But I’m taking it slow.
I let my fingertips linger on the elastic of her panties, and when I slide the fabric down her legs and open her wide, I’m met with a wet, gorgeous pussy.
Her fingers dive into my hair as I work her over with my mouth, licking and teasing the hard nub of her clit until her legs shake uncontrollably.
“I can’t,” she moans as she tries to catch her breath. “I can’t do it again.”
“You can.” I push my hand under the hem of her shirt and cup her breast, brushing my thumb over the hard peak of her nipple. With my other hand, I press one finger inside of her. “Give me one more, Remi.”
“Oh, shit.” She arches her neck and succumbs to wave after wave of pleasure as it moves through her. When she settles a bit, she opens those vibrant, violet eyes and stares at me as I lick my finger clean. “You’re way overdressed for this.”
She sits up and reaches for my belt. Her movements are painfully slow, and I reach down to help, but she bats my hands away.
“No way, cowboy. It’s my turn to tease the hell out of you.”
“Fair’s fair, I guess.”
She grins up at me, unfastens my jeans, and then slides her hand inside, the back of her hand flat against my stomach until her fingertips brush over my already hard and pulsing cock.
I might go cross-eyed.
And, frankly, I don’t care.
I’ve never been so thoroughly worked over. As if it’s someone’s job in life. She’s slow and steady, using both her hands and her mouth to drive me out of my mind with pleasure and desire for her.
“I will not come in your mouth,” I growl as I take her shoulders in my hands and ease her away. “I feel like I’ve waited eons to be inside of you, damn it.”
Her smile is full of female satisfaction as she threads her fingers through my hair once more and moves to straddle my lap.
“I think we should remedy that.”
“Hold on.”
I fumble through the throw blankets and find the foil packet I stashed there earlier, but before I can roll the condom on, she takes it from my grasp and does it for me.
She sheaths me her damn self.
“I’m keeping you forever,” I say, making her laugh. When the condom is on all the way, Remi slowly lowers herself over me until she’s seated fully, staring into my eyes. “Jesus you’re snug.”
She rests her forehead against mine. “I think you’re big.”
That makes me flash a smile. “Maybe both.”
She starts to move her hips, back and forth, grinding and clenching. I ball the hem of the T-shirt she’s wearing and pull it over her head, tossing it onto the floor next to us.
“Your skin is pure sin in the firelight,” I murmur.
“I was thinking the same about you,” she whispers. “God, you do things to me.”
“That’s my line.” I cup her ass and move her onto her back, brace myself over her, and take control of the rhythm. The strokes are long and deep. Slow.
I lower my lips to hers, sinking into her. Her long legs wrap around my waist, and it feels like coming home.
Like this, like she is where I’m supposed to be.
“So beautiful,” I whisper and pick up the pace when she brazenly cups my ass and urges me to go faster. “So demanding.”
She bites my shoulder. “You haven’t seen anything yet.”
We laugh. She sighs. I groan.
And, finally, here in front of the fire in my little house, we lose control and succumb to the fire burning inside of us.
“Holy,” she says and swallows hard as she catches her breath, “shit.”
“Yeah.”
I fall onto my back and stare at the exposed wood beams of my ceiling.
“That’s it?” she asks. “That’s all you have to say?”
“Can’t talk.” I shake my head. “Dead.”
Remi giggles and rolls over onto my chest, pinching my stomach.
“Ouch.”
“You’re not dead,” she says and kisses my cheek. “Yet.”
“If this isn’t Heaven, I don’t know what is.”
“How do you do that?”
I find enough strength to glance down at her. “Do what?”
“Always say the nicest things. Do you have a script somewhere that you’ve memorized?”
“No.” I chuckle and brush a few pieces of her hair behind her ear. “I just say what I think.”
“Did you have special coaching for this?”
She yelps as I reverse our positions and hover over her once more. “I’m sorry that the assholes before me weren’t nice to you. If they were, you wouldn’t be taken off guard when I say things that are flirty or complimentary.”
“I didn’t…I haven’t—”
“I suggest you get used to it.” I kiss her softly. “Because I plan to have sex with you and say mushy things to you often. As often as possible.”
“I mean, we have jobs,” she reminds me. “And other responsibilities.”
“And then I can be with you,” I reply. “Now, I’m hungry again. Do you want some leftover pizza from last night? I can pop it in the oven.”
She blinks at me and then nods. “Yeah. Yeah, I want pizza.”
“Awesome.”
I hop up, pull on my boxers, and pad into the kitchen where I turn on the light over the stove, preheat the oven, and pull out the box of leftovers from the fridge.
“What kind do you have?” she asks from behind me.
“Pepperoni and sausage. Or chicken and bacon with a white sauce.”
“I want both.”
I raise a brow and glance down at her. She’s back in my T-shirt, and her dark hair screams: I just had crazy-great sex.
I want her all over again.
“Feed me before you fuck me,” she warns me, narrowing her eyes.
“Strict,” I mutter. “I’ll heat it all up. I have some breadsticks, too.”
“I’ll take all the carbs. I worked up an appetite.”
