I put my beer down and moved to her. I pushed a stray strand of her blonde hair out of her face.
“Yes.”
34
Brooke
My breath stalled in my chest. It appeared that my biggest dream was coming true. Mo was saying he loved me. Sort of.
“I have for a time but have been an idiot about it,” he said.
“Oh, Mo.” I launched myself into his arms, holding on to him and making a silent promise to never let him go. His arms came around me, and tears came to my eyes as I savored him holding me.
“I’m sorry, Brooke,” he said. “I’m so sorry I hurt you. That Frank hurt you.”
“All that matters is that you love me.” I lifted my head to look into his eyes. “Because I love you, too, Mo. So much. For so long.”
His smile was sweet. “I can’t imagine why.”
“Then, I need to do better at letting you know why.” I pulled him tight again. But then I realized that many of the same issues existed, mainly my father’s disapproval. “What about my dad?”
Mo looked into my eyes, and I saw so much love there, finally, that I thought my heart would burst from my chest. He said, “I’m sorry to lose his friendship. And I’ll admit, I’m not looking forward to what he might do, but if I had you—”
“You do have me, Mo.”
He smiled. “Then that’s all that matters. I plan to resign from office on Monday, and so you’ll be stuck with a rancher.”
“Resign? Why?” Was Sinclair forcing him out? That didn’t seem right since she appeared to be defending him when she showed up at our house.
“It just seems like the right thing to do. It would give Sinclair more experience, which would make it easier for her to win. It would piss Stark off, which is an added bonus. I think he was the one to tell Frank about my more-than-friendly relationship with you.”
“Is that what Sinclair wants?”
“No. She made me wait until Monday.”
“Don’t. Don’t resign, Mo. You’ve done nothing wrong. I’ll quit if that makes it easier. There’s a job open in Watley County that I can apply for—”
“I don’t want you to quit. I’ll be out soon enough.”
I looked down. “Sinclair will fire me anyway.”
“What?” He used the crook of his finger to lift my head. “When did you see Sinclair?”
“She came out the other day and let Dad and me have it.”
“Jesus.”
“We deserved it. Or at least, Dad did. She can be as scary as Trina when she gets all riled up.”
He laughed. “Yes. I’m sorry about that.”
“But don’t you see, Mo? This town cares about you. Sinclair and even Trina care about you. Nothing my father says or does can change that.”
“I don’t know about that.”
“Not if I tell them differently.”
He nodded. “I guess you’re right.”
I could see he was still bothered by the prospect of his reputation being besmirched.
“You know, we’ve been making up for a few minutes, and you still haven’t kissed me.”
He grinned. “You have to stop talking.”
I stared up at him, keeping my mouth closed. He smiled and dipped his head. When his mouth touched mine, it was like a final puzzle piece finally snapping to place. We were complete.
“No sex in my place before me. Go home if you’re going to make up by getting naked,” Tucker said from the kitchen entryway.
Mo jerked back a bit.
“What do you say, Mr. Mayor?’ I asked. “Wanna get naked?”
He groaned and took my hand to lead me out of the kitchen. “Excuse us, Tucker.”
“Sure thing, Mr. Mayor. Mrs. Mayor.”
In the parking lot, we realized we’d come in different cars. “I’ll meet you at home,” he said.
I smiled, loving the idea that he was considering his home to be my home, too. “Meet you there.”
I couldn’t get to Mo’s house—our house—fast enough. On the way, scattered thoughts about what my father would do or if Mo would change his mind flitted through my brain. But as quickly as they were there, I pushed them away. I was going to seize the moment and make it last as long as I could. Forever, hopefully.
Mo was out of his car when I pulled up. When I stopped, he opened my door and helped me out, pushing me against it as he kissed me hard. I could taste his desire, and I wanted to stay like that forever.
“Inside,” he said, grabbing my hand and tugging me up to the porch and into the house. Once again, he pressed me against the door and kissed me.
I fumbled with the buttons on his shirt and then changed my mind and went to undo his pants. My body ached for him. I needed him now.
“Not here,” he said, taking my hand and pulling me down the hall.
“I need you,” I moaned.
“Bed. My bed.” In his room, I didn’t have a chance to look around before he pulled me to him. “Our bed. Mrs. Valentine.”
My heart swelled with so much love. I couldn’t believe it was possible. With those words, he told me everything I needed to hear. I’d never been in his bed. He’d never called me by his name. And now he did.
“Mo.” His name came out on an emotional gasp as I pressed my palm to his cheek. “You’ve just made my every dream come true.”
He dropped his forehead against mine. “I don’t know why you’ve chosen me, but I’m going to stop fighting it.”
“Thank God.” I put my hands on his chest and pushed him back on the bed. “Now fuck me, because I’m dying for you.”
He flashed a sexy smile. “As you wish.”
Our bodies were a flurry of activity as we kissed and touched and tore our clothes off until finally, finally, we were flesh to flesh. His hot skin felt amazing over mine as his mouth consumed me in every way possible.
“Open for me, Brooke,” he said as he settled his hips between my thighs.
