He chuckled. “In Bakersville?”
She smiled. “Well, we’ll have to go to Denver. But I’ll go with you. You won’t go through this alone. I promise. Harp will give you half a day off. No problem.”
“But the cost, Mia.”
Hang the cost. She’d gladly pay for the best therapy in the world to heal Jeff. But he wouldn’t take her money. She already knew that. Didn’t matter though. “Silly, didn’t you read those papers you signed when you started working here for Harp? All of our employees are covered with health insurance, and the state of Colorado has mandatory mental health benefits.”
Jeff’s eyes widened, and he broke out into a loud guffaw. He grabbed her face and kissed her lips. “All this time, Mia, I’ve been killing myself wondering how to get through this. Do you know I never once considered that I had benefits here?” He laughed out loud again.
And what a joyful sound it was! Maria laughed with him. She hadn’t heard that wonderful sound in over thirty years. And all over health insurance.
He pulled her to him, still laughing, stroking her back. “My Mia. I should have known you’d take care of me in the end.”
She smiled with him, happiness overwhelming her.
And when his laughing stopped, and he softly kissed her neck, her happiness turned to unglorified glee. She pulled back a little and met his gaze. No words were necessary.
They slowly undressed each other, kissing softly, caressing each other’s bare skin. Maria knelt and sucked on Jeff’s cock, which felt as divine beneath her tongue as she remembered. She twirled her tongue around the head and then spiraled tiny kisses over the shaft, all the way down to the base, where she licked and cupped his balls. Then back up, where she took him to the back of her throat.
He shuddered. “God, Mia, I’ve missed you so much.”
His words warmed her, spurred her on. She began moving her mouth faster, adding her fist to the mix, wanting so much to feel him explode inside her mouth. So much….
He grabbed her hand. “No, baby. I want to take it slow.”
She reluctantly let his cock drop from her lips.
“Let me take care of you now.” He laid her gently on the bed and spread her legs.
Maria leaned forward and held on to the sides of his head, her fingers threaded through his silky hair, as he stroked between her legs with his tongue. “Jeff, yes, just like that.” He licked her and sucked on her clit, and just when she was about to go mad, he thrust two fingers into her heat and she soared.
That feeling—that amazing feeling—that had been lying dormant inside her for so long awakened again.
He moved forward, covering her body with his, and kissed her deeply. They kissed for a long time, all the while their hands never leaving each other.
And when he finally entered her, time rolled backward and she took flight.
* * *
Thirty-Three Years Earlier
“Jesus Christ!” Jeff ran to Regan. The shot had gone right into his chest. Blood had already soaked his shirt. Jeff put his fingers against the man’s neck. No pulse.
“I am so outta here,” Max said, throwing the gun down.
“You just killed someone,” Jeff yelled. “What the fuck is wrong with you?”
Max ran out the door. Wayne struggled on the floor.
Jeff’s heart thrummed, his whole body aware of its rapid beat. What to do? Get out? Wayne knew they’d been here. He could identify all of them. Max wouldn’t get far. Still…if he grabbed one of the cars in Grandpa’s garage, he
could head south, maybe make it to Mexico…
God, he was thinking crazy. A man was dead. Dead. Bitter agony welled up inside him.
He looked toward his brother. Wayne was still struggling for something. Shit! He hadn’t wrapped Wayne’s wound.
“What are you doing?”