If You Believe

CHAPTER 4

Three weeks later, she still hadn’t convinced him that more sex was a good idea. No, a great idea. The man drove her up the wall, and she loved every minute of it. Damn him. She liked him more every moment she spent with him. He was everything she’d thought he was that first day—strong, steady, dependable—and a hell of a lot more. He made her laugh, he made her want, he made her crazy. That didn’t mean she was going to roll over and marry him because he said so. She still didn’t believe she was cut out for marriage, but she’d certainly like to roll over and do a lot of other things with him.

He’d dragged her out on a lot of non-dates—because he insisted they weren’t dating—and, on the fifth one, she’d talked him inside her apartment. In under thirty seconds, he’d had her pressed up against her living room wall, his tongue in her mouth and his hand up her skirt, stroking her through her soaking panties.

“I want you.”

“I want you too, sugar.”

And he still wouldn’t give in. The man had a will of absolute steel. It was unfair. She growled low in her throat.

“Fine,” she spat. “I guess you’re right that we’re… in a relationship.”

“Not good enough, sugar.” A smile kicked up one side of his mouth, and he shook his head down at her. “You know what it’ll take to—”

Her jaw clenched, and she tried to jerk away from him. “Since we’re not doing anything else tonight, you can see your way out.”

He chuckled. “Oh, but that was very good, Aubrey. Definite progress. I think you deserve a reward.”

“Wh—what do you mean by reward?” Wariness and hope twisted inside her. God, she was so hard up she couldn’t take much more. And neither could her vibrator. If she spent another night working herself over with it, it was going to give up the ghost.

His big hands cupped her hips as he sank to his knees. He slipped his fingers under her skirt and hooked into the top of her panties. His green gaze, hard with lust, never left hers as he slid the silk down to her ankles. “Step out of them.”

She lifted her feet one at a time to let him pull them all the way off. He grinned and tucked them in his pocket. “I never did get my souvenir.”

“You can have my whole underwear drawer if you fuck—” Her mind shut down when his fingers thrust deep into her pussy. Oh. Holy. God.

His free hand slid up her thigh. She loved his touch on her skin, the slight calluses on his finger rasped over her sensitive flesh. It was amazing. Her skirt bunched around her thighs when he pulled her leg up and over his broad shoulder, opening her wide. His lips brushed the inside of her knee. She whimpered, heat whipping through her body.

Her pussy was so slick, she could feel the excess moisture slip down her legs.

He licked a path up the inside of her thigh, catching the beads of wetness with his hot tongue. She moaned, clenching her fingers in his hair. Anticipation made her muscles shake, and her heartbeat thundered in her ears until she couldn’t hear anything else.

God, she’d waited so long for this, wanted it so badly.

His tongue dipped into her pussy, flicking over the wet labia. She choked when he closed his mouth over her clit and sucked hard. His fingers moved inside her, stroking fast and deep. Heat roared through her, tingles racing over her flesh in waves. Her pussy clenched around his thrusting digits, and she closed her eyes to feel her body tighten. She was close.

Hooking his fingers in her sex, he hit her in just the right spot to make her scream his name. He bit at her pulsing clit, and it was enough, more than enough, to shove her over into orgasm. Her pussy flexed, and her hips slapped against the wall as she arched toward the wicked talent of his mouth and fingers. She threw her head back and choked on a harsh sob. Oh, God. The muscles of her thighs jerked, and her breath bellowed out in rough pants. She shuddered over and over as the orgasm kept going.

When it finally ended, she collapsed in his arms, and he hugged her close to his broad chest. She straddled his lap, and she could feel the hot press of his cock between her legs. He was hard for her, and she wanted him so much. His tongue hadn’t been enough. She wanted more. She shivered as she remembered what it felt like to have his dick push into her sex. Yes. She needed that.

She planted a hand on his chest, pushing him flat. Moving her hand down his torso, she cupped his cock through his jeans. His hands locked around her wrists, stilling her movements. “Aubrey.”

Licking her lips, she gave him a grin she hoped would make him think of nothing but sex. Just the way she was. “It’s not sex. It’s a reward.”

