Home Is Where the Heart Is (17 page)

Kyra dressed in a pair of shorts and tank top, leaving her long damp hair loose down her back. Her stomach grumbled at the smell of bacon frying as she headed for the door. As soon as she opened the bedroom door, she stepped smack dab into the warmest sexiest hunk of man-candy in the entire world.

“Good morning, darling. Were you that eager to see me?” Dylan asked with a low gravelly tone. He eased his thumb and forefinger under her chin, tipping it up. She licked her lips, reveling in his touch, so many naughty thoughts flickering in her head. She wanted him so badly. She just couldn’t seem to get enough of the man. Was that a good thing or a bad thing? She decided it didn’t matter.

“Maybe. You should have woken me up.”

“I have plans for the two of us, darling. It’s going to be a very busy day.”

“Oh?”

“Yep. Paula is going to hang out with Jake at the office.
We
are going to spend the entire day together. It’s about time we had some peace and quiet to get to know each other again. Sound good?” he asked as he kissed her softly.

“I can deal with that. Where are we going?”

“You’ll see.”

Dylan popped her on the bottom and smiled as she blushed the most beautiful shade of red he’d ever seen. In the kitchen, Kyra poured a cup of coffee and fixed a heaping plate of bacon and eggs. She took a seat next to Paula. The smile on her face told Kyra she had heard them last night, but for once, her friend didn’t utter a single word. Kyra found that odd, but appreciated the silence.

“Dylan tells me you’re spending the day with Jake.”

“Right. Don’t get any ideas about it, either. I’m not looking to get involved.”

Kyra smiled and nodded. She’d caught her friend checking Jake out last night.

“He’s cute, honey, but too young,” Paula said.

“Whatever, Paula. You should take your own advice and see where it could lead. I’ve caught you looking him over.”

“Hush,” Paula laughed. “He is something. What are you two doing?”

“Not sure. I guess just get to know each other better.” Looking over her shoulder to see where Dylan was, she leaned towards Paula and whispered, “I told him I loved him last night.”

“And?”

“He said it back. I never thought in a million years that I’d ever hear those words from Dylan. I had hoped, but the moment he said those words, I felt like everything in my life fell into place perfectly.”

“Oh, Kyra, that’s great honey.”

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

An hour later, Dylan and Kyra had dropped Paula off at the office with Jake. She had seemed a little nervous, which Kyra thought was odd, but as odd as it was, she pushed the thought away, preferring to think about spending the day with Dylan, wondering what he might have planned for them. The anticipation of what he might have in-store for her was thrilling. She loved surprises. It was mid-morning by the time they reached the heart of Sizzle and parked in front of the Mean Bean Coffee shop on the downtown square. He parked the truck and killed the engine, reaching for her hand and threading their fingers together.

“Today is about us,” Dylan said. “The only conversation that is off limits is Ty and the investigation. He’s handling that now. Okay?” He lifted their joined hands to his lips, pressing a gentle kiss to her hand.

“Agreed,” Kyra replied. She needed to separate what had happened to her parents from this moment. She loved and missed them both very much. But her parents wouldn’t want her to hold back from living her life and being happy. She’d honor that today and each day forward.

“Let’s grab a coffee and decide what we want to do today.” Dylan eased out of the truck, hurried around the front and opened the door for Kyra. Their hands joined together as if they couldn’t stand not touching each other. It warmed her heart. They ordered their drinks and headed for a table in the far back corner. It would allow them some privacy from the constant flow of customers in the busy shop.

“Why did you want to be a cop?” she asked before they took their seats.

“I wanted to help people. There’s so much bad in the world, I just wanted to do my part in protecting our little town from it I guess.” He shrugged. “It didn’t work out quite like I had imagined.”

“Maybe it did. Everything happens for a reason, Dylan.”

“True enough. How did you meet Paula?”

“When I left town and settled in Houston, I went for an interview at her bookstore. She was so sweet. She gave me a job and we’ve been besties ever since.”

“I never pegged you for a reader.”

“I wasn’t. But there’s something about the magic of helping someone find that perfect book. It’s fun meeting the authors, too. I love working there.”

