Page 77 of Red Hot Roaster

The only trouble with the six-hour-and-some drive to Boise—longer, if you threw in pit stops for me and Princess?

A shitload of time to think.

It didn’t help that we’d taken off in the dead of night. No heavy traffic or icy conditions or high winds occupied my attention. At that time of night, only a few long-haul truckers hauled ass on the interstate—trying, like me, to beat the early storm predicted for the Gorge.

Nope, that chance of snow hadn’t held me back from leaving—no bad weather for soldiers, only bad gear.

I’d stowed tire chains, a semi-full container of gas, a cooler of food and water, and emergency supplies in the cargo box. I’d crammed my waterproof duffel full of clothes, kit, books and personal stuff. That duffel, plus an extra parka, snow pants, and boots, crowded the cab, along with a rain poncho for the pup.

I’d kept busy packing to leave—anything to distract myself from what I was leaving behind.

Because I was a coward. Yeah, I’d been scared shitless I’d do the wrong thing and run back to Rose. I’d demand that she forget about my past. I’d order her to let me fix her problems. I’d tell her my mission was to fight her battles.

I’d make her tell me all her secrets. How is the café in trouble? Who the hell is Brent? Why does she want to see if we could have…more?

“Well, I don’t need to worry about any of that, do I, Princess?” I grunted. “I slammed that door shut for once-and-fucking-all.”

Nothing sounded from my traveling companion—not a yip. I risked a look over my shoulder and found her curled up tight with her back to me. I could read her mood as easy as the highway signs. She was disgusted with me for bundling her off with no chance to say her goodbyes.

More likely, I was disgusted with myself for the way I’d left it with Rose. Now that I was on the road to Boise, I had plenty of time and miles to think. Nothing would distract me from putting the past two days on a continuous loop.

The last lame-ass notes I’d left for Rose.

I wasn’t going without saying goodbye…and without saying sorry, either. Of course, I couldn’t leave it at that and had to add a bunch of other bullshit. How was she gonna take care of herself when I was gone?

The last time I’d seen her in the roastery.

The muted light in her green eyes gutted me. Tears streamed down her pale-as-snow cheeks, and her normally lush lips clenched over her teeth. Her thick honey hair stood out in all directions, pulled by her furious fingers.

The last words she’d said to me.

“I don’t want to see you in the café…I don’t want to see you in the house.” I don’t want to see you…don’t want to see you…don’t want you.

The last time she’d touched me.

She poked me in the chest with two fingers, and I fell back like it was a punch. Yeah, she punched above her weight and knocked me out with her anger, with her disappointment in me.

The last time I fucked…no, that wasn’t right.

I bit through my lower lip and hit the dash again and again. A coppery taste smeared my tongue. Princess yelped, jumped up and stuck her muzzle on my shoulder.

“It’s okay, baby girl, it’s okay,” I soothed her…and me, tucking her head into my neck and rubbing her ear.

The last time Imade loveto Rose.

Her startled protest “you’ll hurt yourself” when I banded my arms around her thighs and waist, lifted her and jogged up the stairs. Whimpers from the dogs when I kicked the door shut in their faces. How hard I was—and how soft she was—as she slid down my front to the floor.

Kicking off shoes and stripping off clothes in record time. The rosy flush all over her chest that she tried to hide with her hands. Her burst of laughter as she bounced where I threw her on the bed.

The way she squeezed her eyes shut when I told her, “I want to look my fill.” The way they flared open as I crawled over her—“I’m going to kiss you everywhere.”

Sucking her tongue for the flavor of her coffee and chocolate of the day. Biting the tender skin in the crook of her neck, lapping the sting away. Her moans shifting higher as I kept nipping and licking my way down. Pressing my tongue against her tight buds to swirl and scrape each in turn.

Nuzzling her soft belly before kneeling between her legs. Rising to stroke my shaft, balls to head, one, two, three times. Palming her thighs and pushing them apart to stare into her lush, swollen folds.

My name on her lips “Rafe, Rafe, Rafe” as I buried my tongue in her wet core. Her honey-flower taste when she came all over my face. Her head straining back as she shouted and shook all over. Sitting back on my heels and spreading more of her sweetness into my mouth.

Her eyes widening when I surged up. “Rose. Babe. Gotta be inside you. Now. Yes?” Her panting “Yes, yes” before I lifted her by the waist and thrust up. Fully seated on the first go, fully sheathed in her scorching core.

---