“You know, Jules, I was right,” Maggie says.
“About what?” I ask absently, stacking my favorite pots and pans in a box. I don’t cook much, plus the apartment came with some, so there are only three. Still, because one is an enamel bread pan, the fit is awkward.
“That youlurveSpenser. And that he lurves you!”
I shake my head, laughing. “You’re never giving that up, are you?”
“Now that you’re officially a couple and moving in together? Never!” she cackles.
“Maggie, don’t alienate your cousin,” Gabe teases. “She might leave Harmony Glen, never to return.”
“Oh, that will never happen,” Maggie says confidently. “She loves it here as much as I do. She knows this is where she belongs.”
“That’s true,” I say, pulling boxes of pasta and rice out of the pantry. “I always say that I won’t name a favorite book because I might not have read it yet, but it never occurred to me to apply that same logic to my life. I thought I loved my life before, but that was only because I hadn’t lived this part of it yet. Now this is my favorite, but even so, I know the best is yet to come.”
They help me load everything into the blue Bronco, and I drive over to Spenser’s, which seems silly. It’s not even a mile away.
He’s waiting in the alley for me, a huge smile on his face.
“Hey, roomie,” he says, enveloping me in one of those wing hugs that make me feel like we’re the only two people in the world.
“Hey. Hope you’re sure about this, because I gave my keys back to Gabe.”
“I’ve never been more sure about anything. Let’s get your stuff and officially move you in.”
With two of us, we manage to bring everything up in one trip, a truly Herculean feat. I drop a couple of bags on one end of his couch and set down my suitcase, while he stacks boxes by the kitchen.
“Hey, Flick.” I greet the cat, who’s watching the proceedings from the window. When we have everything in and the door is closed, she stands and stretches, then walks around to give my belongings a sniff.
Finally, satisfied that things are as they should be, Flicker curls up on my suitcase and falls asleep. If she were a normal cat, I’d assume she was just staking out a new nap spot. But knowing her, this is a clear message: the bag stays here, and so do you.
“Welcome home,” Spenser says, and my heart does this swoopy thing in my chest.
“Thanks. I love it here.”
“I loveyouhere.”
“Show me?” I ask.
His red eyes flash and he pounces on me. I gasp as he pushes me onto the couch and drags my pants off, taking my panties with them. Knees on the floor, he crouches between my legs, pulling me to the very edge of the cushion and shoving me open.
I’m exposed and so turned on.
There’s no preamble, no tender words or gestures. Just his mouth and tongue, hot and wet and agile, devouring me.
I let my head fall back onto the couch and slide my hands under my shirt, cupping my breasts and thumbing my nipples. He makes an approving sound, encouraging me to tweak myself, as he laps messily at my pussy.
His hands slip under my ass, cupping me and lifting me slightly, giving him even better access.
“I’m going to eat you until you scream,” he warns, making me shiver.
“I’ve never wanted anything more.”
Using his thumbs to part my folds, he latches his mouth onto my clit, sucking rhythmically while stroking with his tongue.
Oh, holy fuck.
I’ve never gotten this worked up this fast.