I spread my legs and sighed as his dick found my entrance.
“Look at me,” he said.
I looked at him, loving how I could finally see how he felt about me in his hazel eyes.
“You gave me this precious gift. Your innocence.”
I nodded. “I wanted you to be the first.”
His head cocked to the side. “I’m honored by that. But you do realize that by staying married to me, I’m your only, right?”
I smiled. “Yes. Why would I want anyone else?”
His shoulders shrugged. “You’re young. There are many more handsome, younger men than me out there.”
“Are there? I wouldn’t know. I only see you, Mo.”
His smile was beautiful, and it made me feel like I’d given him something special. “Well then,” he said, and then pushed forward, his dick slowly but surely filling me.
I moaned, loving the feel of him sliding inside until he couldn’t go any further.
“You feel so fucking good,” he said as he kissed my jaw and lightly sucked my neck.
“Mo?” I wrapped my legs around him and pulled him deeper.
“Yes, baby?”
“I love you.”
His head lifted, and he looked down on me. “Brooke.” His hand caressed my face. “I love you, too.”
He shifted, resting on his forearms as he continued to look down on me. He withdrew and slid back in slowly.
“Do you feel me?” he asked.
“Yes. I love how you feel.”
He slid back and forward again. “Your pussy is perfection, Brooke. Sweet perfection.”
“I’m pretty sure it’s your dick.”
He moved again, and with each slide, the friction built by slow degrees. It was like savoring the most decadent dessert.
“Or maybe it’s us,” I said. “Like we’re made for each other.”
“That must be it,” he said. He dipped his head and kissed me, his body moving in and out of me. For the first time in my life, I felt truly connected to another person. Not just
through our bodies, but through our hearts. Our souls.
His lips trailed along my jaw toward my ear as his body continued to move smoothly, steadily, and oh, so sweetly.
“Do you want children someday, Brooke?” he whispered.
“Yes. I want a whole bunch of them.”
He groaned.
“I want to be the wife who gives you everything you want, Mo. Everything you deserve.”
“What do you want, baby?”
“You. Just you.”
He lifted his head and stared down on me. “I’m yours. For as long as you want me.”
“How about forever?”
“Forever it is.” He continued to gaze down on me, his hips picking up speed as our desire and need mixed hotter and hotter, and my pussy throbbed with need. “Come on me, Brooke. Come and take me with you.”
Like that, our gazes holding, our bodies moving, our love wrapping around us, he pushed me up and up until that one perfect moment when I shattered, my body grabbing on to his and taking him with me to sweet heaven.
He rolled until he was on his back, pulling me close to him. For a moment, I wondered if he’d revert. If he’d let his old concerns muddy the waters between us again.
“I was a fool not to love you sooner,” he said.
“I’ll agree with that.” I looked up at him and grinned.
He laughed, and I rested my head on his chest, loving to feel the steady beat of his heart on my cheek.
“You’re not really going to resign, are you?” I asked as I played with the hairs on his chest.
“I…it seems like the best thing.”
“No, it doesn’t.” I lifted my head. “Unless you’re ashamed of me or us.”
“No, baby.” He fingered strands of my hair. “You’re the best thing that has happened to me.”
“Then you don’t have to resign. And if it’s a problem that we’re married, I’ll go work somewhere else. Or we can start having babies now.”
He jerked back. “So fast?”
“Well, I might like a little more time to have you for myself. The point is, whatever issues come, we can deal with them, Mo.”
He nodded. “You’re right. And if Sinclair wins the election, I’ll make sure she doesn’t fire you.”
I lifted my head again. “You told her about us?”
He nodded. “I felt like my life was fucked, and I had to make changes that included her taking over. I figured since she’d had a fake marriage, she’d understand.”
I frowned. “I never liked that term.”
“What?”
“Fake marriage. It was never fake for me.” I looked down. “I know it seems like a silly, schoolgirl fairy tale but—”
“Brooke.”
I lifted my gaze to his. “You’re not a silly girl. You’re probably the most mature, level-headed person I know.”
I smiled.
“And this, what’s between us, it isn’t fake. Why do you think I asked about the babies? My goal is to keep you beyond one year. I do believe you said forever.”
How was it possible to feel so happy? “Forever.”
His smile fell slightly. “There will be issues, and yes, we’ll deal with them, but I need to talk to Frank.”
“I hate that I’ve come between you.”
He shifted so that we lay side by side, facing each other. “Actually, while I did feel like you’d been put in the middle, at this point, what has come between us is all on Frank. And while I don’t look forward to facing his shotgun again—”
“What?” I gasped.
“Yes, he met me with his gun. Anyway, I feel like I need to have his blessing.”
“And what if he doesn’t give it?”
Mo ran his hand down my arm and back up to my shoulder. “I won’t stop trying, Brooke. However long it takes.”
I leaned in and kissed him. “Before we do that, can we make love again?”
“You never have to ask for that from me.” He pulled me over him. “But this old man is worn out. I think you need to do all the work.”
I grinned down on him. “You’re not old.”
“Nah. I just like the way your tits bounce when you ride me.”
