then I’ll have to figure out how to get the two of us home if he’s discharged tomorrow. I don’t think the helicopter does return flights.”
“I can bring your big truck and come get you,” Kaiden offered.
“That’s certainly an option. Can you hang tight on that until tomorrow, Kaiden?” Adam asked. “I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.”
“Sure.” Kaiden nodded. “Just give Dad our love, okay?”
“Will do,” Adam said. “I think I’ll go back and check on him before I turn in. He won’t appreciate it, but I sure will. I’ll call if anything comes up overnight, but otherwise expect to hear from me in the morning.”
“Okay.” Daisy blew her big brother a kiss. “Thanks so much, Adam. We appreciate you.”
* * *
Julia glanced over at Kaiden’s uncharacteristically stern profile as he drove her home in his truck. She’d offered to drive herself back, but he’d seemed determined to take her, and she hadn’t wanted to argue with him right now. His obvious shock at what had happened to his father still showed in his face, and she wished she could comfort him. So far he’d resisted all her helpful comments and attempts to get him to share his feelings. She relapsed into silence and instead watched the moonlight through the glass as it guided their way home.
He pulled up at the house and cut the engine before turning to her.
“Thanks for putting up with me this evening.”
“As you said, we’re friends and we support each other,” Julia said. “Thanks so much for bringing me home. You don’t need to get out. I’m sure you’d rather get back to your family.”
She opened the door and stepped down onto the ground. There was a light on in her father’s bedroom, but everything else was dark. Apparently, when Dr. Tio had arrived to pick up his grandmother, knowing what was going on at the Millers’, he’d offered to help her father to bed.
Despite Julia’s words, Kaiden was already out of the truck by the time she rounded the hood. He reached for her hand and she went still.
“Thank you.” He reeled her expertly into his arms against the hard wall of his chest. “I really mean it. You kept me sane.”
She couldn’t resist cupping his chin and looking up into his eyes. “I’m glad I was there to help.”
“Dammit,” he muttered as his mouth crashed into hers and she kissed him back. “Julia . . .”
She pressed against him as he practically devoured her whole, his arm wrapped around her hips almost pulling her off her feet.
Words weren’t working, so this was obviously the best way to comfort him, Julia thought dazedly. She couldn’t say she minded his single-minded intensity one bit. She slid her hand into his hair, knocking his hat to the ground, and raked her nails over his scalp making him groan.
“Truck,” he muttered, gathering her in his arms and flinging open the passenger door. “You and me, right now.”
He somehow managed to get himself in the seat first and then hauled her into his lap, which meant she ended up squashed against the hardness in his jeans. She slowly undulated in time with the thrust of her tongue in his mouth and his grip on her butt tightened.
“Let me touch you,” he murmured between kisses. “I need to feel . . .”
She stripped off her jacket and placed one of his hands over her breast, gasping as he immediately thumbed her already tight nipple.
He expertly unbuttoned her shirt and slid his hand inside making her shiver with pleasure. He cupped her breast and pressed his mouth to the vee of uncovered skin at the base of her throat. She arched her back, offering him more as he kissed his way down to her now uncovered flesh and sucked her nipple into his mouth.
His other hand cupped her between the legs rubbing on the raised seam of her jeans. Even as she gasped his name, she was frantically unzipping her jeans. He took the offer and slid his fingers inside. Her panties were already damp, and he had no problem sliding his thumb over her already swollen bud.
She came so hard and so fast that it took her by surprise, and she bit his throat. Not that he seemed to care as he continued to play with her until she came again, now with his fingers thrusting inside her. She collapsed forward; her face cradled against his shoulder and she tried to gather her breath.
* *