Chapter 36
Chapter Thirty-Six
Jase
Something is deeply wrong with me. I haven’t stopped grinning all damn day, and people are noticing.
I’m leaning against the counter with an inventory sheet I’m not actually reading. I’ve been staring at it for over twenty minutes and haven’t made a damn mark. All I keep picturing is Monroe looking like a fucking goddess as she straddled me as she took me deep.
“Okay,” Lacey says as she enters the room, snapping her fingers to get my attention. “Either you just found out my bourbon made you a millionaire overnight, or you finally got fucking laid.”
I bark out a laugh, shaking my head. “Jesus, Lacey.” She’s dressed in a long denim skirt and a long-sleeve silk blouse in the same shade of dark copper as her hair and heeled boots.
Her hair is pinned up halfway with a gold clip, the rest falling in soft long waves down her back, making her look like the epitome of class and sophistication.
However, with the mouth of a sailor and the darkest humor of anyone I’ve ever met, the woman is a unique breed.
She smirks, sipping her cup of espresso from Honeybees. Just like everyone else in this town, Lacey’s become addicted. Especially now that her visits have become more frequent and she stays longer. I’d say Crossroads is growing on her.
“It’s the grin,” she explains, motioning to the wide-toothed smile on my face. “Men don’t grin like that unless they’ve been thoroughly handled.”
I can’t stop smiling even though the woman is downright diabolical. “You’re impossible.”
“And you’re whipped,” she shoots back, her eyes teasing. “Not like I blame you,” she adds. “Monroe is a fucking smoke show and if I batted for the other team, she’d be just my type. Lucky for you, I don’t.”
“Lucky for you, she has three available brothers if you’re into the whole tall, dark-haired, brooding cowboy type.”
Her smile falls like I’ve struck a nerve, but I don’t pry.
It’s incredible how easily we’ve become friends, but something about her falling into a world she knew nothing about made me want to help her find her way.
However, other than that, I know little about her.
I know her estranged father died and left her his entire inheritance, and she has a two-year-old daughter, Lainey, who is the most adorable little girl in the world.
Though before Lacey can respond, the door swings open and Nash strolls in, hands in his jacket pockets, permanent scowl on his face. He gives me one look and groans. “Fuck no,” he says. “I don’t want to know.”
“Know what?” I ask, feigning innocence.
“You’ve got that post-coital halo thing going on,” he mutters, sliding onto a barstool. “Good for you. Don’t tell me anything else.”
Lacey barks out a deep, raspy laugh. “Thank God someone else noticed it.”
I roll my eyes at the two of them, but can feel a flush creeping up my neck. Is it really that obvious?
Nash reaches over the bar for a bottle of Lane & Co.
“How’s she doing? After last night's dinner…” he doesn't have to finish his sentence, I already know what he’s getting at.
After last night's shitshow where my mother tried her hardest to insult and embarrass her, I’d have expected Monroe to be a complete mess, but quite the opposite. She’s happier than I’ve ever seen her.
“Thought you didn’t want to know. But she’s doing great, fully and completely satiated,” I say teasing him, but it backfires when he tosses a handful of peanuts at me.
Lacey’s smile softens, then she hesitates, swirling the last of her drink. “Speaking of new advancements, I should tell you. I’m moving to Crossroads for a while.”
That catches my attention. “What? Why?”
Her tone shifts, lighter, but I can tell she’s hiding something underneath.
“My ex-husband is back in town, and my dad’s estate stuff is still a mess.
I need space for Lainey and me. I’ll still run the distillery, but I’ve brought on an interim president until it settles. I can do oversight remotely.”
“Lacey…”
“I’m fine,” she says gently. “Don’t make it into anything it isn’t. I’m not saying goodbye to the distillery, just taking some time to sort through everything else.”
I nod slowly, understanding her.
We linger around a little longer until Nash offers to take over my shift tonight.
Bailey and he have been wanting to work a night together, and I’ll admit he does a much better job than I do.
I’ve thought about selling him part of my stock in the bar but haven’t had the time to bring up the idea.
Lacey promises to keep us stocked and to keep me updated if she needs anything.
By the time I finally close up and drive back home, the sun has dropped low, painting the sky a mosaic of pink, orange and gold.
I step inside the house and instantly freeze when the unbelievably stunning goddess comes into view. Monroe is curled up on the couch, one knee bent, her hair spilling over her shoulder, wearing nothing but black lace clinging to her skin.
My mouth goes dry as she tilts her head, smiling wickedly. “Hey, stranger.”
