“I can get it,” I insisted as I tried to push him out of the way. All that did was cause another shooting pain, and I bent over, which caused more pain. And made my towel come apart.
“Ohmygawd,” I cried out as I was hit with the pain twice over.
“Harley,” Tripp said, his arms wrapping around me and lifting me up. My entire body flamed at his touch. It didn’t help my stupid libido when I realized that the towel fell away, and I was stark-ass naked.
“Put me down,” I yelled.
“Let me get you to the bed so you can rest.”
“Tripp! Put me down now! I’m naked!”
He froze when he realized. Slowly, he set me down and stared at me, his eyes roaming over my body with nothing but desire swimming in them.
We stood there like two idiots. Me, naked, and Tripp staring at me. This time, I let my eyes roam over his body and realized he had on thin sleeping pants and a T-shirt that said, I’m hot for pancakes. I couldn’t miss the outline of his erection through those thin pants.
God, why are you so cruel?
My mouth watered, and I wanted more than anything for him to pull his pants down and demand that I take him in my mouth. I always loved how demanding and strong Tripp was in bed. He was the only man I had ever been with who knew what he wanted and wasn’t afraid to tell me. He was the only man who ever tied my hands to his bed post, blindfolded me, and made me come more times in one evening then I had in the years we’d been apart.
Darting my eyes back to his, we continued to gaze at one another. My body was desperately waiting for him to do something. When he didn’t move, I remembered my robe on the bench at the end of my bed. Turning, I put it on. My breathing was heavy as I kept my back to his, trying to get the fog out of my head. I had been so close to begging him to touch me. So close to wanting to touch myself while he watched me with that veiled look of lust in his eyes.
How pathetic am I?
When his hands touched my shoulders from behind, I jumped, and the entire world felt like it stopped. It was only the two of us, and my body hummed with the delicious memories of Tripp making love to me.
“Harley.” His breath was hot against my neck, but he didn’t kiss me. Instead, he moved his hands and I felt the instant loss of heat from his mouth and hands.
“Breakfast will be ready in a few minutes.”
Tears fell down my cheeks. When the door click echoed in the room, I let my sobs quietly spill…ignoring the pain in my ribs, suffering in silence.
My head dropped against her door, and I squeezed my eyes shut. My stomach rolled when I heard her sobs.
Fucking hell. What the fuck do I do?
Seeing her naked brought every single memory of us back in one fell swoop. It took everything I had not to pick her up and put her on the bed and make love to her. But I couldn’t do that to Mallory. I couldn’t cheat on her…I wouldn’t cheat on her. We were exclusive, and even though I had every intention of breaking things off with her, I wouldn’t be that much of an asshole.
I pushed off the door and headed to the kitchen. Grabbing my phone, I hit Steed’s number and waited for him to answer as I put the last of the bacon on a paper towel to dry.
“Hey, what’s up?”
My brother’s voice seemed to calm the whirlwind of uncertainty twisting around in my head.
“I need your advice.”
“You sure you didn’t mean to call Dad?”
“No, Papa Smurf can’t help me with this one.”
Steed laughed. “Hit me with it.”
Glancing back over toward the hallway, I swallowed and headed for Harley’s sliding door that led to her patio.
“I’m at Harley’s.”
“Oh hell, it’s early in the morning, what did you do?”
“Nothing. She fell asleep on the way back from the emergency room, and I didn’t have the heart to leave her alone. Her mother said both her and Harley’s father felt like they were getting sick and couldn’t come over. I couldn’t leave her alone so I stayed in her guest room. Nothing happened…but…”
He sighed. “But is never a good place to leave off on a sentence, dude.”
“Something happened between us this morning, and I’m pretty sure Harley wanted the same thing I was wanting.”
“You didn’t sleep with her, did you?”
“No, I wouldn’t do that to Mallory.”
I could almost hear the relief in his voice. “Good. I’m glad you didn’t do something stupid.”
