Chapter 19

CHAPTERNINETEEN

Jody was a little worried about Baker. If she thought he was focused before, that was nothing compared to how he was now. Four days had passed since Ben had shared about his stepfather. Baker spent most of the daylight hours at his own house. The first morning, he’d warned her once again if Al showed up, not to open the door and to call him immediately.

Honestly, Jody hadn’t wanted him to leave, but he’d said that he needed his computer. The one at his house. He mumbled something about his setup being more secure than hers, and how he needed to upgrade her internet connection.

When she’d asked if he was supposed to go to the Naval base to debrief, or whatever it was called, he’d just smiled and joked that there were these nifty things called phones. And video chats. Figuring Baker knew what he was doing, and it was unlikely he was going to get fired, she let it slide.

The topic of sex hadn’t come up since the other night. He went with her to the beach when she watched her kids surf, but he seemed tense. Hyperalert. He’d surfed that first morning after he’d returned from his mission, but ever since then, he’d sat with her on the picnic table, held her hand, and kept watch.

He was tense. Very tense. Not that Jody could blame him. She desperately wanted to do something to help him relax, to take some of the burden he was obviously shouldering, but didn’t know what. She wasn’t a computer guru like he obviously was. And she definitely didn’t have useful connections. All she could do was feed him and hold him tightly when they slept.

Tonight, when he returned to her house, Jody was determined to help him think about something other than what an asshole Al Rowden was.

“Where’s Ben?” he asked as soon as he walked through the door.

Baker had skipped sitting at the beach with her that morning, saying he wasn’t at a place where he could take a break and that he’d see her at home. Hearing him call her house “home” felt really good. And she figured that if Baker thought she was in danger, he’d never let her stay by herself during the day or sit at the beach without him, so she was able to go about her normal routine…albeit while worried about the stress Baker was under, and of course, worried for Ben as well.

“He’s at Tressa’s house. Her parents invited him over for dinner. I told him he had to be back by ten.”

Baker nodded distractedly as he leaned in to kiss her lightly.

Jody clung to his T-shirt, not letting him go when he straightened and would’ve headed into the living room.

He raised an eyebrow, but immediately wrapped an arm around her.

“How’d today go?” she asked.

“That fucker’s days are numbered,” he said succinctly.

“What does that mean?” she asked. “You aren’t secretly plotting with one of your contacts to make sure Al has some sort of “accident” are you?”

Baker frowned. “As much as that would please me, no. I promised that I wouldn’t do anything that would take me away from you, and that includes conspiring to commit murder. There’s only a one percent chance anyone would be able to link that kind of shit back to me, but even one percent is too high of a risk because it would hurt you, and I gave you a promise.”

“Baker,” Jody whispered.

“His days being numbered means, I’m finding people who are more than willing to testify against him. People he fucked. Some who know they did wrong, feel bad about it, and want to clear their conscience. Others who got caught up in Rowden’s schemes, didn’t toe the line, and were hung out to dry by that asshole. There are also rumblings in legal circles that something isn’t right with the good judge. I’ve planted some seeds, sprinkled a word here and there, and I’m setting into motion a full-scale investigation into Rowden. And of course, I’ve made some inquiries with a few people involved in the drug trade here on the island. Made it clear that it would be a good idea to deny Rowden the next time he comes calling with his dirty money.”

“Holy shit,” Jody breathed. “He’s been doing what he’s doing for a long time. Can you really end his whole empire of evilness in four days?”

“No.” Then Baker smirked. “It might take a week.”

Jody pressed herself against him and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Wow.”

“Moving fast on this because I don’t like that he made his play when I wasn’t around. He underestimated you, and I doubt he’ll do it again. He’s regrouping and planning something, Ben and I agree on that, and I want his attention on other things—sooner rather than later.”

“Smart,” Jody said.

“Also, because Ben doesn’t need that asswipe hanging over his head. He needs to be clear of him once and for all.”

“And his mom?” Jody asked.

Baker sighed. “She’s made her bed, she’s gonna have to lie in it. If she’s smart, she’ll take this chance to get rid of him. If not…” Baker shrugged.

“That sucks for Ben.”

“It does. But it seems to me he’s come to terms with how his mom is. Hate that for him, but he’s a smart young man. He’ll be all right. Especially since he has you.”

