Be with Me (Return to Haven 2)

Tanner laughed and kissed her hard before releasing her. “All of the above. I love you, I’m in love with you, and we will make this family work.”

She slid her hands over his shoulders, trailing the tips of her fingers down over his pecs. Instantly his body stirred. Moments ago he was ready to fall into bed. Now, well . . . he was definitely ready to fall into bed.

“I have a secret I’ve been keeping,” she whispered.

He thought for a second she was going to fill him in on something about her ex. That was the only gap between them, but he was determined to close it.

“I love you, too.”

Tanner reached around and gripped her backside, pulling her flush against his body. “Is that right? I’ve known for a while.”

“You have not,” she stated, swatting his chest. “I just figured it out the other day.”

“Maybe you just came to the realization, but you wouldn’t be here with me if you didn’t.” He nipped at her lips and spun her around so the back of her knees hit the bed. “You don’t trust easily. You were heartbroken and left wondering if you could open your heart again. So the fact that you’re with me told me all I need to know about your feelings.”

“You think you’re so smart,” she murmured against his lips.

“It’s my job to assess the situation.”

She rubbed her body against his before pulling him down with her onto the bed. “Then what am I thinking now?”

“That you have on too many clothes.”

Melanie laughed and raked her nails over his back. “You are good at your job, Officer.”

“I’m about to show you how good I can be.”

Tanner stripped her of every shred of clothing and removed his shorts. She reached up for him, welcoming him into her arms. This turning point in their relationship was everything to him, to their future.

Tanner traced his lips over her collarbone and up her neck to finally land on her parted lips. Melanie wrapped her legs around his waist and he didn’t hesitate to join their bodies. He swallowed her groan, welcomed her arched body against his, and took his time in pleasuring her.

He didn’t care that he had to be up in a few hours for work. All he cared about was that this woman he loved, loved him right back.

When her fingertips bit into his back, he thrust fast, harder. Her heavy panting against his ear had him turning to capture her mouth once again. He couldn’t get enough, didn’t think he’d ever have enough of Melanie.

Her body tightened all around him as his own release hit. She trembled beneath him, letting out a soft moan when he slid his lips from her mouth along her jawline. After a few moments, she’d gone lax and Tanner’s body calmed. He shifted to the side and pulled her right with him into the crook of his arm.

“I was scared for you tonight,” she said, breaking the silence.

Tanner trailed his fingertips up and down her bare arm. “I knew you would be. I’m trained for situations like that. I can honestly say Haven doesn’t have much major crime, like robberies, but we are ready when it happens. The waiting is the hardest part, for everyone.”

“I was so afraid something was going to happen on live TV and I’d have to see it . . .”

Her last word came out on a hiccup as he felt moisture on his chest. Tanner rolled her onto her back and hovered above her, swiping away at her tears. The moonlight slanted right across her face.

“We had the situation under control.” Tanner kissed her tear-tracked cheeks. “You need to know that I also work some evenings that aren’t with the precinct. I’m not supposed to tell anyone, but I don’t want you to worry when I have to leave.”

Melanie blinked away the moisture. “I know you disappear randomly. Do you have a second job?”

Tanner pulled in a breath and rolled over on his back. Resting his arm across his forehead, he stared up at the ceiling.

“I’m part of a small operation that consists of former military and former law enforcement. We work undercover to pull women and children out of abusive situations and set them up in a safe place until they can get on their feet and move on.”

Melanie lifted up onto her elbow and stared down at him. “That’s where you’ve been all those times we had no idea?”

He nodded and glanced her way. “This is all top secret, so you can’t even discuss this with Jade or Livie. Even Cash and Jax are unaware. They’ve speculated it’s for work, so I just go with it.”

Melanie’s hand settled over his heart. “And you trusted me with this?”