t like it. If she was in pain, he wanted to ease it, to take the burden off her however he could.

Her fingers threaded through his damp hair, tugging lightly until he looked up at her. “You’re amazing, you know that?”

He grinned, pressing a kiss to the inside of her thigh before rising to his feet. “I know,” he teased, sliding his arms around her waist and pulling her flush against him. “But keep saying it. I like hearing it.”

She laughed, the sound vibrating against his chest, but her amusement faded the second he dipped his head and took a peaked nipple between his lips. He flicked his tongue against it, savoring the way she gasped and arched against him.

Moving between her breasts, he feasted on her soft skin, nipping and sucking until she panted with need. Her fingers dug into his shoulders, and he groaned, loving the feel of her nails biting into his skin.

Pete lifted her easily, bracing her against the shower wall as she wrapped her legs around his waist. The warmth of her body and the slick heat of her core pressing against him had him nearly losing his mind.

“Wait,” she whispered, breathless.

His body tensed, and every muscle coiled tight. “What’s wrong?”

She cupped his face. “Nothing. Just… do we have a condom?”

Pete froze. He hadn’t even thought about it. “Shit. I don’t have one in here.”

Angie bit her lip, then shook her head. “I’ve been on the pill for a while, and I’m clean. Are you…?”

“Yeah.” His grip on her tightened. “I’m clean. Tested for work.”

Relief and need flickered in her eyes. “Then I want this,” she whispered, brushing her lips over his. “I want you.”

A growl rumbled in his chest, and he didn’t hesitate. His gaze locked onto hers, asking for permission one last time. She nodded, her pupils blown wide with desire. With one swift thrust, he buried himself inside her.

A strangled cry escaped her lips as she clung to him, her body stretching to accommodate him.

Pete went still, gripping her thighs, his forehead pressing against hers as he struggled to hold himself together. She felt like heaven—hot, tight, perfect.

“Jesus, Angie,” he groaned.

She wiggled, a teasing smile curving her lips. “Pete, please. Do something.”

A deep chuckle rumbled in his throat. “Oh, sweetheart, you don’t have to ask me twice.”

Bracing her against the tile, he began moving, slow at first, savoring every glide, every sensation. Her moans filled the steamy air, and he swallowed them with a kiss, his tongue mimicking the rhythm of his thrusts.

He moved faster, deeper, gripping her hips as he lost himself in the feel of her. His self-control hung by a thread, but he held back, determined to make her come first. Sliding a hand between their bodies, he found the taut bundle of nerves and circled it with his thumb.

Angie’s breath hitched, her body tensing.

“That’s it,” he murmured against her lips. “Come for me, baby.”

She shattered. Her head fell back against the shower wall, her back arching as she cried out his name. The sight of her parted lips, eyes squeezed shut, and body trembling in release was enough to send him over the edge.

A guttural groan ripped from his chest as his own climax slammed into him.

He held her tight, his muscles locking as he spilled deep inside her, his entire body trembling from the force of it.

For a long moment, neither of them moved, both caught in the aftershocks.

Pete then slowly eased her down, keeping his arms around her so she wouldn’t slip.

She rested her forehead against his chest, breathing hard. “Well,” she finally said, her voice drowsy and sated. “That was… incredible.”

Pete huffed a laugh, pressing a kiss to her damp hair. “Yeah. I’m keeping you.”

She tilted her head, giving him a teasing smirk. “Oh? That a fact?”

“Damn right.” He kissed her again, slower this time, pouring all his emotions into it.

They stayed under the spray a little longer, letting the warmth wash over them, before finally stepping out. Pete grabbed a towel, wrapping it around her first before taking another for himself.

They dressed in comfortable clothes—he in sweats and a T-shirt, and she in one of his old shirts that swallowed her frame—and made their way back to the kitchen.

The scent of the food she’d brought still lingered in the air, but Pete barely cared about eating anymore.

Angie moved to heat their dinner, and he stepped behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist and pressing a kiss to the side of her neck. She hummed in contentment, leaning into him.

“Thank you,” he murmured.

“For what?”

“For being here. For taking care of me. For…” He hesitated, then finally admitted, “For making me feel like I’m not in this alone.”

She turned in his arms, resting a hand against his cheek. “You’re not.”

Something shifted between them at that moment. Something deeper than lust, more profound than just desire. Pete wasn’t sure if it was love yet. But he was sure of one thing. Whatever this was between them, it was real. And he wasn’t letting go.