Chapter 6
Daisy
Manny is every bit as attentive as I imagined. He makes sure I‘m comfortable the whole time we’re on the riverwalk, asks more than once if I’m tired, and opens doors to every little shop we stop at.
If heart-eyes were real, mine would definitely be shaped that way. I’ve known him for a while, but this side of him—the steady, caring partner—feels brand new.
“So what do you say, Dais? Do you want to grab dinner here? Or should we head back to Azalea Creek?” Manny asks as we walk toward the parking lot.
“Dinner in Azalea Creek? Are you ready for the town’s inquisition?”
He stops walking.
I look up at him, confused. “What?”
“I told you. If I claim you, I’m not going back. I’m not hiding. I’m all in.”
My heart flutters. I love how seriously he takes things; with Manny, I’ll always know where we stand.
“And I said I was ready for it. I’m not backtracking,” I say, resting my hand on his chest. His heartbeat is racing, like he’s been running. “I was just checking to see if you were ready, because you know the town will talk.”
“Let them talk then.”
He closes the distance and kisses me deeply. My hand fists in his jacket, clinging to him like a lifeline. His hands frame my waist, pulling me flush against him. I could get lost in his embrace and be happy for the rest of my life.
Far too soon, Manny ends the kiss with a chuckle. I frown, wondering what he finds so funny.
He smiles. “I was just thinking—how the hell did I survive for so long without kissing you?”
A grin spreads across my face.
“Really?” I ask, loving the confession.
“Yes, Dais. I went back and forth so many times on whether or not I should flirt with you.” He sighs. “I’m just grateful I told you how I feel and even more grateful you agreed.”
I give him a quick peck, still too giddy for words.
After he opens the truck door for me, I say, “I don’t want to think about how many times I wished you would look at me as more than just Tommy’s nanny. I want to relish the fact that it’s finally happening.”
He gives me a sweet smile and pushes his glasses up the bridge of his nose.
Once the door clicks shut, he jogs to his side, and we’re Azalea Creek-bound within seconds.
“What do you feel like eating?” he asks as we take the exit into town.
“I’m not really that hungry. Between the latte and the chocolate scones, I think I’d be happy with just a salad or some fruit.”
He nods, considering. Turning onto Main Street, he says, “As much as I like the food at the Rustic Spoon, I don’t think we’ll be out of there tonight once Granny sees us walk in together.”
He’s not wrong. Granny’s the town’s unofficial matchmaker, and I have a feeling she’s had her eye on us for a while now.
“What do you think about going to Merry Moo Creamery?” I suggest.
His grin makes my stomach flip. “Let’s do it.”
“Dr. Gutierrez, welcome,” Ms. Eaton greets as we step into the creamery. The moment her eyes land on our interlaced hands, they widen almost comically.
“Hey, Ms. Eaton. How are you?” Manny asks with a gentle smile.
“Not too bad. I was just about to close. It’s been a slow day,” she says, moving to stand behind the freezer case full of ice cream flavors.
“Oh, I’m grateful you stayed open then. Dais is craving some of your delicious ice cream.”
Ms. Eaton lifts a brow, but the scowl forming on her face fades when Manny raises his in quiet challenge.
“I see things have developed now that Tommy is out of town,” she mutters, loud enough for us to hear.
My cheeks burn. Ms. Eaton’s never been known for her charm, but I’d hoped she’d at least keep her thoughts to herself.
“Things developed at the perfect time,” Manny says, his voice dropping low. Ms. Eaton startles, a hint of blush coloring her cheeks.
Good. She should be ashamed of her rudeness.
“Which flavor did you want, bebé?” Manny asks me, his arm sliding around my back. His smile is steady, reassuring.
I lean into him, grateful for his support. “I’d like S’mores and Pumpkin Pie,” I say after scanning the display.
“We’ll take a pint of each, Ms. Eaton,” Manny says firmly.
She nods, a reluctant smile tugging at her mouth. When she hands us the pints, Manny pays, and we make our way out.
He surprises me by pausing in the doorway—one hand holding it open, the other clasping mine. He turns back to Ms. Eaton.
“And next time we stop by,” he says evenly, “I hope you’re adjusted to the idea of me and Daisy being together. Feel free to tell the entire town we’re dating. And it’s serious.”
He winks, and I swoon.
I need to make sure this man knows how amazing he is.
If he ever forgets or doubts himself, I’ll remind him as many times as it takes.
Manny taking charge of announcing our relationship?
So hot. We don’t need the town’s approval, but the fact that he owns it—unafraid to shout it from the rooftops—makes him that much more perfect.
