Chapter 23 Happily for Now
Chapter 23
happily for now
Summer was lying on the top bunk silently scrolling through all the emails she’d missed that day.
Ever since the restaurant, Wes had begun to distance himself. It was as if he’d shown too much of himself and now he was retreating back into his cold world of one. He hadn’t chosen the floor over her company, but he might as well have. He’d been in bed with his back to her when she’d come in the room.
He was so quiet, if it weren’t for the suffocating sexual awareness, she’d have forgotten he was even on the bottom bunk.
She was torn between giving him his space and opening a much-needed conversation about what had transpired that day. Including him asking her to have a clandestine affair. One with an expiration date.
The old Summer would have shaken her little chicken ass out of there. But this new Summer, the one who was tired of putting herself last and was learning to meet things head-on, was telling her to go for it. To throw a stick of dynamite into the water and see what floated to the surface.
From past experience with Wes and water, it was desire and bone-deep honesty that rose to the top. And she wanted that again.
Suddenly, her attention was drawn to a particular email. It was about halfway down the screen with the subject line SLOAN CHASE BOOK SIGNING . It was from Sloan Chase’s publicist!
She took in an audible breath, and with shaky hands clicked on the email. With every word the excitement and the reality of it all grew bigger and bigger. She got to the end and had to read every word just to be sure she had read it right the first time through.
“Ohmigod,” she whispered, ecstatic. Then she slapped a hand over her lips. “Oh my freaking God!”
She heard a rustling below followed by a bang that shook her bed, and a “Fuck, that hurt!”
“I’m sorry.” She leaned over the bed so that she was looking at him upside down. Like Spider-Man hanging from the ceiling. “Did I wake you? I really didn’t mean to wake you.”
“I lost at least three of my nine lives,” he said, his voice sexy with sleep. “Are you okay?”
“Better than okay. I’m awesome!”
“Care to fill me in, since I won’t be able to sleep for the rest of the night with this bump on my head?”
She didn’t know what to say. She wanted to share the good news with someone—that someone specifically being Wes. But Cleo’s video call played back in her mind on super speed, about the plan to be a disruptor. Their big strategy of landing Sloan Chase for a signing on the same day as Wes’s new grand opening.
Telling him felt like she was betraying Cleo, but being silent was the same as being a coward. A lying coward.
“If I tell you, you are sworn to secrecy. I don’t want my family to know until it’s a for-sure thing.”
He held himself up on his elbow, and with his other hand reached out and tugged her ponytail playfully. “I’m honored to be your confidant.”
“You also have to promise not to get mad. It was Cleo’s idea, not mine. I swear.”
He lay on his back and stared up at her, a sexy smile on his face. “Did you put sand in the gas tanks of my work trucks?”
“No, but that would have been a good one,” she said. “Do you know who Sloan Chase is?”
He snorted. “Love, I might not read romance, but I run a book empire. We’ve crossed paths a time or two at conferences.”
This time she snorted. “Of course you have.”
“Plus, I don’t think there’s a person in the world who hasn’t heard her name or read one of her books.”
“You read her book,” she accused.
“Strictly for research reasons.”
“You read it for the sex scenes, admit it.”
He reached up and took her hand that was hanging over the side and laced his fingers through hers. “I may have read those parts more than once. How about you?”
“I went through a whole box of AA batteries.”
“On what, love?” he said in a sexy voice that made her panties go damp.
“You know.”
“Oh, I do. But I want to hear you say it.”
“Fine. I broke my vibrator. There. Are you happy now?”
“I think there’s another H-word that comes to mind first.” He lifted his head and kissed the center of her palm, which hung next to his ear.
“Stop distracting me, because I have to tell you the good and bad parts. The good part is that Sloan’s publicist said she’d consider having a signing for her new book at my store.”
“That’s amazing, it could be a game changer for you. Really put you on the independent bookshop map.”
“You think?”
“I know.”
