35. Victoria
35
VICTORIA
I have been on edge all week. I jump at every noise. I have barely slept. I am scared to get into a vehicle. Thank God my mom was here; otherwise, I wouldn’t have left the house. The fact that she forced me to go outside and to get into cars has been what has helped. I didn’t disclose my uneasiness to her, but she just knew. Mother’s instinct, I guess. Pushing me to face the fears so they don’t consume me was overwhelming, but I am glad she did.
Plus, I got to spend the week with her, all thanks to Tanner. But I missed him. Missed his protectiveness, the way he just seems to know what I need and when. Even though I saw him every day, ensuring that Mom and I had everything we needed, including taking us to town and driving us around, I didn't have him in my bed at night, and he was respectful in front of my mother, stealing little kisses but otherwise being the perfect gentleman. My mother swooned hard and approved of him, something she never really did with Josh, I now realize. Although who wouldn’t approve of the man who had his private jet collect her and bring her promptly to me, pay for everything while she was here, as well take such good care of her daughter? I have never seen my mom smile so wide, her stresses seemingly disappearing more and more as the week went on.
I watch him like a king in his kingdom here at the distillery, smiling as his customers ask for a photo, people shaking his hand and whispering as he walks past them. He stands tall, obviously proud, the leader he is, and I want to jump his bones. I am so turned on by his passion, his abilities, his smarts, tenacity, and discipline. Not to mention, he dropped all of this at a moment's notice to help me. The week of having him near, but not near enough, has my body on edge. I may bake cookies for the townspeople for their help, but I plan on returning the favor to Tanner in a completely different way.
“You’re staring,” he murmurs to me with a sexy-as-sin smirk, like he knows exactly what I am thinking. I blink a few times as I gaze up at him, coming back out of my thoughts.
“There is a lot of you to look at,” I say cheekily, and he chuckles, taking my hand in his again. The smell in the restaurant is amazing, and when he drags me outside to the courtyard, the tables out here are full as well. It is clearly popular, and I see a few locals, but most people are unfamiliar.
“It is busy like this most days of the week. Tourists book us out months in advance.” He leads me through to a small cottage garden. The flowers are breathtaking, the aroma instantly hitting me, and I inhale deeply .
“This is beautiful,” I tell him, looking around at manicured boxed hedges, roses, daisies, lavender, and wildflowers. You name it, it is here.
“Connor and I planted this for my mom. When she was alive, this was her favorite spot. She used to sit here and read or knit. Like her own little private space away from the craziness of life.” This man .
We stick to the path that takes us through a thick, high hedge, privacy signs erected near the walkway as we move through a gate. It is clear that this is now his private land, not for the tourists or anyone else. I look around everywhere, not wanting to miss a thing, and I see nothing but expansive manicured lawn, the grass a vibrant green, and sitting right on it is a luxury log cabin.
“This is my place. Connor has one too, just over there.” He points to the left, and I see one that is almost identical a few hundred yards away. The grass between the two is vast, green, and pristine. Whoever does their landscaping is an expert, that is for sure. I take another deep breath in and feel my shoulders relax. It is quiet, the place surrounded by tall, thick hedges, which also hide what I think is a fence. It is like his own garden oasis; you can’t even hear the activity of the distillery from here anymore.
“This is amazing…” I say in awe. I turn to look around, spotting the top of my house in the distance. “Look! There I am!”
“I can see you from my porch,” he says, opening the front door and leading me inside. It is darker here and my eyes adjust. It is exactly how I imagined Tanner's place to be. Very rugged, large, and masculine. He has very high ceilings and oversized windows, the place made from dark timber that’s brightened by the clear blue sky shining in. I spot his kitchen over to the side, clean, polished, with every amenity you would expect. It is luxe. Just like the man who owns it.
“Is this the kind of decor most ranches around here have?” I ask him, thinking about the project I am undertaking with Griffin. After I recovered for a few days, I got back to Griffin by email to let him know that I would take on the job. I have started a Pinterest board, but seeing Tanner’s place now, it makes me think a little harder.
