9 - Shit!

Rose looked between Henry, Jace, and Darla, “Does anyone want to get into a hot tub? We have the four-person tub in your guys’ room, but we also have the six-person tub outside.” She took a sip of the wine, which tasted delicious. She loved farm-fresh wine. It was, without a doubt her favorite.

“Well…” Darla started, “I would actually love a little one-on-one time with Jace. I think you and Henry could use some too.” She looked so very pleased with herself. “Does anyone disagree?”

Both Jace and Henry shook their heads. “Nope.”

“However,” Henry looked right over at Rose. “I don’t have any shorts. So, I don’t think I can do the tub. I really don’t want to go look for a pair at home and come back.”

“I don’t blame you for that.” Rose laughed, hugging his arm. “But, I do have spares. I keep at least one of every size if I can. I just restocked, so I know that unless your child sized, or over three x large, I’ve got you. What are you, large?”

Henry smiled down at her, nodding. “Yep.”

“Let me go see what I have.” As her chair scraped across the floor, she heard another follow. When she looked back, Henry was behind her. “What are you doing?”

“Well, I just, I guess I thought I would go with you. After all, you’ve not had great luck on the stairs tonight.”

“Oh. I just have to step outside and grab something out of the pool shed. Or, I mean, the light is right in the center of it, if you just want to change in there. Though, the shed’s window does face Jace and Darla’s room. So, be a bit careful.” She laughed.

“I can do that. Will you be joining me?”

“I really want to, if you don’t mind?”

It didn’t take a moment for him to sweep her into his arms and hold her close. “I really want you to. I’ll behave. I promise.” Even as he said the words, he was rubbing his thumb along the swell of her bottom lip. “Meet you in the tub in five?”

“Yeah.” Rose ran up to her room to get changed as quickly as she could. Her cheeks were burning. The suit she normally wore was about two years old and worn. The only other option was one that she had bought on a whim and had never actually worn. Why? It was a two-piece. Black and white with little cherries on it. But, she also didn’t want to wear the oversized black-skirt bathing suit she wore with the kids.

There was only one option, and she was dying inside because she was so excited about it. Rose wasn’t disappointed about Henry’s reaction when she stepped out into the night air. “The warm tub water feels amazing. I appreciate being invited.” Henry was inside already, beckoning her to follow. “I also can’t express how happy I am to have you here with me. Also, that’s an adorable swimsuit.”

Rose went to the tub and lowered herself into the heated water. Steam rolled up between them in the air, making it hard to see each other. So, she moved a seat over, hoping to get a bit closer. When he met her halfway, as if they were on the same wavelength, she couldn’t help but touch his chest. “I’m really happy to be here.”

“You are so incredibly beautiful.” He pushed her hair back behind her ear. “Can I kiss you?”

Rose giggled, “I don’t know? Can you?”

The answer was quick and without relief. Yes. Yes, he could. And he did. Between him and the water, she felt like she was melting. Their lips melded together like it was meant to be. “Rose, I need to be careful. It’s been a really long time. I want this, but I can’t have you regret it because you’re drunk.”

“What do you mean?” She asked, cocking her head to the side. As she looked down, she realized she had climbed on his lap. “Oh, um… I…”

“You’re fine. I *want* you to stay right here. You can do whatever you want. I just… don’t want to go too far. Not here. Not now.”

“I can agree with that.” She kissed him deeply. “I was going to put you in the corner room downstairs, but if you want to come up to my room I wouldn’t mind.”

“Are you serious?” Henry pulled away from her. His golden eyes locked with hers. “I can’t… perform… tonight. I hope you understand. But I would love to just sleep with you.” She saw the shiver than ran through his body. “I mean… I didn’t mean it like that. Like. Sleep. Sleep-sleep. Not like that.” He covered his face with his hands. “I really hope you know what I mean.”

Rose laughed, her fingers curling around the back of his neck, playing with the hair there. “I do. It was just too cute watching you try so hard. We can just enjoy this. You and me. Right here.”

Henry looked up at her, smiling from ear to ear, “I really want that.” Rose moved in slowly, testing the waters, waiting to see how he would react to her trying to kiss him, but he accepted it wholeheartedly, beckoning her deeper. Soon, her body was pressed against his, and she couldn’t help the way she moved against him. It was like her body was working against her. “Rose, please. This is too much.” She stopped as soon as she heard him say those words. “I want you so badly.”

“I do too.” She couldn’t help the way she moved over him, or the way her body felt. She needed him. His hands traveled up her spine and played with the straps of her top as his lips traveled over her jawline and down her neck. Sighing, her head fell back, his large hand spread between her shoulder blades, supporting her as his lips worked across her collarbone down to where her cleavage heaved with her hurried breaths. As his finger dipped into her top, just barely grazing over her nipple. She let out a gasp, her hips kicking up. One of his hands grabbed her waist, pulling her down onto him. She could feel his bulge pressing between her cheeks. It already felt so big.