“And you’re okay with that?” A hint of uncertainty creeping in. “Because every customer I get takes one away from you and vice versa.”
“I want nothing more than for you to be a huge success and I’ll do whatever I can to help you.”
“Even if the signing happens to coincide with your new grand opening?”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“I’d be a disruptor for your big day.”
There was a long silent moment where she was certain that he was going to let go of her hand and say the war was back on. Instead, he said, “I am so proud of you. I wish you were down here so I could hug you.”
This was it, her gut said. This was the moment when she needed to make her decision. Yesterday, she’d been ready to reestablish the battle lines of their war. Now she found herself in a situation where she needed to decide if they were going to cross those lines. Delicious, dangerous lines that there was no coming back from.
Good thing her hormones were in the driver’s seat because she wanted him and she wanted him bad.
“ If I came down, it wouldn’t just be to hug,” she said. “Because I have on Gumball Pink panties.”
“That statement needs to be expanded on.”
“According to Cleo, the color pink is important when trying to relay to a man just how interested you are in sex. Pastel Pink means I’m destined to missionary until the day I die.”
“Please tell me you’re not into pastels.”
“I am not. Now, Wild Orchid hints at the fact that I own a red room and there’s a ninety percent chance I have a hidden runway behind my lace that’s ready for takeoff. Tickle Me Pink, well, that’s self-explanatory. Then there’s Gumball Pink, which means I’m playful in bed and don’t mind a little blow action.”
“So your panties are saying—?”
“Why don’t you come up here and see.”
That was as clear of a green light as a man could ask for. Which made him one lucky SOB. The woman he’d harassed and hurt in so many ways with his single-mindedness, his desperation to win, was trusting him with her mind and her body.
Wes didn’t waste even a breath with indecision. He’d been working hard all day to give her space so that when she agreed, he’d be sure, and thank Christ that he had because it sounded like she was as sick of space as he was.
Without a second wasted he was out of bed, climbing the ladder and sliding up her body, running his nose up her bare thigh and bringing her nightshirt with him. He breathed in deep when he got to her thong. “Gumball Pink, my kind of girl. Although I think you have a little Wild Orchid.”
“Are you saying I’m kinky.”
“I’m saying I know you’re kinky.”
He nuzzled into her core, running his nose right up the center, and breathed in again, drinking up the scent of her.
“What are you doing?” she asked, breathless.
He rested his body over hers like he was a weighted blanket, lining up all the right parts, then nipped her lower lip. “Laying all my cards on the table.”
“I thought that’s what you did earlier today.”
“Well, now I’m calling. What’s your hand say, Summer?”
Summer lifted her hands over her head in invitation. “I guess you’re going to have to see for yourself.”
A hoarse groan left his lips at the sight of Summer lying beneath him with her hair fanned out across her pillowcase. She was beautiful. So fucking beautiful his steel rod turned into a tent pole in seconds.
“I was serious the other night at the lake. I don’t want you to wake up tomorrow and regret this, or act like it’s just some kind of blowing-off-steam situation where we’re caught up in the events of the day kind of bullshit.”
Her eyes went wide at the absoluteness in his voice. “What does that even mean?” she asked.
“I don’t know, but I’m willing to figure it out if you are. But you’d better be fucking serious because I’m not looking for a friends-with-benefits kind of thing tonight.”
“What are you looking for?” she whispered and, god, he wanted to be inside her—like now. But not until he got confirmation that he wouldn’t be some insignificant screw in her life. He’d been insignificant all his life and refused to be that ever again. Especially with this woman.
If he took his dick out of the equation, he could admit to himself that if he wasn’t careful he could easily fall for this woman.
Hard and fast.
His heart felt like it was on the Gravatron, spinning faster than gravity, and he’d lost control over his body and then suddenly the bottom dropped out.
You’re encroaching on falling territory, you idiot.
Yet he wasn’t running away. Nope, he was sliding his palm up her stomach and over her tits, and her nipples immediately beaded at the attention, as if begging him to lavish them with his tongue.
