Holding On (Haven, Montana Book 3)

by Jill Sanders

  Dylan felt a shiver of repulsiveness race through her and felt the chicken salad she’d had for dinner threatening to surface.

  When they left, she locked the door and rested her head on the cold glass.

  Okay, maybe instead of a car, she’d buy a place for herself? Someplace in the woods, where her brother and Darla couldn’t bother her.

  Just then her phone chimed in her back pocket.

  Seeing Trey’s number, she swiped the message open.

  -So, did you pass?

  -Ugh! Just caught Darla bouncing on my brother. I don’t know, they had the music up loud and I couldn’t concentrate.

  -okay, first off… gross! Second… GROSS!

  She chuckled as the image of Darla and Brent faded and Trey’s face came into focus.

  She moved over to light a fire, but then stopped herself.

  -What are you doing? - She text him

  -Now?

  -Yes.

  -Well, I was about to pour myself a glass of wine and take a bubble bath. Why?

  She giggled and replied.

  -I thought you were a beer and shower kind of guy?

  -haha, everyone knows sparkling wine and bath bombs are my kind of thing.

  She was really laughing now.

  -Can I join?

  -Thought you’d never ask. I’ll leave the door unlocked.

  Her laughter died as she typed the next.

  -Seriously, I thought I’d bring over a carton of ice cream and we can chat.

  -I like chocolate chip.

  -Be there in ½ hour

  -See you then, drive safe.

  Okay, why was Trey nervous? It wasn’t as if it was the first time he’d be with a woman. It was, however, the first time he’d had one over here. Hell, the first time he’d had one anywhere since returning home. He glanced around and made sure the place was moderately clean.

  When Dopey let out a bark, he took several deep breaths and moved to open the door.

  She held up a bag. “Chocolate chip.”

  He took the bag from her and swooped in before she had a chance to say anything else. His lips took hers as her body formed against his own. The kiss changed, and suddenly, he was pushing her backwards, pinning her to the door, which slammed behind her. The bag of ice cream dropped to the floor as he used his hands on her, over her.

  “I need…” She said against his mouth.

  “Yes,” he agreed and started walking her towards the bedroom. They made it to the sofa instead. She giggled as she tugged his shirt over his head.

  Her eyes ran over him quickly as she bit her bottom lip. She moved closer and he felt his entire body respond to the way her hips swayed.

  Stopping less than a foot from him, she pushed him on the shoulders playfully. Normally, he would have gained control, but he was still a little off kilter and felt himself falling. Reaching for her, he took her down with him and landed on the soft cushions with her on top of him.

  The move didn’t slow her down. Her hands moved over his chest, gripped his shoulders, as she continued to trail kisses over him.

  He was quickly losing control and desperately wanted to enjoy every moment. Using his hips, he flipped them over until she was tucked underneath him.

  Her short hair was fanned out on the cushion.

  “I didn’t come over for this,” she said, looking up at him. Her dark eyes ran over his chest. “But, mmm.” Her fingers traced his pecs and he couldn’t stop his muscles from responding to her touch.

  “Then why?” He smiled. “For that bubble bath?”

  She smiled, then giggled. “Your dog isn’t going to eat the ice cream, is he?” She glanced over towards the door, where, sure enough, Dopey was sniffing the bag.

  He sighed, then rolled up and set the bag in the freezer. He walked back over to her, and just seeing the way she looked at him caused him to want to jump her on the sofa.

  “How about we slow down?” He reached for her hands, then pulled her up next to him.

  “Do we have to?” She wrapped her arms around him. “Do you know how long it’s been since…” She closed her eyes and rested her forehead on his chest. “Too long,” she answered.

  “Ditto,” he replied, “which is why I want to take things slow and enjoy myself.”

  She looked up at him and after a moment, nodded. “Okay.” She took a deep breath. “Lead the way.”

  He chuckled as he started to move.

  “Dancing?” Her eyebrows rose.

