CHAPTER SEVEN
WILLOW
“Is everything okay?”
Rhys’s phone lit up with message after message until he finally excused himself to call the mysterious sender five minutes ago. We’ve officially been dating for a few weeks, and I still can’t believe my luck that Rhys was my match on Luna’s app.
He’s everything I would’ve wanted in my dream guy and then some.
From his texts to check in on me to the physical command he has over my body and hormones, Rhys is my heart spark, I know it.
The problem is he doesn’t believe in the town legend or really anything that has to do with romantic love, which logically I think I’m fine with because like Shannon said, he shows me how he feels everyday.
But a part of me—the insecure girl who never heard a word of praise or encouragement—is thirsty to hear words of commitment from him. Words of adoration.
You’ve been reading too many romance novels.
Probably, but does that mean I can’t dream of a guy declaring his love for me?
“Everything’s fine.” Rhys’s tone warns against pushing for more details, but my mouth has a mind of its own and questions him anyway.
“Really? Because you kind of seem in a bad mood, and all those messages seemed urgent. You can tell me what’s going on.
As much as I love that we can joke around, I want us to be able to talk about the serious stuff, too.
” I try to squeeze his forearm in support, but he backs away, heading for my front door.
“It’s just my dad. He heard that my mom will be in town for Hearts Ablaze.” He rips his jacket off the coat hanger and shrugs it on, tension vibrating in the air around him.
My brows furrow in confusion. “Why does it matter? Haven’t they been separated for years?”
“Pretty much my entire life, but he’s still hung up on her. Fucking heart sparks, my ass.” I know he’s pissed over his mom abandoning them and his family trauma, but it still pierces the bubble of happiness I’ve been living in with Rhys.
There’s that need of mine, rearing its greedy head again, despite proof that Rhys doesn’t believe in love like me.
“I’ll see you later. I need to go talk to him in person.” At least he drops a quick kiss on my forehead before hurrying out the door, but it still feels off somehow. Flipping the lock behind him, I sink against the hardwood and stare unseeing into my apartment.
Will what we have now be enough for me?
Can I really just accept actions without words?
I don’t know.
***
Standing outside Rhys's forge the next afternoon, I channel the spirit of every romance heroine I've ever read, relying on their courage and strength to help me through my plan of seduction.
Hell, Tessa Dare wrote an entire story about a girl falling for a blacksmith with hot sex to boot! I'm just here to live it out in my modern life, right?
Fingers crossed.
This grand idea of seducing Rhys occurred last night when I should’ve been sleeping, but I couldn’t shake the doubts plaguing me about our relationship, especially after hearing his disdain for heart sparks again. So, I made a plan.
Rhys and I have fooled around a lot—lord, is he good at it—and my body tingles at just the memory of his touch. But he’s always initiating things, and it’s time I take charge of my destiny, show him how much I want him, care for him.
Somehow in my mind, I’ve decided this will help him realize that heart sparks are real, and I’m his. A flawed thought process, I’m sure, but one I’m going to follow through on, nonetheless.
Because what have I got to lose?
Deep breaths of fresh mountain air fill my lungs, and my feet quickly carry me forward before I lose my nerve. A loud clanking sound travels from the back of the building as I enter, sparks flying from where Rhys is hammering a piece of metal into the perfect shape.
Sweat glistens on his face as shadows from the fiery kiln dance across his large form.
He's completely covered in protective gear—long sleeves, safety glasses—but I imagine the bulge of muscles beneath the fabric slick with sweat from the hard labor of his work, and my own body dampens in anticipation of rubbing against this mountain of a man.
My man.
Blowing out a determined breath between my pursed lips, I rub clammy palms down my pink dress and saunter forward as if I really am the confident heroine of my story instead of scared to death Rhys will find me silly rather than seductive.
“Hey!” Rhys doesn’t react to my greeting, so I try again, practically shouting to be heard over the banging of his hammer.
He stops immediately, his chin jerking in my direction, and I flush under his startled gaze. Not quite how I imagined catching his attention—shouting like a fishwife—but at least he’s aware of my presence now.
“Willow?” His tools clank to the table as he removes his headgear, swiping a forearm over his gleaming forehead. “What are you doing here?”
I came to seduce you.
“You… What?” Shock tightens his face.
Shit! I said that out loud.
Gotta go with it now.
Gliding forward, I double-check there’s nothing molten or burning on the table before sliding between him and the elevated wood, hefting myself onto the tabletop with a whoosh. “You heard me.”
God, who is this woman? I don’t recognize the confidence in my tone or the brazenness limning my limbs as I spread my legs to accommodate his thick waist.
“Yeah, but I’m having a hard time believing what I heard. What brought this on?” he asks, untying the dirty apron from around his waist. “Not that I don’t appreciate the visit.” His hands drop to the tops of my thighs, and grayish marks rub off from his skin to mine.
“I figured you could use a pick me up after how we left things yesterday.” True, but not entirely the reason. “I don’t like how upset you were, and I want to help.”
“By fucking me?” A half-smile peeks out behind his beard.
Blushing because he’s right, however blunt the assessment, my fingers lower to draw my dress higher until the lace of my panties show. “Exactly. Think of me as a special delivery just for you.”
A gravelly chuckle rumbles in his throat before he sweeps the skirt of my dress up and over my head, so my body’s on complete display for him.
At least you’re wearing your sexy panties this time.
