CHAPTER NINE

– KATHLEEN –

"We should text Dean the information we found out," I muse with my eyes closed.

I rub my cheek against Marvin's chest, loving the way his powerful body feels underneath me. He doesn't give a reply of any sort and I lift my head to see he's sleeping. I feel a smile tug at my face. I should be completely spent as well and yet I feel completely recharged.

Shifting my body, I try to slide out of bed and wince at the sore feeling between my legs. Okay, my body might not be completely recharged, but my mind surely is. Tiptoeing into the bathroom, I take a quick shower and let my mind wander over the moment Marvin and I just shared.

It's not like I saved myself for marriage or for the right person to come along. It simply never felt like the right moment. Besides the reasons I gave Marvin of course. Growing up in an MC filled with overly protective men doesn't make it easy to find a moment alone with a guy.

I guess it's all in the past now. What Marvin and I shared, the kind of person he is, I can only attest that it's meant to be. My steps falter when I realize this little fact and swallow hard. I live for the evidence instead of believing in fate.

Shaking my head, I throw the towel in the hamper and throw on a large shirt. Snagging Marvin's phone from his pocket, I send Dean a quick message to make sure he knows the crucial details.

He instantly messages back that he'll handle the DNA request and that he might have something to compare with. My interest is spiked, but sadly his message also states he'll explain everything tomorrow morning over breakfast.

I glance at Marvin who is still sound asleep. My body is tired but my brain is running overtime. I stalk to the tiny desk in the corner and take out my laptop. At least I can do a little research through my backup laptop.

Starting with the list of names Marvin had of all the people with a connection or background of a crime scene cleaner, I dig through everything again but this time I focus on the ranch hand. If he was the grandfather of the killer, he might have different connections and family who may know who we're looking for.

Lucian Riggs sent Iris and his grandkid to his brother. It seems Lucian's mother remarried at a young age and had another kid with someone else. Which means Lucian's brother is actually a half-brother who has a different last name.

The guy is married to a woman and they both work at a crime scene cleaning company registered under the wife's name. Damn. No wonder nothing popped up because no name or anything ties them to the farm or any other lead for that matter.

"Bingo," I muse and write down the details.

Fatigue hits me hard and I close the laptop and crawl into bed with Marvin. We've made a lot of headway with the case and I could definitely use a couple of hours of sleep. Besides that? I'm allowed to take some personal time and let me feel like a woman for once.

The workaholic in me never takes the time to enjoy myself for very long. Except the rides with my horse, but even then, I make sure to ride through town and check on some things to save myself some work.

For now, I scoot closer to Marvin. Even in his sleep he reaches for me and pulls me close. I nuzzle his neck and close my eyes before I breathe him in. Instantly I feel the shift inside me. The changes in my life due to the man lying beside me.

I've seen the members of this MC fall for the right woman and treat them like a queen. My parents were the prime example I had while growing up. The past few days Marvin showed me the kind of man he is. While I didn't want to see, or denied it, he held fast and managed to break through the invisible wall I put between us.

Finding the right man who fits into your life, who values your priorities as their own and shares the same interest and work drive is unique. Then add the way he makes me feel between the sheets? Yeah, I'd be an idiot to pass a once in a lifetime deal up. I don't want to end up a lonely old woman filled with regrets.

The time is now and everything I want is within reach. It's this thought that lets me dream away until I'm rudely ripped from a peaceful sleep due to the sun hitting my face.

Groaning, I turn my head into the pillow and grumble, "Someone should get up and close the curtains. That someone is you, Marvin."

I hear his chuckle from somewhere in the room and I slap my arm out to check…he's definitely not lying beside me in the bed. Prying one eye open, I glance through my lashes and notice the man sitting at the tiny desk, laptop open and a cup of coffee in his hand.

"What time is it?" I croak while slowly sitting up.

"Almost ten. I let you sleep for a bit while I was catching up on all the research you did last night along with the messages Dean sent. Want some coffee? We're meeting my brother in about an hour."

"You opened the curtains, didn't you?" I accuse and grab the blankets to jerk them over my head as I turn and bury myself underneath.

More chuckling.

"I strongly dislike you," I grumble.

Footsteps ring out and I hear the door opening and closing.

Ignoring everything I start to doze off when the blanket is rudely ripped away from me and I hear Marvin's voice stating, "Coffee for the boss lady. 'Cause my woman doesn't function before her morning dose of caffeine."

