Chapter 7
Chapter Seven
TILLY
He’s so willing to take the blame, and agreeing with him would be easy, but I can’t. This is on me.
“It’s not your fault.” I saw the storm getting worse but kept going.
“It is. If I’d—”
“Hey, I’m letting you off the hook here,” I say, cutting him off.
“Maybe I don’t want to be left off the hook.” A lopsided smile pulls at his lips. Gah, he’s so charming, and it’s in the sweetest way.
“That’s nice of you, but it was my own doing. I’m from around here, and I should have called and told you the order wouldn’t make it today.” I only had a few to do, but I made sure this was last in case I ended up lingering.
“You should be wearing a coat.”
“I am.” I pull at the front of the coat he put on me.
His expression turns stern. Holy shit, why does every face he makes look better than the last?
“Okay, fine. Coats aren’t always needed when you’re from here.
We’re used to the cold.” If it hits fifty out, people around here are ready to go swimming.
“It’s the wind.”
“It is,” I agree. It can cut right through you when you get a few miles out of town. The buildings and houses close to town help to buffer the worst of it. “You need trees. They break the wind.”
“See, it is my fault,” he says again.
“It’s not as fun if you want to take the blame.”
“You want to fight with me about it?” The playful smirk returns.
“Well, not right now. Paprika might hear, and we shouldn’t fight in front of her.”
"You're right." Why don't those two words sound as victorious as they should? "How are you feeling?"
When his thumb strokes the inside of my knee, it's a shot of reality. I'm sitting in his house with him on his knees between my legs. Sure, the coat he put on me covers a lot, but I'm still only in my panties. Shit, what panties did I put on this morning? For the life of me, I can't remember.
If my body wasn't already warming because of the fire, this would surely do it. The simple action of his body stopping me from closing my legs is so hot I’m hit with a wave of lust. I’m also feeling shy, which is something I'm not used to. Paxton seems to pull all kinds of things from me.
The sound of the exterior wall shaking has us both glancing that way. "I don't think you're going anywhere."
"I'll be okay as soon I get warmed up."
"All right, if that’s the way you want to do this. I'm not letting you go anywhere."
Who does this man think he is? He can't tell me what to do. This should be really annoying, but my body is having a different kind of response than my mouth. Fortunately, my mouth always has a way of winning any battle.
"Hey, I can—"
"No," he says, lifting his hand and showing me he’s holding my keys. "I’ll let you get away with a lot, but when it comes to your safety, I'm drawing a hard line."
"You’ll let me? I love nothing more than a challenge." I lift my chin up defiantly. Not that it matters. He's on his knees, and I still have to peer up at him from my seat.
"All right," Paxton says, ready for a battle of wills. Does he think I'm bluffing? Am I bluffing?
The man is twice my size, so I do the only thing I can.
I lunge for the keys. I’m trying to take him by surprise, but it turns out I'm the only one that ends up being surprised. Before I know what’s happening, I'm being pinned underneath him on the rug in front of the fire. Paxton’s wedged between my thighs again, but now he's fully pressed against me.
My hands are being held to the floor with only one of his.
"How did you do that?" I huff.
"I've had to wrestle more than a few animals in my time."
"Are you calling me an animal?" I'm grasping at straws while trying to get my footing. I'm failing, and honestly, I'm not that upset about it.
"You know I'm not. I already told you how pretty you are." His face softens. "Even if it pissed you off."
"It doesn't piss me off," I find myself admitting. "I’m just not used to it, I suppose."
"That's because you scare the shit out of a lot of the boys in town. They know better."
That gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling, and I don’t know how the hell he keeps doing and saying all the right things.
"But you don't know better?"
He lets out a humorless laugh as he leans closer. "First of all, I’m not a boy, and secondly, I don't care."
"Why?" I still ask.
Paxton's eyes drop to my mouth. "I think you know why."
I know my gramps and Molly say he's got a thing for me, but I'm still finding it hard to believe.
