Adrenaline

  My head dropped back as I felt his dick tease my entrance. “More,” I panted as he pushed in slightly.

  Digging my fingers into his shoulders and squeezing my legs tighter, I begged him to give me more.

  “I want you so much, Paislie. I’m going to come the moment I slip inside of you.”

  “Yes!” I cried out. “Please . . . I want you too.”

  My body was trembling as I anticipated what was going to happen next. Malcolm was going too slow, teasing me to the point where I wanted to scream.

  “Damn it, Malcolm. Fuck me!”

  That did it. He pushed his dick into me in one movement, causing me to whimper at being filled with him.

  “Shit. Baby, did I hurt you?”

  I shook my head and wrapped my arms around him. “Don’t move,” I whispered.

  What started out as a desperate need changed the moment he pushed inside of me.

  “Jesus, Paislie. No one makes me feel the way you do. I don’t need anything in life but this.”

  Burying my face into his neck, I let my tears fall.

  Being careful to not pull out of me, Malcolm brought me over to the sofa and gently laid me down.

  His blue eyes locked with mine, while he ran the back of his hand down the side of my cheek. “When you’re not with me I can’t breathe. It’s as if you are the oxygen I need to survive.”

  A small sob filled the air as I tried to form the words to speak. “No one has ever loved me like you have . . . I’ve never felt so alive.”

  He closed his eyes and slowly pulled out and pushed back in. The feeling was beyond any words I could ever use. My heart felt whole for the first time in my life. This was what love felt like.

  “Paislie . . . I love you.”

  “I love you,” I whispered as his lips brushed over mine.

  My back arched as he continued to make sweet love to me. I didn’t want this moment to ever end. Staying in this little cottage with Malcolm buried inside of me was my perfect heaven.

  We were in perfect harmony as my hips moved in rhythm with his. The familiar feeling built as Malcolm kissed me gently. The feeling was deliciously slow as I wrapped my legs around him and called out his name. It wasn’t long before he pushed in as deep as he could while my name flowed from his lips.

  Collapsing on top of me, Malcolm’s hot breath hit my neck. We both fought to regain our breathing as he pushed up and gazed into my eyes. “Tell me what you feel this very moment.”

  The feel of him still inside of me had me smiling. “Blissfully happy. Complete. Loved beyond belief.”

  His wide grin caused my chest to flutter. “You’re a part of me, Paislie. I’m sorry it took me so long to get out of my own head.”

  I lightly ran my finger along his jawline and over his lips as I softly said, “You were worth the wait.” We both let out a chuckle as I lifted my brow. “But, we do have a lot to catch up on.”

  “Like what?” he asked as he kissed the tip of my nose.

  I lifted my eyes as if in thought. “Kissing. We have a lot of missed kisses we need to catch up on.”

  The crooked smile had my heartbeat quickening. “Kisses got it. What else?”

  “Lots and lots of orgasms. At least a hundred.”

  The feel of his lips sliding across my neck caused me to let out a contented breath. “I bet I can think of ways to make up for those orgasms.”

  He pulled out of me and slowly moved his hand down and then stopped abruptly.

  Closing his eyes, he cursed. “Damn it, let me grab something to clean you up before this gets on their sofa.”

  My stomach dropped. I had stopped taking my birth control pills over a month ago.

  I was frozen still as Malcolm walked back over and cleaned me up. Sitting up, Malcolm gave me a concerned look. “You look white as a ghost.”

  Oh God. Why did I stop taking them? Why!

  “I . . . I got the stomach flu and stopped taking them.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  My stomach started to roll as I felt like I was going to throw up. “My birth control pills. I haven’t taken them in over a month.”

  A look of horror quickly moved over Malcolm’s face and I’m sure it matched my own look.

  My hand flew over my mouth as I jumped up. “Bathroom!” I called out as Malcolm grabbed my hand and led me to the bathroom down the hall. The moment I stepped up to the toilet, I leaned over and threw up.

  “Fuck! Does it happen that fast? W-why are you throwing up? Oh God. Oh God. Fuck, I’m such an idiot! Why didn’t I think to ask?”

