"I've never been one for rules. Stay with me." My lips swept across hers softly, repeating my statement.
"I have nothing with me."
"I'll take care of it."
She grinned against my mouth, her calf snaking up the outside of my thigh and her pussy rubbing against my already hard cock. "Let's see if you can convince me."
I slid one arm from under her, running my fingertips across her collarbone, down her breastbone, and circled one nipple gently until it hardened under my touch. Her breath hitched when I repeated the action on the other side and slowly skimmed my fingers lower, taking my time and feeling goosebumps pop in my wake.
"Miller," she whimpered when I grazed my thumb over her clit.
"Hmmm?"
"You're teasing me."
"I like to call it convincing you. And I'm going to take my time this morning until you’re thoroughly convinced."
"Oh, God, please," her soft cry filled my ears as I slipped a finger through her wet folds.
My dick lurched at her responsiveness, telling me he was ready to go right then. I controlled the urge to roll on top of her and drive inside like the madman I was a few hours ago. This woman had me wanting more than a quick fuck.
My fingers glided back and forth until her warm breaths came out in shallow puffs against my lips. By the time I slid a finger inside her, she arched her back, bucking into my hand. Her eyes met mine briefly before fluttering closed and moaning in appreciation.
She was ready, her heat gripping me deeper as she writhed against me. I added a finger and curled them into her, twisting in a circular motion. Her hand flew to my neck, and she closed her mouth over mine, screaming her release down my throat until her body fell limp and she was panting.
I kissed her tenderly, capturing her tongue with mine, and moved lazily until my lungs burned for air. Slowly, I broke away and leaned back enough to catch the bright, sated gleam in her eyes.
"Lily—"
She placed a finger to my mouth, and for a second, the gleam died. "Shh.," She presses my shoulder, urging me to my back, and rolled with me. Her eyes scanned down my body, then she looked back up at me with a playful grin. I barely felt her shifting, too lost in her gaze, but the instant the head of my dick touched her pussy, I snapped out of the fog.
She braced on my chest, taking me all the way until she was fully seated on my cock. Since I was sixteen years old, I'd practiced the art of safe sex. After knowing what happened to Pierce, I always took the act of protection as my responsibility. That morning was the first time in thirty-seven years I had ever been skin on skin with a woman, and shock waves pulsed through my system.
"Baby, we need—"
"I'm clean, and the contraception is taken care of."
"I'm clean, too, but there's more at stake." I tried to sound strong, but her pussy gripping me waned all my logical thoughts.
"Just a little while, Miller. I want to feel you filling me up with nothing between us. When it's time, I'll know."
The argument died on my lips when she rolled her hips, and my brain shut down. Lily sat astride me, naked. Her red hair, tousled and messy, draped over her shoulders. Her gorgeous body was on display, her tits bouncing as she increased her speed. I gave in, allowing myself to feel what every man dreamt of. My cock throbbed inside her, and I gripped her hips, driving up to meet her stroke for stroke. A moan ripped from my throat when she swiveled, changing directions and sending red-hot fiery prickles through my body.
It didn't take long before I knifed up, knowing I was close. The skin on skin sensations were too much for me to hold out.
"Baby, I'm getting there."
She got wilder, grinding harder, her moans louder, and I gritted my teeth to hang with her. Her pussy walls tightened, and I growled a warning. She dug her hands into my shoulders and heaved forward, crying out again right as I lost the battle and exploded all over us. All my blood rushed south, and I could barely focus over the pounding in my ears. Lily clung to me, pressed close, her body damp with sweat.
"Holy fucking shit." I finally found my voice.
"I think I'm convinced to stay," she rasped, and the gravity of the situation closed in on me. The possessive nature from earlier returned, and I wrapped my arms around her, twisting until she was lying on her back.
"Excellent answer, because after that, you'd have a hell of a time getting away. Never in my life have I felt that."
Her expression took on a look of pride, and she opened her mouth as a buzzing filled the room—
I bolt up, my heart racing and gut turning in sync. Throwing the sheets to the side, I run my hands through my hair, trying to calm down. This is not the first time memories of that weekend have plagued my dreams, but it is the first time it's ended this way. Usually, it ends with me carrying her to the shower or one of the many other ways we spent our time together.
But this morning, it's that damn phone ringing that interrupted. What was it about that call? She refused to answer, silencing her phone for the rest of our weekend. It didn't bother me at the time because she used her power of seduction to sway my attention.
Why now? Why did it pop into my head this morning? The answers slam into me.
“You’re too good for me.” Her words and admissions in my kitchen reel through my mind. Whatever happened to her has seriously fucked with her head. Her gorgeous green eyes swelling with tears awakened my protective instincts. It took all my control not to pick her up, take her to bed, and prove to her the woman I met in Chicago still existed.
My cock jerks, dragging my attention down to see the confusion of the dream did nothing to my raging hard-on.
"Jesus, I need to get laid." The words echo through my dark room, sounding pathetic.
