Total pages in book: 110
Estimated words: 108165 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 541(@200wpm)___ 433(@250wpm)___ 361(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108165 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 541(@200wpm)___ 433(@250wpm)___ 361(@300wpm)
I drag my finger down his nose to his lips like he’s done to me so many times. “You were born of innocence. It’s time to return.” I smile, brushing the pads of my thumbs across his lips. “Make love to me. No one’s ever done that.”
He takes a moment. I’ll happily give him forever if that’s how long it takes him to let go.
He pushes into me and stills. Our foreheads meet while he wraps me in his protective arms. “Fuck …”
I grin. There’s the man I love.
He pulls partway out and, just as slowly, thrusts back into me. We find a rhythm. We find each other.
We find now, lose yesterday, and hold on for tomorrow.
CHAPTER FORTY-SIX
JACKSON
New York is on the opposite side of the country from Idaho—for anyone who needs a geography lesson.
Jackson doesn’t.
He’s all too aware of the distance between the women he loves. After three days with Frankie, of which she spends most of her time at the university, he gets a text from Livy while on his morning jog.
Livy: I’m in labor. It’s early. Not too early. The midwife says everything is fine. Don’t rush home. Love u
Jackson sprints the rest of the way back to Frankie’s house. It’s a little before six in the morning, and she’s already out of the shower, drying her hair for work.
When she sees his reflection in the bathroom mirror, she grins. He winks and peels off his sweaty clothes. His ego gobbles up every tiny glance she aims in his direction—the way she wets her lips while her gaze moves down his naked body.
“I fucking love you,” he says just to get her attention before he steps into the shower.
Heat blooms in shades of pink along her cheeks. She knows he caught her staring.
He needs to book a flight home. He needs to say goodbye. Then, he needs to figure out what will happen when he leaves. When this baby arrives, Jackson won’t want to leave anytime soon. He’s already agreed to help with Wylder.
But he’s in love with a brilliant music professor who lives in New York.
After his shower, he books the next flight to Boise and packs his bag.
Frankie’s sipping coffee in the kitchen while sliding her thumb along her phone screen. Her smile fades when she glances up at him and sees his bag.
He drops it by the door. “Livy’s in labor.”
Frankie’s smile returns. “Do you need me to book you a flight?”
“Just did.”
“Do you need a ride to the airport? I can call in—”
“I have a rental car parked on the street.” Jackson takes her coffee and sips it before setting it on the counter.
Frankie looks so brave, but he sees the slight wobble of confidence in her eyes. She knows they haven’t discussed the logistics of their geographical challenge. He pulls her into him and kisses the top of her head.
“Had I known you were leaving so soon, I wouldn’t have let you go for that jog.” She slides her hands into his back pockets and kisses his sternum. “What time is your flight? I can go in late. It’s just a boring meeting.”
He chuckles. “Had I known you only had a boring meeting, I would have pulled you into the shower with me. My flight’s in less than two hours. I have to go.”
“Go be a grandpa. I’ll send you a cardigan.” She wriggles out of his arms and grabs her coffee, hiding her sad smile behind the mug.
“Come for Thanksgiving.” He glances at his watch, not wanting to miss his flight.
“I’m not sure how my parents will feel about me missing Thanksgiving after …” She trails off, finishing her thought with a somber expression instead of actual words.
“I understand.” Jackson, once again, steals her coffee and sets it back on the counter. “We’ll figure something out. Maybe next month, I can bring Wylder out here and give Livy and Slade time alone with the baby.”
Frankie lights up, wrapping her arms around his neck. “I would love that so much.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.” She kisses him.
His hands lower to her ass. All he wants to do is pull her skirt up her slender legs and lift her onto the counter. He’s unsure which feels more unbearable: missing his flight or leaving without a proper goodbye that involves being inside her.
Listening to her moan into his mouth.
Feeling her tremble from his touch.
With Frankie, he doesn’t feel like a fifty-something grandpa. He feels like a twenty-something who can’t get enough of the girl he loves. When he’s not fucking her, he’s thinking about it, actively plotting the quickest way to get her naked.
Francesca Holter is his fountain of youth.
“I can be quick,” she murmurs over his lips while stroking him on the outside of his jeans.
Fuck me …
“I have it on good authority that you don’t get on your knees for just anyone.” He bites her lip and grins. If he keeps it playful, his hard-on might deflate before he has to go through airport security.