by Dover, L. P.
My body was on fire. Every single place he touched felt like I was going to explode. Resting my hands on his chest, I pushed him gently. He sat up and looked down at me, his arms caging me in. “It’s been a long time since I’ve done this, Justin.”
Understanding flashed across his face, and he nodded. “I know. Believe it or not, it’s been a while for me too. That’s why I plan to go slow, for both our sakes. I don’t want to hurt you. If you want me to stop, I’ll move right over to my side of the tent.”
I shook my head, body trembling with anticipation. “No. I want this. I want you. It’s just …”
His brows furrowed. “It’s just what?”
As much as I felt confident with myself and my body, I wasn’t a model or a movie star. My body wasn’t perfect. I had flaws. It came with having a baby, and I was so scared for him to see them.
Justin clasped my face, his concerned gaze on mine. “It’s just what, Meghan? Tell me.”
His eyes bored into mine, and I had to look away; it was too intense. “I don’t have the kind of body you’re used to seeing,” I whispered. “I’m not as sexy as the women you’ve been with. I have stretch marks on my stomach, and my breasts aren’t as perky as they used to be.”
“Seriously?” He grabbed my chin and pulled me back. “You have no idea how fucking sexy you are. I don’t care what kind of marks you have on your body.” A tear fell down my cheek, and he wiped it away. “When I say you’re beautiful, it means every single part of you.”
“Promise?”
He nodded. “I promise. No amount of flaws you think you might have could ever stop me from being with you tonight.”
His lips closed over mine, slowly at first, but then it grew urgent. The second his hand slipped up my shirt to massage my breast, I was done. I wanted more … a lot more. “More,” I begged.
His eyes sparked, then he lifted my shirt and unclasped my bra, freeing my aching breasts. I gasped when he closed his lips over my nipple, sucking it between his teeth. I grabbed onto his shoulders, and everything inside of me tightened. I wrapped my legs around his waist and worked myself over his erection.
“Ah fuck,” he moaned. He unlatched my legs and kept his gaze on mine as he unbuttoned my shorts and pulled them off, along with my underwear. I kicked them aside, and he slid his fingers between my legs. My eyes rolled into the back of my head as he pushed one inside, then another.
He pulled them out and stared down at me when he put them in his mouth. The level of raw intensity in his gaze made me tremble. I’d never had anyone look at me like that before. My breaths came out quick, my heart thumping in my chest. The anticipation was torture.
Grabbing the waistband of his jeans, I tugged them as hard as I could. “These need to come off now.” Chuckling, he peeled them off, and I helped him with his shirt. It was as if we were both starved for each other. His kisses were wild, all over my body, and I felt like at any moment, I’d go insane from his touch.
Justin brushed the hair away from my face, his arousal aligning with my opening. When he pushed himself inside, I cried out and dug my nails into his back, relishing the feel of him stretching me wide. It took a few seconds to get used to him, but when I did, I wrapped my legs around his waist, squeezing as he pushed inside of me. His thrusts grew hard and fast. I was so close to the edge, I was about to explode.
He trailed his lips to my neck and bit down, his fingers digging in to my hips. “You feel so fucking good.”
I rocked my hips against his and cried out as my release exploded through every nerve in my body. Justin followed closely behind, grunting as his cock pulsated inside me. My whole body trembled, and I ached for more.
Still connected, he rested on his elbows and gazed down at me. “You okay? At first, I thought maybe I hurt you.”
I shook my head. “It was a good hurt.”
He kissed me and rested his forehead to mine. “I’m sorry it went so fast. I wasn’t lying when I said it’d been a while for me too.”
A giggle escaped my lips. “Don’t worry. We have plenty of time to build up your stamina.”
Waggling his eyebrows, he smiled down at me. “And we can start tonight.”
