Page 102 of Rugger: The Huntress

I came undone and he followed. My eruption was flamboyant. It was loud. And, it was grounding. Sonnie succumbed to his, with stiffened limbs and the weight of his body pressed against me.

“Fuck.”

Silently, we exited the logistics building. Flashing lights blinded us as we made our way to Sonnie’s ride for the night. The black sedan was low profile and perfect for the task.

In the passenger seat, I reclined my seat slightly for comfort. Soft R&B lulled me to a place where comfort had made a home. A yawn forced my lips apart.

I couldn’t remember a time in life when the mental load I carried daily didn’t threaten to keep me awake all night. I grew cheerful at the idea of laying next to Sonnie and falling fast asleep. He was an unprescribed sleep aid that I was growing dependent on.

We reached the first red light. The car came to a halt and so did my worries. Psalms’ hand lowered onto my thigh. Instinctively, I placed my hand on top of his. The eerie calm thatcame over me forced my eyes open. I removed my hand and placed it between my legs, unsure of what had come over me.

Sonnie reached over and wrapped his hand around my wrist. He freed it from my warmth and placed it on my thigh. On top of it, he laid his. He interlocked his fingers with mine, securing the bond.

My eyes searched for his. They were already on me. The red hues of the stop light brightened the right side of his face. He was a dream. He was beautiful inside out. His gentleness was magnetic, forcing me to search for those parts of me. The parts I’d traded for ammo and shooter’s guides as a young girl.

He lifted our hands to his lips and kissed mine. The changing of the light didn’t disrupt our moment. He didn’t allow it.

One.

Two.

Three.

Four times he pecked the back of my hand.

“It’s okay, Rugger,” he assured me, “With me, it’s okay. When it stops being okay or if it ever starts to hurt, you have my permission to end me because I have failed my mission.”

The water cascaded down my body. Equanimity encouraged me to close my eyes and allow the moment to have its way. Sonnie’s arms caressed me from below. The weight of his head reminded me he was near. My shoulder had become its resting place.

Just as we were, soundlessly, we remained until the rumbling of my stomach reminded us of the Chinese takeout that wasscheduled to arrive at any minute. The moment was so surreal I wasn’t prepared for its ending.

“We should g–”

“I know,” I murmured. “I know.”

The second his arms unraveled, I missed them already. I pushed the water from my eyes for a clearer view of Sonnie’s backside as he exited the shower. He returned with a towel. He’d secured one around his waist already.

“Here.”

He stepped inside and shut off the water. Like a baby, he swaddled me in the oversized towel. He swooped me up into his arms and carried me into the bedroom.

As I was lowered to the bed, I was greeted with a tub of shea butter, a pair of silk pajamas, and a pair of black slippers to match.

“You’ve been shopping?” I inquired as I dug into the shea butter.

Sonnie did the same. Together, we began coating our skin with the thick moisturizer.

“Just enough for you to feel comfortable when–”

“Visiting.”

“You’re no visitor, Gazelle. This space is as much of yours as it is mine. You’re the point of this purchase.”

“My key?” I toyed.

“I enjoy seeing you in your element. I find it hard to believe a key would be satisfying. Breaking and entering is more of your speed.”

“You know me so well.”

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