“Do you still live there?” Ainsley asks her.
“Yes, I’m a Senior.”
“That’s exciting.” I watch the interaction between the two, leaning back and crossing my ankle over my leg. I catch Ben’s eye, and he nods with a smile.
As the rest of my family arrives, I introduce them to Ainsley, my aunts and uncles curious about her and our relationship. My guess is my mom didn’t have a chance to talk to her in-laws beforehand.
“We missed you last Thanksgiving,” Aunt Charlotte, my dad’s sister, says as she sits with us, her own wineglass in hand.
“Yeah,” I nod. “Hopefully I’ll be around for a lot more from now on.” I leave it at that.
“Yes.” She reaches out and pats my hand. “You look good,” she whispers.
“Thanks.” I nod, knowing the main reason I feel the way I do has to do with the woman beside me, spending time with my family as if she’s known them for years. Amelia never cared to get to know my family. In fact, she refused to spend time with them, making me come to Wyoming on my own whenever I’d visit.
“Hey, Ainsley.” She turns around to look at Axel, who’s calling out to her from the living room. “Your Cowboys are getting a whipping,” he laughs.
“They are not.” She crosses her arms and glares at him.
“They’re goin’ down,” he teases her.
She turns to look at me with a serious expression. “I’ll be right back.” Her hand lands on my forearm, and it makes me fucking proud that she’s mine. I nod and watch her go. For Axel’s sake, I hope he’s right.
“I like her,” Lily leans forward on the table and whispers, her eyes staring at the living room. “She seems really nice.”
Amused by her attempt at being subtle, I tell her, “She’s great. Glad you like her.”
“Much better than you know who.” Her eyes widen and roll.
“Yeah.” I nod. Lily has never been good at hiding her feelings, less so with Amelia.
“Hey, I didn’t mean to upset you.”
“Trust me, you didn’t. My divorce was a long time coming,” I share, pursing my lips.
“I never did understand that relationship.” She taps her fingertips together.
I shake my head and shrug, not knowing what to say. I’m tired of giving her excuses for my connection to Amelia. Lily isn’t stupid. She grew up with Axel and me, and she knows I’d never really go for a woman like Amelia.
“I know, I know. I’ll drop it.” She falls back on her chair, crossing her arms, and exhaling, her lips vibrating. I laugh at the sound and shake my head.
“Brat,” I mock.
“That’s what happens when you’re the youngest in the family and the only girl,” she smiles with confidence, batting her eyelashes.
“Oh!” A loud scream echoes around the house, and I shoot up to my feet as my head whips to the living room.
“Be back.” I look at everyone sitting at the table and stalk over to where Axel and Ainsley are. “Is everything okay?” I see Axel cheering and Ainsley staring at the television, her arms crossed and body tense.
My shoulders shake in silent laughter, and I walk up to her, wrapping my arms around her.
“Jesus,” she shrieks. I let out a loud laugh, and she hits my arm. “You scared the heck out of me.”
“Sorry,” I whisper in her ear, causing her to shiver.
She leans back, allowing me to support her, and watches the game. “If we lose, Axel will never let me live this down,” she murmurs.
“Damn straight.” He hears her despite her attempt at being discreet.
“I can’t stand the Patriots,” she confides.
“I’m indifferent,” I shrug. “Football’s not my thing.”
“No?” She turns around in my arms, “What is?”
“Basketball.” I tighten my arms around her.
“I don’t really follow it,” she purses her lips.
“All right, y’all are boring me. Be back when the game starts up again,” Axel interrupts us, and I realize there’s a commercial break.
I look down at Ainsley and wink. “I thought he’d never leave.”
Her body shakes with laughter. “You’re mean.”
“Nah, I just wanted to be alone with you.” I kiss her plump lips.
“Can we take a picture?” She wears a crooked smirk and hopeful eyes.
“Of course.” I pull my phone from my pocket and hold it up, facing us. “Say cheese,” I whisper in her ear. Ainsley turns to kiss my cheek just as I snap the photo. I click on the picture to look at how it turned out. It’s blurry from her movement, but I can’t help but smile at it.
