Eight Years Gone, page 41
“Are you sure?”
“Yes, Gracie. I’m exactly where I want to be.”
She nodded as she swiped at the tear on her cheek.
“I don’t like that this is the second night things haven’t been great between us.”
“I don’t like it either.” She swiped at her cheek again. “I’m sorry I walked out on you.”
He shrugged because he only had himself to blame. “I came to the fair a while ago, but I knew that sticking around wasn’t what you needed. I saw you with Ben—the way he made you laugh. I didn’t like that either.”
“He’s my friend, Jagger. He and Christy knew I was upset.”
He nodded. “I never want to not be what you need. I’m supposed to make your life better.”
She hugged him. “You do.”
He let himself relax a little as he returned her embrace. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
He eased her back, needing her to see the truth of his words as he spoke. “I love the life we’re making together. I love everything about us.”
“I do, too.”
“Nothing’s changed, Grace. Not even Jason. He’s still an idiot.”
She laughed as he grinned.
“I’m sorry,” he repeated.
“We’re good.” She moved to straddle him, holding his stare as she stroked his cheek. “I miss you. I miss spending time with you.”
He slid his palms up and down the sides of her waist. “Ditto.”
“I want to feel close to you.”
Needing the same thing she did, he wasted no time capturing her lips in a hungry kiss.
She made a sound in her throat as her mouth parted, meeting the slide of his tongue as he gripped her hips, tugging her closer, grinding himself against her.
She moaned as she locked her arms around the back of his neck. “I want you.”
Just as eager to be with Grace, he stood, carrying her down the hall, kicking the door closed. He set her on her feet, sliding the headband from her hair before he pulled her sweater over her head.
Making quick work of ridding her of her bra, he pulled his sweater up and off, craving to feel her soft skin pressed against his as he wrapped her in a gentle embrace.
“Mmm,” she said as she scattered kisses along his neck and chest, lingering over his heart as her hands went after the snap and zipper on his jeans.
“Slow,” he whispered, stopping her movements as he took back the lead, unsnapping and unzipping her pants, pulling them down her legs as he dropped to his knees, taking her panties with them.
“Nice and slow,” he repeated, kissing his way up her thighs, spreading her legs wider as he moved his mouth to focus on slippery, swollen skin.
Her fingers wandered from his ears to tense in his hair as his tongue went to work with teasing flicks. Bringing his finger up, he invaded her with slow thrusts.
Her head fell back as she whimpered. “Keep doing that.”
He groaned as she tensed and grew wetter.
“Yes, Jagger,” she chanted while her hips started to jerk as each breath came faster. And then she froze on a sharp gasp, letting herself go with a quiet cry.
He kept her revved high, suckling harder, moving his finger faster, patiently waiting for her to finish her fall before he stood, capturing her mouth for another deep kiss.
“I want to be with you,” she said before she attacked his mouth again, still hot and frenzied from her orgasm. “Right now, I want to be with you.”
Desperate to sink himself into Grace, he rid himself of the rest of his clothes. Lifting her into his arms, he pushed himself into silky heat, groaning as she whimpered.
“Damn, that feels good,” he said through clenched teeth. Because a week without being inside Grace had been seven days too long.
“Lie down with me,” she choked out. “I want to feel you on top of me.”
He brought her with him to the center of the mattress, settling between her legs as he captured her hands, lacing their fingers, holding her gaze as he lazily pumped, letting them both build gradually.
“Come with me,” Grace fought to say as she locked her legs around his waist.
He picked up his pace as she teetered on the edge.
“Now,” she said in a gasping pant as she tipped her head back, bringing him with her as she pulsed around him.
He groaned with his explosion, thrusting deeper, loving how Grace shuddered and clung as she struggled to keep her moans quiet.
“Damn,” he said again as he collapsed, trying to catch his breath.
“So good,” Grace said several seconds later, tracing her fingers down his spine.
