Southern Gentleman (Charleston Heat 3)

It’s rare that I’m rendered speechless.

But right now—

Fuck, I don’t know what to say.

I do know that shit just got real. We don’t have to talk about it yet. But I’m in this now. For the long haul. I promised Julia I’d be a real partner in raising the baby. Now I want to be her partner, period. In all things.

I want to grow a family with her. Grow old together. Is this happening fast? Yes and no. I was done for the second she and I met. I couldn’t stay away from her, no matter how hard I tried. It’s part of the reason why I showed up to all her meetings, whether or not I actually had to be there. I just wanted to see her. Soak up her laugh, her lust for real life.

Her way of being.

She’s already made me a better man. A more honest one. I could never talk to Cameron the way I talk to Julia. Openly. Without fear of judgment. She hides nothing and neither do I.

I want to be the man she deserves. One who’s real. Who takes care of his own and provides for his family.

I will work myself to the bone if it means keeping Julia and this baby happy and safe.

In the meantime, I’m going to make Julia come. A lot.

“Upstairs,” I manage. “Now.”

Julia shivers, drawing a breath through her teeth.

“Jesus, I like it when you growl like that.”Chapter Twenty-FourJuliaIs there anything sexier than a growly man who’s raw with honest need and admiration and the desire to fuck you hard and well?

Watching Greyson tear off his sweater and undershirt as we head up to his bedroom, I think that no.

No, nothing sexier exists on this planet. Not by a long shot.

By the time we’re in his bedroom, I’m shaking. The smell of him fills my head and my body. Bergamot. Leather.

I’m so turned on it hurts.

Grey spins around to face me, hands at work on his belt buckle. I can see the outline of his erect penis straining against his fly. The sight of his bare chest—all that skin, all that strength—

It’s too much. Along with the strength he showed by sharing his pain with me, his shame and his truth, it’s overwhelming.

It’s beautiful.

He is so damn beautiful.

All of him. The hero and the villain. The good and the bad.

I love all of him.

I want to show him just how much I love his shadow and his light.

“Sit,” I say, making quick work of my shirt and my jeans. “There, on the edge of the bed.”

He looks up at me, bent over as he steps out of his pants one leg at a time.

“Baby, I gotta get my hands on you. I’m not gonna wait.”

“You’ll wait.” In just my underwear and bra, I back up against the wall. “Sit down.”

He shucks off his boxers, revealing an impressive erection. “Absolutely not.”

“Sit the fuck down. Don’t make me ask twice.”

A flame ignites in his eyes. He takes himself in his hand and gives his cock a gentle tug.

“You playin’ games with me, sweetheart?”

I step out of my underwear. Slip off my bra. Then, eyes still on his, I slide down the wall, my knees falling open as my ass meets the floor.

“This is a game you’re gonna like.”

His eyes dart to my pussy. Spread open and wet.

He swallows, making his Adam’s apple bob.

“Okay,” he says. And then he does as I tell him and sits on the edge of the bed. Legs spread, dick still in his hand. He swallows again. “Sweetheart, you are so—Jesus, baby, you are gorgeous. Everywhere. That pussy—”

“Bet you’d like to fuck it”—I reach down and touch myself, dragging my finger through my folds—“wouldn’t you?”

He’s rolling his palm over the head of his cock. “I’d very much like to fuck it. Hard. The way you like it.”

I feel the low, rumbly timbre of his voice in my clit. My nipples pebble to hard points, the soles of my feet arching off the floor as I touch myself there, circling two fingers, circling in time to Grey’s movements. Slow and steady.

“See how much you turn me on?” I manage, sinking one of my fingers inside me. The sinews in his neck pop when he gives himself a long, hard pull. “This is all you, Grey. You did this to me.”

“I did”—he swallows, stroking himself some more—“what?”

I roll my hips against my hand, urging my clit against my palm. I want to make this last, but my orgasm is already close.

“Your bravery. It made me wild.”

“Yeah?” He grits his teeth. Legs spreading wider, allowing me a glimpse of his asshole.

So lewd. Dirty.

My arousal spikes.

“Your honesty made me—” My breath catches when my thumb hits my clit. My nipples are screaming for attention. I start to play with my nipples with my other hand. He growls.