“Thanks for the advice,” he replied. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
26
Justice & Boomslang
After parking in Emerson’s driveway, Stryker opened his Survivor app and typed a message to Boomslang. “Hey, Boomslang, wanna get together for dinner? My treat. Just friends.”
A few seconds later, dots appeared, then her reply. “How’s Thursday?”
“That’ll work. I’ll make res and text you the deets.”
She replied with a thumb’s up emoji.
With a smile, Stryker let himself in and found her crashed in bed. He patted Pima, stripped down, and crawled in beside her. She rolled toward him and kissed him. “Hello, my love.”
“Hi, baby. How’s my detective doing?”
She tucked his hair behind his ear and kissed him again. “I’m good. You?”
“Better, now that we’re together.”
Her sweet smile warmed his heart.
“I will always miss my brother. You’ll always miss your mom,” she said. “We’ll never be whole, but we’re going to heal, together. I adore you in a way I didn’t know was possible. I miss you when we’re not together and I’m excited when I see you.” She paused. “Tell me I haven’t become co-dependent.”
He laughed. “You’re fine. You’ve got a case of the Cupids. Me, too. Pretty damn bad.”
Their kisses were soft and tender. He moved over her body, taking his time to appreciate her. He loved how responsive she was to his touch, to his kiss. Her coos grew into moans, but when she started gyrating beneath him, he rose over her.
“Do you want me, Emerson?”
Her heavy-lidded gaze was the best medicine for his soul. “Always.”
Once nestled inside, he murmured her name and her eyes fluttered open. “You saved me, you know that, don’t you?”
“Saved you from what?” she asked.
“Not living my best life.” He stopped her smile with a loving kiss. As she wrapped her limbs around him in a protective cocoon for two, he smiled back.
“Does that mean I’m stuck with you?” she whispered.
“No other option.”
“I can live with that.”
He made love to her with everything in him that was good and she responded with a ferocity that left him breathless. Emerson’s love had freed him from a life of revenge and fury, and he would cherish her for the rest of his days.
In the aftermath, when they were snuggling close, Pima jumped on the bed and stared at Stryker.
“Hey, crazy cat. You’re stuck me with, buddy.” Stryker rubbed the cat’s head and Pima started purring. When demon kitty had had enough, he plunked down at the foot of the bed.
“I know you’re gonna attack my toes in the morning,” Stryker murmured.
Emerson peered into his eyes. “I need to tell you something.”
“Okay.”
“I’m not adverse to children.”
