Hal pulled his keys out and put on his hat. “Don’t forget to turn out the lights, Tash. Looks like everyone’s clocked out except Jem. He’ll probably be up shortly.” He lowered his voice as if we weren’t the only two people in the office. “To tell you the truth, I think he sticks around just to make sure you’re all right. I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Have a good night, Hal.”
I walked over to the window. Jem was pulling some branches off the river. The final sunlight of the day glanced off the water’s surface, temporarily illuminating his face. It was a face I already knew in my dreams.
I didn’t dare let myself think that he’d come early and stayed late today to make sure I was safe. After my cold dismissal of him, I didn’t deserve it. Either way, I felt much safer knowing Jem was only a few hundred yards away.
I returned to my desk. I had about fifteen minutes of filing and a good hour before the bus. I spent a few minutes organizing the papers, wondering how I’d gotten anything at all done today. I pulled a few drawers out and reached toward the desk for the folders. I knocked them off, and the papers I’d just organized flew to the ground.
With an irritated huff, I got down behind the desk to collect the papers. As I straightened, I caught sight of the tall figure walking toward the office. Jem’s fists were at his sides, and there was a storm of emotion in his light brown eyes as he lumbered across the yard.
I stood up and walked in front of the desk. It wasn’t fear or mistrust I was feeling as I watched him stomp toward the office.
A cold rush of air swirled around the room as he yanked the door open and stepped inside. He stopped in the center of the floor and stared at me, his chest moving steadily with deep breaths.
His throat moved with a swallow before he spoke. “Every spot of dirt in this town has my footprint on it. There are two sides to this town. Half is redeemable, people like my great aunt, who are just trying to live their lives. The other side is closer to hell than anyone wants to admit and that half has slid so far into the darkness, there’s no way to pull out. I’m on that side, but I’m still holding onto the edge. Plenty of demons pulling on my ankles and making it hard to hang on but I’m trying. I’m fucking trying. I lay awake at night worried I can’t keep you safe and knowing I can’t lose you or I will fall right into that fucking hole. You’re the first light I’ve seen in a long time—”
I ran to him and threw my arms around his neck before he could finish. I pressed my mouth against his. “I’m so sorry,” I said between kisses. “I was scared and confused and—” His mouth devoured mine.
He took hold of my face and pressed his forehead against mine. “Don’t you ever leave me, baby. Never.”
I shook my head hard. “Never.” I kissed him again. “It’s been a long day, Jem. Take me home.”
Chapter 26
Jem
Tashlyn stretched and a soft sound came from her lips. She was sleeping soundly, but that didn’t stop me from wrapping my arms around her. And it definitely didn’t stop me from wanting her . . . again.
My hands trailed across her breasts as I pulled her back against me. She moaned in protest but pushed her naked ass against my raging erection and wiggled it. I’d spent an entire day thinking she was never going to talk to me again, that I was never going to have her in my arms again. It had been a long fucking day, and it had stunned the hell out of me. I’d never needed anyone until now, until Tashlyn.
I reached down between her legs to coax the cream from her pussy but as my fingers pushed between the folds, they slid into hot moisture. “Baby,” I whispered, “have you been thinking of me in your sleep?”
She giggled. “Could be.” A sigh followed as I stroked her clit.
She pushed her bottom against me and my cock nudged her. “I want to feel all of you,” I groaned. “No barrier. Please, Tash. I’m always good about the condom, but with you, it’s different. I don’t want anything between us. I want to feel every hot inch of you.” As I spoke, I coaxed her closer to coming with just my fingers on her clit.
She answered by jutting her ass out even farther. She reached up and clutched the pillow as I pushed inside of her.
“Your pussy feels so fucking good. I knew it would be perfect . . . like you.” I moved with long, slow thrusts into her, penetrating as deep as I could go. The hand between her legs filled with slick moisture as it dripped from her pussy. She squeezed her thighs around my hand and braced herself against me as I jammed my cock inside her.
“Yes, Jem, please yes,” she cried against the pillow as her pussy clenched around my cock.
She was still trembling as I pulled out. She rolled onto her back and I pulled her beneath me. I leaned down over her and watched her face as I pushed back inside of her. I rocked slowly against her, wanting to stay there for the rest of the night sheathed deep between the folds of her pussy. “I don’t deserve this,” I said. “I don’t deserve you. But I can’t give you up. Not ever.”
She wrapped her arms around my neck and brought my face down close to hers. “Then don’t.”
I pushed deeper. I couldn’t seem to get enough of her. Then my body tensed and I reluctantly pulled free of her pussy. She wrapped her arms around me and kissed me as my hot seed spilled across her belly. I collapsed down next to her and pulled her into my arms.
She snuggled her face against me as I yanked the sheet up over us.
Pieces of the past had been coming into focus, and as I held her I knew for sure that this was not the first time Tashlyn and I had crossed paths. There was so much I still needed to figure out and so much I needed to tell her, but I didn’t know where to begin. Worst of all, I wasn’t completely sure how she’d react. This time she might very well walk away from me for good. One thing was for sure, I needed to find the person behind it all.
Chapter 27
Tashlyn
It felt good to strum my guitar. I hadn’t touched it. In fact, I could safely say that the last person to play it had been Dane Wolfe. Too much had happened. Never in a million years had I expected the emotional monsoon I’d experienced since my arrival in Blackthorn Ridge. I thought, at best, I’d find out a few details about my dad’s death and possibly bring some closure and some memories to the surface. I’d completely underestimated my adventure. Heck, adventure was far too small of a word for what I was going through. And in the midst of it all, I’d fallen hard for Jem.
Everly came out from her bedroom. “You play so well,” she said. “Guess that doesn’t surprise me with the way you sing.” She grabbed her sweatshirt off the back of the chair. “It’s getting cold at night. I’ll be late. Uncle Landon wasn’t feeling well, so I told him I’d close up tonight.” She pushed her arms through the sleeves, and a smile popped up on her face. “I had an ulterior motive too. Finn is coming in later for one of my chicken salad sandwiches. I will have that kiss before week’s end, Tash. I can feel it.”
I lifted my crossed fingers to assure her I was pulling for her.
“What are you going to do tonight?” she asked.
“Not much. I’ve got to drop a postcard in the mailbox, and since it’s Friday night, I think Jem is coming by later to pick me up.”
She walked over to where I was sitting. “I’m so relieved you two got back together. I could have kicked myself for pushing my nosy nose into your business. I think I was feeling a little jealous that Finn hadn’t kissed me that night. But, Tash, be careful when you walk to the mailbox. As my uncle always says—‘eyes in the back of your head, Ever, eyes in the back’.”
“I will just run to the mailbox and race right back home. You be careful too.”
I put down my guitar and walked to the bedroom to grab my coat and the postcard I’d written. I’d come close to telling Carly that I’d been in the truck with my dad. While it explained how I’d ended up miles from home, it didn’t explain how I’d survived a truck bursting into flames or my appearance at the ranger station several miles away. I decided I would send her more gritty details once I knew them and only if they wouldn’t freak her out too much. I was definitely leaving out the scary stuff.