“I didn’t mean that. I just couldn’t come up with a good reason to end your meeting. Which I know I shouldn’t have done but—”
She emerged from the bathroom in different clothes. The emerald summer dress she’d had on was lovely, but I couldn’t deny that she was equally as sexy in jeans and a tank top. In fact, I liked this home-town girl next store vibe she had.
“It’s fine. Clearly, it’s a losing battle. She hated everything.” She sank on the edge of her bed looking defeated.
“Hey.” I stepped into her room, and pulled her up into a hug. “Meredith is a lonely old bitty looking to relive her golden years. She doesn’t know anything about education or kids today.”
She leaned against me. “Did you hear she wanted a card catalog?”
I laughed. “Yes. Perhaps you should have a committee of parents and teachers, maybe even Alyssa to provide feedback. She’ll still balk, but it won’t be just you she’s working against. You’ll be able to retain your relationship.”
“That’s a good idea, but she still might not want to fund something that doesn’t have a card catalog or doesn’t look like a boring prison.”
I rubbed her back, enjoying holding her even if it was just to comfort her. Truth be told, being able to hold her was soothing to me as well.
“You’ll have to be clever and maybe manipulative to help guide her to what you want in a way that makes her feel like it was her idea.”
“Do you have tricks for that?”
If I did, I’d figure out a way in which our being together would be her idea.
“I can ask my mom, but she’d probably say something like psychology should be used for good, not to manipulate people.”
Holly let out a breath. “I suppose I should thank you for the cooking lesson too. I think I at least earned points for that.”
I looked down at her, admiring her freckles and creamy skin. She had a youthful glow to her, and when we were texting, she seemed to have a youthful personality too, that I longed to get to know in person.
“Just doing my job.”
“Well, thank you.” She rose up on her toes and gave me a soft kiss on the mouth.
My dick sprang to life.
She lowered back down looking at me. Our gazes held for a moment, and then she was kissing me again, with a little bit more oomph behind it.
I knew I was supposed to stop this, but God, how cruel was it to expect me to end something so good.
“Holly,” I managed.
“You don’t have to stop it, unless you want to.” She said, her lovely blue eyes looking up at me.
“I don’t want to,” I said thickly. “But please be sure. My ego can’t take much more of your rejection.”
She looked down for a moment. “Do you want me?”
What the fuck? Have I not been speaking English? I took her hand and put it over my dick. “That’s from one kiss from you. What do you think?”
“I think you want me.”
“I know I do.” I pushed her back to her bed. “And for once, I’m going to have you in a bed.”
She smiled, and I thanked the Gods that she was into this. I prayed that when we were done, she’d still be with me.
It occurred to me that the other two times I’d fucked her, it was hard, fast, and a bit crazy and out of control. Maybe if I took more time and care with her, showed a little finesse, she’d see that this wasn’t just raging hormones combusting together, but something more.
She lay back on the bed, and I crawled over her, watching her eyes, wanting to see how much she wanted me too.
“If Meredith looks in the window, she’s going to get an eyeful,” she said.
“This has nothing to do with Meredith,” I said. This was just between me and Holly. No fake marriages. No plans to build a library. This was a man desperate for a woman.
I wanted to take my time, to go slow, but first I had to get her naked. Once she was undressed, I studied her, in awe of the creamy smooth skin and sumptuous curves of her body. I touched and tasted every inch of her, wanting to imprint her taste and scent into my brain. Whatever happened in the future, I’d have this moment to always remember.
“Tucker,” she said on a gasp reaching for me. “I want to touch you.”
I moved up her body. “Touch me,” I said, kissing her like my life depended on it. Could she tell? Did she notice that this was so much more than simply scratching a sexual itch?
Her fingers lightly caressed my back, making my muscles twitch and roll and arch to meet her touch.
Her thighs opened and my hips settled between them, my dick perfectly poised at her entrance. One smooth push, and I’d be a part of her. Her soft petals felt warm, wet and inviting against the head of my dick. Different. It felt different.
“Oh shit.” I dropped my head to her chest and pulled my hips back.
“What’s wrong?” she asked, her hands gripping me, preventing me from moving away.
“I don’t have a condom on me. Fuck.” I growled in frustration. “I stopped carrying them when you said this couldn’t happen and I told you I’d stop if things got hot and heavy again.” I smiled sheepishly. “I figured not having a condom was like an emergency break.”
I looked at her, wondering what she was feeling. Did she realize what had happened and was glad we could put an end to it. Or was she disappointed? Did I need to hurry to my room and grab a condom?
She had that sweet, vulnerable expression on her face. “I’m on the pill.”
It took a minute from my brain to function well enough to understand what she said. “Oh…” I was no Lothario, but I’d slept with my share of women. I’d always used a condom. Always. Even when they said they were on the pill.
Her cheeks turned pink and she looked away like she was embarrassed. “But if you rather use a condom.”
“I don’t rather,” I managed wondering if my brain would ever stop short circuiting. “I just…are you sure?”
“I wouldn’t have mentioned it if I wasn’t, but if you’d feel better about—”
“You trust me?” It was a weird question, but considering how she’d been in the past, I found it odd that she wasn’t worried about my past liaisons and health.
