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I’ll start leaving the back door unlocked for when you decide you want to find out if I’m a prude or not
Because no one has ever taken care of Bailey Jansen before. But I think it’s about time she got used to it.
I don’t know Harvey Eaton well, but I know he’s unlike any man I’ve had in my life.
Petition for Elsie to write a book about Harvey. Could be either him and his wife and raising the family or his POV throughout all the five books in this series. I swear that man is a national treasure.
Cade shoots his dad a dry look. “Of course you’d side with a child. What am I supposed to do with a male goat?” As Harvey stares at his son, it seems like everyone is holding their breath. Beau’s hand tightens on my leg. I hope it leaves marks. I chance a glance over at him, noting the way he’s lifted a fist up over his mouth. Bracing. Harvey makes a contemplative grumbling noise while scrubbing at his beard. “Well, you could try milking the male goat. But that might get weird.”
I stand my point, Harvey delivers once again. Cackling to myself whenever he cracks a witty joke.
The most unladylike noise I’ve ever made leaves me in a flurry of trying, and failing, to breathe deeply. Finally, I focus less on Beau touching my bare skin as giggles overtake me at the absurdity and inappropriateness of the older man’s joke. Willa loses it. I’m talking sprays water from her mouth. She gets up and walks away, swiping furiously at her mane of red hair. Rhett groans. Jasper gets a wildly amused, shit-eating grin on his face. Beau turns toward me, huffing a soft laugh against the curve of my neck. It’s so hot out, so stagnant, that I lean into the rush of air on my hot skin.
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Had to fucking save this whole thing because everything was too funny to leave out. I love you Harvey, let me help you blow your lawn.
Beau crosses his arms and gazes away from everyone dramatically. “Why is no one asking me how fast I can run in my new shoes? Being an adult sucks.” And it’s Luke who comes to his rescue, drawing a few chuckles. “I’ll race you, Uncle Beau!”
Luke is the greatest, need to reread Heartless.
He said he wouldn’t have sex with me, but what about everything else? It seems improbable. Looking at him, he’s like a big, cocky Adonis. It seems like a bad idea. But he’s also your fiancé. You trust him. He’s so damn good to you. I’m ovulating. That’s the only reason my brain is rationalizing this to me.
My eyes go wide when they land on his dick. It’s like a porn dick. But flaccid. I stare, trying to figure out if it’s just the angle or if it’s the fact I haven’t seen a penis in real life. Maybe the scale is different.
Never knew spreading condiments on bread could feel sexual, yet here I am experiencing spontaneous ovulation because of naked sandwich making.
The dark part of me wants to flip her over and fuck her. Impale her and listen to her scream my name. But that’s not what this is. That’s not who she is. I want to handle Bailey with care.
“Twist.” She’s gone monosyllabic, and I take a perverse sort of pleasure in stealing her pleasure and her words.
She’s young and sweet, and has her entire life ahead of her. I’m the last thing she needs complicating her situation.
My eyes stay on her face, while hers focus on my dick. “Is your penis normal big? Or like … ” She worries her bottom lip before holding her hands up in that twelve-inch spread again. “Big big?” “Bailey.” I shake my head, my voice disbelieving and gruff all at once. “You can’t just ask people things like that.”
It really is the most charming combination. Old enough to not be freaked out by sex but inexperienced enough to be flat-out curious. She’s going to be the death of me. And my restraint.
We float in silence for several minutes. Me, trying to rid myself of the insta-boner she gave me, and her … I don’t know, just swishing around.
Bailey makes 2:11 better.
“What is that?” Bailey points at the shiny black and chrome Harley I just pulled up on. I bought it to give myself something to do that isn’t holding my dick while thinking about you. I don’t say that, though. Instead, I say, “My new motorcycle,” like the Neanderthal I am around her.
She sounds bratty. The tilt of her head makes me want to fist that thick ponytail, give it a tug, and tell her to watch her fucking tone.
I stop at her chair, fist her ponytail, tug her head back to drop a kiss to her forehead, and say, “Let’s go give ‘em something to talk about, sugar tits.”
I don’t know how no one else sees it. Sees her. It’s like we’re all staring at the same painting and every other person in this town is missing the point.
Beau: Whatever you like best. Any guy who holds a strong opinion on how you style your pubic hair doesn’t deserve to be between your legs.
“I know you’re scared of losing control around me.” Her chin tips up as though she’s told me something that will make me back down. Run me off. It doesn’t. “No, I’m scared of you becoming something I can’t live without.”
“Ask me to play with your pussy. Let me hear it.” I lick my lips, glaring down at him through lust-filled eyes. And then I raise him one. “Please play with my pussy.”
He regards me carefully, completely ignoring his raging erection, something I find challenging to do. I itch to touch it. I wonder how it would feel in my mouth. I want him to tell me in painstaking detail how he wants me to suck it.
