Chapter 37
I Know She Ain’t Ready
Duke
The first morning Cash heads out on horseback at six am, I walk by Caroline’s room to find her sitting and watching him trot away on Daisy.
“You okay?” I sit beside her.
“Yeah, I’m fine. It’s so beautiful out there, it’s painful. I can’t wait until I can go for a ride. Oh Duke, Lola is stunning. I forgot to tell you. I don’t think she liked me, but she is stunning.”
“She’s just shy. Once you’re up for the walk, I’ll take you out there; she will warm up. Want some breakfast?” I pull her to her feet, and she trails me, a little slower, down the stairs. Tank and Snapper are out with Cash so it’s just us and my dogs. It feels so right, just being with her.
Cash expressed a little concern over the new arrangement, but I think it’s going to be important we each spend a little time alone with her and she gets to spend some time without us both hovering.
She sucks in a breath, like she’s preparing for something. I flinch a little. She seems happy but I’m always going to be a little on edge, I think, not sure what’s in her head as far as we are concerned.
“Duke, can we talk?”
“Of course.” Dread fills me but I try not to let it show on my face.
“I just, well I want to say I’m sorry. The way things went down? It wasn’t right.”
I hold up a hand to stop her. “Sweetheart, it’s okay. Cash and I already talked through it. We know what happened and we already forgave you.”
“That’s great that y’all worked it out, but I didn’t.
I don’t deserve forgiveness until I say what I need to say.
I didn’t know what I was getting into when I met you.
You’re hard to read, even harder to get close to.
It was confusing but the more time I spent with you, the more I craved our fire.
Our passion.” Her eyes are alight with feeling as she speaks.
“You fed a part of my soul I didn’t know was starving.
Our desire for each other made me feel like I was wanted in a way I never have been.
I needed you so much. And I regret it every day that I betrayed that. ”
Kneeling in front of her, I place one of her hands over my heart.
“Caroline, from the moment I laid eyes on you, you were in my dreams—behind my eyelids every time I closed my eyes. When I couldn’t control myself anymore, I took you in my storeroom and gave you everything I could, not knowing you were going to become the sun around which my world revolved.
You deserved better than a quick romp in the dark and I intend to make it up to you.
But more than that, you deserved to be given everything.
” Kissing her fingertips, I lay my head against her stomach.
Looking up at her, I continue, “When I saw you in that closet, my broken heart healed instantly. There isn’t a single day, for as long as you’ll have me, that I won’t strive to prove you are mine.”
I pull the little box from my pocket, and she inhales sharply. Handing her the little blue box, tied with its white ribbon, I sit back on my heels.
“Open it,” I order her.
Pulling gently on the ribbon and letting it fall away, she cracks open the box and a giddy smile tugs her mouth up.
“Oh Duke, it’s perfect!” She pulls the delicate silver bracelet from the box, its tiny charms jingling. “Oh, a little fish for our date! And a storm cloud.” Her cheeks pink at the memory. “This one is just a little cup?”
“They didn’t have one of a beautiful girl perched on a table, panting for me, so that one will have to be the bar.” I wink, and her laughter fills the room. “Put it on.”
She holds out her arm and I loop it around and clip the little closure.
Tugging gently on the gold chain hanging from her neck, I say, “I couldn’t let Cash be the only one you wear.”
“Silly boys.”
We spend the rest of the day lounging on the sofa, her soft leg lying in my lap as I rub her foot. Every once in a while, she rubs it against my dick, and I immediately harden.
After the third time, my balls are in so much pain I can hardly sit here anymore.
“Sunshine, I need you to stop that. I haven’t been inside you in months and I’m going a little crazy.
You aren’t cleared for anything strenuous for a few more days.
I’m already jerking off every day and I wasn’t planning to before work. ”
Her giggles make me smile. She sits up and leans over, bringing her mouth right to mine. “Sorry, Grumpy.”
Picking her half up, I lay her back on the couch before hovering over her. I push my pelvis into her and press my hips against hers, rolling them just slightly.
Leaning down, I skim my mouth from her collarbone, up her neck, and latch my lips to her ear, tugging gently. She lets out a long, throaty moan and I thrust against her again.
“I cannot wait to sink inside you and feel you come on me. But before that—” I thrust gently against her again, and she mewls beneath me. I lick up the column of her throat. “I’m going to fuck you with my tongue until you beg for mercy. Okay, baby?”
She nods breathlessly and I sit up, returning to my side of the couch, pulling her foot back into my lap.
What seems like seconds later, Cash bursts through the door.
“Honey, I’m home!” he bellows and Caroline squeaks.
He looks at me, all serious, and Caroline’s blush high on her cheeks and narrows his eyes. “Doctor said!” He points a finger at me accusingly.
“I didn’t do anything. She’s the one who won’t keep her feet to herself.” His gaze drops to the foot in my lap then swings to her face. Laughing, she covers her face with her hands.
“Naughty, naughty,” he scolds her before leaning over the back of the couch to kiss her. “Heading up to shower, be back in fifteen.” He bounds up the stairs, taking them two at a time.
“See, you got me in trouble.” Rubbing circles on her ankle, I move my hand slowly up her leg. I massage her calf then her knee. I knead her thighs before placing my palm flat against her legging-clad pussy. “Fuck, sweetheart, you feel pretty wet. You good?” I taunt her.
She whimpers and moves her hips against me. I press down with the heel of my hand until she lets out a little moan, her eyes rolling.
“Sorry pretty girl, can’t do anything about it for”—I pretend to check a watch—“four more days. Doctor’s orders.” I hear Cash’s bedroom door open.
Standing, I adjust my dick as it presses into my zipper before giving her a chaste kiss. “Gotta get dressed for work, maybe take my own shower.” I pass Cash as he thumps his way down the stairs.
“You look awfully flustered, Hurricane. You okay? Are you in pain?” I laugh quietly to myself as I head into my bedroom to get ready for work.