Would Alyssa be willing to wait until after the election? If he settled into the role of governor, maybe they’d have a chance. Control the press by bringing the announcement to the public, or at least easing them in. It wasn’t like he was having an affair or betraying his late wife. Mia could spin it as a positive experience—the well-known bachelor finally settling down into domestic bliss.
His thoughts spun with possibilities, but the whisper came deep from his gut.
Her life will change forever. She’ll always be in the public eye. Is that what she really wants?
Probably not.
He reached the barns, the interiors dimly lit, but he knew the security cameras were whirring. Ethan was a former bodyguard and made sure his property and the people he loved were well protected. It was another reason Jonathan never worried when Chloe spent time here.
He made his way toward the back and sat on a large rock, his gaze studying the shadowy outline of mountains. Hundreds of stars winked brightly from the velvety sky. The wind rushed past his face, icy cold but refreshing, and he sat with his thoughts and the quiet for a while.
A twig cracked behind him.
He stiffened, wondering about large animals other than sweet rescues, but his body recognized her like a mate. Slowly, he turned.
She stood behind him, her arms clasped tightly across her chest. Her ash-blond hair was loose and fell like a waterfall of silk past her shoulders. She wore jeans, old sneakers, and a black wool coat. Her nose was pink in the chilly air.
“Are you okay?” he asked, shifting his weight to look at her fully. “What are you doing out here, Alyssa?”
Her chin tilted up a few notches. “Same as you, I imagine. Couldn’t sleep.” She moved closer, and his body automatically tensed, battling the need to touch her. “What are you thinking about?”
You. Always you.
“Work, of course.” He paused. “Did you have fun today?”
“It was the best Thanksgiving I ever had.”
The simple words tore at him. She was a woman who deserved so much love. But he also realized life was a choice. She didn’t have to be lonely. She just had to choose to be with people she cared about instead of being alone. God, how he wanted to give her that.
He wanted to give her everything.
Slowly, he uncurled himself from his seated position and faced her. Moonlight bathed her profile, coating her skin in a silvery glow. Her big, brown eyes were trained on him, glinting with an odd intensity and determination he didn’t understand. “Why?” he asked softly. “Because you were with Chloe? And friends? With people who care? It should be that way all the time, you know. Maybe you need to start asking for more in your life.”
He waited for a defensive comment, or for her to step back and retreat. Instead, she moved closer, and the air shimmered with anticipation and electricity. “All of it. But mostly because I was with you.”
“We were together last year at the soup kitchen.”
A sigh spilled from her lips. “It was different then. I hadn’t allowed myself to fall for you yet.”
His heart slammed against his chest, and his nerves stretched thin, wondering what she was trying to say. “I promised you’d be safe here,” he ground out. “From me. But God help me, Alyssa, tonight I’m just a man, and I want you. Go back to your warm bed, close the door, and tomorrow morning, we’ll be back to what you want. We’ll just be boss and employee. We’ll be friends who respect and care about each other.”
Her lower lip trembled but she didn’t budge. “I’ve been thinking lately. About us, and all the reasons I’ve been scared to jump off the cliff with you. And I’ve realized it’s more about me than you or the election. I’m scared of things I can’t control. I always have been.”
He fisted his hands to stop from reaching out and touching her. “We all are, sweetheart.” The endearment slipped past his lips. “I don’t blame you for not wanting this type of life. I want you to be happy.”
“I know. Thing is, I’m beginning to realize I’m happiest with you. Ever since you opened the door and showed me more, I can’t go back.”
He stilled, his gaze delving deep. “What are you saying?”
“I’m saying I’m tired of being a coward. Of being safe. Of having an orderly, controlled, sterile life. I’m saying I want you.”
A shudder wracked him. “And the election?”
A tiny shrug. “Mia’s a master at her job for a reason. I’m willing to risk it if you are.”
