44. Chapter 43
Chapter 43
Hudson
It’s been a hell of a long day. Hank and I have been helping burn fields for a neighboring farm that is shorthanded. We’ve been out since dawn, and after a long day on my feet at the bar yesterday, I’m beat. I’m hungry and dirty, and my eyes burn from the smoke exposure.
Burning fields is exhausting, nerve-racking work, and requires a lot of focus. If the wind takes the flame in an unexpected direction, you have to act fast and think on your feet. Luckily, everything went smooth today, and those fields will be ready for whatever the McNealy’s need them for.
Even though I feel dead on my feet, I loved helping out today. The sense of community and coming together is one of my favorite things about Timber Forge. I didn’t realize how much I missed it until today. It still isn’t what I want to do long-term; but Hank and I talked and I’ll help out where and when I can.
My brother didn’t say much when I told him Pop had approached me about helping out more when the twins come, but his eyes took on a disapproving gleam, and the rigid set of his shoulders told me he wasn’t aware our dad had been meddling. He said he’d speak to Pop about it .
I know he’s had a hard time handing things over to Hank since his accident, but at some point, he has to let that shit go. We’re grown men with lives and ideas of our own and we’ll do shit in our own way, in our own time. It turns out, Jack Dover, Hank’s right hand, is more than capable and willing to step in to fill in any gaps until Hank is back in a more full-time capacity. I won’t bring it up to Pop again.
When I park my truck in the garage at home and climb out, my legs are tired and feel like jelly. My back is stiff and muscles I didn’t know I have are aching like never before. It’s just after eight p.m. and I need food and a hot shower. I know Paige will likely still be up, waiting to say goodnight. I’m grateful that Finn has probably already fed and bathed her, after picking her up from day camp.
I knew moving in with her would be tough for me in certain ways, now it’s comfortable. It feels right. I wonder if it feels that way for her. I love coming home to her and Paige. It makes the whole move, selling the bar, and everything we’ve been through the last two years with Tristen’s bullshit and Paige's diabetes a distant memory. I almost forgot what it felt like coming home to an empty house after Tristen left. Living with Finn has filled a hole in our lives, and I can’t imagine it being any other way.
The other night out at Hutch’s place, I’d almost asked her to move with us when the house is done. But this marriage isn’t real for her; it's just a means to a very expensive end. So, I held back. When this all ends, I’d still consider asking her to move in with us. She could stop paying rent on this place, allowing her to save up for something of her own.
When I step into the kitchen and see them together at the counter, colorful beads and plastic lacing spread out before them, my heart squeezes in my chest. God, I want this. I want to come home to a scene like this every night and wake up to her every morning for the rest of my life.
Maybe she’d be open to giving this a try. She agreed to not see other people while we’re married. So, really, what’s the difference? We’re already married, already sleeping together. It's exactly as Hutch said: we do everything a married couple does.
My eyes roam over the two of them. Finn’s got the end of a string of beads in her mouth and she’s threading more onto the end. Paige’s hair is still damp from having probably just had a bath. Soft music plays from the speaker on the counter next to them.
They both look up and beam wide smiles at me.
“Daddy, you're home! We’re making necklaces.”
“Hey, sweetheart. I can see that.” I dump my keys and phone on the counter. “They’re beautiful,” I say, crossing the kitchen to plant a kiss on the top of her head. When I lean in, she looks up at me with big, dark eyes and scrunches her nose.
“Daddy, why are you all dirty?” she asks, taking in my light blue shirt and jeans that are covered in dirt and soot. “And why do you smell like a campfire?”
“Been burning fields all day, baby,” I say around a yawn, then press a kiss to the top of Finn’s head, too. Her eyes find mine, then drop to my mouth, making my heart stutter in my chest. I wish I could kiss her openly, but it wouldn’t be a good idea. Paige knows nothing so far, and unless—or until—I get the courage to talk to Finn about making this permanent, the less she knows, the better. So, instead, I run a hand over her hair and down her back and give her a squeeze just below her ribs, hoping she knows how much I want to kiss her.
