She half-laughs and half-moans as I let her slide down my body in agonizing slowness. Patting my pec, she leaves me to go answer the phone as I follow behind her. Just as it starts to vibrate again on my workbench, she picks it up.
“Hello?”
A muffled voice is audible, but I can’t make out what they’re saying.
“Yes, this is she.”
Maggie’s face is blank as she listens to whatever is being said. My concern surfaces when her hand shoots out and grips my forearm, looking unsteady. I wrap an arm around her waist to support her in case she falls.
“Yes, yes, I understand. Thank you so much for calling me.”
More muffled words.
“Okay, thank you again.”
Maggie’s hand drops to her side as she turns in my arms. Her expression is mixed with bewilderment and what I hope is happiness.
“Maggie, you’re killing me here. What was that about?”
“Ian, he was found guilty. Reese is going to prison for a very, very long time.” Her voice quivers on the last few words.
I crash my lips to hers, celebrating what we both hoped for but were afraid to vocalize too often for fear of jinxing it. The thought crossed my mind plenty of times over the last few weeks about what I would need to do to keep her safe should he be found innocent. I never came up with a good solution, but it was never far from my thoughts.
But we don’t have to worry about that anymore.
“Maggie, I’m so fucking relieved.”
She wipes her damp cheeks. “Me too. I feel like such a weight has been lifted off my chest, like I can take my first deep breath inyears.”
“Let’s go celebrate,” I suggest.
“Yes, please! What should we do?”
I think for a moment, then say with a grin. “Trivia?”
When her eyes light up, I know I made the right choice.
“Yes! Trivia! That is perfect!”
I swat her ass. “Let’s go get ready, then we can head out.”
Maggie pulls me back toward the spot we were just a few minutes ago. “We can start the celebration now, too.”
With a smirk, I rip my T-shirt over my head and drop it to the garage floor. “Fuck yes.”
I wrapthe towel around my waist and glance back at the shower where Maggie is finishing. Picking up my phone from the vanity, I step into the bedroom and connect the call.
After a few rings, Franklin answers. “I’m assuming Maggie got the call.”
Relief and happiness have a smile spreading across my face. “Yes, she did. It’s been quite the weight off her shoulders.”
“I can imagine it would be.” He pauses. “But I have a feeling that is not why you’re calling.”
“Not entirely,” I confirm.
He laughs. “I figured it wouldn’t be long until you called. I will say…this wasn’t easy to arrange.”
“Franklin, I owe you big time.” And I mean that. I'mamazed he managed to pull this off in such a short time. It hasn’t been long since I contacted him.
