Brock gripped his truck's steering wheel. Another wave of tension rippled through his body and he reached over to roll down the window. The fresh air did him some good. It whipped in his face and brought at least a touch of relief.
After his shift had ended he went by the burn unit at the hospital to check in on Doug. He had suffered mostly second degree burns, so his condition had improved, according to Tess. This was good news, unlike the outcome for those kids. Images of the two bodies found at the fire site kept running through his head. Haverty had phoned once the team got back to the fire station and informed them the victims were indeed as young as suspected. Two local college students. Both from middle class families. Families who were no doubt devastated by now.
Brock took a right turn onto Sky's street after sending her a text. It was probably jumping the gun to assume she would be there, waiting for him. By the time he parked, she sent a reply inviting him up. He almost hadn't sent her a message tonight, and would have gone home and stayed up worrying all night. He didn't have much to offer Sky, but he needed her, and maybe that was all right. Sky never complained. They cared about each other, and Brock got the sense she wanted more out of their relationship, but was willing to let things be for now.
Sky understood him. She had to know she meant a lot to him.
Right?
It wasn't for sure. Nothing was for sure. Least of all how Brock would track down this drug lord, Rhys Dillon. The only thing Brock truly knew was it had been a long twenty-four hour shift, and he needed Sky’s company.
Only the main floor light was on, yet Sky's car was the only one on in the driveway. Brock used the main walkway and knocked on the front door this time. Faint country music wafted out to him just before Sky opened the door, her wavy hair cascading down over her shoulders.
“You look like you’ve had a rough day,” she told him.
“Yeah.” Brock took in a deep breath, inhaling her familiar scent. Vanilla and mint, mixed with the natural smell of her skin and hair. Everything about it was comforting. Sky would help him forget.
“Come in,” she said, stepping aside.
Brock entered and stood in the hallway with her. She still had on her Steak and Ale Saloon work shirt. “You just got home?”
She nodded. “I was about to take a shower.”
Images of Sky naked behind a steamed up glass filled his mind. “I can use one too.”
She smiled and took his hand. Tiny wrinkles formed next to her big blue eyes. “Let’s go.”
“You sure?”
“Yes. How was your shift?”
Brock took in a slow breath as he followed her upstairs to her bathroom, using the time to decide just how much to say. Nothing. He wanted to share nothing about his day. All he wanted was to forget about it, to lose himself in her taste and smell.
She turned to look at him outside her bathroom, resting her hands on his shoulder. Brock didn’t wait. He took her hands and pinned them against the wall above her head. Sky twisted her lips in a side smile. She was so beautiful he didn't know what to do with her. Maybe he didn't even deserve to be there in her place, taking up the spot that could have been filled by another man who could give her everything she needed.
Sky lifted up on her tiptoes and kissed his chin. The endless stream of thoughts instantly ceased. It was what Brock had come here looking for. It was the peace he only felt when around her. With one hand, he kept her arms up high, and used the other to grasp the back of her head, kissing her with a fierce need to own her. Her lips and tongue tasted like strawberries and mint. He surrendered to her softness, letting himself get lost in the brief escape. His bear relaxed, also reset to a neutral peace from being close to Sky.
Sky pressed her body forward into his, showing her need and making him crave her more. Lowering his arm to her ass, he picked her up with ease and carried her the rest of the way, forgoing the bathroom in favor of her bed. Brock sat on the side of her bed with Sky in his lap, her legs wrapped tightly around his waist. He relished her gentle touch as she slid her hands under his shirt, reaching them up to his shoulders and back down again, massaging his skin as they went. Brock could feel the back of her bra through her thick cotton shirt, and he ached to unclasp it and get these inconvenient barriers gone from between them.