Total pages in book: 95
Estimated words: 92708 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92708 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 464(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
I was close—too close. And she was starting to move faster, sliding up and down my cock, the friction almost unbearable. I moved one hand to where our bodies joined and used my thumb on her clit, and she cried out—one sharp little sound—before biting her lip. Falling forward again, she braced her hands on my chest and jerked her hips hard over mine, grinding against me. I gave up trying to hang onto control and clutched her thighs as I bucked up into her with sharp, savage thrusts. Within seconds, I shot off like a rocket, all the tension in my body releasing through my cock in quick, hot bursts. At the tail end, as my body relaxed, I felt the tremors of her orgasm surround me.
A moment later, she collapsed on my chest, breathing hard. I stroked her back—her skin was warm and damp. Inhaling, I caught the scent of her shampoo, and I held it inside my lungs for a few heartbeats, wanting anything she could give me.
“We were loud,” she whispered.
“I don’t care.”
“But I want your dad to like me.”
“He likes everybody.”
“That’s not helpful.”
“Okay, well, he likes you.” I played with her hair. “Did you see the way he smiled at you tonight? Remember how he asked you all those questions about Snowberry? Told you all about the work he’d done there?”
“Yes. He said very sweet things about my grandfather. That was nice.”
“See? He likes you.”
She was silent a moment. “He asked me to call him Dad.”
“I know.” My hand stilled. “You don’t have to, if it makes you uncomfortable.”
“It just makes me sad.”
I closed my eyes. “Don’t think about it.”
“But—”
“Look, I don’t like that part of it either. But let’s stay focused. All that matters is that your grandmother is talking to her lawyer this week.”
“Right. Okay.”
It was a good reminder of what we were about. And what we weren’t.
Because I couldn’t put my finger on it, but something was making me feel like the lines were blurring a little.
Lexi used the bathroom first, and when I came out, she was already curled up in bed in the dark. I climbed between the sheets and fit my body behind hers, wrapping an arm around her middle and pulling her closer.
She snickered.
“What’s funny?” I asked.
“Nothing. I just never would have thought you were a snuggle bunny.”
“I am not a snuggle bunny,” I said grumpily.
“Okay.” She covered my arm with hers and patted my hand.
“I just like the feel of you, that’s all. And adolescent me spent a lot of nights in this room dreaming of getting someone half as hot as you in my bed. Maybe I’m just holding on to make sure you’re real.”
“I’m real.” Her hand found mine, and I curled my fingers around hers, playing with her wedding band before drifting off to sleep.
THIRTEEN
lexi
The following morning, Devlin took me to breakfast at a place called Moe’s Diner.
The moment I walked through the door, I felt like I’d stepped back in time or onto a movie set. Everything about it screamed 1950s kitsch, from the black-and-white floor tiles to the red vinyl and chrome counter stools to the jukebox in the corner.
As the hostess led us to a booth along the back wall, Devlin was stopped by at least three people who’d already heard about our marriage—a teenaged waitress (Ari’s cousin), an older couple sitting at a table near the door (Devlin’s high school cross country coach and his wife, who’d been at the pub last night), and two old guys who’d been seated at the counter but came over to shake Devlin’s hand as soon as they saw him.
Devlin introduced them as Larry and Gus, old fishing buddies of his father’s. Then he rested a hand on the nape of my neck. “And this is my wife, Lexi.”
A thrill shot through me like a pinball.
“A pleasure,” said Gus, who wore a navy ball cap and suspenders. He pumped my hand with enthusiasm.
Larry, whose ball cap and suspenders were red, was a bit more gruff but muttered his congratulations. “We heard the news down at the docks this morning,” he told us. “Your dad was bursting with it.”
“We know all about the party tonight too,” said Gus. “We wouldn’t miss it.”
“Wow,” I said once we were seated. “News travels fast in Cherry Tree Harbor.”
“Small towns,” Devlin said with a shrug, handing me a menu before studying his own.
I started to scan the options but found my eyes drifting up to secretly peer at Devlin instead. He looked so handsome this morning, freshly showered, hair combed, glasses on. My heart fluttered when I saw the ring on his finger and remembered how he’d put his hand on my neck and introduced me as his wife.
Ari’s cousin, whose name tag said Gemma, came by to pour coffee, chattering a mile a minute. “Is it true you got married by Elvis?”