by Natalie Wrye
My voice is unrecognizable—a whisper to my own ears as I ask “You’d move to Miami for me?”
“Of course. Anything. Whatever it takes to be together.”
I take a step back, discovering my voice, eyes still wet and full of tears. I let them spill down my cheeks. “You love me that much?”
“Yes.”
“Enough to leave Chicago and the Cougars?”
“Yes.”
“Enough to move to another state you’ve never lived in?”
“Yes.”
“Are you ill?”
He laughs, nodding emphatically. “Yes, I’m fucking sick. Crazy, insane, Johnny-Cash playing levels of love-sick. And I’m okay with it. I’m done being your sex guide.”
“Dating guide.” I grin, swiping at the salty tracks along my cheeks. Sawyer’s hands join mine, wiping them away. “But I don’t think I need one anymore.”
“Why not?”
“Because I think I’ve learned everything I need to know. I learned how to date, how to have sex. And…” I kiss his lips, not caring about the slick feel of tears between us. “And how to love. I got more than I bargained for.”
“And all it took was the price of a few Farmer’s Market bananas. Best price ever.”
He chuckles again, and my heart expands to twice its size, encompassing the man I love and everything that comes with him. Crazy jokes, asshole behavior and all.
I touch his lips. “I love you, Sawyer Kennedy. And I’m not going anywhere. I’m staying right here.”
“Good. Because I have another pact for you.”
“What’s that?”
“A race to the bathroom in Sevin’s office.” He waggles his eyebrows, hushing me with a look. “He’s got the good counters. And even better floor tile. Better for my knees. Loser has to pick the ‘practice’ fruit at the next Farmer’s Market run.”
I kiss him again. “You are so on.”
Epilogue
Two months later
SAWYER
“Diego, breakfast! Dani, coffee! Naomi, briefcase! Let’s go, troops!”
My voice calls out across the kitchen counters, no doubt reaching the other three people in this ginormous penthouse. I turn the stove off, moving the pan from the fire just as fast, and as soon as I turn around, flipping the sleeves to my collared shirt, I see that Diego is the first to hop to it, the thirteen year old’s face frowning beneath a shock of black hair gelled to within an inch of its life.
He sits at the breakfast counter stool, grimacing. “Aw, man. Pancakes again? We’ve had pancakes for breakfast for the last three days straight.”
“Cut me some slack, little man. It’s the only decent breakfast item I can make without burning it,” I say, swiping a few onto his plate, handing it over. “You know your sister’s been super busy lately. She’s got that meeting with that investor for Mama’s Pastries and we want her to be at her best, don’t we?”
Diego shrugs, accepting it. “Yeah, you’re right. But if this goes on for too much longer, I’m going to turn into a pancake like that blueberry girl from Willy Wonka.”
“This goes on any longer, and we might all starve. I can only cook pancakes for so long before something goes wrong.” I rotate towards another plate, swiping more pancakes on it when Dani comes barreling around the corner, blonde hair up in a bun while she reaches for the coffee.
“Is this new?” She points.
“Freshly made. Don’t burn your tongue.”
“Thanks, Dad.” She mocks, tilting her pretty head up at me. “You are enjoying this father-like role too much these days.”
I laugh. “About time, though. Don’t you think? All thanks to my ‘extended’ suspension,” I say, winking, thinking of the well-needed break I negotiated with the Cougars heading into the playoffs. I sigh. “And speaking of being a dad…” I blink in her direction, eyelids moving fast. “Are you ready for your interview, Squirt?”
She takes a seat, giggling. “It isn’t until three hours from now, but thank you, Father of the Year. I definitely am. The Cougars won’t know what hit them. I’ll be the best sports psych they’ve ever had.”
‘I sure hope so. I know a handful of players who could use it and even more who absolutely need it. And since we’re on the subject of needing things…” I glance at Diego. “Any idea where your sister is? Her briefcase is looking a little lonely on that stool by itself.”
He squints. “I think she’s still in the bathroom. Combing on lipstick. Or painting on mascara. Or something. I’m not sure.” He starts to stand. “I’ll check.”
“No,” I hold out a hand, walking quickly, “I’ll check. If she’s combing on lipstick, this could take a while.” I wink at Diego who winks back.
Heading towards our bedroom, I’m almost there before I hear the small sounds of grunting, soft signs of frustration coming from inside.
I turn the corner, dawdling in the doorway for just a second…so I can watch her.
She’s so damned adorable in the mornings.
Dark hair down to her shoulders, she twists the cap of some sort of makeup tool, failing miserably. In a white blouse and dark skirt, she’s all business. Her usual red lipstick is on, making her lips look as full and luscious as they always are. But her pretty mouth is pursed into a pout.
Eyes scrunched up in concentration, she wraps two hands around a tube of some sort of makeup, going to town, each growl and grunt a little louder than the one before it.
