“I want you to stay.” His voice was low and soft. “Stay for me.”
As if I could have refused him anything. “Of course I’ll stay. I don’t want anything else. I just want you.”
“Really?”
“Yes, really.” The vulnerability in his face was so disarming. “I know I didn’t move to Tilikum because I wanted to be here. But I do now. Because this is where you are. I can’t imagine my life without you, either. I already turned down an interview on the east coast because I didn’t want to leave.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“About the job I turned down or that I want to stay with you?”
“Both.”
I laughed. “What was I supposed to say? Hey Josiah, we haven’t been together very long, but I’m thinking about rearranging my life so I can stay here with you. Are you up for that kind of commitment?”
“Yes, that’s exactly what you should have said.” His tone was vehement. “Then I’d know. You have to be straight with me. I don’t get subtlety.”
“So total honesty, no hiding anything?”
“Yes.”
I met his eyes, and with a deep breath, I said it. “I’m in love with you.”
All at once, he picked me up off the floor and kissed me. Hard. I held on, my arms around his shoulders, and let him devour me. He could have it all, every bit of me.
He set me down, his face still close, his nose brushing against mine. “I’m so in love with you.”
His next kiss was both softer and needier. The contrast made my head spin. In seconds, we were backing into the bedroom. Thankfully, Max was napping on his bed and didn’t seem to notice us leave.
We couldn’t get our clothes off fast enough. Josiah took control, moving me to the bed. I opened for him eagerly, desperate to feel his skin on mine. His lips, his tongue, his strong body. I wanted it all.
And he gave it to me.
With him inside me, all thought vanished. I could only feel. We moved together, the intensity increasing fast. This was hardly our first time, but it was different somehow. It was as if our innermost selves were on full display, nothing hidden. Physically and emotionally, we were one.
He rolled me over and I rode him hard, digging my fingers into his chest. My inhibitions gone, I moaned with his rhythm. His brow furrowed and he grunted and growled. I loved this side of him, so sensual and raw.
My climax built fast. So much pressure and heat, it took my breath away. I let go, swirling in the heights of pleasure. He grunted again with his release and it was nothing but bliss.
I slumped on top of him, breathing hard. He caressed my back and kissed my shoulder.
“I love you,” he murmured.
“I love you too. So much.”
He held me tight, and he didn’t have to say anything else. My man of few words had said the only ones I’d really wanted to hear.
CHAPTER 31
Audrey
Although it was a Saturday, Josiah was already at work on the remodel. The kitchen cabinets had been delivered and his dad and brother Zachary had come to help with the install.
I was excited to see how it was going to turn out.
That left me and Max to enjoy a leisurely morning together. I’d taken him for a walk—sticking close to home and not going where my cell would lose signal, of course—and I had plans with Marigold later.
I didn’t know what was going on with my job, or whether I’d still have one in the coming days, but I wasn’t worried anymore. I had Josiah and that was all that mattered.
I also still didn’t know who was stalking me or why. That was a little harder to set aside, even as I basked in the glow of newly declared love. A sense of foreboding followed me wherever I went. I knew it wasn’t over and I doubted the attacks would simply stop. From what I’d read online, stalking behavior often escalated. It made me wonder what was coming next.
Max looked up at me from his spot on the couch. I set my empty coffee mug on the side table, trying to gather the motivation to go take a shower.
“Don’t look at me like that,” I said. “Sometimes lazy days are nice.”
His eyebrows twitched from side to side.
“I know we need dog food. You had your breakfast, you’ll be fine. I’ll go to the store after I shower and you’ll have dinner right on time.”
He kept looking at me.
“Stop judging. I know I don’t usually run out of your food, but I’ve had a lot on my mind.”
Finally, he put his chin back down and closed his eyes.
My phone rang and I glanced at the screen before answering. It was my mom.
“Hi, Mom.”
“Hi, dear. I was out watering flowers and they made me think of you, so I thought I’d call.”
“Aw, that’s nice.”
“I remember when you were little, you used to love to pick flowers and bring them inside to put on the table. Do you remember that?”
“I do.”
“I had to plant you your own little flower bed to pick from so you wouldn’t disturb my roses.”
“I remember that too. I liked gardening with you. It was one of the only times you let me get dirty.”
She laughed softly, then her voice grew serious. “Sometimes I wonder if I was too hard on you.”
That was a surprising admission. I wasn’t quite sure how to respond. “You did your best.”
“I tried. Although what would have been so bad about letting you pick some roses?”
“Mom, are you okay?”
She sighed. “I suppose I’m just feeling nostalgic. How was your week?”
“Honestly? Ups and downs. Someone’s trying to get me fired.”
“What? What do you mean?”
“My boss got a call from someone claiming that I lied about my last job. That I’d been accused of theft and fired.”
“That’s nonsense.”
“I know but try telling that to my boss. He sent me home until he can do his own investigation.”
“Is he going to fire you?”
“At this point, I don’t know what’s going to happen. My other two co-workers walked out over it, so I don’t know if the newspaper will even come out this week. For all I know, this will be the straw that breaks the camel’s back and Lou will just close the paper entirely.”
“Oh Audrey, that’s terrible.”
“It’s definitely not ideal. But don’t worry about me. I’ll figure it out. I don’t have another job lined up but if there’s one thing I have a lot of experience in, it’s job hunting. I’ll find something else.”
She didn’t reply. I fiddled with a string on the hem of my tank top, trying not to get upset. But the last thing I needed right then was a lecture about how it was up to me to uphold the family reputation for excellence and another stint with unemployment was unacceptable.
“Mom, I know this isn’t a great situation, but—”
“I think I should come over.”
“Wait, why?”
“You’ve had a hard week and I haven’t seen your house yet. That seems like a good enough excuse. Do you mind?”
The woman was going to give me a serious case of emotional whiplash. “No, I don’t mind. What time?”
“What works for you?”
“Maybe give me a couple of hours? I haven’t showered or anything and I need to run a quick errand.”
“That’s fine. I’ll see you in a couple of hours. Love you.”
“Love you, too.”
I ended the call and let my phone drop onto the cushion next to me.
“Well, Max, I guess our lazy morning is over. Grandma’s coming.”
His only acknowledgment was to crack open an eye, then close it again.
“Yeah, I know, not very exciting news for you. I just hope she’s not coming down here to lecture me in person.”
Leaving Max to enjoy his couch nap, I got up to shower and get dressed.