Chapter 17
Chapter Seventeen
SAM
Sunlight pours into the bedroom. Fuck. Why did I forget to close the curtains last night? Stretching out, the bed next to me is cold.
Oh, yeah.
Joey.
The delicious smell of breakfast overwhelms me. Getting out of bed, I take care of business before grabbing a pair of sweats and heading into the kitchen. Joey’s hair is piled on her head, my T-shirt ghosting her thighs.
Damn, does she ever look at ease standing in my kitchen. She’s humming along to a tune only she can hear. I could stand here and stare at her for hours and not get bored.
I pad my way into the kitchen, coming up behind her and wrapping my arms around her. “Morning, darlin’.”
She startles before peering up at me. “Did I wake you?”
“Not at all.” I press a kiss to her neck. “Missed waking up to you though.”
She flips the pancakes over in the pan, a perfect golden brown. “I thought I’d make you breakfast.”
“When I could have had you for breakfast?”
“Sam.” She groans, wiggling her ass against my dick.
Even after all the orgasms last night, I’m still a greedy son of a bitch and want more. We both do.
Our time today is limited with Max coming back from his camping trip this afternoon.
“Sue me for wanting to have you in my bed when I woke up.”
“We still have plenty of time.”
“Not for what I have planned for you.”
Reaching behind her, she pulls me in for a sweet kiss. She tastes of mint and coffee, doing little to quell the growing problem in my sweats.
“Go sit. Let me feed you and then we can do whatever you want today.”
“Including staying in bed all day?” I waggle my brows at her, pressing a kiss to her cheek before grabbing a cup of coffee.
“If you want.” She shrugs a shoulder.
“You say that like you don’t want to do that.”
From my spot at the table, I can see her smile. “I’d be more than happy to do that. Any time I get to spend with you is the perfect day.”
Fuck. I don’t know what I did to find someone as good as Joey, but I’m glad I found her.
“I have a better idea.”
She flips the pancakes onto a plate and carries them over to the table. Before I let her take a seat next to me, I pull her down on my lap.
“What might that be?” she asks.
“How about after breakfast, we get a shower—together—and then I take you for a ride?”
“What kind of ride?”
Joey grabs the syrup and pours it over her pancakes before cutting a small bite and popping it into her mouth.
“Not that kind.” I nip at her earlobe before taking the fork and having my own bite. “I figure we can take the horses out, check the trails, and I can show you my spot.”
“Your spot, huh? That sounds pretty good to me.”
“Good. Then eat up, because you’re going to need your energy for what I have planned in the shower.”
“I can’t tell you the last time I’ve been out riding.”
“Really?”
Joey’s behind me on Lollipop while Storm and I lead the way. Thankfully, the main trails are fine after yesterday’s storm blew through.
It was still quiet at the barn when we got there, so I was able to send a quick text to the ranch hands that I’d be going for a ride with the horses. No one saw the two of us together—thank God.
Not that we aren’t together while working, but being together on our day off might raise some suspicion. And that’s the last thing we need right now.
“I worry about taking Max riding, so we haven’t gone. There’s never enough time in the day.”
“If you want to bring him out sometime, I’m happy to teach him.”
“You’re too good to me, Sam. You don’t have to do that.”
“Why wouldn’t I? It means I also get to spend time with you.”
With Max here to ride, I’d be able to spend time with Joey without anyone asking questions. And even though Georgia could easily take him, I know she’s always busy with her therapy clients.
I sneak a peek back at her and she’s grinning from ear to ear.
A wide smile that does funny things to my insides.
I can’t remember the last time I’ve felt this good.
Like the weight of my past has lifted. She didn’t flinch when I told her how I failed Lennox as a parent.
Joey has the biggest heart of anyone I’ve ever met and I’m happy she took a chance on me.
“Are you going to tell me where we’re going?”
Joey breaks me out of my thoughts as Storm turns up the hidden path toward my spot.
“You’ll see in a few minutes.”
Shadows cross the trail from the Ponderosa pine trees lining the trail, the smell of vanilla wafting off them.
The trail opens with the sparkling lake ahead of us. There’s a few downed branches, but nothing major.
“What is this place?” Joey asks, pulling Lollipop to a stop next to me.
I hop down and help her off. “It’s my own little hideaway. Not many people know this is here.”
“It’s beautiful.”
Her eyes are moving fast, taking it all in. From the blue sky to the sun streaming through the trees with the mountains behind it all.
“I don’t like telling people about it because I don’t want it to be overrun. I like that I can come here and think.”
Grabbing the reins to the horses, I tie them up on the makeshift fence post I built. Storm doesn’t wander off, but I don’t want Lollipop to make a break for it.
Joey walks to the shoreline and kicks off her boots. She sticks her toes in the water, throwing her head back.
“Wow. This feels incredible.”
I follow her lead, kicking out of my shoes and socks and rolling up my pants to stand next to her.
The warm water laps at my ankles as the sun beats down on my skin.
“I can see why you want to keep this place to yourself.”
Joey wades farther into the water. Her white dress floats around her as she spins with her arms thrown wide.
My heart catches in my chest as I watch her in the water.
How could I ever say no to this woman? How did I ever think I could, when she brings more to my life than I ever thought possible?
Joey is a ball of sunshine. Nothing but pure joy.
Moving to sweep her into my arms, I realize I need this. Need her radiance and love of life. It’s something that’s been missing.
I will do whatever it takes to hold on to this feeling with her.
“What?” Joey says, looking down at me with a beaming smile on her face.
“Nothing. Happy, is all.”
She drags her fingers through my hair before slanting her mouth over mine. I pull her close, bunching her dress up in my hands. The need to be as close to her as possible takes over as I deepen the kiss.
It’s the two of us, floating in the water together, our tongues tangling. I alternate between nibbling on her lip and tasting her.
“Fuck, Joey,” I moan. “I can’t get enough of this damn lip gloss of yours.”
Pulling back, I swipe my thumb over her lips. They’re swollen from our kiss. I could keep at this all day, but we don’t have the time today.
“I might need to buy a few more tubes.”
I lick over her mouth, relishing the sweet taste. “Please do.”
Lifting her into my arms, I carry her back to the shore and drop down onto my ass. We continue our make-out session. Her fingers dig into my shoulders.
I want to keep going, but my phone beeps in my pocket.
My timer.
“Damn,” she murmurs against my lips. “Just when it was getting good.”
“Hey.” I brush her hair back. “There will always be another time.”
“Promise?”
She wiggles over me. “Ugh, darlin’. Do you know how hard it’s going to be to ride home with this problem?”
“Probably not as annoying as a wet dress.”
“Maybe next time I’ll give you more warning and you can wear something more appropriate.”
“Mmm. Next time sounds great, Sam.”
I help her up as we put our boots back on. Before she can get up on Lollipop, I pull her back in for one last kiss.
“There will be a lot of next times, darlin’.”
As many as I can get, in fact.