“Yes.” She bit her lip and leaned down to kiss where her teeth had left a little mark. “Do you trust me?”
“Yes.” I repositioned my dick at her pussy entrance. “I’m a little worried my head will explode. I’ve never not used a condom.” Inwardly I winced. TMI, Tucker, I chastised myself.
“If you’d feel better about using one—”
I dipped my head and kissed her. “I want inside you so bad now. Like this. No barriers between us.”
I held her gaze and pushed in.
Holy fucking hell…her body was a dream. Slick. Hot. Tight. It welcomed me. Pulled me in and held me close. I was in heaven. I never wanted to leave.
16
Holly
Oh my God. My breath stalled in my chest as delicious sensations radiated out from where Tucker’s body joined mine. Was it because he was so well endowed that I felt so full, so connected, or was it something else? Something more? All I knew was that Rick had never made me feel like this. Not physically. Even that sense of completeness I felt as Tucker’s dark eyes watched me, filled with something I couldn’t name. I never felt that with Rick. I didn’t understand it but I knew I couldn’t fight it. Not anymore. It was time to let go, and let happen what would happen, good or bad.
I wrapped my legs around his hips, and pulled him in deeper.
He groaned. “So fucking, good Holly…good Christ it’s so fucking good.”
I had to agree. It was amazing.
He kissed me, and even that felt different. Before when we’d had sex, it was fast, furious, nearly over before it began. This time, Tucker was going slow. Like he wanted to savor every moment. Was it because we were in a bed finally, or something else? Whatever it was, when he told me he didn’t have a condom, I hadn’t even hesitated t
o tell him he didn’t need one. At first, I wondered if maybe I overstepped and was reading too much into the moment because he did seem to hesitate. But whatever had made him pause, was gone now, and he was inside me. Filling me. Not just my body, but it felt like he was encompassing my very soul.
“Holly.” He adjusted so that he was on his forearms, his thumbs brushing my temples.
I looked up into his dark eyes. They were filled with something that made my heart stop and then beat a million miles a minute.
He withdrew slowly and just as slow, slid back in. Our gazes held as he moved in this slow, steady pace. Each time, the sizzle turned up. The need increased. The intensity built.
“I could fuck you forever,” he said on a harsh whisper.
If Rick had used the f-word to describe this, I’d probably have been offended or hurt. But with Tucker, in this moment, the word didn’t have the same connotation of an empty sexual encounter.
He dipped his head, and sucked my nipple, my pussy clenched and I arched as a new wave of pleasure built.
He groaned in response and levered up onto his hands. “I’m sorry, I can’t wait…”
“Don’t wait. Come in me, Tucker.”
He growled and threw his head back as his hips picked up speed, rocking against me, thrusting, plunging.
I gasped and clung to him as he pushed me up and up, the pressure building and building until I thought I might come undone. My body responded, moving with him in a perfect dance.
“I’m there…fuck I’m gonna come…tell me you’re there, Holly.” His breath was coming in harsh pants now. He thrust in, grinding against me, hitting my clit. I shot off like a rocket, screaming out as the pleasure burst, flying out to every nerve ending in my body.
He let out a long feral groan as he thrust again, and warmth filled my body. He did it again, and again, drawing out my pleasure, then boosting me up and making me come again, this second time, my orgasm rolled through me like a sweet summer storm.
His arms finally gave, and he collapsed on me. He shifted his weight on his forearms. His head lodged next to mine, his breath still harsh on my neck. His dick continued to pulse inside me.
I wasn’t sure how long we lay like that before he finally lifted his head. He stared down on me with that same expression I couldn’t explain. He kissed me, full, slow, gentle, making my heart swell, followed by a terror that I was falling for him and not able to stop it.
He lifted his head and looked at me as if he was searching for something. I couldn’t be sure if he found it, but he moved until he was on his back and I was tucked into his side.
“I like being fake married to you,” he said. I lay with my head on his shoulder, wondering about the shift in intensity. Was he feeling overwhelmed by it too and now trying to bring levity?
“Glad to hear it,” I said, unsure how to respond.
His arm pulled me closer to him. “I’m afraid you’re going to withdraw from me again. It kills me when you do that.”
I knew now that there was no withdrawing. I could try, like I had before, but to what end? I was just giving us both whiplash by giving in and then pulling away. No, I couldn’t fight my attraction to him anymore. But God, how could I completely give in? This couldn’t last and yet, I couldn’t let it go either. I needed this. Not the sex. No. I needed him. Tucker Marshall. I needed his humor and support. I needed his caring and touch.
We lay like that until his breath changed. I looked over and he was sleeping. He looked so peaceful. And young. God he was so young. What was I doing?
I slipped from the bed, took a quick shower, and then went to the dining room and pulled my library plans together. All the while, I was grappling with what I should do. Maybe I needed to confide in someone? Not Becky. I loved her, but I couldn’t trust her not to blab my conundrum to others.
Mo Valentine. He had a fake marriage with a much younger woman. He’d know what I was going through. I shook my head. I couldn’t go to the mayor with this.