Chapter Twelve
Justin
The night had been so fucking amazing. We woke up to the sun shining down into the tent. Luckily, there were no run-ins with bears or any other animals in the middle of the night. The sounds we made probably kept them away. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d been with a woman that I couldn’t get enough of. We’d slept until mid-morning, and I’d held her in my arms the entire time. Her hair was a mess, but she was still the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen. I looked over at her and smiled. We were almost back to my ranch.
“What?” she said, returning my smile.
I shrugged. “Just thinking how sexy you are this morning.”
Rolling her eyes, she tried to run a hand through her hair, and her fingers got caught. “Yeah, right. I’m ready to get home and take a shower.” Her stomach growled, and I could hear it. “And I’m starving.”
Laughing, I grabbed my stomach. “So am I. How about I walk you home and then I grab some clothes and stay at your house tonight?”
She bit her lip and tried her best not to smile. “Are you not tired of me after last night?”
I clutched her around the waist and she squealed. “Hell no. Not even close. You can’t get rid of me that easily.”
It was so easy to live in the moment, but the nagging realization that it was only temporary loomed in the back of my mind. I refused to listen to it. She belonged in Wyoming, and I belonged in Charlotte. I wanted to find a way around that but came up empty. Still, I wasn’t ready to let her go.
My ranch came into view, and we walked across the field past the side of my house. She looked at me like I’d lost my mind. “What are you doing?”
I pointed at the road. “Walking you home. What kind of gentleman would I be if I didn’t.”
She clutched my arm and winked. “You just want to make sure there’s no one at my house waiting for me.”
“What can I say? You’re mine … at least, for the time being.”
I was hoping to get a reaction from her, but she said nothing. It was the first time I’d ever wanted something more than sex from someone. I wasn’t the type to sit back and let things play out, but with Meghan, I wasn’t sure I had a choice.
We walked the rest of the way in silence, and I stopped at her door. She wrapped her arms around my neck, and I held her tight. “After I take a shower, I’ll fix us something to eat.”
“Then we can work on the fence,” I added.
Her eyes twinkled. “And maybe we can do a few other things as well.”
The woman was going to kill me. I leaned down and kissed her, loving the way she opened up to me. “I’ll be back.”
“Okay,” she murmured.
Turning on my heel, I headed down her long driveway. My phone was almost dead, but I had enough to make a call. When it came to women, I was so fucking lost. I never cared before now. The phone rang and rang, and I was prepared to leave Callie a message, but she answered.
“Hey.”
“Hey, sis. I was going to leave you a message. Thought you’d be at work by now.”
She sighed. “I would be under normal circumstances, but this pregnancy is kicking my butt. Dallas is insisting I take time off until after the baby’s born. And you know him. It was either I request it off, or he was going to demand it.”
Chuckling, I shook my head. That was Dallas Easton for you. He was our hotheaded goalie. However, when it came to my sister, I expected nothing less from him. “You married him,” I teased.
“I heard that!” Dallas shouted in the background.
Callie snickered and shouted back. “I didn’t realize someone was eavesdropping. Let me get you off of speakerphone so my caveman of a husband can’t hear us.”
I loved hearing their banters. It was always like that between t
hem two. The first time they officially met was on the ice, when Callie was in full body hockey gear. She grew up playing with Maddox and me. That day, Dallas had no clue she was a female. It pissed him off that she’d gotten several pucks past him into the goal. However, when he found out she was a woman, that was it; he fell in love with her. I was beginning to think I knew what it was like to fall that hard.
“Okay, you’re off speakerphone now. Is everything okay?”
I came to the top of road and crossed over to my land. “Everything’s great, actually. Yesterday was literally one of the best days I’ve had in a long time.”
“Then why don’t you sound happy about that?”
With a heavy sigh, I walked over to my fence and leaned against it. My land was something you’d see on a post card. I never thought I’d feel so close to it. “I really love it here, Callie. I know I haven’t been here long, but it’s starting to feel like home.”
“This girl has really done a number on you,” she said, sounding unsure.
Groaning, I ran a hand through my hair and continued toward my ranch. “You have no idea. I’ve been with her every single day and we work so effortlessly together. It’s a different world out here.”