  “Why not?” He took hold of her hips and spun her towards the bedroom. “As long as we dance that way.” He nodded towards the bedroom.

  She laughed again. “Or, the sofa. How about the kitchen counter…”

  He covered her lips with his and she moaned with pleasure.

  “Bed, first. Kitchen and sofa, later.”

  “Promise?” she said as they stepped into his room. He was thankful he’d taken the time to clean up and put new sheets on the bed.

  “You cleaned,” she said as they walked in.

  “Stop looking around and start enjoying.” He nudged her closer and took her mouth again, tilting her head and drawing her back into the moment, losing himself a little as he did so.

  Her knees hit the edge of the bed, but he stopped her from pulling him downward.

  His fingers had hooked into her yoga pants and he nudged them lower as her fingers traced the skin just below his jean line, causing him to hold his breath.

  “Ticklish?” she asked between kisses.

  “No, and if you tell my brother’s otherwise, I’ll deny it,” he said, bending down in front of her as he pushed the material down to her knees.

  He heard her gasp as he did so, his eyes taking in every curve of hers.

  “Beautiful,” he whispered, his voice cracking. Her fingers dug into his hair when he moved forward to nibble on her flesh. “Mine,” he whispered next to her skin. She smelled of lilacs and tasted like nectar.

  Her hands gripped him as he dipped his tongue into her skin and lapped at her until he felt her knees go weak. Only then did he nudge her to sit on the edge of the bed. He pulled her leggings the rest of the way down her legs. Using his palms, he spread her thighs wide and dipped a finger into her as his eyes locked with hers.

  She moaned and threw her head back against the mattress.

  “No,” he said, “look at me. I want to see your eyes change.”

  Her eyes returned to his and her tongue darted out to wet her bottom lip.

  “My god,” he groaned, his eyes returning to what he was doing to her. “You’re perfect.” He moved inside her, and she spread her legs further, giving him full access.

  With his free hand, he nudged her towards the edge of the mattress. “Wrap your legs around me.” He knelt and replaced his fingers with his mouth. She gasped and gripped his hair and shoulders, her nails sinking into his skin. Her inner thigh muscles gripped his head as he took her. Her feet rested on his lower back as she leaned back. Soft moans encouraged him onward. He felt the moment she convulsed and tasted the sweetness of her release on his tongue.

  “My god,” he groaned, pulling the condom from his back pocket, then reaching for his jeans.

  She was there, helping him slide them off his hips. “My turn.” She smiled up at him, then her eyes ran over him as she nudged the denim downwards.

  “Wow.” She smiled up at him, her eyes remaining on his cock. “Wow.” She licked her lips before dipping her head and taking him fully into her mouth and throat.

  “My god,” he groaned as his fingers tangled in her hair. Just seeing those pink lips of hers wrapped around his cock had him almost bursting.

  He’d never had anyone take him as deep before, and he almost came when she licked his balls while he was fully in her mouth. He jerked her back and tossed her onto the bed. He slipped on the condom faster than he knew was possible and jerked her legs wide.

  She was smiling up at him when he settled between her legs. “Hold onto me, it’s going to
get crazy.”

  She laughed as she pulled him in. “Good, I love crazy.”

  Chapter 14

  She woke to being licked on the face. Not by Trey, unless he had stinky doggie breath.

  “Dopey!” She laughed and tried to push the dog away from her face.

  “He likes you.” Trey chuckled and rolled her over until she lay across his bare chest. “So, do I.” He leaned up and kissed her.

  Just then, her stomach growled. “There was promise of ice cream.” She leaned up and looked down at him.

  He chuckled. “As I remember, there was also promise of kitchen sex.”

  She laughed. “After the ice cream.”

  “Deal.” He rolled them both until they stood. When he started walking out of the bedroom, completely naked, she escaped his hold and backtracked to gather her shirt and yoga pants.

  “Shy?” he asked.

  “I’ve lived with a brother. I know that they forget to knock. I don’t mind showing my business to you.” She leaned up and kissed him. “I do, however, mind if Trent or Tyler saw it all.”

