Chapter TWENTY-EIGHT
Britton opened her eyes. It was morning, a new day. She turned her head and saw Jagger silently sleeping beside her. Even after all she had done, he trusted her enough to sleep the entire night next to her. They had both made mistakes, both lost each other’s trust. Maybe starting fresh on the east coast, away from their old life, was exactly what they needed.
Jagger moaned and opened his eyes. The first thing he saw was Britton’s smile. His month of agony was worth it now just to see her face.
“Good morning sleepy head.” She teased.
Sleep. He had been sleeping. It was a dreamless sleep. No one was chasing him through the woods. For the first time in over a month, he didn’t have a nightmare. He felt refreshed, invigorated, and he wanted the body that lay before him.
“Come here.”
He scooted toward her, captivated as their bare bodies touched. He ran his powerful hand up her back, caressing the nape of her neck. He lightly kissed her lips and pulled away, allowing a small smile to shine on his face.
“What do you want for breakfast?” She asked, returning his grin.
“You.”
Britton couldn’t help but chuckle. There was nothing between them now. He knew everything. For the first time in their new relationship, it was completely real. I was completely honest.
“Okay.” She giggled and grabbed his lips with hers.
He rolled on top of her, crushing her body beneath his weight. He pinned her wrists above her head and took the body he was craving. Today was their new beginning. What a perfect way to start.
Britton flipped over the omelet, impressed with her creation. “What do you say we spend the next few days in the cabin?”
“I’d love that.” Jagger was a bit saddened that after all the work he had done on their home, they were about to leave it forever.
Britton looked to him, feeling a change in his mood. “Are you sure you’re okay with this?”
He smiled at her from the table. She was so beautiful. He could never get enough of her. “As long as I’m with you, I’ll be perfect.”
“What will you do with your house?”
“I don’t know. Maybe Dominic will want it.”
Dominic. Britton hadn’t asked about her brother. Did he hate her for who she was? What did everyone else in the family say? Were they upset with him for leading them into a trap? Did they try to talk him out of finding her again? Or worse, did they try to talk him into getting rid of her for good? Now she felt as though she had let everyone down all over again.
“What did Dom say about all of this?”
“He was actually the one who told me to find you.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, well, I wasn’t the sunniest person to be around the last month.” He shrugged his shoulders, admitting that she was his weakness. He didn’t need to say anything else. He took a bite of his omelet.
After finishing their breakfast, Jagger escorted Britton to the car.
“Let’s take your motorcycle.” She was feeling adventurous.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.” She smiled like a teenager and stole a kiss.
Britton pushed her hair behind her ears and slid the helmet over her head. Jagger was instantly aroused by this act, and couldn’t resist his desire to take her on top of the motorcycle. He looked around, seeing how open her front yard was to her neighbors. Damn desert. There were no shrubs to hide them from any on-lookers. He didn’t care. He ran to her and lifted her hips to his. He slowly slid her on to the seat and leaned over her arched body. He slid his hands up her loose shirt, outlining the curves of her waist.
“Jagger!” Britton laughed, embarrassed by his attack.
“No.” He stopped her. “I've always wanted to do this.”
She succumbed to his touch, instantly begging him to have his way with her. He reached behind her back, sliding off the hooks of her bra. Her breasts jumped free of their confines and her nipples hardened beneath her thin shirt. His fingers traced the lines of her belly, circling her navel. He repositioned himself, straddling the head of the bike. He gazed down at his prize, open and awaiting his command.
His hands consumed her, making their way over her round breasts, skimming her abdomen, and then sliding under the brim of her pants. He reached her, imploring her to beg for more. Britton groaned, forgetting that she was out in the open for anyone to see. She pushed into him, allowing him the perfect angle to enter her deeply. Her cries heightened and he stopped, a menacing smile taking over his face.
“What?” She begged.
“We’ll save the rest for later.” He couldn’t control his smile. His cheeks dimpled and Britton shook her head in disbelief.
“Okay then.” She would find a way to get back at him.