Jody stared up at Baker. When she got divorced, she felt free. Was relieved to be on her own with Kaimana. She couldn’t regret her marriage, because it gave her Mana, but she’d had no intention of ever getting married again. And when her son died, it was as if a door had slammed shut around her heart. She hadn’t been willing to risk ever getting close to someone again, it hurt too much. But somehow Baker had picked that lock. She was still scared of losing him, but she was even more terrified of him deciding she wasn’t worth the effort.

She loved him. Period. With everything she had.

“We’ve got the house to ourselves for,” Jody looked at the watch on her wrist, “the next four hours.”

Baker’s body tightened against hers. “Yeah?” he asked.

“Uh-huh. I’ve got beef stew in the Crockpot, but it could probably use another hour at least.”

“So…you want to watch TV?” Baker asked.

She could see the twinkle in his eye. Still, she wanted to be as clear as possible. “No. I want you. In my bed. Naked. Inside me.”

Baker’s pupils dilated and he inhaled deeply.

“That is…if you’re ready,” Jody added, suddenly feeling a little shy. It was ridiculous. After all this time, after sleeping in his arms every night. After all the kisses, make-out sessions, and talk about sex, she should be more confident. In charge of what she wanted.

Without a word, Baker reached for her hand, spun around and headed for the hallway with Jody stumbling behind him.

But he didn’t let her fall, he steadied her and kept walking.

Jody couldn’t keep the smile from her face. It was hard to believe this was happening. That she and Baker were finally going to make love.

He pulled her to the edge of the bed and, without a word, lowered his head and began to kiss her. This was no slow, seductive kiss. It was hard and deep. And even as his tongue pushed into her mouth and twined with hers, his hands went to the clasp of the shorts she was wearing.

His impatience was contagious. Jody lifted the hem of his shirt. Baker’s lips left hers long enough for her to pull the material over his head, then he picked back up where he’d left off. Jody moaned. It was hard to concentrate when she felt drunk off his kisses.

Her shorts fell to her ankles, and the cool air between her legs made her gasp and pull back. Looking down, she saw she was naked from the waist down. Baker had pushed her panties down with her shorts, and she hadn’t even noticed. Even as she was still registering that surprising fact, he was pulling her own shirt up and over her head.

Not wanting to be the only one naked, Jody fumbled with his belt and cargo pants. Baker reached behind her, unhooked her bra, and it fell down her arms as she pushed the material of his pants down his legs. He shoved his boxers down impatiently, and as soon as he was naked, Baker wrapped an arm around Jody’s waist and hauled her against him.

She gasped once more at the feel of his hard body, at the warm flesh against her own, and the sound was swallowed as Baker once again devoured her mouth. Jody’s fingernails scored down his back as he put his hand on her ass and yanked her against his erection. She felt a smear of wetness against her belly—and then she was flying through the air.

Jody bounced on her back in the middle of the bed, and then Baker was there. He hovered over her, breathing hard as his gaze raced over her body.

“Look at you. So fuckin’ beautiful,” he murmured.

Jody bit her lip, smiling up at him.

He brushed the backs of his fingers over her cheek. Then they continued over her collarbone, along the crest of her breast, where he paused for a moment to run his fingers around her nipple, making it harden. Then he scooted up onto his knees and continued his downward trail with his hand, caressing her belly, making Jody suck it in and laugh as his touch tickled her.

Baker smiled—then his gaze went between her legs. He shifted over her, putting his knees inside her legs and widening his stance, pushing her thighs outward.

Jody spread her legs, feeling only a little self-conscious. It was hard to feel anything but turned way the hell on, what with the way Baker was looking at her. As if she was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen.

Not only that, but he was hard. So hard. His cock was long. Not overly thick, but longer than anyone she’d ever been with. The mushroomed head was a dark pink, the veins along the shaft standing out in sharp relief, and a drop of precome beaded at the tip even as she drank him in. Jody licked her lips in anticipation.

“Fucking hell,” Baker said, before he suddenly scooted back farther and practically fell on top of her. His lips latched around her nipple, and Jody grunted even as she arched her back, trying to get closer. One hand went to the small of her back, encouraging her arch, and the other latched onto her other breast. Pinching and playing with the nipple as he worshiped the one in his mouth.

Jody whimpered as he sucked hard, not sure if what he was doing hurt because it was legitimately painful or because it just felt too damn good. A second later, when he released her nipple with a loud pop, she decided it felt good. Better than anything she’d experienced in a very long time. A hand went to his head and she gripped his hair in her fist, trying to force him back down to her chest.

