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Chapter Twenty

R idge unlocked the door to Eddie's apartment with the key he hadn't returned. Jess's car hadn't been parked beside Eddie's, so he figured it was safe to enter the apartment. Somehow Ridge felt both weary and juiced up at the same time and wasn't sure how to process his thoughts.

"Hey ho," Eddie said as he stepped from the hallway leading to the bedrooms. His friend wore a dark blue suit and a crisp white shirt and was in the middle of securing a lavender-and-navy paisley tie around his neck.

Ridge whistled. "Sunday brunch?"

"Jess's cousin is getting baptized. I told you this at least three times, and you were the one who suggested this suit and tie combo."

"Sorry," Ridge said absently on the way to the coffee pot. Caffeine would help to alleviate his weariness but would also add fuel to the fire burning in the pit of his stomach. He poured himself a generous mug and took a sip of black coffee because peculiar circumstances called for undiluted octane. "You won't believe what happened last night."

Eddie looked up from smoothing his tie. "Oh, I have a pretty good idea. And you better have saved me some coffee." His friend strode into the kitchen and snagged a travel mug from the carousel and emptied the rest of the pot into it. Eddie turned and studied him through narrowed eyes. "You look too rested and sated to still be relying on hand-to-gland combat."

"Gross, Eddie."

His friend laughed. "Look at you blush. You're such a Boy Scout. So, you finally surrendered to Kendall's charms, huh?"

Boy had he ever. He couldn't wait to surrender again as soon as possible.

A hand appeared in front of Ridge's face and fingers snapped. "Hey. Come back to me, buddy," Eddie said.

Ridge gave himself a mental shake and met his friend's concerned gaze. "So, yeah, you and Zack were right. Kendall and I click." So fucking well .

Eddie smirked. "Yeah, I can tell from your goofy grin and adorable blush what transpired next, Ridgey. You don't have to go into great detail if it embarrasses you."

"I'm not embarrassed, and I didn't plan to give you intimate details. You'll be more interested in finding out what happened this morning."

"He turned into a pumpkin?" Eddie asked.

Ridge laughed. "No. Don't even try to guess because you'll never get it right."

Eddie couldn't resist a blatant challenge and spent the next three minutes tossing out every wild idea that crossed his mind. The list was both impressive and a little worrisome. When his friend gave up, Ridge enjoyed drawing out his suspense as he wove the tale.

"Get the fuck out of here," Eddie said once he'd finished.

Ridge took a deep breath and gave his friend a hangdog expression. "Okay."

Eddie slapped his chest and held him in place. "You know what the fuck I meant. Rebecca Burkhart is Kendall's mother?"

"Yep. You could've knocked me over with a feather."

"I bet," Eddie said, staring off into space and rubbing a hand over his chin. There was no outward bruising from the blow Rebecca had landed, but Ridge was certain Eddie still felt its effect. "He seems so normal."

"I don't think it's a great relationship," Ridge said. The thought made him pine for his mother's warmth.

Eddie met his gaze again. "What are you going to do?"

Ridge rubbed the back of his neck. "I honestly don't know."

"Listen, I know you like this guy," Eddie said, "and you know I do too."

"But…"

"You can't be associating with Stanton Burkhart's stepson. It's career suicide, Ridgey." Fuck . Eddie was right. "I know it's not fair. Kendall probably has nothing to do with Burkhart's activities, but the press would have a field day if it got leaked, and the brass would be furious. There's no way in hell a judge is going to let these guys out on bail. They're too big a flight risk. The likelihood these assholes don't have a contingency plan with false identities is slim to none."

"Yeah, I don't see our judge taking that gamble."

"So that means we'll be responsible for transporting Burkhart and Jones to and from court. Someone will accuse you of passing information or showing them preferential treatment."

Ridge puffed out a breath. "Yeah, I get it."

Eddie cupped his shoulder. "I'm sorry, man. You need to make peace with saying goodbye."

Ridge had never hesitated to utter the word before, but now…it felt like someone had put his heart in a vise and slowly tightened it.

"It doesn't have to be for good," Eddie said kindly. "Maybe just so long for now."

Ridge nodded. He wasn't sure what to say. Ridge had taken his breakup with Todd much easier, which was stupid. He'd only known Kendall for a month. "Do I text him and explain?"

Eddie shook his head. "No. You don't want to leave a digital trail. Go back to his house and talk to him. Kendall deserves that much. Just don't wind up in his bed again," Eddie cautioned. "You can explain away the first incident as not knowing, but now you do. You're welcome to stay here until you figure something else out. We'll chat more after the baptism." Eddie squeezed Ridge's shoulder, picked up his travel mug, and headed out.