He wants to be mine.
He says I’m out of his league. But he’s the extraordinary one here.
“I wanted to thank you for an incredible day,” I say as Manny pulls into my driveway.
He turns to face me and leans in slowly. “It’s been the best day I’ve had in a long time,” he murmurs against my lips before we get lost in a kiss.
My hands slide to his neck, desperate to touch him. He fumbles with the seatbelt, then lifts me from the seat in swift motion. A gasp escapes, followed by a laugh at his eagerness, and I straddle him with ease. Our sighs mingle as his erection presses firmly against my core.
“I really wanted to kiss you, taste you. Commit you to memory,” he says before his tongue slides into my mouth, and an involuntary moan slips out of me.
“If I’m being honest, I’ve been wanting more than to kiss you,” I admit, a half grin breaking through.
“Really? What do you have in mind?” He thrusts up against me, nibbling my ear.
“Yeah, more of that.” I shamelessly rub myself against his jean-clad erection.
“Cono, Daisy. Me vuelves loco, mami,” he breathes, sucking on my neck.
Hearing him switch to Spanish makes me slick and ready.
“I really want to be with you, but I don’t want the first time I make you come to be in the cabin of my truck,” he says between kisses, continuing his assault on my neck—licking, nipping, claiming.
“It doesn’t have to be. My house is right there.” I point to the porch. A lightbulb goes on in his head.
Manny opens the truck door and walks to the house while I’m still straddling him.
I love that he’s as eager about this as I am.
“But the ice cream?” I protest as I manage to get the keys from my purse.
“It’s cold outside. It’ll be fine in the truck.”
Miraculously, I get the key in the lock and open the door.
The moment we’re inside, the air changes between us. The need to undress—to feel skin against skin—is overwhelming.
Manny closes the door and turns, pressing me against it.
Holy hell, that’s hot.
He leans his head back so he can see me. “Are you sure you want this, baby?”
I don’t think he realizes how sexy it is that he always asks for my consent.
“Yes. I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.”
His lips are on mine before I can finish the sentence.
This kiss is hungry, greedy—almost feral.
And I can’t get enough of it. Of him.
My hands travel to his back, tugging his shirt until I can slip beneath it and touch bare skin. His muscles flex under my palms, and I relish the thought of affecting him.
I drag my nails gently down his skin. He hisses against my mouth and nips at my lower lip.
“Where’s your bedroom?” His voice is husky, doing delicious things to my libido.
“End of the hall, left door,” I whisper hurriedly, pressing a trail of kisses from his neck to his ear. I lick his earlobe, and Manny’s step falters.
“Fucking hell,” he murmurs, shifting me easily in his arms.
Once in my bedroom, he places me on the bed with a mix of care and urgency.
He remains standing, eyes scanning me from head to toe. When his gaze returns to mine, hunger flashes dark and hot. It’s as if he remembers where we are and snaps into action.
His shoes and socks are off in a second, then his shirt—he doesn’t even unbutton it, just pulls it up and over his head. He’s left in a white undershirt and jeans, hair deliciously disheveled from my hands.
Slowly, he straddles me and leans down until I can feel his breath against my lips.
“May I undress you?” he asks, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose.
I nod.
“Words, baby. I need your words.”
I squirm beneath him, too impatient for his gentlemanly pace. “Yes, Manny. You may undress me, but please do it fast.”
He chuckles at my desperation, but I don’t care. I can’t wait to have this man inside me.
Placing a kiss on my cheek, he trails infuriatingly slow toward my lips. I huff in frustration, and Manny lifts his body just enough to look at me.
“I’ve been waiting as long as you have for this moment,” he says, his voice steady, eyes bright. “Now that I’m finally here, with you under me… I don’t want to mess it up. I want to take my time and idolize you.”
I swallow hard. This man is downright perfect. Perfect for me.
“Thank you,” I manage. His brows furrow. “You are the most incredible man I’ve ever been with—about to be with. And I still can’t believe this is my life. That this is actually happening.”
“I’m the one who’s grateful, baby. You’re giving me—giving us—a chance.”
He leans down and kisses me softly.
Shifting his weight to one arm, his free hand tugs at my sweater. My hands roam his back, shoving his shirt upward until he takes the hint and sits back on his knees. He strips it off, then helps me out of my sweater.
When he unbuttons my jeans, the mere brush of his fingers against my navel has me nearly panting. In one swift move, he slides off my jeans and boots. Then he pulls his wallet from his back pocket, produces a condom, and tosses it onto the nightstand.
