Chapter 9
NINE
JOVIE
Dad’s voice is tired on the other end of the line, but it’s stronger than it has been. And more upbeat. I’d almost call it cheerful.
“I’m fine, honey,” he says. “Just wanted to hear your voice.”
My throat tightens. “I’m okay. The weather is wild, but I’m safe.”
“Good,” he murmurs. “I’ll feel better once I get to see you.”
“I’ll be home soon,” I promise. “I love you.”
“Love you too.”
The call ends.
I keep staring at the screen until Rhodes gently eases the phone from my hand.
“You alright?” he asks.
I nod, but the movement turns into a tremble. “He just… sounded tired.”
Rhodes steps closer. “He did. But he didn’t sound like he’s giving up.”
That unspools something inside me.
I swallow hard. “I hate not being there.”
“You’re doing this for him,” he says. “That matters.”
And then—without warning—he pulls me to his chest.
I sink into him like my body has been waiting for this exact shape.
His arms stay around me longer than comfort requires. His thumb draws idle circles on my back. His cheek brushes the top of my head. The fire crackles. The storm softens to a hush.
When he finally pulls back, it’s only far enough so he can see my face.
“Jovie,” he says quietly. “Come sit down.”
I let him guide me to the sofa. He sits beside me, knees spread, posture relaxed but eyes very, very focused.
I feel it. All of it.
Every spark we’ve been dancing around since the mercantile. It’s one I’ve been waiting to experience my whole life.
“Rhodes…” I whisper.
That’s all it takes.
He shifts closer. One hand lifts to my jaw, thumb brushing the edge of my lower lip. He watches my reaction like it’s the only thing in the room that matters.
“I keep thinking I should slow down,” he says. “That we should slow down.”
I lean into his touch. “Do you want to?”
He exhales through his nose. Shakes his head once, slow. “Not even a little.”
Heat flares low in my stomach.
“Good,” I whisper. “Because I don’t want to slow down either.”
Something in his expression breaks open.
Softens.
Darkens.
He cups my face with both hands and kisses me like he’s been holding back for hours.
This kiss isn’t cautious.
Or tentative.
It’s hungry.
Certain.
A decision.
He pulls me onto his lap without breaking the kiss. My hands slide into his hair. His grip tightens on my hips. Our breaths hit the same rhythm—fast, wanting, inevitable.
The blanket slips off my shoulders.
He helps it.
One tug, slow and deliberate.
“Jovie,” he murmurs against my mouth, voice rough. “Last chance.”
I shake my head. “Not stopping.”
His answering groan vibrates straight through me.
He kisses down my throat.
My sweater rides up under his hands.
His mouth finds the spot that makes my back arch.
Heat gathers everywhere all at once.
He pulls back just enough to look at me—really look at me—firelight catching the gold in his eyes.
“You sure?” he whispers. “Because once I touch you like that, I’m not going to pretend I don’t want all of you.”
I slide my hands under his shirt and feel warm, hard muscle.
“I want you,” I say. “All of you. Right now.”
His breath catches.
And then—
He stands, lifting me with him, my legs instinctively wrapping around his hips as he carries me toward the rug in front of the fire.
He lowers me onto the blankets.
Kneels between my legs. Hands braced on either side of my hips.
He leans down. Kisses me slowly once. Twice. My toes curl against the quilt.
“Tell me what you want, Jovie.”
“You.” I part my lips against his. “I want all of you.”
He makes a low sound of approval that’s more growl than groan. It sends a fresh ripple of anticipation through my already thrumming body.
“Do you have any idea how—” he nibbles on my bottom lip “—fucking—” he sucks it into his mouth “gorgeous you are?”
From any other man, I’d think his question was just a line. One designed to seduce me into bed.
I know better with Rhodes.
For one, I’m already in his bed.
Two, I’m good and seduced.
And three… This is a man who tells the truth and says what he means. He’s not one to pay lip service.
Well, not unless his lips are servicing me. Something that seems to be happening as he peels back my clothes and presses hot, wet kisses to each piece of skin as he exposes it.
“What do you want now?” he asks, gazing up at me from his perch between my thighs.
His whiskered chin brushing against my lower belly where only a thin piece of cotton is keeping us from touching.
“Use your imagination.”
“Are you sure about that?” He arches an eyebrow.
His dark eyes meet my gaze as he scrapes the stubble of his day-old beard along my inner thigh. My fingers dig into the quilts.
“I want to make you scream before I fuck you.” He lifts his head again. “Be as loud as you like. I take instruction well.”
“Do you now?”
He nods.
“Prove it.”
He gives me a hot, opened-mouthed kiss on my navel in approval. His tongue trails a path down around my bush, leaving goosebumps and tingles in its wake. He presses slow, wet kisses along my thigh as one of his long fingers parts my pussy to find my clit.
His thumb moves around it slowly, sending an instant jolt of pleasure through me.
I cry out.
“You like that?”
I nod. “Yes.”
“How about this?”
Continuing to move his thumb around my nub, he slides a finger inside of me.
I let out another sound, one I’ve never heard before.
He chuckles. “I will take that as a ‘yes, please.’”
“Yes, please.” And then I come completely undone as his mouth replaces his thumb and he slides two more fingers inside of me. Stroking my inner wall. Finding the g-spot that my past lovers would have missed, even with a map spelling out the exact location.
Pleasure builds inside of me. He inserts another finger. I cry out, gripping the back of his head for dear life.
“Are you going to come for me?” he asks against my pussy.
I buck my hips up against his lips in answer.
He laughs against me and applies more pressure to my clit. The vibration of his laugh pushes me over the edge. Wave after wave of ecstasy pulses through me.
I call out his name, and he stays with me. Prolonging the pleasure. I’m pretty sure all that exists in this world is Rhodes and me and the pleasure he is wringing out of my body.
While I draw deep breaths, I am vaguely aware of Rhodes rising to his feet. He opens the nightstand drawer. A moment later, he rips open the foil of a condom. I lean up on my elbows to watch as he pumps his cock.
The desire in his eyes stirs the need inside of me again.
“You ready for me, honey?” he asks.
I nod, licking my lips and reaching for him.
“Let me help you with that.”
He eases back onto the bed. I replace my hand around his cock. My heart pounds faster as I explore the feel of it with my fingers. Tracing the pulsing vein along the wide shaft.
“Don’t tease me,” he groans.
As much as I’d like to do just that, I don’t. I want him inside of me too badly. I slide the condom down over him, protecting us both.
Pulling me up to my knees, Rhodes turns me around and bends me over the bed. So my palms are flush against the bed and my derriere is up and primed. Ready for him to take me.
Kissing my neck with his lips, he spreads my legs wider and kneels between them. His palms slide up my waist. One hand cups my breast. The other slides to my still glistening pussy. I gaze at the wood headboard, tingling with anticipation.
He positions his cock at my entrance.
“Are you ready for me?”
I nod. “Fuck me.”
“Yes, ma’am.” And with one thrust, he fills me.
I cry out, fingers digging into the bed.
He slides in and out, faster, harder. The fronts of his thighs press against mine.
As my insides begin to quake again, I hear Rhodes’s breaths quicken. He rides me, pushing us both toward another peak.
When I find that mountain of ecstasy again, I scream.
He shouts as he pushes into me one more time, finding his own completion.
We collapse to the bed, him spooning me from behind, holding me close as we both gasp for breath.
And with every breath, I know. This thing we have here is pure magic. I’m equal parts scared and excited. Not knowing where this connection we have can possibly lead when we only have this Christmas before we part ways.