Total pages in book: 134
Estimated words: 130159 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 651(@200wpm)___ 521(@250wpm)___ 434(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 130159 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 651(@200wpm)___ 521(@250wpm)___ 434(@300wpm)
“Is Zach coming for dinner?” he heard Heavenly ask.
Beck’s brother had become a semi-regular, stopping by two or three times a week to share a meal and conversation with the three of them. Seth had almost gotten used to the somber Beckman brother’s presence in the house. But Zach’s haunted expressions still sometimes took Seth back to the darkest days of his life. It kept him on edge.
“He said he had something else going on and he’d talk to me tomorrow.”
“Oh, okay.” Heavenly didn’t sound fazed. “Whatever it is, I hope he enjoys it.”
“Probably. He seems to be settling into his new life.”
“He does.”
Seth heard the smile in Heavenly’s voice. She cared about everyone around her, and he loved her for it.
A future without her sunshine would be black. It would be worse than losing Autumn.
“Seth?” she called up the stairs.
He dried off his face, then told himself to pull his head out of his ass and act normal. “Yeah?”
“Are the twins coming for dinner? I made plenty.”
Taking a deep breath, he made his way down the stairs, well aware that he could no longer stand in place. He had to make a decision soon.
When he reached the lower level, he found Heavenly plating her kabobs and Beck on the patio, just outside the open door, lighting up the grill. “They’re working tonight and tomorrow before their epic send-off bash Saturday night, then catching their plane back to New York on Sunday.”
Thank fuck he wouldn’t have to lie to his brothers about his relationship with Heavenly for much longer.
“So I guess it’s just us tonight,” she said with a shrug.
“Yep.” Beck grinned as he lowered the lid on the grill. “I’m okay with that because I’ve missed you.”
It had been a busy week, and they hadn’t spent much time together. Or had Seth been unconsciously avoiding them since the wedding?
“I’ve missed you.” She smiled at the surgeon, then turned to him, her expression wobbling. “Both of you.”
He swallowed hard. “I’ve missed you, angel.”
Seth could say that in all honesty. Without her, he felt like a parched man crawling through the desert, a thousand miles from water.
The curl of her lips turned upside down. Concern clouded her face. “Is something wrong?”
Jesus, he couldn’t talk about this now. He wasn’t ready. But he fucking needed to touch her. He needed to be with them.
He turned to Beck. “How long before we have to put the kabobs on?”
The surgeon seemed to sense he was in a mood. “How long do you need?”
“I-I don’t know. A while.”
Beck flipped off the grill. “You got it.”
Seth came up behind Heavenly and schlepped the tray of kabobs into the refrigerator, then lifted her into his arms, carrying her out to the patio, and setting her between him and Beck, stringing kisses up her neck. “I need you.”
Beck answered first. “We’re here.”
Sending a weighty glance to the surgeon, Seth nodded in thanks but couldn’t tame his jumble of words into a coherent sentence. Instead, he clung to the moment, fisting Heavenly’s hair in his hands and capturing her mouth, plunging deep as if he could somehow brand himself on her, own her for all time, with a sweep of his tongue.
She responded with a little whimper, opening to him and surging against him as she looped her arms around his neck. Behind her, Beck grabbed the hem of her T-shirt and pulled it up her body. The movement disrupted their kiss for a heartbeat as the doctor whisked it over her head. Seth watched her small waist, lacy bra, and the pale swells of her breasts come into view one stunning inch at a time. Desire flared hot through every vein, sped to every corner of his body. He dragged in a rough breath, then took her face in his hands and seized her lips again.
Beck dragged her shorts down her legs, kneeling behind her until he pulled the garment off, then kissed his way back up her thighs until he reached the lace of her underwear clinging to her pert cheeks. “I can have the rest of her clothes off in ten seconds, but if I keep going, we’ll end up fucking her out here.”
Reluctantly, Seth dragged himself from her sweet mouth. His unwavering stare drilled down into her wide eyes as he answered. “It’s not the first time, and the neighbors can’t see. Strip her.”
At Heavenly’s indrawn breath, Seth lifted her chin, swooped down, and took her mouth once more. Vaguely, he was aware of Beck’s lips trailing across her shoulder, teeth nipping into the sensitive curve of her neck, as he unhooked her bra. The lace scraped his skin as the good doctor pulled the undergarment free between them. Then suddenly, her bare breasts pressed against his chest. Her erect nipples only drew up harder when Seth cupped her jaw, forced his way deeper into her mouth, and made love to it like he owned it.