by Tessa Teevan
It’s been far too long since I’ve felt this sensual, this desired, and I’m too far gone to stop. I want this too damn much. I want him too damn much.
“God, Amelia,” he whispers against my lips. “You’re so fucking wet. So fucking tight still, even just around my finger.”
My legs squirm at the reminder of my pregnancy, and I suddenly feel self-conscious. Pregnancy was good to me, but my body still changed in ways I hadn’t anticipated. This room is all too bright. He knew me before the stretch marks and the eight-pound baby coming out of my body. What will he think now?
Before I can dwell on it, he sinks to his knees, pushing down my shorts and my panties, wasting no time before placing his mouth to my most sensitive spot. For the first time in what feels like forever, pleasure pulses between my legs and I want to beg him to take me right here. Right now.
“Oh god, Knox… We shouldn’t… Oh, don’t stop,” I pant as he expertly works his tongue along my most sensitive spot while his fingers glide in and out of me.
He’s working quickly, as if it’s a race against time, as if he knows that, at any moment, I could change my mind. Only I know I won’t.
A moan escapes me as when his thumb replaces his tongue and slowly works my clit over until I’m on the edge of release. It’s far too fast, and though I want this moment to last, I don’t know if I can hold on.
My eyes flutter open and take in the sight of the man kneeling before me. Tight muscles ripple across his back, and even though he’s lost most of his tan from last summer, he’s still my gorgeous Greek hero sent to torture me for whatever crime I’ve committed against the universe. Except, for right now, he’s on his knees, taking his fill of me as if he’s had a thirst he hasn’t been able to quench for far too long.
Knox Wellington is my most faithful parishioner, and I’m his exalted place of worship.
How did I ever think I’d be able to resist him once he reappeared in my life?
The thought is unfathomable as I watch him with hooded eyes. I grip the counter behind me, my legs quivering. My fingers run through his hair and take hold, gripping tightly as he brings me to orgasm. I cry out his name, trembling in pure, unadulterated ecstasy. His tongue circles my clit one last time before he raises his head and watches me with a passion I haven’t seen in far too long in his eyes.
“Fucking hell, Melia, I’ve missed you so damn much. I can’t hold on to my control any longer,” he spits out through gritted teeth.
“I’ve missed you, too,” I concede. “So fucking much. Lose control, Knox. In me. With me.”
His answering growl sets my nerve endings on fire. Then he curses under his breath. Eyes blazing, he meets my gaze. “It’s too soon. I don’t want to hurt you.”
“Don’t make me fall in love with you.”
It’s a promise Knox never could keep, and apparently, he still can’t.
It still baffles me that he’s here. That he came back. That I’m not doing this alone like I thought I’d be. Every single day since he showed up in the hospital, we’ve spent our time together. At first, it was hard to let him back in. I don’t know when it happened, but little by little, inch by slow, slow inch, he wormed his way back into my heart. It’s been a sweet, leisurely, tortuous foreplay and I’ve finally succumbed to him.
And now that we’re here, I’m embracing every second of it.
I shake my head, and his own falls. Using my thumb and my forefinger, I lift his chin so he’s looking at me. “It’s not too soon. At my last appointment, the doctor gave me the go-ahead.” The hope in his eyes make my heart swell. “I didn’t want to say anything. I wasn’t ready. But I am now.”
It’s all he needs to hear. He runs his hand up over the curve of my belly, rising before me. Strong hands grip my waist, setting me on the counter, bringing me closer to him. With one nudge, he opens my legs and settles between them. He thrusts his cock into me with such force that it takes my breath away. His eyes darken and he grips my hips, no longer giving me sweet caresses, but instead, the passion now feels more like desperation. His powerful pumps intensify and I slide back on the counter with every plunging drive deep into my core. Each electrifying thrust heightens the sensation, and I wonder if a woman’s ever died from an orgasm before.
