“Yes.” We’re a new relationship to her with training wheels still attached. I’m already riding without holding the handlebars. I know we’re meant to be together. She just doesn’t see it yet.
“Baylor? Aw. That’s so sweet, but I know you aren’t looking for marriage.”
We agreed to keep it a secret, not to hurt her mom or my family, but to include them when we’re ready to reveal it. If we do. As I listen to her now, there might not be a need.
“Why do you say that?”
She aims her gaze at the pillow next to me and then back at me. “I don’t know why I thought that. Believing that you prefer dating over commitment? When was your last relationship?”
“When was yours?” I snap back.
Offense shapes her expression, dragging her lips to part. Very distracting. “That’s not fair. I don’t have the same options back in the Pass as you do here.”
I stare at her for a moment. I’ve done this to myself, and her best friend probably didn’t do me any favors over the years. Do I blame my sister?Nah.She didn’t have all the facts, but she also probably wasn’t far off from the truth, and she has my best friend who witnessed plenty of bad behavior. I’m sure he leaves himself out of some of those details, though. I won’t spill our secrets. But I do say, “Neither one of us is particularly walking around with our head in the clouds. That’s a luxury never afforded us. We’re products of hardworking ranching families or seeing things through a different lens. Who knows. But I want to be clear on marriage. It means something to me.”
She crawls across the mattress to situate herself next to me. With a mischievous grin, she whispers, “It does?”
“Yes. I know this is about money for us, but I could write you a check if that’s all it was about, or make sure you have free rent for life?—”
“How would you do that?”
Shit.
This hole keeps getting deeper. Eventually, I need to put the shovel down. Not tonight, though. I’m going into this with my eyes wide open because it feels real to me, as real as she is before me now.When should I let her in on that secret?
I’m starting to think that the perfect time is after the I dos, which makes me a horrible fucking person for taking advantage of the situation. Looking at her here in bed with me, she fits into my life in the city like this is every day for us.It could be.
Though I shouldn’t trick myself into believing she’d move here because I know she won’t or can’t.Both.So I enjoy her presence and the way she looks so at home while I can.
“I’ve made plenty of money.”
“Oh,” she says, looking down at the folded towel on her thigh. She’s already shaking her head before looking back up. When those beautiful browns hit me, she smiles. “I can’t take it, like I said before.” Moving closer, she lowers her eyes to my mouth as her hand slides over the cotton restraining my erection.
My breathing deepens as she awakens my entire body with her touch. “C’mere.” Climbing onto my lap, she straddles me. Bringing her face closer, I whisper into her ear, “What if we want to stay married?” I kiss her cheek and under her jaw.
She sits back with that mouth open again, reminding me how stunning those lips are wrapped around my dick. “Do you want a contingency plan?”
What do I want herto say? That this isn’t just about finances? My phone vibrates on the nightstand, causing me to look over at it. “It’s from the judge.”
I reach for it. His text reads:I’ll fit you in at two p.m. Have the license stamped by the clerk. I’ve left your name and instructions for my assistant.
Flashing the screen so she can see it, I say, “Seems we’re getting married tomorrow.”
“Shouldn’t I be nervous?”
That’s my girl. I knew I wasn’t alone. Hoping, at least. Holding her hips, I push the towel up on one side to see my favorite strawberries. As I run my fingers over the tattoo, I reply, “I’m not either.”
She leans forward just enough to wrap her arms around my neck. “People have rushed into marriage quicker.”
“We don’t have to justify it. If it feels right, it is.” I start to unwrap my pretty package, untucking the corner of the towel and discarding it on the floor. Pulling her closer, I tongue her pink buds and then kiss the space between her breasts, imagining how they would feel wrapped around my erection. Shaking myself from the thought, I know I’d rather be inside her right now.
Sitting back, I watch as her chest rises with each deep breath she takes and lowers on the exhale. She rocks her hips slowly back and forth, seeking her own pleasure as her lids flutter closed.
The damn phone buzzes across the wood nightstand again as an unwelcome distraction. Her eyes slide to the screen and then to me. “Busy guy. Do you need to check that?” she asks through panted breaths.
“It can wait, but I can’t.” I flip her to the mattress, wedging myself between her legs. Her laughter fills my ears, and the way she looks at me like I’ve hung the moon makes me feel whole again.“I’m so fucking glad you’re here.”
As soon asI pay for the license, we’re good to go until this afternoon. I hold her hand while we cut across the courtroom and out the doors. “I want to take you somewhere.”
