Burning the Midnight Oil: A Single Dad Small Town Romance

Epilogue

One Year Later

Walking through the double doors at Powder Ridge, I grip the backpack that’s slung over my shoulders as I book it to my car. God, it is really coming down outside. I’ve only been here for a few hours, but the sun that was shining when I got here is long gone, replaced with dark clouds and a downpour. By the time I make it to my car—which I so conveniently parked in the back of the parking lot—I’m soaked. Tossing my backpack in the passenger seat, I turn on the car and crank the heat.

My phone rings as I’m waiting for the car to warm up. Grabbing it out of my pocket, a smile tugs on my lips before I hit accept.

“Hey, sexy.”

The gruff sound of Boone’s laugh reaches my ears, and it sends a thrill down my spine. “Hey, are you still at the arena?”

“I’m in the parking lot warming up my car. Why?”

“If I send you my location, can you meet me where I’m at?”

I laugh. “Uh, sure?”

“Okay, I’ll text it to you. Hurry.”

“Have you seen outside? It’s a monsoon. I’ll do my best.”

“You’ll be fine, baby,” he quips. “Drive safe. I love you.”

“I love you too.”

I hang up the phone with a goofy grin on my face. The same one I always get when Boone tells me he loves me. It’s been a little over a year since we said it for the first time, and sometimes, it still doesn’t feel real.

After I plug the address Boone gave me into my phone’s GPS, I’m on my way. It’s about a seven-minute drive from the arena, but in the opposite way of the house. Confusion furrows my brow as I arrive at the location he gave me, finding it’s a house. I park beside his truck in front of the two-car garage and climb out. It’s still pouring, so I hurry up toward the covered porch.

It doesn’t look like anybody else is here unless they’re parked in the garage. Bringing my fist up, I knock on the front door, glancing around at my surroundings. Why did he bring me here? The door opens, and it’s Boone who’s standing in front of me with a huge grin on his face.

“What are we doing here?” I ask as I step over the threshold. It’s an empty house, and it’s clear nobody lives here. My stomach flutters as I look at Boone questioningly.

“Why do you think we’re here?” he retorts, humor lacing his unhelpful question.

“I don’t know.” It’s a lie. In fact, I’m pretty sure I do know why he asked me here, but like hell if I’m going to admit that. I want him to spell it out for me.

We walk through the house, Boone leading and me following. It’s beautiful. Spacious, open concept, tons of natural light. I just know it’s gorgeous in here when it’s sunny.

“Well, you know how our lease is up soon?”

“Yeah…”

“So, I’ve been looking for houses because we’ve talked about eventually wanting to buy instead of rent,” he goes on. “I want something close to the arena, but still in the country, so we can have land and space to breathe. Being near Suzy’s school is important too, but also something big enough for her to have her own room, and also maybe big enough to have an office.”

My heart gallops as we enter the kitchen. Updated, modern appliances, a giant window over the sink that overlooks the huge backyard. “Office?” I ask.

He glances at me, a glint of excitement in his dark eyes. “Yeah, you know, for your photography setup.”

I couldn’t hide the smile on my face, even if I tried. My stomach does a round of somersaults as my throat tightens. “What are you saying?”

“I was thinking…” Boone stops walking and faces me, bringing his warm, rough hand up to cup my cheek. “If you liked this house, maybe we could put an offer in on it.” His gaze bounces between my wide eyes and my lips that have parted with surprise. “What do you think?”

My chest warms at the faintest hint of nervousness coming over Boone’s features. I don’t know what to say… He saw this house online, came to look at it, and envisioned me… us while doing it.

“You really want to do this?” I ask, my pulse racing in my ears.

He breathes out a laugh. “Obviously,” he mutters. “Why wouldn’t I?”

“I don’t know. Maybe it’s too soon for you? It’s a big step.”

He flashes me a grin that makes my knees weak. “G, I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.”

My insides are going haywire. Boone wants to buy a house…with me. He really, truly wants to start a life together. Holy shit. How is this real?

Boone leans in, sealing his mouth to mine. I grab onto his shirt, holding him close as he parts our lips, slipping his tongue inside. He tastes so damn good, my taste buds coming to life with each lick. It doesn’t take long for my body to get on board with this kiss, my cock thickening as the blood directs down south.

