Chapter 11 #2
He withdrew his hips, then pressed into me again. His face tightened into a determined mask. He stared at me, his eyes sliding over me before locking on mine. He slowly increased his pace, finding what worked for both of us.
I trailed my hands down his arms and back up. I scraped my nails over his chest, and he sped up even more.
“Reegan.”
“Let me feel you,” I told him.
“I want you to come again.”
I shook my head. “I came more than I ever have before. Let me feel you, Josh. Come for me.”
His blue eyes lit up, lust pouring from him as he slammed into me and gave in to his pleasure. He growled, groaned, then my name burst from his lips. “Reegan!”
I smiled as he squeezed his eyes shut, encouraging him to relax his muscles. He fell onto me with a grunt and a kiss on my neck.
“I feel like an ass for coming without you.”
I snorted. “I came without you. Four times.”
He chuckled. “That makes me feel a little better.”
“Just a little? Because I feel like I can conquer the world right now.”
He pushed onto one elbow to look at me. “You are a surprise I never saw coming.”
“Isn’t that the definition of a surprise?”
He laughed and shook his head. “I’ve never laughed this much with a woman.”
“I aim to please.”
His dick twitched inside me. “You succeeded. And then some.”
“I’m glad you had an empty house this morning. That was fortuitous.”
He smiled, but it didn’t look like a happy smile.
“Or not?”
He shook his head. “It definitely was. Just the way it happened was less than ideal for me.”
I nodded, understanding he had his secrets, too. Or maybe not secrets, just things he wasn’t looking to share with the woman he was sleeping with.
“I should let you up. And make coffee.”
“Yes, because you have one of those job things to get to.”
He laughed as he rolled off the bed. “Yes, I do.” He pointed to a door next to the bed. “That’s the bathroom if you want to go ahead.”
“Thanks,” I said.
I wasn’t sure what the protocol was for sharing a bathroom with a man I didn’t know well, but he eased my mind when he said, “I’m going to use the one in the hall.”
“Okay.” I closed the bathroom door but didn’t lock it.
His bathroom was clean and organized. The sink was free of toothpaste globs, and the toilet lid was closed.
Even though it appeared as though he didn’t share a bathroom with his daughter, it was obvious he was careful about cleaning up after himself.
I finished using the bathroom, washed my hands, and left the bathroom in search of my clothes. With the exception of my shirt, my clothes were on the bed in view of the door. Based on the sounds coming from the kitchen, Josh was out there.
I dressed from the waist down and walked out of his room. He turned when I got closer, his gaze drifting to my bare breasts. He held out my shirt, smiling when I reached for it and he pulled it back.
He chuckled, holding my shirt above my head as I plastered myself to him in an attempt to grab it. He kissed me quickly, then handed over my shirt.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Coffee is almost ready. If you’re okay waiting a minute.”
“Sure. It’s not like I have a job to get to.”
“Rub it in,” he said with a growl and a grin.
I smiled and turned to his living room. I didn’t explore his house when I was there the night before or on our way in, but his view was impossible to resist. “You have a great view of the lake.”
He moved to stand next to me. “I do. I love it here.”
“It’s peaceful.”
He exhaled a laugh. “Yes, it is.”
I looked up at him. “I understand why you bought this house.”
“Actually, I grew up here. My parents passed a while ago, and I inherited the house. I’ve always lived in Amethyst Bay. When Hannah and I were first married, we rented a little house in town, but I’ve never lived anywhere other than this town.”
“I don’t blame you.” I tore my gaze from the view and looked around his living room.
Pictures of Evie growing up were prominent, but so were other pictures and mementos from his life.
A picture I assumed was of his parents held a place of prominence on one of the bookshelves flanking a wood-burning fireplace.
I moved closer to look at the other things there, finding a small ferry, a few trophies, and lots more pictures. A framed college acceptance letter had a picture of Evie with a shocked look on her smiling face.
“You captured the moment she got her acceptance?” I asked.
He met my gaze from where he stood in the kitchen. His posture softened. “I did. She was sure she wouldn’t get in anywhere, but that was always her first choice school. The letter came in the mail, and I had my phone ready just in case.”
“That’s a great picture.”
He moved closer, holding two mugs. “Thanks.”
“She’s lucky to have you.”
He nodded. “She’s the best thing that ever happened to me.”
I sipped my coffee to hide the grimace I knew was on my face. Did that mean Josh wanted more kids? Would he pressure me if we stayed together? Would he accept that I didn’t want kids?
And the big question…
Would I be around for any of it to matter?