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"I have my sources, officer," she retorted, a mock-serious expression on her face.
I laughed, the sound bubbling up from somewhere deep inside, a place that had been quiet for too long. Pushing away from the counter, I closed the distance between us and pulled her into a kiss.
With a shared smile, we settled onto the couch, the movie playing a distant second to the company we kept. The six-pack sat between us, an unspoken agreement that we'd share the burden and the comfort it provided.
As the opening credits rolled, I felt Kayla's head rest against my shoulder, her body fitting against mine like she was made to be there. The tension of the day, our investigation, it all began to fade into the background as we lost ourselves in the simple act of being together.
Occasionally, she'd pass me a beer, our fingers brushing, a silent exchange that spoke louder than words. We laughed at the same scenes, our mirth mingling in the space around us, cocooning us in a momentary reprieve from reality.
The movie rolled on, but my focus was on the woman beside me, the rise and fall of her chest, and how her laughter seemed to chase away the shadows. For the first time in what felt like forever, I let myself just be, my guard down, my heart open.
This was what I needed—not sleep, not answers, but this: a quiet night with Kayla, where the world outside could wait, where the only thing that mattered was the here and now. The cases and threats would still be there tomorrow, but tonight, they had no power over us.
The movie had been over for an hour at least. Kayla's breaths were even and deep, her chest rising and falling in the rhythm of sleep as she lay beside me on the couch. Her head rested against my shoulder, her face peaceful. Watching her, something inside me clicked, a realization settling with certainty. I was in love with her. Hell, she was the one. She always had been.
I didn't want to wake her, but there was something I needed to say, something I couldn't hold back anymore. Gently, I nudged her awake, her eyelids fluttering open to meet my gaze.
"Kayla," I whispered, my voice low but filled with an emotion I could no longer contain. "I'm all in."
Her brows furrowed in a drowsy confusion. "What do you mean?"
"I mean I love you," I said, the words spilling out with an intensity that felt like it could light up the darkened room. "And I'm ready to go to the chief's office, make it official, and stop hiding."
Her eyes widened, surprise and happiness dancing within them. "Really?" she asked, her voice a soft echo of my resolve.
"Yes," I affirmed, my heart pounding with the declaration. "I don't want to spend another day pretending."
She leaned in, her lips finding mine in a kiss that held the promise of a future together. But then she pulled back, a sudden seriousness replacing the earlier warmth. "Wait. Not yet."
I felt a jolt of disappointment. "Why?" I asked, a frown creasing my forehead.
"Because we need to finish this case first," she said firmly. "We need to be able to work together without anyone questioning our methods or our ability to do things right."
I hated the idea, hated the thought of waiting even a moment longer to shout from the rooftops that she was mine. But deep down, I knew she was right. "Okay, that makes sense,” I conceded, the words tasting bitter even as I spoke to them.
She kissed me again, her lips soft and insistent. "But that doesn't mean we can't enjoy being together right now," she murmured against my mouth.
I couldn't help the smile that spread across my face. "I love you," I said again, the words a vow, a promise for what was to come.
"I love you too," she replied, her voice steady and sure. And with that, I stood, gently guiding her to her feet.
Hand in hand, we walked to the bedroom, leaving the chaos of our world behind. It was a declaration that no matter what the days ahead might bring, we had each other. And for now, that was enough.
And if I had my way, it always would be.
Chapter Thirty
KAYLA
Jake walked me across the house to my bedroom and led me inside, his lips never leaving mine. We stumbled into the door as he turned the knob, then fell through it, barely remaining upright. Laughing, he kicked the door to my bedroom shut behind us, his hands exploring my body with an intensity that left me breathless.
A gasp escaped me as his hands dipped under my shirt, his fingers dancing over my skin. I reciprocated eagerly, tugging at the hem of his shirt, the fabric bunching in my fists. We parted briefly to shed our clothes, our breaths coming out in harsh pants.
God… if you’d told me two months ago I would have been working with Jake Barrows and sleeping with him, too, I’d have had you taken in for a psych hold.
His gaze met mine, a burning desire in his eyes. I married it as I closed the distance between us, my hands trailing up his torso, moaning at the feel of the hard muscles underneath. A low groan resonated in his throat as he pushed me against the wall, his lips returning to mine with a fiery passion.
The way Jake touched me, the way he kissed me, it was like he had been starved. His hands were everywhere, in my hair, on my hips, trailing down my back. His touch was electrifying, leaving me aching for more.
