“And if I say no?” I counter, handing Gabe my plate as he stops to see who our guest is. “I’m not supposed to be put in stressful situations. If I got a doctor’s note, would that help?”
Frank rubs his head. “Believe me, Savannah, I’ve tried to move mountains to get you out of this, but the court will subpoena you. You can either do it now or later after the baby is born. My advice is to get it over with now, so when that little tot comes, you can start fresh with all this behind you.”
I pull out my phone and check for a possible missed call. “Does Cole know?” I want to cry out ‘but hepromised,’but I know I’m stronger than that. Frank shakes his head. I drop onto the lower counter, suddenly exhausted. “Who will be coming with me?”
“Who do you want?”
I want Keith, but he’s out with the team. “Mike?”
His face shows me he’d prefer Mike to stay running the house. “What about Sue?”
“Really?” I’m surprised by this.
“All right, I’ll call Sue and let her know you agree.” Frank stands, zipping his coat. “Tomorrow, oh-nine-hundred hours, plan to be away for four days. And, Savannah, please don’t run off this time.” His eyes are not smiling.
I don’t say anything; my nerves are already crawling to the surface.
Later that night as I crawl into my bed on the couch, I stare up at the ceiling and wonder what my father is doing right now. Is he with Lynn? Or is he staying away from her so as not to draw attention to their sick relationship? How on earth did I not know that the two of them were screwing behind my back? Am I that flipping naive? I let the events of the past run through my mind. I’ve been trying too hard to put this behind me, but it’s not finished. I know it needs to be played out so I can be done with it once and for all. It doesn’t make it any easier. I flop to the side, staring blankly at the TV that’s playing the mini-series,The Hatfields and McCoys,on mute. The old movie makes so much sense. It’s so cut and dry; you just take a gun and end the problem. Although if that were the case, I’d be dead long ago.
I chuck the blankets off and head to the bathroom for the fifth pee in the past thirty minutes. I haul my shirt up and look at my tummy in the mirror. I’m five and a half months and have a nice round bump forming. I think about how these last few months have gone. Cole has been wonderful, but his over-protectiveness is growing right along with the baby. It nearly killed him having to leave on this trip. I know he’s been traveling a lot more lately to tie up as many cases as possible before little Sim comes.
The sound of the latch being unlocked on my door sends me to the living room, pressed against the wall in the shadow across from the door. My heart is pounding, but I know there are only three people who have a key. Jake, Keith, and Cole. A bag is tossed in first, followed by heavy footsteps. My fists clench as the dark figure is revealed, slumped with exhaustion, but the moment he spots me, his face lights up.
“I didn’t mean to scare you.” Cole closes the door behind him.
“It’s okay,” I whisper, staying where I am. He looks sexy in his Army pants and jacket. His navy blue sweater peeks out the top of his scarf, making his eyes darker than normal, or he’s just as excited to see me as I am him. He kicks off his boots and sheds his jacket.
“Come here,” he commands with a dirty little twinkle in his eye. I step out from the wall and walk slowly toward him. His eyes drop to my favorite shirt. “Damn, baby, I love you in my clothes.” He reaches out, touching my belly. “How’s my little one behaving?”
“The little mite has an appetite.” I place my hand over his. “Can’t seem to get enough food.”
“Can I get you anything?”
“Yes, but not food.” I step back, pulling his shirt over my head and tossing it to the couch. He runs his hand over his five o’clock shadow while he thinks about his next move. “Do you normally hesitate this much when you’re in the field, Colonel?” I smirk, waiting for him to strike.
He smirks back at me. “This is different. I want to toss you up against the wall and hold you still while I work out the last two weeks of frustration on that tight little hole of yours, but,” my chest feels heavy as my legs clench together, “I don’t want to hurt you.”
I roll my eyes as my sexual drive takes over. “Fine. I can find other ways that don’t involve an overprotective fiancé. I have a showerhead with a multitude of settings.” I turn on my heel but don’t get three feet before he’s behind me, bending me carefully over the kitchen table.
“Can your showerhead make you scream?” I hear his zipper, and his pants drop. I smile into the table, needing this so badly it hurts. His fingers explore how turned on I am, and they push in easily, pulling a moan from my chest. He bends his body over mine, kissing his way up my spine. “Spread your legs, baby.” I do and feel him brush my lust. He doesn’t remove his fingers; he twists them around as I flex tightly onto him. “I needed you so badly I came right from North Dakota.” His fingers slide out of me, and in slips his erection. “Oh god,” he hisses.
Starting a gentle flick of the hips, he rotates side to side, moving in all directions, raising my desire, my need, escalating my lust. His hands slide from my hips up to my shoulders. Once he has a firm grip, he presses me back into him. I scream his name, followed by a silent curse.
“Don’t ever question my need for you, Savannah.” He grunts between each gentle but firm thrust. “I could snap you in two with the feelings that come over me when you’re near.” He pulls me up so I’m flat against his chest. His hands massage my breasts as he nips my neck. “Now I want you to come for me.” His voice is a soft growl. “I need to feel you come, feel how much you missed me.” He gently pushes me back over the table, lifts one of my legs so it’s bent, and starts thrusting hard and deep. His uncharacteristically measured, firm movements send me higher.
I claw, scream, and bite down as an orgasm rips through me. I can’t see and can barely hear as I come back to myself. Cole carries my limp body to the bed, pulling the covers up.
“I need a shower.” He kisses me roughly and disappears into the hallway.
His lazy smile remains imprinted on my brain as I drift off to a deep sleep.
Cole
Cole wraps the towel around his midsection and peeks in on Savannah, who’s passed out in the middle of the bed, her belly peeking out of the side of the blanket.
Her fridge is nearly empty, and her cabinets are bare. What the hell has she been living on? Then he finds her stash. He grabs a spoon, and leaning against the counter, he scoops a huge ball of peanut butter into his mouth as his phone goes off in his coat pocket. He lunges for it, pressing the button before it can wake Savannah.
Frank: You made it there all right?