by Emily Bowie
“Spread your knees. I want to see what perfection looks like.”
My body is vibrating, and because I want him to make me feel like I did before, I spread my knees, opening myself up to him.
“You naughty girl. You like putting on a show for me.”
I can already feel how wet I am from wanting him. Starting at my calf, he places a gentle kiss on my skin and then begins to go higher, his hands massaging my inner thighs, making me squirm with anticipation.
His fingers enter me first, and I moan at the sensation. His tongue moves expertly against my bundle of nerves, and the combination of his tongue on my clit and his fingers hitting the back of my velvet walls has me falling backward, my eyes closing briefly with pleasure. I buck against him until I feel my body tightening up, my hands gripping his shoulders, squeezing hard, as I quickly come undone without much warning.
“Kellen!” I call out, my body spasming around his fingers. When I finally find my bearings, I lift my head to see him looking at me like he still wants his dessert.
“Take off your pants,” I tell him, just like he had to me.
He stands up at the edge of my bed. “Unzip my pants,” he demands, taking the control away from me. I decide to get on my hands and knees and prowl toward him. I can feel my body yearning for his touch once again, enjoying the attention.
Within a second, I have his pants around his ankles and freed the most beautiful cock I have ever seen. Looking up at him, I see he’s watching me with such intensity, something I’ve never experienced before. It makes me feel powerful, with his hard cock in my hands and the way he’s looking at me.
I watch as his Adam’s apple bobs, while he watches my every move. Parting my lips, I twirl my tongue around the tip, just before I try to take all of him in. His fingers glide into my hair before grasping it, controlling my movements.
“Fuck, Sloan, those lips are made for me,” he hisses out as I hollow my cheeks and bob my head. His ass muscles are clenched, and I can feel the restraint he’s using not to fuck my mouth. It only makes me suck harder, swirling my tongue around him, licking like it’s a lollipop.
“I need in that sweet pussy of yours.” It sounds like he stifles a groan to force those words out, making me smile.
Looking up at him, his handsome face makes my heart take a double beat. Like he knows what he does to me, his hand cups the side of my jaw before lowering his lips to kiss mine. These kisses are meaningful. This isn’t just a fuck anymore. I can feel us changing, complicating it more than I’d like. Knowing he’s one of Kip’s men, part of the mansion, I know this will need to end, but not tonight.
I watch as he sheaths himself with a condom before he lifts me up toward my pillows, our bodies never breaking contact. His hands thread through my fingers where he places them above my head. We have a moment when the moonlight lights up our faces as we stare at each other. His crown is at the center of my apex, nudging it, asking for permission.
Lifting my head, I kiss him again, wanting this moment to never end. His length slowly enters me, causing me to take a deep breath. Then our bodies begin to rock together in unison.
Kellen keeps murmuring sweet nothings into my ear, making me fall deeper for him.
“You’re beautiful.”
“I’ll never let you go.”
“You are perfect.”
“How have I gone my whole life never knowing you?”
These words don’t feel like lines, even as ordinary as they might be. He makes me feel like they’re coming from his heart. I can feel my soul gravitating toward his, and if he keeps this up, he will be the keeper of my heart soon.
CHAPTER 22
Waking up the next morning, I roll over to feel Kellen’s side is cold. Sitting up, the sheets drape across my midsection, reminding me I’m naked. My body aches in places I forgot existed. Then disappointment washes over me. I thought we were past the stage of slipping out in the middle of the night. For some reason, I had convinced myself that last night meant something to the both of us.
I hear some movement in the house and, pulling the blanket across my body, I storm out to give him an earful for trying to sneak out.
I can feel my blood pressure rising. No man has ever been able to play with my emotions as much as him.
Stomping out, I make sure he knows what’s about to come his way. I need to see his face when I confront him about being a coward. Coming to the end of the hall, the smell of bacon hits my nose, causing my feet to become lighter on impact. Cautiously turning the corner toward my kitchen, I see him shirtless, making breakfast for the two of us. I stand there dumbfounded, speechless, embarrassed that I never considered this a possibility.
