I roll it between my fingers and she shivers.
“It’s like you know how to play my body.”
“You are the instrument I’ve always wanted to learn, baby.”
She moans as I raise my head and suckle at the tip.
“God, your cock feels so good.” She rides me from tip to root, taking all of it.
“Take that cock, ride it hard, Kendry.”
She throws her head back and her pussy clamps around my cock. The pulsing is intense, like all of her fears and anxiety are being rocketed from her body. I grab her hips and thrust three more times and then release into her body, pulling her to me for a final kiss.
I grab a blanket as she rolls to my side and wrap us in it, looking over to find the dogs curled up together on Bear’s bed in the corner.
“Kendry, I don’t want you to leave.”
“I don’t want to leave… ever, Calder, but…”
“Stay here with me and take all the pictures youwant. Follow your dreams here.” I roll to my side to face her.
“This is crazy, you know that, right?”
“Not as crazy as ignoring what I know you’re feeling, too.”
“I can’t say the words yet.”
“I know, but I can. I love you. I think I loved you before I knew you. You don’t need me, but I hope that you want me because I want to be your everything.”
“Everything is a lot.”
“I’ll do whatever it takes to support and love you.”
She smiles, something that’s brilliant and full of happiness. “Okay, let’s do this. I’ll call off my brother in the morning. He might still want to come check you out.”
“I think he should. Maybe his car might break down here, too.”
She laughs. “Oh, Black Timber Peak couldn’t handle two Sullivans. If you thought I was a mess, he’s probably twice as bad as me. Divorced, hardheaded, sensitive to a fault.”
“You were never a mess. But you know what… he sounds like one of my coworkers.”
“Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”
“Why don’t you just lethim show up…”
“You’re a trouble maker.” She lays her head on my chest.
“Let me show you how much trouble we can get into…” I lift her up and kiss her deeply.
EPILOGUE
Kendry
We get back to the cabin from the Christmas party at the Hotshots HQ and now I know so many things about Calder. His co-workers wereveryforthcoming.
Apparently he snores. Loudly. Like a freight train. He didn’t last night because we really didn’t sleep much. When he stays at HQ they make him sleep on a cot in the storage room. This isn’t a deal breaker, but something to look forward to… and to insist he go get checked out. Calder also loves gummy bears. Millie told me she sees him sneak them into his bag when they go out to fight fires. It’s like his comfort food. And he takes his coffee… black. Which is A-OK by me. I hope to never touch another shot glass of espresso again in my life.
We grabbed my bag from the Black Timber Peak Inn and I said goodbye to Ester. She mentioned that she needs help with marketing to get more people to come to experience her wonderful inn and I quickly offered to take photographs of her place to add. She called me “a blessing.” Something no one ever has. This town makes me feel like my dreams matter. That I matter.