He lifted his head from the crook of her neck. “I was thinking the same thing.”
She grinned.
Smiling back, he studied her rosy cheeks and swollen lips. “This is a hell of a way to end the evening.”
Her fingers started their journey back up his spine. “Agreed.”
“I’m just sorry things didn’t start out better.”
She shook her head. “We’re here together. That’s all that matters.”
He nodded before he kissed her forehead and then her nose. “Hopefully, we have tomorrow, too. I’m not sure what the plan is, but I want to spend it with you.”
“Since it’s Sunday, I think we should be lazy.”
“And do a lot more of this.”
She smiled again. “Naturally. But we can’t have sex all day.”
“I’m willing to try.”
She rolled her eyes as she laughed, giving his ass a pinch. “I imagine you are.”
He grinned. “I’m game for whatever.”
“Does that include baking?”
He nodded. “Sure.”
“We can make Christmas cookies. Bea’s sugar cookies, for sure.”
He perked up. “The ones with that insanely good icing?”
She nodded.
“Yes.” He groaned. “I haven’t had one of Bea’s cookies in such a long time.”
She laughed. “I guess it’s a good thing you came home.”
“Definitely.”
Her fingers moved to trace his bottom lip. “I figure we can make a few different types of cookies. You can bring some to Todd at the dojang, and I’ll share some at the shop.”
He kissed her and rolled them over, so she rested on his chest. “I just want to be with you. I’ve missed you, Gracie.”
Her eyes went soft. “I’ve missed you too.”
He brought his mouth back to hers. “Let me be with you again.”
She nodded as she held his gaze.
He rolled them back over, kissing her as he pushed himself into her, neither of them in any hurry to do anything but enjoy that they were finally together after too many days apart.
Fifty-Three
Christmas music played through the speakers as snow fell from the sky while Grace pulled a batch of peanut butter cookies from the oven. “These need the Kisses right away.”
Jagger popped another chocolate candy into his mouth as he nodded. “I’m ready to rock and roll. I’ve got most of them unwrapped.”
Grace set the cookie sheet on the trivet next to him, frowning when she noticed the bowl of Kisses had significantly diminished. “Those are for the cookies,” she reminded him with a poke of her finger to his belly.
He grinned. “Hey, you put me in charge of a project where I’m doomed to fail. You know I have no self-control when it comes to these things.”
She rolled her eyes and chuckled, standing on her tiptoes to kiss him as they wore bum-around-the-house clothes. She’d chosen black yoga pants and one of Jagger’s old sweatshirts. He’d grabbed his old gray joggers and a ratty T-shirt. “They taste just as good on the cookies.”
He hooked his arm around her waist. “There’s a chance I may have counted out how many we’ll need. If I’m right, twenty-four cookies still need to bake. I made sure to keep twenty-six Kisses. Just in case.”
She laughed as she hugged him, loving everything about their wonderfully simple day. Life felt good again—perfectly right. Or it did where she and Jagger were concerned.
They’d lain around for a lazy morning in bed, making love before a sexy shower, then worked together to prepare Jagger’s favorite French toast with cinnamon apples and a side of bacon and eggs.
Not long after, they’d snuggled by the fire, playing several rounds of Uno with Colton before he went to his room to finish his homework. Minutes later, she and Jagger returned to the kitchen to start the cookie-baking bonanza.
Bea’s famous iced sugar cookies had been baked and frosted. Peanut butter blossoms were well underway. Chocolate chip/M&M cookies were slated for next.
“But I am slowing down,” Jagger informed her as he slid his hands up and down her back. “I think I feel a sugar crash coming on.”
Grace shook her head as she grinned. “Hopefully, we can finish this before you fall asleep on the couch.”
“Consider it done.”
“And you need to save room for pot roast and mashed potatoes.”
He groaned as he settled his forehead against hers. “You spoil me with delicious food and amazing sex.”
She laughed as she eased away. “Let’s finish this, or dinner won’t be happening until super late.”
