Chapter 15
Chapter Fifteen
JOSHUA
I collect Lexi just before the heavens open again. This damn weather lets up for a while, then hammers down again angrily. I’m freshly showered, not wanting to show up in muddy sweats, but ultimately get drenched again holding the umbrella over her so she doesn’t get wet.
Once we’re in the car, she pats her face with her wet hands in an attempt to dry herself as I hand her a towel.
She grins up at me. “You came prepared.”
I thumb to the back. “I went and got some supplies from the store. I was going to suggest we high tail it home, but I heard the old lady who runs the store say that one of the roads on the way out of town has already flooded.”
Her eyes go impossibly wide. “Oh no.”
“We’ll be okay, the cabin is high on the hill, and I think the chances of a landslide are slim.”
Another loud crack of thunder deafens us and Lexi jumps. I start the car and pull out onto the street. We need to head back.
“I shouldn’t have left Mr. Snuggles,” she starts. “But the paperwork took a little longer than expected.”
“He’s fine,” I tell her. I should probably tell her about my earlier debacle, thinking I’d lost the little fella, but I’m not sure if that’s wise. “Wait — paperwork? Don’t tell me she actually bought the place?”
Lexi, still drying herself off, beams like I’ve never seen her. “She loved it, Joshie! Ali will be so thrilled. At first, I wasn’t sure, she’s a really hard woman to read, but she put in an offer over asking. We settle in seven days.”
“I’m so happy for you. Congratulations! I’m glad the rain didn’t put her off.”
“On the contrary, I think it helped. You should’ve seen the lightning cracking right over the lake, it was magical.”
“It’s a special place,” I agree.
Why do I suddenly get a flash of me, Lexi and our children in Lake Haven, running around the cabin? A new puppy chasing Mr. Snuggles as we laugh and enjoy the last of the summer sunshine.
Holy fuck. Get a grip!
I’ve never had an inkling to think about kids, much less want them, but somehow I can see it in my future. With her. With the woman who is slowly stealing my heart.
“I think we should celebrate.”
“I would offer to take you to dinner, but those reservations will need to be postponed. I did, however, grab a bottle of bubbles.” When I turn onto Main Street, it’s almost deserted, which only leads me to believe that I need to get back.
I also don’t want to drive like a maniac when it’s wet.
That’s how accidents happen, and I’ve got precious cargo in the truck.
“So you knew I was going to sell the house, or was it for the commiserations that would inevitably follow if I didn’t?”
“Oh, I had no doubt you’d pull it off,” I say. “In all honesty, you had it in the bag. The house is magical, and I only saw it from the front.”
“Monica Chase thinks you’re hot,” she blurts.
“Hey, I thought I wasn’t supposed to know who your client was?”
She gives me an eye roll. “You certainly made your presence known in that short space of time.”
“Jealous?” I waggle my eyebrows.
“She backed off when Melinda told her you were taken.”
That is just like Melinda, and I know from her sly smile that she knew something was cooking between the two of us.
Little does Lexi know, I am fucking taken. With her.
“She did?”
“Yup.”
I lean a little closer. “Monica isn’t my type.”
The way Lexi bites down on her lip goes straight to my groin. “Oh, no?” I love how she tries to keep her voice calm. “Since we’re making conversation, what is your type?”
I run a hand down my face. “To be honest, I don’t think I really have one. I value a woman’s sense of humor. Integrity. Loyalty. Humility. A woman who sticks up for herself,” I say. “And who isn’t afraid to be vulnerable.”
She swallows hard. “I think those are wonderful traits.”
“They are, and they’re hard to come by.” I take a breath. I need to man up, but I’ve no idea if she feels the same way. Then again, I can’t deny the sexual tension between us. She surely has to feel it.
“And physical traits?” Why does she sound so worried when she says that? As if she isn’t the most perfect creature that walked the earth.
I spare her a quick glance. “Curvy. Blonde. Hair that curls when there’s a crazy storm. Hazel eyes. Perky lips. I like an ass I can grab with two hands.”
She swallows hard. “Oh, my.”
“I appreciate a woman who loves her cat more than life, too.”