The days of Pierce and I jetting out of town to blow off steam are long gone. Even before he laid eyes on Darby again, our schedules were tight. It was better to leave town to have some fun since Connie made his life hell. No complications with local hook-ups. I liked the anonymity of the deal as well. Until Ashlyn. She's the one woman who turned around my thinking. The thought of running into her again didn't make my skin crawl with possibilities.
And now, talking into a dark room about getting laid, I know it's not happening until a stubborn redheaded woman gives in.
I expected a fight on Tuesday night when I suggested she spend the rest of the week picking out materials for her house. She surprised me by agreeing to do all the legwork and help keep our timeline on track. I called in an extra crew to help, and things are happening fast. The only contact I've had with her is a few text messages with updates and the purchase orders coming through the office.
Her early morning disappearances don't fool me. She let down her guard during our dinner, showing me exactly why she is worth the effort. I gave her the time, knowing she was avoiding me on purpose. But two days is enough for her to build up her shields and resistance again.
I climb out of bed, wincing at the throb in my dick, and head to the bathroom. After I take care of this, I'm going to find her.
Her time is up.
•—•—•—•—•
"What are you doing here?" I ask my brother, who's barging through the door, looking like hell. "It's Friday afternoon. Don't you have a family to get home to?"
"I need some physical work this afternoon," he snaps.
"How much time do you have?"
"All fucking night. The kids are at Connie's, and Darby has a meeting she conveniently forgot to mention this morning."
"Maybe you should cut her some slack since she is preparing her team to lose her for twelve weeks."
He glares at me with a tick in his jaw that speaks for itself. He hasn't settled the issue bothering Darby.
"Think you got it in you to rip off the front porch?"
"The way I'm feeling, I could rip it apart, have the new one built, and still beat Darby home."
"Good, helps my labor budget." My joke goes unappreciated when he doesn't even crack a grin, spinn
ing on heel and stomping back through the house.
A minute later, the loud, unmistakable sound of cracking of wood as it splinters apart booms from the front windows. I finish tearing out the rest of the molding from the last room and go to help. He barely glances my way when I pop up planks. We work in silence, with the exception of his grunts, until every board is removed.
"Where's the plywood?"
"On the side of the house. Need to check the integrity of these first." I tap a hammer on the joists.
He jerks his head and starts his inspection. After a few minutes, he announces, "This section is solid."
"This too."
"I'm getting the plywood."
"Before you do that, I want your opinion on an issue in the back."
He sidesteps over the open frame and through the house without a word. I take my time, tossing the few tools into a bucket before joining him on the outside deck.
"What's the problem?"
"Why don't you tell me?" I reach into the cooler and pull out two bottles, handing him one. It doesn't go unnoticed that Ashlyn has added ice recently.
He scowls at my offering before taking it, flipping the cap, and taking a long swig. I give him the space and quiet, waiting patiently.
"I can't make this better."
"Then find a way to move past it."
"You have no idea what's going on."
"So stop shitting around and explain."
He blows out a breath, running a hand through his hair, and focuses on me, his anger gone. "Irritated, aggravated, even furious, I know how to deal with Darby. But she's hurting and that fucking kills me."
I take a slug of my beer, holding his eyes and feeling his pain "She tell you why?"
"Fuck, Miller. I should have chased after her."
"Pierce, you can't change the past. Darby owns her part in that."
"She's having a hard time dealing with the fact this is her first child and not mine."
This is not what I expected. "Darby said that?"
"Not in so many words. I put it together."
"How?"
"She snuck out of bed last night and went to the baby's room. It's not unusual for her to go up there. When I found her, the door was open, and she was whispering to herself."
My chest aches with the desperation and regret in his voice. I'm not sure I want to hear what she was saying after hearing Ashlyn's story, but I ask anyway. "What did she say?"
"She said she couldn't wait for him to be here, that she's loved every minute of carrying him. She said he was a lucky boy because I had a lot of experience with my other children, and even though I had done this before, and he wasn't my firstborn, I am excited, too."
I wince, feeling the burn and imagining how deep it cuts. "Shit, that's rough."
"Rough? I find my wife in a dark room, reassuring my unborn son that I'm excited about his birth, even though he's not my first. Yeah, it was fucking rough."
"What did you do?" Knowing my brother, I brace for the possibilities.
"I let a few minutes pass then took her back to bed."
“And you didn't bring it up this morning?”
He shakes his head, gulping the rest of his beer.
Ashlyn's advice comes to mind, and at this moment, it makes sense. "She has to work through it in her own way."
His eyes flicker with irritation, but it barely registers because a familiar scent hits me at the same time my senses go on alert. I glance over my shoulder to find the house vacant, but I know she's near.
"I thought we worked through this shit. And here we are again. She's struggling because of my fuck-ups." He goes on, unaware we're no longer alone.
"Some things are out of your control."
"When it comes to Darby, nothing is out of my control. Not anymore. I lived through that lesson once."
"Before you turn into a maniac, stop thinking about how you feel and put yourself in her place."
"Her place is in my arms where I can protect and take care of her. I can't do that if she won't talk to me. Where did this even come from? She knows I've never gone through this before and how different my life was when Maya and Cole were born. Every experience with her and this baby is new."
"She's going through a lot and deserves her feelings. Give her some slack."