I laughed. “See, you’re a horny teenager.”
He levered up, his hands cradling my face. “You make me feel young and horny and so fucking happy.”
What more was there to say after that? Nothing. Instead, I just rode his dick to oblivion.
35
Maurice
Laying with Brooke by my side, our love out in the open, I felt like I’d hit a point of perfection in my life. I wondered why it had taken me so long to realize how well this woman fit me. She was what I needed, including her youthfulness. She was right. Whatever obstacle got in our way, we’d figure it out. I wasn’t running for mayor again, so what did it matter if the town thought I was a cliché marrying my young secretary? I wasn’t the first man to do that. Eventually, the next bit of town gossip would come along, and I’d be old news.
The only blip, which was more like fear, was facing Frank. I couldn’t imagine how he’d ever come around to accepting Brooke and me, but I supposed I had forever to try and make it happen. A part of me was pissed at him for being such a jerk about it. Not because of me. I got how weird it had to be that his friend was in love with his daughter. He had to feel betrayed by that. What angered me was how he dismissed Brooke’s feelings.
It wasn’t lost on me that I had done the same thing to her. Now, though, I had forever to make it up to her. And hopefully, Frank would come around and realize that I only wanted to make her happy, and hopefully, he’d be equally invested in her happiness. Granted, we may never be best of friends again, but if we could be civil, I’d settle for that.
Wanting to get started, Brooke and I showered, where I showed her the joy of shower sex, and then we dressed to head over to Frank’s.
“Maybe when we’re done, we could pick up takeout and bring it to Tucker. We can thank him for helping us,” she said as we drove over to Frank’s.
I took her hand and brought it to my lips to kiss it, feeling a bit embarrassed and yet excited at how romantic I was feeling. “Sure. I can apologize for wanting to beat the shit out of him.”
“You threatened him?” she looked at me with surprise.
“No, but I was jealous of him. When I saw you go into his room the other night…” I rubbed my chest as just the memory of it hurt.
“You saw me there?”
“I did. He hugged you and pulled you into his room.”
“Mo. I’m sorry. He’s just a friend. Honest.”
“I know. He’s a good friend, Brooke. I’m glad he was here for you.”
She smiled, and like always, it felt like the sun had come out.
“I should check in with work, and I have a couple of errands, but I can get the takeout and let you two unpack his place,” I said.
“I forgot about work. If I can have today off, I’ll come back on Monday.”
The conversation about work and Tucker ended as I pulled into Frank’s drive.
“Well, let’s hope he’s had time to calm down,” I said.
“I’m not leaving without my phone.” A distinct change came over her. It was a determination and strength. It had always been there, I realized, but like Frank, I’d not acknowledged it.
I exited the car and walked over to her side, opening her door to let her out. I held out my hand to help her.
The screen door on the house screeched open. “Get off my property!”
“Knock it off, Dad,” Brooke said as she came to stand with me. “Oh my God, the shotgun. Really? What are you, a Hatfield or a McCoy?”
“I protect what’s mine,” Frank said. At least he wasn’t holding the gun pointed at me. I figured that was only because Brooke was standing next to me.
“I’m not yours.” She gripped my hand and stalked toward her father. I kept an eye on the double barrels he was holding. “I love this man. He loves me.
We’re married. Get used to it.”
“I don’t have to get used to anything, missy.”
This wasn’t going to go well. “Frank, I know you feel betrayed—”
“You don’t know anything.” He glared at me. “I trusted you.”
“I know. And I’m sorry—”
“Don’t you be sorry!” Brooke whirled on me. “Don’t you ever be sorry for loving me.”
I held back a smile because it probably wouldn’t go over well that it turned me on when she was feisty like that.
“I’m not sorry for loving you, Brooke. I’m sorry for hurting your dad.” I rubbed my hand down her back as I looked up to Frank. “I’d like to talk to you about this.”
“And say what? How you corrupted my daughter—”
“Oh God, Dad, really?”
“And say that I love her.”
“You don’t know love. Neither of you does.”
I reached into my pocket and pulled out the land contract he’d given me for the forty acres of collateral. “I want to give this back to you. It’s the land along the river.”
“No.” Brooke yanked the paper out of my hand. “You’ve given him too much already.”
“I don’t want any deals or arrangements hanging between us, Brooke,” I said.
“There isn’t any,” she said.
“Still. The land is his.”
“Don’t do me any favors,” Frank snarled.
“You’re an ungrateful bastard, you know that, Dad?”
Frank jerked back. I did too.
“Mo has given you so much. And what do you do? You whine and kvetch and threaten to ruin him. You’re a terrible person.”
“Is what he has given worth more than what he has taken?” Frank snapped back.
“Aside from protecting your family legacy by saving your farm, he’s made your daughter happy. If you cared anything about me and my happiness, you’d get over yourself. But you don’t care about anyone but yourself.”
“I’m protecting you,” Frank said.
“I don’t need protection. Not from Mo. You didn’t seem to have a problem with him when you took his money.”
Fake Marriage (Contemporary Romance Box Set) Page 61