Finn climbs off her chair while I bend over to unlace my work boots and toe them off, before carrying them back over to the garage. I open the door and set them on the top step just inside the garage. When I turn back around, Finn’s got the fridge open. So, I step up behind her and use the door as a shield from Paige’s eyes. I lean in and brush her hair off her neck, pressing a kiss to the soft skin there .
“Mmm, you smell so fucking good,” I whisper and run a hand around her waist from behind, pulling her back against me. She turns and briefly offers her lips for a quick, open-mouthed kiss, then hands me a beer.
“Go grab a shower and I’ll make you a plate. You look exhausted,” she says, pulling out a container of what looks like ravioli in some kind of white sauce.
“You got dessert to go with that?” I ask, throwing her a suggestive wink.
She chuckles lightly, then turns to set the container down and grab a plate and fork. “I can think of a couple of things you might like.”
“Cream pie sounds fantastic,” I say and manage to keep a straight face while I do.
Her head snaps up, and her mouth pops open with an amused gasp before her eyes dance over to Paige still sitting at the counter. But she’s too lost in trying to tie off her necklace and singing along to the Moana soundtrack that just shuffled onto the speaker.
Finn brings her heated gaze back to mine, and when she bites that puffy bottom lip, it sends a shot of lust straight to my groin.
Shooting Finn a wide grin, I round the counter back to Paige, before leaning in to inspect her necklace. “That’s really pretty, Pip.”
“Thanks, Daddy.” She flashes a beaming smile. “Can you help me tie it?” she asks around a big yawn.
I look at the small strings pinched in her tiny fingers. I’ve tied off about six of these necklaces since Finn bought her the kit for Christmas, but that wasn’t after a full day in the hot sun with scorching temps and smoke grit in my eyes. I take the skinny strings between my fingers and pull out a stool with my foot, dropping onto it., then prop my elbows on the counter and work my tired fingers to tie it off.
“Why don’t you start cleaning up, and as soon as I’m out of the shower, I’ll be in to tuck you in, ok?” I say, double knotting her creation and draping it on the counter so she can inspect her work.
She nods, and with one last satisfied look at the necklace, she starts putting things away in the plastic bin she uses to hold all her crafts.
I strip off my shirt on the way up the stairs and catch a glimpse of Finn watching me from where she’s helping Paige on the other side of the island. Her cheeks flame the slightest bit pink, and she bites that damn lip again.
Once upstairs, I shower and throw on clean sweats. I don’t anticipate being up long. So, I forgo a shirt and socks and head across the hall, where I hear Finn reading Paige a bedtime story. Eyes glued to them, I lean in the doorway and cross my arms over my chest. I could get used to this.
Finn is so good with Paige, better than Tristen ever was. The fact that Paige has a stepmom who is willing to not only tuck her in but read her bedtime stories and make plastic necklaces with her is doing something to both my gut and my heart. I am so in love with this woman, and even more so when I see her like this, taking care of my daughter.
A thought flits through my mind, making my chest tighten. She’s Finn’s daughter, too. Maybe not legally, and not biologically, but in name and every other way that matters. My eyes burn a bit, and I can’t even blame it on the smoke from earlier. I clear my throat lightly to rid it of the emotion clogged there.
“The pirate queen—” Finn breaks off and her eyes take one long, heated sweep of my body from across the room. She shifts on the bed, and I don't miss the subtle press of her thighs together. I swear we will never get enough of each other. Not in this lifetime.
Paige nudges her. “Finnley, keep reading. This is the best part,” she whines, dragging out the last word and then lets out a long yawn.
An amused expression lifts the corners of Finn’s mouth, making that tiny dimple pop in her cheek. She drops her eyes back to the book, picking up where she left off, as I approach the bed.
“The pirate queen dashed down the stairs, sword drawn, looking for— ”
Bracing a hand on the railing of the bed, I lean over her to press a soft kiss on the top of Paige’s head just as she continues.
Finn’s breath catches and her eyes trail up my chest before meeting my gaze. I throw her a playful wink and she shoves lightly at my chest.
“Get out of here or there’ll be no dessert for you,” she says, a smile ghosting across her beautiful face.