“Sounds good to me.” His mouth swoops down to capture mine as one of my arms wraps around his massive shoulders. It’s amazing how small he makes me feel, yet powerful, too, like I alone am able to bring him to his knees.
My other hand goes for the button and zipper of his jeans, eager to finally feel his large cock between my thighs.
The first time I held him in my palms trepidation shadowed my thoughts—can we make this work?
—but concern for logistics is the last thing on my mind now. All I want is to be full of him.
“Eager little kitten, aren’t you?” he teases, sucking at the pebbled skin around my nipple.
“I think we’ve waited long enough for this, don’t you?” In response, he rips my panties down my legs with a wolfish grin before helping me lower his jeans and boxer briefs enough to free his hard length.
“Oh, I completely agree,” he growls. “Sometimes I feel like I’ve waited forever for you.”
I don’t have time to bask in the sweetness of the sentiment, despite how it makes my heart clench in hope, because he tosses my legs over his arms and thrusts his cock deep in my pussy without preamble.
“Holy fuck,” I whisper, full to the brim with Rhys, burning from the stretch of his thickness.
“Too much?” He acts like he’s about to pull out—to gentle himself—but I dig my nails into his arms.
“No, don’t stop. It’s a lot… You’re a lot, but you’re not too much.”
“Good, because my willpower’s about to snap. All I want to do is fuck this tight pussy while sucking those bouncing tits of yours. That’s why you didn’t wear a damn bra today, isn’t it?”
Arching my back, I force myself to focus on speaking rather than basking in the sense of rightness, of fullness, at our joining. “Didn’t see the point when I planned on stripping for you.”
His hips rear back to plunge back roughly, shoving me across the table and disturbing some of his tools with a metal clank. “You sayin’ I missed a strip show?”
“Well, I kinda forgot all of my plans the moment I saw you sweating with that hammer in your hand. You’re a damn sexy blacksmith.” Like if blacksmith calendars were a thing, and he was the main attraction for every month, I’d buy out every store.
“I’ll accept your excuse for today, but I want a raincheck.”
“You’ve got it. Now enough talking, more fucking,” I pant, feeling my orgasm build to epic proportions. I thought Rhys’s fingers were good. His tongue? Mind-blowing. But his dick? That thick length ramming deep and dragging across every nerve-ending?
Yeah, I’m not sure I’ll survive it.
Not sure I’ll survive him.
“Your wish is my command.” Rhys picks up the pace then dips his head to catch one of my nipples with his teeth, nipping and sucking until they’re too sensitive, but he refuses to let up.
He fucks me like an animal. Black streaks form on my thighs where he holds me open for his possession, the residue of his work bleeding between us, and I’m hungry for more of his marks.
“Come on, kitten. Work that little pussy of yours. I want your hot cream coating my dick before I fuck you full of me, fill you up until you’re dripping with my cum, your thighs sticky with my ownership.”
Oh, god.
My body tightens unbearably before a cry of release rises from my chest and pleasure washes over me. Bliss from my orgasm is followed by the warm splash of Rhys coming. Thank goodness for birth control. We couldn’t even stop to grab a condom before falling onto each other.
Hugging him close, I hum in satisfaction, a zen kind of haze settling over me. My muscles slowly relax, and love for him blooms greater in my heart. It doesn’t matter if it’s too soon. “And you say you don’t believe in love,” I tease, trying to catch my breath.
Rhys stiffens in my grasp. “What are you talking about? I don’t.”
Rolling my eyes, I lazily list all of my points.
“You say love’s a feeling, but it’s also an action.
One that you’re very good at showing. You always check in on me with texts at work.
You volunteered to help me run the boutique’s booth at Hearts Ablaze last night before your dad messaged, despite calling the entire event, and I quote ‘bullshit.’ Hate to break it to you, Rhys, but you show love in all the ways that count. Even if you refuse to name it.”
“Goddammit.” He runs a hand through his hair and backs up, a look of frustration crossing his features. “Are you serious right now?”
The euphoria of my orgasm fades as his rigid demeanor registers. Shit. I should’ve kept my mouth shut, instead of getting all sappy on him. Damn orgasm endorphins. They left me unfiltered, overcome with happiness.
“We agreed to try and understand the other person’s point of view,” he mutters.
“I knew it was too good to be true. Knew you wouldn’t be able to resist twisting things around to mean love.
To mean those damned heart sparks. Every woman I’ve ever known has done the same thing.
What you all fail to understand is that respect or kindness or fucking orgasms doesn’t equal love.
” The last word ends with a spiteful shout, and my body freezes in dread.
“I’m not saying you love me,” I backtrack, afraid I’ve stepped way over the line.
“But you think it’ll happen. In your mind, you’ve rationalized that I’m just working my way towards it, and I’m fucking not. I will fuck you. I’ll take care of you. But I am not your heart spark. Is that clear?”
“Crystal.” Hopping down from the table he just fucked me on, I bat away the tears threatening to fall. God, this plan was stupid. I’m stupid. “I’ve gotta go. Hannah’s expecting me for more wedding planning. I’ll catch you later.”
“Willow…” Regret enters his tone, but it’s too late for apologies or retractions. He spoke his truth, whether he meant for it to come out so harshly or not. And he has a right to be angry, I suppose. My words ran away from me. I voiced things I shouldn’t have.
The door to his forge slams shut behind me, and I hear the rattle of metal crashing together as another epithet roars from inside.
How could an afternoon that started so well turn sour so quickly?
Because of your big mouth and stupid heart.