“Steed, I’m so fucking confused, yet I’m not confused.”
“That statement doesn’t make a lick of sense.”
Running my hand down my race, I let out a frustrated groan. “I’ve never stopped loving her. I’ll always love her.”
“Then what’s wrong? Are you having a hard time forgiving her?”
I scoffed. “Fuck, I think I forgave her the moment she told me the truth, but my damn pride and anger got in the way. I’ve only ever seen a future with one woman, and right now I don’t know what my future looks like. Hell, I don’t even know what I want anymore.”
“Tripp, you’ve always been the one who had your future planned out right down to the damn day you were going to retire. Even I remember you talking about how you and Harley were going to finish school, get jobs, work a certain number of years, have kids, run for mayor. Fuck, you’ve had every damn life event planned out. But life isn’t like that. Things happen, people change, feelings change, plans change. Harley knew that, but she didn’t have the heart to ruin your dreams. Life is about taking risks, jumping off the ledge every now and then and praying like hell it all works out. If I learned anything from my time away and my return to Oak Springs, it was that what you love and want shouldn’t come sliding to you on a silver platter. It doesn’t come neatly tied up in a package, waiting for you to open it when you think it’s time. It’s about fighting for what your heart truly wants.”
I nodded, even though I knew he couldn’t see me. “What if my heart already knows it wants one thing for sure?”
“Is it Harley?”
It didn’t even take me a nanosecond to reply. “Yes. What do I do, Steed?”
“You go slow. Y’all have been apart for a long time. I know the temptation to fall into each other’s arms is strong. Hell, it killed me not being able to be with Paxton the moment I saw her. But I knew I needed to win her back. I needed to repair the past and that’s what you and Harley need to do. Go slow. Show her you’ve forgiven her, show her she is worth the wait and get to know each other again.”
I heard a noise from inside the house. Turning, I saw Harley mixing something in a bowl as Lady and Hemi sat on either side of her.
“Thanks, Steed, for talking it out with me.”
“You already know what to do, bro. Just do it.”
I watched as Harley poured ingredients into the mixing bowl, talking to both Lady and Hemi in only the way that animals would understand. My chest squeezed. “Yeah, I know exactly what I need to do. Thanks, Steed. Kiss the girls and Gage for me.”
“I will. See you tonight.”
The line went dead and I continued to stare into Harley’s house as I watched her pour the batter onto the griddle.
“I know exactly what I have to do,” I whispered as I lifted my phone and hit her name.
The phone rang a few times before Mallory answered it. “Hey there. Did you get some sleep last night?”
Facing away from Harley, I walked a few feet from the house. “I got some sleep, tossed and turned most of the night. Mallory, are you free for lunch today? I have something important I need to talk to you about.”
“Sure, I need to pick up my dress for tonight from Clair. She did a few adjustments for me since the dress was too long. How about around one?”
“One sounds good. See you then.”
“See ya later.”
I walked back into the kitchen. Harley spun around and stared as I walked through the sliding glass door.
?
??I thought you left.”
My lips twisted into a smile. “Before we have our pancakes?”
She laughed and let her eyes roam over me again. “So, do you always have pajamas with you?”
I looked down and laughed. “I swung by my house after I got you home and in bed.”
With a nod, she turned back and flipped the pancakes. Slipping onto the stool at her island, I watched as she slid the pancakes on the plate and poured two more onto the griddle.
“Do you remember the first time you made me breakfast?” she asked with a chuckle.
I laughed. “How could I forget? We almost burned down my parents’ guesthouse.”
Her smile faded some, and she looked away. The memory was strong for both of us and I was instantly taken back in time.
“Tripp, we’re going to get into trouble!” Harley whispered.
“Nonsense,” I said, turning the key in the lock. “My folks are out of town and your folks think you’re staying the night with Paxton.”
We stepped into the guesthouse, and I turned on the lights.
