22. Austin #2
I nipped her earlobe, tugging before I moved my mouth to her neck and sucked. My hand slid between her legs, feeling her soaked and spreading her thighs for me. And as my fingers searched for her pussy, I damn near fell to my knees.
She wasn’t wearing any underwear.
I’d be lucky if I made it through dinner.
“Nothing about what I want to do to you will disappoint. Mark my words.”
She splayed her palms flat on the wall, breath growing heavy. “Good.”
My finger slid inside her, pumping once before I removed my hand and stepped away. As she turned to face me, I slid my finger into my mouth, tasting her. Who needed a fucking dinner when I had her standing before me?
Her eyes heated, breasts practically spilling over the top of her dress now. “I have to go help Brynne with the food.”
“I don’t want you to.” The admission was a little…desperate, but I had nothing to hide. We were past being bashful at this point. If we ever were to begin with.
“I don’t either.” Her lips lifted like she was thinking of all the other things we could be doing, but then they fell. “But I promised her.”
I could throw her over my shoulder and take her to my room—the one that no longer felt like my own since I’d been spending so much time at her house—but I had enough self-control to wait until later.
At least, I hoped.
Chances were, I’d be on my knees beneath that table, eating to my heart’s content.
I stepped forward and cupped her cheeks, pulling her in for a deep kiss. When I was done ravishing her mouth, I brushed a thumb over her swollen bottom lip. “I’ll come help in a minute. I’m going to talk to Booker real quick.”
She arched a brow. “About what I told you?”
“He’ll want to know if Brynne hasn’t already told him.” Booker was the closest thing I had to a brother. I wouldn’t keep anything from him if it pertained to the safety of his girl.
“Okay.”
Then she perched on her tiptoes to give me another peck on the mouth before disappearing down the stairs. I watched her go, a smile on my face as she swayed her hips and sent me one last look.
She was everything I’d ever wanted and more.
I think I fell for her.
The dinner passed by in a blur of smiles and chatter.
I couldn’t help but laugh earlier when I saw Booker wearing the fanciest getup he’d worn to date, and every time he caught my eye across the table during the meal, he’d shot me a warning look.
It didn’t stop me from snickering. McKenna’s bare foot trailing up my calf did, though.
McKenna’s cousin Grace had joined us, and while she’d been relatively quiet at the end of the table, I hadn’t missed her and Henley stealing glances at each other.
Henley seemed down—like anyone would be after a breakup—but I could also sense the weight lifted from his shoulders now that Aubree was out of his life.
He hadn’t opened up to us about her much, but anytime she came around, I always got a bad feeling.
Booker did too. Which was why she wasn’t allowed at the ranch anymore.
Henley had made the rule, trying to keep himself from getting back with her in a “too serious” manner—his words, not ours—and we’d helped to make sure he upheld the boundary.
Abruptly, after Henley finished his pie, he stood from the table, plate in hand, and began collecting everyone’s dishes.
Nightmare followed him around, waiting for a crumb of food to drop to the ground.
Brynne looked like she wanted to speak up and offer to help clean up, but Booker set a hand on her thigh, stopping her.
We could both sense Henley wanted an excuse to leave us be and go back to his room.
We wouldn’t force him to stay and socialize if he didn’t want to.
The three of us all had our fair share of quiet days where we’d rather be alone.
His joining us in the first place after his breakup was surprising in itself.
He typically locked himself away for a week, only coming out to do chores.
I really fucking hoped this was the last time with her.
Grace, with her long black hair cascading down her back and tattoos curling around her arms, watched as he moved. But as he rounded the table to take her plate, she lowered her gaze, mumbling a thanks before he disappeared into the kitchen.
All the while, McKenna’s foot ran up and down my leg. My cock was aching, straining against my jeans uncomfortably. No amount of shifting could ease it, and if she kept at it, I might implode.
Grabbing her bare knee, I hoisted her leg over my thigh. She sent me a wide-eyed look and I leaned in, murmuring in her ear, “You’re playing a dangerous game, kitten.”
She turned to me in her seat, blinking innocently. “I don’t play games, cowboy. At least, not ones I don’t win.”
I leaned closer, breathing her in. “And what is it you’re trying to win?”
Conversation drowned out around us as the tip of her nose brushed mine. “You.”
I tilted my head, wishing I could slip my tongue inside her mouth and taste the remnants of the strawberry pie on her. “Then there’s no game.” Her eyes darted between mine. “You’ve already won.”
She studied me for a long moment before turning her attention back to the others. Thankfully, they’d given us the privacy we needed. But now? I needed her under me and writhing.
“Excuse me,” McKenna said as she removed her leg from my thigh and shoved to a stand. “I need to use the restroom.”