He lifts his head, turning toward me, and gives me a know-it-all smirk.
“Good morning, sunshine.” Bending over, he picks up a glass and holds it up to me. “Orange juice?”
“I don’t have orange juice.” I have no idea why that’s my first thought, followed by the fact that I don’t have bacon in my house either.
“Yeah, I had my brother Brax drop it off for us.”
He looks around, looking slightly uncertain, that cockiness of his gone. “If you don’t like it, I can make something else for you.” The sincerity in his eyes has me melting.
Walking closer, the blanket still draped around me, I take the OJ from his hand.
“Thank you. Bacon was its own food group when I grew up here with Granny.” The memory that comes with that admission hits me hard. Bringing the cup to my lips, I take a sip of the sweet liquid, trying to mask my emotions behind the cup.
Kellen takes my hand, giving it a squeeze and me a reassuring smile before turning back to the stove. I’m comforted by the idea that he gets me.
I use the opportunity to really look him over. He’s well built, his back bulging with protruding muscles. His skin looks smooth, with a golden tan starting. He’s mouthwatering.
“I need to help my brother Brax for about an hour today,” Kellen mentions while cooking. I had thought maybe we could hang out today, fixing up my door. But I realize I can’t take up his whole day, seeing that he just spent the night. He probably needs space anyway. I try to think how I can fill the time void, not wanting to be home when I have a broken door.
“No problem.” I begin thinking I should lie and say I have plans with Molly anyway.
“I was thinking that, if you’re not busy, you could come with me.” He looks over his shoulder at me, and I’m surprised at how much I would love that.
I nod with a stupid grin on my face I can’t seem to wipe off.
“Then I could come back here to replace your door, so tonight it’ll be secure.”
“That would be great. I don’t have to be at Nelly’s until six tonight.”
“It’s a date then.”
I open my mouth to say it’s not a date, but when I realize I don’t want to say that, my mouth shuts. I like the idea of the day being a date, and even hope to go on a real date with him.
*
The Steele’s ranch is adorable. When we arrive, it looks like his whole family is outside, causing me to fidget. I hadn’t realized this would be a “let’s meet the family” type of thing. My fingers run through my hair, trying to pull myself together.
“Who all is helping your brother?” I ask, seeing a few cars already lined up. I assume that’s his mom with his sister, Shay, on the patio, cups of coffee in their hands, watching our entry on the long driveway.
“Looks like the whole crew showed up today.” He’s all smiles, and not an ounce of stress is showing in his body. He’s completely okay with me meeting his family. I’m typically not the girl guys bring home. Mothers get scared off by my tattoos and the trucker’s mouth I forget I have sometimes.
I only know who Shay is because she happens to be good friends with Molly and comes into Nelly’s often enough.
The truck stops and Kellen comes to my door to help me out. The whole yard seems to have stopped moving, and everyone
’s interest is on us.
Who I assume is his mother steps off the porch and comes toward us, while everyone else pretends to be doing something while keeping their eyes on us.
“Did you let your family know I was coming?” My voice is low as we walk around the hood of the truck.
“No, why?” He looks down at me with curious eyes, not sure where my question might be leading.
Before I can answer, his mom is beside us, giving Kellen a hug. “Now, who is your friend here?” She has the most beautiful, heartwarming smile, making me feel more at ease.
“This is Sloan Tate,” Kellen introduces me. Before I can put my hand out for a handshake, she engulfs me with a hug.
“Would you like a cup of coffee?” she questions as soon as she lets go of me. I don’t have a second to reply before she hooks my arm with hers and drags me toward the house.
“Now, Kellen, you’re ten minutes late, so hustle over there.”
I glance back, and to my astonishment, Kellen is all smiles, waving goodbye to me while giving me a panty-dropping wink.
