Total pages in book: 104
Estimated words: 100608 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 503(@200wpm)___ 402(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100608 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 503(@200wpm)___ 402(@250wpm)___ 335(@300wpm)
Our eyes meet and his say a thousand words all at once. I want to pause time to try and decipher each unspoken one. Before I can think too hard, his lips are back on mine, kissing me in that worshipful way of his that sets my blood ablaze. Hips thunder into me in an erratic way that makes me feel like I’m his entire world right now. I caress his neck and shoulders and biceps, eager to touch him everywhere as he fucks me. As his breath quickens and his grinding grows more punctuated with the nearing of his orgasm, he pulls from our kiss, resting his forehead to mine so he can stare at me up close. With our eyes locked, he topples over the edge of desire. His cock swells as it pumps into the condom. Hot breath tickles my lips as he exhales in sharp pants. Eventually, his dick stops pulsating and only throbs slightly. I pull him to me, hugging him tight.
“I needed that. I needed you,” I admit.
“You’ll always have me.”
As much as I wish that were true, I’m not sure it always will be. Relationships haven’t been on my radar since Toby. Now, with Jax, it’s all I can think about. The what-ifs.
What if we could be more than fuck buddies?
What if we could be forever?
The cold, hard truth is…we can’t.
Jax leaves before I even finish my shower because he’s on call today. Despite the water being hot, a chilly emptiness quivers through me. I quickly towel off and change into something casual—jeans and a hoodie—before heading downstairs to find something to eat. The scent of bacon lures me downstairs and to the kitchen where Shelly is hard at work.
“Hey,” I greet, making my way over to the coffee pot. “How are you holding up?”
“Like Mom always told us when we were kids, ‘They’re just things. It’s the people you can’t replace.’”
I dump in some cream and sugar into my cup while I study my sister. Her shoulders are tense and she stands guard over the bacon with her spatula in hand like it might hop out of the pan and run away. After stirring my coffee, I take a sip and then set it down before walking over to her.
“It still sucks,” I say, rubbing her shoulders.
The tension bleeds away and she nods. “It really does. I thought the gazebo was so beautiful. I’d even planned to take some photos today if the weather was nice to put on our website.”
“I’m sorry.”
“We thought running Dad’s company was hard,” she says with a heavy, resigned sigh. “No one told us getting a B&B up off the ground would feel so damn near impossible.”
I kiss the top of her head before making my way back over to my coffee. “No, they didn’t. Dad warned us, though, that anything worth having in life meant fighting tooth and nail for it.”
“Right, but is it worth it?”
I think about Jax. Sweet, sexy Jax. Of course he’s everything a man could want in the sack, but Jaxson Bell is so much more. He’s kind and funny and caring. When you’re his object of affection, he spoils you with attention and gifts and heart melting words.
“It is worth it to you, isn’t it?” she asks, her probing hazel eyes on mine. “Because of him.”
My back straightens at her words and I look away. “What?”
“You know what, big brother. The sheriff.” She plants her hands on her hips and steps closer until I’m forced to look at her. “It’s why you were weird about him when I went out with him a couple of times. You really did like him, and for all I know, were probably already seeing him.”
“Shelly, I…” I grit my teeth and shrug. “It’s complicated.”
“He’s hot and adorable. You’re a catch because, duh, Kincaid blood running through your veins. How is that complicated?”
“You’ll burn the bacon,” I grumble.
“You like it extra crispy. We have time. Explain this to me, oh wise one.”
“Did you already take Callan to school?”
“Yes, and stop evading the question.”
“You can’t say anything to anyone, not even Callan. Hell, especially not Callan.”
“I’ve kept your secrets before. Spill it, mister.”
“I just wanted to hook up when I got here,” I mutter in resignation since she won’t let up until I tell her everything. “There were plenty of guys I thought I could see myself spending a weekend with.”
“But?” She turns back to the stove to scramble some eggs.
“But those guys got overlooked because the surly town sheriff was a thorn in my side.” I smile fondly at the memory of our first encounter at the Chamber meeting. “After a few bitch fits, we realized we had chemistry. One thing led to another and then I was agreeing to a weekend fling with Jax.”
“But then you fell in love,” she sings, flashing me a wicked grin that reminds me of when she was a bratty kid sister.