“Are you falling for her?”
My chest tightened. There were so many things I wanted to tell Meghan, but I couldn’t. It was best I kept it all to myself. “I am,” I confessed. “When we were together last night, there was no denying the connection we have. I’ve never felt that with anyone.”
A soft laugh escaped her lips. “The day finally came. My brother’s in love.” She giggled again. “So when do I get to meet her?”
“You don’t.”
“What? Why not?”
And this was where all the complications reared their ugly heads. “Believe me, I want you to meet her, but it’s not my choice. Meghan doesn’t want the media attention.” I cleared my throat. “There are some things you don’t know about her. It’s not only herself she’s protecting.”
She gasped. “Oh my God, she’s not married, is she?”
Pulling out my keys, I unlocked the front door of my cabin and walked inside. “She was. He died eight years ago in Afghanistan.”
“Oh no, how awful.”
I tossed my keys on the kitchen counter and sat down at my table. “Yep. I’m the first man she’s been with since he passed away.”
“Is that it?” she asked.
Blowing out a heavy breath, I closed my eyes. Once I told her the rest, I knew what she’d say about it. I just wasn’t ready to hear it. “No,” I replied reluctantly. “There’s something else.” I waited a few more seconds. “She has a daughter … Ellie.”
The line went silent, and I could hear her suck in a breath. “Wow. I was not expecting that one.”
“I haven’t met her yet. She’s in the Outer Banks with Meghan’s parents for the summer.”
“Guess I can see why she wants to stay out of the media, especially with all the shit from Miranda right now. She probably doesn’t want herself or Ellie to be in the middle of it.”
I didn’t want to bring any hardship to them, but I knew I’d do everything in my power to protect them. I wanted to tell Meghan that, but I didn’t want to see the doubt on her face. “Even when I get all of that handled, it’s not going to matter. Meghan doesn’t want to be a part of that world.”
“What if you told her how you truly feel? Don’t you think she might change her mind?”
I shook my head. “It won’t matter. In a few weeks, she’s leaving to go back to Nags Head to get her daughter, and I’m coming back to Charlotte. It’ll all be over. She belongs here, and I belong there.”
She sniffled, and I froze. “You okay?”
“Yeah. I think these pregnancy hormones are making me crazy. You sound so sad, and it breaks my heart. Is there anything I can do?”
I stood and walked over to the window where I could see Meghan’s home. “No. I’m just going to enjoy the time I have left with her. I have to respect her decision.” Even though it killed me inside.
Chapter Thirteen
Meghan
I couldn’t remember the last time I’d danced around in the shower with a smile on my face. I was so incredibly happy—it felt like I could do anything. I threw on a clean pair of shorts and tank top and wrapped my wet hair into a bun. Justin and I were probably going to work on the fence all day, so there was no reason to fix it.
Stomach growling, I danced my way into the kitchen, humming my favorite Charlie Puth song. My phone was dead on the counter, so I plugged it in and got started on cooking breakfast. The smell of bacon filled the air, and I hoped like hell Justin was almost to my house. If not, I was going to eat without him.
Grinning wide, I checked the charge on my phone and sent him a text.
Me: Breakfast is almost done. I’m going to eat without you. :)
My phone beeped, and I thought it was going to be a silly reply, but it wasn’t him. There were three missed calls from Samantha and a couple of texts from her asking where I was. “Shit,” I groaned, fumbling to call her back.
“Don’t worry,” a voice called out. “I know you’re still alive.”
I jerked around and there Samantha was, her arms crossed over her chest. Blonde hair pulled high in a ponytail, she had on a pair of denim shorts and a pink tank top. It was obvious she didn’t have to work. The curious smile on her face only added to my nervousness. “Sam, what are you doing here?”
Gaze narrowed humorously, she pursed her lips. “If you’d have returned my calls, I wouldn’t have had to come by. I was worried about you. From what I can tell, it seems like you’re doing pretty well.” She leaned against the kitchen counter and studied me. “More than pretty well. You’re positively glowing. Who is he?”
