The whole way home, Joslynn kept reminding herself that everything would work out. She was finally on her way home and Kathy should already be back with her parents. She’d follow up with the young girl in the coming days, but knowing she’d be surrounded by family was a weight off Joslynn’s shoulders.

Yet, knowing they’d left behind Sal in Ireland didn’t ease the tension within her. The nagging feeling that something was off was still eating away at her. Maybe it wasn’t about Sal. Maybe it was the fact they were going home and she’d have to tell Annie what had happened with Chip. Eventually, she’d have to tell Jack, too. At least, with him deployed, she didn’t have to face that when she got off the plane, too.

“Jos.” Chip’s voice pulled her out of her thoughts and back into the present.

“Yeah?” Snuggled against his side, she tipped her head to glance up at him.

“Talk to me?”

She pulled back enough so she could take him in completely. He wasn’t a fan of flying but after takeoff he relaxed, as long as the flight remained smooth. His words made her wonder if he was becoming anxious knowing they’d be coming into Pittsburgh International Airport soon. But, as she looked up at him, she found him calm.

“You’ve been lost in your thoughts. Are you okay?” he added as if understanding why she was staring up at him.

“I was just thinking about everything that’s happened.” She took his other hand in hers and linked their fingers. “Everything seemed dismal before you found me in that pub and now, even knowing Sal is out there somewhere, I can’t help but feel a little carefree. Well, maybe that’s not the word. I’m still concerned about telling Annie and Jack but being here with you is worth it.”

“Annie still thinks we’re coming home tomorrow. Why don’t we go back to my house and face her tomorrow?”

As much as she wanted to go home and get into her own clothes, rather than remain in this outfit she’d picked up at one of the shops near the hotel, she’d rather spend the night with him. “Okay.”

“Ladies and gentlemen, if you could return to your seats, we’ll begin our decent momentarily.” The captain’s voice came out the loudspeaker, causing Chip’s body to tighten.

“Hey.” She squeezed his hand. “We’ll be on the ground in a few minutes.”

“I know.” His tone was clipped but his gaze stayed locked on hers. “I’m looking forward to getting you back to my place.”

“Really now?” Teasing, she raised an eyebrow at him.

“You don’t know how many nights I’ve dreamt about having you in my bed.” He tangled his fingers in her long hair, tugging gently. “I bought that house with you in mind. When I was house hunting my realtor took me through it and I knew you’d love it. I could picture you in every space of that house and without thinking twice, I made an offer.”

“I wondered why you purchased it. You were looking for a condo near the city, so you could enjoy the views. Instead, you purchased a rural ranch. It was so unlike you. Annie even joked it was more my style than yours.”

“I didn’t think we’d ever get to this stage, but here we are.”

“Why?” The question came out more like a whisper. “Why did we wait so long?”

“Fear of rejection, fear of risking our friendship, the knowledge you deserve someone better, Annie and Jack. Take your pick, angel.”

“There’s no one better than you.” She brought her hand up to cup the side of his face. “Every man I met I’ve always compared to you. Every single one of them fell short.”

“I—”

“Don’t.” She brought her finger to his lips. “I know what you’re going to say, but you’re wrong. Your burns mean nothing. Your tendency to shut yourself away also means nothing to me. You know I prefer a quiet night home than going out. You also know I’m hesitant to let anyone new into my close group of friends. Some say I’m shut off, and that’s fine ’cause it works for me. I hold those I care about close and they’re the people that matter. Everything else is just window dressing.”

“Which makes me love you even more.” He sucked her finger between his lips and dragged his teeth along it. “With you I don’t have to pretend I’m someone else. You know me inside and out.”

She loved the way his mouth worked, his tongue teasing along her finger. It made her want to find somewhere private and soon. Leaning in close, she pressed her mouth close to his ear. “Keep that up and I’m going to want to see just what that mouth can do.”

“Angel, I’ll have you screaming my name so loud, you’ll be glad I chose a rural place. Otherwise you’d be too embarrassed to ever set foot outside again.” He took her hand from his face and brought it down into his lap. “Feel that. That’s what you do to me.”

“You have me all to yourself. There’s no one else I’d rather be with.” Through his jeans, she cupped his cock in her hand. “I’m going to take care of this and since I’m now unemployed, I have all the time in the world. At least until I find another job.”

As the plane touched down, his lips curled into a smile. “Without any luggage, we should be at my place in twenty minutes.”

She ran her hand down his length one last time. “The sooner the better.”

* * *

They made it back to Chip’s house in record time and, considering how her hand on his thigh continued to brush along the length of his cock, that was a good thing. Otherwise, he might have had to find a dark place on the side of the road to get another taste of Jos. She made him feel like a teenager again, constantly on edge with need. Every cell within his body seemed to yearn for another touch of her but more than that, he wasn’t sure if he’d ever get enough of her.

“Chip…” Her voice was husky as he pushed open the front door. “I need you.”

He glanced over his shoulder as she tugged the T-shirt she was wearing over her head. “Fuck, Jos.” He wrapped his arm around her bare midsection and tugged her into the house. It had nothing to do with the fact she was standing on his porch in only a bra and jeans. Rather, it was his uncontrollable desire. He wanted to push her against the wall in the entryway and have his way with her.

Her fingers went to the top of his jeans, tugging on the hem slightly as she tried to get the button to pop open. “That was the longest plane ride of my life.”

“It was nothing like the one I took coming to find you. Every second seemed like hours as I fought to keep myself in my seat. I’ve never been one to sit and wait well but knowing you were in danger was my breaking point.” Even as he spoke, he slid his hand under her hair and unhooked her bra. He needed to see her perky breasts with her hard nipples waiting for his lips to claim them. As the material slid down her arms, he wasn’t disappointed.

“Bedroom, naked, now,” he said gruffly.

“Coming.” She slipped passed him, her hands already working on the clasp of her own jeans.

“I’ll be there in a minute. Need to let J.J. in.”

“Oh, J.J.” Her face lit up at the mention of the pup.

“Later. First I get your attention, then you can love on the furball.” Wanting nothing more than to follow her, he forced himself to head toward the back porch and his—no doubt—anxious German Shepherd. A week after he’d returned home J.J. had showed up on his porch, a skinny pup who, from the condition of his coat, had been on his own for a while. They found solace in each other and the pup had given him companionship that he had been lacking since his discharge from the military.

“Meany,” she complained but instead of following him, she headed back toward the bedroom.

He waited until he heard the bedroom door close behind her to open the sliding glass door that led to the closed in porch. J.J. stood at the door, waiting to be allowed in. His tail thumping off the porch.

“Hey, pup.” He reached down, giving him a scratch between the ears. “Come on inside.”

J.J. barked before stepping inside and jumping up to put his front paws on Chip’s chest.

“Down.” Even as he gave the order, he couldn’t fault the pup for being excited he was home. “Mr. Mason and his boys came over and gave you plenty of attention while I was gone. So, go lie down. Later, Jos will give you all the attention your heart could desire.” His lips curled into a smile, thinking about the two of them together, roughhousing on the floor or cuddled up on the sofa. They were everything to him. The two of them completed him in every way.

With J.J. inside, he locked the porch door and headed toward the back of the house where he’d find Jos, hopefully naked and spread out on his bed. As he made his way to the bedroom, he scanned through the rooms. Routine, nothing more. J.J. would have alerted him if anyone was in the house.

Finally, he pushed open the bedroom door and found her spread out on the bed just as he expected it. Only, the actual image was much better than anything his fantasies could create. Her beautiful, long, dark brown hair spread across the white pillow cases. Her nipples stood tall like a beacon welcoming him home.

“So fucking beautiful.”