“Let’s take another one. Promise not to move this time.” She crinkles her nose before her mouth splits into a smile.
“Ready?” I ask and snap the picture.
“Much better,” she says as I open it up so we can see it. “Send it to me.” I squirm when Ainsley squeezes my ribs. “Are you ticklish?” She squints her eyes deviously.
“No,” I warn.
“Okay, I’ll be nice.” She winks, and I groan. I want to take her home, kiss her everywhere, and then feel her wrapped around me.
I take a deep breath and adjust myself.
“Are you having naughty thoughts?” She leans up on her toes and whispers in my ear, her soft breath against the shell of my ear, not helping the situation.
“You have no idea,” I clutch her hip.
“Me too,” she confesses and waggles her eyebrows.
“Babe, you gotta stop. We have to get through dinner, dessert, and more drinks before I can take you home.”
“Mmm… I’ll be good.” Ainsley takes a step backward, shaking her body.
“Come ‘ere,” I beckon her with my finger.
“Oh yeah?” She dances toward me without music. Laughter moves through my body as I watch her.
“Yeah,” I sigh. When she’s close enough, I pull her to me and kiss the top of her head. “You’re something else.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
“Trust me, it’s the best kind.” I stare into her eyes, holding her face. My lips brush against hers right before my mom calls everyone to dinner. “Let’s get this party going so we can go home,” I whisper over her lips. Her quiet moan tells me she’s feeling the same thing as me.
Ainsley
I sigh in contentment as I close my eyes while Knox drives. I hear his soft chuckle and smile to myself. “Are you laughing at me?” I ask, my eyes still closed and hand patting my stomach in satisfaction. The Bentley’s know how to host Thanksgiving.
I loved his family. They were so kind, and no one made me feel unwelcome, despite his recent divorce.
“A little bit,” his deep voice moves over me.
“Well, stop.”
“Nah.” I feel his hand land on my thigh. All night I’ve been wanting to be close to him, touch him, feel his arms around me.
“You’ll pay for that,” I threaten him.
“Oh, I’m looking forward to it.”
I peak one eye open and look at him. “You’ll be sorry you encouraged me,” I tease. I really have no idea how I’d make him pay, although a few ideas cross my mind. I shiver at the possibilities.
“Are you having naughty thoughts,” he repeats my question from earlier.
“Mmm… Maybe.”
“Good.” He grips my thigh, and I inhale sharply through my lips. I feel it everywhere in my body, needing more.
I turn my head to face him and hold his hand. “Want to stay at my place?” I pinch my lips to the side as I wait for his reply.
“You sure?” He glances my way quickly.
“Yeah.” I lift his hand and kiss the top of it. I’m ready to take this step with him.
“I’d love to.” He winks in my direction, thumb rubbing my palm.
As soon as we get home, I walk carefully to the entrance of my apartment building, making sure I don’t slip this time. Once we’re inside, Knox’s hands are on
my hips, his lips kissing the back of my neck. When he pulls me back to his body, I moan at the feel of his erection on my lower back.
“Babe,” he whispers. “Thank you for tonight.”
“I had fun.” I bite down another moan and turn to face him. My arms fall lazily around his neck. “I really like you, and I’m glad I got to meet your family. I know this is new, and you could’ve just introduced me as a friend, but I’m grateful you didn’t.”
“No,” he shakes his head. “I won’t hide you.” His face grows serious. “I hope you understand that.” I run my fingers across his forehead, smoothing out his pinched eyebrows.
“Thank you,” I whisper before leaning up on my toes and kissing him.
Knox groans into my mouth and walks us further into my apartment, my back hitting the wall with his body caging me. His tongue sweeps along mine, his teeth nipping my lower lip, and his hands traveling up and down my body.
I push forward, melting against him as my fingers tangle in the longer curls on the nape of his neck. Knox rounds his hands over my butt and picks me up. I tug his hair and kiss him desperately as I feel the hardness in his jeans hitting my core against the thin material of my tights.
“Knox,” I moan, tilting my head back, and giving him access to kiss my neck and base of my throat. My nipples harden, and every sensation I feel as he rubs against my body on his way to my bedroom intensifies the desire I’m feeling.
