Page 69 of Todd
Mary wheeled herself closer to their group, her expression soft. “I think what we all learned from this experience is that Sadie is one serious badass, not only behind a computer but also in the field.”
“Hear, hear!” a chorus called from around the deck, punctuated by the clinking of beer bottles and the laughter that made even the most traumatic experiences bearable when shared with the right people.
As the evening wound down, Sadie looked around. Casper maintained his usual quiet observation post near the railing. Dalton, Cory, and Timothy argued good-naturedly about grilling techniques. Landon and Noel shared a soft conversation with Logan and Vivian, and Sadie noticed Noel’s hand resting on her stomach. She wondered if a new baby announcement might happen soon. Mia and Lenore were chatting with Justice, whileDevlin, Sisco, and Tyler were nearby. The others were sitting around a firepit, reminiscing about past missions.
She smiled at the easy camaraderie and unconditional acceptance that made LSIMT more than just a workplace, and her heart squeezed with gratitude. Then she felt Todd’s hand tighten slightly on her hip.
“Ready to get out of here?” he asked quietly, his voice carrying undertones that made her pulse quicken with anticipation.
The thought of time alone with Todd, of finally exploring what they’d both been too frightened to reach for, sent heat spiraling through her chest. He’d refused to do more than kiss until she had been medically cleared.
“Where did you have in mind?” she asked, smiling at the gleam in his eyes that suggested he’d already made plans.
His slow and devastating smile carried promises that made her remember exactly why one night with him had been impossible to forget. “I thought we might revisit a certain hotel in town. See if the structural integrity of their beds has improved since we last visited.”
Heat flooded her cheeks as memories of their first night together came rushing back. The desperate hunger, the perfect compatibility, and the way he’d made her feel beautiful and desired and worthy of tenderness. The prospect of experiencing that connection again made her breath catch with anticipation.
“That sounds like an excellent plan,” she managed, her voice slightly husky with desire that she no longer had to hide.
They made their excuses to the group with the kind of transparent explanations that fooled no one and amused everyone. Vivian’s knowing smile and Logan’s approving nod suggested their relationship had been anticipated and welcomed by the people whose opinions mattered most.
The drive to town passed in comfortable silence, punctuated by stolen glances and the electric tension that had been building between them for a long time. When Todd pulled into the parking lot of the same hotel where their story had begun, Sadie felt like she was coming full circle by returning to the place where she’d first discovered what it felt like to be completely seen and accepted by another person.
The hotel room was exactly as she remembered, with its generic furniture, bland decor, and a bed that had once seemed like the center of the universe when shared with the right person. But as Todd closed the door behind them and turned to face her with eyes dark with desire and suppressed longing, the surroundings transformed into something special.
“I’ve thought about this moment every day since that morning when I was stupid enough to call you a mistake,” he said, his voice rough with emotion as he crossed the small space between them. “Thought about how it would feel to hold you again, to touch you without pretending it meant nothing.”
Sadie’s response was to reach for him, her hands fisting in his shirt as she pulled him down for a kiss that tasted of homecoming and new beginnings. The familiar heat exploded between them, but now it was tempered by deeper emotions acknowledged, trust rebuilt, and future possibilities that stretched endlessly before them.
The kiss started with fire and quickly morphed into fireworks, both taking and giving. Noses bumped as their heads moved to find the perfect melding of lips. When they finally broke apart, breathing hard, his forehead rested against hers with the tenderness she remembered from their first night together. “I love you, Sadie Hargrove. I’ve loved you since that first night, and I’ll love you for the rest of my life if you’ll let me.”
“I love you, too,” she whispered, the words carrying the weight of everything she’d been too frightened to acknowledge.“I’ve been yours since that first night, even when we were both too scared to admit it.”
His hands went to his shirt, and he pulled it over his head in a sweeping movement before tossing it to the chair next to the bed. She licked her lips and grinned.
He chuckled as his fingers reached for the hem of her shirt.
By the time they were naked and made it to the bed, their clothes were on the chair, tangled together. He climbed over her, holding his weight with his forearms, his gaze never leaving hers. His hands cupped her face. “You are beautiful. Crazy brave. Smarter than anyone I know. I am so fucking lucky.”
A tear slid from her eyes, dripping down to the pillow. Swallowing deeply, she said, “I came to Montana to discover who I was after my mom died. Finding you was a bonus I never expected. Being with you now makes me feel like I know I’m where I’m supposed to be and with the person I’m supposed to be with.”
He lowered his torso until his chest touched her breasts and kissed her gently. Then, angling his head, he deepened the kiss as he pressed inside her channel. She gasped at the fullness, but he swallowed the sound. The long, slow thrusts of his cock mirrored his tongue sweeping through her mouth, soon taking them both to a place where the world disappeared, leaving only the two of them.
They rediscovered a connection that transcended physical desire, as passion between them burned just as hot as it had when they’d met. They made love with the desperate hunger of people who’d found their way back to each other, but also with the tenderness that came from finally being able to offer their hearts without reservation.
Later, as they lay tangled together on top of the sheets, Sadie traced lazy patterns across Todd’s chest while her mind wandered through practical considerations.
“So,” she said, her voice soft with contentment and lingering desire, “how exactly is this going to work? Living in the bunkhouse, I mean.”
Todd’s chuckle rumbled through his chest, the sound vibrating against her cheek where it rested above his heart. “I’ve been thinking about that, too. The bunkhouse wasn’t exactly designed for couples.”
“The walls are pretty thin,” Sadie agreed, remembering all the nights she’d lain in bed listening to him moving around his room, wondering what it would be like to fall asleep in his arms. “Everyone would know exactly when we’re... active.”
“Active?” Todd repeated, his brows lifting as his voice was rich with amusement. “Is that what we’re calling it?”
She lifted her head to meet his gaze, seeing the happiness there that matched her own feelings. “Would you prefer a different term? Fucking? Boinking? Making love? Getting laid? Knocking boots? Getting frisky? Tango in the sheets? Because I’m pretty sure everyone already knows what’s happening between us?—”
He laughed. “Okay, okay!” Sobering, he kissed her deeply, then mumbled as his hand tangled in her hair with gentle possessiveness. “I don’t care who knows. I’ve spent too long pretending we were just coworkers. I’m done hiding how I feel.”
