Chapter 12
Chapter Twelve
F ox
The morning sunlight cuts through the loft windows, scattering across the hardwood floor. I stir, still half-wrapped in the blanket and reaching out for her to find her side of the bed empty. Then I hear her humming softly in the kitchen, her voice sweet and cheerful this early. I stretch, rubbing a hand over my face, and realize I’ve been smiling like an idiot.
That is, until I catch the faint scent of coffee. The kind I didn’t make. Damn her for being so easy to get used to.
I walk to the kitchen, the floorboards creaking under my feet. Amelia doesn’t look up, her back to me as she fiddles with the French press. She’s wearing one of my flannels—again. The hem just barely brushes her thighs, and she’s barefoot, her legs crossed at the ankle. My flannel has no business looking that good on her, and I hate that it does.
“You sure have a way of making yourself comfortable,” I tease, leaning against the counter.
“Good morning to you too, Mr. Sunshine.” She glances over her shoulder, a teasing smile playing on her lips. “Coffee?”
I grunt, reaching for a mug. “You know you’re not supposed to steal a man’s entire wardrobe, right?”
She raises an eyebrow, her grin widening. “You said I could keep wearing them. Remember?”
I roll my eyes, teasing, trying to ignore the pull in my chest at the sight of her like this—like she belongs here. “Guess you took it literally–I’ll be out of clothes next.”
Her laugh is soft, almost shy, and I hate how it makes me feel. Warm. Like she’s turning this place into something more than a workshop with a loft. Like she’s turning me into something more than a grumpy mechanic.
I take a long sip of coffee, watching her over the rim of the mug. “So, what’s your plan for today? Gonna reorganize more of my stuff while I’m at work?”
She shrugs, her smile innocent. “Maybe. Someone’s got to make this place livable.”
I snort. “Livable for who? A princess?”
She narrows her eyes at me, but there’s no heat in it. “No, just someone who doesn’t think greasy wrenches count as home décor.”
We fall into an easy silence, the banter lingering in the air like static. She perches on the edge of the counter, sipping her coffee, and I realize I’m staring. Again. I need to stop this. Whatever this is.
But before I can figure out how to tear my gaze away, her phone buzzes on the counter and a familiar phone number pops up on her screen. She grabs it quickly, her face paling as she reads the screen.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, my voice sharper than I intended.
She hesitates, biting her lip. “Nothing. It’s just… my dad.”
Her dad. The words hit like a gut punch. My chest tightens, and the pieces fall into place—her last name, the way she avoided my questions about why she came to Devil’s Peak.
“Your dad,” I echo, my voice flat. “You mean… my boss?”
She flinches, and that tells me everything I need to know. “What?”
“That’s my bosses number–he owns the garage along with a few others within a few hours around here. That’s really your dad?”
“Yes. But we haven’t spoken since I was sixteen…he must have caught wind that I’m in town.”
“Damn, Sugar…how’s that for a plot twist? The woman I’ve been sharing my loft with is my boss’ daughter?”
Her eyes widen, and she slides off the counter, stepping toward me. “It’s not like that. My dad and I… we’re not close.”
“No kidding,” I snap, running a hand through my hair. “Do you know what he’s going to do when he finds out about this? About us?”
She folds her arms, her jaw tightening. “Why do you care? What could he possibly do to you?”
My laugh is bitter, humorless. “It’s not about what he’ll do to me. It’s about respect. He gave me a chance when no one else would, and now I’m shacking up with his daughter. Do you have any idea how bad that looks?”
Her face flushes, anger flashing in her eyes. “I’m not some kid, Fox. I’m twenty-five, and I can make my own choices.”
“Yeah? Well, I’m thirty-seven…I don’t think he’s gonna like that too much.”
Her shoulders sag, the fight draining out of her. “I didn’t think you’d react like this.”
The words hit harder than they should, and I curse under my breath, turning away. I don’t trust myself to look at her right now. Not when every instinct I have is telling me to protect her, to claim her, to make it clear to the world—and her father—that she’s mine.
“You should’ve told me, Princess,” I mutter, my voice rough.
“I know,” she says quietly. “But Fox–he doesn’t care about me. He never has.”
I glance back at her, frowning. “What are you talking about?”
She sighs, leaning against the counter. “He left me and my mom when I was a kid. Started over here in Devil’s Peak, and I didn’t see him again until I tracked him down in high school. Spent one summer here trying to reconnect, but… it didn’t work out. He’s a stranger to me, Fox. Always has been.”
Her voice cracks, and something in my chest twists. I want to stay angry, to hold onto the betrayal, but damn it, she’s making it hard.
“Why’d you come back?” I ask, my tone softer.
She hesitates, her fingers tightening around her coffee mug. “I don’t know. Closure, maybe. Or curiosity. I saw the mail-order bride ad, and it seemed… fitting. Like a way to finally understand him, to figure out why he left.”
