Chapter 24
Penny
It wasn’t supposed to be like this. He wasn’t supposed to be like this.
And yet, I think I knew even before he buried himself inside me that Monty could never be anything but this. Devastatingly perfect, destructively sweet.
All my insecurities over my soft body, all the places I didn’t love about myself, he stared at with reverence. He kissed me like he couldn’t get enough. Like he was trying to memorize my taste.
And don’t even get me started on that first orgasm. My body is still buzzing from the feel of him between my legs. From the way his tongue worked magic against my clit. From the words he strung together while he slowly took me apart.
Every nerve ending in my body feels as if it’s on fire as his hip settles against mine and he drives into me. I’m stretched beyond reason, my insides rearranged.
But it’s not just the way he thrusts into me; I swear my heart has taken up a new beat as he moves. Which must be the reason it’s so hard to breathe right now, why I’m panting for air.
“Oh, Xuxuzinho,” he groans, and then mumbles something in Portuguese. When I whine because I can’t understand, he says, “You feel like heaven.”
Then he presses his lips to mine like he can’t stop kissing me. God, I love that I do that to him.
I feel as though I am having an out-of-body experience, as if this is a dream, as if I’ve imagined this entire scenario. Which I have done a hundred or so times just this past month. And probably at least a hundred more over the years.
I cannot believe I’m having sex with Jake Montgomery.
He shifts his weight and pulls out just a little, resting his head on mine. Then we both watch as he pushes back in.
“Oh fuck,” I whimper, but he catches my lips, silencing me with a kiss.
“Shhh, I love your little sounds but I don’t want to have to stop.”
I swallow down my cry and nod against his lips.
He smiles. “Good girl.”
The words are an accelerant on my already heated body. Pleasure drips between my legs and he’s able to slide in and out of me with more ease. With each thrust I sink deeper into the abyss, reveling in the pleasure of his weight above me and his cock inside me. I’m so full, I don’t want this to end.
“You feel so good,” I whisper.
Monty gives me a soft smile. “It doesn’t hurt too much?”
I shake my head.
“Think you can take me from above?”
I bite on my lip. He’ll see all of me if I’m on top. But I trust him, more than I’ve ever trusted anyone.
He must see my decision written on my face because his lips hook up in a smile.
“Yeah, you can. You want to ride me, don’t you?” His voice is pure gravel. “Fuck, I want to watch your tits shake and feel you take me even deeper.”
I moan as he picks up his pace, thrusting deep inside me.
“Oh shit,” I hiss as an orgasm takes me by surprise. It’s quick and small but it washes over me and feels incredible.
Monty’s eyes never leave mine as he rolls us until I’m on top. From this angle he slips even deeper inside me.
“You’re so beautiful,” he murmurs as I push up, allowing him to see every inch of me.
I brace a hand on his abdomen, taking the time to study him fully. In the light of the fire, I can see all the ink on his body. My gaze lands on the words of Hemingway just above his ribs and I run my fingertips across them.
“ ‘There is no friend as loyal as a book,’ ” I say aloud.
Monty nods. “You gave me that poster.”
“I’m not sure if I should be flattered or upset that you think a book is more loyal than me.”
He laughs. “I promise, Xuxuzinho, the only thoughts I’ve ever had of you were good.”
I refocus on his chest, ignoring his soft tone and the way my heart tugs at his words. A maple tree and the flames of a bonfire dance across his chest, and an innate need to lean down and kiss the image takes over.
“Those were my favorite nights,” he rasps as I trace my lips over the design.
Emotion floods my veins and I try not to let myself believe he tattooed his chest because those nights meant as much to him as they did to me.
That he didn’t tattoo his body, like I named my store, in celebration of a time and a place and a person that summed up everything I’ve ever known about romance, about love.
But when his hand goes to my chin and he tilts my face up to his, I feel like that just might be true.
“You are my favorite memory, my favorite thing about those nights. Maybe next time you can sit for a picture so I can have the artist put you right here where you belong.” He pats the spot below the tree, and I swear to God, I stop breathing.
Instead of trying to find the words to explain how I feel, I reach for Monty, taking his mouth in mine and moving above him.
“Fuck, Penny, you feel so fucking good,” he rasps against my mouth.
“Shhh, better figure out a way to keep you quiet.”
He chuckles as a dark look of determination sweeps across his face. A devastating smirk finds his lips as he fucks up into me, punishing my cocky attitude.
We both moan and our kisses become messier; our thrusts more erratic. He twists at my nipples, working to pull needy whines from me. Every time he succeeds, Monty smirks and I clamp my mouth shut, attempting to beat him at his own game.