  Malcolm was clearly in panic mode, as was I. Only I was throwing my guts up and chanting the same thing he was currently yelling.

  When I had nothing left to throw up and the dry heaves stopped, I took off my bra and took in a few deep breaths. Turning the shower on, I stepped inside and softly sighed in relief. The feel of the hot water hitting my body felt amazing.

  When I felt Malcolm’s hands wrap around my body, I was instantly calmed. “Whatever happens it’ll be okay.”

  I nodded my head as my tears mixed with the hot water. It’s not that I didn’t want to have a child, I did. Very much so. I just didn’t want one now. Malcolm and I were just back together and there were so many things I wanted to learn and do with him.

  “I know,” I finally said.

  He turned me around and cupped my face in his hands. “I don’t want you to think I don’t want to have kids because I do.”

  With a deep breath in, I smiled. “I do too, but not now. I think it’s important we spend time together first, but . . . if . . . I mean . . . if I—”

  Pulling me into his arms, Malcolm held me tight. “We aren’t going to sit here and do the what if’s. Let’s just wait and see.”

  “Wait and see? How can you be so calm? Your sperm could currently be making its way to one of my poor innocent eggs.”

  “Why are your eggs innocent but my sperm isn’t? They’re just doing their job.”

  I rolled my eyes. “Oh lord. They’re probably just like everything else in your world . . . fast! I bet they’ve reached the finish line already!”

  Malcolm’s chest puffed out and he flashed me a proud smile. The way the water ran down his body had my lower stomach pulling. I bit down on my lip and let my eyes travel over his body.

  “No! I don’t have a condom so stop looking at me like that.”

  His dick was already hard as I moved my hand over his shaft. His eyes lit up and soon he was pushing three fingers in me. My body was so receptive to his touch, and I wondered if it would always be this way.

  God I hope so!

  “Paislie, oh fuck I’m going to come!”

  Glancing down, I saw his cum squirting out and that pushed my own orgasm to hit me as my legs shook and I saw stars as I closed my eyes and called out his name.

  Malcolm was holding me up as he peppered my face with kisses. “That’s two orgasms down.”

  With a laugh, I wrapped my arms around him as we stood under the hot water.

  Deep in my heart I knew everything was going to be okay.

  Peering into his eyes, I winked and said, “Ninety-eight more to go!”

  THINGS FINALLY HAD CALMED DOWN and I felt like I could breathe again. I had done a few interviews about why I decided to walk away from racing. Job offers for commentating came in and I declined each of them. Now I know what Emmit went through. My knee was at about ninety percent and the pain had receded to a dull ache.

  Paislie had given her notice at work and had accepted a position at Baylor University in the Physical Therapy department. She also got her period, which caused us both to celebrate with a trip to the doctor and a new prescription for birth control pills. Then a stop at Walgreens to buy a mega-size box of condoms, a bottle of cheap wine, and hot sex in the back of my truck on the ranch under the stars rounded out the evening.

  The door opened and I glanced up to see Emmit standing there. “It’s about damn time. You??
?re late, asshole.”

  Shutting the door behind him, he laughed and reached for my hand, giving me a quick shake. “The only person here is you so I’m not late. You try moving your pregnant wife and a son who can’t sit still for five minutes from North Carolina to Texas.”

  “Stop being a pussy.”

  Emmit dropped into a seat and shook his head. “I fucking can’t wait until you have a baby.” A grin appeared on his face as he let out a dry laugh. “Is it wrong if I start going to bed at night and pray you have triplets and all girls?”

  My heart dropped as I pointed to him. “Fucker. Don’t be praying for shit like that!”

  The door to the conference room opened and Mr. and Mrs. Russell walked in along with two lawyers. Emmit and I both stood and shook hands all around. As we took a seat, Mrs. Russell gave me a sweet smile.

  “So, the two of you want to take over our family vineyard?”

  With a nod of our heads, I replied, “Yes, ma’am.”

  Mr. Russell leaned back in his chair and looked between the two of us. “Now, Malcolm, you’ve been coming to our place since you were a little boy. I remember you following me around in the barn talking my ear off about how you were going to take over my job and have a much better go at it.”