Because why would he? I've been an utter brat to him. Now I’m looking at Paxton's mouth.
The one I never pay any attention to. I lick my lips, unable to stop the action.
My body really does have a mind of its own.
Paxton starts to lower his head, but he goes slowly, giving me time to turn away if I want to deny him. When I don’t move, his mouth brushes against mine, so, so gently, and I close my eyes.
Paxton doesn’t rush the kiss. He seemed to relish simply softly touching his mouth to mine.
It’s sweet and gentle and makes a funny sensation bloom in my chest. A small moan slips from me as I part my lips, and Paxton takes the opening to nibble on my bottom lip.
Now I’m not sure if he’s teasing or savoring.
He licks across my lower lip where his teeth have grazed, and I can’t help letting my tongue touch his. It’s a slight brush, tempting him to deepen it, and it seems to be working. Not only on my desire but also as a rush of excitement floods my system.
Our tongues stroke each other's as the kiss becomes hungrier. I lift my hips, pressing my body into him as my sex pushes right against the hard ridge of his cock. I let out a moan, and it’s like my body is waking up from a deep slumber I hadn't known it was in.
"Baby, you taste so sweet," Paxton groans. His mouth travels down one side of my jaw and then back, kissing every inch of it. I almost think he wants to make sure he doesn't miss one spot.
When he almost reaches my other ear, I turn my head so my mouth can press to his neck.
His body jerks when I graze my teeth across his skin.
That only propels me further, and I latch on to him, sucking, my tongue swirling against his skin.
Paxton grinds his cock against me, hitting my clit where I need it most. That’s when the throb between my legs takes over and demands I do something about it.
"Goddamn, darlin’, slow down for me," he breathes out next to my ear.
I kiss my way back up to his mouth because I can’t hear him call me any more endearments. They hit a spot inside of me I often keep hidden away. The girl who can be sexy and fill a man with need.
There’s a sound in the distance that has my eyes flying open. “Shit, that’s my phone,” I mutter as Paxton lifts his mouth from mine. His eyes stay on me, and although I want to lean up and kiss him again, my phone keeps going off.
“Better not be that app,” Paxton says, momentarily confusing me until I see the jealousy take over his expression and know what he’s referring to.
“It’s my mom,” I say, knowing the specific sound only belongs to her.
Paxton gives a stiff nod before he moves his body off mine. I roll over, seeing my phone on the floor next to the couch. It must have fallen out when Paxton took my pants off.
Holy shit, I can’t believe Paxton took my pants off!
I grab my phone, needing this distraction because I don’t know how this has all happened so fast.
“Hey, Mom,” I say when I answer.
“Why are you out of breath?”
“I’m not,” I rush to say far too quickly.
“Are you at Dr. Rudolph's house?” Shit. What should I say? “You had an order there.” Mom keeps going when I’m quiet for too long, reminding me I have a reason to be here.
“Yep, I’m totally here. With an order,” I confirm.
“Are you okay? You really do sound out of breath and—”
“Mom,” I cut her off. When I peek over my shoulder to Paxton, I see his eyes are on my ass.
I didn’t realize I had it high in the freaking air when I crawled over to grab my phone. I scramble to sit up, still not sure what panties I’ve got on.
"I had to run inside to get out of the storm.”
"That's why I'm calling. I don't think it's safe for you to drive back right now. I've been telling you to get new tires for a month now," she scolds me.
"Mom," I snip. "Can we not do this right now?" I pull myself up to sit on the couch. "Paxton, are you okay with me staying here for—"
"Yeah, I'm not letting you leave in this."
"Oh, good," Mom says, having heard him. "I knew he'd say that. Do you have everything you need? You'll be okay?"
"Yes, Madam Mayor, I've got all we need,” Paxton responds. Clearly the man has got exceptional hearing.
I, however, don't hear what my mom says back. Nope, not a word. Because all my attention has gone to the front of Paxton’s pants. Either he smuggled home an anaconda in his pants or he’s really happy I’m here.