Chapter 40 #2
I exhale, my gaze falling to our joined hands.
“It’s new to me,” I admit. “For five years, I’ve gone to bed and woken up to her.
Every single day. But I know she’s in good hands.
And maybe…maybe it’s okay that I want this too.
” I lean over, pressing a slow, gentle kiss to his cheek. “So, yeah, I’m more than okay.”
His eyes soften as he turns toward me, fingers brushing against my jaw, his thumb tracing the curve of my cheek like he’s memorizing the moment.
“It’s new for both of us,” he murmurs, voice low and sincere, and I know it is.
He’s told me about his past, about the women who passed through, how none of them ever stayed. How he never wanted them to.
“Well,” I say, unbuckling my seat belt and smiling up at him. “Lead the way, Cowboy.”
We step out of the truck, gravel crunching beneath our boots as we make our way to his porch.
“It’s a beautiful hom—”
Before I can finish, my feet lift off the ground. A startled laugh escapes me as Miles scoops me up effortlessly, one arm hooked under my knees, the other around my back.
“Miles!” I laugh, my hands gripping his shoulders.
He grins down at me, eyes glinting with mischief. “What? Thought I’d carry you in properly. First night and all.”
My cheeks warm as he pushes open the front door, his laughter mingling with mine, the scent of cedar and home welcoming us in.
He sets me gently back on my feet, his hands lingering at my waist for a moment longer than necessary. I look up at him, a small smile playing at my lips. “House tour?”
Miles’s answering grin is boyish, that familiar dimple tugging at his cheek. “Thought you’d never ask.”
He threads his fingers through mine, pressing a soft kiss to the top of my head before leading me inside.
The living room is exactly what I’d imagine for him—dark oak wood floors, leather accents, and that perfect balance between rugged and warm. It smells faintly of cedar and something that’s distinctly him. Masculine, grounded, but somehow still soft. Still home.
A wide brick fireplace anchors the room, with a few framed photos scattered across the mantel.
My eyes catch on one in particular—Miles, Dahlia, and Greg.
Dahlia’s in the middle, both boys with arms draped around her shoulders, laughter frozen mid-smile.
I recognize the background instantly, Greg’s ranch.
The porch, the barn in the distance. It looks almost exactly the same now.
“Wow,” I whisper, lifting the frame. “You look so young here.”
He steps up behind me, his arms finding their way around my waist, chin brushing my shoulder. “Yeah, we must have been in our preteens there,” he says quietly. “I miss those days. So many great memories in that place.”
I smile, eyes still on the photo. “I can imagine. That house feels…alive. You can tell a lot of love’s been shared there.”
He hums in agreement, the sound deep and warm against my back.
I place the frame carefully back where it belongs, then turn in his arms, resting my head against his chest. His heartbeat is steady beneath my ear, grounding. “You think you’ll all live close again one day? You, Dahlia, Greg…your parents?”
He exhales softly, his hands rubbing small circles against my back. “I sure hope so. But life’s taken us all in different directions. Doesn’t mean we don’t care or miss it sometimes. We just…grew up, I guess.”
He presses a kiss to my forehead, his voice dropping to a whisper. “I’m just grateful for the family I still have close. And for the one that found me when I didn’t know I needed it.”
My heart stutters at his words, knowing he’s not just talking about them, but about the bond we’ve formed. For almost two years, it was just Mindy, Riley, my dad, and me in our little chaotic family. Now, I have a few more souls I cherish deeply.
I turn to face him, searching his eyes. “I get what you mean.”
I tilt my head up, capturing his lips with mine.
The kiss is tender at first, soft and hesitant, but it ignites when he parts his lips, his tongue finding mine.
I tug at his shirt, and he instinctively grabs my waist, pulling me closer.
As our kiss deepens, I feel him hardening against me, a low groan escaping his lips.
We lose ourselves in each other, kissing harder, faster, his lips trailing down to my chin, then my neck, and finally lingering at my chest-each touch deliberate, unhurried.
“Wait, what about the house tour?” I raise an eyebrow, teasing him.”
How about we start in the bedroom and go from there?” he whispers, the heat of his breath sending shivers down my spine.
“Then take me,” I reply, my voice barely above a whisper.
Without hesitation, he lifts me effortlessly, our faces inches apart, my legs wrapping instinctively around his waist as he supports me from beneath.