He easily resisted her pull with a smirk. “You like that?”

“Of course,” Jody said with a small eye roll. Then she leaned up and took one of his nipples into her mouth. It was his turn to groan. The hand at her back helped her stay where she was, in a half-sit, as she played and teased him.

She sucked hard, as he’d done to her, and was rewarded with a soft, “Holy fuck,” from Baker.

She let go and lay back down with a satisfied smirk of her own. “You like that?” she purposely mimicked.

“Fuck, Tink,” Baker said.

Jody took that as a yes. Then they were kissing. Ravenously. Their hands roamed, and Jody tore her mouth from his to inhale sharply when his hand slipped between her legs. His thumb found her clit without any fumbling and she rocked her hips toward him.

Without a word, Baker slid down her body. He kissed the underside of one breast, then her belly. Then he roughly pushed her legs farther apart and gazed down at her pussy.

Jody wasn’t in the least embarrassed. This felt perfect. Natural. As if she’d waited forever to be right where she was. She shoved both hands into Baker’s longish hair and smiled down at him.

He returned the grin, then lowered his head.

Jody immediately arched her back sharply and moaned.

Baker didn’t tease. Didn’t playfully lick her. He went straight to her clit, as if certain that’s what she’d like. And why shouldn’t he be so confident? He was fifty-two. The man obviously wasn’t a virgin.

Jody suddenly remembered that he hadn’t been with a woman in ten years. It seemed hard to believe, especially when he was so damn good at what he was doing. But she quickly forgot about anything other than how he was making her feel—which was on the verge after just seconds. One of his hands caressed her inner thigh, then played with her folds as he continued to lick and tease her clit.

Her belly tightened as she began to thrust her hips. She was going to come, and come hard. She would’ve been embarrassed about how fast he’d gotten her off, but this was Baker. Just looking at the man turned her on.

He hummed a growling moan, and the vibrations against her clit only ramped up her excitement. He had two fingers inside her now, and Jody was humping against his face and hand.

“Right there…more…I’m almost…!” She was babbling. But then she couldn’t say anything as she went flying over the edge. Jody curled up into Baker, gripping his hair hard, holding him against her as she shook with the force of her orgasm.

He lifted his head, and the sight of his beard wet with her juices was both startling and a ferocious turn-on. He wiped his face on her thigh, even as he kept his fingers moving gently in and out of her body. He scooted up, and Jody couldn’t do anything but pant and stare at him.

Baker’s fingers finally left her body, and she sighed as she melted into the mattress. He scooted between her legs. The hand that had been inside her went to his cock as he stroked himself.

Suddenly feeling energetic, and wanting to return the amazing feelings he’d just given her, Jody sat up. She climbed to her knees, put a hand on Baker’s chest, and pushed him backward. He fell to his back willingly and smiled as Jody crawled up his body.

“My turn,” she said huskily.

“Don’t make me come,” Baker said. “I want to be inside you when that happens.”

Jody shivered at that. This man was so sexy. Made her feel so sexy. “Okay,” she told him, then lowered her head.

* * *

Baker inhaled sharply at the feel of Jodelle’s tongue. He tightened his belly as she licked his abs, then proceeded to lick and kiss every one of the tattoos on his chest. It was as if she was seeing them for the first time ever, when she’d seen his chest bare countless times, including almost daily at the beach before they got together. But having her on her hands and knees above him, her nipples brushing against his skin, her seductive plumeria scent in his beard and on his tongue…it was almost too much.

“Stop teasing and suck me,” he ordered.

In response, Jodelle’s lips quirked upward and a hand snaked between them to wrap around his cock.

“I will,” she said, even as she began to slowly slide her hand up and down his dick.

Baker couldn’t talk. Her hand felt so good. So different from his own. Even though he’d gotten himself off at least once a day since he’d basically moved in with her, it felt as if it had been years since he’d come. Her touch was both torture and the most pleasurable thing he’d felt in his entire life.

Then he was gasping for air as she slid down and licked the head of his cock. Seeing her dark hair hanging around her shoulders, kissing his thighs and dick, the twinkle in her eyes, the rosy blush from her earlier orgasm on her chest, and that tongue of hers sticking out of her mouth as she licked him, Baker literally thought his heart was going to beat out of his chest.

“This is a bad idea,” he muttered. He had no idea how he was going to keep from exploding.