“What do you say?” he asks against my lips. “Wanna buy this house with me?”

“You know I do,” I reply, my voice coming out thick. “Although, I think we should christen it before we go any further.”

Boone chuckles. “Really? What did you have in mind?”

Maintaining eye contact, I bite down on my bottom lip as I drop to my knees before him. He sucks in a breath, but doesn’t stop me when I bring my hands up to the button on his jeans. My mouth waters as I pull him out. He’s already half-hard, and his tip is sticky and glistening. I swipe my tongue all around the head, gathering up his salty-sweet arousal, a groan reverberating from my throat at the flavor.

I don’t take my time, don’t make it clean. I suck Boone’s cock in the kitchen of this gorgeous house like I’m starving and can’t get my fill. Watching him through wet, tear-soaked lashes, I take him to the back of my throat, swallowing around the tip before I back off, and bob up and down, making sure to show every last delicious inch of his cock attention. Licking, sucking, teasing, I take all of him. My hand comes up, cupping his full, round balls, rolling them in my palm, squeezing gently.

Boone clenches his jaw, eyelids hooded, as he looks down at me. His hand is in my hair, gripping and guiding me. Breaths heavy, he groans every time I take him deep. His thighs tremble from the pleasure, and that fills me with an intense sense of pride. My finger trails back, past his taint, and I circle the pad of my finger over his tight, puckered hole.

“Fuck, Grady…. Ahh!” I feel him swell in my mouth a second before he spills down my throat, gasping for air and moaning through his release. His fingers tighten in my hair, the bite of pain turning me on more as he falls apart because of me. He’s barely done coming when he pulls himself out of my mouth and forces me to stand up. Shoving me against the wall behind us, he slams his mouth against mine, tongue thrusting in to taste himself. The kiss is messy and heated, his hands coming up to fumble with my jeans. “Your turn,” he growls as he gets them undone and shoved down my thighs.

Boone sinks to his knees, hand wrapped around my steel hard cock. The sight of a man like Boone—all big, tall, and gruff—on his knees for me will never not be attractive. Especially not as his red, swollen lips wrap around my length and he starts sucking me.

So. Fucking. Sexy.

His gag reflex is still pretty touchy, but there’s something so goddamn hot about seeing him struggle to take me. Watching his eyes turn bloodshot and watery as he tries to take me as far as he can. Hearing the filthy sounds that come from him as he inhales my cock with saliva trailing down his chin. It doesn’t get much better than this, I swear.

“Shit, that feels so good,” I groan, my hands closing into fists at my sides. “Seeing you suck me… Fuck, Boone. So good.”

His lips tug into a smirk around my length, and he moans at the praise, the sound sending a vibration through my body, settling deep in my balls. I don’t know how I manage to hold back and not bust right away, because between the sight of him, the sounds, and the feel, I’m swimming in sweet, sweet ecstasy.

“Yes…I’m so close.” Tingles spread throughout my body, my head is light and fuzzy, and my balls draw up tightly to my body. I’m right there. Heat pools at the base of my spine, and it feels as if I’m soaring in the sky. “Yes, Boone. Fuck…yes! I’m gonna…come!”

He doesn’t back off, doesn’t hesitate. He sucks me harder, deeper, his eyes wet and red, his cheeks flushed, and his lips stretched around me. As he holds my gaze, my eyes fight to stay open. Boone brings me right to the brink and watches as I fall. My cock throbs as I empty onto his tongue, and he slurps up every drop like I’m the most delicious treat he’s ever tasted, groaning as he does it. My orgasm goes on, and on, and on, pulse after pulse, until I’m sagging against the wall, my body like Jell-O.

Boone pulls off my cock, sits back on his heels, and wipes his mouth with the back of his hand, and I swear…I could come all over again from the sight.

“Shit, that was hot,” I breathe out.

Standing up, he presses his lips to mine in another sweet, short kiss. “Hell yeah, it was.”

I glance around the space one more time before finding his gaze. “So, we’re really doing this?”

He smirks, thumb rubbing absentmindedly against my cheek. “Yeah, G. We definitely are.”

“I can’t believe this is my life,” I admit with a breathy laugh. “I am so in love with you.”

“And I am so in love with you, Grady Wilde.”

The End.

Turn the page for a sneak peek at The History Between Us, the fourth book in the Copper Lake series.