I turn and hold out my credit card to find Tenn already filling in information on the computer screen to book the flights. “Here… to purchase my ticket.”

He just shakes his head. “I got it.”

“No way,” I insist. “You are not paying for my plane ticket.”

“Back off, Goldie,” he says in a low warning. “I’m not in the mood to argue with you.”

I heed his voice, dropping my outstretched hand. He needs to be in charge now, and this is not the time to try to assert my independence with him. For the time being, I’ll let Tenn do the things he needs to do, and I just need to be there to support him.

Because we didn’t eat, I head into the kitchen and find a few cans of soup I can heat up. I work on getting them opened and started on a low simmer on the stove while Tenn finishes booking our flights. When he’s done, he pulls out his phone and sends a text to his brother with our arrival time, waits for his response, and then texts something back.

“Woolf will pick us up at the airport,” Tenn says absently as he pushes out of the chair.

I turn the stove off and open the cupboard to the right to get some bowls. “Let’s get some food in you and then we’ll get a good night’s sleep since we—”

My words are cut off as Tenn steps up behind me, taking my wrist that is extended toward the cupboard. He pulls it away, drags it back toward my body, and then presses into my back. Wrapping both arms around me, he envelopes me in a warm hug that is full of thanks and then morphs into need. I know it’s need because I can feel him start to grow hard against my lower back.

“Aren’t you hungry?” I ask softly, holding my body still to see what he really wants.

“Yes,” he breathes in my ear, and then drops his hands down to my thighs where he skims his fingers over my skin, just under the hem of my sundress.

His unspoken words? I’m hungry for you.

Immediately turning in his arms, I press my breasts into his chest and dip my fingers into his waistband. I look up at him and my heart hurts over the pain I see there, but know that based on the need I see there too, that I can make him feel marginally better.

My hands work at his belt buckle and I quickly undo it, his button and zipper following quickly. He stares down at me with quiet interest, but when my hands start to push down at his jeans, he stills them with just one word. “Don’t,” he says quietly.

I press a quick kiss against his breastbone, and then tilt my head back to look at him. “But I want to take care of you.”

Tenn’s fingers drag upward, taking my skirt with his hands. He curls them around to the back, squeezing my ass gently, leveling me with a heated stare. He shakes his head. “I need to drive.”

“Be in charge?” I ask gently, knowing damn well that’s what he means.

“Yeah… I need a bit of normalcy right now,” he admits as he slips his fingers under the back edge of my panties. “I honestly don’t think I can handle you taking care of me tonight.”

His words are rough and strained but rather than respond… to potentially cause him to break on me, I simply nod and lift my mouth to his. He takes it… gladly, and kisses me deep.

While his mouth moves against mine, causing me to start to fall into that deep abyss of pleasure, his hands grip hard on my ass and lift me up. My legs naturally wrap around his waist and our kiss never breaks. Deepens in fact.

When my core settles against him and I give a little grind, deep gratification rumbles in his chest and he turns to carry me to the bedroom. In just moments, he has me on the bed and stripped naked. He proceeds to remove his own clothing, not rushing and keeping his eyes pinned on my face while I in turn let my own eyes rove all over his body. I take in the planes and contours of his muscles, the vibrant ink on his arms and shoulders, the patch of hair just below his belly button that dives down into those pants and points me to my favorite part of his body.

My nerves hum and my blood sizzles.

It’s what always happens when I know that Tenn is going to touch me.

Taste me.

Fuck me.

I wait with nervous anticipation to see what he’ll do. Will it be an onslaught of lust? Or sweet touches to slowly build me up? He’s a master at both, and I don’t have a preference.

But he does neither.

Instead, he kneels on the bed between my legs and proceeds to run his hands over my skin. Everywhere. All over my entire body except my breasts and the money spot between my legs. He curves his hands around my ankles, digging his thumb deliciously into my instep. Spreads his fingers wide and palms my calves, squeezing them gently before smoothing upward to my thighs. Everywhere… hips, stomach, the inside of my elbows. He strokes my collarbone and my neck, running his fingers over my jawline.

After he has his fill, he finally brings his body down on top of mine, nestling his hard cock against me and kisses me. Leisurely and deep, not in a rush to do anything but savor.

He laces his fingers with mine, pulling our hands above our heads. He kisses me so sensually that I become immersed in a deep pool of feeling. I become so captivated by what his tongue does to mine that I really don’t even notice as he starts to shift his hips so his cock presses against my warm opening.

When he pushes in a fraction, I can’t control the gasp that comes out of my mouth. He sucks it down and keeps kissing me, all while slowly pushing his way inside.

And when he’s fully seated… when we are pelvis to pelvis and he can’t go any deeper, he just rocks against me. Presses deeply.

Over and over again.

He takes me slowly and drags out every bit of pleasure between us. Our breathing matches pace with one another, our hands grasp tightly. We build all the way up and when it’s time, we take the plunge together.

Pushing in deep, he starts coming at the same time I do.

It’s magnificent, and I’ve never felt closer to him than I do at this moment.

Knowing that he needed me and based on the low moan of pleasure and relief I hear in his voice, I know that for even just a moment, I was able to give him some peace.

When he finally collapses on top of me, I hear him whisper in my ear a direct admission. “I love you, Casey.”

Chapter 24

Tenn

As our flight turns parallel to the Teton Mountain range to line up with the runway at the Jackson Airport, I feel a moderate amount of turbulence that is typical of the high crosswinds. Casey jerks awake in her seat, and I immediately take her hand.

She didn’t tell me that this was only her second time on an airplane, or that she had a slight fear of flying until we were barreling down the runway in New Bern. She clutched my hand in a death grip, imprinting little half-moon divets into the back of my hand with her nails. I only managed to get her to release her hold after plying her with two Jack and Cokes so she could relax marginally. Just before our flight left Detroit after our layover, I also had her down a few drinks before we boarded, and that takeoff was much smoother. And she’s been sleeping ever since.

I still can’t believe she came with me.

Fuck, I can’t believe my father is dead.

Grief and guilt have been a constant companion since I got the news last night. Grief that a vibrant and beloved man is dead and guilt that perhaps I was an utter disappointment to him and he died with that on my conscience. He died without me ever having the ability to just make that final decision about what I wanted to do with my life. He died with me not knowing if he even forgave me for not wanting to continue with the family’s legacy.

Casey’s hand clutches at mine again, and I can feel how sweaty her palms are. I squeeze her with reassurance, and she lays her head on my shoulder.