I lock the door behind me without looking away. “Oh, I’m no fucking stranger, baby, but I’ll play along if that’s what you’re into.”
For a moment, I don’t move. I just stare and admire the woman I get the pleasure of calling mine. Because she is mine, and in case it wasn’t clear last night, I’m about to prove it again.
The gleam of the fireplace flickers across her skin, warm, golden and absolutely sinful.
“Don’t worry, Monty lit the fire for me before he left,” she says, noticing my questioning glance.
I don't answer, just slowly strut toward her, undressing as I do. I toss my jacket on the couch and unbutton my shirt but stop when I see her body go stiff.
“Problem?” I ask, tilting my head, my smile slow and rough.
“Yeah,” she says, her voice already low and dangerous. “You.”
I laugh softly as I watch her stand with unhurried grace, hips swaying as she heads my way. My pulse roars in my ears with each deliberate step she takes, my hands aching to feel her.
“You’ve been tense,” she murmurs, fingertips sliding up my chest, undoing the top buttons of my shirt with maddening slowness. “I thought I’d help.”
“You’re trying to kill me,” I mutter, my voice hoarse and gravelly. I’m so fucking turned on right now it’s fucking insane how hard my cock is from just the sight of her in that sexy as fuck lingerie and the feel of her fingernails on my skin.
“Hmm,” she hums. “Not yet. I’m going to make you come first.”
Her mouth brushes my jaw, and down my throat, nipping lightly at my collarbone as my hands hover over her hips, aching to grab her, but she catches my wrists, pressing them gently back to my sides.
“Tonight,” she whispers, her gorgeous blue eyes glimmering in the dark, “you don’t get to touch.”
My control shatters with a sharp, helpless groan, but all the woman does is smile like she’s just won a war, and I’m about to surrender when she sinks to her fucking knees.
Heat slams through me as she reaches for me, her long, slim fingers undoing my belt.
Slow and deliberate, her gaze never breaks away from mine as my pants slide down my legs.
Every brush of her hand feels electric. Every teasing drag of her long nails down my thighs makes my breath catch and my dick throb.
Her palms skim up my thighs as she yanks my boxers down around my ankles. My cock springs forward, so fucking hard and thick, the tip leaking with just her look alone. I’m so close to saying fuck it and reaching for her.
Lustful blue eyes lock on mine like she’s savoring the way I’m unraveling. All for her, all because of her. “Relax, Jase,” she says, her voice like silk. “Let me love you.”
In the next second, her mouth is on me, hot, wet, and devastatingly perfect, drawing a curse from my throat. My head tips back, and I let out a deep groan. “God, Moonshine.”
“Shhh,” she murmurs as she works me with languid, sinful rhythm, her tongue tracing, her lips hollowing, her hands holding me still while she takes all of me.
Warm, soft hands cup my balls and stroke me just as eagerly as her tongue tastes me.
I reach for her hair, and she doesn't stop me.
No, she pushes back into my hand, urging me to grip her hair in my fist as I fuck her mouth.
My fingers thread through her dark, soft locks, watching how she takes me, her nails scraping lightly down my hips just to hear me groan.
I force her head back slightly with a tug, angling her so that every thrust hits the back of her throat until I have her nearly gagging. I’m so fucking close, my cock swelling between her lips as she scrapes her teeth along the underside of my shaft.
“Fuck, beautiful. You take me so well. Your lips feel like heaven, and I want to die in your throat.”
My words urge her to move faster, rubbing me with one hand until she’s taking all of me all at once. Her tits bounce as she bobs her head, and I fuck her like I’ve never fucked a woman’s mouth before. It’s never felt this good, and I almost don’t want to come so I can stay like this forever.
“You are perfect. Fucking captivating on your knees for me, with my cock in your mouth and my baby inside of you. Beautiful, baby.”
“Look at me,” she says, her voice hauntingly sexy, and I do. My eyes lock on hers as I completely lose myself. I come undone, her name on the tip of my tongue as I come on hers.
“Fuck, Monroe.” Every soft, satisfied sound she makes, makes my orgasm ripple through me. She swallows every last drop of me, and when she finally releases me, I catch her face in my hands, running my thumb over my cum dripping on her lips.
Her cheeks are flushed, hair wild, and her breathing uneven from how thoroughly she’s just undone me. Yet she has the nerve to smile like she hasn't left me wrecked on the edge of sanity.
“You’re lethal,” I rasp, leaning down to kiss her.
“I’m yours,” she whispers as I pull her to stand. She brushes past me toward the couch like she owns the room.