She smiles softly as silence falls between us.
“Joshua?” she says before I can get any more words out.
I glance her way. “Yes, Alexis?”
Our eyes meet for a brief second before I look back to the road. “I’ve never in my life been this forward, but I think I need to get something off my chest.”
My heart beats wildly behind my rib cage, hoping for the same outcome. “I’m all ears.”
“I like you,” she spills out. “Like, really like you, and I know it’s wrong and we shouldn’t. We’re colleagues from opposing realtors — not that it seemed to matter with my boss and your dad — but it raises conflict, and then there's the privacy issue?—”
“You definitely haven't underthought any of this.”
She whacks me on the arm playfully. “I’m putting myself out on a limb here, and you’re making fun of me.”
“I swear I’m not. If I’m honest, I’m shocked that a woman like you would be interested in me.”
She snorts. “You're kidding, right?”
I frown, feeling perplexed. “Uh, why would I be kidding?”
She waves a hand up and down towards me. “Because you’re Joshua freaking Lucas. The most eligible bachelor in LA who’s never seen without a beautiful woman on his arm at events, and parties, and?—”
“I haven’t had sex in three months,” I blurt. Oh, fuck .
She blinks, then whispers, “Three months?”
I palm my face. “Okay, that sounded really fucking weird. What I mean is… a few months ago, we were getting flirty on the phone over the Anderson deal, and I had feelings for you then, I just wasn’t man enough to act upon them.
” If I’m giving her TMI, it’s way too late to back up now, so I plow on.
“It felt disloyal. Seeing other women when I was stuck on you. You’re my type, Lexi.
You. You’re sexy. Smart. Funny. Utterly adorable, and that phone manner?—”
“What phone manner?”
“That sexy voice you do when you’re trying to act professional.”
She turns toward me, folding her legs under her on the seat after she’s slid her heels off. Her hand… Her fucking hand slides onto my thigh and I almost crash the goddamn car. “What does it do to you, Joshie? ”
I can’t take it anymore. “You really wanna know?” It sounds like a growl, but I’m past the point of caring.
“Yes, I do.”
I take her hand, sliding it over my rock hard cock and she gasps.
Okay, that’s really fucking forward, but I don’t give a shit.
“That’s what you do to me. I’ve been palming my dick these last few months, wishing it was you.
I want to take care of you, Lexi. I want to show you that not all men are cheating bastards. ”
Her fingers flex and then curl as she feels me up. My dick twitches in excitement, and if it wasn’t raining harder than Niagara Falls, I’d be putting my foot to the floor and high tailing it back to the cabin quick smart.
“I want that, too,” she whispers. “I can’t stop thinking about you. Night and day. I think of excuses to call your office, then end up getting Mason — which is fine, I like Mason — but hearing your voice on the phone…”
“What?” I beg. “What do I do to you?”
She grips my dick harder. “You drive me wild.”
“Fuck,” I mutter.
“I’d say drive faster, but that might not be such a good idea,” she giggles.
“The things I’m gonna do to that pretty little mouth.”
I hear her gasp again, and I think shocking her is my new favorite hobby. I wonder if she likes dirty talk. I guess we’re gonna find out.
“I haven’t had sex since my ex,” she says. I almost groan in delight. This is the best possible news ever. Not that I’d judge her if she’d had other partners, but knowing there’s been nobody else makes this all the more special.
“How long?”
“A year.”
Now that’s a shock. “Wow.”
“I know. It’s been a long time.”
“I’ll be gentle with you.”
She’s still massaging my cock when she says, “That’s just the thing. I don’t want you to be gentle with me. I want you to fuck me like a man possessed.”
Holy Heaven on a stick.
I turn to face her. “You don’t need to ask me twice, Princess. And fucking like a man possessed is my specialty. It also isn’t hard to do with a woman like you in my bed.”
“How far is the cabin?” She’s panting. Fucking panting.
I turn onto the driveway. “About thirty seconds.”
“Floor it,” she says. “Joshua, I’m not even kidding, I need you now.”
I do as she says. I need her just as much, maybe even more.
“Yes, ma’am.”