But in the end, I’m no match for his cock. That thing is magic, and when he pushes me back and starts playing with my clit, his thumb moving in circles as he fucks up into me, I lose all sense of decency and come on a scream.
Monty leans up and grabs my mouth, groaning as he spills inside me. I’m not sure if I’m the one pulsing or if it’s him, but each little squeeze is like a delicious aftershock.
Limbs heavy and tired, I crash against his chest. He wraps his arms around me, pulling me tightly into him, and kisses my head as I try to catch my breath. “You did so well, Xuxuzinho. So perfect for me.”
I close my eyes, allowing myself to revel in this feeling. Wondering if it really could be this perfect. This easy.
I’ve never experienced anything like this before. And maybe it’s because we’re friends already but this is the moment I’ve read about so many times in my books—the moment when everything clicks.
I try to shake him off before I get ahead of myself, but Monty just squeezes me tighter.
“Please, Penny. Just give me a few more minutes.”
***
Twenty minutes later, we’re both seated in front of the fire, fully dressed again, with full plates of food.
And now I’m moaning for an entirely different reason—Vovo’s chicken and rice. She even snuck in a little pumpkin squash, which I think she’s roasted in cinnamon and butter and, oh my God, it’s delectable.
“Stop making those little sounds or I’m going to have to flip you over and taste you all over again,” Monty says with heat in his eyes.
I shake my head and laugh. “Lesson’s over. Stop flirting with me.”
Monty raises his brows but doesn’t say anything in response. Instead, he takes a bite of his food, and when he moans, I point a fork at him.
“See! It’s impossible not to make that sound when eating Vovo’s food.”
Monty’s face softens as he smiles. “How did you two get so close anyway?”
“It was actually because of a town meeting,” I say, thinking back to that day a few years ago, when Monty’s father brought Vovo along with him to the town hall.
“I’m certain she’d never been to a meeting before then, and I know she hasn’t been to one after, but some people in town”—under my breath I mutter Stew—“felt that the brewery shouldn’t be given a liquor license.
A few of the other restaurateurs in town agreed.
There are only a limited number of licenses that can be obtained in Hope Harbor and people argued that, if we opened too many bar-like establishments, we’d destroy the wholesomeness of our town. ”
“Bullshit,” Monty mutters.
I chuckle. “Your vovo said the same thing.”
“Really?”
“Yup. She stood up and told every one of them that she was disappointed they were attempting to destroy a young woman’s dream. It was Fletcher’s first year as mayor and he didn’t know how to stand up to the Liberty Ladies. It was because of your grandmother that Rosie’s Brewery exists.”
Monty hums before his brows furrow. “But that only explains why Rosie would be close to my vovo. Not you.”
“And you’re correct. But you see, because of that, Rosie told Vovo she could have free meals at the brewery for life.”
“Oh no, please tell me she doesn’t sneak out to Rosie’s daily.”
I laugh. “No. She took her up on one cider after the opening. And I just so happened to be there that day, too. We sat together at the bar and she started asking about my favorite books. She wanted to know if I’d read any of yours—which of course I had—and then she asked if I had any suggestions for her. ”
He huffs out a breath. “And there was born Vovo’s spicy-book addiction.”
I smack him. “You say it like it’s a bad thing.”
“The books, no. Picturing Vovo reading the things you sent me this week.” He shudders. “Absolutely.”
We both grin at each other and the moment feels a touch too good. So I take another bite of food, trying to stop myself from overthinking what is happening between us.
“Can I ask you another question?” he says, and I nod. “Have you ever seen my father out with anyone?”
“Like dating, you mean?”
He tilts his chin downward.
I shake my head, even as I try to recall all the times I’ve seen his father over the past decade.
Not once have I seen him with another woman and I know I would have remembered if I had—Monty’s parents’ divorce was shocking to all of us.
Honestly, their love seemed like the only one that ever rivaled my own parents’.
“No, why? Is he seeing someone?”
He shrugs, though I can tell he’s anything but nonchalant.
“I don’t know. He went out tonight and looked like he was dressed for a date.”
“Is your mom seeing anyone?” I hedge.
He pushes his shoulders up again with the same forced indifference.
“Not that I know of. Or at least nothing serious. She’s mentioned colleagues and drinks over the years but she’s certainly never introduced me to anyone.”
I hum as I take another bite of food. “Why did they get divorced?”