  He chuckled. “That’s why we have our own places. They wouldn’t dare…” He stopped himself when he remembered that, even though his brothers were married, and he always knocked, his brothers hadn’t adopted the same rule with him.

  “See.” She nodded and held up his jeans for him. “Told ya.”

  He groaned. “Okay, going to have to have the brother talk with them soon.”

  He slid the jeans on and, for good measure, slipped a few more condoms into the pocket before following her out into the kitchen.

  She already had the ice cream out and was searching his cupboards for bowls.

  “They’re in the dishwasher.” He walked over and took two bowls out.

  “You only have two of them?”

  “Sure. One’s usually clean.” He shrugged. “I was going to buy more… when my house was done.” She shook her head and laughed.

  She sat on the kitchen counter eating ice cream while he leaned on the counter next to her, watching her eat ice cream and occasionally taking a bite of his own.

  “I thought you liked chocolate chip?” she said when he’d all but let his melt in the bowl.

  “I do.” He frowned down at the melted mess. Then he smiled up at her. “I like watching you eat ice cream better than eating it myself.”

  “Oh?” She took the spoon and put it into her mouth slowly and licked it. He slid between her legs, his eyes glued to her mouth.

  “You’re killing me.” He groaned as his fingers dug into her thighs.

  She set her spoon down, pushed her bowl away, and wrapped her arms and legs around him to pull him closer. “There was also mention of countertop sex…” She bit his bottom lip and sucked on it.

  He hoisted her up, yanked her yoga pants down past her ankles quickly, then pulled out a condom.

  She quickly undid his jeans and took the condom from him. The she slid it on him slowly, enjoying the feel of him in her hand.

  “God,” he groaned before stepping back between her spread legs.

  His hands gripped her butt cheeks, hoisting her up, until she felt herself give as he slid into her fully.

  Rolling her head back, she closed her eyes and held on as she felt something new inside her begin to build.

  Two hours later, she drove herself home, her body still pulsing from Trey’s touch. Even though he’d begged her to stay the night, she knew she couldn’t, shouldn’t. Not this soon.

  At home, she tossed and turned in the large empty bed, wishing she had stayed. What would it be like, waking up next to a man in the morning?

  Not that she hadn’t had plenty of sex before Trey. But none of it had… mattered, really.

  When her alarm went off, she felt oddly energized, knowing she’d see Trey soon.

  It wasn’t Friday yet, but still she swung by Belle’s Bakery for donuts and coffee. She chatted with the owner for a while as she waited for a fresh batch of donuts and her coffee order, then headed into the office.

  “What this?” Trey smiled as he walked in the front door, followed closely by Tyler.

  “I needed a pick-me-up this morning and couldn’t resist the donuts,” she answered.

  Trey shocked her by walking around her desk and planting a kiss on her, right in front of his brother.

  “Don’t worry, if he didn’t know when he picked me up this morning, seeing the donuts would have guaranteed it,” he whispered.

  “Didn’t need the donuts. The stupid look on Trey’s face said it all.” Tyler took two donuts and his coffee with him to his office as he chuckled.

  “See, told you,” Trey said, taking a donut and leaning against her desk. “So, did you get your test score back?”

  She’d completely forgotten about her test. “I can log in now.” She turned and logged into her computer. Trey hung around, sipping his coffee and nibbling on his second donut.

  “Ninety-eight.” She groaned.

  “That’s great,” he said excitedly. “Isn’t it?”

  “Yes.” She turned towards him. “It would have been a hundred if—”

  He leaned in and kissed her. “Shut up and have a donut. You passed, you should be proud.” He smiled down at her.

  She took a deep breath, then nodded. “Agreed, and I am.” She relaxed slightly. Still, the ninety-eight gnawed at her. She had an extensive line of one hundreds in her past. The only lower grade she’d received had been in the month after her parents’ death.

  “Good.” He grabbed another donut and his coffee cup. “Now, get to work.” He winked at her and disappeared down the hallway.

