by Loren, Celia
“Is that really what you want?” Jagger rolled to his side, stunned by her comment.
“I’m being transferred to Washington.” She refused to take her eyes off the ceiling.
“For how long?” Unable to hide the worry in his voice.
“Forever, Jagger. They don’t want me here anymore.”
“Why not?”
She fought her words. It was still difficult to reveal her weaknesses. “Because I’ve been miserable.” The edges of her lips dropped and she turned to him. “I’ve been so miserable without you.” She fought back the tears, but her body wanted to break.
Jagger wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close to him. No matter how much it hurt him to see her like this, it was nice to know he wasn’t alone in his misery. He didn’t need to convince himself that she still loved him. There was no doubt in his mind that she wanted no one but him. He wouldn’t let her be taken out of his life again.
“Run away with me.”
“What?”
“You heard me. Let’s get out of here. We’ll finally rid ourselves of this shit town and start our own life. Just you and me.”
Her instincts screamed ‘yes’, but it was a childish dream. “Jagger, we can’t do that.”
“We can.”
“People will look for me. You remember whom I work for, right? And the first person they’ll go after is you and then your club. They will find us.”
Jagger settled back into his pillow, disappointed that his dream wouldn’t become a reality. “Then I’ll come to Washington.”
“Jagger…”
“No. Britton, I am not letting you go again. What do I have to do to prove that to you? I'm coming to Washington.”
Her heart raced with anticipation. “But what about your family, your club?”
“They don’t need me. They have each other.”
“But you love them. I can’t ask you to leave.”
“Not as much as I love you. You, Britton Ramirez, you are my family.”
She smiled; loving how those words sounded leaving his lips. “Okay.”
“Yes?”
“Yes.”
He hugged her close and lay still, reveling in her touch.
“So how did this all happen?” Jagger knew the only way this would work was if everything was on the table. He needed to know that she was on his side.
Britton hugged him tighter, conscious that the following conversation might hurt both of them. “I had to pick a topic for my thesis at Quantico…”
She started at the beginning and told him the entire story. She didn’t leave out any details, afraid that something would eventually come back to haunt her, and her simple act of omission would cost her the love she would never know again.
“And then he kissed me. I pushed him away, and ran to the door. I just wanted to see you. But then Hank was there.”
“Hold on, he actually kissed you?”
“Yes.”
Jagger suddenly wanted to hunt David down and punch him in the face. How dare he steal a taste of the lips that only he could sample? He had no right to kiss her. He wanted to find him. He wanted to destroy him. Anger filled his chest and he turned, staring Britton in the face. His hot temper chilled, and he was calm. He didn’t need revenge. He had won. Britton chose him. Britton would always choose him.
“That’s all that happened?” He asked.
“That is it.”
“Good.” He tightened his hold on her.
There were no secrets between them any longer.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Britton opened her eyes. It was morning, a new day. She turned her head and saw Jagger silently sleeping beside her. Even after all she had done, he trusted her enough to sleep the entire night next to her. They had both made mistakes, both lost each other’s trust. Maybe starting fresh on the east coast, away from their old life, was exactly what they needed.
Jagger moaned and opened his eyes. The first thing he saw was Britton’s smile. His month of agony was worth it now just to see her face.
“Good morning sleepy head.” She teased.
Sleep. He had been sleeping. It was a dreamless sleep. No one was chasing him through the woods. For the first time in over a month, he didn’t have a nightmare. He felt refreshed, invigorated, and he wanted the body that lay before him.
“Come here.”
He scooted toward her, captivated as their bare bodies touched. He ran his powerful hand up her back, caressing the nape of her neck. He lightly kissed her lips and pulled away, allowing a small smile to shine on his face.
“What do you want for breakfast?” She asked, returning his grin.
“You.”
Britton couldn’t help but chuckle. There was nothing between them now. He knew everything. For the first time in their new relationship, it was completely real. I was completely honest.
“Okay.” She giggled and grabbed his lips with hers.
He rolled on top of her, crushing her body beneath his weight. He pinned her wrists above her head and took the body he was craving. Today was their new beginning. What a perfect way to start.
Britton flipped over the omelet, impressed with her creation. “What do you say we spend the next few days in the cabin?”
“I’d love that.” Jagger was a bit saddened that after all the work he had done on their home, they were about to leave it forever.
Britton looked to him, feeling a change in his mood. “Are you sure you’re okay with this?”
He smiled at her from the table. She was so beautiful. He could never get enough of her. “As long as I’m with you, I’ll be perfect.”
“What will you do with your house?”
“I don’t know. Maybe Dominic will want it.”
Dominic. Britton hadn’t asked about her brother. Did he hate her for who she was? What did everyone else in the family say? Were they upset with him for leading them into a trap? Did they try to talk him out of finding her again? Or worse, did they try to talk him into getting rid of her for good? Now she felt as though she had let everyone down all over again.