“Wes,” she said on a moan, arching into his hand.
“What will it be, love?”
“We argue all the time.”
“Thirty-nine times to be exact. Which means we have thirty-nine times of makeup sex in our future. We can bang out some tonight, right now. All you have to say is this isn’t a one-time thing.”
“This isn’t a one-time thing. And I don’t know what this is, but I want to figure it out. Together.”
That was all he needed to hear. Neither of them was committing to forever, but they knew this wasn’t some meaningless one-night stand. He’d had enough of them over the years, and in the months after his breakup, and now he wanted something real. With all the bullshit and deceit in his life, he needed a taste of something honest and sweet. Something pure that he could hold onto.
“Do you still hate me, love?”
“How could you ask that?”
“Because just last week you were leading a petition to get my business shut down and you called me a crumpet.”
She cupped his cheek and he pressed into her hand as if he needed the reassurance. “A lot can change in a week.”
He pulled her nightshirt up to the underside of her breasts and ran his nose through her cleavage, breathing her in, then met her gaze once again. “You going to tell me exactly what changed and where I stand so we can finally fuck until the sun comes up?”
As if of its own accord her groin arched up to meet his erection, and they both groaned at the sensation of the physical connection.
“I want to fuck until we shatter the sheetrock,” she said, and in the slight moonlight filtering through the window he could see her blush.
“Even it if takes days?”
“Even if it takes weeks.”
His heart pulsed so hard every limb went on high alert. She was talking like there would be some kind of future for them. A knot of panic and relief tied itself inside up in his chest. Of course she was speaking of the future—she wanted a fairy-tale romance. Something he couldn’t offer her, even on the best of days. Not with the upcoming expansion and him moving his home base back to London.
“I’m still leaving in the next few months. Maybe even earlier now that the grand opening has been moved up.”
“Wes,” she said in the gentlest of voices, “I’m not going to fool myself into believing this is some romance novel with a happily-ever-after, but with you I can handle a happily-for-now.”
“I just don’t want you to confuse all of the meet-cutes and the heat of the day to give you unfair expectations.”
“I think you’re selling yourself short, but if anything I’m thinking clearer than I have in months.”
“But be certain, that once I’m in you you’re mine until this is over.” Her eyes went wide with shock over his possessive talk. “Say it. You’re mine.”
“And you’re mine,” she said. “I wouldn’t have it any other way. I like you, Wes. A lot. And I want you.”
“How bad?”
She took his hand and ran it down to cup her core. “Can’t you feel how badly I want you?”
“I’ve been so focused on not screwing this up I’ve clearly been neglecting this beautiful pussy.”
He crawled his way down her body, taking her Gumball Pink panties with him—and, would you look at that, a landing strip came into sight. Damn, he was toast.
“Hell, I’m obsessed with you,” he said, not caring if it freaked her out, which it did by the way her body stiffened a smidge. But he’d said he was laying it all out there. And it wasn’t as if he was getting down on one knee. “I’m obsessed with fucking you, with kissing you, with arguing with you.”
“You like arguing with me?”
“I love arguing with you. But I’m terrified that one time I’ll go too far and it will be the last argument we have.”
“You’re not the only one with an obsession. I’ve read your profile a dozen times and scroll through the pictures you put up.”
“The pictures my brother put up. And I already know you’re a snoop because RoChance alerts you every time someone looks at your profile.”
Uncertainty lit her eyes. “You haven’t looked at mine.”
“Hell yeah, I have. You have to look in the settings. I’ve also listened to your podcast. Every single one.”
“You have?”
He rested his forehead against hers. “I love them. You’re authentic and funny and endearing.”
“I’ve listened to your podcast a few times. You’re charismatic and really know a lot about business.”
“I know about a lot of things,” he said, and he ran his hands down her thighs and yanked them up until her legs were bent at the knee and she was completely exposed. She gasped with surprise. “And I think it’s time to get down to business.”
