Page 63 of Overkill

“I love you.” It slipped out, but I didn’t regret it.

“I love you, too.” There was no hesitation.

When you know, you know. And I had known for a long, long time.

Every thrust given received a moan in return. Our bodies joined, hot and slick.

“Never leave me,” she whispered.

“Never let me go,” I whispered back.

It was in that promise we had our release. I already knew she was mine and I was hers, and that I would live the rest of my existence earning my place in her twin-sized bed until she let me buy her a larger one. One where we could expand and take up more space as we settled into ourselves.

I would only hold her tighter, love her harder, kiss her deeper from now until I died.

Chapter 20

Awake

Melody

What I needed—the only thing I needed—was him.

And if it was a dream, I hoped I would never wake.

Chapter 21

Go Get Her, Tiger!

Vedder

I groaned as my phone vibrated on the dresser. I reached over, slapping around the nightstand for it. Without looking, and without even knowing if I held it right side up, I swiped the screen and put it to my ear.

“Hmm?”

“Rise and shine, son.” Braun’s voice drawled. I blinked my eyes open, my blurry vision clearing just as the scent of honeysuckle invaded my senses. “I had a meeting with Old Man Smithy this morning to get more on what he saw, but I can’t make the appointment. I’ll need you there as my proxy.”

“What time?” I groaned, feeling the ends of Melody’s wavy hair grazing my cheek as memories of last night came flooding in.

He gave me a time and an address. Unfortunately, I’d have to get up and shower now to make it. I wrapped my arms around Melody, squeezing her back into my bare chest as I kissed her soft shoulder. “Darlin’?”

She moaned, and the sound went straight to my junk, activating that good ol’ morning wood.

But damn it, this was not the time.

“Sweetheart, can I take your truck?” I whispered into her ear. “I wanna get my tools so I can build you a new deck.”

And do all the other repairs this place needed. Maybe I’d get Marcus to help. Miriam too, if she was interested in this sort of thing. I didn’t discriminate.

“Mm-hmm,” she whispered. “Key’s on the hook.”

“Where’s the hook?”

“By the door.”

I assumed she meant the front door.

“I’ll leave the SUV keys in its place, so you’re not stuck without a vehicle, alright?” I placed a kiss on her temple, but she was already asleep again, and she slept like the dead. Maybe she was exhausted. I got the feeling she hadn’t slept well in a very, very long time. She was due for some rest.