I felt my balls start to rise and the familiar tingle in my spine. I began rubbing Vann’s clit. “Vann, you gotta come baby.” As if she needed my permission, she set off like a bomb exploding over and over and over again. Mine crashed through me as I watched Vann come again.

I would never get tired of seeing her do that. “Oh my God,” she panted.

“Good?”

“I’ve never had an orgasm like that before.”

“Good, I’ll give them to you all the time.”

“What was that?”

“An explosion.”

“Damn right.”

I fell, lying on the floor next to her, unable to move. Vann rolled off the couch and landed on top of me with an oomph. “Sorry. Didn’t want to be alone up there.”

“Vann, you never have to be alone again.”

“What’s this?” Kinsley’s voice boomed through the front door, swinging it open. I immediately covered up Vann, trying not to smile at her surprised expression.

“Well … well … well. What do we have here?” Z’s voice came from behind Kinsley’s.

“Stop looking at my girl.” I glared at Z.

Z smiled. “Oh. Now she’s your girl.”

“Damn right. And I suggest your eyes go somewhere else. Considering she’s also your cousin,” I growled.

“Only by marriage.”

“Damn girl. I love that couch … how am I gonna sit there now and not think of this? Come to think of it, can you do it again so I could watch?”

“Kinsley!” Vann’s face was the color of a tomato, and I didn’t think she liked the smirk on my face by the glare she was giving me.

“Sure Kinsley. Why not?” I joked back.

“Stop it!” Vann yelled.

“Come on, you’re both hot. It would be fun to watch.”

“Kinsley. Stop it! You’re not watching us! Go somewhere so I can get dressed.”

“Why? I wanna watch.”

“Dammit, Kinsley!” Vann screamed.

Chuckling, Kinsley grabbed Z. “Come on copper … let’s give these two a minute or thirty seconds. Then we can rush back in and look.”

The laugh I was suppressing came out in full. Looking at Vann, I could see the tips of her lips wanting to join me but trying desperately to hold back. Grabbing her, I began tickling her everywhere.

That produced the laughter I was looking for. Keeping up the pace, I touched and grabbed every part on her I could find. “Deke! Stop! Please! Come on!”

Lying back down on the floor, Vann immediately got up and threw her sweats on. “Would you put on your pants?”

“It’s a lot more fun with them off, right?”

“Yes. But put them on. Now!”

Chuckling, I pulled up my jeans, just in time for Z and Kinsley to walk in the room.

“Dressed?” Kinsley asked full of hope.

“Yep.”

“Damn it!” Kinsley yelled.

15

Vann

Eating dinner with Deke and Z was like eating with an entire football team gorging before a big game and after. Deke’s excuse: “You wore me out, babe.” Who the hell knew what Z’s was, but I did notice the moment Sawyer stepped in the room, Z’s total demeanor changed. He sat up a little taller, there were light brushes of his hand on her arm … if I hadn’t been paying attention, I would have missed it because of its subtlety.

Deke was actually taking this whole moving in thing seriously. I didn’t have the heart to tell him no. Who the hell was I kidding? I could say no ‘til I was blue in the face, and he wouldn’t listen. Grams already backed him up, so I was screwed there for help. And really, I wanted him here … with me … in my bed … holding me just like he was doing at the moment.

Listening to his breathing go in and out was the most calming sound I’d ever heard. Add in his sexy ass smell and I couldn’t help but snuggle up closer on his chest. Grabbing the key resting on his pec, my fingers glided over the cool metal.

I searched my memory trying to recollect if Mom ever told me about this key, but nothing came up. I didn’t even recall how it got in my drawer, but damn was I glad it was there.

The fact that Deke found it and wore it for five years blew my mind and my heart. I always knew I loved that man, but this … right here … made me love him even more, and that scared the living shit out of me. He could destroy me, but I knew I couldn’t turn away from him. Ever.

Here I thought he was so pissed at me he wanted nothing to do with me, yet he held me close to his heart for five years without even thinking twice about it. Happiness swept through my body, my arms instantly wrapping tightly around Deke, squeezing him to me. I knew I was a lost cause.

“Hey.” Deke’s gravelly voice was sexy as hell.

“Sorry to wake you up.”

“You okay?”

“Yeah. I actually am.”

“You sure? No nightmares?”

“No. I haven’t been to sleep yet for that, but thanks for putting those thoughts in my head.”

Deke chuckled in response.

“If you were so mad, why did you wear this?” The long silence that drew felt like years. I lay on his chest, continuing my massage of the key around his neck.

Finally Deke spoke. “Hurt. I was hurt. But I missed you.” Deke took a long pause, breathing in and out slowly. “You were all I had, and when you left … I had nothing.”

“Did things ever get better with your folks?”

“No. Mom died hating me. Dad tolerates me, but that’s about all.”

“I’m sorry … You know I missed you, too.”

“I do know. Now.”

“I didn’t want to leave you.”

“You’re here now. Get some sleep, babe.” Deke kissed the top of my head as I snuggled closer to him.

My eyes grew heavy, but I had a question that I needed answered. “Deke?”

“Yeah,” he mumbled.

“Tell me about the tattoo on your back. The puzzle piece.”

“Pieces,” he corrected.

“Huh? I thought I only saw one.” Deke pulled out of my arms and rolled to his stomach. Kneeling before him, I studied the tat. It was one large puzzle piece, but the large piece was cut into three smaller pieces that were all connected to each other. The large piece looked as if it was cut from Deke’s skin. I traced it with my fingertip. “Tell me about it.”

Deke let out a large sigh. “This must be the day for all the skeletons to come out.” He groaned. “The pieces make up the three people who left me: Jaxson, Mom, and you.”

My heart lurched as he continued, “The piece is out of my body because the it is missing from me.”

“Oh, Deke.” I leaned down, kissing the tattoo. “I’m so sorry.”

Deke rolled over, circling his arms around me. “You’re here now. That’s all that matters.” His lips touched mine in the sweetest kiss before he pulled away. “Get some sleep.”

“K, ‘night.”

It took me a while to come down from the revelations of the day, but hearing Deke’s breathing slow, I finally drifted off.

Waking up, I felt like I was in a warm cocoon. Deke’s entire body was draped around me, practically lying on top of me. I loved it. I loved him, not that I would tell him that.

Deke’s hips bounced, causing me to jump. “Morning.” His gruff voice was sexy as hell.

“Morning,” I whispered softly.

“How are ya this mornin’?” Deke’s hand brushed across my face, sending chills down my spine.

“I’m good. I’ve got you here, what’s not to be happy about.” Looking up, Deke’s eyes flashed to something I couldn’t read. “What?”

“I’m moving in here with you.”

“You are … huh?” I grinned.

“Your Grams’s orders. I just wanna make sure you remember that from last night.” Deke’s voice was muffled as he continued to talk into my neck.

“It’s a good thing I’m in a good mood then, huh?”

“You want me here?” Deke raised his head, his eyes latching onto mine.

More than you could ever know. “Yeah. This is nice.”

“I’ll show you nice.” Deke’s mouth found mine, crushing down into a passionate kiss. All thoughts of morning breath were lost as only thoughts of him inside me swam in my head.