19. Merrick
19
MERRICK
A fter three days in New York, I’d had enough, canceling the rest of my meetings and booking myself the first flight home to Montana.
Home.
If you’d asked me when I came here in January if I’d ever consider a town like Wintervale to be home, I would have told you to kindly—or not so kindly in New York City—fuck off. But I’d come out of duty and spite and fallen for a woman with fire in her eyes and the most alluring mix of sinful and sweet.
The latter happening only after I’d fucked a couple of orgasms out of her.
My mother had been disappointed to see me go, only grabbing a couple of meals together when both of our schedules aligned. That had always been the way—the way I was raised and the way I believed was necessary to run a successful business.
But I’d slowed down in Wintervale, smelled the proverbial flowers, and made it a point to talk with my employees on a more personal level instead of shutting myself in my office until closing.
Stranger still is how uncomfortable I’d been trying to fall into those old routines in New York, the habits already replaced with new ones.
More human ones.
Wren’s car is in the driveway as I pull in next to it and park, relief washing over me both at being home and also knowing she’s here.
Could this be a home?
Could it be our home?
The thought should scare me, but all I want to know is how I could convince Wren to move in here.
A smile plays on my lips as I walk up the porch and into the house, the rooms dark as I drop my bag and hang my coat on the hook. I’m about to call her name when I catch a flash of movement out on the deck, the cover off the hot tub and exactly one occupant.
“Welcome home,” she purrs when I slide open the door, her body clad in a tiny red bikini, her tits barely contained by the triangles of fabric.
“I thought I told you to be naked.”
“And I told you we’ll see. ” She grins, pushing her tits together. “Lie to me and tell me you don’t like it,” she says, looking down. “I bought this especially for you.”
“You did?” I ask, my dick getting hard as the steam billows around her, the hair at the nape of her neck wet and her skin covered in little droplets I want to lap up with my tongue.
“I did.” She splashes the water playfully. “You should come join me.”
“I don’t have a bathing suit.”
“It’s optional.”
“It’s not really fair if you’re wearing one.”
“Then come take it off.”
Wren floats back, resting her arms on the edge of the hot tub as I strip out of my clothes and stalk toward her. Her mouth tips up in the corner as I dip one leg in and hiss, the heat expected but still hotter than I imagined as I lower myself into one of the seats and crook my index finger at her.
She comes obediently, her body moving with a slow grace through the water to straddle my lap, her fingers threading through my hair as her lips slant over mine.
There’s no talking.
Only need.
Because the need is a visceral, tangible thing.
My hands slide up her back, untying the lower string before moving up to the one fastened around her neck, the top falling away only to be replaced by my hands. She moans as her tongue licks into my mouth, and all I can think is God, she’s perfect.
Perfect for me.
The way her hips rock against my erection is the biggest fucking tease as I snake my arm around her back and pull her flush against me.
“I’m close,” she whispers, her breath coming out in pants as I slip my hands into the back of her bottoms to cup her ass. “Merrick, please.”
“You’re gonna be begging for me all night, aren’t you?”
“Yes.” Her moan becomes a gasp as I suck her nipple into my mouth and bite down enough to make her cry out as I grind her harder against my length.
“That’s it, baby. Come for me because I’m going to fuck you hard and fast, and I need you to be ready.”
She screams my name, her orgasm making her writhe on top of me, but I don’t let up, not until I’ve forced every wave of pleasure from her beautiful body.
Not until she’s collapsing against me, pressing soft kisses to my neck as she tries to catch her breath.
“Wren.”
“Hmm?”
“I need to be inside you,”—I murmur the words against her hair—“to fuck you right here under the stars.”
“Please.”