Improper Proposal

by Cathryn Fox

  There’s a softness in his eyes, a gentle understanding when I catch his glance. “I’m sorry.”

  “It’s okay,” I say, and swallow down the things I’m feeling.

  Don’t fall for him, Harper.

  He brushes my hair back. “So you closed yourself off. That’s why you aren’t here looking for love.”

  I smile and want to make light of things, but my stupid voice comes out strangled. “That’s me, a pessimistic, passive-aggressive, emotionally detached lawyer whose motto is: if it can go wrong, it will. Who’d ever want a girl like that, anyway?”

  When he doesn’t respond, unease moves through me. What did I expect him to say? That he wanted a girl like that? Oh God, I did. Why would I ever set myself up for that? I am such an idiot. I never should have let my stupid heart get involved. For Christ’s sake, I know better than that! Trying to lighten the mood, I add, “Look at this adventure. Everything that could go wrong, did.”

  He rolls on top of me, and when I raise my eyes to find him staring down at me, he drops a soft kiss onto my mouth, a kiss so intimate and so full of passion my heart hammers in my chest. As need swamps me, the need for so much more than a roll between the sheets with this man, tears prick my eyes and I blink them back.

  Get it together, Harper.

  “I wouldn’t say everything,” he murmurs and presses his mouth to mine.

  I swallow hard. I was worried I was going to hurt his family when I walk away, but now I’m 100 percent certain my heart is the one that’s going to be breaking.

  Chapter Seven

  Will

  When I first met Harper, I was hell-bent on proving she wanted something from my family, and it’s true she does. I shift in my chair and smile at her as she laughs with Bronwyn, relaying to the crowd seated around the large dining room table how my cousin fell while carrying a roll of burlap yesterday. Bronwyn teases her in return about falling off Buttercup. She’s still pretending to be George’s surprise, and I get it. What she wanted from my family was nothing but camaraderie, friendship, maybe even love, because she never had a real family of her own.

  I fucking hate that she grew up alone, men constantly coming and going from her life. No little girl should ever have to face that, and Harper deserves so much more. She deserves everything.

  Goddammit, I want to be the guy to give it to her—if only she’d let me.

  Whoa, where the hell had that come from?

  My hands fist as I think about her lonely upbringing. I’m not a violent guy, but the vision of a sad and probably frightened Harper pisses me off. If I weren’t currently surrounded by family, I’d punch something.

  Harper might think she’s bold, detached, and distant. But she’s not. She is so open to this family, so wanting to be a part of it all. I have no idea what’s going to happen when the truth comes out. What I do know is I’ll never let them hate her. She needs to tell them, but I have to let her do it on her own terms.

  While I want to get her alone again, want to get my mouth back on her, no way will I take this from her. When we head back to the States, she’ll have no family, so the least I can do is share mine for the next little bit.

  Her laugh curls through me, and my heart pumps faster, the sweet sound fueling my need to fuck her again, to show her how I feel about her, and that she’s worthy of love. She said she wasn’t looking for love or a relationship. I said the same. But why can’t we keep seeing each other when we return home?

  Oh, because for her this is just an epic adventure about sex and she’s not looking for more.

  I take a bite of my pot roast, unable to take my eyes off Harper. I smile when she smiles, laugh when she does, and when she sneaks a look my way, my cock thickens. I grab my glass of wine and take a big swallow. This is so not the time to be sporting the hard-on of all hard-ons.

  I finish my food, having remained relatively quiet during the meal, and soon enough the others around me empty their plates. Dessert and coffee are served, and Harper helps Claire in the kitchen, the two getting along so well.

  “I have to stop eating like this,” Harper says as she takes a big bite of cake. Her eyes roll. “Maybe tomorrow,” she adds, and I grin. But when she takes another bite, her eyes meeting mine as she slides the fork into that sweet mouth of hers, my cock can’t take it.

  “What does everyone want to do after dinner?” Bronwyn asks.

  I know what I want to do but am not about to admit it aloud.

  A few suggestions are tossed around, and Ned comes out with, “How about volleyball?”

