by Taryn Quinn
I hurried to keep up with him, my wrap dress whipping against my chilly legs in the breeze. Murphy had warmed me right up though.
Inside and out. Especially between my breasts in that spot no other man had touched before.
No one else.
“Where are we going?” I asked between choppy breaths, scarcely able to hold back my laughter. It filled me up inside, squeezing out everything else.
Maybe this was what joy felt like.
And falling in love.
“My cabin. Or your apartment. No, your apartment is closer.”
The apartment I rarely spent time in these days, since I spent every free moment with Murphy at his place. I didn’t want to go there now. It was small and already felt empty, as if I no longer lived there.
I’d already begun to move on to my future.
I squeezed his hand. God, I hoped.
He drew me up the street to where his truck was parked near the bed and breakfast. Even in his rush, he didn’t just unlock it and move toward the driver’s side. Oh, no, he opened my door first and would have waited while I got inside and belted in.
If I hadn’t climbed in and turned to him standing beside the open passenger door, then reached for him with my arms and legs, wrapping both around him while he let out a startled “oof,” and met my mouth with his own.
I lost track of time. Of place. I barely felt the cramps in my inner thighs from the awkward way I’d coiled around him like a horny snake. But I didn’t miss how his hand anchored in my hair or the firm press of his lips as he matched my eagerness and returned even more.
My Murphy who wasn’t into PDAs was definitely giving as good as he got tonight.
Somehow I pulled back to pant against his throat. “Drive up the street. Pull off by the Paulson’s boat launch.”
He didn’t argue with me, just stepped back to touch his fingers to his mouth where I’d practically kissed him raw. His smile made me smile back stupidly, before he tucked my dress around my legs and gently nudged them inside. I still hadn’t reached for my belt when he shut my door.
Or when he came around to start the truck. I wasn’t quite able to move.
I was in some kind of dazed love-pre-sex coma and could only keep right on smiling as he drove the short distance up the street and pulled over where I’d indicated near a shady grove of trees.
Wasn’t the stealthiest of makeout spots—or let’s be real, fucking spots, because I wasn’t intending to stop with just a cop and a feel—but it would probably do without us getting arrested.
And if I was wrong, I’d pay that fine with pride.
He shifted toward me and I covered his mouth with my finger. “Ease back your seat.”
No arguments once again. Hallelujah.
Once he had, I climbed astride his lap more than a little awkwardly. The windows were already getting foggy, and I was glad no one would be able to see me try to be seductive as I wedged my ass on his lap and tried to shift so the steering wheel didn’t bruise me to shit.
And oh, hello there, happy cock. I missed you.
“Did you just call my cock happy?” His laugh was strangled.
“Was I talking out loud? Whoops. More like your cock makes me happy.” I kissed him and rubbed up against it without the slightest ounce of hesitation, sliding my dress up between us so he could feel just how wet I was. Since my panties were basically a scrap of nothing and I was suddenly very pleased with that fact.
“Jesus.”
“That again?” I grinned and steadied myself on his shoulders, watching his face as I rocked up and down. “Do you have condoms?”
He nodded and tipped back his head. “In my wallet. Back pocket. If I move, I’m probably going to come, so not doing that.”
“No, you aren’t.” I nipped his lower lip and savored the sound he made.
I could live on each one of them. Just store them up like oxygen.
“You have one?”
“Nope.” I did, actually, and would use it if he wanted me to.
Oh, wait, no, I didn’t. My purse was back in the restaurant. I frowned. Oh, crap.
Then I looked at the backseat and saw it lying there, as if it had been thrown onto that spot. Not by me.
“You saved my purse.”
He nodded. “Grabbed it on my way out after apologizing to your mother. I tossed it in the truck on my way to find you. It was just blind luck thinking you’d run for the water.” He craned his neck to glance into the backseat. “I hope I didn’t break your phone.”
“Don’t worry. It’s sturdy.”
Just like me. I was sturdier than I’d ever given myself credit for, because even though I was scared of this—so terrified—I wasn’t running away.
I was grabbing onto Murphy with both hands and holding on for dear life.
“So am I. And if you keep wiggling against me like that, I can’t promise not to—” He took a shuddering breath when I rubbed against him that much harder.
“Maybe come in my mouth?” I leaned down and playfully licked his lower lip, my eyes never leaving his. “Better yet, maybe I’ll ride you and then you can come in my mouth.”
“Veronica.”
“I don’t want you to wear a condom this time. I also don’t want you to come in my throat. But I very much want to suck all of this.” I reached between us to squeeze him, the slide of my fingers stimulating me too.
I wasn’t sure which of us moaned louder.
“It’s your choice.” I made myself still my movements so that he focused on what I was saying. “Wrapped or unwrapped, I’m here for it.”
He reached up to cradle my chin in his big hand. “I want it too. I want every bit of you, Veronica Dixon.”
I kissed him, undoing his zipper with no finesse whatsoever. I wanted to press my lips to his pecs and his abs and his dick—and everywhere in between—but the need inside me was far too great. Not just physically. I wanted him in a way I hadn’t known was possible.