Once alone, Ridge didn't know what the fuck to do with himself. He poured the coffee down the drain to show mercy on his angry stomach. Sleep was out of the question, that much Ridge knew. He padded down the hall to the guest room and grabbed a change of clothes out of his duffle bag before heading into the bathroom. Ridge turned on the shower, pushing the handle all the way over to hot. He'd only paused long enough to brush his teeth before leaving Kendall's. It would've been too awkward to take a shower there, knowing Rebecca Burkhart was in the kitchen. And Ridge hadn't been eager to wash Kendall's scent off his skin. He still wasn't, but he stepped into the enclosure and shut the door.

Hot water pelted his face and chest, easing the tension gripping him by the balls. Ridge let his head fall forward so the water could cascade over his neck and shoulders. Rivulets streamed down his back like tears, and his flesh tingled and burned as if it were acid rain. What the fuck? Then he remembered the way Kendall had clawed at his back when he couldn't get enough of Ridge.

He turned so the water hit the scratches, and the stinging sensation caused him to hiss. The pain didn't last long, but the memories of his night with Kendall continued to play through his mind on an endless loop, stirring desire in his gut and hardening his dick. Fantasizing about fucking Kendall felt as dangerous as seeking him out in person, but Ridge wouldn't deny himself the pleasure. It didn't take too many strokes to give him the relief needed to clear his mind.

Ridge hurried through the rest of his shower, then dried off. He wiped off the condensation on the mirror, then positioned his body to get a good look at his back. Red slashes crisscrossed over his flesh, and his chest swelled with pride. Ridge smiled as he dressed in a pair of shabby sweats and a raggedy T-shirt. He didn't feel like watching television where his options would be political talk shows or trashy TV. He didn't need the high blood pressure or brain rot. Ridge checked the time on his phone and dialed his mom. Even with the time zone difference, he knew she'd be awake. Cheryl Dandridge woke before the roosters and hit the ground running.

His mom answered on the second ring. "I was just thinking my morning couldn't get any better," she said instead of a traditional greeting. "I was so wrong. How's my boy?"

"I'm good, Mom. How are you?" As he expected, she'd already exercised, meditated, fed the animals, and made his dad's breakfast. "How's Dad doing?"

"More stubborn than Speedy."

Ridge pictured his dad's favorite mule and laughed. "Was the donkey ever fast?"

"Have you ever met one that's in a hurry?" she countered. "Slow, steady, and stubborn."

"So, not an ideal patient?"

She chuckled. "Every day, I catch him in the act of getting dressed so he can sneak down to the barn."

"It's a good sign Dad's stamina and strength are returning, right?" he asked.

"Yes, but it makes it harder to convince him to rest. I threatened to tie him to the bed this morning." She huffed a breath. "He's grumpy, pissed at the world, and doesn't want to listen." His mom sniffled. "But I'm so damn grateful to have this daily fight with him."

Ridge's heart ached. "I'm sorry, Mom. I wish I could be there to help you."

"Honey, please don't feel guilty. I have your sister and our ranch hands to help with the daily operations. The neighboring ranchers have also offered to pitch in. I'm not alone, okay?"

While it was great to hear she had so much support, it wasn't coming from him. "I want you to call if things get to be too much. I can be on the next flight out."

"I know, and I love you."

"Love you too, Mom."

"Enough about me," she said. "How's the new living arrangement? Has my grand cat settled in nicely with your new roommate?" Roommate was such an inadequate way to define Kendall's role in Ridge's life, or it would've been before the revelation that had rocked their newly formed foundation.

"It's the perfect setup since I don't plan to stay in Savannah."

"Ridge, you've been saying that for five years already. Maybe it's time to consider you've already planted your roots there."

He sighed. "That wasn't the plan."

"Plans change, my love. Your father and I want you to be happy." Shuffling sounds came from her end of the connection. "Oh, I need to get off here. Your father has taken advantage of my distraction to try to sneak out. I'll call you back later."

"Good luck. I love you."

"Love you too." She blew him a kiss through the phone before disconnecting.

Their brief conversation had left him feeling even more restless, so Ridge retrieved his sketchbook and charcoal pencils from his bag. He flipped on the television and scrolled through the channels, looking for something to play in the background. Ridge smiled when he saw a Forensic Files marathon and turned it on. Opening to an empty page, he turned off his brain and began to sketch. Ridge had planned to draw one of his favorite Montana mountain peaks from memory, but a different image burned brighter, begging to be immortalized. He worked until the rough outline of Kendall's face became a detailed rendering of the way he looked after orgasming. Ridge traced his thumb over the pouty lips, softening the harsh charcoal line.

The tug in his chest was a warning; one he didn't heed when Kendall texted him.

The coast is clear .

Eddie's voice echoed in his head, but the racing blood in his ears drowned him out. Be there in fifteen .

Kendall met him at the door, and they lunged for each other as soon as he closed them inside the house.

