Closer (26 page)

The ringing of Michael’s cell phone awakened him. It was after 8:00 AM. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d slept that late. He didn’t want to wake Emma, so he removed her from his arms carefully and found his phone. “Hello,” Michael said, recognizing Kevin’s number from the caller ID.

“Look. I wanted to be the one to tell you that apparently Agent Ingrams had an impressive record. But, lately his boss noted he was obsessed with the GIA,” Kevin said in a calm voice, like his whole world wasn’t depending on the outcome of this investigation.

“And…” Michael hissed at his brother.

“And. The PD’s forensics department confirmed her burn marks were consistent with her story. She wrestled the gun from him and it went off,” he smiled knowing his brother was smiling on the other end.

“So, that’s it. It’s over. No more questions?” Michael asked cautiously not wanting to get his hopes up.

“Oh, I’m sure there will be some more questions, but she is cleared of any wrong doing. The PD concluded it was a case of self-defense,” Kevin said.

Michael exhaled.

“Are you okay, man? I thought this would be good news.” Kevin said, still smiling.

“This is the best news I have heard in a long, long time,” Michael said, smiling in return.

“I just wanted to be the one to tell you. Go, enjoy that girl of yours,” Kevin said.

“I plan on it,” Michael confirmed before ending the call. He couldn’t wait to tell her. He knew it was weighing on her mind. He carefully crawled back into bed with her. She snuggled back into his arms. “This is exactly where she belongs for the rest of her life,” Michael thought.

He had more than one piece of good news to share this morning. He just hoped she was ready for it all because he was done fighting with his feelings. He loved her. He wanted her with him forever.

She turned and faced him. He brushed the hair from her eyes as she peeked out from sleep. His smile was the first thing she saw.

“Well, good morning to you too,” she smiled in return.

Michael pulled her closer until their noses were touching. He rubbed his nose with hers. She giggled.

“How are you feeling this morning, Emma?” he inquired gazing into her beautifully blue eyes.

“I am much better after last night. Thank you, Michael. You took it away,” she confessed.

“You don’t have to ever thank me for that. Believe me, I enjoyed taming that beautiful ass, marking it as mine.”

It was now or never. He had to tell her. His tone changed into a serious one. “I have to tell you something.” She propped herself up on her elbow determined to hear the bad news with dignity.

“What is it?” she asked her eyes quickly darting from his. She bit her bottom lip as she waited for the dreaded news.

“I think I am falling in love with you,” he said.

Her eyes shot up and connected with his. He was worried. She wasn’t saying anything back yet. She just stared at him, like she was lost.

“It’s okay if you don’t feel the same way, Emma. You don’t have to. I know it has been quick. And we didn’t exactly meet under normal circumstances. And the last few weeks have been crazy, but they also have been the best weeks of my life. I don’t want to lose you. So you take all the time…”

“Michael,” she said. “Shut up and kiss me.”

She pulled him down into the most sweet, most tender kiss. They lied in bed kissing each other, connecting with each other for an hour, just kissing and touching each other’s faces.

When she finally pulled away, she gathered up her courage and said, “I am in love with you. But…”

“No buts,” he demanded.

This time she disobeyed. “But what about Ingrams. I may get in a lot of trouble for what I did,” she protested as she fought back the tears. She had finally found love and it could all just disappear.

“Well,” he said, unable to see her gather her courage for a second longer than she needed to, “I have something else to tell you.” He didn’t even try to hide his smile. Apparently, it was infectious because she started smiling too, although she had no idea why.

“Out with it,” she said as she tickled his ribs. He started laughing. When she finished her assault on his ribs, he finally was able to calm down.

“Kevin called. He wanted to be the one to tell me the good news,” Michael declared.

“What good news?” She eyed him suspiciously with a twinkle in her eye.

He laced his hands through her soft hair and pulled her in for another kiss.

She backed away. “No. No. Tell me,” she admonished.

“The police have ruled Ingrams’ death self-defense. Apparently the burns on your hands corroborated our story. You are officially…all mine,” he declared.

“So what does this mean? Will you take me on a regular date?” she teased.

“It means you don’t need to look for a place to live. You can live here, with me during the week, and we will live at your cabin during the weekends. That is, of course, if you want to,” he said with trepidation.

“Isn’t it a little fast? We have only known each other a short time,” she argued.

“Look if you don’t want to. I was just throwing it out there because you don’t want to live at your place in the city anymore,” he said, sounding rejected. His eyes roamed the room for a moment, not connecting with hers.

She brushed his stubbly cheek with her fingers enjoying the feel of it against her skin. “Michael, I would love to move in with you. In fact, if you didn’t ask, I would have been heart broken,” she confided.

“So we’re really doing this? You’re in love with me and moving in?” he had to hear her say it again.

She smiled. “Yes, Michael. I am hopelessly in love with you. And I am moving in with you. But you are also moving in with me. The cabin is more like my home. Will you live with me there?”

“You know, Emma. We are sitting on a nice little nest egg now that I don’t have to buy a cabin,” he smiled.

“Good, then let’s find an apartment in the city that won’t be yours and won’t be mine, but will be ours. This one will be too small for the both of us.” She kissed him, melting into his touch.

He caressed her exposed arm with his fingertips. He rolled her over onto her back and pressed against her entrance with his hard member. Her blood was on fire. He pushed into her slowly, kissing her reverently. She kissed him back allowing herself to fall even deeper for the man. She was consumed by him. He slowly moved in and out of her. She was his, and she felt much love and confidence in that knowledge. There were no more bad guys. Although she didn’t know it, she had vanquished his demons. As he made love to her, she realized Michael understood her barest needs. That realization brought her closer to her climax. She finally came clenching her muscles as she dissolved into Michael. With one more thrust, he followed. He lay on her, inside her, not wanting to spoil such a perfect union.

He whispered, “Tell me you’re mine, forever.”

“I’m yours, forever.”

The End

• Title page
  
• « Chapter One »
  
• « Chapter Two »
  
• « Chapter Three »
  
• « Chapter Four »
  
• « Chapter Five »
  
• « Chapter Six »
  
• « Chapter Seven »
  
• « Chapter Eight »
  
• « Chapter Nine »
  
• « Chapter Ten »
  
• « Chapter Eleven »
  
• « Chapter Twelve »
  
• « Chapter Thirteen »
  
• « Chapter Fourteen »
  
• « Chapter Fifteen »
  
• « Chapter Sixteen »
  
• « Chapter Seventeen »
  
• « Chapter Eighteen »
  
• « Chapter Nineteen »
  
• « Chapter Twenty »
  
• « Chapter Twenty-One »
  
• « Chapter Twenty-Two »
  
• « Chapter Twenty-Three »
  
• « Chapter Twenty-Four »
  
• « Chapter Twenty-Five »
  
• « Chapter Twenty-Six »
  
• « Chapter Twenty-Seven »
  
• « Chapter Twenty-Eight »
  
• « Chapter Twenty-Nine »
  
• « Chapter Thirty »
  
• « Chapter Thirty-One »
  
• « Chapter Thirty-Two »