The admission crumpled him and the rest of his defenses. The primitive inside of him roared with satisfaction, desperate to get his hands on her body, imprint himself on her so deeply she’d never regret taking the chance. A growl rose from his chest, low and guttural.
“Then you need to come to me, Alyssa. I swore to keep my distance and not pressure you. This has to be about you and your choice.”
Her eyes widened with recognition. His breath stalled out, and he wondered if she’d change her mind. If she’d step back and run from the intensity and mess before her, the choice to involve herself with a man endlessly in the public eye, who’d change her life forever.
She took the final steps. Slowly reached up and looped her arms around his neck. Her fingers cupped the back of his head and pressed it down so his lips hovered an inch from hers. He savored the sweet rush of her breath, the plump curve of her mouth, the slight tremble of her body as her breasts crushed his chest, and her hips arched up.
“I choose you,” she whispered.
Then she pressed her lips to his.
The taste of her made him crazed. He took the kiss deep, plunging his tongue inside her mouth to conquer and pleasure and claim. She gave it all back, the sting of her nails in his back, the wildness stirring between them, hinting at the storm to come. He drank from her lips with greed, his hands cupping her face to hold her still, then nipped at her bottom lip.
“There are cameras out here,” he said. “We can go back to the inn.”
She shook her head, clinging tight. “No, can’t wait. Plus, our rooms are too close together. Here.”
He blistered out a curse. “Come with me.” She gripped his hand, and he led her to one of the barns Chloe had shown him was used for storage. This one wasn’t locked, and he slid the door shut behind him. The musty scent of hay and feed filled the air, and the space was stuffed with equipment and bags, dark except for the moonlight flooding through the lone window. He led her to the back where an old table sat beneath the windowsill and quickly stripped off her jacket, tugging off his clothes in a rushed frenzy, their fingers awkward in their zeal to finally be skin-to-skin.
“You deserve a bed,” he ground out, bending his head to suck on a tight nipple, savoring the hoarse moans emitting from her throat. “You deserve hours of me worshipping you. You deserve a thousand orgasms.”
She ripped off her glasses, wriggled her jeans down over her hips, and opened herself up for him, reaching to cup his throbbing erection. “Right now, the only thing I want is you inside of me—on this table—right here and right now—”
He groaned, thrusting into her greedy fingers, savoring the sleek feel of her soft skin and the spicy scent of her arousal. He moved her panties aside and inserted one finger into her dripping heat. She whispered his name urgently, and he added another digit, stretching her while one thumb tapped gently at her swollen clit, making sure she was ready.
He fumbled for the condom, sheathing himself with clumsy movements, then lifted her onto the table. She spread her thighs, and for one endless, perfect moment, he memorized her body in the moonlight, flushed and damp, quivering for him, open to anything he wanted to do. Humbled by the gift of her body and trust, he lowered his head and pressed a gentle kiss to her lips. Hooked his hands under her knees and lifted up.
Then plunged inside of her with one strong push.
* * * *
She was dying.
Alyssa was burning up, every inch of her desperate to soothe the fire on her
skin and inside her body. From the moment she’d seen him alone, gazing at the stars, she realized this man deserved a woman willing to fight for him. To stand beside him, hold his hand, and face the future with bravery. There were never guarantees, and she was exhausted from trying to fight her heart. Jonathan Lake was meant to be hers.
It was finally time to claim him.
His lips were like wispy, gossamer touches over her lips, barely giving pressure, and his dick was buried deep inside her, invading every inch of her body with a fierce demand she give him everything. She fought for breath as she adjusted to his girth, the pressure a delicious mix of pain and pleasure, and then with a sigh, she opened completely, letting him in. He sank even deeper, and she shuddered, biting the meaty muscle in his shoulder. His fingers tightened on her hips.
“Alyssa.”
Her name floated above her as if she were in a drunken haze, and she focused her gaze on the piercing, blinding blue that claimed her just as possessively as his body.
