Chapter Twenty-One
Warren
I can’t help watching Maisie as she sleeps next to me.
So beautiful and peaceful.
I’m scared I’ll blink and she’ll be gone.
But I trust when she says she’s not leaving this time. Yeah, it might get ugly once Hayes is here, but I’m prepared to fight like hell if I need to.
Last night, after lying in bed for a couple hours, we got hungry. We warmed up one of Aunt JoJo’s dishes and snuggled in bed before passing out.
It’s been so long, I almost forgot how good it felt to have her warm body next to mine. Legs tangled together, her wild hair in my face, and her little sleepy noises purring in my ear.
I’m in paradise.
But then I’m woken abruptly with eager lips wrapped around my cock—now I’m in fucking heaven.
“Maze?” My eyes are half-open as I reach for her head between my legs .
She pops off me. “Are you expectin’ someone else down here?”
I chuckle at her jealous scowl. “Do you even have to ask?”
“Then the next time you say my name, you better be screamin’ it, not questionin’ it.”
Good God.
“Fuck, Maze.” My cock twitches. “That’s a filthy little mouth you’ve got.”
She raises her brows before sinking back down on my shaft.
I don’t last long with the way she twists her tongue around my barbells or her little eager moans as she goes as deep as she can.
“Come up here,” I demand, spent from the intense orgasm, but not willing to let her go without returning the favor.
“Up where?”
“Hold on to the headboard and sit on my face so I can lick that sweet pussy.”
She wiggles her way up my body and when she lifts her T-shirt, I’m met with bare skin.
“No panties, huh?”
“Didn’t want the restriction.”
“Thank God.” I hoist her up to where I want her, perfectly over my mouth, and eat her like a starved man. “Fuck, you taste good.”
My words come out muffled, but she moans out my name in response.
I love flicking her piercing and the way she squirms against me. Knowing I’m the reason she’s about to lose her mind gets me hard all over again.
“Right there, don’t stop.”
My hands find her waist and help her rock back and forth over my tongue. Little sucks and nips between her folds and over the crease where her hips meet her thigh have her going wild.
“Yes, so close! Oh my God …” She thrashes, thighs squeezing my head as she grinds over my face and her sweet juices coat my tongue.
Her body relaxes and then it’s as if she realizes she’s sitting on my chest, and she sits up. “Did I hurt you?”
“It wouldn’t matter if you did. I’d risk my life to keep my face between your thighs.”
She snorts, climbing off me and lying on her side next to me. “It’s darker today.”
Leaning up, I spot the ugly bruise and shrug. “Guess you’ll have to kiss it until it’s better.”
“You wish, cowboy.” She quickly smacks her lips against mine. “I need a hot shower and food.”
“I can help with both of those…”
“No shower shenanigans until you’re healed. But since I can’t cook for shit, you’re on breakfast duty.”
I poke her side, making her squeal. “You’re no fun.”
“I’m startin’ to remember that keepin’ you alive was a full-time job. If you weren’t being reckless at work, you and Bodie were playin’ tractor chicken.”
I full-on belly laugh, which makes my ribs ache, but shit. I’d forgotten about that.
“That was his idea,” I remind her.
“And you were supposed to tell him it was a bad one.”
“I tried! He called me a coward.”
“He was twelve!”
“As his older brother, I had to teach him a lesson and prove him wrong.” I shrug, sitting up and sliding out of bed.
My parents were pissed when they found out, especially since we both got our tractors stuck in the ditch and needed a third tractor to pull us out.
She shakes her head. “That’s nothin’ compared to the numerous shit you and your cousins got into each time they came to visit.”
That reminds me I should text Landen back. He sent a text and I forgot to respond. The girl he’s been crushing on fell off her horse during a barrel race competition and lost part of her memory on the same day as my incident. I haven’t had the chance to tell him about it.
But I do remember one of his messages said she woke up with no recollection of him and apparently has a major crush on him.
I’d laugh if it wasn’t so insane.
Before she can go into the bathroom, I stand and pull her in for a kiss. “Good mornin’.”
She giggles against me. “I need to brush my teeth.”
When she pulls away, I yank her back and tilt her chin. “I think we’re past worryin’ about mornin’ breath.”
“Just admit you like the taste of your cum on my lips.”
“You got me.” I wink, then capture her mouth and slide my tongue in. “But I much prefer the taste of yours.”
While Maisie showers, I brush my teeth and get dressed before going to make breakfast and catch up on my texts.
Landen and I’ve talked more than usual while we discussed what to write to the parole board.
It’ll be another month before we find out if they approve or deny her.
The waiting sucks, especially for Talia’s and Tucker’s families, but it’ll be nice once they know for sure.
Landen
Bodie told me you got your ass kicked by a horse? You good?
Of course Bodie would say that. Such a punk.
Warren
Bruised up, but I’m alive. How’s your new girlfriend?
Landen
Dude, it’s weird. Everyone’s freaking out about how nice she’s being to me. Kinda making me wonder if she’s messing with me on purpose and this is one of her pranks to fuck with me.
Warren
Wouldn’t that be hilarious…
Landen
Yeah…so hilarious.
I laugh, knowing how long he’s liked her and now she finally does, but he probably can’t trust it since her memory might return at some point and she’ll remember she hates him.
Warren
I’d roast you harder but I’m in too much of a sex- induced coma to try.
Landen
EXCUSE ME???
Please tell me with your wife.
I roll my eyes.
Warren
Yes, obviously.
Landen
With bruised ribs too? Impressive.