Once in my room, he drops me on the bed and kneels before me. He gives me a heady kiss, tongue peeking out, before moving back on his haunches and looking me up and down with hunger. Wordlessly, he removes my booties. Knox’s hands skim up and down my legs in appreciation before sneaking under my skirt and finding the waistband of my tights. I lift my body to encourage him so he can pull them down slowly, his calloused fingers heating the skin he’s exposing.
Our eyes lock in a heated gaze, and we remain silent as we let our bodies communicate. Knox’s fingers graze my calves, making me break out in goosebumps. He drops a kiss on my thigh and stands, leaning his body over me. I push back and catch his lips with mine. The weight of his body is a welcomed pressure as my legs fall open so he can fit between them.
Our kisses are fervent and chaotic, hands moving everywhere and struggling to reach the places we want. I sneak my hands underneath his sweater and tug the hem, tearing it up off his body. Before he has a chance to lean back down, I reach for the buttons on his Oxford shirt and quickly undo them. When I reach the last one, Knox stills my hands with his. His shirt falls open, his broad chest peppered with hair and his defined stomach causing me to clench my thighs.
Knox grabs my wrists and places my hands over my head. “Keep them there,” his hoarse voice fills the quiet of my bedroom, interrupting the silence. I simply nod and look on to see what his next move is.
Once again, his hands land on my legs, moving up and down my skin as his opened shirt tickles me. They travel up my body, inching my sweater up my torso and stopping right under my breasts. I sigh with exasperation, and his eyes fill with mischievous laughter. The pads of his fingertips trace the edge of the sweater, brushing against the underside of my breasts.
“My goodness.” I close my eyes, my heart picking up speed.
“You like that?” He leans down to kiss me, the pressure against my core causing me to moan and arch my body. “I’ll take that as a yes.”
“Knox… Come on,” I urge him.
“Uh-uh. Keep your hands up there.” He points to my arms that are mid-air on the way to his body.
I clench the pillow above my head and lift my lower body to touch his. His eyes travel down to where I’m moving and are set alight.
“I want that, too, but with due time,” he whispers as if we’re in a forbidden rendezvous. In a way, it feels that way. Me in bed with Knox Bentley, talented musician. He’s more than that, though. He’s kind, funny, broody, unique.
The tension in my body relaxes as I take in the man I’m sure the public doesn’t know. How lucky am I? Against his argument, I move one of my hands to reach up and touch his face. He closes his eyes and leans into my touch.
“I want to remember this,” I say softly.
“Me too.” He shifts his head to kiss my palm before returning it to its place above my head. “You’re beautiful.” He drops his head and kisses my stomach.
Knox finally removes my sweater, following a trail of kisses up my stomach to the swell of my breasts and up my neck, gentle bites alternating with his kisses.
His beard tickles my skin, adding to the sensations covering my body like a lust-filled blanket. When his hand sneaks behind my back, I arch so he can reach his destination. With my bra undone, he removes it and takes me in. His eyes linger on my breasts, a wicked smile painting his face.
“Stunning.” His kiss comes in fast and deep, his calloused fingers moving between us as they pinch my nipples. I cry out, needing to feel more. He takes my reaction as a green light to continue palming my breasts and twisting my nipples, shooting desire straight to my core. My breathing comes in more rapid and shallow, his lips and hands the cause of it.
Unable to hold back, I reach for him, running my hands up his chest and unhooking his shirt from his shoulders. He breaks away from me a second so I can finish removing it, and he’s back on me, his lips claiming me.
Knox groans when my nails run down his back, feeling his muscles flex. “I want to take my time, but fuck, you feel good.”
“Let’s throw expectations and time out the window. Touch me, kiss me, do whatever you want. Right now, I’m all yours,” I surrender to him on my bed, watching and waiting.
“Ainsley,” he breathes my name. His hands skim from my breasts to the top of my skirt, lifting part of his body so he can reach better. He looks up at me, asking for permission and I nod.