Her honesty floors me, and for a moment, I don’t know what to say. But then she looks up at me, her eyes glassy, and all the anger drains away.
“Amelia,” I murmur, stepping closer. “Your dad might not care, but I do.”
Her lips part, and I see the surprise in her eyes. Hell, maybe I’m surprised too. But I mean it. She’s turned my life upside down in the best way, and I’ll be damned if I let her slip through my fingers.
“He’s going to find out eventually,” I say, my voice firm. “And when he does, I’ll have to handle it.”
Her brow furrows. “Fox?—”
“I mean it,” I interrupt, my hand brushing hers. “You’re mine, Amelia. He’s just going to have to deal with it.”
Her cheeks flush, and for a moment, she doesn’t say anything. Then she smiles, small and hesitant. “You’re really bad at this whole romantic speech thing, you know that?”
I chuckle, the sound low and rough. “Good thing I’m not trying to be romantic.”
She laughs, and it’s the sweetest sound I’ve ever heard. I pull her into my arms, holding her close, and for the first time in years, I feel like I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.
“Fox,” she whispers, her breath warm against my chest. “Thank you.”
I don’t respond, just press a kiss to the top of her head and hold her tighter. Words don’t matter right now. All that matters is her—and making sure she knows she’s not alone anymore.
“Do you… regret us?” Her voice is soft as she asks.
“Never,” I reply.
Her pouty lips lift into a smile and all the senses in my head are stolen. I don't want her to see how much she affects me when she does this. Thunder rages through my shaft, lightning igniting my balls with fire and electricity as the need to dominate every untouched part of her rises inside me.
"Say it again, say you’ll stay," I hiss, my hand on her skin, teeth grazing her neck.
"Fox," she breathes out, her soft pussy grinding against me like a sweet pussycat at the sound of the word.
"That's it, my sweet girl." I grip her hair, pulling softly to expose her neck. "I'd like to promise to be gentle," I graze my teeth down the arch of her throat, sending shivers across her skin and causing a soft shudder to run through her, "but I don't think you'd like that very much."
I swallow her gasps, forcing my tongue to meet hers as our bodies twist and writhe in discovery and desperation.
"I love your rough edges," she purrs against my lips just as the tip of my cock brushes against her heated lips.
She trembles, her eyes fluttering closed as I work against her pussy, rubbing across every nerve as she grows more and more soaked with each of my passes.
"This little pussy is soaked for me," I hum, pushing down my briefs and working the thick tip of my dick against her clitoris. She arches and moans, her fingernails digging into my shoulders as she tries to maintain control. "I want to see how sweet my girl looks with my dick plunging deep inside her again."
Instead of thrusting against her clit again, I edge my tip inside her entrance. I slip just barely in, my tip leaking with pre-cum as I’m so fucking hot and turned on by her whimpering little sounds.
"Please, I'm so desperate to feel you, Fox."
My cock surges with the need to fuck her wildly. "Do you think this tight little pussy can handle me again so soon?"
Her eyes widen and she bites down on her bottom lip as she nods eagerly.
"Yes, please," she begs.
I push her hand between us, forcing her fingers to feel herself. "Good girl, feel how juicy your pussy is for me."
She spins her fingers through the glistening folds, sliding her fingertips against my cock and sending beads of pre-cum leaking from my tip. I want to suck and fuck and lick and bite every inch of her skin every day for the next hundred years.
"I hope you're ready for forever, sweet girl. I love that no one else has been here.” I husk, just as I slide in a little deeper. “No time with you will ever be enough.”
Her only response is a moan, as I push deep, feeling her tense and then ease around my thick girth.
“There’s my baby, nice and slow, I’ve got you.” My hands move across her skin, kisses trailing down her breasts and then back up her throat to land on her lips again.
“Yes, yes, yes.” She is so pure and untouched, every bone in my body strung tight for her.
“Fuck, my sweet girl, fuck, it scares me how much I fucking think about you.” I groan, grinding to the end of her and easing my strokes. I kiss her slowly, plunging my tongue deftly as we come apart and come together right here in my kitchen.
My fingers sweep over her clit and swirl until she reaches another release. Then I slide my hands around her waist and down to the back of her beautiful round ass cheeks.
“Seeing you in my flannel always makes me want to get my hands on these gorgeous curves.”
"Yes," she breathes sweetly in my ear, "and I love watching you cum."
I smirk, peppering kisses along the underside of her wrist. "You're incredible, my sweet girl. I'm all for living out the rest of our days naked and covered in your sweet cum, baby, but we've got forever to get to." I cup her cheeks in my hands as I kiss her again, savoring the taste of her on my tongue. "And when it comes to you, sweet Amelia, I'm not a very patient man."