“What did Dom say about all of this?”
“He was actually the one who told me to find you.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, well, I wasn’t the sunniest person to be around the last month.” He shrugged his shoulders, admitting that she was his weakness. He didn’t need to say anything else. He took a bite of his omelet.
After finishing their breakfast, Jagger escorted Britton to the car.
“Let’s take your motorcycle.” She was feeling adventurous.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.” She smiled like a teenager and stole a kiss.
Britton pushed her hair behind her ears and slid the helmet over her head. Jagger was instantly aroused by this act, and couldn’t resist his desire to take her on top of the motorcycle. He looked around, seeing how open her front yard was to her neighbors. Damn desert. There were no shrubs to hide them from any on-lookers. He didn’t care. He ran to her and lifted her hips to his. He slowly slid her on to the seat and leaned over her arched body. He slid his hands up her loose shirt, outlining the curves of her waist.
“Jagger!” Britton laughed, embarrassed by his attack.
“No.” He stopped her. “I've always wanted to do this.”
She succumbed to his touch, instantly begging him to have his way with her. He reached behind her back, sliding off the hooks of her bra. Her breasts jumped free of their confines and her nipples hardened beneath her thin shirt. His fingers traced the lines of her belly, circling her navel. He repositioned himself, straddling the head of the bike. He gazed down at his prize, open and awaiting his command.
His hands consumed her, making their way over her round breasts, skimming her abdomen, and then sliding under the brim of her pants. He reached her, imploring her to beg for more. Britton groaned, forgetting that she was out in the open for anyone to see. She pushed into him, allowing him the perfect an
gle to enter her deeply. Her cries heightened and he stopped, a menacing smile taking over his face.
“What?” She begged.
“We’ll save the rest for later.” He couldn’t control his smile. His cheeks dimpled and Britton shook her head in disbelief.
“Okay then.” She would find a way to get back at him.
Jagger lifted her to a seated position and threw his leg over his bike. The engine roared to life.
“Hold on tight.”
“I won’t let go.” She truly meant it.
They raced out of the driveway and toward their destination. It was thrilling. Her arms wrapped tighter as their speed increased, and Jagger loved every second of it. They neared his house and he stopped, pulling off to the side. He flipped his body, facing hers. He pulled her closer, their knees forced wider, hoping to allow their bodies to touch. Jagger slipped his thumbs under her helmet and glided it off, freeing her tousled hair. He pushed her hair out of her face, taking in the beauty that was now all his.
“How did I get so lucky?”
Her smile widened. She didn’t know how she had gone ten years without his love. She had missed out on so much. She closed her eyes and allowed his kiss to consume her body. Their tongues met and danced with one another. Their kiss deepened, both lost in the love they shared.
Britton’s phone alerted her, drawing them both out of their trance. She pulled it from her pocket.
“I have four missed calls from David.”
She wanted to ignore them, but technically she should be available for work.
“Does he know you’re with me?”
“No, he thought it was all an act.”
“Oh.” Jagger was oddly hurt by her admission. He wanted the world to know that their love was real. “Are you going to call him back?”
“I should.”
She pressed her thumb to the screen and watched as her phone dialed David’s office number.
“David, sorry, my phone was on silent… no, I was just organizing some things in my house…What do you mean?...No…But how? I’ll be right there.”
Britton hung up the phone and looked up a Jagger, speechless.
“What happened?”
Her face paled. “Hank agreed to testify against you for a lighter sentence. They have a warrant for your arrest.”
Jagger hadn’t expected that outcome, he thought he'd explained quite well to Hank what happens to rats in prison. He weighed his options, fighting over the decision he should make.
“Okay.” He said.
“They’re at your house. We need to get out of here.”
“No.”
“What? They’re going to arrest you, Jagger.”
“I know. I don’t want to run.”
“But you’ll be thrown in prison.” What didn’t he understand about this?
“Britton, I don’t want to start my life with you on the run. If they have a warrant for my arrest, I’m going to let them arrest me.”
She needed to knock some sense into him. “This is ludicrous. Do you understand what you’re saying?”
“Yes. I deserve this. I’ve been testing fate my entire adult life.” He needed to be the bigger person. If she were caught with a fugitive, she would be thrown in jail too. He wasn’t about to risk her life again just so he could stay out from behind bars. Not this time. “Britton, I need you to leave now. I’ll turn myself in.”
“No, please don’t.” She begged.
“I have to.”
“Then I’m coming with you.” She hoped her determination would cause him to change his mind.
“No you’re not. You’re going to turn around, and go to your office. You’re going to pretend you have nothing to do with this.”