“I had ice cream for dessert, Daddy. It was yummy. With caramel sauce and a banana,” Paige jabbers sleepily.
I huff a laugh through my nose and ruffle Paige’s hair. “Close your eyes, sweetheart, and I’ll see you in the morning,” I say, then turn and leave the room, heading downstairs.
I scarf down the surprisingly delicious meal Finn left for me in the microwave, then settle into the couch with ESPN on low. When Finn comes downstairs ten minutes later, she’s got her hair in a messy bun, and she’s replaced her contacts with her black, thick-framed glasses. They’re big on her face, which is glowing and flushed, probably from taking off what little makeup she had on. She’s also replaced her sweats and tank top with a pair of itty-bitty, tight-as-fuck biker shorts and one of my old T-shirts. That shirt has never looked so good, hanging off her small frame.
Her petite legs look mouthwatering as she steps over my feet and stands between my knees. She moves to straddle me, placing a tanned knee on either side of my hips. Her citrus scent fills my nose and my cock slowly comes to life when she settles her weight on me. She looks and smells positively fuckable.
I tip my head back on the couch and look up at her, giving her a slow grin. She matches it and then leans in to place a kiss on my lips, running her hands up my arms to rest them on my shoulders .
“How was your dinner?”
“Not as good as dessert will be, but still good.” My voice is low as I reach for her.
She hums and drops her mouth to mine again. Running a hand down my abs, she slips it under the waistband of my sweats. She palms my cock through my underwear before slipping her hand inside those, too.
I hiss out a breath before deepening our kiss. “Fuck, that feels good,” I mumble against her lips.
“I’ve missed you the last couple of days.” She teases the head of my cock with her thumb, then gives me a series of long strokes, before plunging her tongue back into my mouth.
With Ginger and the boys in town, she spent a lot of time with them and Wren, taking Paige with her on hikes and to the ranch to ride the horses. And although we haven't had sex in a couple of days, waking up to her pressed against me every morning has been heavenly.
Every morning, I sneak back into my room before it’s light out, in case Paige wakes up early. We’re taking a risk starting this out here in the open, but right now, I’m finding it hard to care that I could come right now with just the feel of her warm heat on my lap and her hand slowly working over my dick.
“How was work?” she asks as she pulls the front of my pants down, freeing my length.
I cock a brow at her boldness, and she smirks at me, dropping her gaze to my lap. It should feel strange having her hands on me after all these years, but it doesn’t. It just feels incredible. And I can’t focus on a fucking thing she’s asking me. I can’t form a coherent sentence.
Slowly, she climbs off my lap and gets down on her knees between mine, still gripping and jerking me in that slow, tortuous rhythm. It’s insane how, in such a short time, she already knows exactly what to do to me to get me close within what feels like seconds .
Turning her eyes up to mine, she waits, either for instruction or maybe just to torture me.
I tip my chin up at her. “Put that pretty mouth on me, Finnley.”
Her eyes are hooded with desire, and then her perfect mouth is on me, softly teasing me with her lips and tongue. She lightly sucks the underside of the head before pulling me into her mouth.
“Holy shit, Finn,” I mumble out, my head falling back onto the couch. She works her mouth over me, while I find the nape of her neck with my fingers and guide her in a rhythm I like. I’m already too damn close to coming, so I slide my fingers under her chin to make sure she’s looking at me. “Your mouth is perfect… Goddamn.”
She moans around my length, and the vibrations ripple over me, making me shiver. I can hardly see straight from seeing her like this, eager and on her knees. It conjures up all the filthy things I want to do to her. Her big, brown eyes trail up my body, while she bobs her head over and over. When she pulls me out of her mouth, saliva strings from her lips, connecting us.
“Tell me about your day,” she says quietly, not bothering to wipe her mouth before going back to work on my dick.
It’s sexy as all get-out, but something about her worshipping my cock while I tell her about all the mundane shit in my day has my heart swelling in my chest. Yes, she’s doing this for my pleasure, but it’s more than that. It’s like she’s taking care of me, like she wants nothing more than to hear about what I did all day, while simultaneously sucking my soul out of my body through my junk.