  My face was suddenly hot. “I . . . I forgot about that.”

  Mr. Russell smiled. “I haven’t. I also haven’t forgotten the countless times you walked through the vineyard because you said it helped settle your thoughts. You’re comfortable in the environment and I have no doubt you won’t take what my great granddaddy started and continue to make it thrive.”

  He turned his attention to Emmit, who promptly squirmed in his seat. “Now you, son, I don’t understand. You enjoy wine?”

  Emmit replied, “Yes, sir, very much.”

  “I heard you took a trip to Europe to tour some vineyards and spent some time in the hill country touring some newer vineyards.”

  “Yes, I did. I enjoyed the trips immensely. It was very educational.”

  Mr. Russell nodded his head and looked at his wife before turning his attention back to us. “What are your plans, boys? Are you going to turn it into a tourist trap and have people traipsing all through our family’s beloved home?

  Emmit and I both sat up straighter as I spoke first. “No, sir. Not at all. Our intentions are to keep the vineyard as it is, selling to the local wineries. We have no desire to get into the winemaking business, but we would like to expand beyond the vineyard and try new things.”

  His eyebrows rose. “Expand?”

  Clearing his throat, Emmit said, “The ranch that backs up to the vineyard is rumored to be getting ready to go on the market. Malcolm and I would like to make them an offer and look into staring an olive orchard. My wife loves to cook and is obsessed with olive oil. It would be more of her baby to get that up and running.”

  Mrs. Russell smiled. “I love that idea and think it is amazing to see your wife taking such an interest as she is.”

  Emmit beamed with pride.

  Mr. Russell lifted his hand and his lawyer slid a file over toward our lawyer.

  “Everything is as exactly as we agreed upon. The suits here have both looked it over and if you’re both ready, we are ready to sign on the dotted line.”

  Emmit and I looked at each other. Who would have imagined that two years ago we were trying to run each other off the racetrack and exchanging insults, and today we’re purchasing a vineyard and another ranch if all works out.

  Glancing over to Emmit, he nodded his head as I smiled and looked back at my old friend. “Where do we sign?”

  Walking into the kitchen, I smiled at the sight in front of me. Paislie was holding Landon as Clarisse and Adaline were both gathered around the stove cooking something.

  I couldn’t pull my eyes away from Paislie as she danced and sang while Landon laughed. I’d never experienced such an overwhelming love before as I looked adoringly at my future.

  “If I didn’t know any better, I’d say that was a look of man who sees his future right in front of him.”

  Warmth radiated throughout my body as Paislie’s eyes caught mine. When she smiled, I swear the earth shook. “I do believe you’re right on this one, Lewis.”

  With a chuckle, he slapped my back and said, “Welcome to my world, buddy.”

  Emmit headed over to the stove and wrapped Adaline up in his arms as I glanced back over to Paislie. I made my way over to her and leaned down to look into Landon’s eyes.

  “Hey, Landon. That’s my girl whose heart you’re trying to steal.”

  He laughed and looked back at Paislie. My heart was pounding so loudly I could hear it in my ears. “How was your meeting?” Paislie asked, pulling me out of my daydream of her holding our own child.

  “It went perfectly,” I replied as I took a few steps back and looked over to Emmit. Adaline knew that we were buying the vineyard, but Paislie had no idea. My biggest fear was of her and Adaline not getting along. “How was your day with Adaline and Landon?”

  Paislie’s face lit up. “Adaline taught me how to make the perfect hard-boiled egg.”

  My mouth fell as my gaze bounced between Adaline and Paislie. “Okay, I hadn’t realized you couldn’t boil an egg.”

  Emmit let out a roar of laughter. “Damn dude, that’s one of the first things you find out . . . can they cook?”

  Adaline lightly punched Emmit in the stomach as Landon struggled to get down from Paislie’s arms.

  “That’s not all we did. We actually had a wonderful time hitting all the little stores in Waco.” Paislie spoke as she put Landon down.

  Adaline turned and placed her hands on her stomach that was showing the signs of her pregnancy. “I can’t believe how much we have in common.”

  Paislie nodded her head. “We really do!”

