“What’s going on?”
“Someone broke into my place last night. She said they trashed it. I hope they didn't do anything to the Sweet Shop. That place means everything to Lily.”
“We’ll work it out either way.” I put my hand on her back. I will myself to remain calm because I don’t want to upset her. She’s so damn sweet. She’s not even worried about her own place. Tension seeps into my muscles. Who the fuck would do this? Kissme Bay is one of the quietest places on earth.
When we pull up, I see the cop cars outside already. Glory sees us and starts heading our way. “Willow. Baby. Everything will be fine.” I cup her cheek. “Things can be replaced easily. You trust me?”
“I do.” She smiles at me, but I can tell she’s fighting tears.
“I’m not letting anyone between us. Where you go, I go. Got it?”
Her smile grows bigger, and her eyes start to tear up. Thank fuck. I now know what my kryptonite is. Willow on the verge of tears.
“Unlock this thing.” Glory knocks on the window. I hit the locks. “You can’t go on a date and then disappear!” she shouts.
“Cool it.”
Glory jerks her glare over to me. She closes her eyes and takes a breath. “I’m sorry. I was so damn worried when no one could find you this morning and the place was wrecked.”
“I’m sorry. I should have let someone know where I was. My phone died.” She undoes her seatbelt and jumps down. I do the same. She walks over toward me as I round the car. She pushes herself into my side. Glory eyes us for a moment.
“So this is serious.” She motions between the two of us.
“Yep,” I answer.
“All right. Let's talk to Sheriff Larson.”
We both have to give a run-down of our day yesterday. Glory gives me a look, letting me know that we need to tell the sheriff about the restaurant and Willow’s date.
“Could it have been the date?” Sheriff Larson asks.
“I don’t know.” Willow shrugs.
“I’m sorry. The dating app was a stupid idea.” I have to agree with Glory for once.
“It might not have been that guy. How would he know where I live?” Willow tries to reason, not wanting her friend to feel guilty.
“Small town,” both Sheriff Larson and Glory say at the same time.
“Can I go take a look?” Willow asks, looking toward the back door.
“I’d rather you not to be honest,” Glory tells her. It makes we wonder what the hell else is in there that they don’t want us to see. My mind comes up with all sorts of shit. I don’t care to think about another man being in her place alone.
“Why don’t you come and stay with me? It’s still a crime scene and all. Right, Larson?” Glory glares at me. I can tell she’s trying to size me up to see if she trusts me or not.
“Yep. Sure is.”
“She’ll stay with me.”
“What? We don’t even know you. It could have been you.” Glory points her finger at me.
“We were together all night.” Willow jumps to my defense. She even shifts her body over in front of me. I almost laugh because she is so much smaller than me that she’s not blocking much. But I know now is not the time to smile, and Glory will probably murder me if I do.
“He could have slipped out while you were sleeping.” She looks so pleased with herself at her suggestion.
“What would be the point of that?” I ask. If anything, I just want them to rule me out so they start looking where they should be. I want whoever did this to be found as soon as possible.
“Maybe your plan was to get her all scared so that she’ll stay with you?” I swear her grilling me only makes me like her more because it shows me what a good friend she is to Willow.
“She was already coming back to my house tonight,” I inform her. “I would never do anything to harm Willow.”
Glory huffs. “I want a second alone with my friend.” Willow looks up at me. “Hey, you don’t have to ask him.” I don’t know what I’ve done to gain so much trust from Willow so fast but it’s there. That deep connection I know we’ve always had is stronger than ever.
I step back and watch them talk. A few more women come over and give Willow hugs. I pull out my phone and make a few calls. I want to know everything that went down here. I don’t have to play by all the rules the police do. I will get to the bottom of this.
I want to know everything about that man from last night. I also want to know about the second date she mentioned that I got her to cancel. I reach out to Emily and ask her to get anything she thinks Willow might need. All she has at the moment are the clothes on her back. I pocket my phone when I see Glory slip away from the group of women and head my way.