Smart man. Not that I would tell him, of course. I glare while I sit up and accept the coffee.

A thought comes to mind. "If you did manage to knock me up…are you going to make me stop drinking coffee?"

I keep glaring at the man while I wait for him to answer. A look slides over his face as if I'm insane to ask him this question. Doubts hit me that he might not be in the same state of mind he was yesterday.

Then the man clears it up by stating, "Are you insane? I like my balls where they are and would prefer not to have them shot off if you don't get your morning fix. Besides, one or two cups isn't bad, my mom did the same thing when she was pregnant with me and I turned out just fine. My brother on the other hand." He shrugs.

I shoot him a grin and this time I do voice the words, "Smart man."

He leans in and brushes his mouth against mine. "A man is as smart as the woman he picked to stand strong beside him. Losing love throws the strongest of men off their game while never finding love leaves them guessing what others have. I'm grounded and fully focused because I managed to get what I want in life to work together toward a shared future. No changing you or clipping your wings, boss lady. We are who we are and fit together perfectly because of it."

Yes, I definitely made the right decision. "Okay, the caffeine is working so get me up to speed about any developments that happened while I was sleeping."

I swing my legs off the mattress and stroll in the direction of the bathroom while Marvin stays silent. Shooting a glance over my shoulder, I notice his predatory gaze on my bare ass. A surge of desire shoots through my veins.

"We have a meeting scheduled," I remind him, and myself.

Marvin shrugs off his leather cut with the new patches of the Iron Hot Blood ranch and throws it on the bed. He kicks off his boots and keeps undressing until he's standing behind me, pulling up the shirt I'm wearing. Without thinking I raise my arms and let the fabric leave my body. His hands land on my hips and he moves us into the bathroom.

"A quick shower is all we need to get a little dirty and clean up all in one place," he murmurs and turns on the shower.

My body still feels a little sore after what we did last night, but the feel of his calloused hands roaming my body fires up waves of desire to feel him inside me. Turning around, I slide my arms around his neck to pull him close.

Our mouths merge and I press my breasts against his chest, feeling his hard dick locked between our bodies. His hands are on my ass, kneading and gripping me firmly to hoist me up, allowing me to wrap my legs around his lean waist.

The water crashes down on both our bodies, steam fills the space while Marvin slowly enters me. There is no urgency to ravish one another. This feels different as if we're both savoring our connection. The feel of his hard length slowly filling me up, leaving me half empty, and then repeating it over and over is a slow burn with a promise to detonate at full force.

My breathing becomes erratic. I'm clawing at his back and have to end the kiss to release a deep moan. I'm already close to coming and I'm doing everything I can to hold back my orgasm. This feels too good to be over so soon.

"You feel so good clenching around my cock," Marvin rumbles and I clench my inner walls.

I sink my teeth into his neck, not being able to give him any words. He curses and grips my ass harder as he starts to thrust harder inside me. My eyes are closed and all I can do is hold on for the ride. Bliss hits me full force out of nowhere and I'm faintly aware of the hot pulses of cum filling me up.

My heart feels ready to explode and I don't even care about the cold tiles hitting my back when Marvin leans me against the wall to take some of the weight. Another blissful moment between us, when life hits pause and we create a world that only consists of the two of us.

Sadly enough, reality crashes back in when the thick ropes of cum slide out of my pussy along with Marvin's half-erect dick.

"I'll end up pregnant sooner rather than later if you keep filling me up," I mutter when Marvin gently places me back on my feet.

Marvin grins and reaches for the soap. "Good. If we start early, we'll have enough time in our future to add more, raise them, and have all the time for just the two of us before our hair turns gray."

I can only gape at the man. "Do you have a solution to everything?"

He starts to soap up his dick and I can't help but stare.

"Keep looking at me like that and you'll receive another load inside your sweet pussy. If you want to wait before we have kids you could always get some birth control. Until then I can fuck you in the ass while rubbing your clit, the orgasms will be the same either way."

We just had sex, I can still feel his cum sliding out of me, and yet hearing him say those crude words while watching his hand pulling his dick to wash off the soap suds is turning me on. Damn. Until yesterday I'd never felt a real cock inside me and now this man has me wondering what it would feel like if he…dammit. He's definitely turned my world upside down.

And I absolutely adore him for it.