I snort, shaking my head at where his mind automatically went.
We text a few more times before I switch to Silas since he’s been messaging me since last night.
Silas
If you don’t respond, I’m gonna assume you died.
Warren
Not dead.
Silas
Fuck, there goes three hours writing up your obituary.
Warren
Hold onto it, I guess?
Silas
Good idea.
Now that you’ve come up for air, how are things?
I give him a brief update with my ribs and Maisie so he stops worrying. Then I find some meds and swallow them down. After last night’s and this morning’s activities, I’m probably a bit sorer than I should be.
Still, nothing I can’t handle.
Silas
That’s great, dude.
Oh, not that you asked but…
Oh God.
Warren
I’m scared.
I continue cooking while I wait for his response, grabbing meat and veggies from the fridge and cracking eggs into a bowl.
Silas
I took your advice and planned a spontaneous drive out into the woods with Aundrea. Got into the back seat and accidentally kicked the door open while we were in the middle of it. Ended up with a tick on her ass and a million mosquito bites. She’s pissed!
I blink at my phone screen.
He has to be joking.
Warren
I didn’t say take her to the woods.
Silas
Didn’t you?
Warren
I said a SECLUDED area. Why would you take her to the woods? That’s where wild animals and murderers hide.
Silas
That’s what she said! Fuck.
Warren
You’re gonna have to make it up to her now.
I finish making our omelets, put a couple slices of sourdough bread in the toaster, and add fresh fruit on the side.
“Somethin’ smells delicious in here.” Maisie nearly skips into the kitchen, looking adorable in my old resort T-shirt and distracting me from what I was doing.
“Are you tryin’ to kill me?” My gaze lowers down her body and when staring at her isn’t enough, I fist the fabric across her chest and yank her toward me.
She drags her teeth over her bottom lip and bats her eyelashes innocently.
“Wearin’ my clothes again, Mrs. Langston.”
Her breath hitches, eyes beaming at my words. “Now you’re tryin’ to kill me .”
Smirking, I hover my mouth above hers, waiting for permission. “Am I allowed now?”
“Yes, brushed and flossed.”
“You used my flosser?” I arch a brow, amused.
“And rinse.”
“Fuck, that’s hot.” Before she can respond, I capture her lips and slide my tongue between them, exploring how fresh and clean she tastes.
I manage to break away and tell her to sit so we can eat .
“Mm…this is so good,” she says around a mouthful of omelet.
Odd as it sounds, I love watching her enjoy food. She doesn’t make eating a priority because of work, so I feel pride that she’s devouring it.
“I’m glad you like it.”
“You keep this up, I’m gonna gain like ten pounds.”
“So?”
“A week,” she adds, and I snort.
As we eat and chat, I tell her we’ll go feed the chickens after and she can finally meet them.
“After all the horror stories I’ve heard of your chickens, I’m scared. What if they pluck my eyes out?”
“They won’t.” Grabbing her empty plate and putting it on top of my own, I stand and bring them back to the kitchen.
“But what if they do?” She follows, standing next to me at the sink. “Will you still want me? How will I work if I can’t read my clients’ manuscripts?”
Amused at the unlikely possibility, I cup her chin and grin at her cute frowny face.
“I will be madly in love with you with or without eyes. And I’ll quit my job so I can stay home and read all their books to you.
But you’ll never have to worry about that because I’d let ’em attack me before they’d get to you. ”
Her eyes water, and I worry I said something wrong. “Are you okay?”
Nodding, she swallows. “That was unexpectedly sweet.”
“You’re surprised?”
“That’s the thing. I know you’d do those things, but I’m not deservin’ of that from you, so it gives me conflictin’ feelings.”
“Too bad you don’t get to determine what I do for you.”
She pouts, narrowing her eyes. “Have you always been this stubborn?”
“When it comes to you, baby? Absolutely.”
I don’t give her time to argue before my lips are back on hers. She melts into me and I inwardly smile at how easy it’s been to fall into old habits.
“And I didn’t wait seven years to let you doubt my feelings. I don’t expect you to share the same ones I have after movin’ on with your life, but I’m a patient man. I’m not goin’ anywhere.”
I take Maisie outside once she’s in the right attire and fill up the feed buckets so she can help. Although she’s weary, she acclimates easily as she follows my directions.
“Oh God, that one has it out for me. I can tell…” She stands frozen with a bucket clutched to her chest. “She looks murderous.”
Chuckling at her dramatics, I lead her toward the coop.
“Chick Jagger is harmless. She loves to eat, but she won’t hurt you.”
“I dunno…I think she’s plottin’ something against me.”
“C’mon, let’s go.”
Once I check their water, we spread their feed and watch as they eat.
“Wanna collect their eggs?”
Maisie eyes the group of them cautiously before following me inside the coop.
“You need to relax, babe.”
“I’ve seen videos online of chicken attacks!”
It’s hard not to laugh at how serious she is.
“If there’s any of ’em to worry about, it’s Chucky.”
“The rooster?”
“He’s the aggressor. ”
“And you’re just now tellin’ me?” she whisper-hisses, shifting in circles to look for him.
“I plan to get more eventually, so you’re gonna have to become friends.”
“ More ? How many eggs do you get a day?”
“One from each, so six total.”
“That sounds like plenty.”
I chuckle at her panicked tone, but she’ll come around eventually. “I plan to cook for you regularly, my love. We’re gonna need more eggs.”
“Well, it’s hard to argue when you say sweet shit like that.”
Laughing, I point to their nests. “Go look, city girl. Time to country you back up.”