“Shit.” He threw his arm over his eyes.

Flicking the tab on his jeans, she jerked the zipper open. No underwear, as usual. His heavy cock slipped free into her hand. He groaned when she touched him, stroked him. She wriggled down his hard body until she could lick the underside of his dick from base to tip. “Look at me. I want you to watch me.”

His arm dropped away until he could meet her gaze. The emerald fire that burned in his eyes made her nipples harden, made her pussy flash hot and wet again. She had to squeeze her thighs together for a moment to contain a harsh throb of want. “Aubrey, I—”

She grinned and sucked the length of him into her mouth. His fingers fisted in her hair, tugging on the long strands.

The slight pain made her scalp throb, but it shot sensations straight to her pussy. She loved sucking cock, it was the headiest power trip she’d ever experienced. But with Price, it was something more. It wasn’t just the power of having him at her mercy, she was so turned on her pussy contracted with every thrust of his cock into her mouth. Her cheeks hollowed with every hard pull on his dick. Her own wetness increased when she tasted the pre-cum that beaded from the plum-shaped head. She moaned on his cock, fire building higher and higher in her pussy until she couldn’t bear it. His fingers clenched tighter in her hair, using his grip for leverage as his hips arched. She worked her hands and mouth up and down his hard cock, sucking him deep until he touched the back of her throat. He groaned, his hips lifted and he froze. His come jetted into her throat, and her pussy flexed on nothing as she came with him. She whimpered as they shuddered together, fire and ice streaking over her skin. Her eyes closed tight and tears leaked down her cheeks. Jesus, it had never been that intense for her before. She swallowed and pulled back to curl on to her side away from him. What the hell had just happened?

She clamped a hand over her mouth to hold back a sob. Emotion she couldn’t even begin to handle rolled through her. Price’s hand closed over her shoulder, but she resisted. “Please go away.”

“Aubrey—sugar—did I hurt you? What’s wrong?” An edge of panic rasped in his voice.

Curling deeper into herself, she tried to shut him out. “No, I’m fine.”

“Like hell.” He pushed his arm under her and rolled her to face him. She buried her face in his shoulder and cried in earnest, sobs shaking her whole body. He didn’t demand to know what was wrong, didn’t get pissed when she kept crying. No, he cradled her to his chest like she was the most precious thing in his life. It made her sob harder, and she wrapped her arms around his neck and held him tight.

She didn’t even know why she was crying. If he’d asked, she couldn’t have told him. It was everything, and nothing, and… she couldn’t even begin to describe this huge ball of emotion that ballooned in her chest when he was near.

Taking it all in was more than she could deal with. Her sobs slowed, but tears still leaked from the corners of her eyes. Her chest hitched with every breath, and she pulled out of it enough to notice he’d settled her on his lap and was crooning to her the way he would a terrified child. It wasn’t even words, but it comforted her and she relaxed by degrees until she curled limply against him. She swiped the back of her hand over her cheeks. “I, um, I’m sorry. I don’t norm—”

“Shh.” He rested his chin on the top of her head, his hand stroking up and down her back. It made her eyes well with tears again, and she blinked fast to hold them back. What was wrong with her? This wasn’t normal. Nothing like this had ever happened to her, not even with Scott. And she’d been head over heels for him. But look how well that ended. God, she was so confused. Price brushed her hair back and kissed her forehead. A shiver ran down her spine.

She thought she’d react to the man if she was on death’s doorstep. It was madness.

His hand continued rubbing her back in soothing circles. “Are you all right, sugar?”

She swallowed and nodded, too hollowed out by the firestorm of emotion she’d just spent to care that he’d seen her sob like a baby. She moved to rise, but he held her to him, shifting her in his arms so he could stand. He walked down the hall until he found her bedroom and laid her on the soft sheets. With quick efficiency, he stripped her and then stepped back. She closed her eyes so she didn’t have to watch him walk away like she had almost every night for the last three weeks. She couldn’t do it, not tonight.

The mattress dipped as he settled beside her. Her eyes flew open, and she found that he’d shed his own clothes too.