“Knox…fuck… Slow down,” I’m panting. “Too much…”
All I get in response is some sort of grunt from him as he repositions my legs around him and picks me up, all the while continuing to thrust up into me. Knox is holding on to me and though I try to match his movements, he’s too wild, too crazed. So I tighten my arm around his neck and hold on tight.
It feels so damn good, but it’s almost too much. Before I have a chance to process my thoughts, my body’s humming with satisfaction and I reach the precipice of ecstasy all over again. He continues thrusting while my body starts to go limp from the pleasure. He then tenses and squeezes my legs with his hands as he fills me with his release. My head is spinning; my body is still tingling. Knox’s head falls to the crook of my neck, where he peppers soft kisses along my sweat-slicked skin.
“Amazing. So fucking amazing,” he whispers, and the reality of what we’ve done crashes down on me.
I can’t believe I just did this. Hell, I can’t believe I lasted two months with him in my bed before doing this. My heart is full—yet heavy—and I’m ridiculously overwhelmed with a flurry of emotion that I can’t help the rush of hot tears. I try to blink them back to no avail.
“Amelia, no,” he whispers, wiping my tears away and getting the wrong idea. “I’m sorry. That was too fast. Too much. I’m so fucking sorry.”
Possibly one of the best moments of my life—definitely top-five material—and it ends with her crying.
I’m an asshole. A fucking deviant. I’m selfish beyond belief and I’ve never felt this damn low.
Which is kind of a conundrum.
I’ve also never felt so fucking thrilled.
Amelia’s expression is unreadable, and she doesn’t respond to my apology. Instead, she pushes past me and exits the bathroom.
“I was just coming to tell you we’re out of diapers.” She tosses the words over her shoulder.
I wrap a towel around my waist then follow her into her bedroom. Our bedroom. Feeling like a caged lion, I force myself to sit on the edge of the bed. “Let me get dressed. I’ll go out and get them. Do you need anything else?” I sound too eager, but I don’t care. I’ll do anything to make this right.
“Knox,” Amelia calls, her eyes shining.
Fucking hell, more tears?
From my place on the bed, I hold my head in my hands, rubbing my forehead and then finally returning my attention to her. She ties her robe around her waist then comes to sit next to me.
“That was…” she trails off, trying to find her words.
I take her hand, bringing it to my lips to press a kiss against her. “That was too much. I was an animal. I should’ve been gentle. Slow. Fuck,” I mutter, running a hand through my wet hair before catching her gaze. “I’m sorry. It’s just… Hell, I’ve been dreaming of this ever since you let me back in your bed and I got carried away. Please, please don’t shut me out. I’ll go to the couch if you want. I’ll do anything, Amelia. Just don’t shut me out.” I’m practically begging, something I never thought I’d do, but when it comes to her? There’s no length I won’t go to, no bridge I won’t cross. No mountain I won’t fucking climb if it means she’s mine again.
She holds a finger up to my lips. “Shh. If you’ll be quiet, I’ll finish.”
I snap my lips closed, and the smile on her face has hope swelling in my chest.
“I wasn’t lying when I said I missed you.” She lets out a small laugh. “I missed you from the moment you left that last morning. Hell, I probably missed you before even that. The whole summer, I knew I’d miss you when you left. But how could I say it, knowing what this was supposed to be?”
We’re both such stubborn fools.
“And what just h
appened?” she continues. “Tells me you’re still twisted up in me in a way I think you’ll always be. I’m not upset that after far too many agonizing months I got to be with you again. I’m elated. I’m terrified. But most of all? I’m happy. Genuinely happy.”
“I didn’t hurt you?”
She shakes her head, her expression contemplative, which puts a bit of a damper on my burgeoning pride. “You weren’t what I wanted, Knox. This wasn’t what I wanted.”
Okay, ouch.
I start to open my mouth, but she holds a finger up.
“Still my turn.”
I nod.
“At least, that’s what I thought,” she clarifies. “I didn’t want to let you in. But what I found out was that it wasn’t up to me. You came in, without even knowing it, and you burrowed so deep that, even after you were gone, it was like you were still here.”