Then life on the ranch begins. People start moving around once again, talking and not watching every step I take.
“Ma, give the girl some room to drink her coffee.” Shay is standing in front of me with a steaming cup, while her mother reluctantly lets go of my hand, leading me into their home.
Shay hands me the cup. “I’m Shay, by the way.”
I nod toward her. The Steeles are the friendliest people I have ever met. Not even my own family was this welcoming—not that my family has ever been anything to brag about, except for Granny—she was an amazing human being.
“Molly has mentioned you a few times. I’m Sloan.” I have a feeling they already know who I am and an introduction isn’t necessary. Maybe Molly has mentioned me to Shay a few times as well.
“I’m Helen,” Mrs. Steele says, looking giddy.
“What are the guys building?” I realized I never asked Kellen that question.
“They are framing up a house. I think Brax wants it to be Raya’s engagement gift from him,” Helen answers me proudly.
“When she finally moves here,” Shay says, inferring she should already be living here.
“Oh hush, Shay Steele. She’s working very hard. What’s a month or two longer?”
I sense some tension with the situation of Brax’s girlfriend not moving down here.
CHAPTER 23
My mind keeps wandering back to Sloan as I help my brother out. I try to hide my chuckle as I think about her stomping toward the kitchen this morning and the look of pure shock on that kissable face of hers. I like that I shocked her, more than I should.
Her spirit, temper, and beauty are something I can’t get enough of. Truth is, I wasn’t ready for our time to be over, so I invited her to my parents’ house. I’ve never brought a girl home before, not even in high school. Inviting her seemed natural, and I never second-guessed it when the question came out of my mouth.
Seeing my ma take to her instantly has me puffing my chest out in cockiness. I knew my family would love her.
“You and Sloan having sleepovers now?” Brax raises an eyebrow as he holds up a two-by-four for me to hammer in. “What am I saying? Of course you are. Back to your old self, huh?”
The way he implies that Sloan is just another notch in my belt hits me wrong, and I feel the need to protect her. “Fuck off, it’s nothing like that.”
His mouth snaps closed, and I feel my back teeth grind as I stare him down. Brax keeps on working while bobbing his head and grunting at my response, like he doesn’t believe me.
“What the hell does that mean?” I growl as he looks at me in disbelief.
“All I am saying is that she’s a hot little thang you would normally go after then forget as soon as she decides she might actually like you.”
“So, you’re in the business of giving relationship advice now?” I ask coldly, ready to remind him of all his fucked-up relationships.
“Listen, I’m not here to fight. I’m just saying bringing a girl home says a lot to Ma. If you and Sloan aren’t serious, maybe you need to cool it. Otherwise, you will break a lot of hearts. That’s all. But it’s your life. You seem to be handling your affairs perfectly.”
His smile is tight, and it’s the shittiest apology I’ve ever heard while still giving me hell. It’s like he keeps poking my wounds about the mistakes I made five years ago.
I’m not some deadbeat criminal. I made something out of my fucking life. I got a degree—more than he can say. I have a very comfortable paying job, one that I fucking love. But I remind myself of the reason why I have this job is because everyone thinks of me just as my family does. No one trusts me, and that is where my value lies.
That’s where Sloan should stay on the Kellen spectrum too. If I were as good of a guy as I was preaching, I should have let her go. But I fall into my perceived alter ego too easily, and I don’t want to let her go. She makes me feel too good, like I’m someone of worth.
Just like I have always done, I play into what everyone thinks I am. “I’m going to enjoy christening your new house by fucking Sloan on every surface before Raya ever decides to move out here.” I’m goading him to prove to the both of us what he said was right about me. But the words feel like molasses on my tongue, sticky and horrible. I wish I could take them back. This isn’t me, and I fucking hate it. All I want is the same relationship I had with my family before I turned my life to shit.
