CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

"What made you want to become a Mountie?" asked Shelby.

Red smiled at her, gently moving the porch swing back and forth. She was curled into his side, her head on his shoulder. He could smell the gardenia and rose fragrance of her shampoo, and there was something about it that made him hard.

"I was in the Canadian military. I had been for twenty years. It was all I knew, and then suddenly, I was done. Becoming a police officer seemed the right choice, but I didn't want to be a city police officer. The RCMP have a great reputation, and they were anxious to have men who had military experience. Especially anyone who had experience with terrorist groups.

"I had been divorced a while at that point. It just seemed the right next step for me. When I met up with Kev and Matt, I knew this was where I needed to be. It's been a gift coming here, working with all these men and women. The fact that somehow, I found my daughter in all this is absolutely remarkable."

"I love that," she smiled. "You found a home."

"I did. What about you? What happened with your divorce?"

"I'm not sure," she said, shaking her head. "We dated toward the end of college, and he was the one who said he was madly in love and wanted to get married. I wasn't sure, but my parents thought it was the right move, and I respected their opinion.

"We were doing alright, or at least I thought we were. I started at the hotel and was doing well, got several promotions and was making great money. More money than him. I didn't realize how that was impacting him. He worked for an auto finance company. He was doing well but not making as much as me, and I think that bothered him."

"Sounds like his problem, not yours," said Red, kissing her temple.

"I know that now, but I was feeling terrible about it. I put on a few pounds, and suddenly, he was saying that I wasn't attractive any longer."

"Fucking idiot," muttered Red. Shelby smiled at him.

"Anyway, I started to suspect that he was cheating and caught him in the act. In one week's time, I followed him after work and saw him with three different women. Then, I started checking our bank account. We always had a shared household account, but we kept separate accounts for other things. We had access to those accounts because I wanted transparency between us. I never thought he'd steal from me."

"How did you find out?" asked Red.

"I didn't check the accounts daily, something I do now," she frowned. "I knew what I had in my accounts, and I knew how much money I was spending. Then, I got a call one day saying my account was overdrawn. I immediately went to the bank and found that he'd been withdrawing money. I changed the account cards, my PIN, everything. He was pissed. I honestly thought he might hurt me."

"Did he?"

"No. No, he's far too passive-aggressive for that. He decided it would be better to tear me down personally. I asked for a divorce, and he threw out a bunch of horrible comments, body-shaming me.

"I consider myself a strong woman, Red. But I won't lie. That hurt me. No woman wants to hear the man she thought she loved and that he loved her, saying she was fat, a cow, disgusting to look at, terrible in bed."

"He's a fucking idiot, baby. You are none of those things." She chuckled, shaking her head.

"You don't know if I'm terrible in bed," she smiled.

"No, but I have a pretty good guess that you're spectacular. We can find out whenever you're ready." She stood from the swing, holding out her hand.

"Okay."

"Okay?" he said, staring at her.

"Yep. Okay," she smiled. "I'm not an assertive woman, Red, but you make my body hot every time I'm around you. I love how you kiss me, hold me, touch me. I love how you speak to me, and I absolutely adore the way you treat your daughter and speak to her. Make love to me, Red."

"Fucking, hell yes."

He took her hand, walking into the cottage and back toward the bedroom. Standing in the middle of the room, there was a moment of nervousness. Then, he couldn't hold back any longer. Cupping her face, he began kissing his way down her neck, undoing the buttons of her dress as he moved.

Her beautiful, full breasts were oozing out of the top of a cream-colored bra, the high-leg matching panties visible as the dress fell to the floor. He could feel his dick painfully pressing against his zipper.

"You're fucking perfect," he said breathlessly.

"Take me, Red. Please, take me."

Both stripped and dying to hold one another, they snuck between the sheets, kissing, hugging, touching, and feeling. When he was ready, he rolled her on her back, staring down at her.

"I don't have any condoms, Shelby. I can stop and go get some."

"No. No, it's okay. I mean, I'm on birth control. I haven't been with anyone since my divorce."

"It's been a few years for me as well. I'm clean."

"I know," she smiled. "The girls told me about the tests you have to take. Just make love to me, Red. That's all I care about."

Her lush, soft hips fit in his hands as he held her still, diving into her hot, wet pussy. She let out a slow, sexy moan, and Red bit down on his lip, hoping to not embarrass himself. Moving slowly at first, Shelby took control, rolling her legs up his ass cheeks and then linking her ankles behind him.

Her body jolted forward, meeting his every thrust as he devoured her mouth. When she was close, she gripped his shoulders, arching her back as a silent scream escaped her lips. When her gyrations slowed, Red picked up speed and followed with his own orgasm.

He didn't move. Didn't pull out. Didn't do anything. He was still inside her, kissing her, touching her, making her body ignite again.

"You're not moving," she smiled.

"Nope."

"You don't want to shower?"

"Nope."

"Do you want me to move?"

"Nope."

"What do you want?" she grinned.

"I want to make love to you for the rest of my life."

"Wh-what?"

"Shelby. Shelby. You may not understand this, but I've known from the moment I saw you that you would become my wife. I'm fucking crazy about you, and the fact that we just had mind-blowing sex tells me we click on every fucking level. Every. Single. Fucking. Level.

"We don't have to get married tomorrow. Although Mama Irene might have something to say about that," he laughed. "We can marry whenever you want. But marry me. Be my wife."

"Yes."

"Yes?"

"Yes," she smiled. "I'll marry you any time you want me to. I don't need to wait. I don't need anyone to tell me this is right, Red. I knew it too. I knew it the moment you held me when I was absolutely panicked. I love you, Red. I love you, and I love Brittany. I want to be a part of your lives."

"You've made me so fucking happy," he whispered against her lips.

"What now?" she smiled.

"Now, I make love to you again. Then we shower and do it all over again. When we wake up tomorrow, we'll pick out an engagement ring, start planning a wedding, and tell our friends and family. Then, I'm going to hunt down the assholes who hurt you."