He pulled her to him so that they were plastered together from knee to chest. Her breasts crushed to his pecs and her nipples went so hard it was painful. She swallowed a moan when she felt his cock curve against her belly.

Angling a glance up at him, she shivered at the lust that always shone in his eyes. For her. “But you have a no-sex rule.”

“You’re worth breaking every damn rule, sugar.”

Burying her fingers in his hair, she pulled him down until she could kiss him. His lips brushed over hers with a reverence she’d never experienced before. He lifted her leg so that it hooked over his hip. Tingles slipped over her skin, and she pressed closer. The head of his cock nudged at the swollen lips of her sex. She wanted him, her body molding itself to him. But this time, it wasn’t a wild race to the finish, it was a slow burn that simmered from inside out.

His cock sank deep inside her with one hot, unhurried push. She sighed, enjoying the clasp of her flesh around him, the pull of desire that tugged at her very soul. It was perfect. Just the thought should panic her, but she was beyond caring about anything except savoring this moment with him. Price. His name rolled through her mind with the drugging sweetness of aged whiskey. She hummed in the back of her throat as their tongues danced.

Their hips rocked together and time became fluid, the slow throb of desire clenched her muscles. She pulled back to gasp out a breath, her muscles shook with suppressed longing. He cupped her ass, sliding his fingers forward to tease the lips of her pussy from behind. She moaned when he circled her anus. His gaze locked with hers and she felt orgasm build within her, but she held it off and held it off, wanting to stay in this place with him. His smile told her he knew what she was doing, the way his gaze sharpened told her he fought coming as well. A laugh caught her by surprise, and he smiled at her. “Price, I—”

She cried out when his thick finger penetrated her ass, stretching her anus in time with his thrusting cock. She tumbled hard and fast over the edge of orgasm, the walls of her sex closing on his dick in rhythmic contractions. Her nails dug into his shoulders as she rode out the hot waves of pleasure that threatened to drag her under. She wanted to see his face when he came.

He groaned, rolling his pelvis against hers. Aftershocks of orgasm rippled through her and her pussy tightened around him. His beautiful eyes lost focus, and his fingers worked inside her ass while he slammed his cock into her one more time. His breath hissed out, his come filling her. He shuddered against her, pulling her closer until his arms wrapped around her. A few moments passed while they both tried to catch their breath. He leaned back to look at her, a smile that was sinfully wicked curving his lips. He pushed his fingers deeper into her backside. “It occurs to me that I owe you a spanking.”

The sound that emerged from her throat was half moan and half laugh. Just like that, she was hot and eager for him.

Needy. This man got to her like nothing else ever had. “You did promise me. Time to pay up.”

“I am a man of my word.” He slid his cock and fingers out of her, wrapped his arm around her waist, and had her facedown on his lap before she could blink.

She tossed a sassy grin over her shoulder at him. Her heart pounded, and her hands shook so hard she had to bunch them in the sheets. The mere thought of his hand on her ass was enough to make her wet. She couldn’t wait. “Give me your best shot, Chief.”

“You’re in for it now, sugar.” He laughed and the sound wrapped around her heart, making her smile widen. Cupping his hand over her buttocks, he rubbed slow circles on her flesh that built her anticipation to a boiling point.

She lifted her backside into his stroking palm and waited for the first strike to land. He didn’t disappoint her. The blow cracked loudly in the quiet room, the echo a shock that made her gasp. Heat and ecstatic pain flowed in the wake of the startling sound. He smacked her other cheek, and she moaned, rocking into his hand. Raining slaps that varied between punishing spanks and playful pats, he kept her off-guard. Dark pleasure wound tight within her, centering in her sex until her pussy clenched with every swat. She undulated on his lap, letting go of every ounce of control as she let him take her to a sweet, hot place that was pure sensation.

Moaning, she buried her face in the mattress, not sure how much more she could take before she begged him to fuck her. “P—Price, I need more.”