“You better take care of her. She’s sweet. Sometimes too sweet.” Willow is all full of smiles and laughs. Life gave her a dark start to this world, but she made it through. She’s stronger than people give her credit for.
“Glory!” Willow shouts her name, making a beeline for me before I can respond. Glory mouths that she’s watching me. I’m not mad at her. Each little threat she throws my way only makes me like her more. “Will you stop? He’s a good man. He’s here doing a children's fundraiser.”
“She’s just looking out for you.” I wrap my arm around her, pulling her back into me. I relax now that she’s back at my side. “Nothing's going to scare me away.” I drop a kiss on her lips. I feel her smile against my mouth.
I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure that smile is always there.
10
Willow
I hit send on the email to the caterer. For the past two weeks, Lennon and I have been working on the fundraiser. With everything that went down at the Sweet Shop, Lily told me to take all the time I need.
Two days ago, a moving truck showed up with all my things that weren't damaged. All the boxes are still in the sitting area near the front door. I’m not sure what I’m supposed to do with them. Each time I ask about my place, Lennon brushes it off. Yesterday I got a text from Lily letting me know that the place is better than new. The message said Lennon had sent over a crew and everything was brand new. Which means that I should be able to move back at any time.
I’ve kind of settled in here. Lennon has even gone above and beyond trying to replace everything that I lost. The man doesn't do anything half-ass. I swear he memorized my entire apartment. When I came home yesterday my stuffed bear with the stethoscope was sitting on his bed. I almost started crying at his sweet gesture.
Still I’m stuck in this weird limbo wondering if he thinks I live here or he’s just giving me time because Lennon is a good man. He’s more than I could have ever dreamed up. I’m pretty sure I’m falling in love with him.
“Movie night?” he asks, walking into the kitchen. I shut my laptop. I shrug. No, I didn't want a movie night. I want much more than that, and it looks as though I’m going to have to give him a little push in order for that to happen.
“I’m kind of tired.” Not really, but my favorite part of the day is when we go to bed. Lennon pulls me close, and we usually talk until we fall asleep. Not once has he made a move to go any further. He looks down at his watch. It’s only a little after eight. “I’m going to put my pajamas on.” I slip past him, heading upstairs.
I can’t help but wonder why he hasn’t tried to take us any further. On one hand I’m pretty sure he wants me to live here if he’s not telling me my place is ready to go back to. I wasn't excited to go back at all and not only because of what happened. I love it here with him. It feels like this is where I’ve always belonged.
I dig through my sleep clothes, trying to find something sexy. I glance over to Lennon’s side of the closet and decide to wear one of his shirts. I strip everything off and slip it over my head. I worry my lip between my teeth, wondering if it’s too much.
“Are you okay?” I spin around. Lennon stands in the doorway to the closet.
“What should I do with all the boxes? Will someone mov
e them back?” He stands up a little straighter.
“Is it something we need to worry about now?” I drop my eyes to the floor, feeling more unsure. “What is happening here?” Lennon is in front of me a second later. His hands come up to cradle my face, and he tilts my head back to look at him. “Truthfully, I want you to unpack them and put me out of my misery. They are driving me insane. Looking at them every day, wondering if you’re going to leave is eating away at me.”
“Are you saying you want me to move in?”
“Fuck yes.” He drops his forehead down to mine. “I know it’s fast but-”
I cut him off. “It feels right. Life can throw you curveballs. This is what I want too, and I’m not going to slow down because I’m scared I’m moving too fast.” He kisses me. Right when I think it’s about to go further he pulls away.
“I’ll get ready for bed.” I do the same, brushing my teeth. I notice Lennon staring at my legs. “I forgot I’ve got some emails I need to respond to actually.” He drops a quick kiss on the top of my head before making a quick exit.