Harley shrugged off her coat and laid it over the back of the sofa. All it took was one glimpse of her hard nipples through her thin sweater and I was all over her. My mouth pressed to hers as I lifted her up, and she wrapped her legs around my body. A moan slipped from her mouth as I pressed my cock into the warmth between her legs.
“You drive me fucking crazy, do you know that?” I whispered against her soft lips.
She drew her head back and stared into my eyes. “Show me how much I drive you crazy.”
My tongue slid over my lips as I set her on the back of the sofa.
“Let me start breakfast first.”
“Tease,” she playfully said before cocking her head to the side. “Breakfast, huh? That’s going to be the first meal you make me?”
“Bacon and eggs are my specialty.”
She gave me a hard look. “Aren’t they the only things you know how to make?”
“Minor details.”
I moved into the kitchen and got everything ready while Harley stayed in the living room.
“Need help?” she called out.
“Nope, I’ve got this.”
I found a frying pan and opened up the bacon I had grabbed from the house. I settled the bacon in the pan, turned the fire to low and headed back to the living room. Harley had hopped off the sofa and was standing in front of the fireplace looking at photos.
Fuck if I didn’t want her every single time I looked at her. I was like a crazed, horny bastard when she was within a few feet of me.
She must have felt my stare because she turned around and faced me. I ached to be inside her. I stripped out of my clothes while she watched. Even though we had made love in the back of my truck earlier, I needed her again. She was an addiction I would never be able to break.
Her mouth opened slightly. She watched me with heated eyes as I stroked myself.
“Tripp,” she barely whispered. “I want you.”
The corner of my mouth rose in a cocky smile. “Then come take what’s yours.”
With one quick movement, she lifted her sweater over her head and made her way to me. I pushed the lace bra over her breasts and took a nipple into my mouth as I twisted and pulled the other one.
“Oh God,” she whimpered.
“I want to fuck you, Harley.”
“Yes,” she hissed as she grabbed my cock.
My fingers and hands worked fast to get her jeans and panties off.
“Tripp, please…” she begged.
Slipping two fingers inside of her, we both moaned. “You’re always so wet for me, baby.”
Our mouths crashed together as I finger fucked her. Her hips riding hard against my hand. The sounds of her moans into my mouth as she came nearly had me coming myself. I lifted my mouth from hers. “Turn around and put your hands on the back of the sofa. I want you from behind.”
Her tongue slid over her bottom lip before she bit down on it and did what I said.
I looked at her perfect ass sticking up, waiting for me to push my cock into her pussy. My heart slammed against my chest. Bending down, I grabbed my wallet from my jeans and took out a condom. I tore it open and quickly put it on.
When I grabbed her hips, she looked over her shoulder. A sexy-as-fuck grin moved over her face as she purred, “Show me, Tripp. Show me what I do to you.”
One quick push and I was filling her all the way. Her gasp made me stop, worried I’d hurt her.
“Don’t. Don’t stop.” She was panting, the need rolling off of her in waves.
Leaning over, I kissed her back. “Tell me what you want me to do.”
Her body shuddered. “Fuck me,” she gasped—either from hearing herself say it or from me filling her completely.
I smiled. I loved hearing those filthy words from her perfectly beautiful mouth. My sweet little church girl on Sunday and my naughty girl every other day of the week.
The sounds of my body slapping against hers fueled me to go harder. Faster.
“Fuck,” I groaned as I reached around her and played with her clit. Harley was so responsive to my touch that she exploded within seconds. With the way she pulsed around my cock and how deep I was, I came right along with her. Both of us, calling out each other’s names.
“Jesus Christ,” I exclaimed as I leaned over her. Pressing a kiss on her back, I softly said, “I love you so much. I can’t get enough of you.”
Her body started to sink so I wrapped my arms around her, but stayed inside of her. One of these days I would make love to her with no barrier. It was a moment I fucking wished for every single time I was inside her. I dreamed of what her body would feel like surrounding mine.