Her response was a long, lusty groan because he went straight in, using his entire mouth to suck her in. But it wasn’t enough. He burrowed himself in her wet folds like a starving man, loving how her hips pushed up against him, riding his face.
He was drowning in her scent and taste. He’d imagined a million times what she’d taste like, and man his imagination must be lacking because this was the sweetest thing he’d ever devoured.
He found an easy rhythm, fast and deep enough to bring her to the edge but with enough restraint that she didn’t quite make it over.
“Wes,” she begged, her hips now moving against him so hard he thought he might suffocate. Then she clenched her thighs around his head and he was sure he was going to pass out. But what a hell of a way to go. “I’ve waited so long. Please.”
He looked up at her through his lashes. “As you wish,” he quoted from The Princess Bride.
That was all it took. She bucked once, twice, and then fell down the stomach-dropping start of a rollercoaster. Because that’s what this night was about. Dips, turns, climbing, falling, even upside down and sideways. Front, back, and every position in between.
“Wes,” she arched up all the way, thoroughly suffocating him in the best way possible. He let her ride out the intensity. Then he was off the bed, rustling through his bag for a strip of condoms, and back on top before the sex haze had even left her eyes.
“You ready, love?”
She nodded, as if she didn’t have enough breath to speak.
“We’re going to shatter that sheetrock.”
“Big words for a big man.”
“I always stand by my words, and ‘big’ doesn’t even begin to describe it.”
Her hand slid down his bare torso, beneath the elastic of his pajama bottoms and took him in her hand. She moaned.
“I can barely wrap my hands around it.”
He kissed her nose. “I’ll go slow, I promise.”
“I don’t want slow. I want you, intense and single-minded. I want the man who doesn’t stop until it’s done.”
“Baby, I’m going to fuck you so hard we’ll break the damn bed.”
“Sounds like a long night.” She stretched out like a sated kitten, her shirt pulled all the way up over her tits.
He licked one, then the other, then put his forehead to hers. “This bed doesn’t have half the determination I have for you. We’ll rock the foundation.”
“Do I sense a wager?”
“Are you trying to start an argument when I’m seconds away from sliding all the way home and giving you the night of your life?”
“It’s foreplay, remember? And who says I won’t be the one giving you the night of your life?”
“God, I love it when you’re feisty. And I know how much you love a good bet.”
“We break this bed on round one and I host you as the King of Cocks on my podcast. If we don’t, then you look over my business plan and give me sound advice on how to kick your ass in selling romance books.”
Already wrapped and ready, he rested his erection at her opening and said, “Deal,” then he slid in as far as he could to seal the deal. She gasped, and he was only halfway inside her. Damn, she was tight.
He gave her a moment to adjust to his size then slowly began pumping, in and out, side to side, until she took him inch by inch.
“You doing okay? he asked.
“There’s more?” She sounded fatigued just thinking about it.
With the ceiling just above him he didn’t have the room to flip her over or come at her from the side. He didn’t have much room to reposition himself at all. But he could move her.
“Here.” He caressed the gentle inner slope of her knee then slowly brought it up until it was by her side. “This will make it easier.” And he slid in the final inch.
“So much better,” she groaned. “So good. Don’t stop.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him to her mouth and they started making out. There was no other word to describe it. Lips devouring, teeth nipping, and her hands were everywhere. His hands made their way to her exposed tits and he loved on each one for what seemed like hours.
“Have I mentioned how insane your tits are. They’re perfect.” He sucked one in his mouth hard enough to leave a mark. But it wasn’t dark enough, so he sucked harder, making sure to leave a mark on her pale skin.
When was the last time he’d wanted to leave his mark on a woman? Lindsey Hayes, grade eleven, in the back of his mom’s Fiat after a school dance.
“Did you just give me a hickey?” she asked, amused.
“I wanted to put one on your neck so the entire fucking world could see you’re mine, but I thought that might be a little too possessive too soon.”
