Page 49 of Wild Card (Men of Action #4)
“That was AWESOME!!!”
My cock feels the same, steeling at the sight of her yanking off her helmet and shaking out her hair. Long brown tresses tumble out, her face flushed with excitement and eyes wild.
Fucking perfection.
I steady the bike, remove my helmet, and step into her space.
It’s obvious when she remembers she’s upset because her vibrant green orbs fade.
I pull a folded envelope out of my jacket and hand it to her, eager to see her reaction.
She gingerly removes the papers, scanning them over, and her shoulders visibly sag.
“It’s true. You applied for SWAT.”
“We did.”
“I mean, you mentioned this before but never said anything else. Why didn’t you tell me?” She swallows, hurt in her tone.
“Because now I have something to tell.”
She continues to stare at the application in her hands. “What are the next steps? When will you know something? “
“Application window closed yesterday, and we have already been contacted.”
“Is that normal?”
“Not unusual with our record. We’re being accelerated to interviews. It’s a formality.”
“SWAT is even more dangerous.”
“Depends on how you look at it.”
“What about the crazies?”
“There are crazies in every part of my job.”
She nods, handing me back the folder with trembling hands. “I’m happy for you.”
My chest constricts at her indifference. She spears me with an expression that she’s not only hurt, she’s scared.
“Princess, I’ll be okay.”
“I know. You’re indestructible, right?”
I flinch inwardly, knowing she’s putting up a protective wall.
Fuck, this is going downhill fast.
“Talk to me.”
“Nothing to say. But why did you bring me all the way out here to share the news?”
She spreads her arms and turns in a circle. “It’s beautiful but unnecessary.”
“Review the rest.”
She hesitates, taking the paperwork, her eyes zipping left to right, and her lips moving as she quietly reads.
When she flips to the last page, she inhales deeply.
“Talon, what am I seeing?”
Her question hangs in the air until she raises her face to mine. “Is this… is this yours?”
“It’s ours.”
“Ours?”
“You don’t like it, we’ll start over.”
She jerks back. “This isn’t a recipe gone wrong. This is a house. A huge house. You don’t just start over.”
“I meant the plans. You want something different, say the word.”
She thumbs back to the first page, this time reading with a shaky whisper.
“This is everything I’ve ever wanted. It’s my dream house. How did you know all this?”
“It’s my job to know.”
She squints, studying me with disbelief.
“Baby, you told me. Every time you visit Ford and Rowan’s construction, you come back animated with the details. The weekend you helped Jewls, you gushed over everything from her closets to her fucking trim work.”
“She has a wine room!”
“Her in-laws are also invested in a winery. And Harley’s kitchen is the shit, but babe, you describe it like it’s a damn magical realm.”
“She has a pot filler!”
“No shade but she didn’t even know how to cook when she hooked up with Ace.”
“Well, now she has a magnificent kitchen.”
“Ours will be better because it will have your mark.”
“Talon, I don’t think… This is way too much.”
I knew this was coming and planned accordingly. “Okay, we’ll shelve it. But fair warning, we’re gonna need somewhere to go when Ford and Rowan’s house is ready. The Whitmans aren’t kicking me out, but they want to speed up their plans to get down here full-time.”
The last part is a lie, but it fits into my agenda.
She nods slowly, confusion in her expression. “Yes, okay, that makes sense.”
“We can consider renting somewhere, but not a huge fan of throwing away two-to-three thousand a month on rent.”
“We can go to the townhome.”
“I’ll consider it if Rosie and Lynden agree to take money.”
“They won’t accept that.”
“Just as well. Not to be a dick, but I’m not eager to live in a place where that fuckwad ex of yours stayed with you.”
She flinches, a flash of repulsion crossing her features. “I don’t want that either.”
“Then we’ll look for places this weekend after your graduation.”
“What about throwing money away?”
“Ace and Harley are about to have a newborn. Jewls and Major have their hands full. Ford and Rowan are about to be newlyweds. Not many options out there and we’re sure as fuck not going back to two separate places. You got any other ideas?”
“I, um… well, this just happened. I need to think.”
“While you’re thinking, we’ll check out apartments.”
“Apartments don’t have yards for Wolf.”
“We’ll find something and compromise.”
She nods sadly, glancing back at the papers. “This is a gorgeous house.”
Now we’re getting somewhere.
“One day it will be.”
“You own the lot on the corner next to Ford?”
It’s a statement more than a question.
“Thought you knew that.”
“You never specifically said, but I always wondered if it was yours.”
“We bought at a great deal. You don’t like it, we’ll go somewhere else.”
Her head pops up. “Why wouldn’t I like it?”
“Not sure.”
“I love it, and the neighborhood is amazing.”
“Glad to hear because I don’t want to do this shit forever.”
“What shit?”
“My time in the service, I lived in different places around the world before coming to Nashville. Nothing wrong with the deal we got to live in the Whitmans’ place, but it was never permanent. You’re not ready, but eventually, Princess, I want permanent.”
At the word, her eyes go wide.
Tears puddle and fall down her cheeks. “You didn’t even want to tell me you applied for a new job.”
“For months, I’ve been watching and listening, cataloging your wishes. It took the architect a few extra days to get those specs over. I waited to tell you about SWAT until everything was in place and you knew the whole picture.”
“It’s spontaneous, impulsive, and slightly irresponsible to ask your girlfriend of a few months to build a home with you.”
“You’ve been mine since that first kiss. I don’t fucking want to waste time on the bullshit when I know where we’re headed.”
The tears come in streams now, her lips quivering. “I want to give you permanent.”
“Then tell me what you think. We waiting to do this shit, or are we moving forward?”
The papers fall as she launches herself around me. Her lips seal over mine, the taste of salty tears and sweet lip balm filling my mouth.
I squeeze her ass, hoisting her higher and sweeping my tongue before twirling it with hers. She gives over control, slanting her head and giving me deeper access.
My body strings tight, wanting more but knowing I can’t throw her down and fuck her in a field at twilight.
“Fuck, babe, is that yes?” I tear away, feeling her heart race against my chest.
“Yes,” she whispers breathlessly.
I grin against her lips and she pulls back, her gaze raking over me. “You’re gloating.”
“Fuck yeah, I am.”
“Arrogance isn’t becoming.”
“Truth isn’t arrogance. Knew you wouldn’t make this easy.”
“Yet, you got your way.”
“I was willing to compromise.”
“You played me.”
“Not a chance. I laid out my cards, hoping you’d make the right choice.”
She throws her head back laughing loudly. I take advantage of her position, running my tongue along the column of her neck.
“Those plans are preliminary. We can change anything or scratch and start over.”
She shakes her head, bringing her hands to frame my face. “I want to go there now, walk the lot.”
“It’ll be dark in about ten minutes.”
She glances across the field at the setting sun and chews her bottom lip.
Shit, I know that disappointment.
“You think you can visualize with flashlights?”
Her eyes brighten and she nods.
“One condition. Jewls, Harley, and Rowan are chomping at the bit to pounce. They show up, you don’t agree to anything. No drinks, no visiting babies, absolutely no ‘quick chats’. I want you to myself.” I roll my hips, letting her feel my rock-hard cock ready to go.
“Why am I not surprised they know about this?” She grins, giving me a kiss. “We’ll be quick and sneaky.”
“Quick isn’t what I have in mind tonight.”
“Then get me to Holmes Court to see my future home.”
Home… the word slides through me, leaving a burn in its wake.
I set her down, adjusting myself as I gather the papers. “Let’s get you home.”