“Look at me, sweetheart. I need to see you when you’re mine.”
The masculine demand caused another rush of wetness, her inner muscles squeezing around him. He groaned with satisfaction, pressing deeper, his mouth brushing hers with excruciating gentleness. The contradiction of his hard thrusts taking her body was an intoxicating combination. She lifted herself up, the delicious scrape against her clit pushing her toward orgasm, and hung on while he fucked her and cherished her and made love to her on the battered old table in the musty barn.
She cried out his name when the orgasm rushed over her, jolting her like a shock of electricity. His muscles tightened, and he took the kiss deep, moaning into her mouth as he joined her. They clung together, slick with sweat, her muscles deliciously achy. She didn’t notice her face was damp until his thumb brushed against her right cheek.
“Sweetheart, are you okay? Did I hurt you?”
She blinked, focusing on his worried face. “No.”
“You’re crying.”
She took his fingers and pressed them to her lips. He was still deep inside her, and Alyssa realized at this moment, she fell utterly and irrevocably in love with the mayor.
Her mayor.
She smiled. “When a person cries, the first drop of tears from the left eye is pain. If it’s from the right, it’s happiness.”
He smiled back, leaning his forehead against hers. His blue eyes lit with satisfaction and happiness filled her from the inside.
“Good to know. How about I take you back to my room?”
“No,” she whispered. “I want to stay right here with you tonight. Is that okay?”
“Yeah, I think we can work something out.”
They made a makeshift bed with a pile of bags, fresh hay, and a blanket. He wrapped his arms around her, and she closed her eyes and savored the last few hours of darkness.
* * * *
They drifted to sleep for a bit, and when he woke, he studied her face in the shadows. Her lips held the touch of a secret smile, and her blond hair spilled around her like a frame enhancing a beautiful painting. Her fair skin was flushed and scratched red in some places where his five o’clock shadow had rubbed. Her full breasts lifted with each breath, and her nipples were still hard from the chill in the air. She slept with abandon, the same way she gave her body—wholly and deeply, surrendering in a way she sometimes struggled with in the light of day.
He’d always enjoyed sex but found he needed a deeper connection to truly let go. The few short affairs he’d had since Catherine’s death were pure physical itch and never scratched the surface. Now, as he stared down at Alyssa, he knew his entire being was cracked open. The orgasm had reached every inch of his body, dug into his soul, and allowed him to experience an ecstasy he’d only found with his wife.
Somehow, he’d been blessed with a second chance at love. He wanted to steep himself in it, to lock them in this barn for the next seven days so he could spend every minute learning every last secret.
She gave a tiny snort and shuddered as if knowing his thoughts. He couldn’t help his hand from reaching out and trailing his fingers down the valley of her breasts, caressing her stomach and the crease at her hip. Her skin grew warm, and her body softened under his touch, even in sleep. A satisfied grin curved his lips, and he lowered his head.
There were some other places he wanted to brand his five o’clock shadow on.
His tongue licked a path downward, exploring her damp inner thighs, the swollen nub of her clit, the hot wetness of her pussy. Pushing her legs apart, he settled his shoulders between her spread thighs and learned that sweet, secret part of her, hidden behind a small patch of tight curls.
When she woke up moaning his name, he began to suck and lick, parting her with his thumbs. Her hips rolled and jerked under his ministrations. Her hands grabbed at his shoulders, her heels dug in, and he ran the flat of his tongue over her hard nub, plunging his fingers deep into her channel.
She came against his mouth with a wild abandon that made him feel like Superman himself, and he eased up on the pressure, kissing her with gentle humbleness that poured through him in waves.
Slowly, he lifted his head and slid back up her body.
Her drunken gaze locked on his.
“Did you know that other than humans, wolves, bears, and bats also perform oral sex?”
He blinked then began to laugh, long and deep and hard. The final knowledge slammed through him, and he couldn’t hold back the confession he’d known for a long, long time.
