Reckless (Chestnut Springs, #4)

by Elsie Silver

“I don’t understand what’s happening here. The things you say. The things you do. Everything that’s happened. It doesn’t make sense. I can’t figure it out.” He tilts his head, as if he’s trying to figure me out from a different perspective. “What’s happening is Miss Independent met the treat-her-like-a-princess guy, and she’s freaking out.”

“Next time, you ride my face. You’re going to ask for it. Beg for it. Work for it even. You will tell me exactly what you want, and I will give it to you. But this isn’t happening again until that time. Until you know what you want. Because I want you, Winter. And not just for one night.”

Based on what happened tonight, she’s not accustomed to people simply liking her for the woman she is. That makes me want to burn the world down around us to right the wrongs people have laid at her feet over the years.

I walk into my house with a goofy smile on my face. My mom catches it from where she’s sitting on the couch with an episode of Grey’s Anatomy queued up and ready to go. “You do know you’re in love with that girl, don’t you?” I flop down beside her and sling an arm over her shoulder, ready to get lost in the very best medical drama while sitting beside one of my favorite women in the world. “Yeah, Mom. I know.”

He knees me again, but this time, he reaches under my hair and gives the nape of my neck a firm squeeze that has my entire body clenching. His head drops next to mine, and his stubble scrapes against the shell of my ear as he whispers, “Stop being so mean to me. It gets me hard when you’re mouthy. Makes me think of all the fun ways I could put that mouth to work instead. And I don’t need a boner right now.”

“Theo loves easily. That’s just his nature. But he doesn’t often love hard. He keeps that part of himself, the one that’s seen loss too, locked up tight where it can’t get hurt. But you, girl? He loves you hard.”

“Plus, it’s not what it looks like. I told Beau to stop being a moody asshole and apologize to Winter. See how awkward they are? Was kinda getting a kick out of it myself, like two virginal teenagers at their first dance. Straight-arming each other’s shoulders. Not like you two feral cats on the procreation prowl.” “Sorry, the procreation prowl?” “I googled it after you lot made fun of my analogy. But I was right. You’re the tom and she’s the queen. Ya’ll were blowing shit up like Americans on the fourth of July and then going at it like it’s mating season.” “This is truly the analogy that never ends.”

“You are a national treasure, Harvey Eaton.”

We were just talking, laughing. Heading in a good direction. And she’s going to run away from me now? After everything? Nah. Not today, Tink. I stride after her. Agitated. Frustrated. And fucking done with Winter Hamilton running from me.

“I want you unhinged for me. Just … disrespect me. Just for a bit.” That night. My lips drag over the shell of her ear, and she shivers. “You’d like to be my pretty little slut tonight?”

“Fuck.” My head tips back and I close my eyes as my hips move, fucking her greedy little mouth. “Winter. It’s too good. You’re too good.”

“Lapping up every last drop, aren’t you?” I ask as she holds me there, swallowing it all before sliding off my length. I’m panting, hands still in her hair, when she peeks up at me. “The champagne was still better,” she says with a demure smile as she licks her lips like the little liar she is.

“No, the quality of yours ruined me. Nobody else swallows my cum like it’s Dom Perignon.”

“Dr. Hamilton in the streets, filthy slut in the sheets.”

“You’re not an interloper. You’re her dad.”

I reach for Vivi. I need a hug after the last few hours and something about a squishy baby just hits different. The way she rakes her fingers through my stubble. The way she smells. The way she babbles away at me like I understand her happy little nonsense language.

Vivi fusses, getting sick of being carried. She wants to crawl and cruise and climb and channel her inner daredevil. So, I bounce on the spot, hoping that entertains her.

Never envied a baby this much before.

“Well, huh.” I glance down at my fingernails, trying to decide what color I’ll do next. Perhaps green, to go with how I’m feeling right now. “I’m sure that’s great for business.” “Winter …” There’s a warmth to my little sister’s voice. “Are you—” “Jealous?” I whisper-shout. “Insanely. Are all his clients so hot?” Summer laughs. She straight out laughs at me and my spiral. “Win, I’ve never seen you so fired up over … anything. This is adorable.” “Shut up.” My lips twitch. “I’m just so happy!”

He finds me. He kisses me. He belongs to me.

“A date?” He smiles, pushing to stand over me. “Yeah. We haven’t done one of those yet, have we? Wear a slutty dress for me.” “Are we having tequila again?” He turns away with a rumbling chuckle. “Sure, Tink. I’ll lick it off you when we get home,” is what he calls back. Loud enough that people stare. And I don’t even mind.

“Yeah. You and your snarky one-liners. And the way you’re grumbly in the morning until I bring you a coffee. And that goofy voice you use when you talk to Vivi. How sweet you are under all that professional indifference. I even like it when you stalk me. Makes me feel special.”

“What if I don’t win this year? Then I’ll be gone next year too.” “Then we’ll be here waiting for you to get home next year too. I’m dreading going back to work too. But the world doesn’t stop. Dreams don’t evaporate. We’re going to figure this out.”

Haven’t been able to keep my eyes off that woman from day one, not sure who I was kidding thinking I’d be strong enough to start now.

I might get caught with my skirt up, grinding myself on the leg of a man who looks like a god and talks like a porn star.

“I think the only reason you don’t come is because you’ve been fucking a man who doesn’t know what you need. A man who is lazy in bed. Who doesn’t know how to take care of you. But that’s okay, because I’ll show you how that feels tonight.”

“Enjoying the view?” She swallows, the column of her throat bobbing. “Yeah. You’re …” I quirk my head, curious about where she’s going with this. Her hand reaches up, and trembling fingers gently trail over my stomach, tracing my abs, tracking the V-line that runs down to my groin. “Stupid hot. Like what in the actual fuck?”

“Then I guess they’re going to see how pretty this tight cunt looks stuffed full of my cock.”

“That night we were reckless.” His voice cracks. “But god, I’d be reckless with you over and over again if it means ending up here.”

All I know is that this win is only important for a few moments. Because when Winter whispers in my ear, “Hope you’re ready to do this dad thing again, because there’s another Theo doppelgänger on the way,” nothing is more important than us.