What the heck? Nope, we clearly want to be together. I take a deep breath and decide I’m going to push past the shyness that tries to take over. The only way I’m going to find out what he’s thinking is if I ask him straight out. I make my way back downstairs before I lose my nerve and find him sitting in his office. I flick the light on. He sets the tumbler he has in his hand down.
“Do you not find me sexually attractive?” I rush the words out before I lose my nerve. His eyes travel up my legs. The look on his face is one I’ve never seen before. My body responds to it. My nipples grow hard, and that familiar ache between my legs returns.
“You’re the only thing on this earth that I’m sexually attracted to, baby.”
“But you never do anything about it.”
He leans forward in his chair. “I don’t know if you’re ready for the things I want to do to you.”
“Like what?” I take a few steps closer to him.
“You know how many times I’ve thought about spreading you out on this desk and feasting on your pussy?” I suck in a breath. I feel myself grow wet. “I wanted to do it in the bathroom. I have to fight myself every day to give you time. To not scare you with how much I fucking want you, Willow. It’s all I think about.” I think that’s the hottest thing I’ve ever heard in my life.
“Okay.” I pull the shirt off over my head and drop it to the floor. “Let me know when you want to do those things to me.” I turn to leave his office. I don’t get very far. His arm wraps around my waist, pulling me back against him. I can’t fight my smirk.
“Willow.” He groans my name. His fingers dig into my flesh. “Tell me you’re mine.”
“I’m yours. Only yours.” He spins me around, and his mouth crashes down onto mine. This kiss is different from all the others. It’s full of pure need and possession. He’s claiming me. Marking me as his. He lifts me up, causing my feet to leave the floor.
I wrap my legs around him. I kiss him back with the same need. I pull back when I hear a loud crash and realize that he’s swept everything off his desk onto the floor. The thought of him needing me so bad that he couldn’t wait another second ramps up my need for him.
“Oh shit. That’s hot.” He sets me down on his desk.
“You have no idea how long I’ve dreamed of this.” He kisses me again until I’m breathless. His mouth leaves mine, traveling down the column of my neck. He cups my breast as he sucks the other into his mouth.
“Lennon.” I moan his name, digging my fingers into his hair. My whole body is on fire. He switches, giving my other breast the same attention before he lays me back on the desk, his mouth traveling further down.
This is happening. He presses a kiss to each of my hips. I whimper, not sure I can take much more.
“Please.” I lift my hips, my body begging for him to give it more.
“You need me,” he says, his voice sounding gruff.
“Yes, I need you. Please,” I tell him, realizing my need for him turns him on. I don’t need to hide how much I want this. He wants all of me, and I want him to have it.
His tongue slides through the lips of my sex, slightly grazing my clit. My whole body jerks. I’m so wet that I’m not even sure this is normal. My breasts ache. Hell, everything aches. His tongue circles my clit.
“You taste like strawberries here too.” He flicks his tongue back and forth. I know I’m already on the edge of coming. I’ve been waiting way too long for this. His tongue slips down more, and he presses it inside of me, thrusting it in and out before he replaces it with his finger. I feel pressure at first, but as he continues to work it in and out of me, it only heightens the pleasure.
“Fuck you’re tight. Tonight you’ll come on my tongue, but soon enough you’ll be coming on my cock.” He groans, his mouth going back to my clit. I stare down at him as he feasts on me. My legs are thrown over his shoulders. He’s on his knees devouring me. It’s so erotic and intimate that I can’t ever imagine doing this with anyone but him. His eyes look up to meet mine as he continues to eat at me. It’s so damn sexy that I can feel I’m on the brink of an orgasm.
“Lennon.” I reach down, needing something to hold on to. His other hand comes up to mine. He locks our fingers as the orgasm hits me. I cry out his name. I had no idea it would be like this. He doesn't stop.