“I guess a ranch is just like any other home. It needs to take into consideration the people who will live in it, but I think a place like Whispers has a certain style. You need to bring the outside in a little,” he offers, and it makes sense. It is a nice vibe, most definitely welcoming, warm, but also secure and strong. I look at Tanner, who is watching me closely. The two feelings should be a little contradicting, but they aren’t. They work perfectly.
“I have taken a job with Griffin,” I blurt out, having not told him anything about it yet. The whole car accident derailed my news.
“You have?” he asks, surprised.
“He needs help doing the interior of a new ranch build here in Whispers. I started working on it this week.”
“You did, huh?” He smiles as I basically bounce on my toes with excitement.
“It’s a big project,” I tell him, looking around again, getting ideas.
“After last weekend, you should be resting,” he tells me, concern suddenly etching his features, but I am so sick of resting. Especially as my eyes meet his. Everything else fades away.
“I don’t want to rest,” I tell him teasingly as I take a small step toward him. My voice is full of innuendo.
“But you are still recovering.” He swallows roughly, his Adam’s apple bobbing as I trail my hands up the front of his shirt.
“I slowed down because of my ankle, and now I slowed down because some asshole cut my brakes. I don’t want to go slow anymore…” My heart picks up pace in my chest as I step away, my fingers moving to the buttons on the front of my dress, itching to get it off.
“You had a big scare,” he says, still not reaching for me, even with how close I am. I need to feel him, I need his hands on my body. It’s like he’s holding himself back.
“I’m fine. I feel better just being here with you, Tanner.” Opening the first button and then the second, I bite my lip as my eyes flick to his. I don’t want him to be scared to touch me. I need his touch, I crave it. My body heats just thinking about it, and I open my dress, exposing my chest.
“You aren't healed, baby,” he says gruffly, his teeth gritting, and I know I am getting to him.
“Maybe not. But I am burning for you,” I say, my voice breathy, as his eyes drop to my chest. “Touch me, Tanner.” I drop my sundress from my shoulders, the fabric gliding down my body to the floor, and I stand in front of him in nothing but my matching white lace underwear.
“Goddamn. Look at you.”
In two large strides, he’s smashing his lips to mine as his hands wrap around my middle. Melting into him, I breathe out the stress I was holding all week and give myself over to him.
“You want me to touch you? You burn for me?” he whispers over my lips as he cups my face, looking into my eyes. The intensity makes me shiver as I nod eagerly.
With a growl, he picks me up, my legs circling his waist immediately, and then he drops to his knees.
“Tanner,” I breathe out his name as our bodies meet the floor. My hands grab at his shirt, and I find his buttons, frantically opening them, needing to feel his skin on mine. He lowers me to my back, and I lie under him, his knees between my legs on a soft rug he has right next to an open fireplace. Images of what this would be like when snowing outside infiltrate my mind, a new desire now unlocked, before his lips on me pull me back to the moment I’m so desperate for.
“Oh, baby girl, I missed hearing you say my name like that,” he says, his shirt now off, and leaning back up, he makes quick work of his boots and jeans, his eyes traveling down my body and back up again. I squirm under his attention, but only for a breath before he’s pulling the lace from my hips, lowering between my legs, and pressing his lips to my core.
“And I missed this,” I hiss the words, my breath escaping me as he laps at my wetness like a man starved. I’m panting within a minute, euphoria already overwhelming my senses as he lifts my hips up from the rug, his hands curving around the back of my thighs, his head completely buried against me.
“Oh God… Oh God… Oh God…” I whimper continuously at the contact as he doesn’t come up for air. His tongue is warm and delves into me, over and over, making me gasp; his lips suck my clit, his whiskers scratch just right, his moans give me butterflies, and all of it together has me seeing stars.
“More, Tanner. More, please,” I beg of him, and before I know it, he’s kissing his way up my body, eyes level with mine.
“Tell me what you want,” he grits out, his eyes on fire, his chest heaving and red. The two of us are famished and just about feral for each other. After the week I had, I need it, I need him.
“Fuck me, Tanner,” I tell him, and he listens immediately. Lifting my leg, he places it at his hip and I curve it around his waist to bring him closer.
“Anything you want, baby girl. I can’t deny you a thing,” he growls as he lines himself up and pushes inside me, giving me exactly what I want.