Jagger lifted her to a seated position and threw his leg over his bike. The engine roared to life.
“Hold on tight.”
“I won’t let go.” She truly meant it.
They raced out of the driveway and toward their destination. It was thrilling. Her arms wrapped tighter as their speed increased, and Jagger loved every second of it. They neared his house and he stopped, pulling off to the side. He flipped his body, facing hers. He pulled her closer, their knees forced wider, hoping to allow their bodies to touch. Jagger slipped his thumbs under her helmet and glided it off, freeing her tousled hair. He pushed her hair out of her face, taking in the beauty that was now all his.
“How did I get so lucky?”
Her smile widened. She didn’t know how she had gone ten years without his love. She had missed out on so much. She closed her eyes and allowed his kiss to consume her body. Their tongues met and danced with one another. Their kiss deepened, both lost in the love they shared.
Britton’s phone alerted her, drawing them both out of their trance. She pulled it from her pocket.
“I have four missed calls from David.”
She wanted to ignore them, but technically she should be available for work.
“Does he know you’re with me?”
“No, he thought it was all an act.”
“Oh.” Jagger was oddly hurt by her admission. He wanted the world to know that their love was real. “Are you going to call him back?”
“I should.”
She pressed her thumb to the screen and watched as her phone dialed David’s office number.
“David, sorry, my phone was on silent… no, I was just organizing some things in my house…What do you mean?...No…But how? I’ll be right there.”
Britton hung up the phone and looked up a Jagger, speechless.
“What happened?”
Her face paled. “Hank agreed to testify against you for a lighter sentence. They have a warrant for your arrest.”
Jagger hadn’t expected that outcome, he thought he'd explained quite well to Hank what happens to rats in prison. He weighed his options, fighting over the decision he should make.
“Okay.” He said.
“They’re at your house. We need to get out of here.”
“No.”
“What? They’re going to arrest you, Jagger.”
“I know. I don’t want to run.”
“But you’ll be thrown in prison.” What didn’t he understand about this?
“Britton, I don’t want to start my life with you on the run. If they have a warrant for my arrest, I’m going to let them arrest me.”
She needed to knock some sense into him. “This is ludicrous. Do you understand what you’re saying?”
“Yes. I deserve this. I’ve been testing fate my entire adult life.” He needed to be the bigger person. If she were caught with a fugitive, she would be thrown in jail too. He wasn’t about to risk her life again just so he could stay out from behind bars. Not this time. “Britton, I need you to leave now. I’ll turn myself in.”
“No, please don’t.” She begged.
“I have to.”
“Then I’m coming with you.” She hoped her determination would cause him to change his mind.
“No you’re not. You’re going to turn around, and go to your office. You’re going to pretend you have nothing to do with this.”
Tears welled up in her eyes. “Jagger I can’t.”
“You have to.” He was adamant. For the first time in his life, he was going to do the responsible thing. “Do you know how to ride this?”
“You want me to take your motorcycle?”
“You need to get out of here before anyone sees you. This is the only way.”
“I can’t.”
He took her by the shoulders, trying to calm her down. “Britton, there is no other option. Look, clutch, gas, break. You’re smart. I know you can figure this out.”
Britton didn’t want to figure it out. She wanted to stay with Jagger.
He looked into her eyes and smiled. He was finally doing something that would make her proud, even if it hurt her in the moment. “I love you, Britton. Never forget that.”
She grabbed hold of him and sunk into his chest. “Please don’t leave me. I love you too.”
He lifted her chin and kissed her goodbye. He would have to remember that kiss. He prayed it wouldn’t be their last. Jagger stepped off his bike and walked toward his house.
“Jagger, wait.” She ran to him, reaching into her pocket. She produced a bobby pin. “Use this. I will run away with you. We’ll get out of here and never look back.”
He shook his head. “You know I can’t do that.”
She wasn’t listening. “I will wait for you, at our secret place.”
He couldn’t help but smile as he turned from her and walked toward the flashing lights of patrol cars. He put the bobby pin in his pocket. Just in case.