“When are you planning to go back?”

“I… don’t know. At first I was eager to get here and then get back home. Now… now I’m not sure I want to leave. Sizzle has always been my home. I’ve missed it.”

“So you might stay?”

“If there was a good reason I might consider it.”

“Good.”

They sipped at their coffees and talked about the past. Before long, they realized they had been talking for hours about everything from their favorite colors, food, music, movies, and all matter of minute things about themselves. They realized they enjoyed a lot of the same things. Both wanted to travel the world and visit exotic places. Kyra asked about his family. She learned that his sister had married a man from New York and rarely came home to visit.

“Where should we go next?” Dylan asked. “What did you miss most about Sizzle?”

“The lake. Do you remember that summer… the one I lost my top?”

“How could I forget that? It’s burned into my memory.”

“Really? I was so embarrassed that day. It’s so beautiful there.”

“How about we grab something for lunch and picnic at the lake?”

“Sure. I’d like that.”

They grabbed lunch from a local sandwich shop and drove to the lake on the outskirts of town. Being it was the middle of the day and school had yet to let out, they would be pretty much alone at the lake. Dylan turned off the highway onto an old dirt road. It wasn’t the main entrance to the lake. It led to a more secluded area. Back in the day, kids would have parties out there late into the night. Kyra had spent time there during the day but never at night. She wasn’t allowed. As much as she had wanted to be included, she’d never go against her parents. The closest she came to being a bad girl back then was fantasizing about Dylan and touching herself. Now things were different. She didn’t have to fantasize anymore. She’d finally lived out her fantasy and it was so much better than she had ever thought it could be.

They pulled into a clearing and parked near the water. Dylan grabbed the bag of food while Kyra grabbed their drinks. Before Dylan closed his door, he reached behind the seat and retrieved a blanket.

When he noticed the expression on her face that clearly said ‘we’re so not fooling around out here’ he chuckled. “I haven’t been out here in years so I’m not certain that old wooden picnic table is still here or not. The blanket will work if it’s not.”

“Gotcha. No funny business, though.”

“Sure thing, darling.” He winked.

“Stop that.”

“Stop what?”

“You know… making we want to take my words back.”

“Hmm. That’s not a bad idea.” He stalked towards her, his eyes suddenly dark with hunger. Hunger for her. She stepped backward a few steps, licking her suddenly dry lips. Her ability to resist his charms fleeing as she held her eyes locked on his. She trembled, gripping their drinks tighter, and turned on her heel and ran. She darted into the trees, hearing Dylan’s footfalls not far behind her. She could just make out the old picnic table ahead and darted for it. Breaths coming heavy now, she raced around the table, sitting the drinks on the end and facing Dylan. She watched as he sat their lunch and the blanket down, his eyes never leaving hers.

She was done for.

He’d catch her and she’d give him whatever he desired.

There was no doubt in her mind of that fact.

“You’re mine.” He licked his lips. His eyes moved over her body like a predator. “If you run, I will catch you. When I do, I won’t stop.”

A chill slithered down her spine, her thighs trembled, and that heavy fluttering in her stomach returned. She didn’t speak. She couldn’t. What the hell would she have said to that? Damn. If he wanted her, he could damn well have her. And just like that, she decided to play along with whatever game this was. She would enjoy it, that was for sure.

With a quirk of her lip, she looked Dylan straight in the eye and removed her shirt, tossing it at him. He growled deep in his chest, gripping her shirt so tight his knuckles turned white. Next came her bra, which she also tossed in his direction just before she turned and ran towards the lake.

Kyra was just about to break through the wooded area surrounded the water when Dylan’s hands wrapped around her waist, pulling her against his bare chest. When had he taken his shirt off? He spun her around, his hands gripping the globes of her ass, and lifted her up. She wrapped her legs around his waist without thought. Breathless and aching for him, she ground herself against him, moaning at the delicious feel of his big stiff cock as it pressed against her aching core.

