She let out a soft cry as her head fell back and her hips ground up into mine. It was all the encouragement I needed. My cock swelled, and as I slammed home one final time, my balls drew up and I came.
Burying my face against her neck, I tried to catch my breath. I’d been thinking about fucking her all night. Which meant this hadn’t lasted nearly as long as I wanted it to. But after a short break, I was going to seduce her into a round two. Then three.
I rolled off her, disposing of the condom in the nearby trash can and then tugged her back into my arms. My fingers trailed up and down her back as her breathing evened out. I’d watched her all night at the barbecue. She had this way about her. An easy acceptance that made people comfortable around her immediately. Warrant’s family had loved her. Cindy had pulled me aside and told me not to mess things up.
Grinning, I smoothed Rae’s hair out of her face as I studied her features. I wasn’t planning on fucking anything up, though I probably would at some point. It was inevitable that there would be some bumps in the road. But for now, I had everything I wanted.
CHAPTER 24
Raeleen
Humming to myself, I cleaned up my office, putting everything away in its place so it’d be ready for me tomorrow. It was past closing time, and though I wasn’t going to be seeing Pyre tonight—he had some business going on with his MC—I’d spent most of the day thinking of him.
It’d been two weeks since the barbecue. Yet, it felt as though I’d known him all my life. Like I’d been loved by him that long, too. Not that either of us had said the L word just yet. But I was already falling. How could I not? He was perfect for me. I’d found him yesterday morning, still sleeping in my bed and Penny had been curled up next to him, soaking up his heat. He’d stirred when I came into the room, glanced down at her, and just tucked her into his side more. He’d fallen back asleep with his arm curled protectively around her. He slept with me the same way.
He’d sleep the same way with our babies, too.
Grabbing my bag, I turned toward my door, then froze as my cell phone rang. I pulled it from my pocket and answered. “Hi, Owen.”
“Hi, Rae. Listen, I’m sorry, I know it’s late and you’re probably on your way home, but I got a call out here at the old covered bridge for an abandoned vehicle. Came to check it out and found a body. I can’t get the tow truck out here until you come to do your preliminary examination.”
“That’s okay, Owen,” I told him. This was just a part of the job. I’d stayed late today to speak with a family regarding arrangements for their aunt’s funeral that was only a week away. Otherwise, I would be at home getting this call. “I’ll be out there as quickly as I can.”
“Thanks, Rae. The guys are here taking photos and gathering evidence now. They should be finished by the time you get here.”
I hung up the phone after saying goodbye and quickly changed into different clothes. I wasn’t going to go out into the field to examine a body in my skirt and nice dress shoes. And I didn’t greet families here in jeans and an old ratty college T-shirt. I bent down and tied my sneakers, then grabbed my bag I kept on hand for just such calls.
I hadn’t asked if he suspected a homicide. Calling me out to do an examination before a body was moved was standard procedure. So was taking photos of the scene and gathering evidence. We did this for every death that happened in Sentinel. Well, except the man who’d died in his jail cell. Since he’d already been detained, they’d just gotten him over to me as quickly as possible.
I made the drive out to the old covered bridge off Warren Road. The condition of the dirt road the last few miles forced me go slowly, but otherwise I made good time. It was one of those ridiculous roads that had the washboard effect, so eitheryou drove real slow, or super-fast and wore out your car. I chose slow. I was getting there right as the deputies were finishing up.
“Rae, how you doing?” a younger officer with a friendly smile asked as he packed up his camera equipment.
“I’m good, Chad, thank you. How are you?”
“Doing good. Sorry to drag you out here so late.”
It was around seven o’clock now. The sun would be going down in about an hour, not that the time or darkness mattered when there was work to do. I waved off his apology. “That’s alright. Just glad I can help you guys out.”
He grinned. “Well, there’s another call that just came in. Domestic dispute,” he said, “so the Sheriff’s got most of us heading back to town. Sheriff’ll be out here with you the whole time, though.”
“Okay, thank you.”
He tipped the hat he always wore. “See you later.”
“Bye,” I said, then smiled at the other deputies who came up to the line of vehicles.
I made my way over to where Owen was standing near the abandoned SUV. “What’ve we got?”
He looked over at me. “Rhett called it in on his way out to check his cows in his southernmost field. Said it wasn’t here yesterday.”
I nodded and motioned at the door handle, asking silently if I could open it.
“Whole thing’s been swept, so touch whatever you need. Bit messy in there,” he warned.
Pulling on my gloves, I nodded in acknowledgment and opened the door. He wasn’t wrong. Glancing over my shoulder at him, I arched a brow. “I don’t need to tell you this is a homicide.”
“Nope.”
