Reluctantly Yours (Unexpectedly in Love, #1)

by Erin Hawkins

I find weddings and love in general to be a waste of my time.

Barrett: Andrew Garfield

“There’s an actual season for dry cake and misery?”

“That’s because who gets married at twenty-five anymore? At our age, how can you commit to one dick and know you’re making the right decision?” She waves to the bustling streets around us. “I mean this city alone has a sea of dicks just waiting to be explored.”

The only reason I’m up past midnight is if I can’t put down the book I’m reading.

His hazel gaze holds mine, intense and challenging, before his full lips slide into a devilish smirk. “Chloe Anderson,” he shakes his head, “you’ve been a bad girl.”

It’s like my dick knows she’s looking and wants to say hi. Fucking idiot.

“The way your eyes light up when they spot the outline of my dick in tennis shorts.”

“You know what? No. If you’re going to make me sit here and have nothing to do but look at you, then that outfit is off limits for dinner. I don’t want to be eating my dinner and have to see you looking like…like…that.” My hands grip the back of the chair. “Like what?” I say, ready for a fight. Barrett stands and any power I felt standing over him is gone. His tall, broad frame towers over me. “Like I could eat you for dinner,” he says. Holy shit. That is the last thing I expected him to say.

“You should smile more,” I tell him, an idea forming in my brain. “In fact, I’m going to put it on my list.” “That seems like a waste.” “Not at all.” I shake my head. “It’s a great smile.” “How many times of day would be sufficient?” He’s amused now. “It doesn’t matter, as long as it’s always directed at me.”

Chloe’s elated smile lights up the entire vineyard. When she directs it at me, heat radiates through my chest. It suddenly feels like there’s nothing I wouldn’t do to keep that smile on her face.

“The fact that no one has tasted you is a real shame, but it’s a mistake I don’t plan on making. The thought of it turns me on even more.”

“I’m also going to think about you when I fuck my hand later,” I say. Her breath catches and her mouth drops open. The sound already has me hard. Yes, I’m definitely going to be thinking about her later.

“Chloe, I’m about to drill a hole through my pants just thinking about tasting you. I want it that bad.”

Do not operate heavy machinery (aka my legs) while under the influence of Barrett St. Clair’s touch.

“I’m the only man who has tasted it.” It’s a fact that Barrett seems to take great pride in as he worships me with his tongue. He licks the length of me. “And it’s so fucking sweet.” He looks up from between my thighs and our eyes connect. His lips glistening with my arousal. Just when I think I can’t possibly be more turned on, he grins like the devil and says, “It’s mine now.”

“You’ll tell me if you can’t breathe?” I ask. “Wait, how are you going to tell me if you can’t breathe? If you can’t breathe you won’t be able to talk.”

“I like your nails,” I say, taking one hand and examining them more closely. “The color will look nice against my sheets when I pin your hands above your head later.”

“We can stay if you want,” Barrett says. “Or we can go home, and you can eat cookie dough ice cream while I lick you.”

“Did you play WordIt today?” she asks. Her skin is sleep warm and feels amazing underneath my palms. “I haven’t had a chance.” “Spoiler alert. It was FUCKME,” she says, unbuckling my belt.

Chloe reaches for my hand. “Is there anything I can do? To distract you?” I turn toward her and open my eyes. “You being beside me is the best distraction.”

“This is ruining Ben & Jerry’s for me,” I tell him between licks. With his arm around my back, he pulls me in close. “This is making me think of your mouth around my cock,” he whispers against my ear. I nearly choke on my ice cream.

She looks behind her, oblivious to the idea that in a place like Paris where everywhere you look, the architecture and sights are breathtaking, it’s her I can’t keep my eyes off.

“Barrett, do you trust me?” I hold onto her wrists. “Of course. It’s not about that.” “Isn’t it? I got on a plane not knowing where I was going, because I knew if I was with you, it would be okay.” She looks around. “And it’s better than okay. I get it. You’re scared, and you might freak out, but if you trust me then you know that you’ll be okay because I’ll be with you.” I look into Chloe’s eyes and I know that I’m falling for her.

“That would be crazy. But I guess we already had sex this morning, so it doesn’t matter how full I get.” “You realize that means nothing. After watching you devour a plate of blueberry lemon ricotta pancakes with powdered sugar on top, I’m going to want to fuck you again.”

“You paid two million dollars so you could win WordIt and go down on me?” “I didn’t buy it with that intention, but it did come in handy.” “That is not good business sense.” “I think it makes perfect sense.” Barrett’s lips lower to my ear. “Tasting you, knowing your sweet pussy was mine, was worth every penny.”

“Chloe Elizabeth Anderson, I’ve got a proposition for you.” “What is it?” I feel my eyes widen, because I’m not sure what’s happening. Unless… “I need a date.” He pulls out a small velvet box from his jacket pocket and takes a knee in front of me. “For the rest of my life.”