Chapter 23
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Campbell
I’m naked and stretched out on Durban’s bed, and I’m up one orgasm. He laps his tongue over my belly button, where he poured some Chapel House whiskey. The party favors were still in his truck, and he brought in a few with him when he carried me into the house.
When I left this morning, I thought it was for forever. But Durban makes me feel like forever started as soon as he brought me home from Bootleg Tavern that night.
“The best infusion is you.” His hot breath gusts over my fevered skin. I arch into him as he prowls up my body and nudges my legs open.
He pushes inside, slow and sensual like he’s savoring it, like he was afraid we wouldn’t have this chance again.
I hook my ankles around his hips and run my hands over his shoulders and into his hair. “I need you so bad.”
“You have me,” he says, pumping in and out in a steady rhythm. “You know why I’m not mad about those years I wasted waiting for the wrong person?” He thrusts hard, and a moan leaves me. “I was really waiting for you.”
My heart swells so big I’m going to burst before I shatter for the second time. “I can’t be upset that something awful made me move back home.” He pulls out and plunges inside, and my brain fractures. The man scrambles me from the inside out. “It was when a moody cowboy could take me home.”
“I’m not going to quit taking you home.” Pump. “I’m not going to quit making you smile.” Pump. “I’m not going to quit making you laugh and showing you that we’re fucking perfect for each other. You were made for me. This pussy is mine.”
“All yours,” I groan as pleasure soars through me. It’s the second time today I could float away, but he anchors me.
“One day, I’m going to propose.” He hooks his arms behind my thighs and spreads me wide.
“You’re going to plan your dream wedding.
” He rises to his knees and pistons his hips back and forth, hitting a spot only he’s ever been able to find.
“And I’m going to make it happen. Whatever you fucking want. ”
I fist my hands into the blankets so I don’t scoot across the bed. Waves of pleasure undulate through me, cranking me closer and closer to my peak. “What do you want?” I barely have the air to ask.
“I want you. That’s all I need.” He licks the pad of his thumb. When it lands on my already stimulated clit, my back arches, and I come so damn hard I can’t feel anything but him moving inside me. The rest of me is electrified.
“Durban!” I ride the storm, shaking and clawing at the bedding.
“Give it all to me, Belle.” He grunts and thrusts hard, burying himself to the hilt, and he comes with me.
I mourned losing this only hours ago, but here I am, connected to Durban, and he not only wants me forever, but he also wants to make my dreams come true.
He collapses over me and gently slips out while rolling us to the side. I curl into his hard, bare chest and inhale the faint scent of horse sweat, vodka, and his caramel-and-oak smell.
“Is it bad to admit I’m curious about what happened?”
He reaches for his nightstand and checks his phone. A chuckle vibrates in his chest, and he shows me his screen.
Iverson: Having the party anyway. Just Hennessys and Hawthornes. Invited the Fosters.
Haven: If you ever get off your girl, you should come out.
Haven: Bet you’re coming enough.
I laugh and stretch over Durban for my phone.
Waiting for me is a selfie of Jamison, Kacey, Avery, and Thea. Mama and Sydney are in the background.
Jamison: Bridal party all packed up and left. Except Sydney. She always was the fun cousin. Uncle Rayburn signed over the land.
Jamison: Sydney got 80 acres. And when January asked about hers, Uncle Ray screamed at her that the damn wedding is her land.
Avery: You should’ve heard Daddy read Rayburn the riot act. In front of everyone! Epic.
Thea: We’ll save you some cake. Two pieces from each tier.
I toss my phone to the edge of the bed. “This blew up so loud that I don’t think my name will be mentioned at all unless it’s to talk about how a hot cowboy rode off with me.”
He puts his phone by mine. “They’re going to hear that you plan some memorable events.”
I settle myself back into him. “I’ll certainly remember this forever.”
“Good. If you ever forget, I can talk to Hailstorm.”
I laugh, and we lie in comfortable silence. This is really happening. I’m Durban’s girlfriend. All of our family knows.
“I want to take you out,” he says. “A real date.”
I pretend to think. “Hmm. I might be busy.”
He growls and rolls me over, pinning me on my back. I laugh and link my legs around him again. I’m wet and messy, and he doesn’t mind at all.
“Where do you want to go?” he asks.
“Um . . .” I think about all the places in town we could go. There’s Dee’s Sweets. We could do a tasting or go out for Chinese. “I want to try the Mexican place that opens next month. I have to talk to them about a future street fair.”
“I’ll take you there, but we’re going out earlier. I want to show my woman off.”
He really says all the right things. “Bootleg.”
The corner of his mouth tips up. “Where it all started.”
“Seems fitting.”
He rolls out of bed and takes my hand, bringing me with him. “I said I was keeping you in bed until everyone’s gone, and it sounds like they’ve left. Let’s go out.”
“Now?”
He grabs my skirt off the floor and tosses it to me. “Now.” He picks his jeans up and steps into them. “We snuck around for weeks. I’m ready to lay my claim on you.”
The horse-and-sunset part probably did that already. I step into my skirt. “What if I don’t wear underwear?”
He drops his hands from the button of his jeans. “I’m going to be hard the whole time.”
“Good.”
I’ve never looked forward to a date more. I’m freshly fucked and wearing wrinkled clothes that smell faintly of horse sweat. It’s the most impromptu night out I’ve had, and it’s going to be the best.
Durban will make sure of it.