“He? I have no clue what you’re talking about.” I waved her off and finished scrambling the eggs, making sure to keep my back to her. She’d see the truth on my face.
“You can’t lie to me, Meg,” she said, laughing. “Emmett already said he heard you talking to someone out back the other day. Why are you trying to hide this guy?” She squeezed my shoulder gently. “If you’re worried about what Emmett will say, you have nothing to worry about. He’s ready for you to move on.” If she only knew.
“I’m not hiding anyone,” I lied.
She glanced over my shoulder at all the food I’d made. “Looks good. It’s way more than you’ll eat. Almost like you were cooking for two, and you obviously didn’t know I was stopping by.”
“Geez, you’re annoying me.” Laughing, I grabbed two plates out of the cabinet and handed her one. “Get some if you’re hungry. I guess I went a little overboard.” By the look on her face, she didn’t believe me. She scooped some eggs onto her plate and picked up a piece of bacon and a slice of toast. “Do you not have to work today?”
She took her plate and sat down at the table. “Nope. I worked a double shift and took today off to catch a break. Thought I’d hang out with you since I haven’t seen you in a while.” She watched me like a hawk as I fixed my plate of food. I wanted to text Justin to tell him not to come over, but then she’d ask who I was texting. It was so hard to lie to someone who’d been my best friend for most of my life. Luckily, Justin would see her car in the driveway and know to stay away.
Pulse racing, I grabbed my plate and sat down at the table with her. I didn’t know what to say. I hated keeping secrets from her, but I knew without a doubt that if Emmett were to find out about Justin, he’d strongly disapprove simply because of who he was.
“Do you want something to drink?” I asked, trying to get away from her unrelenting stare.
She smiled wide. “Sure. Thanks.”
I got up and fetched the orange juice out of the refrigerator. When I opened the cabinet to grab some cups, it was when I noticed the driveway. “Where’s your car?” I asked, the words sounding desperate as they came out of my mouth.
Samantha nodded toward the back of the h
ouse. “I brought the four-wheeler. It was the quickest way to get here to make sure you were okay.”
Throwing my hands in the air, I huffed. “If I don’t answer the phone right when you call, it doesn’t mean there’s something wrong.”
Her gaze saddened. “I know, Meg. It’s just you’ve always answered me. I was worried.” She looked down at her plate. “I always worry about you. Trey’s been gone for eight years, and you haven’t moved on.” A tear fell down her cheek. “I want you to move on.”
Footsteps echoed off the front porch, and I sucked in a breath. Frozen in place, I stared at the door as Justin knocked and came right on in. “Knock, knock,” he called out. He stopped mid-step the second he noticed Samantha.
She dropped her fork on her plate, and eggs splattered everywhere. “Oh my God. You’re …” Hands shaking, she stood and stumbled back to me, keeping her eyes on him. “He’s …”
Sighing, I put my arm around her shoulders. “Samantha, this is Justin. The guy I’ve been seeing.”
Samantha’s reaction to seeing Justin was pretty much the way I imagined every female to do in his presence. She stumbled over her words until I had to make her go outside to get some fresh air. For the past thirty minutes, all she’d done was sit at my patio table and stare at Justin while he worked on the fence and then over at me with a complete look of shock on her face. I felt bad for not helping him, but he knew I needed to deal with Samantha.
“Are you going to say something or just stare at us all day?” I asked her.
She sipped her orange juice and set it down on the table. Justin glanced over at us and smiled reassuringly. I was glad he stayed. I didn’t know how he was going to react. Samantha shook her head and focused on me.
“How? I’m so confused right now.”
My gaze instantly found Justin. It was like anytime he was around, I couldn’t look at anything else. “I gave him a ride home from the airport. Turns out, he bought the Southfork Ranch from the McEntire’s.” I closed my eyes and replayed our first meeting in my head.