I have to bite my bottom lip to keep from laughing.
Leaning against the doorframe, I cross my arms, eyes scanning her from head to toe.
“Are you going to do that all day? Or are you going to come to breakfast?”
She doesn’t look up. “Be there in a minute.”
“When? When that tube of whatever-the-hell-that-is beats you to within an inch of your life?”
“I’ve almost got it.” She snarls some more. “It’s this damned mascara. It’s brand new. But it waited until today before giving me problems. Guess it knew I had a meeting with a new investor and wanted to make the morning fun just for kicks.”
“Give it here,” I motion. “The only person who’s getting kicked…is you. And by that, I mean ‘your ass.’”
She hands the mascara over with an exaggerated frown. Taking it from her hands, I twist it with my own. The evil mascara comes loose, popping open and I offer up both parts to her hands.
Naomi sighs as she takes it. “I definitely loosened it up for you.”
“Oh, no doubt. I just had a little more motivation…seeing as how we all have to get a move on. Especially me.”
Naomi pouts for a moment, lips sinking into a small frown. “Why you? What’s going on? You gotta get out of the house early to give Chris more of a hard time with his batting lessons?”
One eyebrow shoots ceiling high, and I swat her ass, my lips curling into a smirk as she yelps under my quick touch.
“Well, someone’s gotta give the ‘wee lad’ a few pointers,” I counter. “Especially since he got drafted by the Cougars in my position.” I gawk. “But that’s not at all why I need to get a move on. Have you forgotten about a certain event happening today? Orchestrated by a certain friend of ours? About a certain proposal?”
“Oh my God. How could I? Sevin’s going to kill me. I completely forgot the entire thing.”
“Well, it’s a good thing you’re not the best man. Because he,” I reach over in my back pocket, retrieving the black small box, “is the one responsible for the ring. Can’t be a proposal without a ring. Can’t be a ring without a best man to hide it from a nosy girlfriend, now, can there be?”
Naomi nods, placing her hands on my shoulders. She squeezes. “You literally are the best man. I’m so proud of you for doing this. For being by Sevin’s side. All the way through this.” She kisses me softly, sweetly. “You’re the best, you know that?”
I don’t know that. But I nod anyway.
What I do know is that she tastes heavenly t
his morning, and with her silky hair falling in waves like that, her tight work outfit hugging her voluptuous frame, I am seriously, instantly and unregrettably hard.
I inch in closer for another kiss, and when she gives it to me, I lower my hands to her hips, licking her bottom lip as my slacks start to tighten on my frame, my cock trying to escape its fabric prison in seconds.
Naomi hisses. “No, baby. Not right now.”
I lick her again. “I think right now is perfectly appropriate, don’t you? I mean, with everybody busy today. Interview and schools and investors and the like, we might not have time later. And I need my me-and-you time. It’s the best part of my day…besides breakfast.”
“You made breakfast?” She eyes me.
“Pancakes again. You want some?”
“I’ll grab a piece of fruit before I go. A banana or something.”
“Oh, no,” I hiss near her lips, biting one. “I’m sure as hell not going to let you cheat on me again with Mr. Del Monte. Once was enough. No…” I back her up towards the bathroom counter, perching her ass against the slab for me to grab. “I think I’d like you all to myself this morning.”
Naomi goes to say something else, but I pinch her ass and she squeaks. Smoothing my hands beneath her skirt, I reach for her panty-line. Rubbing my fingers over the silk, I listen to her little whimpers, soft noises she makes when I am ready to take her to the next level.
She sighs against my mouth, and I grin. “No bikini briefs today. Oh, you are so asking for it.”
“I didn’t want panty lines. Thought a thong would be more appropriate.”
“I agree. As much as I love seeing Hello Kitty, I could easily tell the little bitch good-bye.”
“Hush now,” she reprimands me, hitting my chest. “That’s my favorite best friend you’re talking about, right there.”
“My bad, baby. I’ll go easy on her.”
I sink to my knees, grabbing Naomi’s skirt. Pushing it up over her hips, I peek beneath the cotton, liking what I see immediately. I smile.
“Why, hello, kitty,” I say to the plushness between Naomi’s legs, “I missed you all morning. Nice to see you again.”
She laughs, the sound soft and musical over my head. Until I put mine between her thighs.
The laughs turn to pants—pure decadence. Twisting Naomi’s thong down her taut legs, I go to work—licking and sucking between her hips, circling and sliding and stroking with my tongue until her fingernails are finding purchase in my hair. She wraps her calves around my back, pressing hard.
When she reaches the brink, I push her over.
She comes, hands entangled in my hair, knees on my shoulders—shuddering until I empty every last drop. I lick her up.
She is sweetly-salty on my tongue, delicious in every way. And I can’t get enough of her.
While she is still in the throes of one orgasm, I stand to my feet, shucking off my belt. Letting my slacks fall to the floor, I reach for her again, wrapping my arms around her waist.