Tears welled up in her eyes. “Jagger I can’t.”
“You have to.” He was adamant. For the first time in his life, he was going to do the responsible thing. “Do you know how to ride this?”
“You want me to take your motorcycle?”
“You need to get out of here before anyone sees you. This is the only way.”
“I can’t.”
He took her by the shoulders, trying to calm her down. “Britton, there is no other option. Look, clutch, gas, break. You’re smart. I know you can figure this out.”
Britton didn’t want to figure it out. She wanted to stay with Jagger.
He looked into her eyes and smiled. He was finally doing something that would make her proud, even if it hurt her in the moment. “I love you, Britton. Never forget that.”
She grabbed hold of him and sunk into his chest. “Please don’t leave me. I love you too.”
He lifted her chin and kissed her goodbye. He would have to remember that kiss. He prayed it wouldn’t be their last. Jagger stepped off his bike and walked toward his house.
“Jagger, wait.” She ran to him, reaching into her pocket. She produced a bobby pin. “Use this. I will run away with you. We’ll get out of here and never look back.”
He shook his head. “You know I can’t do that.”
She wasn’t listening. “I will wait for you, at our secret place.”
He couldn’t help but smile as he turned from her and walked toward the flashing lights of patrol cars. He put the bobby pin in his pocket. Just in case.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Britton paced the floor of their cabin. Was he able to escape the handcuffs? What was taking so long? He'd been arrested two days earlier. She assumed he’d be laying low, trying not to attract any attention to his movements, and definitely trying not to lead the Feds to their cabin in the woods. Still, how much longer would she have to wait?
She recalled watching Jagger slowly walk toward his captors for surrender. He was giving her enough time to race away on the bike, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it. She wanted to follow him, even if it meant they would arrest her as well. Britton took two steps forward, and Jagger turned around. He shook his head at her and shrugged his shoulders. “Get out of here. Please.” He mouthed, praying she wouldn’t do anything stupid.
He was right. Implicating herself in any of his charges wouldn’t help him. She nodded in return, put on the helmet, and brought the motorcycle to life. She had never ridden a motorcycle before, but assumed it couldn’t be that difficult. She pushed forward slowly, over the small hill, and out of sight.
She was wrong; it was difficult. It was especially problematic because her tears were distorting her view. The bike stalled and pitched her forward. She couldn’t teach herself how to ride in her current state; she’d have to dump the bike. She pulled to the side of the road as soon as the area became more populated.
She thought to send Dominic a message, asking him to pick up Jagger’s bike and store it somewhere safe until he could escape, but she feared what might happen to her if the Harbingers of Sorrow found out that Jagger was arrested. Would they come after her? Would they avenge their leader? Would anyone believe her that she wasn’t the one who turned him in? No, she couldn’t risk it. She would have to keep it a secret for now, and sacrifice the motorcycle. Britton jumped off the bike, fearing that it would crush her leg in the fall. How did people ride those things? She ran to the corner and hailed a cab.
Champagne was waiting for her at the FBI headquarters, as well as a round of applause as soon as she stepped off the elevator. David floated his arm over her shoulder.
“This is all because of you. You should be proud of yourself.”
“Thanks sir.” It was all she could get out. It was all because of her. Jagger was in jail, and she had put him there without even trying. She'd hated herself.
They continued the festivities, all too cheerful to notice Britton’s sunken demeanor. How could she even pretend to celebrate? She had thrown away the best thing that had ever happened to her. She had thrown away her chance at love.
She continued to pace throughout the cabin, shaking herself from the memories of the previous days. Where was he? Britton opened the front door, hoping to find Ja
gger walking down the path. He never appeared. She stepped out into the cool night air. The moon was high and the stars were clear. There was a slight breeze, and she noticed movement out of the corner of her eye.
She turned quickly, her heart jumping at the possibility of Jagger’s presence. It was only the swing set, begging for a passenger. Britton hadn’t been on a swing in so long. What an interesting edition to their home? She remembered once, as a teenager, mentioning that the only thing their secret place needed was a swing. Would Jagger have remembered that? Is that why a swing laid steps from the cabin? She strolled over and took her place, a faint smile spreading to her cheeks. Wrapping her fingers around the ropes, she pushed off.
The wind cooled her cheeks and blew her hair out of her face. Britton always enjoyed her time in seclusion. Now it felt like a punishment. She was lonely. She hopped off the play set and made her way back into the cabin. She finally accepted the fact that Jagger was not coming home tonight.
Britton opened her eyes to the sunrise. Looking around the bedroom, she was reminded that she was alone in the cabin. Jagger was still not there. She wrapped her body in a silk robe and proceeded into the living room. Her hand skimmed the stone of the fireplace. Those stones witnessed so many memories. How was she supposed to give this all up now?