Brynne sent her a small smile before McKenna left the room, heading down the hall. And when Booker glanced at me, a knowing look on his face, I didn’t have to tell them where I was going.
The whole fucking town of Whiskey Ridge could’ve seen it on my face.
Sliding out of my chair and nearly tripping over my feet in my rush, I cleared my throat and ignored the arched brows at the table. They could judge me all they wanted—I was feral for the woman.
The door to the bathroom upstairs was open, so I didn’t waste any time stopping there. I knew exactly where she’d gone.
When I made it to my room, I stopped, noting the inch gap in the door.
As I quietly shoved it open, my heart stuttered.
McKenna stood in the middle of the bedroom—my bedroom—with her bare back to me and her dress bunched at her waist. She was trying to shimmy out of it, but without loosening the corset properly, there was no chance it would make it over her ass.
I leaned a shoulder against the door jamb, crossing my arms. “Need some help?”
She jumped, spinning around with her arms barely covering her tits.
She moved her fisted hands from the material to plop them on her hips.
I silently swore at the sight of her breasts on full display solely for me to see.
Something about her standing there like that made all my doubts float away.
She was giving in to this the same way I was.
Fucking finally.
She scowled at my smirk, which quickly fell away as my eyes roamed over every curve and indent on her beautiful skin. “You tied it too tight.”
“With the intention of being the one to take it off you.” I crossed the room, our gazes locked. My fingers hooked in the thin material of her dress and tugged it upwards. “Arms out.”
“I’m not a child,” she retorted, though it held no bite. She obeyed my command.
I worked the dress back up her torso, and once it was situated back in place, my hands roamed to her back, finding the bow.
I easily undid the double knot, the meticulous work falling away.
Then, with one small tug, the dress fell to the floor.
To no surprise, she was completely bare.
And I…I was fully clothed and suffocating under her beauty.
“Is that drool?” she teased, squinting her eyes and cocking her head.
Without hesitation, I scooped her up and tossed her on the bed. The one that no longer felt like my own because she hadn’t slept in it.
She let out a small squeal, breasts bouncing as she perched up on her elbows. So achingly slowly, I crawled over her until she lay flat on the comforter, her bright blonde hair fanning out around her.
“You’re breathtaking, McKenna.” Holding in the words felt criminal .
“Don’t start getting sappy on me now, cowboy.” She ran a finger down my cheekbone, and I leaned into it. “I like your mean side.”
“I could never be mean to you.” Stalking? Sure. Getting irritated when she put her life in danger? Yeah. But mean? To her? I’d rather get kicked in the head by a horse. And if I ever was anything but ruthlessly caring toward her, I’d hope that was my fate.
She rolled her eyes, and I lowered to my elbows. “I mean it.”
Her expression sobered with my words, worry creasing her brow. “You’re scaring me.”
“I already told you, McKenna. You never have to fear when I’m around. Especially me.”
“Not like that.” Her throat bobbed with a swallow, her heart beating rapidly against my clothed chest. “You just… You’re looking at me like you?—”
“Like I what?” I asked when she didn’t continue.
She shook her head, ruffling her hair with the movement. “Like something changed.”
I brushed a strand out of her face, tucking it behind her ear. “Something did change.”
The crease in her brow deepened, but she didn’t speak.
“We don’t have to talk about it now—” I started.
Her head shook again, quickly. “No. I…” Her lashes fluttered. “I want to.”
My hands grew hot. I wasn’t expecting her to say that . Wasn’t expecting her to be so okay with talking about what was happening between us. This entire time, she seemed to be dodging it. “You do?”
She nodded. All her little movements displayed her nerves on a blinking neon sign.
“I’ve been avoiding it. I know I have. And I’ve been thinking a lot.
I just—I’m good at running from how I feel.
Good at pretending I can live my entire life the same way for the sake of keeping my happiness.
But the last few weeks of being forced by your side”—I frowned at her phrasing—“have kind of proven that’s not logical. ”
Her eyes roamed my face, and I waited for her to continue. She was finally talking about how she felt. No way in hell was I interrupting that. I’d lay here all night if I had to, solely to let her get out what she wanted to say.
“Despite how annoying you are almost all the time”—my frown deepened—“you’ve grown on me. And I kind of like having you around. In my house. Cooking. Sleeping next to me in my bed. Touching me.”
I ran my fingers through her hair as she spoke, entranced by her voice and the feel of her body beneath mine.
“Aren’t you going to say something?” There was that annoyance lacing her voice. The one I did everything in my power to bring out daily.
“Yeah.” I studied her face. Her hairline, her brows.
The small ghosts of freckles on her nose.
Her full lips and those tiny, shiny earrings in her ears.
I memorized all of it like I had so many times before because when I said this, I wanted to etch her reaction into my soul.
The way her lips might curl, or how a blush might tint her cheeks.
“I love you.”