“Okay, honey.”
“Really? Okay?”
Nodding my head once, I continue to take her in. She’s achingly gorgeous, I don’t know how she is even single, but she never will be again, not if I have anything to say about it. She leans forward, touching her lips to mine in a quick kiss.
“Really, Tennessee. For now. We’re new. I understand, when you’re comfortable, we’ll make a decision together.”
Her eyes flick over my face, her lips rolling together as she watches me. “How are you so wonderful, Landry? You hardly know me.”
“I know all I need to,” I grunt, repeating my words from earlier.
Her lips twitch into a small smile. “Me too.”
Touching my lips to hers, she buries her face in my neck and inhales deeply before she lets it out on a sigh, curling even closer. She feels as if she’s trying to actually burrow into my body. I don’t mind, not at all, she feels right there.
TENNESSEE
I can’t let him move us into another place. I refuse to take advantage of him, to be that gold-digger that Lucinda all but accused me of being. Instead, we’re going to make this work, here, just as if he were any other guy other than Landry Astor.
Staying curled in his lap, neither of us speaks for a while. I don’t know what he’s thinking about, but his arms hold me tightly the entire time. Eventually, I lift my head to look up at him.
“Are you thirsty or anything?” I ask.
He chuckles, then shakes his head once. Those amber eyes of his are focused on me, they have been for a while and there’s something about them that just reassures me. Everything is going to be okay. No matter what it is, as long as he’s here, it’s all going to be alright.
“Not thirsty, but I am hungry.”
“Hungry?” I ask, my brows snapping together in confusion.
His lips slowly curl into a wicked smile. “Hungry for you, Tennessee.”
“Me?” I ask.
He hums, then turns me until I’m lying on the couch. My head resting against the arm. He shifts so that he’s hovering on top of me. My legs spread to give him some room on the narrow space.
Lifting my hand, I cup his bearded cheek, feeling the soft hair beneath my fingertips. “Starving,” he rasps. His lips touch mine for just a brief moment before they start to move down my body.
His hand shifts between us and I feel the backs of his fingers graze over my belly from beneath my shirt. My muscles tremble beneath his touch. My breath hitches as he begins to slide my shirt up my torso. Lifting my arms, I take the shirt from his grip and toss it away.
Reaching between my breasts, I unsnap and unhook my front closure bra before I toss that away as well. Landry lifts his head, his lips letting out a growl right before he lowers his mouth to my breast.
His lips cover my nipple and he sucks me into his mouth. Arching my back, I let out a whimper at the feel of his mouth on me. Lifting my hand, I slide my fingers through his hair, gripping him, holding him against my breast as his tongue flicks and his mouth sucks.
“Oh, god,” I cry on a whisper.
He releases one breast, then kisses over to the other and repeats the move. Pinching my eyes closed, I let out a breath, needing and wanting so much more from him. He’s driving me to the brink, to the edge and I feel as though I’m about to snap.
His mouth releases my breast with a pop, then his lips slide down my belly. He tugs my sweats down, letting out a grunt when he discovers that I didn’t put panties on after my shower. Wrapping his hands around the backs of my knees, he tugs my body down the couch and spreads my thighs.
Landry’s tongue slices through my entire center without warning. I let out a gasp, and then a sigh as he begins to eat me because I know, without a doubt, I’m going to come and it’s going to be fantastic. Words couldn’t describe how he made me feel yesterday with his mouth.
I can’t wait for more.
I can’t wait for everything.
Chapter Eighteen
TENNESSEE
When I’m lying there mostly sated, my breathing starting to come back to normal, Landry stands and strips out of his clothes. I watch, then I stare. He looks exactly how I’d imagined, only better. So much better. My eyes roam over his entire body and I can’t help myself, I actually lick my lips at the sight of him.
“C’mere,” he mutters, lifting his hand and crooking his finger for me.