I fumbled him out of his boxer briefs and swiped my thumb over the swollen head, then I set him against me. I couldn’t wait.
But Murphy would never be the guy who didn’t think of foreplay, even if I was hot enough to come from a strong breeze. He cupped my breasts and rolled his thumbs over my tight nipples, his hungry expression more than enough to send me over all on its own.
Then he leaned forward and dragged his tongue up the side of my throat. “You’re the only girl I’ve ever had sex with outside of a bed.”
It made me laugh. And ask probably the worst question ever. “Not even Sage?”
Right. Because now was the perfect time for my inappropriate feelings of jealousy to rear up yet again.
He shifted his head and nailed me with a far too perceptive glance. “I never slept with Sage. We never even came close. We just dated a couple of times, that’s all.”
“Mmm-hmm.”
He frowned, but then he smiled so wide I almost would’ve slugged him—if I hadn’t been gripping his cock like a joystick. “You’re jealous of her. You’re jealous of her and me. Even though you have absolutely no reason to be.”
“What? Me? No.” I looked at the roof of his truck. “Maybe a little. But you can probably fuck it right out of me.”
“Oh, can I?”
“Yes. You can.”
He reached down between us and slipped aside the little panel of material that kept us apart. Then he lined himself up, locked his gaze with mine, and drew me down on top of him, so freaking slowly that my breath escaped on a hiss.
“Oh, God.” The feel of him inside me bare was…
There weren’t words. Just groans. Grunts. The sounds of us moving together and making the truck fucking rock.
“Veronica.” His thumb brushed my lower lip and I sucked it into my mouth, every bit as hard as I was drawing him into my body.
He threw back his head, the cords in his neck tensed and outlined in the sliver of moonlight sneaking inside the fogged-up windows. “This isn’t going
to—fuck, I can’t last.”
“Me either. God, me either.”
I bucked against him with no skill whatsoever, moving so jerkily in the confined space that my head bumped the ceiling and I just did not care. I barely even noticed, but he reached up to hold my head in both his hands, shielding me from my own need while his hips rose to give me everything I craved.
He did all the work and I just absorbed.
Basked.
Moaned with every delicious, dragging stroke.
My nipples tightened and I raced against him faster, rubbing at the spot that hit me just right. Enjoying every inch of him, tucked so deep inside me. “You can pull out,” I gasped. “Finish in my hand. My mouth.”
I wanted him to have every choice. Now and always.
He leaned up to speak close to my ear, his breath warm against my lobe. “And miss filling you up? Not a chance.”
His primal, possessive tone made my body quake. I cried out as I felt him jerk inside me, and that sensation was all I needed to go flying. Knowing he was inside me, with me in every way that mattered. His release spilling deep within me, taking us both where we were meant to go.
If we were meant to. And if not, that was okay too. Because neither of us were alone anymore.
Not anymore.
“Veronica.” He cupped my head and drew it to his shoulder while I rode out the last of my shudders. He was shaking too, and knowing he’d experienced just what I had was more powerful than any orgasm.
We could’ve created a life just now. And if we didn’t? We were creating one anyway.
Ours. The one meant for us to live together.
“You’re the only woman for me.” His voice was guttural. Raw. “The only one, ever.”
I shut my eyes and curled around him, kissing the side of his throat where his pulse beat so fast and hard.
For me.
For us.
“You’re the only man for me, Murphy.” I eased back to frame his face between my hands. “Okay, wait, that’s a lie.” His brief frown was worth it as I added, “Well, you and Cabin Fortress.”
He laughed and smacked my bare ass, then rubbed it gently before pulling down my dress. “Get back in that seat, girl.”
“Afraid we’ll be arrested?”
His gaze connected electrically with mine in the near darkness. “No. I’m taking you home so I can get you pregnant the right way.”
Seventeen
Murphy
Vee: Fortress, I have breached your walls. I’d say I’m into you, but I’d prefer you get in me again. Very soon.
My truck bounced over the gravel drive up to my cabin. The cab of the truck was quiet and still smelled of her. For fuck’s sake, her scent was still on my dick. I was a damn mess.
The fact that I still wasn’t done with her, that was the part that scared the fuck out of me.
It didn’t feel one and done.
It never had with her.
And now, she’d let me inside of her without a damn condom in my fucking truck. That was not the way I wanted to do that the first time. Not that it was our first time. No, that had been definitely out of the ordinary as well.
Freaking kitchen counter.
We had only been involved for a short while, but it felt as if we’d been already been together forever.
As usual my life was spinning out of control when it came to this woman. It had happened the very first day I saw her and now…
Now our lives might be changing forever. She’d come at me like a siren with a purpose. I’d crashed into the rocks and drowned happily.
I’d drown daily if she let me.
I glanced over at her as I slapped the gear into park. “So, that happened.”
She smoothed her hand over her skirt. “Which part? The part where my mom interrogated you, or the part where I jumped you?”
“Both.”
She tipped her head. That damn head tilt was going to be the death of me. “You charmed the pants off my mom. Then me.” She gave me a wicked grin. She toyed with the hem of her skirt. “Well, panties. And I think we should practice a little more.”
