Page 16 of Deadly Conflicts

5

Five

Ally’s headwas heavy on Jake’s chest when he woke the next morning. He spent a few minutes studying her serene profile as he lightly rubbed his thumb over her bare back. Somehow they’d moved from the couch to the bed – although he couldn’t exactly remember when it happened – and then they repeated the love-making experience again before passing out.

Now, thanks to the filtered light of a new day, Jake had a few minutes to enjoy his angel as she slept. He loved looking at her like this. She was a deep sleeper, which worried him should he ever be away from her for a night – which was something he hoped never happened. She was also peaceful when out. Usually, when she was awake, she was a bundle of energy and enjoyed riling up everyone around her. In sleep, though, she truly was his angel.

“What are you staring at?” Ally’s voice was thick with sleep and she didn’t shift her head as she forced out the words.

Jake chuckled. “How did you know I was staring?”

“I know you.”

“You do know me,” Jake agreed. “You know me better than anyone. For the record, I was staring at the most beautiful woman in the world and wondering how I got so lucky.”

Ally finally wrenched her eyes open and smiled. It didn’t matter that her wavy hair was an unruly mess or that she hadn’t washed the previous day’s makeup off her face before bed. She was still profoundly breathtaking. “You’re feeling pretty full of yourself this morning, aren’t you?”

Jake shrugged. “I don’t know. I was kind of hoping you would feel pretty full of me before everything is said and done.”

“Oh, really?” Ally cocked a challenging eyebrow. “What about work?”

Jake held up the cell phone he had the foresight to plug in and rest on the nightstand before succumbing to sleep. “I thought I would text your brother and make up a story.”

“What kind of story?”

“Not a sexy one,” Jake replied. “He’ll come here to check on us if I do that. We all know how that worked out the first time.”

Ally laughed at the memory, although there was a time she never thought she would get over the humiliation of having her big brother walk in on her and Jake making love for the first time. Of course, they weren’t making love at that point. They were merely itching a scratch that both couldn’t help but wonder if they should leave unattended.

“He was so funny that day,” Ally said. “Well, I mean he was funny in some respects. He was mean to Mandy that day.”

“Oh, they got over it,” Jake said, running his hand down the back of Ally’s head. “They’re stronger than ever now.”

“They are.”

“I don’t want to talk about your brother this morning, angel,” Jake chided. “I want to talk about something else.”

“What’s that?” Ally teased, snuggling closer and letting her hand drift to Jake’s morning erection. “Do you want me to speak into the microphone?”

Jake’s face turned red he laughed so hard at her double entendre. He had no idea how she managed to turn a verbal faux pas like that into something sexy, but she did it with aplomb. “Let me text your brother that I’m going to be late,” he said. “Then I think we can work something out.”

“I can’t wait. After last night, I wasn’t sure if you would have the energy. I thought maybe I drained you.”

“Oh, angel, you haven’t seen anything yet,” Jake said. “I promise to grant all of your wishes this morning.”

“Be still my heart.”

JAMES frowned as he stared at his cell phone screen. He was in front of the courthouse in downtown Mount Clemens, Mandy at his side, and when he read Jake’s text he almost had a meltdown.

“What’s wrong?” Mandy asked, sipping her slush. She was the only person James knew who could drink something that sweet so early in the morning. “Is the world coming to an end? Zombies or aliens?”

James ripped his eyes away from the phone and graced his wife with a genuine smile. She was glowing, their antics from the previous night causing both of them to sleep long and sound. He still managed to show up to work on time, though. “Jake says the water heater’s pilot light went out and he’ll be a little late.”

“Oh, that’s too bad,” Mandy said, her tongue blue from the slush. “I’m sure it won’t be a big deal, though. This place won’t be hopping for another two hours. It’s barely open this early.”

“Thank you, wife,” James intoned. “I never would’ve figured that out on my own.”

Mandy narrowed her eyes. “Don’t take that tone with me.”