“God, sugar. You get me hard more often than a horny teenager.” He pulled her upright on his lap until she straddled his thighs, but faced away from him. The blunt tip of his cock probed her anus, and she threw her head back, bowing her neck over his shoulder as she arched in utter abandon. His arm circled her hips and pressed her down to take his painful penetration. But she was already beyond pleasure and pain, the two had become one, twisting together until all she wanted was more.

“Oooh.” She rocked herself against him, working herself slowly on his cock. Closing her eyes, she bit her lip and focused on the rising tide of sensation. He fitted his hands to her waist, lifting and lowering her, stretching her with each thrust. It was so good, so hot. His rougher flesh stimulated her swollen backside, his hard belly spanking against her ass as their movements picked up speed and force. The muscles in her thighs screamed with strain, sweat sliding down their bodies to seal their skin together where it touched.

She wrapped her fingers around his wrists, digging her nails in as she used her grip of leverage to quicken the pace.

Each time he entered her ass, her sex throbbed. She could feel her orgasm building, coalescing into something sharp and shattering.

“Please,” she begged. She didn’t know what she pleaded for. For it to end. For it to never end.

“Aubrey.” His voice was ragged, his chest heaving, but his tone still managed to be reverent. He kissed the side of her neck. “Aubrey.”

Slipping one hand down, he flicked his fingertip over her clit. She sobbed, so close to orgasm she could taste its sweetness, but unable to move fast enough to push herself over the edge. He pulled her down tightly to him, grinding his pelvis against her punished ass. The penetration was deeper than any that had come before, widening her anus past bearing. God, it was so fucking good. Then he pinched her clit and bit the side of her neck. Hard.

She flipped over into orgasm so fast it left her gasping. Her ass closed around his cock, her pussy clenching on nothingness as he worked her clit and dragged her release out for as long as possible. He pumped into her ass over and over again, coming hard inside her, filling her with hot fluids that made her shudder.

Catching her as she collapsed against him, he rolled them until he lay on his back and she sprawled on his chest. She yawned, exhaustion sweeping through her, the emotional and sexual rollercoaster she’d been on taking its toll. Her heart tripped when he cuddled her close and brushed his lips across her forehead.

Her eyes closed, and she kissed his collarbone before sleep took her. Nothing had ever felt as good as this, been as achingly intense as this. Nothing. She never wanted this feeling to end. She just wanted to stay right here forever.

Split shifts sucked. She’d finally gotten permission from the building inspector to reopen Bean There, Done That, and business was booming since every cop and fireman in town now insisted on stopping by at least once a day. Price and Mason were a force to be reckoned with in Cedarville. She’d opened the shop that morning and now she had to close it down for the night. Owner or not, if a split shift had to be worked, it was usually her who did it. Her staff was trying to juggle hours until Susan got back on her feet. She was supposed to come in tomorrow. Thank God. But finally six o’clock rolled around, and it was quitting time. Aubrey cleaned all the equipment, wiped down the counters and headed out the side door. Price had called to tell her something was up at work, and he’d be late. She frowned. While she was okay with work being important, a nagging worry went through her. Cedarville wasn’t L.A., so the dangers of his job would be much less than if he still lived there, but bad things happened even in small towns.

He’d promised her he’d be careful, and she had to trust that he would. Which was tough for her, but she did trust that he knew how to do his job. And that wasn’t the only thing he knew how to do.

Post-coital bliss was the understatement of the century. Jesus, Price was great in bed. She didn’t know if he was more skilled than any of her other lovers, or just the chemistry between them was better that she’d ever experienced before.

Or both. Or… hell, she didn’t really care so long as he kept her coming like clockwork. All. Night. Long.

A delicious shiver went down her spine. She could get used to this. She’d never clicked with anyone this deeply, this fast. It was terrifying and exhilarating and she knew she had the stupidest grin on her face and didn’t even care, but it faded as quickly as it had formed.

The other worry she’d been suppressing all day came back to her in a rush now that she didn’t have her own work to distract her. Price and she had had sex last night without a condom. And she hadn’t dated anyone in almost a year, so she wasn’t on the pill. Terror and panic should be careening through her… but they weren’t. That was what freaked her out a little. It wasn’t that she didn’t want kids. She’d always wanted a couple of them before she’d gotten married, but the idea of breeding with Scott had always made her a little wary. He was a selfish man, she’d just never realized how selfish. Until it was over.

