Chapter 43 Reese
She’s everything, and now that I’ve had her, I need to keep her, by any means necessary. I want to drown in her, do everything with her, build a life with her. I knew it before tonight, but having her here, looking like she belongs in this place, solidifies that feeling.
Watching her walk out of my room with her legs on display makes me want to bury my face between her thighs and suffocate.
Knowing she’s only ever orgasmed on my cock makes something primal in me surge to the surface, and my need to claim her rises.
I’ve never been more sure that she’s the one for me.
Now I just need to convince her, and I’ve got a feeling it won’t be too hard.
“Are you hungry?” Her voice still holds traces of sleep, and she runs a hand through her hair flipping it to the other side.
“Famished.”
Walking to her, I slip my hands around her waist and pull her into a kiss. Her mouth moves against mine, slow and intentional. When I break the kiss she smiles, eyes still closed before she slowly opens them.
“I meant for food,” she giggles, pressing against my chest. I back away, letting her pass me and head for the kitchen. “I’m makin’ gourmet grilled cheese.”
“Mmm,” licking my lips, I watch as she hums and pulls everything from the fridge.
“Where are the knives?” She asks, turning in a circle.
Walking around to join her, I open the cabinet to the left of the fridge where the knife set I hardly ever use is.
She eyes me, but doesn’t comment. Grabbing one of the medium sized knives, she walks back over to the counter and just stands there looking mildly confused.
I chuckle, grabbing a cutting board from under the counter I hand it over.
“Thank you,” she quips, cutting into the block of cheese and unwrapping the cellophane. Slicing the block into thin strips, she works and hums looking up at me every now and again. Her smile’s radiant, she always glows, but here in my kitchen doing something she loves, she’s angelic.
“What?” She stops, looking up at me then back down at what she’s doing.
“You look happy,” I tell her honestly.
She smiles, puts the knife down, and walks over to me. Placing her hands on either side of my neck, she reaches up and rubs her nose to mine before placing a sweet kiss on my lips.
“Very,” she whispers, heading back to the sink to wash and dry her hands before walking back over to the cutting board to finish cutting the second block of cheese.
Pads of butter rest near the stove where she’s got a pan ready to sear the sandwiches. Mixing the chipotle and garlic spread, she slathers each slice of bread and adds alternating pieces of cheese.
The butters melted by the time she gently lays the sandwich into the pan and it sizzles as she waits. Cracking open a bag of kettle chips, she pops one into her mouth and dances around the kitchen.
Leaning up against the counter, I cross my arms and watch her. I would do this all day for the rest of our lives if she’d let me.
Once the grilled cheeses are done, she plates them on paper plates and I grab us some sweet tea I had Lin pick up from Maxine’s Diner. She sits down at the small table I have off the kitchen, but I nod toward the back door.
She looks down and back up at me, “I ain’t sittin’ outside with no daggone pants on, Old Man.”
With a chuckle and a shake of my head, I head to the closet where I’ve got blankets ready. “I’ll grab you a blanket, you get the chips and I’ll meet you out there.”
She follows me out, carrying both of our plates and the bag of chips between her teeth.
Grabbing the bag from her teeth we both laugh and I wrap her up into the blanket before she sits on one of the chairs. Joining her, I laugh as she pulls apart her sandwich watching the cheese spread and finally break apart.
Dangling the cheese over her mouth, her tongue darts out and wraps the cheese globs.
“Goldie,” I warn, shaking my head.
“What?” She shrugs with a coy smile and takes a bit of the sandwich, the crunch is audible and she does her little moan.
“Jesus Christ, woman. Are you trying to kill me?” I groan, making her snicker and continue chewing.
I have to close my eyes and take a breath before I do something stupid and forget we’re supposed to be eating dinner. It’s dark out, so the string lights around the back porch are the only source of light we’ve got.
Taking a bite of my own grilled cheese, I’m surprised by the flavor. The only grilled cheese I’ve eaten was a plain old thing. But this, this is a work of flavor. It’s so good I could eat three.
“You like it?” She asks, eyes wide.
“It’s the best grilled cheese I’ve ever eaten,” I tell her.
She blushes and bats her eyelashes. “Good.”
We finish up, and she offers to make me another.
“It’s late, but if it’ll guarantee you stick around longer…” I tease, watching her eyes light up.
“Who says I’m ready to go home?” She places a chip onto her tongue with a small giggle that makes my whole body shiver.
“In that case, would you be interested in hearin’ about my talk with Jarrett?” I ask, watching her pause with her drink halfway to her lips.
“Of course.” She places her drink down and leans back into the chair, snuggling down into the blanket. “Only if you want to talk it out”
“He’s really going through it, sometimes I forget what it’s like to be a teenager. He’s struggling a lot with Levi’s death. We’ve talked at length about who he was to him, and I understand now why he’s so angry.”
She doesn’t say anything, only nods for me to continue. I haven’t told her about Yates, with everything going on, it’s slipped my mind.
“Yates is sick.”
“Oh, Reese,” she says, standing and walking over to where I’m sitting. Cuddling up into my lap, she rests her head against my chest tucking herself under my chin.
“Pancreatic cancer,” I choke. “I’ve been so busy I haven’t had the chance to process it yet.” Sure, I’ve talked to Jarrett about it, but that’s it. I haven’t been able to really feel any type of way because I’ve been too busy trying to keep him from imploding. “It’s terminal.”
“I’m so sorry,” she whispers, rubbing her hand up and down my arm.
“Jarrett’s known for a while, far longer than me, so he’s been dealin’ with it alone,” I have to take a deep breath.
“I feel like an asshole, for not knowin’ sooner.
I have an idea why Yates didn’t tell me, even though I hate it.
He wanted me to make my own decisions, without his diagnosis overshadowin’ them.
But then I told him I wouldn’t take Jarrett on at the ranch and… ”
She leans back, I didn’t realize a tear had slipped free until she’s wiping it away. “You don’t have to share this with me. I understand.”
Shaking my head I continue, “I want to, Goldie, I want you to know everythin’ about me. To know me inside and out. I never want you to question anythin’ when it comes to me, especially how much I mean it when I say I’ve fallin’ for you.”
Her sharp intake of breath makes my heart pause in my chest. We’re locked in on each other, our breaths mingling in the night air, and slowly, so painstakingly slowly, she lowers her lips to mine.
Breaking the kiss, she whispers, “I’ve fallin’ for you too, Old Man.”