  “It’s kind of cold out for that,” Harper says.

  “Water volleyball,” he clarifies.

  Her eyes go wide. “You have a pool?”

  I lean back in my seat. They say the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, but I don’t get that she’s anything like her mother. She worked hard to get where she is in life, depending on no one but herself. I clench my jaw, anger surging through my veins once again. I wish I had known her years ago so I could have helped her, been there for her. Then again, she’s not the kind of girl to take, which makes me want to give to her all the more.

  This is just sex. She made that perfectly clear, but maybe I’m not so good with that anymore.

  “I don’t have a suit,” Harper says, bringing my thoughts back.

  “We’re about the same size,” Bronwyn says. “I’ll lend you one.”

  “Okay, then.”

  We all climb from the table, and Harper goes still. “Hold on. Aren’t we supposed to wait thirty minutes after eating before swimming?”

  I chuckle. “Technically we won’t be swimming, and the pool isn’t over your head. But don’t worry if you get a cramp, or need mouth-to-mouth, one of us will save you.”

  Her face turns a pretty shade of pink when I mention mouth-to-mouth. I’m sure she’s thinking exactly where I want her mouth, and where I want mine later. We all head off to our rooms and change. Harper meets me in the hall, and my knuckles brush hers as we head back downstairs, then through the long stone hallway leading to the in-house pool.

  “This is amazing,” Harpers says. “I saw this jut-out on the house when I was horseback riding, but I thought it was a guest house.”

  She drops her towel, and as she slides into the water I debate my next move. If I drop my towel, everyone will be fully aware of what seeing her in that skimpy suit is doing to me. In a fast move I unknot the towel from around my waist and jump in. With any luck the water will help tamp down my hard-on.

  I swim to the other side of the net, opposite Harper. This position will allow me to keep a measure of distance and let me see her just the same. Soon enough, the teams are made, and we begin to play. Harper is horrible, her team losing, but she’s laughing hard and having a good time, and every time she jumps up I get to see those lovely breasts of hers bounce, so all in all it’s a double win for me.

  Bobby splashes water in her face and teases her for missing the shot, and a strange wave of possessiveness moves through me. If he weren’t my cousin, I might very well punch him in the face for just being so close to her.

  Shit.

  Not good, Will. Not good at all.

  I give myself a quick lecture and get my shit together. My team goes on to win the game, and by the time we’re finished, everyone is exhausted and ready to sit around the fire. Not me, though. I want Harper all to myself.

  “Hey, Harper,” I say as we climb from the pool. “How about a drive? We can head into town, go to a local pub.”

  “Sounds like a good idea.”

  “Anyone want to come?” I ask. I don’t want them to get the wrong idea—or the right idea—that I’m trying to get her alone.

  A round of nos comes my way. “Been to the pub lots of times,” Annabella says. “You two go.”

  We head to our rooms and get changed, and I meet Harper at the front door. As I wait at the foot of the steps and watch her descend, possessiveness once again races through me. Fuck, she’s gorgeous, and
I want her in so many ways.

  I lead her outside, and we jump into my rental. We start down the road, and she looks out the window. “Gorgeous.”

  “It is.”

  She looks at me and smiles because she realizes I’m talking about her.

  “So is this your way of getting me alone so you can do dirty things to me?”

  “Yup.”

  She laughs and opens her mouth to respond, but her cell phone rings. “Who the heck could that be?” She pulls her phone from her purse. “I hope it’s not work.”

  She takes a look at the number and a frown tugs at her brow as she slides her finger over the screen.

  “Nancy, how are you?”

  I shoot Harper a glance and catch her worried expression in the dashboard lights. I slide my hand across the seat and put it over her thigh, giving a squeeze to let her know I’m here if she needs anything.

  “He can’t do that,” she says. She listens for a minute longer, then says, “Don’t worry, Nancy. Nothing will happen to your grandmother. I’m away right now but as soon as I get back, I’ll be all over this.” A moment and then, “No, no of course not. It’s pro bono.”

  She hangs up and lets loose an exaggerated breath. “What’s wrong?” I ask.