I groaned as I tried to straighten my skewed tie. My little hellcat left me as disheveled as a horny teen after prom. Then again, my prom hadn’t ended nearly as well as our crazy truck escapades.
I climbed out of the truck and came around to her side, opening the door and undoing her buckle before hauling her into my arms again.
“Murphy.” Her voice was startled, but the light in her eyes told me she was onboard. I couldn’t take all of this too seriously or she was going to bolt.
She might not need me anymore after our little interlude.
My grip tightened on her hips as I backed up with her in my arms. I held her tight against me and she wrapped her legs around my waist. “Damn, girl. You make me think all sorts of ungentlemanly thoughts when you give me that look.”
She looped her arms around my neck. “Which look would that be? I’d like to memorize it so I can pull it out of my pocket whenever I need you.”
“Need me for what?”
Easy, asshole. Don’t scream ‘I am half in love with you already’ in her face.
Especially since I was pretty sure half had been a foregone conclusion before I’d even messaged her the first time. Add in a few weeks and I was about as gone as you could get.
“This.” She bounced up with the incredible—sweet loving mercy—strength of her amazing thighs. This woman was my match in so many ways.
I stalked up the walkway. And even with Veronica’s serial killer talk in the back of my mind, I never remembered to lock my damn door. There was nothing precious enough in my place to worry about. At least there never had been before now.
I juggled her slightly so I could get my hand on the doorknob before I kicked the door open and slammed it shut. Her eyes went bright with excitement and my boots made a sharp click on the hardwood as I bypassed my living room, kitchen, and went right to my master suite.
“Man with a purpose.”
“You’re goddamn right.” I tossed her into the middle of the bed and she made a squeak that turned into bawdy laughter.
She rolled onto her knees. “Murphy Masterson, what got into you?”
I unbuttoned the tiny freaking buttons of my vest and stripped it off. “A certain woman attacked me in my own truck.”
She put her hands on her hips. “And you’re offended?”
“No.” I slowed myself down. Stared her down as I undid the buttons at each wrist. “I just feel the need to show you who’s boss.”
She threw her head back with a laugh. “Not you, sir.”
“Strip, Veronica. If that dress isn’t off before I get to my belt, you’ll be wearing one of my shirts home tomorrow.”
Her laughter dried up and for a moment I thought I went too far. Instead, she went for her little tie at the side of the wrap-dress and it slid free. “Better hurry up with those buttons, Fortress.”
I was too wired to deal with the little plastic discs that made me insane on a good day. Then again, I rarely got dressed up. But for her, I did. Right now, with her creamy skin on display, I had no hope of being dexterous.
I jerked my tie to the side as she tucked her fingers into the shadows of her dress to find some magic hook or string and the whole dress unfurled. She was perfect. And she drove me to distraction.
A rainbow of colored T-shirts with one of Macy’s racy slogans on them made her look sweet and about the age of a coed. In a dress?
Nope.
Nothing coed about her.
All woman with her perfect breasts pushed up by a pale purple bit of lace that I’d only gotten a brief glimpse of when she’d been riding on top of me. She’d barely let me breathe before getting into my zipper.
But not now.
Now I could take my time and make sure she was full to the fucking brim with my…
Jesus, since when had I had these caveman impulses to spread my seed?
Since
a certain rainbow-tipped blond came into your life, buddy.
She shrugged off the dress and cupped her hands over her breasts. “You’re lagging behind, Fortress.”
I don’t know why that name made me crazy. But it was like a secret just between us. No one knew this side of me besides this woman. Not even former girlfriends, and there had been very few. I was too quiet, too reserved, too…friend-zoned.
But not with her.
Her gaze raked down my chest as I whipped the tie out of the collar of my shirt. Her lips parted. I arched my eyebrow as her gaze drifted to the silver and blue tie around my hand. I wrapped it around my palm and made a quick slip-knot.
Her eyes widened and she licked her lips.
Well, that would be one way to keep her from moving this along faster than I wanted.
“Do you trust me?”
She swallowed hard and nodded quickly.
“I need the words, Veronica.”
She lifted her hands, wrists up. “Oh, yes.”
If my dick hadn’t been pulsing behind my zipper before, now it was a full-on throb. I looped the tie over her hands and gently tightened it over her wrists, before I brought them both up to my lips. I nipped at the fragile skin, then followed it up with a soft kiss.
I knelt on the bed and urged her back on my quilt.
Don’t think about the fact that Aunt Milly made the quilt for you, asshole.
Nope.
All I could focus on was this woman. This moment.
And maybe, just maybe, planting a baby inside her. One that I’d cherish just as much as his or her mama. If only she’d let me.
I reached behind her head to tug her twist out of the pretty barrette thing she had it in. I needed all her blond hair on my pillows. Spread out for me so I could take all of her in.
I straddled her thighs to lift her arms up between the pillows to the slats of my headboard. I only looped it once and tied a knot that could be released easily. I didn’t want her completely at my mercy. I loved how she reached for me. Always.
She never held back.
It was one of the things I loved about her.
I closed my eyes.