She glances to the bassinet on the other side of the room. “Okay, so in a sense, you were through Branson, but it was deeper than that. It is deeper than that. But it’s not about me now. It’s about him and giving him everything he needs.”
“Amelia, I meant what I said before. I didn’t move in here just because of the baby. I’m here because of you. He’s just an expected bonus. You said that this wasn’t what you wanted? Hell, babe, it’s not what I wanted, either. Until it happened. Now? I can’t imagine life without the two of you.”
“I can’t, either. Especially not after how well you just took care of me in the bathroom. Hopefully there’s more where that came from,” she teases, giving me a saucy wink.
“Babe, I’m thinkin’ you owe me another one since my son was supposed to be Knox.”
Amelia rolls her eyes, and I wrap an arm around her waist, pulling her into me. “I know you’re joking, but how about we get through the infant stage and perhaps the terrible twos before we go talking about more babies.” Her eyes soften. “It’s not like I knew you were a junior. Or that you wanted a Knox Wellington the Third. You’ve got Branson, and I know you love him, no matter his name.”
“Babe, I love him even more because of his name. It’s an honor you named him after a great man. A better one than me for sure. I can’t wait to learn more about him.”
Amelia’s arms tighten around my neck. “That’s not true, Knox. You’re a good man. A great man. My dad would be proud.”
“Good. Because I guess this means we’ll just have to keep trying.”
Her eyes go round as saucers. “What are you saying?”
Thank fuck. She’s finally going to let me speak the truth I’ve been holding in for months. “I love you, Amelia. I think I fell for you the day you nearly ran over my toes. And I’ve been fallin’ ever since. Now, I’m in so damn deep I never want to climb out. And I love our son. And whether it’s the three of us for the rest of our lives or we’re blessed to grow our family, I want to do it together. Always.”
“You mean it?”
“I’ve never meant anything more in my life.”
She tightens her arms around my neck, nearly causing me to stumble back. I laugh as she peppers kisses all across my face before capturing my lips with hers. Just as I’m about to deepen the kiss, she pulls away, her gorgeous eyes shimmering with tears.
“I love you—more than I ever thought I could. You brought me back from the dark. You made me whole again. I promise I’ll spend the rest of my life loving you. Here, Nashville, Thailand, Tokyo—wherever you want. As long as you’re my by side.”
“Then put your money where your mouth is, Melia.”
Pouty lips form a round O. “Pardon me?”
“Marry me.”
“Knox…” She’s breathless.
I fucking love it. And maybe I’m pushing too far too soon, but I can’t help it. I want us to be a real family. Right freaking now.
“I don’t have a ring. I don’t have fancy words or a speech prepared. Nothing about our relationship has been traditional. Why start now? I love you, Amelia. I love our son. I want us to be a family as soon as possible.”
She eyes me skeptically. “Is this so he’ll have your last name?”
“So you’ll both have my last name. I don’t know how many times I’ll have to say it, but I’ll shout it from the rooftops for the rest of our lives if I have to. I should’ve told you how I felt last summer. Not left like a coward. I loved you then. I love you now. That will never change.”
“You weren’t the only one who was a coward. I’m pretty sure I fell in love with you after two dates. It scared the hell out of me. And we kept reinforcing ‘just for the summer,’ and when you told me not to fall in love with you, I think it was already too late. I’d already fallen head first.”
I nod, knowing the same was true for me. “And, now, we’re a family. We’re doing this together, Amelia. You and me. I never thought I’d find this kind of love so early in life. But I know it’s once in a lifetime and I’m so damn blessed because it means I have that much more time to make memories with you.”
“I want that, too,” she whispers. “Yes, Knox. I’ll marry you. I’ll take your name. But this doesn’t change anything for Branson.”
A harsh lump forms in my throat, rendering me unable to respond. Hell, I don’t even know how to respond. I’m fucking thrilled she just agreed to be my wife, but…
Amelia laughs, lifting onto her toes and pressing a swift kiss to my lips. “It doesn’t change anything because he already has your last name, silly. It’s on the birth certificate. I’ve been wondering if you were ever going to ask.”
