The bell dinged loudly above my head as I stooped down and walked into the bookstore. The smell of dusty pages and sage filled my nose, causing me to sneeze a few times.
“Bless you.” I knew that soft, sweet voice.
“Thank you.” I smiled and turned to face her. The look on her face caused my heart to melt. We could both play games, but she missed me. It was written all over her pretty face.
Her light blue dress was playful, thin, made for summer. I could see the faint outline of her nipples through her bra, and the vein beating along the side of her neck left me without a doubt. She was turned on. She was completely mine. Oh, the possibilities.
Relief mixed with happiness swept through me, and it stole my breath. Had I really fallen that hard for her? It couldn’t have just been the sex, though it was delicious and felt right with her. It was something more. I was her protector. I was her man.
“You look good.” She reached out, and I took her hand, pulling it to my lips and kissing her knuckles. I couldn’t help but lick at her fingertips before pulling one into my mouth.
Her soft groan was enough to have my dick thick and hard, my heart beating like crazy and a million naughty thoughts racing through my mind. Why a beautiful woman like her was willing to take a chance on a guy like me was a mystery, but I wasn’t willing to give her up. Not yet. Not ever.
“You do too.” I glanced around. “You alone? Cause I’m pretty sure your Dad isn’t going to approve of this.”
She laughed, and the world felt lighter. “He doesn’t have a say in it. I’m a grown-ass woman, remember?”
“No?” I let my eyes run down the length of her as she turned and walked toward a row of bookshelves. She looked like a grown-ass woman, her body luscious with curves, her skin smooth and flawless. There wasn’t a part of her that I didn’t want to touch, to lick, to possess.
“Nope.” She glanced over her shoulder, giving me a look that could only mean one thing. She wanted time pressed to the bed or wall beneath me. Give the woman sex a few times and then she’d want it all the time.
This is not a bad thing. I followed her, memorizing the soft curves of her hips, the soft curves of her legs. She had no clue of the power she had over me. It was mesmerizing.
She stopped short, and I almost bumped into the back of her. I wrapped my arms around her shoulders and leaned down, pressing my mouth to the side of her neck just below her ear. “What are you doing right now, Abi? We’re in a bookstore, and I’m hard as a rock thanks to those bedroom eyes you keep fucking throwing my way.”
“Being naughty,” she whispered and reached for a door in front of her. “These are quiet reading rooms. You can only occupy them for twenty minutes, but I think that’s long enough.” She opened the door and turned, moving to her knees and motioning for me to join her.
“Are you serious right now?” I glanced around and moved into the small room with windows on both sides. There was no one on either side of us, but there could be any minute. “Let’s just got back to my place and spend the night together.”
“We can do that too.” She reached up and unbuttoned my jeans, her fingers so soft, her eyes wide with wonderment. “I want to work on this thing between you and me.”
“You know I’m not good with relationship.” I reached down and brushed my fingers by the side of her face. “I can’t make any promises.”
“Do you care about me?” She tugged my boxers over my hips, freeing my cock as it stood proudly at attention.
“I’m falling in love with you.” I cupped the side of her face as she moved up and brushed her cheek down my length, stealing my breath.
“Me too. Then stop thinking about it, and let’s just see what happens.” She swirled her tongue around the head of my cock, sucking softly. “Tell me if I do this wrong.” Her pretty cheeks colored pink.
“Just don’t talk with your mouth full.” I laughed as she swatted at me and moved up to take me into her mouth. My humor turned into moans, grunts, and whimpers as I lost my load to the only woman whose body I’d be guarding.
My woman.
EPILOGUE - ABIGAIL
One Year Later
I couldn’t help but pace the floor as I waited for Harley to return. He’d been gone a month on his latest job, and not having him in my life or my bed was driving me crazy. We’d been through some ups and some serious downs, but he’d been true to his word. He was trying to make us work; there was just a lot of work there to do.
He was in counseling a couple of times a month to help with his nightmares about being in the war, and I was more than happy to sit for hours to listen to him talk through some of the events and feelings. He wasn’t nearly as opened up as I wanted him to be, but I figured that would change, and soon.
After checking my watch for the millionth time, I walked into the kitchen of our high-rise New York apartment and pulled out the stuff to make a salad. I had a chicken and veggie in the oven and hoped he would be hungry, as I’d cooked enough for three people.
A smirk touched my lips at the thought. Poor Janice had the horrible task of teaching me to cook, which was like trying to teach a frog to fly. It just didn’t work too well.
I yelped as the sound of someone coming through the front door filled up the space around me.
“Baby? I’m home. You here?” The sound of him breathing in deeply followed by him growling left my stomach in knots, my heart racing.