How fucked-up am I? I’m hot and cold. I say left and go right. I tell a girl who needs help getting a job that her pussy is mine now, like I’m some sort of over-the-top obsessive caveman. She makes me feel like I am.
knocking. Tiny shorts, an even tinier tank top, and totally disheveled hair. “I’m so sorry! You orgasmed me stupid, and I forgot to set my alarm.”
“Bailey, don’t let men take advantage of you and expect nothing in return,” I grumble. She leans back a little, taken aback by the abrupt change in my demeanor, no doubt. “Is that what you did, Beau? Take advantage of me? Sure didn’t feel like it. Felt like I asked you for something and you gave it. And then we high-fived and parted ways.” “We didn’t high-five.” “If I’d been able to move, I’d have high-fived you.” “Good god, Bailey.”
“If I’m going to lose my virginity, it’s going to be hot. Not sad.”
“Beau Eaton, tier one operator.” She waves a hand in front of herself like my name is the title on a movie poster. “Asker of obvious questions. Shaver of pussies.”
I shut my eyes, assuming now is the time we go to sleep. But I should know better than to assume anything where Bailey is concerned. “Hey, Beau?” I sigh raggedly. “Yes, Bailey.” “Why didn’t you let me put your cock in my mouth earlier?” Good fucking god. “Bailey.” “I thought that was coming next. Ya know? You stood up, and it was right there. Pointing at me like I was the chosen one. And I was ready to practice. But you took off before I could make my vocal cords work again.”
“I believe the text message I received mentioned her GI Joe brother-in-law and his jailbait fiancée.” Bailey gasps and covers her mouth to stifle a giggle, the massive engagement ring on her finger sparkling as she does. I just shake my head. Fucking Willa.
“For what it’s worth,” Ford continues as Bailey and I slide into our seats across from each other, “I think you make a lovely couple and my sister belongs in a straitjacket.”
I love Willa.
Vitality courses through her and I want to soak it all up. Just being around her makes me want more for myself. I want to answer her question with the same kind of fervor and surety, but the only thing I can think is, “I want to be yours for real.”
She looks like a woman who could bring me to my knees.
I’ve realized that I’ll probably give this girl anything she wants. A ring. Sex. Forever.
“Bailey, stop running your mouth or I’ll find another creative way to keep it busy.” Her tongue darts out over her puffy rosebud lips. Her eyes are furious flames. “Good. Do it.”
Her mouth pops open, and I consider shoving my dick in to watch her try to keep up with the real thing. But she’s never done this before, so I can’t do it all at once. I have to pace myself. I have to go slow with her. She deserves every one of the bases. She deserves all the angsty almosts.
The back of my skull. “I’m so fucking hung up on you, it’s not even funny,” I confess quietly, and then press a kiss to her belly button. She shivers, fingers gliding down the back of my neck. I don’t expect her to say anything. Or to feel the same way. I’m too old. She’s too young. Too good for me when it comes down to it. Which is why it sends me reeling when she whispers, “Wherever you’re hanging from … I think I’m on the same hook.”
Jasper: Have you considered Harvey? His advice is always the most entertaining.
Agreed
“I’m done pretending to be head over heels in love with you because I’m legitimately head over heels in love with you. And acting like I’m not tears me up.”
“Maybe it’s too soon. Maybe this is impulsive. Maybe you don’t love me back. But I’ll wait. I don’t care. I’ll take my time with you. So long as I know you’re really mine, I can be patient.”
“Stop thinking what you’re thinking. Stop pretending this isn’t real.” He bends slightly and lifts me, picking me up easily and carrying me back toward the house. “Stop telling me what I intend to do,” he whispers against my ear. “Because I do intend to marry you. And I want you to wear that fucking ring while I show you that it’s true.”
“Strip.”
“I’ve been doing impulsive shit, hoping one of those things might make me feel something. And not a single one of them did. Until you. So if this thing with you makes me insane? I’ll be happy to wear that badge.”
“Should I keep going?” Her nod is fast, slightly frantic. “Yes. Please.” My lips quirk as I work her underwear down her thighs. She’s still. Too still. “I like it when you’re so sweet and polite, Bailey.” A nervous laugh tumbles from her lips, and she breathes again. “Fuck you, Beau.” My cheek twitches. There’s the girl I know.
I mean, yeah, I’ve watched porn, but it’s not the same. It’s like watching the National Geographic channel and saying you’ve seen a lion in the wild.
You don’t tell a person you love them with the expectation they’ll say it back. You tell them because you want to. You tell them because it’s true.
I kiss her stomach again. “My pain disappears when I’m with you. I get to be a new version of myself when I’m with you. I sleep. I laugh. I have something—someone—to look forward to at the end of the day. I feel … ” I peer back up at her again, swallowing as I run my hands up the column of her spine. “I feel whole again with you.”
I stare at her for a few beats. What a woman. What an incredible fucking woman. She deserves the goddamn world. And I’m going to be the one to give it to her.
I know this man would tear the world apart to find me. To save me.
