Page 85 of Burn Me Down

“Oh dear god, Derek, yes.” I wrapped my arms around his neck.

“You’re so fucking sexy. I love watching you.” Arching up into his body, I begged for him to go faster, but he kept the same easy pace, driving me nearly mad. “Do it, touch yourself, make yourself come all over my cock.” Goosebumps rose along my arms as he growled again. “That’s it, Cookie. I can feel it…you’re right there. Just let go.”

Slipping my hand down between our bodies, I rubbed at my sensitive clit. I came and yelled as pleasure rushed through my system.

“Ah, yes! I love you,” I cried and was pushed over the edge again and again with each extra thrust and deep growl in my ear.

“Fuck, that is the best,” Derek said and thrust into me hard before holding still. I loved to feel his release. His cock flexing as the rest of his body strained was intoxicating.

Soft kisses were laid along my cheek and then down my neck and all I could do was smile, too tired to do anything else.

“I love you, too.” Derek kissed the tip of my nose then froze when we heard singing. “No way….” He looked over his shoulder to the closed door.

“Ava,” we said together and closed our eyes.

“Do you think she has clothes on this time,” I asked. Ava had come by a couple more times, and each time, she left her clothes at the door like it was a new tradition, even though we both told her to stop. I gave in to wonder that was Ava and accepted her hugs, crazy stories, and random dance sessions. The last time she left, my heart had broken as she whispered, “I love the Dragon, but I love that he has you Dragonette.” It felt like a strange seal of approval and I wanted to know her story.

“I doubt it. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. We need to get up and meet Asher and Vi before it gets too late. Do you think she’ll burn down the house while we’re gone?”

Derek laughed. “She could burn down the house while we’re home. At least this way, we wouldn’t be in it.”

We were reduced to fits of laughter before Derek helped me up, and we walked into the bathroom, trying to ignore the loud music and wild singing coming from the kitchen. I had so many containers of cookies that the chest freezer was brimming with them. I had no idea who she thought she was making all of them for, but if this was the worst that our new life brought to our door, then I would take it every time.

My long coat billowed around my legs as the warm afternoon wind picked up and promised a storm. Vi and Asher stood by Vi’s parents’ graves while Derek and I stood in front of the grave of my grandfather, Rupert Livingston, and the new headstone I had made, Dora Livingston. I ran my fingers over the etching of Grandma Dora’s name. Annoyance filled me all over again as I thought about the conversation I had with my mom and how she still refused, even in death, to acknowledge her mother.

No matter what disagreements had been between them, there was no need to hang on to all that old baggage. My grandmother was still a good person despite their differences, and the argument was the final nail in the proverbial coffin for me. We were moving away. It was Derek’s contingency plan, but as the days passed, we decided we needed a fresh start, and moving was the best way to do it.

“I miss you, Nana. You knew me better than anyone. How you figured out that Derek and I were meant to be, I will never know. But thank you for loving Derek and me and your acceptance.” My fingers lingered on the top of the stone as tears filled my eyes. “I wish I had more time with you. I wish you’d gotten to see me as an adult and watch Derek and I get married.”

“She will.” I turned to look at Derek. “She has the best seat in the house.”

He looked so dashing in a suit, and I blushed like a schoolgirl as he wrapped his arm around my waist.

“That is very true.”

“You two ready to get going,” Asher asked as he and Vi walked over. She was dabbing at her eyes, but the anger that had once been there was gone as she looked up at Derek.

“Yeah, I’ve said my goodbyes. Did you get everything sorted with the police?”

Asher nodded. “Yes, Derek did a great job with the evidence and staging. Especially where Adam was staying, they were happy to have a serial killer and a copycat arsonist to blame for Jacob’s murder.”

“Thank you again for what you did, brother,” Derek said, and I tightened my arm around him, loving that they found a way back to one another.

“Don’t mention it. We’ve been over it, and I just want us to move on and forget about it. I would do it again, but….”

“You want it to remain in the past,” I finished for him. I understood that for all of us. Waking up in the trunk of a car, not able to move and hardly breathe, had been terrifying. Then, when I realized who had me, I thought that was it. My story was over. More than once, Derek had to soothe me back to sleep when I woke with a start.

“So are we really doing this,” Vi asked, and looked around and then up at the clouds rolling in.

“We’re really doing this. I’m thinking we should head toward Seattle,” I said, reaching out to pull my best friend in for a hug. “I’m so happy you two are coming. I wouldn’t know what to do without you.”

“Well, then, we better get going before that rain starts. It’ll be here any minute,” Asher said as the first heavy drops of rain hit. We rushed for the two large motorhomes, and as soon as we were inside, I laughed and had to kiss Derek before anything else.

“Now, this is what I call an adventure,” I said.

“This is what I call living.” Derek kissed me until I was breathless before I flopped down into my seat.