Her words grind that lump into dust and blows it away.
“I wanted to” I tell her. “The first night we came home from the hospital, I was going to demand it. But when I walked into your room and saw him sleeping and you exhausted after what you’d been through, I couldn’t bring myself to do it.”
“Knox,” she whispers.
“In that moment, I realized it didn’t matter what his name was. What mattered was that I had a son who needed me above all else. Did I want him to be a Wellington? Of fucking course. Would I love him any less if he wasn’t? No fucking way.”
“You’re gonna have to learn to stop dropping so many F-bombs. If his first word is fuck, cock, or shit, my grams is gonna kill you. Hell, I might kill you myself.”
I grin down at her. “I’ll rein it in, babe.”
Her coy smile tells me she knows it’s an uphill battle. “I’ll still love you regardless.”
“Promise?”
“Always,” she whispers. Her eyes rise to meet mine, round and full of wonder. “We’re getting married.”
My heart does a joyous somersault just hearing her saw the words. “Yeah, Melia. We’re fuckin’ gettin’ married.”
She swats my arm. “Hey!”
“I’ll work on it.”
“So…what are you thinking? A long engagement?”
“Fu—” I catch myself, and the appreciation mixed with amusement in her eyes has me making a mental note to actually try like I said I would. “Heck no. I want to marry you as soon as possible. We don’t have to run away to Vegas or anything, but the sooner the better. I don’t want to risk you getting away again.”
“If you recall, you’re the one who got away,” she says, her tone wry.
“I’m an ass. If you’re going to spend the rest of your life with me, you may as well get used to it. Plus, I’m also the one who came back.”
“I can’t argue with that. I’ll marry you anytime, anywhere.”
A brilliant idea formulates in my mind. “One month.”
“Knox, I can’t plan a wedding for a month from now!” she squeals in protest.
“You don’t have to lift a finger other than finding your dress. Leave the rest up to me.”
Her eyes narrow. “You’re going to plan a wedding?”
“Hell yeah I am,” I say, not even trying to censor myself. “You have enough on your hands with the baby. Trust me, you won’t regret it.”
“If you say so�
�”
“Babe, have I ever steered you wrong?” I tease.
She tilts her head to the side and studies me. “Do you really want me to answer that?”
I open my mouth to respond, but she rises on her toes and laces her arms around my neck.
“It was a rhetorical question. Now, shut up and kiss the future Mrs. Wellington.”
Well, I can’t deny my future wife, now can I?
IF I’D THOUGHT MY SUMMER romance was a whirlwind, that had nothing on the month leading up to our wedding. I barely had a chance to breathe, to step back and take it all in.
Like he promised, Knox took care of everything. The only thing I asked for was that it be a small wedding, with just family and close friends.
Now that we’re on the way to Nashville for our wedding weekend, the nerves creep in.
“How exactly have we managed to stay in our isolated bubble for three months without your mom or my grams barging in?”
Knox parks in his parents’ driveway and glances over at me from the driver’s seat. “I don’t know about your grams, but I told Mom if she came to Crystal Cove before she was invited, I’d never come back to Wellington.”
“She didn’t call your bluff?”
His smirk brings that dimple to the surface. It’s the same dimple our son has. The dimple I absolutely adore. “Have you met my mom yet?”
My nose twitches. I’m a bundle of nerves at the prospect of meeting his parents, so I’m counting on Clay to be an ally. And I’m not opposed to using my sweet baby boy to soften them up if I have to. One look at Branson and they’ll melt, just like I did.
“Well, as much as I appreciate your strategy,” I tell him, “Grams understood that we needed time to sort through things. She’s been dying to meet Branson, but in her words, ‘Babies eat, sleep, and dirty up diapers.’”
“Can’t argue with her on that one. Nashville and Knoxville aren’t that far apart. She’ll be seeing lots of him in the future.” His eyes dart over at me. “Are you sure you’re ready to leave Crystal Cove and settle here? Once we find a place?”