"This is the morning I wanted," Kendall said between kisses as he made quick work of removing Ridge's shirt. He placed his mouth on the flesh he bared and peppered kisses across Ridge's collarbone. "There's so much of you I didn't get to explore."

"And flesh you left on my bones," Ridge said before turning around.

Kendall gasped and traced his fingers over Ridge's back. "I'm so sorry."

Ridge spun around and pulled Kendall into his arms. "I'm not. It was a pleasant little reminder of our night when I got in the shower."

Kendall looped his arms around Ridge's shoulders and cocked his head to the side. "How pleasant?" Ridge let his smile answer for him, and Kendall inhaled sharply before reaching into his pocket and removing a condom and small tube of lube. "So, we won't need these—"

Ridge shoved Kendall's shorts down his hips and cupped his half-hard erection. "Hell yes, we will."

He proceeded to prove just how up he was for the task by bending Kendall over the couch and taking him hard and fast, driving the man up on his toes with the force of his thrusts. Ridge couldn't be sure which version of Kendall he liked most: the seductive minx who owned him with a single glance or the one who was too lost in his pleasure to string coherent words together. Both were beautiful and made Ridge feel like a god.

Afterward, they cleaned up in the kitchen and collapsed together on the couch. Kendall draped himself across Ridge's chest and tucked his head under Ridge's chin.

Stroking a hand over Kendall's smooth back, Ridge said, "Are you going to start purring now?"

"Was thinking about it," Kendall replied, his voice as thick and slow as molasses.

Ridge chuckled and tightened his embrace. Moments later, Kendall's breathing evened out as he drifted off to sleep. Ridge didn't mean to follow him, but the aftermath of two powerful orgasms and the lure of the man in his arms was too much to resist.

He awoke sometime later when Kendall shifted his weight to nestle between Ridge and the back of the couch. Ridge rolled onto his side to make more room and noticed Kendall was wide awake. His expression was the same serene one he'd captured in charcoal that morning.

"Hi," Kendall whispered.

"Hi."

Kendall worried his bottom lip until Ridge rescued it.

"What's wrong?" Ridge asked.

"I keep waiting for you to tell me goodbye."

Eddie's advice replayed on repeat until Kendall brushed his hand over Ridge's forehead.

"You'll get premature wrinkles if you don't stop doing that," Kendall said.

"Doing what?"

"Frowning." Kendall tucked his hand under his cheek and smiled softly. "It's okay to tell me what's on your mind. I won't be mad at you."

Ridge rested his hand on Kendall's hip. The need to anchor this man to him was so strong it stole his breath away. "I should move back to Eddie's."

Kendall narrowed his eyes. "But…"

Ridge heaved a deep sigh and stroked a finger down Kendall's nose. "I don't want to."

"But…" Kendall nudged again.

"This will be a high-profile case, and the US Marshals Service will be responsible for transporting Stanton to the courthouse for hearings and trial. If people find out that I'm involved with his stepson…"

Kendall sat up so fast he nearly rolled Ridge onto the floor. "You need to go. I can't be responsible for destroying your career."

After steadying himself, Ridge sat up too. He reached for Kendall's hands and tugged. The minx resisted for a few minutes before sliding onto Ridge's lap. "I like you a lot, and damn it, I haven't asked the universe for much. Maybe I can talk to the assistant chief deputy and explain the situation. Will your mom be a problem for us?" Us. Ridge hadn't even planned on there being an us when he'd acted on impulse the previous night. He couldn't deny how right the word tasted on his tongue.

Kendall huffed a short breath. "I wish I could assure you Rebecca won't be an issue, but I can't. If she can use this to her advantage, she most likely will." Ridge's heart ached at the sadness and shame he witnessed in Kendall's eyes. "I want to trust her, but I can't…yet."

"Marks can make sure I'm not on Stanton's detail. Maybe then—"

Kendall shook his head. "I'm not worth the risk."

Ridge gripped the back of his head. "I think you are."

Kendall closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When their gazes met again, Ridge could see the resolve firmly in place. "If I hadn't left Stanton's house early, what we shared last night wouldn't have happened."

"I'm not so sure about that," Ridge admitted.

"I am. You're a wonderful, moral man who always does the right thing. I will not be the reason you lose the job you love so much."

Ridge gathered Kendall closer and kissed him long and hard, pouring every ounce of emotion into his kiss. The minx melted against his chest, and trouble had never felt so damned good.

"I can't say it," Ridge said after they pulled apart for air. Tears pooled in Kendall's eyes, and he started to speak until Ridge placed his finger over his lips to silence him. "I want just one more day with you. Maybe it's stupid or selfish, but I don't care."

Kendall looked like he was going to protest, but after a few moments, he nipped Ridge's finger and smiled wickedly. "If all we have is today, let's make the best of it."

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