  The day seemed to fly by. Maybe it was all the sugar pulsing through her blood, but lunchtime arrived faster than normal. The three of them drove over to the Moose and sat in the back booth, where Kristen and baby Timothy Jack joined them.

  Dylan had to agree that the kid was the spitting image of his dad. A true McGowan through and through, right down to the little dimple to the side of his mouth.

  “I think he’s going to have his uncle’s blue eyes,” Trey said in a baby voice as he looked down at the sleeping child.

  “Nope, they’re already turning darker,” Tyler said, raising his chin slightly.

  “Boys.” Kristen sighed. “They’ll find any reason to fight.”

  It was strange, but Dylan felt like she fit right in with the family. They were so welcoming, so open to her. She’d never experienced anything quite like it before, even with her own family.

  As they drove back to the office, Trey glanced at her. “So, I figured I’d come over tonight. I have a few things I want to ask you.”

  Her eyebrows shot up, but since his brother was driving, she nodded and tried to hide the smile.

  If the morning went by quickly, the afternoon seemed to drag on. The full stomach didn’t help, or the lack of sleep. She found her head dropping several times and had to go back to the break room and make a pot of coffee.

  “Is that coffee?” Tyler poked his head into the room.

  “Yes.” She held out a mug.

  “God.” He sighed. “Timmy kept us up last night.” He took the mug from her and held it out as she poured a cup for him and then one for herself.

  “Baby’s do that.” She smiled.

  “Yeah.” He rolled his shoulders, a move she’d seen Trey do before.

  “Heard you aced your test.” He leaned against the countertop.

  “Aced?” She shook her head. “Ninety-eight.”

  He smiled. “That’s a better score than any of us ever got on a test.” He held up his mug for her to clink hers with. She did so and sipped.

  “Congrats. So, um…” His eyes moved around the room. “Things won’t get weird between you and Trey, working together?”

  She almost coughed up the sip of coffee she’d just swallowed.

  “No,” she said quickly, almost too quickly.

  “Good,” he said slowly. “I don’t think we can stand to lose
you around here. Trey?” He shrugged. “He’s just dead weight.”

  “I heard that,” Trey yelled from the hallway.

  “Which is why I said it,” Tyler called back. He leaned closer to her. “I knew he was eavesdropping.” He winked at her. “But, seriously, in the past three months, you’ve proven yourself invaluable.” He toasted her with his coffee cup again before leaving the room.

  Trey walked in, a frown on his face as he grabbed an empty mug and poured a cup for himself.

  “Damn brothers always sticking their noses in my business.”

  She rested her hand on his arm. “I bet that feels wonderful.” She leaned up and placed a quick kiss on his cheek as she heard the phone ring up front.

  Trey followed her out front, and she answered the call. It took a moment for it to register, but after the second loud noise, she quickly hung up the phone.

  “What?” He frowned.

  “Prank call.” She tried to remain calm, but Trey moved around the desk quickly and took her shoulders.

  She’d gotten them a few times now, the loud banging noises with whispers in the background.

  “Same as before?” he asked, taking her hands in his.

  “Yes. On my cell and here.” She glanced down at the phone. “Like you said, I’m sure it’s just kids.” She shrugged.

  He picked up the phone, punched a few numbers, then listened.

  “Unregistered number.” He set the receiver back down. “I’m sure it’s just kids. What do they say?”

  She shrugged, not sure how he’d respond. “You’re next.”

  He tensed, and his eyes changed. She’d seen him angry before, but this was different.

  “What kind of sounds?” he asked.

  “Loud banging.”

  “Like a gun?”

  “No, more like a lid of a trash can being dropped.” She’d worked it out for herself. After the first call, she’d ruled out a gunshot. Whoever was calling, there was no doubt they wanted to scare her. At this point, all they were doing was wasting her time.

  “It’s okay, really.” She smiled and placed her hand on his arm. “They’re just prank calls.”

  “After someone pushed you into a closet and caused you to get stitches,” he added.