“I think it’s a great idea,” Jodelle countered as her head lowered farther.

Baker literally held his breath as he watched. Her hand cradled his balls and the other gripped the base of his cock as she held him steady. He groaned deep in his throat when her warm mouth engulfed his dick.

“Holy fuck!” he swore as he shoved one hand in her hair. He didn’t push her down. Didn’t force her to take more of him. He just needed to hold onto something so he didn’t shatter into a million pieces. And he couldn’t think of anyone better to hold onto than Jodelle.

The next few minutes were literally torture as Jodelle sucked his cock. She really got into it, bobbing her head up and down, hollowing her cheeks, letting saliva ease her way. Baker knew he was leaking precome nonstop, but that didn’t seem to faze the woman between his legs.

She rose on her knees to get a better angle to suck him, and Baker did his best to memorize every second of this moment. She wasn’t shy. Wasn’t reticent in the least. Her technique wasn’t perfect or practiced, as if she’d done this to dozens of men, which just made him love her all the more. But it was obvious by her hungry moans that Jodelle enjoyed what she was doing. She wasn’t blowing him out of obligation or just returning the favor after he’d eaten her out.

He endured the pleasure/pain as long as he could, until he couldn’t stand it another second. His dick throbbed and his balls actually hurt before he tightened his hand in her hair. When she lifted her head to look at him in question, the thinnest strand of saliva connected her mouth to the mushroomed head of his cock. It was so damn sexy, he almost came right then and there.

Baker was done. He needed to be inside her. Right fucking now.

He sat up, keeping his hand in Jodelle’s hair, and she fell to her back laughing. Baker had never been so glad that they’d had a talk about birth control one evening while cuddling in bed. She’d told him she was on the pill to regulate her cycle, and when he’d assured her that he’d still use a condom, she actually asked him not to because she was allergic to latex, which most condoms were made of.

If any other woman had told him that, first, Baker would’ve used any means necessary to confirm that story—up to and including hacking her medical records. Then he’d have gone out of his way to find latex-free condoms anyway. He didn’t trust easily, and though he hadn’t had sex in years, the last thing he’d wanted back then was a woman he didn’t love getting pregnant with his child.

But this was Jodelle. He trusted her with everything in him.

Balancing himself on an elbow next to her head, he kept one hand in her hair so she had no choice but to keep her eyes on him. Baker used his other hand to make sure she was still wet and could take him without pain. The second his finger touched her clit, Jodelle jerked and widened her legs. He gently pushed his finger inside her, satisfied with how easily he was able to slide in and out.

“I’m ready,” she told him.

“Want to make sure.”

“Baker,” she whined as he continued to finger fuck her.

He grinned. “Yeah?”

One of her own hands snuck between them and caressed his length.

“Shit, you don’t fight fair,” he breathed.

“Inside me. I’m ready. Make love to me,” she ordered.

With that, Baker was done being noble. Done waiting. He’d searched his whole life for this woman, he wasn’t going to wait a second longer. He gripped his cock at the base and brushed the head between her soaking-wet pussy lips, up and over her clit.

She whimpered and thrust her hips upward. On the next pass, Baker notched himself at her entrance and slowly began to push inside. He gritted his teeth, tightened his hold around his cock, doing everything in his power to hold back his orgasm.

It didn’t help that Jody tightened her inner muscles and squeezed him as he entered.

He stopped. “Am I hurting you?”

“Noooooooo,” she moaned. “More! Please!”

Baker did as she asked, pushing until his balls brushed against her ass and their pubic hair meshed together. Looking down, he couldn’t see where he ended and she began.

“You feel so good,” she whispered.

“Give me a second,” he pleaded as he closed his eyes and did his best to cling to his control.

He felt Jodelle’s hands caressing his chest, then sliding down his biceps before stopping there and holding on tight. Her legs came up and squeezed his hips as she crossed her feet at the ankles just above his ass. “You take as much time as you need,” she said. “I’m good right where you are.”

Baker opened his eyes and chuckled.

The movement made her moan. “Okay, I lied. I need you to move, Baker. Please!”

Seeing her need somehow made his own fade a bit. Baker wanted to please her more than he wanted to get off. He slid his hips back a fraction, then thrust inside her again.

That got him another moan.

He did it once more.

This time he got a squeak.