My gaze flicks to his dick and I don’t know why, but I’m shocked to see that he’s hard. Rock hard. I guess I thought it would take a lot longer for us to be able to do anything else after he came.
He grins, watching me stand and walk the two short steps toward him. One of his hands wraps around my waist as he looks into my eyes. His lips brush mine, then he growls against my mouth.
“I need you,” he rasps.
My entire body trembles from his word. I hear the crinkle of a condom wrapper. Pulling away from his mouth, I watch as he brings it to his lips, tearing it with his teeth. He removes the rubber and I sink my teeth into my bottom lip as I watch him roll it over his hard length.
“Tennessee,” he calls, his voice so soft and sweet that I almost don’t hear it.
Lifting my head, I look up into his amber eyes. He’s grinning down at me, and I open my mouth to say something, though I don’t know what, but I don’t get the chance. Instead, his lips close over mine again and he dips slightly as both of his hands wrap around the backs of my thighs and he hoists me up.
Immediately, I wrap my legs around his waist and lift my hands to his shoulders. He turns us around and I feel my back being pressed up against the wall of my living room. Landry’s tongue fills my mouth, it sweeps through and tastes me, owns me, consumes me.
He shifts his hips backward, his dick sliding through my pussy, but not inside. He groans as I lift my hips in an attempt to meet his strokes every time he slides across my clit.
“Please, Landry,” I beg on a whisper.
“Again,” he grinds out, his mouth hovering above mine.
I let out a shaky breath, my entire body trembling as he continues to move up and down. “Please, Landry,” I say again.
“Honey, you don’t sound like you need it yet,” he grunts against my lips.
Digging my nails into his shoulders, I open my mouth and catch his bottom lip with my teeth, gently tugging on it. “Landry, please,” I snap.
He doesn’t say a single word, he lifts his head, his eyes finding mine and without a word, his hips shift backward and he fills me in one quick motion. I let out a gasp of surprise, then a whimper as he stretches me so full.
Shifting one of my hands from his shoulder, I bury my fingers into the back of his hair. He smiles at me, his lips turned up beneath his dark beard. He leans in, pressing his chest against mine as he starts to ease in and out of me in short thrusts.
Goose bumps break out over my entire body. My nipples are hard pebbles and each time his chest hair rubs against them, it sends a tingle between my legs. Every single time. I’ve never felt anything this amazing before in my life.
His hips grind against my clit, another sensation that I was not prepared for and the way he rolls his hips, it’s out of this world. My head falls back against the wall as I attempt to just breathe. Landry’s lips touch the center of my neck, sucking and licking my entire throat while his body continues to consume mine.
“Are you going to come for me, honey?” he grates against my throat.
My fingers grip his hair harder. “Yes, god yes, I want to,” I moan.
He chuckles as he starts to thrust harder and faster. My nails in his shoulders dig into him even farther. He lets out a grunt, but doesn’t stop. He fucks me. I don’t know how else to explain what he’s doing to my body.
Landry buries his face in my neck, his hips moving faster and harder. He’s so incredibly strong, and he’s taking me right here against the wall. He lets out a groan of pleasure, then a moan as he sucks against the side of my neck.
“Co
me, honey. Come on,” he urges, one of his hands moving between us and then I feel his thumb against my clit.
That’s it. His words, the way his fingers play me. It’s all I need to send me over the edge. I press my lips together in an attempt to muffle my cries of pleasure as my orgasm rushes throughout my entire body.
Twice.
Twice in one night.
I’ve never climaxed with a partner before and he’s made me come three times. Three freaking times. His body is heavy as he leans against me, holding me against the wall as we both try to calm down our breathing.
Landry lifts his head, those brown eyes that I love staring into, they practically twinkle as he looks at me.
“Fuck,” he groans before he leans forward and touches his mouth to mine. “My legs are shaking, honey. I don’t know if I can even move.”
“Is that good?” I ask breathlessly.
He hums. “Best I ever had, honey. Fucking phenomenal.”