He carries me up the stairs, and when we reach his room, he gently sets me down on the bed.
Hovering over me, he removes his shirt, tossing it aside before slowly peeling away my blouse, revealing my hardened nipples.
He lowers his face, his mouth finding my left nipple while his fingers tease the other, sending shivers down my spine.
My breath quickens with every lick and flick of his tongue, the soft sound of his mouth releasing my nipple echoing in the charged air.
He meets my gaze, a smirk playing on his lips.
Gripping the back of my neck, he pulls me closer before pushing me back onto the bed, where I lie exposed beneath him.
“Let’s start here.” His fingers rub against my clit through the fabric of my jeans, igniting a fire within me.
I bite my lower lip, nodding slowly as I keep my eyes locked on his.
The anticipation coils tighter as he unbuttons my jeans, sliding them off and tossing them aside to join our discarded shirts.
Settling between my legs, he grips my lace underwear, his teeth catching the delicate fabric.
He removes them with a teasing tug, and when I notice them dangling from his mouth, he locks eyes with me.
“Open your mouth,” he commands.
I comply, parting my lips as he shoves my soaked underwear inside, a rush of heat flooding my cheeks.
“Good girl.” The praise sends a thrill through me, my clit pulsing in response. He lowers himself again, spreading my legs wide, his gaze filled with hunger. “So beautiful,” he whispers before his tongue glides over my arousal, tasting me.
I can’t hold back the whimpers and moans that escape my lips as he sucks on my clit, my body arching toward him, desperate for more. He pulls me closer, locking my legs beneath his arms, holding me captive until he’s fully satisfied. He spits, then licks my clit again, faster this time.
My moans grow louder as I teeter on the edge, my orgasm building.
I surrender to the wave as I come undone on his tongue, my hips moving instinctively, lost in the moment.
Opening my eyes, I find him wiping his mouth, his gaze dark with desire as he removes his jeans, spitting on his hand to stroke himself, captivated by the sight of me.
My legs remain open for him, my arousal dripping between us.
With a swift movement, he flips me over, positioning me on my stomach.
His breath is warm against my ear. “I’m not done with you yet.” I feel him push inside me, a muffled moan escaping my lips as he fills me. With every thrust, my pleasure mounts, the sound of skin slapping against skin filling the room.
“I fucking love you,” he whispers, his breath hot against my skin as he removes my panties from my mouth.
“I love you,” I reply, my voice shaky but filled with truth, lost in the rhythm of our bodies as he drives deeper, claiming every part of me.
He pulls back, his gaze intense. “I want you to say it to me as you watch me fuck this tight pussy of yours,” he demands.
I wrap my legs around his waist, pulling him closer, urging him to fill me again. He begins slow, teasing me, his tip teasingly entering and retreating, making me ache for more.
I moan softly, my eyes locked onto his as he stares back, a smirk playing on his lips. “Say it, Vivian, and I’ll give you more,” he says, his voice low and demanding.
“I love you.”
He thrusts hard, and I gasp, the pleasure washing over me in waves. “Again,” he commands, his tone leaving no room for argument.
He pulls out, and I groan, rolling my eyes in playful frustration.
“Don’t fucking roll your eyes at me,” he warns, thrusting harder, igniting a fire within me.
I can’t help but laugh softly between moans, the connection between us electric.
“I.”
He thrusts again, the intensity making me gasp.
“Love.”
Another thrust and he grunts, our eyes locked in a heated gaze.
“You.’
With that, his mouth captures mine, wet and hungry, as he picks up the pace, each thrust driving us closer to the edge.
“I’m going to come,” he grunts, his breaths quickening as he nears his release.
I reach up, grabbing his face, holding his gaze as his mouth falls slightly open, breaths coming in heavy bursts.
“I love you, Miles,” I repeat, the words spilling from my lips like a prayer.
His groan reverberates through the air as he finally releases deep inside me, the warmth of his pleasure mixing with my own. The world fades away, leaving only the two of us, intertwined and breathless.
As the last tremors of our shared ecstasy fade, he collapses beside me, pulling me close, our warm skin touch as I rest my head on his chest and he wraps his arms around me, holding me tight.
In this cocoon of warmth and affection, I know that whatever challenges lie ahead, we’ll face them together.