Chapter 12 #3
His grin faded. “Kids were always a thought for the future. And then you proposed the idea. I know I should jump on it, especially if Percival becomes mine.” He shrugged. “I don’t know a thing about kids.”
I held my hands up. “No need to explain. They can be scary. But they can be sweet, and smart, and smelly, but also so witty. Even at eight, they can tell jokes with timing professional comedians would be jealous of. And some of them try so hard to impress you— Anyway. I like my job. I love it. I love teaching in my hometown. I like working at the bar. I get to go home to the ranch and do chores whenever I want. I just have to suck up getting reminded about the touchy clutch in the old front-end loader, and the stubborn gate in the north pasture that has an extra latch, and to take bales from the north end of the stack, as if I hadn’t been doing all that since I was a kid too. ” I shrugged. “It is what it is.”
“Which part of the Bailey property did you get?”
“It’s gorgeous—on the edge of the forest, and a creek runs through it, but there’s also a spring-fed pond, which is why the cattle graze there in the summer.
Daddy found a spot that was accessible already and had a good view for each of us.
When the sun’s setting, it’s just gorgeous.
” I sucked in a breath. His family property would have the same traits.
“I shouldn’t gush about it. That was callous. ”
He sidled around the desk until he faced me. “I’d be a coldhearted bastard if I made you quit talking about something you so clearly love.”
“I know you’re not coldhearted,” I said, breathless. He was close. I tipped my head back to look at him.
“How do you know that?” he murmured.
I put my hand on his chest. His heart beat steady under my palm, the rate increasing. “You saved me from humiliation that night.” Only a few nights had passed, but it felt like months ago.
“Don’t overestimate my good intentions, and I didn’t save you.” His voice turned hard and displeasure rippled across his face.
“Don’t underestimate how much I enjoyed the talking-to you gave the bouncers.”
“Don’t underestimate how much I like watching you talk about something you’re passionate about.”
My hand was still on his chest. “And what’s that?”
“Your job, your land, your family.” He slid his fingers around my neck, and he traced my lower lip with his thumb. “The amber in your eyes gets brighter and outshines all the green. Your cheeks flush, and I start wondering if that’s how you look when you come.”
Did he just say what I thought—
He dipped his head down and put his lips where his thumb was. The firm press of his mouth increased until his tongue danced at the seam of my lips. I let him in, garlic breath be damned. We’d both eaten the same thing. Probably the only time he and I were on even ground.
He growled and circled his hand behind my neck until he gave my ponytail a gentle tug.
As my head dipped back, I opened up to him and he devoured me.
Without the awkward angles in the car, we were perfectly lined up.
My shorter height only made it possible for him to dominate me.
All I knew was his tongue, his heat, his smell, his touch.
He shifted us until my back was to my desk and my ass hit the edge.
He didn’t stop until I was perched on the edge of the desk.
I wrapped my legs around him. The move was automatic, but damn.
The impressive bulge that pressed against my center hit all the right spots.
My need grew one thousand percent stronger.
How had I slept beside this guy and not done anything?
Then he started rocking. If my eyes had been open, they would’ve rolled back and been lost forever. This guy could make me feel this desperate, this needy, this wanton, and we hadn’t removed a stitch of clothing?
The pleasure was already smothering me in the best way until he feathered a hand up my skirt. He stopped to cup my ass through my leggings, pulling me against him until he could rock against my core.
I let out a whimper and he worked his finger farther up. My nipples tingled, remembering everything about how he’d touched me in the car.
Yes.
A jingle of keys and a whistle sounded from outside my door.
I gasped, and Gideon stepped back so fast I teetered on the edge of the desk. He caught my hand and steadied me until I was back on my feet.
I spun toward the door just as Eleanor, the school’s janitor, arrived.
She grinned and gave a big pantomime wave when she saw us. “Mr. and Mrs. J, glad I caught you. This must be the mister? I see a little bit of that boy who used to run around here.”
Gideon didn’t step out from behind me. I could die in a puddle of cringe if I thought of why. But also . . . death by pride. He’d gotten hard for me.
I shook the thought from my head as I smoothed a hand over my ponytail. “Yes, this is Gideon. I was just going to lock up.” On a scale of one to ten, I sounded like a six on the guilty scale. Not bad after what Gideon had done to my body.
“No worries,” she said. “I saw the light on when I was heading home and thought I’d stop by and put my tools away.”
She was territorial over her things. She loaned them out, but she kept an eagle eye on them until they were returned. If it hadn’t been for bingo, she would’ve been directing us.
If it hadn’t been for bingo, I wouldn’t have seen Gideon out of his suit, working with his hands. If he put on boots and a cowboy hat, my ovaries would combust and the rest of me would turn to ash.
“Yes, we’re done.” My voice was steadier. “I think Joseph put most everything back in your room.”
“Thank you for the use of them,” Gideon tacked on.
Eleanor beamed. “Got your hands dirty, then, did ya?”
“Been a while.” He was back to wielding his corporate charm. “I appreciate the chance.”
“You were always a hands-on kid. I’m not surprised to see you back.” She winked. “You two have a good night.” She disappeared from the doorway.
“She’s lightened up a bit,” Gideon said.
I couldn’t bring myself to turn around. I’d look at his lips, then his crotch, and I’d probably crawl back on the desk. “She’s a gem, but she’s only happy like this when she wins at bingo.”
His hand touched the small of my back. I jumped. An electric current ran up and down my spine.
“Let’s get home,” he said.