I slide everything onto the rack in the oven and prop my hands on my hips as I turn back to her. “What should we do while it heats up?”
She lifts a shoulder. “Wanna sit on your porch?”
“It’s like forty-five degrees outside.”
“We’ll take a couple of these blankets. I love that porch, Seth. I need to sit on it.”
“Okay.” She can have whatever she wants.
I put some more clothes on and, armed with blankets, lead her outside to sit on the swing my dad helped me hang last summer.
“I’ve never seen so many stars,” she says with a hushed voice. “You can’t see them well in the city.”
“It’s a big sky,” I agree. “In a couple of months, we’ll have aurora borealis shows on display.”
“I’ve never seen the northern lights,” she says with a smile. “Oh, I can’t wait.”
“I’m going to go get the pizza. Are you okay out here alone?”
“Do I need bear spray?” Her voice is full of jest, but I nod soberly.
“You might. But, I doubt it.”
“Just hurry,” she suggests.
It doesn’t take me long to return the pizza to the box and move to the porch where Remi’s huddled under a blanket, staring dreamily at the stars.
“We’re literally in the middle of nowhere,” she says as I sit next to her, and she takes a slice of pizza. “It feels like we’re the only humans for hundreds of miles.”
“My parents are less than a mile that way.” I point to the north. “And my aunt and uncle are a mile and a half that way.” I point to the east.
“Don’t burst my bubble.”
I grin and take a bite of the pepperoni and sausage.
“You don’t get lonely out here?”
“There’s no time for that. I fall into bed at night, exhausted, and I’m back up before the sun to work. My family is close, and my friends are just in town. But I’ve lived out here on the ranch for more than fifteen ye
ars, Rem. It’s all I know. All I care to know.”
“You don’t think you’ll move away?”
“No. I’m a cowboy. I like my little spot in the world.”
“It’s a good spot.” She finishes a slice and then reaches for another. “And I was right about this porch. It’s the bee’s knees.”
I raise a brow at her. “The bee’s knees?”
“Mm.” She chews thoughtfully. “Yeah. It’s pretty great. I’d be out here all the time.”
“So, you’re going to keep seeing me for my porch?”
“That and that sweet tongue of yours.”
“Like what I can do with my tongue, do you?”
She shakes her head and nudges me with her shoulder. “Don’t hog all the pizza.”
Chapter 10
~Remi~
Someone is knocking on the door of my van.
I turn on a light and blink in confusion as I look around my vehicle. It’s six o’clock in the damn morning.
Knock, knock.
“Yeah, yeah, I’m coming.” The only downside to this van is, there’s no peephole to look out and see who’s at the door. “Who is it?”
“Seth.”
I unlock and open the door, and cold air blows inside.
“Is something wrong? Is everyone okay? I don’t know how I can help, but I will if I can. What’s going on?”
He grins and steps up into the van. He has to duck just a smidge so he doesn’t hit his head on the ceiling.
“Everyone’s fine.” He closes the door and sets a tray of coffees on my counter, then pulls me against him for a big hug. “But I kind of love it that you automatically switched into helper mode.”
“I mean, people don’t usually show up at my door this early unless something’s wrong.”
“I tried to call,” he says.
“I don’t have the sound on.” My voice is muffled against his chest. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah.” He kisses the top of my head. “I know you’re starting your new job today, and I wanted to bring you some coffee. I have muffins, too. Mom made them early this morning.”
I pull back to stare up into his soft brown eyes. “At six?”
“I think she was up around four.”
“No, I mean, it’s awfully early for you to come by.”
“I have to work myself, and I’ve been up for a couple of hours already, taking care of a new foal we have in the barn.” He grins and leans down to kiss me. If Seth ever decided to start charging for his kisses, he’d be independently wealthy within an hour.
“I have so many questions, but I’m not awake enough to ask them.”
He chuckles and passes me a coffee. “I know it’s early, but I’m not sorry. I wanted to see you this morning.”
“You don’t have to be sorry,” I assure him and climb back up onto the bed with my coffee. “You’re always welcome here. This is good coffee.”
“I have a busy day ahead, so I can’t stop into Little Deli to see you later.”
“It’s okay, Seth.”
“Well, I can celebrate with you tonight. Are you up for a double date?”
I cock a brow and take another sip of coffee. “With whom?”
“My best friend, Gage, and a girl that he’s recently started dating. Her name is Tate. She’s nice, you’ll like her.”
“Sure, that could be fun.”
He smiles and leans over to kiss me once more. I set the cup aside and lay my hands on his face tenderly. He turns to press his lips to my palm.
“Thank you,” I whisper. “For the coffee and for making me feel special today.”
“You’re welcome.” He kisses me once more. “Now, I have to go before I tumble you back into that bed and call in sick to work.”
I laugh and shake my head. “There’s time for that later.”
“You should have stayed last night.”
I press my lips together. “I’ve been staying at your place since our first date, Seth. I can’t just leave my van here, empty.”
He looks like he wants to say more, but he just shakes his head slowly, kisses me lightly, and turns to the door.
“Have a great first day. I’ll pick you up at five.”
“Thank you. You have a good day, too, cowboy.”