  She shakes her head and puts her phone back in her purse. “A friend of mine who has lived with her grandmother since she was born is having rent troubles. They live in a rent-controlled building, and the landlord is threatening to kick them out when Grandma Grace dies. He can’t do that. I’ll fight for them.”

  “Pro bono?”

  “Yeah, I do a lot of pro bono cases for the folks in the old neighborhood.”

  Motherfucker. How could I ever for a second thought this woman was a gold digger? The more I get to know her, the more I like, and yeah, I want more than just sex when we return to the States. But will she ever trust me, trust that I’m not like any of those men who were there one day and not the next?

  The truth is, she might be on the wrong adventure, but it’s the right one for her—I’m the right one for her. I just need to somehow prove it before the week is over.

  Chapter Eight

  Harper

  I can’t believe I’ve been having fun with this amazing family for five long days—with them still thinking I’m George’s surprise. Here it is Tuesday afternoon, and Will has gone to town with one of his cousins, leaving me to hang out in the kitchen with Claire, Bronwyn, and Annabella.

  Soon enough, the kitchen will be filled with family again, all convening to eat Claire’s famous apple pie. I sip my coffee as I help these wonderful women peel apples for the pie. As I take it all in, my heart bursts with happiness, until little warning bells jingle.

  You have to tell them who you are, Harper.

  I open my mouth, but the bang of the front door hitting the wall as it’s flung open garners our attention. Will comes rushing into the kitchen and drops a brown paper bag onto the table. I peek inside. “What’s this?”

  “Only the best chocolate in the world. It’s my mom’s favorite. She’d disown me if I didn’t bring her back some.”

  My heart squeezes. How sweet of him.

  He winks at me. “Don’t worry. I got you some, too. I know you like sweet things.”

  Yup, he’s right. I do. I swallow against the fullness in my heart.

  In no time at all, the house fills with people, and I’m lost in conversation and playing games and eating pie. By the time the crowd dies down, I fake a yawn and excuse myself, needing time alone to gather my thoughts. I have to tell these people who I am, and I have to do it now.

  But I don’t want to.

  “I like sweet things, too,” a rich, familiar voice says from behind me.

  Standing in my bathroom, I turn to see Will leaning against the adjoining door, his expression suggesting I’m the sweet thing he likes and he’s going to eat me alive. “Though, I can’t decide.”

  “Oh?”

  He steps up to me, rubs his thumb over my lips, then slides his hand between my legs. “Which do I taste first?”

  In a bold move, I put my hands on his shoulder and give a shove. “Let me help you with that.”

  He laughs as he drops to his knees and reaches for the button on my jeans.

  “I love a sexy girl who knows what she wants,” he teases.

  “Will.”

  “Yeah.”

  “I think you have a better use of that smart mouth of yours.” We both laugh, but mine turns to a moan as he releases my zipper and tugs my pants until they’re around my knees. He goes back on his heels and looks at me. I want to widen my legs, but I can’t, they’re trapped, and Will seems to be quite pleased about that.

  “Will,” I growl.

  “What?” he asks all innocent like.

  “Please…”

  He smirks. “Please what?”

  “Your mouth…that thing you said about tasting.” I’m practically vibrating as I stand here with my pants halfway down my legs, my nipples hard, eager for his mouth, too. “Did you forget?”

  His eyes darken as he wets his lower lip. “Forget? No. I just love to look at you.” There is no humor in his voice when he says. “You’re beautiful.”

  My breath stalls as he takes off his pants in seconds flat and strokes his hard cock, going from the base to tip as he drinks me in, his eyes intense, unguarded. My God, the way he wants me… I just… I don’t know. I guess I’ve just never felt so needed and desired before.

  Craving the feel of him against my skin, I reach for him. “Will,” I whisper, and he finally closes the distance between us. With my legs still pinned together, he runs his tongue along my seam and dips inside. “Yes,” I moan, and he circles my clit.

  “You taste so fucking sweet,” he murmurs and pushes his tongue into me. I cup his head and hold him there as he licks and sucks and savors me like I’m candy.