Before he knew what was happening, Baker was pounding in and out of Jodelle as if his life depended on it. Every time his balls hit her ass, they both groaned in ecstasy.

“Yes. More. Harder!”

Her tits bounced on her chest with every thrust, and Baker couldn’t take his eyes off her. She was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen. And she was his. All fucking his. No one else would see her like this ever again. No one else would feel her cunt squeezing their dick. No one else would hear the sounds she made as he took her.

Pleasing her was now Baker’s sole purpose in life. He’d kill for the honor of making Jodelle his forever.

Feeling overwhelmed by his thoughts, Baker paused the next time he was all the way inside Jodelle and rolled them so she was on top. She blinked in surprise, bracing herself with her hands on his chest.

“Your turn,” he told her.

She grinned and swiveled her hips. Then she arched her back and ground herself down on his cock. Tentatively, she rose a few inches, then dropped back down. “Oh, that feels good!” she said, almost as if surprised.

Baker had the thought that maybe she hadn’t made love this way before, but forgot all about that when she began to fuck him in earnest. Her tits really bounced now, and he couldn’t take his eyes from them. Jodelle’s head fell back as she rode him, doing her best to chase her orgasm.

Baker wasn’t getting the friction he needed to get off, but he didn’t give a shit. He’d lay here and let her have her way for as long as she wanted. The view was hardly a turnoff.

When her hand snaked between her legs and she began to flick her clit, Baker knew he’d been premature in thinking he could lay there all night and not orgasm.

Then Jodelle stopped moving. Instead, she bore down as she got closer and closer to exploding, her fingers racing over her clit. Her inner muscles clenched around his cock so hard, Baker’s eyes rolled back in his head. Fuck, she was magnificent.

Her muscles tightened, the fingernails on the hand braced on his chest dug into his skin, and she curled into him as she went over the edge once more. Baker could only watch in fascination and awe as she gave that to him. He could feel her pussy contracting madly around his cock, and her juices leaked out of her, soaking his balls.

When her eyes opened a fraction, she met his gaze head on. “Wow,” she said.

“You’re so damn beautiful,” Baker told her.

She blushed.

He rolled them again, until she was on her back once more. Then Baker began to move. Slowly and gently. In and out. She was soaking wet and being inside her was like heaven. Baker came down to his elbows and buried his nose in the skin beneath her ear. He inhaled her scent as if he was a dying man and she was the oxygen he needed to live. Her own musky essence, along with plumeria, would forever be burned in his memory.

This was not fucking; this was making love to the woman Baker couldn’t live without.

It didn’t take long. Not with the memory of her taking her own pleasure as she sat on his cock fresh in his mind. When Jodelle leaned up and gently bit the lobe of his ear, Baker started coming immediately. He planted himself as far inside her as he could get and shuddered in her arms as his balls seemed to turn inside out.

Her breath whispered along the sensitive skin of Baker’s ear as she held him tight and whispered how sexy she thought he was. How she couldn’t believe he was hers. How he was the best thing that had ever happened to her.

When Baker felt as if he could breathe again, he lifted his head. His hands came up and cradled her face as he kissed her gently. His cock had finally gone soft, but because he was so long, he was still lodged deep within her body. It felt good. Right.

“Am I squishing you?” he asked.

Jodelle shook her head. “No.”

“This uncomfortable?”

“No.”

“Good. Because I’m not sure I can move.”

She chuckled. “I think that’s my line.”

Baker caressed her eyebrow with his finger. “I love you,” he said quietly.

Her eyes immediately filled with tears.

“I do. I’m not saying that because I’m overcome by your magic pussy, although I kind of am. I love you because you took in a teenager who needed someone to give a shit. I love you because you look out for the kids at the beach. I love you because you work hard, but still make time to enjoy life as best you can without your son. I love you because you refuse to let Mana fade into the background. I love you because of everything you are, Jodelle. I wasn’t kidding when I told you I believed that souls reincarnate together. I’ve been trying to find you my entire life, without really knowing what I was looking for. I’m going to do everything in my power not to fuck this up.”

“You can’t mess up perfection,” Jodelle said softly. “I love you too. I think I have for years. Since the first time I saw you come out of the ocean in your wet suit, your surfboard under your arm, looking all silver foxy and gorgeous. You smiled at me, making me feel as if I were the only person in the world in that moment.”

