“When I came here, I was so desperate to find any way I could to remain a cop, even if I was unhappy doing it. If I get another job in law enforcement, it will be because I really want it and I’m able to handle it, not because I can’t do something else.”
She smiled back, thrilled for him. “That’s great. I’m happy for you.”
“So, you see, you don’t need to stay away from me to protect my precious job. It’s fine.”
“That’s not the only reason…”
“It was a big one. Admit it.” When she hesitated, he pursued. “If you still can’t leave here, Genevieve, I’ll move in with you.”
“You’d do that?”
Alex’s face was very serious. “We all sacrifice stuff for the people we love, don’t we?”
“You really love me?”
“I think I fell the second I opened my eyes on your porch. One way or another, Genevieve, we’re going to end up together. Call it fate or magic, but I know we were meant to meet. It may not have been the most ordinary circumstances, but I know you better after this experience than I would have ever gotten to know you through a month of scheduled dates. Don’t tell me you didn’t feel something special the first moment you touched me. Tell me you didn’t feel a spark when we kissed. Tell me the world didn’t move when we made love.”
“I can’t tell you any of that.” She looked up at him, certain her heart was shining in her eyes. “You want the truth? I have my own bag packed and ready to go. Once the storm cleared out, I was planning on hunting you down. Life’s not much fun without you.”
He looked a bit stunned. “You would have come to me, even though you thought I work in a town you despise?”
“Yeah, well. We all sacrifice for the ones we love, don’t we?”
He stilled completely at the word love. Then his relieved grin just about split his face and he walked over to crush her in his arms. “Lucky for you, we don’t have to. We can live here if you want. If you need to.”
“I hate it here, and I know you wouldn’t be able to stand the isolation.” She turned her head so her voice wouldn’t be muffled. “Life’s too short to bring yourself misery. I don’t know if I’ll ever completely forgive myself for the part I played, but I keep replaying what you said, about how my mom didn’t sacrifice herself only for me to throw my life away.” It was time to grow up, and grasp the happiness he offered. She’d wasted years trying to atone for what she’d done, but she realized now how deeply upset her mother would have been if she knew how she’d been living. She’d been ready to sacrifice herself for Alex, not once, but twice. She could empathize with what her mother had done out of love for her. She’d do the same for her own child.
He nuzzled her hair. “I told you, there’s nothing for you to feel guilty—”
She brushed a light kiss against his jaw, and he shuddered. Against her stomach, his cock hardened and lengthened beneath the denim of his pants. She really did resent his clothes. Genevieve slowly stroked his pecs, loving the feel of him, now familiar but no less exciting.
Alex was a risk, yes, but it could have huge payoffs. She started to unbutton his shirt. “So we’re both technically unemployed and don’t know where we’ll live. How does that sound to you?”
“If you’re in the equation? Perfect.” Alex smiled. She glimpsed happiness and relief in his eyes before his head swooped down on her lips. “You won’t regret it. I’m going to keep you too satisfied to regret it,” he promised her as he stripped her shirt off with such force she heard buttons snapping. He lowered his head, pushing her breasts together and burying his face between them. He licked and sucked, causing her to moan loudly.
“Alex, let’s get in bed.”
His mouth drove her crazy, working her nipple through her bra. “We can finish in the bed. We’ll start here.”
He fell to his knees and grabbed the waistband of her loose jeans, pulling them and her panties down with a quick tug. He nibbled and licked the insides of her thighs.
Just that easily, her body was ready for his. “Take off your clothes too.”
“Whatever you want.” He stood with a rakish grin and yanked off his shirt, unbuttoned and unzipped his jeans, dropping them to his feet along with his boxers and standing before her wonderfully nude. Ahhh, yes. She might insist he stay naked for the rest of their lives.
She took a second to rest a hand over his unscarred shoulder, where his wound had once marred the flesh. He looked down and covered her hand. The silence between them was full of unspoken gratitude and relief. He rubbed his thumb over her hand, the stroke bringing her back to the here and now. She caught his gaze and tried to lighten the suddenly heavy mood. “I love it when you follow directions.”
His smile widened. “I live to serve.”
“Ooooh. I like the sound of that.” She slapped a hand on his naked chest and walked them backwards until the back of his knees hit her bed. He sat down with a thump. “You know, in all the craziness we forgot all about those dominatrix fantasies of yours.”
Alex snorted. “Let’s be honest as to whose fantasies they are.”
“You got me. Lie down.”
His expression was full of condescending amusement as he lay back on her mattress. A rush of possessive need flowed through her at the sight of his hard brown body spread before her like her own personal banquet of sex.
“Put your arms above your head.”