  I move against his mouth, buck against his face, desperate for him and shamelessly letting him know. “You’re going to come in my mouth before I put my cock in you. I’m going to take you there using nothing but my tongue.”

  “Yes, please…” I whimper, loving his confidence, the way he knows how to touch me. He brushes the soft blade over my clit, and I moan. Heat rushes through me, centers between my quivering legs. Will grips my hips, holds me still as he eats at me. I grip his hair, pull a little, my thoughts lost to everything except the pleasure between my legs. I gulp air and whimper as his hot tongue sears my sex. He rolls his tongue, then laps at me, changing the pressure and direction until my sex is tightening. A tremor rips through me as red-hot desire twists inside me.

  “Yes,” I cry out, then clamp my hand over my mouth. Powerful waves crash over me, and Will stays between my legs, running his tongue along the length of my sex to taste every drop. He inches back, and his nostrils flare as his eyes meet mine.

  “I want you. Hard and fast,” he says, and all I can do is nod. He grips my pants, drags them to my feet, and I kick them away. He’s breathing hard as he guides me to the bed and turns me until my back is pressed to his chest. His cock throbs against me, and I wiggle to tease him. He growls, and I get the sense that I just poked the bear again.

  I face the bed and he bends me at the waist, then tosses a pillow onto the floor. My heart squeezes at the gesture.

  “On your knees,” he orders in a soft voice, and I slide to the floor, wanting…needing his touch. “Get that sweet ass of yours in the air and open your pretty pussy. I want to see you. All of you.” He puts his mouth next to my ear. “You’re mine, Harper, and I’m going to fuck you so hard. I’m going to make a mess of you, ruin you for every other man, and leave you wanting only me between your legs. Got that?”

  I draw a shaky breath, my body buzzing in anticipation. “Yes, please,” is all I can seem to say tonight.

  The nightstand opens, and I kneel there, my sex wide open to him as he sheathes himself. A second later his cock is between my legs. “After I fuck you, I’m going to tie y
ou to this bed and do dirty things to you until the sun comes up,” he says, his voice low and harsh. My pulse leaps as he drives into me with one hard thrust. I grip the bedsheets as my breasts press into the bed. I take him deep, deeper than ever before, and it almost hurts. But it’s a good hurt, and he’s right, he will ruin me for every other man. I am in so deep it’s scary, but I can’t think about that now with his big cock snug inside me. He gives me a second to catch my breath, then grips my hips again.

  He inches out and powers into me again, pushing me into the bed with an intensity I’ve never seen in him before, but I love every second of it. He grunts, his breath hot on my back as he keeps to his word and fucks me like I’ve never been fucked before. He pounds into me, frenzied, wild…a man driven to take what’s his.

  If only I really was his.

  “Yes, Will,” I say. “Fuck me. Hard.”

  My blood races, and I’m breathing so hard my throat is dry. I tremble from head to toe and move with him, every thrust penetrating my defenses and amplifying the things I’m feeling for him. I take a gulping breath as another orgasm claws at me.

  “Fuck, Harper,” he moans as I release, my liquid desire soaking his cock as he pillages me. “You feel so fucking good.” He pushes deep and stills. “I’m there. Fuck, I’m so there.”

  As he groans his surrender, my sex muscles clench around him, and I hold him inside me as he fills the condom with cum. For a brief second, I wish there were no barriers between us—and I’m not just referring to the rubber. He throbs, and I grip the bedsheet, strung out and wrung out and completely messed up and ruined.

  “So good,” he murmurs and falls over me, peppering my back and neck with hot, open-mouthed kisses. “I could get used to this,” he says, and I go still. He must sense the unease in me. He pulls out and lightly touches my back, his caress so tender and gentle I have to fight back the tears. “Harper,” he whispers.

  “Yeah.”

  “Turn around.”

  With little success, I blink back the tears, but when I turn and he takes me in, I’m sure he can see through me, see that I’m falling for him, despite our arrangement. His gaze roams over my face, then he exhales slowly.