Baker closed his eyes. He’d never forget this night. Ever. He’d treasure it. No one would fuck with what was his. He’d lived a life of hell…and in return, he’d been gifted Jodelle. He’d make sure not one day went by that she didn’t know she was appreciated and loved.

“Not that I’m complaining, but are we going to spend the rest of the evening in bed? I mean, I like you here, but…” As soon as Jodelle finished speaking, her stomach growled.

Baker’s lips twitched.

She returned his smile. “Sorry. I didn’t eat much for lunch. I was working on that website and forgot to stop for food.”

Baker nodded. He needed to get up and make sure his woman was fed. “This is just the start of us,” he promised.

Jodelle didn’t even blink. “No, it’s not.”

Baker frowned.

“The start of us was when you refused to leave my house because Ben was here and you wanted to make sure I was safe,” she said. “And for the record…I’m glad you didn’t insist we go to your place. I like my house. I know it’s small, but it’s mine. I paid off my mortgage last year. And this is where Mana was.”

“I’ll put mine on the market,” Baker said without hesitation.

Jodelle looked surprised. “I didn’t mean…” Her voice faded.

“What did you mean then?” he asked.

“Well…I want to say that I don’t care where we live, as long as I’ve got you by my side, but that isn’t true. I know Mana’s gone. I know material things don’t mean much and that memories are what’s important, but I’m not sure I can give up this house.”

“And I’d never ask you to. You have a problem with me being here?”

“No,” Jodelle said with a shake of her head.

“Then I’ll sell my house and we’ll live here. Because I can’t give up you.”

She smiled. “Okay.”

Fuck, Baker loved this woman. “Have to admit…” he said, not finishing his thought.

“Yes?” Jodelle asked.

“I don’t really want to move at the moment. I like where I am.”

Jodelle’s grin widened, and she shifted a bit under him. “I like where you are too. And where I am. But I’m thinking if we stayed here, we might starve to death. Then Ben would come home and see your butt.”

Baker burst out laughing. Hard enough that his cock finally slipped out of the warm, safe haven it had found.

“Damn,” he said, still chuckling.

Jodelle laughed with him.

“For what it’s worth, don’t care if Ben sees my ass. As long as you’re covered.”

“You’re sweet,” Jodelle declared.

Baker shook his head. “No, I’m not.”

“You are to me.”

“That’s true. You want to shower together?”

“Yes.”

Again, no hesitation and not coy in the least. Baker liked that a hell of a lot. “You always going to be this agreeable?” he couldn’t help but ask.

“No,” she told him. “You’ll know if I’m upset, and I’m sure I’ll give in and tell you why without you ever having to dig. I get moody, Baker. You haven’t seen it yet because of everything that’s going on, but I do. Mana’s birthday is always hard for me, and I’m not a huge fan of Christmas.”

“We’ll do something special to honor his birthday. And we can travel for Christmas if you want,” Baker told her.

Jodelle shook her head. “You’re too good to me.”

“No such thing.”

“Are you going to let me spoil you too?” she asked.

“You already do. Come on. We need to get up, get showered, eat dinner, and try to appear respectable when Ben gets home, so you don’t get embarrassed when he takes one look at you and knows what we’ve been doing.”

“Do you think he will?”

“Tink, you’re fuckin’ glowing. If he doesn’t, he’s pretty damn stupid.”

“Ben’s not stupid,” Jodelle complained.

Baker raised an eyebrow at her.

“Right. So, we need to get up, you need to stop being so darn sexy, and you need to help me figure out how to stop glowing so I don’t get embarrassed when Ben comes home.”

Baker burst out laughing again. He couldn’t remember when he’d laughed so much. When he’d arrived earlier, he’d been in a pretty dark place. He’d spent the day bargaining with drug dealers, which was risky at the best of times, and calling in a couple of the favors he’d spent a lifetime collecting. But he’d do anything for Jodelle, and getting an asshole like Rowden off the streets and no longer preying on the young kids in the area was worth every lost marker.

“Come on,” he said, rolling to sit up on the side of the bed. “Shower, food, then relaxing until curfew.”

“Baker?” Jodelle said, putting her hand on his back.

“Yeah?”

“Love you.”

Baker’s throat got tight. He didn’t think he’d ever get tired of hearing that. “Love you too.” Then he stood, held out his hand, and sighed in contentment when the woman he loved took it and let him help her off the bed. They walked hand in hand, butt-ass naked to the bathroom, and nothing had ever felt more natural in his life.