He winks, and then he’s gone. I hear his truck start and pull away, and I lie down to stare at the ceiling.
It would be so damn easy to fall in love with Seth King. What’s not to love?
“You’re enjoying a nice man while you’re in Montana for the winter,” I remind myself. “You’re not here to fall in love. You’re not staying. Try to remember that.”
I reach over and snag the bag of muffins off the counter and moan when I realize they’re still warm from the oven.
I bite into a banana muffin with chocolate chips. Dear God, do they eat like this every day? Whose mother bakes fresh muffins at four a.m.?
I take another bite, then a sip of coffee.
Apparently, the King family does.
Lord help me.
“How can I help you?”
I’m an hour into my first shift, and I officially love this job. Annie’s the sweetest person ever, and the customers are fun.
“I’ll have one of those turkey-stuffed croissants,” the customer says, looking in the case of goodies. “And a huckleberry scone.”
“Those are my favorite,” I confide with a wink.
“Annie and her mama have a way in the kitchen,” he replies. “I’m Noah. I don’t think I’ve seen you before.”
“I’m Remi, and you probably haven’t. I’m new in town.”
“Well, welcome, Remi.”
I pass him his bag of goodies. Once he pays, he nods and walks out.
“He looks familiar,” I say to Annie after the door closes behind him.
“The King family resemblance is strong,” she replies. “He’s a cousin of Seth’s.”
“Are they related to the whole town?”
She laughs and slides a fresh tray of lemon bars into the case. “Not the whole town. But theirs is a big family. Speaking of, here’s Seth’s daddy and uncle now.”
I turn as two men walk through the door. They’re the spitting image of each other, and I can see where Seth gets his strong, handsome features.
“Good morning,” I say with a smile. “What can I get for you?”
“I need a sandwich,” the one on the right says. “Turkey with cheddar and extra onions.”
“Dude, Cara won’t let you kiss her.”
Extra onions must be Josh.
“Cara lets me kiss her no matter what.” Josh’s smile is cocky as he turns to me. “You must be Remi. Seth has told us all about you.”
“So you came in to check me out?” I guess.
“Just to say hello,” Zack replies easily and leans on the counter. “And I’ll take a breakfast burrito and three peanut butter cookies.”
I fill their orders and laugh at their antics. They give each other a hard time but laugh easily.
Yes, I can clearly see where Seth gets a lot of his personality as well as his looks.
“Have a great first day, Remi,” Zack says before the two of them leave.
“Thanks. Enjoy your lunch.” I turn when I hear Annie giggle. “What?”
“I think it’s cute, that’s all.”
“What’s cute?”
“The fact that Seth has clearly talked about you with his family and that they’re coming in to say hello. It’s nice. You’re clearly more than friends.”
“Is it weird?”
Her smile fades, and she tips her head to the side, staring at me. “Why would it be weird?”
“We just started seeing each other. Isn’t it soon for him to tell his family about me?”
“I guess that depends on the person. Seth’s close to his family, so it doesn’t surprise me that he confided in them. If he’s moving too fast for your comfort, you only need to say so, Remi. It’s natural for him to be open with his fam
ily.”
“And it’s not natural for me,” I reply softly. “Because I’m not close to mine the way he is. But that doesn’t mean he’s done anything wrong.”
“Agreed.” She pats my shoulder. “Okay, I have to check on the last of the soup I have on the stove. We’re about to get busy for lunch, so I’ll come out and help you.”
“Thanks.”
She’s not wrong. We do get busy, with a line to the door at one point, which makes the time fly. Everyone smiles and introduces themselves to me.
The owner of the yoga studio, Fallon, who happens to be married to Noah, invites me to a class for free. Even the police chief, Brad Hull, stops in for his lunch.
“I’ll never remember everyone’s names,” I mutter to Annie as I fill a bag with bagels for a nice woman named Aspen.
“You’ll remember Aspen,” she whispers. “She’s married to Prince Callum.”
I stare at her and almost swallow my tongue when I stand up and smile at the princess. “Here are your bagels. Um, Your Highness?”
Aspen’s smile is kind. “Just Aspen around here. Thanks for the bagels, Annie. I ran out down at Sips.”
“Just call if you need more, and I’ll bring some down.”
“You’re the best,” Aspen says as she hurries out. “Nice to meet you, Remi!”
When the door closes behind her, I turn to Annie, who’s laughing into her hand.
“You could have warned me!”
“Aspen owns Drips & Sips, the café down the block. And, yes, she’s a princess. The royal family all lives here part-time. They’re casual about it and don’t expect anyone to bow or curtsy.”
“I don’t even know how to curtsy,” I mutter, then turn to smile at the three women who come through the door. “Good morning. Or, afternoon now, I suppose.”
“Hi there,” the brunette says, and then I realize that I know her already.
“Hi, Jillian.”
Zack’s wife.
I can hear Annie laughing in the kitchen. She must have run back there to hide her delight.
“This is Cara and Lauren. We thought it would be fun to stop by for a little snack.”
“It’s nice to meet you both. The muffins that Seth brought this morning were amazing,” I tell Jillian. “Thank you so much.”
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