All I can do is moan, mesmerized at the sight of her mouth swallowing my length. I squeeze my eyes shut and let out a pent-up breath, forcing myself not to unload down her throat after a thirty-second blow job. Fuck , she's good at that.
“It was…good. Just hot as hell.”
When I lift my head to watch her, she flicks her tongue twice over that perfectly sensitive spot, then presses her lips to the tip of my cock in a chaste kiss. Her eyes collide with mine, and I let out a long groan. I swear I see stars.
“You just gonna suck my cock while I talk about work, pretty girl?” I ask, brushing my thumb across her cheek, knowing I will never find anyone more perfect than this woman.
She nods and takes me back into her mouth, sucking me back as far as she can without gagging.
Running a hand over her hair, I cup my fingers around the back of her head, my thumb stroking her cheek again as she looks up at me. “So, fucking beautiful on your knees, lips stretched around me. Fuck, babe… You do such a good job for me.”
Her eyes light up at my praise. It’s sexy as fuck.
“I talked to Trevor today,” I say, sucking in a breath when she really sucks me toward the back of her throat again. Her eyes never leave mine, listening intently, while never missing a beat on my length. God, she’ll be my undoing. My breath is coming in quick pants, and my voice is more of a grunt than anything. “He wants to sell the bar.” My abs clench when her teeth lightly graze the head of my cock. I’m so damn close. “He offered it to me.”
Her eyes snap to mine and she comes off my dick. “Really?” she asks, swiping a hand along her mouth. Her other thumb swipes back and forth over my tip and I take my length in my hand, squeezing firmly to stave off the building orgasm trying to lift off in my body. Pulling her hand free, I tuck myself back into my pants.
“What’s wrong?” Her brows come together, creating a crease between them.
I huff out a laugh and my voice is like gravel. “Nothing, but if you keep that up, I’ll be coming down your throat in about two seconds. ”
The way this woman makes me feel is indescribable. Her cheeks flush and I pull her up from her knees, then stand up. I head for the stairs, pulling her along behind me. We’ve been sleeping together for weeks, but everything still feels so incredibly new and the anticipation of being inside her again has my dick throbbing inside my pants.
She shuts off the lights as we head upstairs, our fingers intertwined. “Are you gonna do it then?” she asks about the bar.
“Maybe,” I say, and she shoots me a knowing look. “Probably.” I chuckle.
When we hit the top step, she pulls me in, kissing me long and hard. “You should. You’re amazing at what you do, and you deserve it.”
No one has ever believed in me like she does. It fills my chest with warmth, and my stomach flutters. She’s always seen me for exactly who I am, and she’s never once tried to change me. Sure, she gets annoyed with me trying to help her with money, but she never questions my intentions.
Once inside the closed confines of her room, we are on each other. Hands groping, lips kissing, teeth clashing. Her top comes off in one tug, and then I’m backing her up against the bedroom door, pinning her hands above her head as my mouth devours hers. She presses up onto her toes, and I snake one arm around her, lifting her up until her legs are wrapped around my waist.
Carrying her to the bed, I lay her down and take in all that creamy skin and dark, perky nipples. I want to devour her. Her chest heaves rapidly with her breathing and her eyes roam over my torso, taking in my sweats, then go back up to my face.
She lifts her hips when I hook my fingers into the waistband of her shorts and underwear, dragging them down her thighs. The bed dips under the weight of my knee when I lean over her and kiss her deeply. Her hips meet mine as she arches off the bed, trying her damnedest to get closer to me .
“You trying to rub that greedy, little cunt on me, Finnley?” I rasp against her ear, and she mewls in response.
“Mm, you’re so fucking filthy,” she moans. “Get your pants off and fuck me, Hudson.” She moans desperately, trying to yank the material down my hips.
I chuckle and push to standing before shoving my sweats down my hips and kicking them out of the way. She scoots back on the bed, so she’s resting on the pillow, and I climb up her body. She drops her knees open, inviting me to crawl between. As I lose myself against the wet heat of her core, I know I’ll never get over the feeling of her naked body underneath mine.