“We don’t want that,” Jagger said as he got to work, pushing chocolate candies into the center of each cookie.
Colton wandered down the hall, dressed in sweatpants and a white T-shirt. “It smells awesome in here.”
“That’s because your sister’s awesome in the kitchen.”
Colton eyed the various decorated sugar cookies still on the cooling racks, waiting to be put in the festive tins Grace had bought the other day. “Can I have one?”
“Of course,” Grace said as she scooped more peanut butter dough onto a fresh cookie sheet. “Have as many as you want.”
Jagger frowned. “Let’s not get carried away. These peanut butter blossoms are good, too.”
Grace laughed as she noted the possessive light in Jagger’s eyes. “Jagger’s feeling protective of his favorite cookie.”
“You’re damn straight. I was deprived for eight years.”
Colton grinned as he picked up one of the tree-shaped treats she’d iced a pretty green, biting in. “Wow,” he said over his mouthful as he nodded. “Wow.”
Jagger narrowed his eyes. “I see we’ll be fighting over those.”
“Heck, yeah, we will. These are great.”
Grace beamed, loving that Colton loved almost everything she made. “They’re Bea’s recipe.”
He paused with his next bite. “When am I going to meet her? She can be my adopt-a-grandma or something.”
Grace and Jagger laughed.
“I know she would be thrilled to meet you and be your adopt-a-grandma,” Grace said as she popped the next two cookie sheets into the oven and set the timer.
Colton bit in again. “We should make that happen. Grandmas love to bake stuff for their grandkids.”
Grace cringed at the mountain of dishes piled up in the sink before she turned away to focus on their conversation. “I always see Bea a couple of days before Christmas. She’ll be thrilled to have you and Jagger come with me this year.”
Colton nodded. “Sure. Sounds good.”
“She makes an insane Yule log every year,” Jagger informed Colton. “Or she did.”
“She still does,” Grace confirmed.
“Yes,” Jagger said before he walked over to bump Colton out of the way as he grabbed for another sugar cookie. “You’ll spoil your dinner.”
Colton bumped him back as he reached again. “I’ve only had one.”
Jagger grabbed Colton’s arm. “One is a good number.”
Colton laughed, snatching up one of the star-shaped options with his other hand. “Get out of here, man.” He chuckled as he bit in.
Grace glanced from Jagger to her brother as the two grinned at each other. This was her life, and they were hers. Sighing her happiness, she turned when the timer beeped again.
Jagger sat in front of his laptop in the office, confirming that he had everything he needed for his trip to Millsdale in the morning.
He burped as he absently rubbed at his stomach, still feeling uncomfortably full after a day of eating too much good food.
Everything about his Sunday with Grace had been perfect. Lots of relaxation and fun had been exactly what he, Grace, and Colton had needed.
His relationship with Grace felt good again—solid and strong like they had always been. After he and Ray came to an understanding tomorrow, days like today would be their normal again.
He sat up, clicking to his screen saver when he heard footsteps in the hallway. Glancing over his shoulder, he smiled as Grace knocked on the doorframe. “There she is.”
She walked up behind him, leaning forward as she wrapped her arms around him. “Here I am.” She kissed his cheek. “What are you up to in here?”
“Crossing my t’s and dotting my i’s. I’m heading down to Millsdale tomorrow.”
Her arms grew rigid as she stood straight. “I didn’t realize that was happening.”
He nodded, hearing the fear in her voice. “Ray has no idea I’m coming.”
She crossed her arms now. “But he’s dangerous. They’re dangerous.”
“Come here,” he said, pulling her around to sit on his lap, wrapping her up. “I’m ending this for good. After tomorrow, we won’t have to look over our shoulders anymore.”
Her eyes were still full of worry as she held his gaze. “Are you sure?”
He nodded. “As sure as I can be. The information Rod helped me gather is good. Plus, I used to eat guys like Ray for breakfast. In the big scheme of things, he’s small-time.”