“Sorry, man, I didn’t mean that.” I swallow my pride by apologizing, but the look Brax gives me says he thinks otherwise. “Seriously, it’s been harder than I thought coming back here.” It’s a weak excuse, but it’s all I have right now.
“I forgive you. But you need to pull yourself together.”
Pressing my lips together, I form a half believable smile. “Yeah.” If only they knew. Oh well.
In this moment, I plan to alter how this town, including my family, looks at me. “Anyway, didn’t you say Raya just had to get a bit of experience then nothing would keep you two apart?”
“That’s the plan. Anyway, it will give me time to think of ways to propose to her. I bought the ring just before Shay’s wedding, but didn’t want to dim her spotlight by asking too soon.”
I can’t help but feel the jab in my stomach. I had stolen part of Shay’s wedding bliss. First by trying to force her to marry someone she never loved, and then by storming in mid-vows. Good thing I wasn’t the first person to raid that ceremony.
“Stop beating yourself up.” I try to brush off Brax’s comments, but it’s hard when I’ve been used to living in my head, having no one I could trust to vent anything to. “Mind if I borrow one of the doors? Sloan’s house was broken into and the door needs fixing.” I’m about to tell him I’d order another one. It’s not like he’s at the stage for doors yet. And I don’t want Sloan to go another hour without feeling secure in her house.
“Why didn’t you say so before? Get out of here and fix that up. You can stop by tomorrow to help when everyone else is gone.”
Just like that, Brax and I are back to our old selves.
*
Heading into the house, I see Sloan in the middle of Ma and Shay, their giggles lightening up my mood.
“What’s so funny?” I ask, walking in farther. Right in Sloan’s lap is one of my mother’s old picture albums. “Now, I know you can’t be laughing at me, since I was as handsome then as I am now.”
Sloan holds up her page, and I see it’s the one and only picture I allowed the year I had braces.
“See? Even in that picture I was a handsome devil,” I lie, keeping up my cocky charade.
“Has he always been this confident?” Sloan asks.
“Oh yes,” my mother and Shay answer in unison, before the three of them start giggling again.
“All right, all right, it’s time I steal Sloan away,” I inform them; otherwise, they would keep her all day. I can tell they were just warming up.
I like the way Sloan is smiling at me right now, and the twinkle in Ma’s eyes as she watches the two of us. I could get used to this.
“Make sure you bring this girl for family dinner on Sunday,” Ma orders, making me smile.
CHAPTER 24
I watch as Sloan’s eyes light up with my mother’s words. It’s like a clamp holds on to my heart and twists it a bit, making this reality. I intend on spending as much time as possible with her.
As I open the truck door for her, her eyes look at me differently, less guarded than before. “Well, your family is fun.” She chuckles.
“You’re only saying that because they like to make fun of me like you do.” My hand goes to her thigh, and I give it a squeeze. Her smile is undeniably beautiful. The warmth from her hand covers mine, making me never want to leave this bubble we’ve formed.
“Great minds think alike,” she gloats.
We spend the day together, putting up her new door. The task seemed to take no time at all with her keeping me company. She sits beside me while I work. Her company is comfortable, as she is easy to talk to, funny, and sexy as hell to look at.
In fact, I’m shocked that she and I never ran into each other before, considering what a small town this is. Sloan is without a doubt Three Rivers’s best-kept secret, I have decided.
Dropping her off at Nelly’s for her next shift, I head to McGrath’s mansion, feeling agitated about leaving her. I would have loved to stay, keeping tabs on her to make sure she stays safe, but I have to talk to Kiptyn.
Not knowing what to expect, and pissed that Kiptyn would allow someone to break into her house, my fingers tap on the steering wheel in anticipation. I know the type of business he runs. No one should get away with this without repercussions. My blood is pumping in my veins, much like it did when I was younger, looking for a fight. I played it off as no big deal to Sloan, when in fact I know how dangerous it was. Sloan could quite possibly be in the middle of something far greater than she realizes.