Kyra eased her hand between them, stroking his erection through his jeans. Dylan groaned against her lips, pulling back, breaking the kiss long enough to nip her bottom lip. Kyra released the button of his pants and lowered the zipper. He eased his hold on her, letting her body slowly, agonizingly press against his naked flesh. His cock throbbed with need for her sweet little pussy. She pulled off her jeans, tossing them to the ground at his feet and, just like before, she ran to the water’s edge.

Dylan watched the beautiful woman wearing nothing but a tiny pair of black lace panties as she ran into the water. She was everything he never knew he wanted, and so fucking much more. The water splashed and rippled as she dove headlong into the murky depths. Seconds later, she breached the surface, hair plastered to her gorgeous face.

Memories of the last time he saw her at this very spot, memories he had held onto so tightly for years, had faded over time. They didn’t compare to this moment. Back then, he could define his feelings as no more than pure sexual attraction. Today was different. He felt a need and desire to not only please her in every way that he could, but to love and protect her in all ways. Being near her filled his life with a joy he had never experienced. Loneliness had been his friend for so long that he knew nothing else. But ever since the day Kyra showed up in his office needing help, his life had begun to change. It was a good change. A needed change.

“Are you coming in or not?” she teased.

“Oh, baby I’m definitely coming,” he replied with that panty-melting smile.

Kyra slipped off her panties, easing towards the shore, keeping her body submerged in the water but allowing her breasts to occasionally break the water’s surface to tease him. She tossed the wet material through the air, watching Dylan’s face as her panties hit him square in the chest. He jerked his gaze to her, eyes widening as it dawned on him that she was completely and totally naked, waiting for him.

Wasting no time, he made quick work of removing his jeans and boots. She laughed as he wrestled with his boots, but quickly went silent as he slowly stalked to the water, naked as the day he was born. The look on his face told her he was coming not just into the water to be with her, but to claim her as his own.

Kyra closed her eyes, hearing her mother’s last words echo in her head, ‘Love him with all your heart. Dylan’s… home,’ and suddenly she felt a sense of peace.

Dylan wrapped his arms around her, his lips meeting hers in a fiery hot kiss that stole her breath. She kissed him in return, holding nothing back. There was no room for shyness. There was no reason to worry. There was no need to let the past sneak in and take away from this moment. No. This moment, this kiss, was the beginning of something that could not be undone. It was the beginning of their life together.

She leaped up, wrapping her legs around his waist, his hardened length pressing against her heated core. Teasing her. Taunting her mercilessly.

A second passed, and then another, as their gazes locked. Dylan thrust, entering her, burying his length to the hilt. Kyra gasped at the invasion, her head falling to his shoulder. Dylan eased into a steady rhythm, loving her as he had loved no other woman before her. Kyra whimpered with each thrust as he buried himself deep inside her tight channel.

“Oh, Dylan. Oh. My. God.”

“So close, baby. Together. We fall together.”

“O – okay.”

Dylan slipped his hand between them, his fingers finding her swollen little bundle of nerves effortlessly. Kyra groaned as his fingers swept over her clit, her moans and whimpers urging him on. Faster and faster, his fingers circled her swollen bud.

“Now, Dylan. Now!” she begged.

“Come with me, baby.”

“Love you. Oh God, Dylan. Yes. Yes.”

Dylan thrust deep inside her sweet little pussy once, twice, a third time, shouting her name. The sounds of their love echoed across the water and through the trees surrounding them.

“I love you, Kyra.”

“I love you, too, Dylan.”

“I’m starving. You?”

“Yeah, baby. Let’s eat.”

Naked as jaybirds they walked out of the lake, hand in hand. They gathered their clothes and dressed under the shade of the pine trees, and then ate their sandwiches and drank their watered-down drinks while enjoying each other’s company. There was no talk of labeling what they shared together. There wasn’t a need for that. It was more than a mere friendship. They were in love and that was more than enough.

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

Across town, Special Agent Ty James pulled into the parking lot of Southern Gentleman’s Detective Agency. He parked his black SUV near the door and headed inside. As lead agent on the Sizzle case, he wanted to touch base with Dylan and Ty. The investigation was over and arrests were to be made by the end of the day. They deserved to know what was happening. When he knew why, he’d share that, too.