Sinclair. I could talk to her.
“Are you okay?” Tucker’s voice interrupted my inner debate.
I looked up to where he stood, stark naked in the entryway of the dining area.
“Yes. I just…I need to run out to see Sinclair.”
He frowned. “Oh?”
“About her campaign. It slipped my mind earlier.”
He grinned. “I distracted you.”
I nodded and smiled. “You seem to do that a lot.” I grabbed my purse. “I’ll be back later.”
I started to walk past him, but he reached out and stopped me. Again, he studied me, looking for something. I smiled, hoping he’d be satisfied with whatever he found.
“I’ll have dinner ready when you get back.”
I wanted to tell him not to go out of his way, but I was afraid how he might interpret that and I didn’t want to get into a discussion with him about what was going on between us.
“Sounds good.”
He surprised me by giving me a quick kiss, then letting me go.
When I pulled into the Jones’ driveway, I was second guessing just showing up like this. But feeling anxious and desperate to find a solution to my crazy feelings, I parked and walked up to the porch, knocking on the door.
“Miss St. James,” Alyssa said when she opened the door.
“Hi Alyssa. Is your mom around?”
“Yep.” She opened the door. “I’m not in trouble, am I?”
“No, honey. This is about your mom’s campaign.”
“Okay.” She closed the door behind me. “Mom!”
Sinclair appeared from the kitchen. “Holly, hi.”
“Hi Sinclair. I’m sorry for just dropping in.”
“Not at all. Is everything alright?”
“Yes.” I lied with a smile.
“I’m going to see if daddy’s back at the barn,” Alyssa said.
“Stay out of the workers’ way,” Sinclair said. Then to me, she said, “Do you want some iced tea? It’s nice out on the side porch now. We can sit and chat.”
I nodded and followed her to the kitchen.
“Is everything okay?” she asked when she handed me the tea and then sat on a porch chair next to mine.
“I told Alyssa I was here about your campaign. I told Tucker that too, but it’s a lie.” I shook my head. If I was lying, then surely this thing with Tucker wasn’t good.
“Oh? What’s up?” she asked.
“This thing with Tucker…”
“The fake marriage?”
“Yes and no. I mean…” Cripes, how did I explain this?
“You know when Wyatt and I did it, we were actually legally married but I was resistant to having a real marriage, you know? I wasn’t sure I could trust him to stay since he’d left so abruptly last time. I even kept the fact that Alyssa was his from him and did my damnedest not to fall for him.”
“That’s not what happened though.”
She smiled sweetly. “No. It was hard not to love Wyatt, back when I was eighteen and now. It was wrong for me to keep Alyssa from him. But also, had we talked, really talked, I’d have understood him better, and not been so afraid of losing him again.”
“It’s different for me and Tucker,” I said. “I mean…we don’t have a history or a child.” So why was I here?
“You know, Ryder and Trina tried to tell me and Wyatt that fake marriages are easy, but they’re not.” She cast a knowing glance at me. “Not if the feelings are real, anyway.”
My heart stalled in my chest. Was that it? Was this really more than just attraction and wanting not to be alone?
“Is that what’s happening? Feelings mucking up the plan?” Her smile was sympathetic.
“I can’t speak for him, but…maybe. Even before this, he showed interest in me. He asked me out a couple of times. I turned him down.”
“Why?” Sinclair looked truly baffled by my answer.
“Because he’s only twenty-four.”
She stared at me like she wa
s waiting for me to elaborate.
So I did. “I’m thirty-seven.”
“So?”
I gaped. “That’s thirteen years! When he’s thirty, I’ll be forty-three, with wrinkles and gray hair and he’ll be in his prime.”
She rolled her eyes. “First, I know you wear a lot of sunscreen to protect your fair skin, so chances are you’ll retain your youthful beauty well into your forties. Second, your hair coloring is such that it will likely hide the gray, but if not, you can get it colored. But this can’t just be about looks can it?”
“It’s about the age difference. How would it look?”
“You do realize that you look young for your age, right? I mean, it’s not like people are going to see you two and think, look at that cougar.”
I looked down because that’s part of what I thought.
“And if they did, so what? Look at Mo and Brooke. He’s nearly twenty years older than her,” Sinclair argued.
“That’s different,” I said looking down into my tea.
“Why?”
“Because he’s a man. Men can do that.”
She studied me. “You did this to encourage Meredith Reynolds to donate to the library, right?”
“Right.”
“Because she thinks married people are more stable.”
“Yes.” I wondered where she was going with this.
“And she’s quite set in her ways about what’s appropriate and not appropriate.”
“She’s vocal about it,” I agreed.
“Uh huh, so, has she said anything about the age difference?”
I thought for a moment. “No. But she probably doesn’t know it.”
Sinclair gave me a look that said I was being crazy. “See, people aren’t going to stare and point at the old lady with the hot new teacher. When I was at your place, you two looked really good together. I’d have never thought about the age difference and I know you.”
Was she right? Was I being too worried about this?
“Listen, if he doesn’t care, why should anyone else?” she asked.
Fake Marriage (Contemporary Romance Box Set) Page 71