Perfect Embrace (Mason Creek)

Laken: I’m on the front porch. I didn’t want to wake the girls.

I don’t bother to text her back. Instead, I drop my phone back to the table and rush to the front door. I pull it open, and she looks up at me from where she was staring down at her phone. Reaching for her hand, I pull her inside and haul her into a hug.

“Damn, Laken, I needed this,” I confess.

“You’re good at hugs,” she says softly.

Reluctantly, I ease away from her, and with her hand in mine, I guide her to the living room and pull her down on the couch next to me. When I say next to me, I mean right next to me. Her body is aligned with mine, and my arm is around her shoulders. “How was the rest of your night?” I ask with her settled against my chest.

“Good. Leni came to get Trace, and she brought pizza for dinner. I think it was an ‘I’m sorry, but you know you love me’ kind of gesture.” She chuckles.

“Yeah. My mom called to see how the trip to the park went. Not that she didn’t already know. You saw the newest MC Scoop, right?”

“I did. Tate is relentless.”

“That she is.” That’s when it hits me. She’s asked me a few times if I want to hide us, but I’ve never asked her what she wants. “Hey, are you okay with this? With the town knowing our business?”

“Is anyone ever okay with Tate and her column?” she asks.

“No. But I’ve told you that I don’t want to hide you… hide us. I just need some time to tell the girls. If word gets back to them that we’re together, we can tell them we’re friends, and we are. It just hit me that I’ve never asked you if that’s what you want. Do you want to hide this?”

“No.” She’s quick to answer. “I don’t want to hide us. I like spending time with you, and I don’t care who knows that. My main concern is the girls, and this being as easy for them as possible. So, if that means we have to work a little to hide this so they don’t catch wind of it, I’m okay with that.”

“You’re amazing.” I lean over and press a kiss to her temple. “Thank you for understanding and putting my girls first.”

“You’re a single dad, Grayson. I know those little girls come along in this package deal.”

This time when my lips press to hers, I don’t ask. Instead, I lean in and take what I’ve been craving since our date on Saturday night. I kiss her like she’s the air that I breathe. I kiss her like this might be my last chance to do so. I know all too well how short life can be, and right now, right here at this moment, there is nothing else I’d rather do than kiss the hell out of Laken Abbott.

I allow myself to get lost in her. Somehow, we end up with her on my lap, straddling my thighs. I don’t hate it. My hands grip her ass as she rocks against me. Her long red hair is hanging over her shoulders, hiding her face, and that’s a problem for me. I want to see her face. I can tell by her breathing that she’s close, and no way in hell is she going to rock her tight, light body over my cock and me not get to see her when she falls over the edge.

Reluctantly, my hands move to gather her hair and hold it away from her face. Her eyes find mine, and the hazel orbs are filled with heat, desire, and need. “Take what you need.” My voice is a husky whisper, but it’s all I can manage right now. My cock twitches beneath my gym shorts. It’s been a long fucking time for me. I want to strip us both bare and give into this connection that passes between us. I want to slide inside her and never leave.

“Gray,” she moans quietly.

I smash my lips to hers to prevent my own moan from sliding past my lips. My girls are heavy sleepers, thankfully. Those two little angels sleeping down the hall are the only reason I’m not stripping us both naked right here, right now.

“If I had more time, I’d kiss every inch of you,” I say, my lips trailing down her neck.

“That. When can we do that?” she asks, making me laugh.

“Soon. I promise.”

“Gray,” she says, tilting her head back.

I release her hair as it hangs down her back. “Tell me what you want, Laken. Do you want to come?”

“Yes.”

“Can I touch you, Laken?”

“Now. Please. Yes. Touch me now.” Her eyes are closed, and her head is still tilted back. She’s gorgeous.

Lucky for me, she’s wearing a short pair of athletic shorts. I manage to slide my hand up the leg and slip my fingers beneath her cotton panties. “You’re wet. Is this for me?” I don’t know whether to look at her or at her glistening pussy that’s peeking out of her tiny shorts.