He undoes the brass buttons on the front of my skirt until it’s open enough for him to slide it down my legs. Knox steps off the bed, tugging his hair and staring at me in only my underwear.
“Take off your jeans,” I demand.
His eyes meet mine again, and he smirks. “Bossy.”
His hands remove his belt and unsnap the button. Slowly, he teases me with lowering the zipper. When his jeans drop to the floor, I take in his almost naked body.
“Boxer briefs,” I add with a quirk of my eyebrow.
“Nuh-uh, you have to remove your underwear, too.”
I kneel on the bed, holding his stare, as I hook my fingers inside my thong and remove it. Once it’s off, I lean back on the bed, holding my body up with my elbows and raise my eyebrows.
That sexy smirk is back on his face. He takes off his boxer briefs and wraps his hand around his cock, slowly moving it up and down.
“Holy shit.” The words escape my mouth on a gasp before I can rein them in, and I feel warmth fill my cheeks. Knox chuckles as he crawls back onto the bed. His lips land on the crook of my neck, and his fingers touch where I need him. I tense as he brushes a finger over my clit, moaning at the sensation.
“You’re so wet,” he murmurs against my skin. I nod, silent.
Knox works my body, fingers entering me, lips marking me, and heart owning me. My body wriggles and tenses underneath his when his fingers curl inside me, hitting that spot that makes me come undone. He takes my reaction as encouragement and continues to thrust his fingers, his thumb pressing down on my clit. I cry out, moving my hand down his body and wrapping it around his length. I stroke his cock, adding pressure, and he grunts.
My head lifts, kissing his neck before sucking his earlobe between my teeth and Knox hisses. He adds pressure to my pussy, his fingers rubbing that perfect spot. Panting, I gasp for air as my toes curl.
“Oh, my God,” I call out.
“I want to see you come undone,” Knox growls. “I want to be the reason you moan.” He kisses me.
My body trembles, heat rising from the base of my spine, covering me. He pinches my nipple with his free hand, and I reach for the other o
ne with mine, while I continue to jerk him.
“That’s fucking hot.” His voice is husky, heavy with desire. “I need you to stop moving your hand, or I’m going to come, and I quite frankly prefer to come inside of you.” I remove my hand from around his cock and arch my body, my orgasm taking over as I call out his name on repeat.
“You’re gorgeous when you fall apart.” He gives me a closed-mouth kiss. Spent, I catch my breath as I watch him reach for a condom in his jeans. “Are you sure you’re ready for all of this?” He holds up the condom.
“Yes.” I reach my hand out for him, prepared to share this moment with him.
Knox joins me on the bed and rolls the condom down his length. I watch as he positions himself over me, widening my legs. He rolls his hips, entering me slowly, giving me time to adjust.
“Are you okay?”
“Mmhh,” I swallow a moan. “More than,” the words get caught in my throat.
Knox enters me completely, kissing me gently as we connect as intimately as two people can. I get lost in his body, the feel of his arms holding me, his kisses, tender and greedy all at once. The sensation of having him inside of me, this moment is a memory I’ll have seared in my heart for the rest of my life.
A burst of feeling explodes all around me as we begin to move together, faster, both of us chasing our climax. I wrap my legs around Knox’s waist, bringing him deeper, and dig my nails into his back. A silent orgasm rises in me, muting my moans as my body bows off the mattress. My heels dig into Knox’s backside, hoping to God he continues to thrust inside of me as I ride out this wave.
His lips crash onto mine, his hips speeding up as he groans, his own orgasm meeting mine. Our bodies tense and our moans fill the space in my bedroom. My core pulses around him as the pleasure intensifies and chills kiss my skin. Knox growls as he thrusts deeper, harder, before stilling inside of me.
Breathless, he drops his head on my shoulder, holding me before pulling out. A kiss falls on my collarbone, then his eyes meet mine.
“Amazing,” is all he says. I look into the swirls of brown with tiny golden specks as I grin. I brush a few curls from his face. My goodness, that was more than amazing. Connecting with him in this way has my heart thrumming in my chest. I look at the man before me, wondering how I ever thought I could keep things platonic between us.
Write You a Love Song Page 12