“I love you, Alyssa Block.”
He kissed her, and she kissed him back, threading her fingers through his hair.
“I love you, too, Jonathan Lake.”
Chapter Eleven
Alyssa couldn’t stop smiling.
The goofy grin and girlish need to be close was an odd experience. They’d woken up on Friday wrapped around each other, naked, chilly, and sore from trying to sleep on hay and feed bags. Giggling like naughty teens, they’d snuck back to their respective rooms at the inn, then tried hard not to make googly eyes at each other over breakfast.
Mia noticed it all, giving Alyssa a wink.
They rode horses and visited the local craft fair, where she picked up a dried floral wreath, blown-glass wine goblets, and an intricate wood carving of a horse that looked like Phoenix. Chloe bought a bag of warm apple cider donuts, and they feasted as they sampled craft beer from the local breweries. By the time they arrived back at the inn, she felt tipsy, but already knew it had nothing to do with the alcohol.
“I’m exhausted,” Ethan said, stretching his back. “How about we all recess for a nap?”
Chloe groaned. “Come on, Ethan, even Mia’s not tired. Sometimes I think you’re the one who’s pregnant!”
Mia laughed. Ethan glared. “Not cool, Chloe. I’m still recovering from doing one hundred pots and pans from yesterday.”
“I should probably do a few rounds at the barn,” Harper said. “You can come with me, Chloe.”
Aidan took that moment to snatch her up and lift her into his arms like she was a fragile butterfly. “Don’t think so, love. We’re overdue for a nap. Catch you guys later.”
Harper gasped. “What are you doing!”
“Making you rest. It’s a holiday weekend, and I want a…nap.”
Harper’s cheeks turned red. “Oh.”
He strode away with his wife in his arms, making Alyssa swoon a tiny bit. Chloe sighed. “Okay, I’m going to make a few phone calls, but don’t forget, we’re doing game night. Poker is first.”
Kyle rubbed his hands together. “Good, I’m ready to redeem myself this round. But let me finish this chapter so I get my next advance check and can bet big.”
Ophelia and Kyle disappeared. Mia shared a look with Jonathan. “Want to use our two-hour window and get some work done?” she asked him.
“Sounds good. That okay, Ethan?”
Ethan looked sorrowful. “No nap, huh?”
Mia pressed a kis
s to his cheek. “We’ll go to bed early instead.”
He grumbled a bit, but Alyssa could tell it was just for show. “I’ll check on the animals and do a few things at the house. Meet you back here for poker. Don’t work too hard.”
“Let me just grab my laptop,” Mia said.
They were left alone on the front porch. Jonathan crooked his finger. “Come here, sweetheart.”
She never hesitated. He enfolded her in his arms, hugging her tight, and she clung to his warmth and strength, sinking into him. They stayed like that for a while, and she tucked her head against his chest, enjoying the moment.
“I want to tell Chloe about us today,” he whispered in her ear. “What do you think?”
“Definitely. You don’t think she’ll have a problem with it?”
“I think the opposite. She’s going to be thrilled. She’s dropped hints to me before about you, you know. I think she always secretly hoped we’d get together.”
“What about when we get back?”
He pulled slightly away and stared down at her. His ocean-blue eyes were serious. “What do you want to do, Alyssa? I don’t want to drag you into the spotlight in a messy way. Why don’t we talk to Mia and figure out the best plan?”
“I think that’s a good idea.”
The sound of footsteps echoed down the path. They eased away from each other and watched one of Ethan’s bodyguards make his way toward them.
“Mr. Mayor, we have a problem.”
With a sinking heart, Alyssa realized their idyllic retreat was officially over.
* * * *
“Son of a bitch.”
He stared at the picture of him and Alyssa in a tight embrace. The slant of their bodies and angled heads clearly showed an intimacy that was more than friendship. Definitely more than boss and employee. It was an announcement to the world that they were lovers.
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