But… would having Price’s child be that terrible? Well, she wasn’t having a heart attack at the thought, and that said something right there. She was so wrapped up in her own thoughts, she didn’t even notice Jericho until he grabbed her.

His fingers wrapped around her arms in a tight grip, desperation in his silver gaze. She’d never noticed before how brilliant the color of his eyes were. “You must save your soul mate. Now. You don’t have a moment to lose, Aubrey.”

She stared at him. Creepy nutso boy was back.

“You have to believe, Aubrey. You have to believe in something.”

Her heart gave a hard thump, and her worry for Price over his job came roaring back. Her stomach gave a vicious twist. So far Jericho hadn’t been wrong. Not once. Did she really believe in what he said enough to go tearing across town in search of Price? And what if she didn’t and something bad happened to him? Her chest squeezed tight, and for a moment she couldn’t breathe. Something bad could happen to Price. Oh, God.

The truth slammed into her in one unholy wave of terror. She was in love with Price, and there was no way in hell she was taking any chances with his safety. She’d rather look insane running around town after him than let anything happen to him.

Jericho shook her hard. “14 Plumleigh Avenue, on the corner of Larkspur. Believe me, Aubrey. Go!”

She went, her legs and arms pumping as she raced across the square and over the five blocks to get to the address Jericho had given her. Her breath rasped out in painful pants. If this had to do with Price’s job, he would kill her for interfering. Did she care? Not really. He could kick her ass if it meant he was alive, breathing and healthy enough to get it done.

She skidded to a stop outside of 14 Plumleigh. The front window was broken out, the roof sagged on the porch, and the house looked as if it should be condemned. Her breath whooshed out in relief when she saw Price, alive and well, through the broken window. He wore a black bulletproof vest as he walked down a dark hallway toward the back of the house. She swallowed, blinking back tears.

Thank God, Jericho was wrong.

Through her tears she saw a slim man step into the hall behind Price. He wasn’t wearing a uniform and he carried a silver pistol. Her breath seized when he lifted the weapon to point it at Price’s unprotected head.

“Price, behind you!”

Both men spun toward her at the same time, guns raised. She dropped to the pavement and covered her head with her arms. The cement scraped the skin off her elbows and knees. Two deafening booms echoed over the quiet street, and she flinched, curling tighter into herself. Please, God, don’t let Price be hurt. Please, God, let her have warned him in time. Please, God. Please, God. Please, God.

Her ears buzzed, and her whole body shook as shock rocketed through her system. She needed to get up and check if Price was okay, but the message her brain was sending to her quivering muscles didn’t seem to be getting through.

She panted against the cement, small rocks and dirt rubbing against her cheek.

“Aubrey.”

Relief flooded her system as she heard Price’s voice shout from a distance. A very far off distance. It sounded like he was yelling from the end of a long tunnel. Tingles broke down her arms as someone grabbed her and flipped her over.

Price’s face hung over her, abject terror drawing the skin tight over his cheekbones. His big hands slid over her body in efficient movements. “Aubrey, are you hurt?”

“No, I’m fine.” Though her tone sounded vague and soft to her ears. She shook her head to try to clear it. Swallowing, she laid a hand along his jaw. “Are you all right?”

“Hell, no. I’m not all right.” Molten rage flashed in his gaze and the muscles in his jaw clenched beneath her fingers. His hands shook as they brushed the dirt off her cheek. “What were you thinking yelling like that? It was crazy amounts of stupid.”

Matching anger whipped through her, stripping away the strange lethargy that weighed down her limbs. She pulled away from him and sat up, poking a finger into his chest. “I was thinking that I was saving you from getting shot. Excuse the hell out of me if that was stupid. My mistake.”

“That wasn’t what I—”

Pushing to her feet, she swayed a bit and he caught her against his chest. She wanted to stay there in his arms forever. Where they were both safe and okay. Her heart turned over, and she had to close her eyes. The anger drained away as quickly as it had come.