A wave of guilt slides through me at the idea that I’m the best he’s ever had. Could it be possible? What about his wife? Didn’t he love her? Oh god, what if he says this to everyone and it’s just some line that I’ve bought hook-line-and-sinker?
Landry frowns as he pulls out of me, places my feet on the floor, then takes a step back. I expect him to turn around and put his pants on, get his shit and leave, but he doesn’t. Instead, he lifts his hand and cups my cheek, his thumb slides across my bottom lip, his eyes following the path before they lift to meet mine.
“I’m not the twenty-year-old that I once was. When I say that you’re the best I’ve had, I mean it, Tennessee, but it’s not just because you feel so fucking amazing and I came harder than I ever have in my life. It’s because I’m in a different place now than I ever have been. I want different things and those are the things that I see in you.”
“Landry,” I whisper. “I never. I didn’t think that this would happen. You’re saying all the right things and I want to believe it all…”
His lips turn up into a huge smile. “Believe it, honey. But you also don’t have to right now. I’m in this with you and I want to build something together. I want this.”
“Even with Holden?”
“Yeah,” he croaks. “I want it all.”
LANDRY
My decision is made and there is no going back. I’ve contacted an interior decorator, but only for one room in my house. A room that Tennessee won’t see until I’m ready for her to lay eyes on it.
A room for Holden.
Because, fuck me, I cannot sleep on a couch one more night—ever. My body can’t take it. Last night, fucking her against the wall, I felt like a teenager. Right now, I feel my fucking age and I can’t stand that shit. I won’t have it.
Climbing the stairs to her apartment, I smile at the box in my hand and the drink carrier that is resting on top of it. Turning down her hallway, I can’t help but think that it was far too easy for me to get back inside her building this morning.
Soon enough it’ll be a moot point. She’ll be living with me the day after the divorce is final. She wants to stay here and for now that’s fine, but I’m in this with her. I want a future with her, and I’m not wasting a goddamn minute of my life anymore. I’ve wasted enough time.
Lifting my hand, I knock on her door. It flies open and she’s standing there, her hair a mess, another white tank top with no bra and in only a pair of panties.
“I thought you left,” she snaps.
My lips twitch into a small smile. “Donuts,” I say, lifting my hand. “And coffee.”
“Seriously?” she breathes as she steps to the side.
I can’t help but grin, breezing past her. “Holden likes donuts, right?” I ask, suddenly concerned that maybe I’d made a huge mistake.
He did love the pancakes and syrup from yesterday, and these aren’t a huge step away from pancakes and syrup, but I remember all three of mine having vastly different food preferences. Tennessee reaches for the drinks after she closes and locks the door behind me.
“He loves them, I do too. They’re seriously my weakness,” she practically moans.
I can’t help but chuckle as I follow her to the table. She makes her way into the kitchen just as I set the bag down on the table and a little man plows into my legs. Looking down, I smile at Holden. He tips his head as far back as he can to look at me.
“Andry,” he practically cries.
Bending down slightly, I scoop him up into my arms and blow a raspberry against his neck which causes him to break out into a fit of giggles before I set him down in a chair. Tennessee appears with plates and a plastic cup of milk for Holden.
Opening the donut box, she practically squeals when she sees the contents. I didn’t know what she wanted, so I got a variety. Apparently, I did something right. The sight of her excitement over food makes me smile. She is a breath of fresh spring air—everything about her makes my lips turn up into a grin.
“Which one is yours,” she asks, not even looking at me.
I smile to myself. “Plain old-fashioned,” I murmur.
“Plain? Like plain cake?” she asks, sounding almost horrified.
Wrapping my hands around her hips, I guide her over to my thigh and tug her down. She looks over her shoulder at me with a smile. “Would it be cheesy if I said that I had all the sugar I needed right here?” I ask.
“Extremely,” she says with a giggle.