I’m already stone-hard and ready for her, glancing into her eyes for quick approval and when she gives it to me, brown eyes burning back, I bury myself inside her, plunging to the very hilt.
We sigh simultaneously, every nerve in my body singing once I’m encompassed in her completely. I kiss her lips.
“Now, can Mr. Del Monte do that?”
She shakes her head, chest heaving, her heavy breasts pushing against my chest. “No, he definitely cannot.”
“Thought so.”
And then I slide out, plunging in again just enough so that Naomi moans my name to the tune of my tempo. Playing her body is my favorite hobby. And I fall into a rhythm, a cadence I know oh so well, lowering my mouth to her bouncing, blouse-covered breasts, covering one full perfect tit with my mouth until she is squirming, slipping and sliding on both the counter and my cock.
She groans, and I capture her lips again, loving the way she feels around me, the smell of her sex and dark cherry scent drifting through the air. “Fuck drugs of any kind, kitty. I’m pretty sure I’m addicted to fucking you. I could do this over…” I swivel my hips, eliciting a moan, “and over…” Another stroke. “And over until I am no more.”
“I’m pretty sure I will be no more in a minute. I can’t take anymore, Sawyer,” she gasps.
“Then come on me, baby. Come on my cock.”
It doesn’t take much to turn my little kitty on, and she comes, orgasming at my will. Her body milking me, and I come, too, releasing in her soft center. Holding her weight with my arms, I keep us hanging on this side of heaven, continuing to pump into her slickness, stroking slowly.
It is until she’s slumped across my shoulders that I let her go, pulling back to gaze into her pretty face and finishing with a kiss so sexy it makes me want to go again. Until she speaks.
“Okay, now we are definitely both going to be late.”
I grin. “I just hope it was worth it.”
She grins wider. “It was. I love you so much, you absolute fiend.”
“Stop making me addicted to your pussy, and this would stop happening.” I smile, nuzzling her neck. I help her all the way to her feet…
Before finding her new panties, the thong I grabbed ruined, nearly torn into pieces.
We hop to it after that, everybody on the way to their destination. Diego bounces on the bus to school. Dani gets ready for her interview.
I send Naomi off to her investor meeting with a kiss, and when I finally make it to my Ducati, swinging one leg over my long-abandoned bike, I prepare to secure the ring box in my pocket, ready to slip the square into my bike’s little sequestered compartment.
Until I notice something’s off.
Something’s way off.
I hadn’t noticed it before. Hadn’t cared to look.
Naomi was looking so damn delectable in that bathroom that I’d had all my focus on her, neglecting to observe that the tiny velvet box I’d grabbed, the one I need as best man?
It’s the wrong damn box. The wrong damn ring.
It’s my ring. The one I bought for Naomi.
I must have switched the boxes in my closet, and now minutes away from Sevin’s proposal, I’m too damn far to switch them back.
I told Diego earlier that we both wanted Naomi to be at her best.
But guess which man currently isn’t?
My heart practically hops into my hand. Oh shit.
Stuck in absolute limbo, standing over my bike, I tell myself that I’ll be way more prepared on the day of my proposal.
But just in case, I’ll just make sure that Diego is responsible for the ring.
A lot of change is heating up in the city of Chicago.
A proposal…or two.
A new addition to the Chicago Cougars AKA Chris.
And an interesting Cougar marketing job alongside Rosalyn…not to mention a whole new scandal involving elusive and exclusive The Firm Crisis and Emergency Management.
The tabloids, baseball team + city nights get really hot in Ros + Chris’s THE DARE coming soon…
Add THE DARE to your TBR list on Goodreads now!
In the meantime, if you’re ready to start another steamy twisty city romance…
Take a trip over to a dazzling New York City tonight + start reading THE VOW (Book 1 of the Manhattan Nights series) now FREE on Amazon!
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Also by Natalie Wrye
THE GAFANELLI MOB SERIES
The Bodyguard
; The Investigator
The Imposter
The Enforcer
—
The Gafanelli Mob Series: Novels 1-3
THE HATING HIM SERIES
Hating The Boss
Hating The Best Man
Hating The Player
—
The Hating Him Box Set
THE MANHATTAN NIGHTS SERIES
The Vow
The Bet
The Deal
The Kiss
The Note
—
Manhattan Nights (Novels 1-3) Box Set
THE CHICAGO NIGHTS SERIES
The Play
The Pact
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About the Author
Natalie Wrye is a reader, writer and tequila lover best known for writing seductive big city romance and characters whose HEA's you'll love rooting for.
A notebook hoarder whose books have been featured on USA Today's HEA and PopSugar, when she's not watching Netflix re-runs or yelling at college basketball games on TV, she's usually crafting sexy suspenseful stories about hard-bodied, take-charge heroes and the strong-willed women who crave them.