“I see you two have found each other,” I heard my smartass partner say. He’d snuck up on me and was smiling like a Cheshire cat.
“Hey, Manny,” Abra said. She pressed herself against me and pressed her face to my chest. I wanted to warn her my heart was about to burst out and smack her in the face, but then Manny started up.
“My boy here just needed to man up and bust out that guitar. I knew that would be all it took. That’s all women need, some sensitive musician guy to sing them songs of worship and their panties just melt right off!”
“Back off,” I said, trying to sound angry and failing. I tucked her even closer to my body and held her tight.
“Huh, I’d have to be wearing panties for him to melt them off, Manny. Besides, he doesn’t have to play guitar for me. I’ll take my panties off for him anytime. Hell, I’ll even let him take them off me.”
I had no idea what she was up to, but it was nice to see my partner speechless. She pressed up on her toes and kissed my neck, and I once again felt the need to throw her over my shoulder and run off with her.
Manny chuckled. “I get it, I get it. I’ll let the two of you work this shit out. I’m damn tired of seeing you both all lovesick.” He slapped my shoulder and walked out the door.
I looked down to see my dark angel staring up at me with love in her eyes. We had so much to talk about, so much to repair. But she was here, and she was looking at me like she did that first night in the hotel. I wanted to take her home and let the rest work itself out. I wanted—
“Kelly, I need you to take me to bed. I don’t care whose.”
“Abra, I’m really—”
“No more talking. I just need you.”
We didn’t even say our goodbyes. I grabbed my guitar, shoved it hurriedly in the case, and we hightailed it out the back door. Abra tugged my hand to the left, and we made our way through the back lots to the parking garage and up the stairs. She opened the trunk for my guitar and then handed me the keys. Inside her car I took a moment to let my eyes roam over her attire. When I’d seen her walk in tonight, I almost ran. I didn’t think I could hold it together with her looking so perfect, but so fragile. I knew how much she’d hate the surprise, I’d warned Stevie and Aaron, but they said we needed to push her. I was so glad they were right. It took so much strength for her to walk through that door. I was in awe of her and scared to death. I surely didn’t think I would be able to play!
Aaron just gave my arm a squeeze and said, “Just think of how good it will be after you play for her.”
The drive went remarkably fast but still took too long. We didn’t talk. Our hands tangled over the console and I watched her fidget in the passenger seat, her dress riding up her shapely thighs. She looked unbelievably sexy in that dress, even more so than she did at Pacific Playland. She seemed to have put on a little weight and it did wonders for her healthy glow…and was destroying my sanity.
I pulled up to the barn parking lot and was on her immediately. I wanted to climb over the center console and get all up inside her right here, but this wasn’t exactly the right vehicle for it. My kisses were probably a little too much, but she didn’t complain.
Growling, I gave up my composure completely, got out of the car, and flung her door open. Before she could protest, I reached in and swung her up into my arms. I carried her around the barn and up the steps to my house. I kicked the door closed behind me and didn’t set her down until we got to my bedroom.
“Kelly.” She giggled nervously.
I pulled my shirt open and buttons scattered across the floor. She giggled some more, and I realized I probably looked a little ridiculous pulling off my clothes like some beast. It couldn’t be helped.
“You can either get undressed, or the first time tonight is going to be with your dress bunched up. I can’t wait, doll. I’ve got to have you.” It had been too long. I’d been so desperate. I wasn’t going to make apologies. Abra belonged to me and I intended to show her I hadn’t given her up.
An hour later after we’d both come for the first time, I could finally relax and accept that she was next to me. She kept staring at me like I’d lost my mind, and maybe I had.
“I just can’t believe you’re really here,” I whispered, stroking her delicate skin.
She nuzzled my hand with her cheek and kissed my fingers.
“Kelly? I really haven’t been in a good place. I know what you’re going to say, but it’s not just because I lost my mom. Once I got over the shock, it was actually more of a relief because I knew she wasn’t suffering anymore. For whatever reason, God gave her a little more than her little body could handle, and I can accept that. I think sometimes God gives us a little more than we can handle as a way to show us that life is something precious and we should accept it and embrace it in whatever guise we receive it. I’ve done a lot of thinking and I know I resented my mom because I was afraid I’d end up like her. Well, guess what? I have, to an extent. I suffer from depression. I take medication. The difference is that because I got help when I was younger, I am able to work through it and ask for help before it gets to be too much. I am fortunate for that. Mom didn’t get treatment until she was so far gone, there wasn’t much they could do for her but give her medication to try to stabilize it. She never learned how to work with the meds. She always worked against them. And now she’s in a better place. So is Gran. She’s leaving, can you believe that? That crazy old broad is running away with Lila on a road trip and they have no idea when they’ll be back!”
“Sounds like heaven to me,” I murmured. “As long as you are with me, it will be heaven. For now, I’ll settle for this heaven right here.”
We made love until the dawn broke across the sky and the roosters started to crow. I didn’t ever want this night to end, but I could accept it when she said she would stay with me. We still had things to work out. Nothing was going to come easily for us except for our love for each other. That was as easy as breathing for me. We’d have to work on communicating with each other and how to deal with the real possibility that our jobs might clash again. Those things would present us with challenges, and we both knew we’d hit rough spots again. But lying in my bed looking out my huge picture window at the last of the stars in the sky with my dark angel, I had everything I needed to keep my spirit soaring.