Monty shakes his head and, this time, he doesn’t hide his annoyance as he lets out a heavy sigh and glances toward the bookshelves. “I have no idea. All I got from them was that sometimes people grow apart. Relationships change. Love dies.”
I take a swig of the pumpkin beer he set in front of me, trying to figure out how to respond. “Is that why you don’t believe in love?”
Monty huffs, and it seems like I hit a nerve.
Fuck, he told me not to try to fix him and there I go doing just that.
My stomach twists and my old insecurities flare.
I know it’s not fair to compare him to Dick, but in this moment all I can think about is the way Dick would shut me down, would make me feel foolish for pushing, and so I clam up.
“Sorry.” I shake my head. “It’s none of my business. ”
“It’s fine. Are you done with that?” He points to my plate, which isn’t empty but I definitely get the feeling he’s looking for an excuse to get away so I nod.
“I can help you clean up?”
Monty shakes his head. “Just give me a few.”
He disappears with our plates and I read his body language loud and clear. He’s shutting down. Which I get. We’ve spent the last, like, nine hours together. I should probably go anyway. It’s not like I’m going to sleep over. That’s real girlfriend stuff. And I’m not his real girlfriend.
Also, he lives with his vovo. The last thing I’m doing is the walk of shame in front of her.
And the last thing I want is his dad to see my boobs again so yeah, it’s time to leave. I scramble for my phone and type out an SOS message in the group chat.
Me: Can someone pick me up at Monty’s?
Tally: Oh, still with Monty all these hours later! How’s things there?
Rosie: Did he tap that as good as he taps a typewriter?
Billie: Oh my god that’s awful.
Tally: BAHAHHAHAH
Rosie: I know the man likes his books, did he give you a good Dickens?
Tally: HAHHAHA, Oh no, I think I just peed a little.
Me: If you’re done now, who is picking me up!
Billie: Be there in five babe.
Me: You are the best!
Rosie: I know his pen is huge but is his PENIS?
I close out of the group chat and search for my shoes. I’m just slipping them on when Monty reappears with a bakery box and whipped cream. He frowns. “Going somewhere?”
I nod awkwardly. “Uh, yeah, Billie is picking me up.”
His brows knit together. “I would have driven you home.”
I shake my head. “It’s okay. She’s driving this way anyway and I figured—” I shrug my shoulders because I literally have no idea what to say.
“Yeah, okay. That’s fine. I—I guess we’re not gonna participate in the baking thing.”
Oh shit. “I can take it with me and finish it?”
He shakes his head quickly. “No, that’s okay. I don’t need the haircut.”
“That’s a good decision. Babs would definitely give you highlights and I’m a fan of the dark hair.”
Monty’s eyes raise and he gives me one of his signature slow smirks. “Oh yeah?”
I let out a breathy laugh. “Yeah. Anyway, I should—” I point toward the door.
Monty nods. God, we’re like awkward robots, nodding and shaking our heads, trying to be so agreeable.
I want to shake us both. We’re that awful stereotypical couple in a fake dating romance who can’t get out of their own way.
Communicate, I want to yell when I read it.
But now that I’m in this exact position I don’t know how.
I don’t know how to tell him that I really like him and I really loved today and I wish he wasn’t so against love because I think he’d be someone really easy to love.
I think it’d be easy for us to love each other.
Which is crazy.
Do I hear myself?
Love!
We sleep together once and I’m already getting carried away.
“I’ll walk you out.”
I follow him toward the door, and when I see the headlights of Billie’s car I breathe a sigh of relief that we don’t have to do this awkward dance anymore. But before I can rush past him, Monty grabs my hand and tugs me back into his chest.
“Hey, Pen.”
“Yeah?”
“I’m sorry about before.” His eyes roam over my face and he shrugs. “You were right about the whole love thing.”
I swallow, not sure what to say. On the one hand, I’m glad I understand a bit better why he’s so dead set against love.
On the other hand, it feels insurmountable, and I’m not sure he wants to change.
He told me not to try to fix him. And it’s not like he’s given me any reason to believe he wants something more.
I’m the one who asked to change the parameters of our agreement.
The least I can do is stop pushing him. “It’s okay.
Thank you for today.” I offer him a smile and attempt to push him off with a little wave.
“Shouldn’t you kiss your book boyfriend goodbye?” His voice is husky, his green eyes teasing.
“Because Billie’s watching?” I ask, wanting to understand his motivation.
Monty’s head tips to the left. “Sure, we’ll go with that.” And then he wraps his fingers around my neck and drops his mouth to mine, kissing me in a way that feels anything but fake.