"Whose side are you on? Why do you sound like Mom?"
"You don't want the answer to that question. Darby is a damn saint and has more endearing qualities than you. Not to mention, her truffles. I'm not taking a chance on losing that." I pat my stomach to stress my point.
He glares hard for a second before shaking his head and cracking a grin. "You're an ass."
"Maybe, but I know better than to side against my sister-in-law."
He chuckles, tossing his bottle in the trash. "I can't fucking wait until these roles are reversed."
"Going to be waiting a long time," I lie.
He tilts his head to the side, and I know what's coming.
"How are things going with Ashlyn?"
"Look around, things are on track," I answer coolly.
"I didn't ask about the house. I asked about Ashlyn."
"What about her?"
"Has she tried to fire you again?"
"Rod needs to keep his mouth shut."
He crosses his arms, his eyes moving over my face and his lips curling. "Shit, you've lost your touch."
A floorboard squeaks right as Ashlyn sings out, "Hello?"
His attention goes over my shoulder as the sound of heels gets closer.
"Hell, I pity you," Pierce mutters, dropping his chin to his chest.
I don't have time to think about whatever he's mumbling because, when Ashlyn steps out to the porch, it's all I can do to hold in the growl rumbling deep in my chest.
Is that supposed to be a dress? My eyes roam over her, taking in the short hemline, her exposed legs, and the ridiculously heeled sandals.
This woman is gonna kill me.
She doesn't look my way, her eyes widening and her mouth splitting into a grin when she sees Pierce. "What a surprise to see you here. Am I interrupting?"
"I was in the neighborhood and thought I'd offer to help out."
"That's why my front porch is a wreck," she jokes lightheartedly.
This time I can't stop the throaty growl, knowing she walked across nothing but the studs. "You should have come around back."
Her face swings to me, her eyes still bright. "I learned how to walk a balance beam in gymnastics."
Pierce gives a quick laugh. "I'll grab the plywood and cover the frame. Meet you out front." He shoots me a knowing look when he passes behind her.
"Surprise my ass," I say when he's out of earshot.
"Excuse me?"
"You've been lurking in the other room."
"How did you know? I was silent."
"I knew."
"That's impossible. I'm an expert at sneaking around. Ask my brothers."
"Your brothers don't know you in the way I do."
Her face blushes, and she glances back through the house. "Do you think he knew I was listening?"
"No. Again, he doesn't know you like I do. Now if it was Darby tip-toeing in, he'd know in a heartbeat."
She looks back, and her expression softens. "I didn't intend to eavesdrop, but when I heard him talking, it seemed rude to interrupt. When he mentioned me, I figured it was safe."
"You didn't want to hear him ask about you? You may have been very surprised at the answer."
"No, I didn't want to hear about how you've lost your touch. There's no telling what would come out of your mouth when it comes to your experience with women." She chews on her bottom lip, shifting her eyes to the side.
Her admission stirs something inside of me, the vulnerability in her statement obvious.
"Princess, come here."
"I don't think that's a good idea."
"Either you come here or I come to you."
"This is close enough, Miller."
; "Your choice." I close in on her, linking an arm around her waist and tugging her to me.
"What are you doing? Let me go. Your brother will see."
"Pierce already sees something going on here."
"Nothing is going on here."
"Keep blocking, baby, because it makes the reward a lot more fun."
"I'm not a reward." She pushes against me.
"I disagree."
She stops squirming.
"Baby, Pierce is having a shitty time, and if it helps him to bust my ass, I'll give him that."
"You were sweet with him," she whispers, her hands flattening on my chest.
"Not sure about sweet, but I followed advice from a smart woman."
A shy smile forms on her lips. "I'm sure that was hard for you."
"Not at all. Besides, I didn't lie about not getting on Darby's bad side. Have you ever had her truffles?"
Her head falls back, her laughter filling the air. My cock stirs as her chest jiggles against mine. The sound of her amusement surrounds us, and another glimpse of the woman I met in Chicago returns.
My brain kicks in, making a snap decision, and I strengthen my hold, sliding a hand to her scalp to tilt her face. Her laughter fades when her eyes lock with mine. "It's fucking great to see this again. I missed it."
Understanding and panic wash over her features, but before she can protest, I crash my mouth over hers. She goes stone still, tensing until my tongue slides along the seam of her lips. Her breath hitches, and her hand grasps my shirt as she opens up to allow me access. The instant my tongue curls around hers, heat builds inside my chest with the familiarity of having her in my arms.
I lace my fingers in her hair, gently caressing her scalp and angling her head to deepen the kiss. She whimpers down my throat, the small vibration shooting directly to my dick.
My body comes alive, fully aware of who this woman is and how she affects me. There's no more fighting this.
She holds on tight, letting me explore and taste every inch of her mouth. Every cylinder in my brain is firing off for me to pick her up and wrap her around me. Make her remember exactly what it's like between us.
Everything around us fades away, and it's only the two of us, the connection growing deeper with each swipe of my tongue. She has no choice but to give in, pressing her body close.
Miller's Time (Southern Charmers Series Book 2) Page 6