He’s about to straddle me again when I lift my hand, stopping him.
“You need to lose those jeans, sir.”
His lip quirks, amused by the title.
“Yes, ma’am. Your wish is my command.” He gives a little bow, and I chuckle. I love his playfulness.
Once his jeans are gone, I can’t help licking my lips at the sight of his cock straining against his briefs.
He notices and gives his dick a tug through the fabric. I squirm, pressing my thighs together, desperate for relief.
But instead of straddling me, Manny kneels at the foot of the bed and lifts one of my legs to rest on his shoulder. He massages my foot, then trails kisses along my ankle and my calf.
I’ve never been touched with such care. The thought of Manny idolizing me, just as he promised, makes me sigh with contentment.
“Do you like this?” he asks, his lips traveling up my calf to my knee.
I nod, trying for a smile, but words escape me. I’m too lost in the way he’s making me feel. There isn’t an inch of me that he hasn't kissed or caressed.
When he reaches my thigh, my core jolts with anticipation. His mouth is so close to where I crave it. He kisses and nibbles at the sensitive skin in my inner thigh, then nuzzles my center, and I moan.
“Are you ready for me, bebé?”
I nod frantically, and he chuckles.
His tongue drags from my thigh to my clit, teasing me through my panties. It’s an unexpected path, but I’m not about to complain. The man clearly knows what he’s doing—I’m already panting, and he hasn’t even touched my clit yet.
As if reading my thoughts, Manny slides my panties to the side and swipes his tongue over my lips until he finds my clit. My body jerks off the bed.
I can feel his lips curve into a smile as his tongue flicks at me with lightning speed.
“Oh, gosh. Manny, don’t stop,” I beg, fisting his hair and pressing him closer.
He rolls his shoulders against my thighs, spreading me wider for better access. Then two fingers slide inside me, and another cry rips free.
I lift my head and find his gaze already on me. His eyes are bright and hungry. I’m sure mine mirror his.
Manny twists his hand so he can keep thrusting with two fingers while his thumb starts to circle my clit.
I scream in pleasure at the way he devours my cunt. This man is a twelve out of ten. No notes.
He quickens his pace, and the next thing I know, I’m coming so hard it borders on painful. He only slows when my breathing finally steadies.
Lifting his torso, he flashes a wicked grin. “Are you ready for more?”
“So ready.” I grin back.
He strips off his briefs and reaches for the condom. My eyes zero in on his very big, very thick cock. It’s a piece of art—mouthwatering and delicious.
But then I notice his hands trembling as he fumbles with the wrapper.
I sit up. “Here—let me.”
He exhales a short, frustrated sound. I’m not sure if it's impatience or nerves, and I don’t stop to ask. I grip the packet between my teeth and tear it open. His cock responds instantly, bobbing.
Before wrapping it up, I take a little taste—licking his length from his balls to the tip. Manny hisses, and the sound only spurs me on. I take as much of him as I can, hollowing my cheeks, drawing him in.
“Daisy, if you don’t stop, I’m going to spill my cum right this minute, and I don’t want it in your mouth,” he says, his voice urgent enough that I stop teasing him—though I’m dying to keep going.
The moment I finish securing him, Manny jumps into action. He lowers me gently, presses a kiss to my lips, then aligns himself at my entrance and settles his weight over me.
“I’m about to claim you,” he murmurs against my lips. “Once my cock is inside you, there’s no turning back. You’re mine.”
He lingers, giving me time to think. I don’t need to. I’m all in.
My hand slips to his hips and guides him home.. That’s all he needs—one slow, delicious inch at a time until I can adjust to his size.
I roll my eyes back at the first deep slide. Pleasure loosens something tight inside me, and I exhale a breath I didn’t know I’d been holding as he starts to move.
“You’re so perfect, Daisy. Look how good your tight, little pussy takes my cock,” he says between kisses.
I moan as he picks up the pace. Between his praise and the way he fills me, I’m utterly at his mercy.
“More,” I whisper, urging him on. I press my hands against his ass, guiding him closer. He arches, dipping low to take my nipple into his mouth as he drives deeper.
The sudden bite and pull at the same time sends me over—an orgasm rips through me, hot and fierce. Our sounds mix: my cries, his grunts, the bed creaking under us.
It’s wild, loud, and just right.
Manny collapses against me when it’s over—spent, heavy, and warm. I welcome the weight, the steady rhythm of his heart against mine.
As the moment settles, I realize this wasn’t just sex. It was an offering—tender, unguarded.
The beginning of something I recognize as more than a single night.
The start of forever.