Chapter Four

Patrick rolled over in the narrow bed, seeking the woman he’d spent all night out there with, fucking and talking. Thank God they kept supplies out there so they’d not even been cold overnight.

Friction did that as well.

She wasn’t there. Ainsley wasn’t in the bed with him. He opened his eyes to see where she was. His cock tented the blankets as he remembered fucking her all night. Her sucking him, his fucking her ass. All of it. And he wanted more.

He gripped his dick and looked around, slowly stroking it. No one was in the space with him. And her clothes were gone as well. He had learned so much about her last night that he knew, without a doubt, he didn’t want to let her go. That inkling had been there that night in Chicago, but now it was definite.

Perhaps she’d just stepped outside. However, as he released his cock and climbed out of the blankets, he had a sinking feeling that wasn’t the case. A feeling solidified when he saw she’d left his coat for him. If she was going to be outside, he was sure she would have taken it to keep warm.

Tidying up the cabin, he hurried outside and swung a leg into the ATV, cursing as the morning dew soaked his jeans against the seat. He started the engine and raced off for the house. The remnants of her footprints remained visible on the damp ground.

He didn’t park in the barn, but roared up to the house and hopped off after he cut the engine, then jumped the steps to get inside quicker. Her car hadn’t been in the drive either. His mom was in the kitchen making breakfast and she hollered for him to stop.

Grinding his jaw impatiently, he backed up and stuck his head in there. “Yes, Mom?”

“What are you doing making all this racket?”

“I’m looking for Ainsley.” The truth, just not all of it.

“You look like you slept in those clothes, Patrick.”

“I didn’t, but I just put them back on. I was out at the cabin. With Ainsley. Now where is she?”

“She left. Said it was time for her to go.”

Damn it! “Excuse me.” He dashed up the stairs to Jenn’s room and pushed in without knocking.

“Shit!” his sister said from where she lay beneath Tony at the moment. No shock in what he’d walked in on. “Get out, Patrick.”

“Ainsley left,” he said turning around, not wanting to see his sister fucking anyone.

“What the hell did you do to her? Stop, Tony. Get off me.”

“Fucker,” Tony muttered.

“Use your hand,” he snapped back, not giving a damn that he’d stopped them before Tony could get off.

“Knock it off, you two.” Jenn stepped up beside him, tugging on her shirt. “Let’s go.”

“Go where?” he asked, following Jenn out of her bedroom. “And I can’t believe you’re having sex in Mom and Dad’s house.”

“Could you state it any louder?”

“Sure, if you want me to.”

Tony’s curse followed them down the stairs. Patrick had to admit, that was a bit fun to do.

“You’re going to owe Tony an apology.”

“No way. He’s fucking my sister. Like hell I’m going to apologize for interrupting.”

“You’re such an asshole.” They both headed right out of the door without talking to anyone else.

They climbed into his truck and he started the engine. “Where’m I going?”

“Diner. She said she wanted to have breakfast there before she left. What the hell did you do to her to make her leave? She wasn’t supposed to go for two more days.”

“Nothing. We spent the night talking and stuff.”

“You slept with her again,” Jenn accused. “Damn it, Patrick. Can’t you keep it in your pants? That’s my friend. One of my best friends.”

“I know that and it’s not like I forced her, Jenn. I’m not that kind of man.”

She crossed her arms and tapped her right foot. “Go faster.”

As he did, he slanted a gaze to his sister. There was more than anger at him on her face. There was fear and concern. His cop instincts were screaming at him.

“How did you two meet?”

She snapped her gaze to him. “She didn’t tell you?”

“Said it was at school but that more details would have to come from you.” He shifted gears. “I figured that was code for you were doing something I shouldn’t know about.”

“No, it’s just that, she’s this kind of person, it’s why I love her so much. We met at a support-group meeting.”

“For?” Hell, he’d not known his sister had ever gone to something like that.

“Rape victims.”

Patrick slammed on the brakes, the truck fishtailing on the road. Jenn screeched then fell silent.

“What did you say?” Anger thrummed through him.

“I was raped while in school. Wasn’t doing well with it and was thinking of ending my life. Don’t talk about this, Patrick, please. It’s hard enough for me to tell you.” She took a deep breath. “Anyway, I was outside the room, chickening out when Ainsley walked up. I shouldn’t be telling you this, but—”

“I know about what happened to her with her uncle. She told me last night.”

“That says a lot about how much you mean to her. She doesn’t talk about that…to damn near anyone.”

That made him feel a bit better. Not a ton, but a bit.

“She walked up,” Jenn continued. “And just hugged me. Didn’t say a word, just gave me a hug. I broke down into tears and she never judged me for any of it. My cowardice for everything.”

Patrick opened his mouth and she shook her head. “I know, it’s not my fault, but I felt that way. You should keep driving.”

“It’ll wait.” He wasn’t about not to give her his full attention. “Keep going.”

“She sat with me in the back of the room during the group and the next day when I saw her on campus, all she did was smile and say hi. She never told anyone where she saw me or what she’d done for me. In fact, I had to seek her out, she wouldn’t approach me. I brought it up when I was ready and she was always there to listen, never judge.”

He leaned over and hugged her. “What happened to the guy?”

“He’s in jail.”

“Good.” A kiss on her cheek. “I’m sorry it happened to you, Jenn, but I’m so glad that she was there for you when you needed it the most.”

“It’s always been that way. She’s a rock for me, and now I’ve let her down because I wanted to spend time with Tony instead of being available for her to talk to.”

He put them back on the road. “She talked to me. I’m not letting her go, Jenn. I know it’s sudden and sounds crazy, but I’m in love with her. I want her with me, by me. I love the snark, the fire, everything. It’s like for the past years after I had the fling with her, my world was a shade of gray. Not anymore. And I like the colors.”

