“I love being with you like this,” she pants out, writhing beneath me.
I look her in the eyes. “What else do you love?”
“You,” she murmurs. “I loveyou.”
I brush back the hair sticking to her face, and she gazes back at me with those big blue eyes as I angle my hips in short, deep thrusts.
“I love you, Birdie.”
Thrust.
“It’s always been you.”
Thrust.
“I’ve been yours from the start. I was just waiting for you to catch up.”
My free hand moves to her clit, teasing it between my fingertips. Her body goes taut as she arches off the bed, squeezing my hand that’s still holding hers above the bed, crying out as she tumbles into a free fall. She’s never been more captivating, sending me barreling toward my own release. I capture her mouth with mine, craving to be connected in every possible way.
I love Birdie with all that I am. She’s become the center of my universe, and I’ll spend the rest of my life orbiting around her light, making sure her world shines just as brightly.
Summoned By The Sheriff
The following morning, I get a text from Sheriff Matterson asking me to swing by his office before my shift starts. When I arrive, the door is open, and he’s at his desk, thumbing through a file. He glances up as I enter and take a seat.
“Halstead. Thanks for stopping by,” he says, pushing his paperwork aside.
“Everything okay, sir?”
His stern features relax as he clears his throat. “There’s something important I want to discuss with you, but first, I owe you an apology. I never should’ve put you in a position where you had to keep secrets from Birdie. That wasn’t fair to either of you.” He straightens in his chair. “I appreciate everything you’ve done for our family. I’ll never be able to repay you, especially forreading to my wife. She’s missed being able to do that on her own, and you’ve given her back a piece of herself she thought she’d lost for good.”
“I’m happy I could do it, but you should know it was all for Birdie,” I answer honestly. “I’d do anything to give her peace of mind and remind her she’s not facing this alone.”
Sheriff Matterson’s lips twitch into a rare, approving smile. “I’m glad she comes first for you. That’s the way it should be.” He pauses, lowering his gaze. “I’ll be the first to admit I’ve been a lousy husband and father, and I’m committed to turning things around. That means making some big changes.”
My brow creases in confusion. “Like what?”
He leans forward, resting his forearms on his desk. “I’m retiring, son. It’s high time I prioritize my wife and take care of her the way I should have since her diagnosis—while also giving Birdie the space to reclaim a sense of normalcy. I can’t do that if I continue to divide my attention between work and my family.”
That’s the last thing I expected him to say, but it’s about damn time he put them above everything else.
“As much as you’ll be missed, I think it’s the right decision,” I say, rubbing a hand over my stubble. “Have you told Birdie?”
He nods. “I broke the news to her yesterday, but asked her to wait before sharing the specifics. I wanted you to hear it from me first, and I’ll tell the rest of the team next week.”
Birdie mentioned she and her dad had finally talked, but we got a little sidetracked before getting into the specifics. Then this morning, I let her sleep in while I made her coffee and breakfast and fed the animals before heading here, so we didn’t get the chance to discuss it then either. It was probably for the best so she didn’t have to stress about keeping the details from me.
“What does this mean for the department?” He’s been the sheriff for over thirty years, so it won’t be an easy transition, no matter who takes his place.
The deputies who started with him retired years ago. I’ve been here the longest among the current team, and nothing this drastic has ever happened in all my time here. I wonder if he’ll bring in a seasoned deputy from another city to take over. The problem is, there’s a good chance they’ll want to shake up how things are run, and adapting isn’t exactly our strong suit.
“Halstead, are you listening?” I raise my head to look at Sheriff Matterson, who’s staring at me with a concerned expression.
“Sorry, can you repeat that?”
A small chuckle rumbles from his chest. “I was asking how you’d feel about stepping in as sheriff.”
I blink, pointing at myself. “Are… are you serious?”