“I want you…with no condom, Harley.”
Her body tensed, and I quickly pulled out. Discarding the condom, I reached for the blanket that was laying over the sofa and wrapped us both in it.
Her gaze was downcast, so I placed my finger on her chin and lifted her eyes to mine.
“Look at me. I don’t mean now. Or tomorrow, or hell, even next week. But one of these days I want you with nothing separating us.”
She smiled and her cheeks flushed. “I want that too.”
“Promise me something, right here and now.”
Her soft emerald eyes searched my blue. “Anything.”
“That no matter what happens, I will be the only man who gets to have you that way.”
Harley’s eyes filled with happiness. “Tripp, you’re the only man who will ever have that, and so much more. You are the only man I will ever love.”
She lifted up and our lips softly touched. The kiss was sweet and gentle. Just like the woman in my arms.
The smell of something burning had us both pulling back.
“Oh my God. Tripp! What’s burning?”
“Fuck!” I shouted. “The bacon.”
The alarms in the guesthouse went off and smoke poured out of the kitchen.
Harley and I rushed into the kitchen. The frying pan I had been cooking the bacon in was now a pool of flames.
“Fire!” I screamed as Harley screamed next to me. “The fire extinguisher.” I had no idea why I shouted it as I ran into the kitchen. It was under the sink. My parents had always made sure we knew where they were in our house and the two guesthouses.
I pulled it out from under the sink and yelled for Harley to get out of the kitchen. For some reason, it was then I realized we were both naked.
Don’t burn your dick, Tripp.
I chanted it over and over in my head.
“God, please don’t let us die and have my parents find out we fucked in the guesthouse,” I said in reverent prayer.
“Tripp! Pull it and get that out!” Harley screamed.
Doing what she commanded, I soon had the fire out and the pan in the sink. Standing there, I dragged in one deep breath after another. My hands shook with fear.
Harley took my hand in hers.
“Hol
y shit. We almost burned the whole damn place down.”
She shook her head. “Your parents are going to kill us!”
That was when we heard sirens in the distance. Turning to look at each other, our eyes drifted down. We ran as fast as we could back to the living room where we grabbed for our clothes. Harley was dressed within seconds but was struggling to get her sneakers back on as I was trying to get my fucking jeans back on. The front door of the house burst open, and Steed and Mitchell came rushing in. Their eyes bounced from me to Harley before they landed back on me and they both started laughing their asses off.
“Oh, holy shit!” Mitchell said, bending over at the hip, his body shaking. “I fucking wish like hell the fire department had gotten here first.”
“Fuck off, you asshole,” I said as I gave another hard jerk and finally got my jeans on.
“Where is your other boot, Tripp?” Harley asked in a panicked voice.
“Right here, next to what I’m going to guess are not our last guest’s panties.”
I nearly punched Steed in the face as I grabbed Harley’s panties and pushed them into my pocket. By the time I slipped on my boots we heard the fire department walking up the porch steps.
“I sure hope it was worth it, dude, and you were able to finish,” Mitchell said.
“It was and we did, if it’s any of your business,” I said in a hushed voice.
Mitchell laughed. “Good, cause when Mom and Dad find out what you did, your ass is going to be confined to your fucking room until you graduate!”
“Tripp?”
Harley’s voice pulled me from the memory.
“Sorry, I was thinking about a case.”
A slight smile formed on her mouth. She knew what I was thinking about, and I knew she knew. “Here are some pancakes. Do you want more?”
I shook my head. “No. This is good.”
A lump formed in my throat as I thought about how many amazing memories Harley and I shared. I still had the panties from that day tucked in the back of one of my drawers. That probably made me seem like a fucking creeper, but it was one of the few things I had from Harley that I had kept. Most were tucked away in a box in my parents’ attic. But those panties and a handwritten note she had written and given to me at our high school graduation were the two things I had always kept close at hand.