They got to town and at Mindy’s they were told Ainsley had been there but had left about twenty minutes before.

He balled up a fist and almost pounded the window of his vehicle. He wasn’t giving up that easy. “What are you going to do?”

“Take me to the airport, Jenn.”

 

* * * *

 

Ainsley climbed out of the car and stretched. It had been a long drive, a few days. She’d half expected Jenn to ask her what had happened when she’d spoken to her, but her friend had minded her own business. Sometimes things just got a bit too rough.

Seeing those children who were running from an abusive foster home, to a grandmother they’d only heard about, had struck her deep. She’d been in one. Cold bumps broke out on her as she recalled her uncle, the man who’d made her life a living hell.

She did what she could to help but the wounds were never fully healed and she’d already been exposed by reuniting with Patrick. So, after she’d given him everything that night, she’d run. Chicken? Sure. But it was what she’d decided to do.

She loved him. There was something that drew him to her, but she wasn’t ready for him, wasn’t ready for anything like that. And she couldn’t handle just having sex with him because they were explosive in bed together. She didn’t do “fuck ’em and forget ‘em.” No, with her, there were always emotions involved. And with Patrick, the emotion wasn’t lust, but love.

Ainsley knew she wasn’t the woman for him. One day he’d have a wife and kids around that family farm and she would be back east, working. For the best.

Suitcase in hand, she walked up the cobbled path to her house and drew open the screen, then stopped. There was a pair of silver handcuffs dangling from the doorknob.

What the hell?

She looked around but didn’t see anyone, so she took them off and held them up for a closer inspection. The hairs on the back of her neck rose. This time when she turned, Patrick Meyers stood there her, arms crossed and no expression on his face.

Even so, her heartbeat tripled and she swallowed a few times to get some much-needed moisture in her mouth. “I think you lost something.”

He nodded and stepped closer. “I did, you’re absolutely correct.”

She offered him the handcuffs but he didn’t reach for them, just moved closer until the toes of his boots touched her shoes. “Aren’t you going to take them back?”

“That’s why I’m here.”

“But you put them here. I didn’t take them with me when I left.”

He pushed some hair away from her face. Her belly clenched at the tender touch.

“Why did you leave?”

“I had to get back.” Okay, lame-as-hell-sounding excuse. She had no doubt he knew how long she’d planned on staying there.

He nodded a bit absently, not saying anything else as he ran his gaze over her body.

“So, here, take your cuffs.”

“That’s not what I came for.”

She was tired. It had been a long drive. Rubbing the back of her neck, she sighed. “I’m confused. You said you wanted to get what you lost. So, then take them.”

“I didn’t lose those. I put them there. I knew exactly where they were.”

“Then what did you lose and come for?”

He cocked an eyebrow, that incredible blue gaze refusing to let her go. “You.”

Her suitcase slipped from numb fingers at his announcement, landing with a thump beside her feet. “I’m sorry, I thought you said you came for me.”

“I did.”

“But you didn’t lose me.”

“I think I did. You see, I went to spend the night in a cabin with a beautiful woman who rocked my world both sexually and intellectually. Who shared intimate things with me, showed me who she was.”

Something blossomed within her chest. Hope? She wasn’t sure. “And who do you think I am?”

“A woman who thinks and cares about others, more than herself. A woman who loves unconditionally and wholeheartedly.”

She shook her head. “You can’t possibly know that about me.”

He brushed his hand down her cheek. “I know all that and more.”

“Why are you here?”

His smile warmed her from head to toe. “I wasn’t lying when I said I came for you, Ainsley.”

“Did Jenn know you were coming?”

He nodded, touching her face once more. “She did.”

And she’d not given Ainsley any warning about it. Bitch.

“And the cuffs?”

This time his smile had her panties wet. She flashed back to a few nights prior in the cabin, where he’d told her he wanted to cuff her so she wasn’t able to move while he had his wicked way with her.

“Let’s talk inside, Ainsley.” He bent and lifted her suitcase.

She unlocked the door and led the way into her home. The second the door was closed he was kissing her. She squeezed her eyes shut, praying the tears would stay away, even while a few leaked free.

Patrick swept her up in his arms and carried her down the short hall to her bedroom. “I know you’re tired from your drive, but damn it, I’m scared to not have this talk now for fear if I follow my need for the physical, I’ll wake up and you’ll be gone again.”

He set her on her feet and she immediately ripped off her shirt. His eyes went dark as they swirled with desire. He reached for her only to stop and put his hands back by his side.

“Talk.”

“Let’s talk naked,” she said, shimmying out of her pants, toeing off her shoes and socks before they were past her knees.

Only wearing a bra and panties, she backed to the bed and crooked her finger at him. “Clothes off and come here.”

“I’m not losing you, Ainsley,” he said.

She smiled over the ferocity in his tone. It made her feel wanted and needed. Losing the bra then the panties, she slid back on the bed and rested against her headboard. She dipped two fingers in her wet pussy and traced the moisture around her nipples.

“I’m not going anywhere, and I don’t want to lose you either. I’m sorry I ran without a word.” She pushed her fingers back in her pussy, eyes fluttering. “I want,” she panted.

“What is it you want?”

“You, here, between my legs with your mouth on my pussy.”

He finished stripping off his clothing and climbed right between her legs. “My pleasure.” He sucked her fingers clean as he moved them out of his way.

Patrick captured her clit in his mouth and she jerked. She dug her fingers into his hair and ground on his face. They had a lot to deal with and it would happen. Together. However, right now, she was enjoying this sheriff between her legs.