  With a quick peek at Adaline, she gave me a wink. She knew I was worried and this was her way of letting me know all would be okay.

  “Hey, Paislie, you up for running an errand with me?”

  I could practically feel Adaline about to go crazy as she attempted to hold her excitement in.

  Paislie smiled and gave me a shrug. “Sure. Adaline, did you need me to help with anything?”

  “Nope. Emmit’s here, so he can entertain the little monster while Clarisse and I cook up a feast for dinner. I think we’ll even break out some bubbly!”

  Pinching her eyebrows together, Paislie was about to say something when I took her hand in mine and pulled her out of the kitchen.

  I concentrated on my breathing as we walked out to my truck. The last thing I wanted was for Paislie to figure out what was going on. Even with her leaving Dallas, changing jobs, and living with me, I wasn’t sure if she might think I was moving too fast.

  “Is everything okay?” she asked as I opened the truck door for her. “Did you and Emmit get into a tiff?”

  With a dry laugh, I kissed the tip of her nose and winked. “Far from it.”

  As I walked around the truck, I rehearsed what I wanted to say one more time.

  Blowing out a breath, I whispered, “God, please let me get this right for her.”

  MALCOLM WASN’T ACTING RIGHT, AND I couldn’t put my finger on what was wrong. He seemed nervous. His left leg had been bouncing since he got in the truck. I wanted desperately to ask him if his leg was bothering him or was something else wrong.

  I hadn’t asked what his meeting with Emmit was about. Just because we were living together, I still didn’t feel it was my right to be sticking my nose in his business. When Adaline told me they were moving to Texas, I about started jumping like a little girl. I loved spending time with her and Landon. The first time we met was a whirlwind of a weekend.

  “What do you mean we’re flying to North Carolina?”

  Malcolm handed me a bag and said, “Just pack for a couple of days. I need to meet with the realtor up there so I can put my house on the market. Emmit and Adaline also invited us for dinner tonight.”
>
  My eyes widened in surprise. “So, we’re just flying up there like that’s it?”

  He looked back at me like I had two heads. “Yeah. We’ll get there around noon, meet with the realtor and then head on over to Emmit’s place. I think you and Adaline will really hit it off.”

  The room felt like it was spinning. Even though Malcolm had left NASCAR, he still lived his life in the fast lane . . . all the time. The fact that he begged me to go rock climbing and I gave in only to find myself half way up a rock clinging for my life, should have been my first warning sign life was going to be very different with this man.

  “But I have work on Monday. I can’t miss work, Malcolm, I just started!”

  Again, he gave me a dazed looked. “Baby, we’ll be back Sunday night.”

  With a gruff laugh, I threw my hands up and said, “Oh, well why didn’t you say!” With a roll of my eyes, I grabbed his arm to get him to stop. “Malcolm, I’m not used to just jetting off across the country to meet someone for dinner. I’m really not that hard to impress. I’d be perfectly fine with a burger from Sonic and a movie.”

  Pulling me into his arms, Malcolm kissed me. Not just any kiss. A toe-curling kiss that quickly had me pulling his shirt from his pants and pleading with him to make love to me.

  His hand stopped mind as he pulled his lips away. “Nope. No time. The pilot’s here and ready to go.”

  Wait. What?

  “P-pilot? What’s he gonna fly?”

  Malcolm threw his bag over his shoulder and called out, “The helicopter.”

  Swallowing hard, I closed my eyes and said a prayer I’d make it through the next twenty-four hours.

  I was so lost in thought, I hadn’t even noticed Malcolm pull into the Russell’s place.

  “I need to check on something for Mr. Russell. It shouldn’t take too long.”

  With a smile, I replied, “No problem. I love this place.”

  Malcolm’s smile widened as he pushed the code for the gate and headed down the long drive. “So, how come the two families don’t really live here anymore?”

  “Mr. and Mrs. Russell bought a place in Sonoma, California, and spend most of their time there. Their son and his wife decided that grapes weren’t their thing. They moved to Maine and run a bed and breakfast up there. They were traveling back and forth until recently when they decided they wanted to make Maine their home.”