A deep, feral growl broke the silence, and Rose’s eyes popped open as Henry froze, his mouth just moments away from claiming her nipple. “What the hell was that?” His head came up slowly as he turned to squint into the darkness of the yard around them. Rose felt a shiver up her spine, she hated when she could hear those noises in the backyard. Every now and again, there was the growling and howling. It had been happening since she could remember.

“There’s pack of wolves or coyotes that lives in the area. They sound much closer than usual tonight though.” Just as Rose said this, there was a loud howl in the dark and she felt a chill run up her spine despite the warmth of the tub and her body pressed against Henry’s nervously. “Maybe we should head inside. I hate not being able to see anything.”

Something flew past them, scarily close, shattering the window behind them. Rose jumped, clinging to Henry as she stared out into the yard. Wolves didn’t throw things… what the hell was out there? A moment later, she was out of the water and held against Henry’s chest as he got out of the tub and beelined for the house. Once inside, he set her on her feet in the kitchen, clicking the lock on the door behind them. Rose wrapped her arms around her chest as Henry tip-toed through the broken glass to the rock that was laying there. Something yellow was tied around it.

It was a piece of paper, from what she could tell. As he pulled it away from the rock, he looked back at her, his face completely serious. “There aren’t only wolves in your backyard. You sure you haven’t broken some poor schmuck’s heart recently? Or maybe turned someone down?” He waved the yellow paper in the air between two fingers.

“No. The only one I tried to turn down was you. But I’m glad you insisted.” She gave him half a smile, trying to lighten the mood.

Henry pursed his lips, making his way back to her. Holding the sheet of paper out to her. As she read the words on it, her mind spun at a dizzying rate. Who? Who would write such a thing? KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF MY BITCH. “Let’s go make sure all the doors and windows are locked.” He placed a hand on her shoulder but his attention was out the back door. He grabbed his shirt, where he’d placed it after changing on one of the chairs. “Why don’t you put this on?” The flannel was huge on her, but she felt much better after buttoning it.

“I don’t know anyone who would say such a thing.” She could feel tears brimming in her eyes. She didn’t argue as Henry pulled her against him. “Really, the only person I’ve dated in years is Jace.”

Henry’s brow furled, and he turned her with him and headed directly toward the honeymoon suite. “Wait… what are you doing?”

“Just making sure.” He knocked on the door lightly. The room on the other side was quiet for a moment before he heard shuffling. The door opened a crack and Jace’s face appeared there. “Hey, you guys good in there?”

“I would be better if I wasn’t being interrupted. What’s up?”

“We were outside when someone threw a rock through the window with this attached.” Henry held out the paper, and Jace’s eyes narrowed at it without touching it.

“Are you here to make sure I’m not a jilted lover?”

“I mean, you are also the sheriff, and I’m feeling a bit uncomfortable considering. I’m going to make sure everything’s locked up and go check outside. The asshole may still be trying to watch us.” Henry said, squeezing Rose’s shoulder as he spoke. She was now shivering beside him. She knew she didn’t have a stalker. Women like her never would. It was hard enough to find a guy who was legitimately interested.

“You’re an idiot. We have no MO or idea who this jerk is or what they’re thinking. You can’t just barrel outside—”

“That’s why you’re coming with me. Get dressed. Have Darla come stay with Rose. Please.” By Henry’s tone, you could tell this wasn’t a request. Jace sighed, but agreed, closing the door while he got dressed. By the time Jace and Darla came out, Henry had verified the doors were locked as were all the windows in the main rooms. “I’m going to check that other guest room before I head out. Where are the keys?” Henry asked, wrapping his arm around Rose’s shoulders. She was just following him at this point, afraid to let him leave her site.

“Over here.” She went into the kitchen where she had a little box full of the different room keys. She plucked one and started toward the other room.

“Do you always keep the keys to all the rooms right in the kitchen?” Henry asked as she placed the key in the knob.

“Um, yeah. Unless a guest is in the room. Then I keep the key upstairs with me. That way only mom and I can enter for regular housekeeping.” Henry pulled her away from the door as she opened it, stepping into the darkness himself first. “The lights on the left.” She could feel a breeze shifting through the room, and knew something was wrong. “I keep the windows closed and don’t air out the rooms until a day or two before I have a guest. That window should be closed.” Her fingers curled nervously around his wrist.

“You stay here then. I’ll check it out.” Henry said, pulling her hand from his wrist as he moved into the room with caution. Rose clung to the door, watching as he looked through the room, carefully lifting linens, checking the closest, and bathroom. All the other windows seemed fine, but when he reached the open one, he seemed confused by something and took his time inspecting it. “So weird. Can you call Jace in here?”

“Yeah.”

Just as Rose turned toward the hall to get Jace, she heard a surprised yelp from Henry. “Shit!” When she turned back, he was half out the window.