At this he took my mouth, palmed my ass, and lifted me until my legs were off the floor and wrapped around his waist. I could tell by the grunt of pain it cost him but he wasn’t letting it get him down or stop this train from barreling to its most awesome destination.
Lost to each other, we didn’t notice Ryan storming around the corner until he blurted, “Oh, shit. Fucking hell.”
Immediately Jonah turned me around so all Ryan would see was his bare back. I smiled like a loon and waved at him.
“Dude, I’m sorry. You have no idea how sorry I am, but we have to go. Simone’s car was found. And shit, brother. There’s another woman’s body in it.”
I frowned and let my head fall to Jonah’s shoulder. He walked me into his room and kicked the door shut. I unhooked my legs and he let me slide down him until my feet touched the floor.
“To be continued,” I whispered and looked into his stony face, hopeful yet sad about why we were interrupted.
“Yeah.” His voice was thick as molasses but not nearly as sweet.
I cupped his cheeks. “I’m sorry, baby.”
He swallowed and I watched his Adam’s apple bob enticingly, wanting so badly to kiss it and other things, but knowing he had to go.
“Gonna hit the shower in the hall. You shower here. Be quick, yeah?”
“Fast as lightning. Promise.”
He dipped forward and took my mouth in a slow kiss that had a tiny touch of tongues. “We’ll have our time.”
“Yeah.” I let my head fall forward. “Go shower. I’ll be quick.”
“Thanks, baby.”
I nodded and let him peck me on the lips once more before he grabbed some clothes from his dresser. I rummaged through my suitcases for something easy to work at the shop in. When you worked in flowers and thorns, you made sure to cover the skin that might get punctured. I grabbed an old pair of jeans and a tank and my gold oval locket that had a picture of my biological parents in it. Mama Kerri gave me and Sonia each a locket on the one-year anniversary of living with her. Said she wanted our parents to always be with us, and while they weren’t, she would be. Apparently she’d found pictures of them online because we had absolutely nothing left from the house fire.
I took the fastest shower, leaving my hair wet and tossing my small makeup bag into my big fringed purse once I hit the kitchen.
“You gonna dry your hair?” Jonah asked while finishing up making coffee. He wore black slacks and a white button-up shirt. A deep navy-blue tie with black and white geometric patterns was hanging undone around his neck. His shirt was open at the collar showing a tasty morsel of skin that I wanted to explore. His hair was wet and combed back.
I shook my head. “Nah, it will air dry quick.”
He nodded and handed me a bagel with cream cheese wrapped in a napkin and a to-go coffee cup.
“Let’s hit it. Ryan already headed out. I’m taking you to the flower shop but won’t leave until a patrol unit shows.”
“You really don’t have to do that. There are tons of people in the shop working. I’ll be safe.”
He shook his head. “Can’t be too careful. This guy is unpredictable and he’s escalating. Which is usually when they make mistakes. He’s got a hard-on for you and I don’t want you unattended.”
I scrunched up my nose and made a face at his “hard on” comment. “You just ruined the awesome of the hard on I did have on me earlier. One I really wanted.” I pouted. “Now you’re gonna have to work me up all over again.”
He chuckled and shook his head. “Come on, sweet girl. Let’s get you to work.”
When we arrived at Perfect Petal a patrol officer was already waiting. Jonah saw me inside, looked around shrewdly, and nodded before briefly pecking me on the lips and giving me a strong edict to stay inside at all times. No doing delivery runs or going out to get lunch. I confirmed we’d order lunch in and I’d be too busy working and playing with my niece later on to worry about getting out and about.
Once I updated my Auntie Delores about the coming and goings and texted all of my crazy sisters, I set about getting to work. I was a machine. Needing the mindless work to allow my brain