“I want more. This is mine. Always has been and always will be.” I’m not sure I can take more, but his words stoke something deep inside of me. My body jerks, feeling overly sensitive. I want more too. His finger pumps faster as he adds another one. His mouth never leaves my clit. When he hooks his finger inside of me while sucking my clit into his mouth, I come again. This orgasm feels deeper.
It explodes through my whole body. My back arches and my legs shake as I ride it out. It feels as though it goes on forever. I relax back down onto the desk, staring up at the ceiling. He kisses the insides of my thighs. I sit up, wanting to kiss him.
I grab his shirt, pulling him down to me until his mouth meets mine. I taste pleasure on his lips. I want to give him the same. I reach for his belt. He doesn't stop me. I fumble with the buckle, and my hands are greedy, wanting to touch him already.
I gasp when I wrap my hand around his cock. He lets out a strangled sound as I pump my hand up and down him.
“Show me. I want to do this right.”
“Everything you do is right, baby.” He wraps his hand over mine, applying more pressure and picking up the speed. His eyes stay locked with mine. “Lean back. I want to see you.”
I do as he asks, releasing his cock. I lift my legs, putting my heels on the edge of the desk and letting my thighs drop open. I watch as he strokes himself. He groans my name as he starts to come. His warm release lands on my sex and my stomach.
His head drops down to look at where he marked me. His breathing is still heavy. I watch as his hand reaches out and cups my sex. My breath hitches as he begins to push some of his release inside of me before he rubs the rest into my stomach. It’s the hottest thing I’ve ever seen in my life.
I watch as he fixes his pants. “Are we done?” I huff.
“No, we’re not done.” He lifts me. I wrap around him as he carries me upstairs. “We’ll never be done.” I can hear the promise in his words. I’ll never doubt that Lennon is a man of his word.
11
Lennon
I run my hand down my face, pissed that my security hasn't gotten any further with finding out who broke into Willow’s place. They actually ruled out the dipshit from the first night. It was the second date she had set up that was the problem. They tracked him back to some abandoned house. He’d been using an alias, so it took some time to find out his true identity.
His real name is Jeremy Holmes, and he has a rap sheet a mile long. Who knows why he was out here in Cherry Falls to begin with? No one can seem to find him, which has me on edge every single day. It’s possible he got spooked and took off. That woul
d be the best case scenario, but my gut tells me that’s not the case. It has been weeks, and nothing new has come up. But that doesn’t stop me from worrying. I don’t want any of this touching my Willow. I try to keep as much as I can from her so that she doesn’t have to worry.
I smile when I hear her humming in the kitchen while she makes us lunch. These past three weeks have been more than I could have hoped for. That first night when she let me taste her in this very office really sealed her fate. I don’t think we left the bedroom for almost two days after that. My mouth knows every inch of her at this point. We have yet to make love, but that’s only because I want to tell her everything first. She deserves to know who I am, and I’m curious to see if she remembers me. I don’t want anything between us.
I pick my phone up off the desk when it starts to ring. My brother's name flashes across the screen. I already know how this is going to go. No one is more cynical about relationships than my brother. It’s what makes him one of the top divorce attorneys within his own firm. I take a deep breath, readying myself for his call. I’m sure he’s already heard about Willow moving in with me.
“Kenton,” I answer.
“Have you fucking lost your goddamn mind?” Here we go.
“I’m doing great, brother. And how are you?” I lean back in my chair, running my hand along the desk. Now is not the time to be getting hard, but when I look at my desk all I keep seeing is Willow laid out for me. My mouth waters at the memory of how her cunt tasted.
“Cut the crap. Who is Willow Crimson, and why the hell is she now executor of your estate if something were to happen to you?”
“There should have been other trusts set up for her now. Did you not go over all the details I had Emily send over?”
I hear him take a deep breath. “This is what happens when you go your whole life without getting your dick wet. You fall into the first vagina you taste.” I sit up straighter. As if he has any kind of romantic life. He thinks every woman is a bloodsucker. Kenton clearly has mommy issues.
209 Wedding Lane Page 5