I hum, touching my lips to her exposed shoulder. “Then, I’ll just tell you that plain old-fashioned has always been my favorite. Even when I was a kid.”
“Odd kid,” she mutters. I can’t help but chuckle.
Tennessee begins to place the donuts on the plate. I watch as she gives Holden a plain glazed and a glazed with sprinkles, but then she takes a butter knife and cuts them both in half, putting part of each back in the box.
Then she slides his plate over to him before she places a plain old-fashioned on my plate and slides it over to me. I don’t look away though, I watch her as she grabs a chocolate cake, with chocolate frosting and chocolate sprinkles for herself and a maple bar.
She slides my coffee over to me and places hers in front of herself. I keep waiting for her to jump up off of my lap, but she doesn’t. And that is how we spend our first morning as an unofficial family. Tennessee perched on my knee, Holden next to her, and me, smiling.
Honestly, aside from being with my own children, I don’t think I’ve been this happy ever in my life.
I know it makes me less of a man, and a really shitty husband that I’m having these thoughts, but Susan and I were never like this. Not even when we were dating. She was always trying to impress, and never was herself, or maybe that’s her true personality, I don’t really know.
She stopped talking to me around the time I slid a ring on her finger. I kept hoping that things would change, but they never did. Then, the cheating started and I checked completely fucking out as a husband, which I think she was relieved about. Now she’s pissed off because I’m breaking free and she sees it as a way to damage her social status, something I couldn’t give a flying fuck about.
“Landry?” Tennessee asks.
I hum, turning my head and forcing the thoughts about my past out of my mind. “Do you want to go to the park with us after breakfast?”
The way she asks, she sounds almost scared and definitely hesitant. Sliding my hand around her waist, I pull her against my chest a little tighter. “I’d love nothing more, honey.”
“Okay,” she breathes.
We eat our donuts as we chat about her life before here in Tulsa. We shower and unfortunately, it’s separately. Then we pack up a bag and head downstairs and toward the park.
All the while, I spend the day getting to know more about Tennessee and Holden Bradley and everything I learn makes me fall that much deeper, for both of them.
Chapter Nineteen
TENNESSEE
I watch Landry walk by and give me a wink before he slips into his
office. The entire time, I wonder if he’s human. Is he even real? After taking us to the park on Sunday we went back to my place and put Holden down for a nap. Then we didn’t rest one bit and I wasn’t sorry in the least. Another two orgasms, then an early dinner together, and my Sunday was absolutely perfect in every way.
Now, it’s Monday and I was a bit nervous that things would be weird between us. That the office would feel uncomfortable, but it’s not—at least not yet. I don’t know if it will be awkward soon, but I’m glad that at least for now everything is good.
When Julie walks in, I give her a smile as I head to the filing room. It’s not that I want to ignore her or not be around her, but she’s eerie in the way that she can sense things. I’m just not ready for her to know that Landry and I took a leap this weekend.
Tapping my Spotify app, I turn up my music and start to jam out as I get in the filing groove. I’m shaking my hips from side to side, I’m also singing along—badly. I don’t hear the door open, I also don’t hear it click closed or lock.
I don’t know that anyone is here until I feel those very familiar hands wrap around my waist and that rugged beard brush against my neck before those soft lips touch me there. Leaning my head back, I let out a low moan.
He chuckles against my neck, one of his hands sliding around my waist as he presses against my belly. Turning my head slightly, I lick my lips. He lifts his head slightly, his eyes searching mine for a moment before his lips touch mine.
“Morning, Tennessee,” he rasps against my mouth.
“Good morning, Mr. Astor,” I breathe.
He grunts. “Honestly, don’t mind the Mr. Astor business when you say it like that.”
I can’t help but laugh a little from his words. The other hand on my hip, slides down the outside of my thigh and I feel his fingers grip my skirt as he slowly begins to shimmy it up my thighs. His other hand leaves my belly to aid in his mission.
Hypocritically Yours: A Standalone Age-Gap Romance Page 13