She exhaled a quiet sigh as she nodded. “Promise you’ll be safe.”
He kissed her. “Always. We have a life to get back to.”
She pressed her lips to his this time before she stood. “I’ll let you get back to what you’re doing.”
“I shouldn’t be much longer. We probably have time for a movie or something.”
“If you’re up for it, I was thinking of something different.” She sent him a smile as she snagged her lip with her teeth. “Colton went over to Amanda’s for a while.”
He immediately craved Grace. “Hell yeah, baby. Give me ten minutes, and I’m all yours.”
“Sounds good. I’ll get a fire going in the living room.”
He wiggled his brow. “I’m going to get your fire going.”
She laughed as she walked away.
He grinned before it faded as he got the completed files ready to send off to Jason and Rod—his insurance policy if anything went wrong.
Grabbing the four dozen pictures he’d printed over the last week, he put them in a yellow envelope. “You’re done, motherfucker,” he muttered as he secured the envelope’s clasp.
Quickly closing his laptop, he headed for the living room, eager to heat Grace up as promised. It had been a while since they’d been free to get crazy in an empty house.
Fifty-Four
Jagger walked around Millsdale Automotive’s smaller car lot, taking a few minutes to check out a couple of the higher-end vehicles.
He’d chosen to wear black jeans and a cream-colored sweater with one of his nicer jackets. The perfect outfit for a potential paying customer—business casual and harmless.
After another moment of perusing, he took off his sunglasses and headed inside, where Ray met him at the door, flashing a friendly smile.
“Good morning.” He held out his hand. “I’m Ray Killinger, the owner here at Millsdale Automotive.”
Jagger returned Ray’s handshake, smiling back at the clean-cut fifty-something man. “Good morning.”
“How can I help you today? We’ve got a lot of great cars out on our lot.”
Jagger nodded as he looked toward Ray’s inventory again. “Yes, you do. But I’m hoping I can show you a couple of things I brought along with me.”
Ray glanced at the yellow envelope Jagger wiggled in his hand. “Absolutely. Building something custom is a great way to go—something I can certainly help you with. Come on back to my office. Can I get you a cup of coffee or bottled water?”
Jagger shook his head. “I’m all set, but thanks.”
“All right, then. Let’s see what we can do for you.”
Jagger followed Ray to the windowed space overlooking the showroom, taking his seat, setting the envelope on Ray’s desk as Ray sat down. “I’ll let you take a look at what I’ve got,” he said, pushing the envelope across the tidy desk.
“Sure thing.” Ray picked it up with a smile. “This is heavier than I was expecting.”
Jagger smiled with a shrug. “I’m incredibly thorough.”
Ray laughed. “There’s nothing wrong with that.”
Jagger’s lips curved again. “I couldn’t agree more.”
Ray unfastened the clasp and reached in, pulling out dozens of eight-by-ten pictures. His eyes grew huge as he swallowed, flipping through the images. “What the hell is this?”
Jagger folded his hands, watching with satisfaction as sweat started to bead along Ray’s forehead. “This is me telling you that you’re going to leave Colton Sawyer alone.”
Ray’s hands trembled now as he kept flipping, stopping on the photos of Jimmy and Greg casing the dealerships Friday afternoon. “Are you a cop or something?”
Jagger shook his head. “I’m just a concerned citizen who isn’t going to let you fuck around with a seventeen-year-old kid.”
Ray looked at him now. “You’re the guy from the flower shop. The one who broke Greg’s nose.”
Jagger shrugged, pleased that Ray had made the connection. “You keep your guys out of Preston Valley. You keep them far away from Colton and his family and friends.”
Jagger sat up now, leaning closer. “Because here’s the deal, Ray. These pictures are between you, me, and a couple of my very discreet friends. But if anything should ever happen to me, Colton, or any of the people he loves, I promise those will end up in hands you don’t want them to.”