“I like possessive.” Her words seemed to shock her as much as they shocked him. “Let me clarify. In this moment I’m feeling very possessive myself.” Then she lifted her head and sank her teeth into his shoulder. So hard it bordered on pain and pleasure.
“Tit for tat,” he said and she laughed at the innuendo. “And I still have one tit to go. But I’m thinking I like here better.”
He nuzzled into the crook of her neck and found the perfect spot that she could hide if she wanted, or wear as a badge of honor, and closed his mouth around it. With every suck he pumped into her. Deeper thrusts, curling up to hit that glorious G-spot.
She wrapped her free leg around his waist, loosely resting it on his ass. Helping him set a rhythm that was pleasurable for her. He was going so deep she had to put her hands against the headboard to hold on and not bang the top of her head against the wood.
“Harder,” she panted, moving her hips against him. When he thrust in she pushed up, creating a friction that had his balls tightening up to almost inside of him.
Soon the headboard was pounding the wall, and the bed was squeaking beneath them. There was no way the entire house couldn’t hear them. And he didn’t give a shit. He’d been anticipating this moment with this woman for months.
The bed was rocking and the springs were cutting into his knees and elbows as he held himself over her so as not to crush her. She wasn’t a petite woman, but she wasn’t any match for his size.
The squeaking intensified, as did the pounding.
“Wes,” she breathed. “I’m about to...” She trailed off into a loud groan that sounded suspiciously like “Weston.”
“Me too, love. Just hold on another second or two. I want to do this together.”
“You want to win the bet.”
“That too, but I want this to be like we’re one. I need this to feel like we’re in sync.”
He wasn’t in sync in anything else in his life, but there was an instinctual desire to be in sync with her. At least as long as it lasted.
His hand slid down her stomach to her pleasure button and he used his thumb to drive her higher. The bed hit the wall so hard he heard the wall crack. But he still couldn’t seem to get deep enough. He rolled her onto her side and came at her from behind. Both of them being spoons while they forked each other’s brains out.
His hands gripped her tits, which were bouncing with the aggressive thrusts, and pinched her nipples. And there she went. Flying off upside down and around the spiral curve of the coaster.
Her core was tightening around him, so he flipped her on her stomach, yanked up a leg and went all the way in. With a loud string of colorful words, which were surprising coming from the woman who never cussed, she clenched and began milking him.
Her face was pressed into the pillow, his into the slope of her neck, and they were both panting as they came back down to earth. Even though he’d blown every drop he had, he kept pumping until he couldn’t move an inch.
Their bodies were slick with sex and sweat, but they didn’t let go of one another. She turned in his arms and cuddled into his side. And he drew her to him so tightly he was afraid he might hurt her, so he loosened his grip—a fraction. But then her arms tightened.
Jesus, that had been amazing. Mind-blowing was more like it. He’d had all kinds of sex with all kinds of women. Who knew it would take a bookish tyrant to tame his beast? And with her, he felt tamed. Calm and safe. Two things he always viewed as a weakness but today it had made him feel as if he were on top of the world.
“We didn’t quite break the bed,” she said in a languorous way. “You have to help me come up with a business plan to take on the big tycoon next door.”
He lazily ran a hand down her spine. “I would have helped you no matter what.”
She looked up at him through her lashes. “Really?”
“We can’t have you losing to the crumpet twice in a row, now, can we?”
“What do you mean? I won.”
“Just keep thinking that.” Wes flipped her onto her stomach again and came down on her body like a man on a mission. “I’m still hard as a rock.” He showed her just how dire the situation was. He’d come, yet he was still hard.
“So this is still round one?”
“Exactly. Now lift those hips and put your hands on the headboard. You’re going to need something to hang onto for this.”
“What are you going to hold onto?”
“This.” He wrapped her ponytail around his hand and tugged her head to the right, exposing her neck and holding her in place. She moaned in pleasure and they fucked until the bed collapsed onto the bottom bunk.