“Chief, I—” Another man spoke from behind her, but he cut himself off. “Never mind, I’ll ask Sergeant Barkum.”

She blew out a breath and forced herself to step away from Price. “So, I’ll… um… see you tonight. If you have time, of course.”

He sighed, reluctantly letting her go. “One of my men is going to have to ask you about what you saw and did.”

“Oh, fun.” She rolled her eyes to hide the tears of relief. “I just love doing police reports.”

Sergeant Barkum ended up taking her statement, and for once in her life, she lied to an officer of the law. What was she going to do? Tell them she had her own personal homeless oracle? She played the shocked, confused, didn’t-remember-a-thing card for all it was worth. She consoled her guilty conscience by reminding herself she’d done nothing illegal to find out Price was here and in danger.

When the sergeant finally finished with her, she turned to leave only to be drawn up short when Price called her name. He gave her an odd look. “Mrs. Chambers says she saw you running like a crazy woman through town. How were you going for a run down this street and just happened to see me?”

“I told the officer, I honestly don’t remember. I was at my shop and then I was here and then there were bullets.”

“You’re in sandals—not the best jogging shoes.”

“Look, I know it’s weird. But just trust me… it’s what I remember. I don’t know why I went running.” She laid a hand on his chest. “I don’t know why I came here, but I’m glad I did if you’re okay.”

“Aubrey…” Suspicion faded from his eyes, replaced by warmth. He tugged her into his arms, and she went. She didn’t even mind the bulletproof vest. This was exactly where she wanted to be.

“I’m sorry I don’t remember more.” I’m sorry I have to lie so you don’t think I’m insane. But would they believe that a vagabond prophet sent her to save the day? She wouldn’t in their place. Price was fine and that was all that mattered. She’d play the amnesiac if she had to. Maybe on their fiftieth wedding anniversary, she’d tell him the truth about what happened today. Fifty sounded like a nice round number to her.

“I love you, Aubrey.”

“I love you too.” Taking a breath, she pulled back to look him in the eyes. She loved the way they crinkled at the corners when he smiled at her. “Price—”

“Yeah, sugar?”

“Will you marry me?”

He blinked. “Yes.”

“That’s it?”

“What’s it?”

“Just yes? No questions or doubts or… anything?” He’d been saying he wanted to marry her since their first date—or was it technically their second date? She had no idea—but after more time around her, she’d figured he’d need some serious convincing. Scott had—she shut down that line of thinking. If there was one thing she knew, it was that Scott would never be a fraction of the man Price was. No more comparing them.

“Not one.” He slid his fingers into the pocket of his slacks and pulled out a ring with a sapphire surrounded by diamonds. “I’ve been carrying this thing around for weeks.” He grinned, and it was the most beautiful thing she’d ever seen. “We should get married in the park, what do you think?”

Tears welled up in her eyes, and all she could do was nod. He slid the ring on her finger and then lifted her hand to his lips, turned it over, and kissed her palm. “I love you.”

“I know it.” He smiled. “I love you too, sugar.”

And she believed him.

She had to thank Jericho.

Price wanted her to go back to his place and wait for him there. She would, but not until she tracked down Jericho and thanked him up one side and down the other. Cold sweat broke out on her forehead when she thought about what might have happened to Price if Jericho hadn’t sent her to save him. Where was he? Jericho was always sitting on the park bench across from her coffee shop. Always. His butt had been glued there for months now.

She jogged up to the bench to find his sign leaning up against it. But no Jericho. Shading her eyes, she looked up and down the block. Maybe he needed to use the john, and he’d be right back. Fifteen minutes later, she was sitting in his usual spot. Nothing. He was never away from the bench this long, and a twist of worry cramped her belly. Where was he? Glancing down at the sign, she saw a hand-written note scrawled in the corner. What the hell?

Picking up the sign, she brought it up to her nose so she could read it. Underneath the huge words “The End is Near” was Gone to save another lost soul, Your Guardian Angel.

She choked on a laugh, but for the third time in one day, she believed.