Page 16 of Backed By You (Montgomery Brothers of Montana #3)

Beau

It’s just after one in the morning when I catch a ride from Tanner back to my property.

To Callie.

I smell like Cuban cigars and whiskey, but overall, it was a good night. I’m not drunk— I don’t think —and I certainly wasn’t going to be driving myself home after the shots the guys were doling out an hour ago.

I stumble up the steps of her greenhouse of a front porch and dig in my pocket for my keys. It takes me a good three minutes to find them—in my front pocket, of course—and I realize I may be a bit tipsier than I thought.

The lock clicks quietly as I turn the key.

I ease the door open, trying to keep the hinges from squeaking.

The cabin is dark except for a small night light in the kitchen that casts just enough glow for me to see where I’m going.

I slip off my boots by the door, leaving them beside Callie’s sneakers.

Something about seeing our shoes side by side makes my chest tighten.

Must be the whiskey…

I need to piss like a racehorse after all those drinks, which means navigating through her bedroom to the bathroom. Great planning on my part to build a cabin with one bathroom only accessible through the bedroom. At the time, it made perfect sense—given this was meant to be my cabin when home.

Now, it’s an exercise in stealth.

The door to her bedroom is cracked open.

I push it gently, wincing at the soft creak it makes.

Moonlight streams through the window, illuminating her form under the covers.

Hulk is stretched out on his dog bed, dragged to the end of Callie’s bed.

His eyes gleam in the darkness, tracking my movement.

He doesn’t bark or growl at me, though. Progress .

Callie is curled on her side, one arm tucked under her pillow, the other draped across where I should be. Her shoulder-length, honey-blonde hair is fanned out across the pillow. Her lips slightly parted. I stop for a moment, watching her breathe.

When did this woman start to matter so much to me?

I try to tiptoe across the worn hardwood floor, but a board creaks loudly under my weight. Fuck . She stirs, turning over slightly. I freeze, but she doesn’t wake fully. Taking my chance, I slip into the bathroom as quietly as possible.

After using the bathroom and splashing some cold water on my face, I emerge to find her blinking sleepily in my direction.

“Beau?” Her voice is husky with sleep. “What time is it?”

“Late,” I whisper. “Go back to sleep.”

She props herself up on one elbow, hair falling over her shoulder. “You’re home.”

Something about the way she says ‘home’ makes my stomach flip. I swallow hard, wishing I’d brushed my teeth before coming out. “Yeah, I’m home.”

“Did you have fun?” She’s more awake now, eyes adjusting to the darkness.

“It was all right.” I shrug, standing a few feet away from the bed. “The guys were in rare form tonight.”

She smiles, and even in the dim light, it does something to me. “Is that why you smell like a distillery?”

I chuckle. “That obvious, huh?” I run a hand through my hair, feeling strangely self-conscious.

“Just a little.” She pulls herself to a sitting position, the covers falling to her waist. She’s wearing one of her loose, silky tank tops, a slim strap slipping off one shoulder. “Are you drunk, Beau?”

“Not drunk,” I clarify, though the room does have a slight tilt to it. “Relaxed.”

“Mmhm.” She doesn’t sound convinced. “You know what I think?”

“What’s that?”

“I think you’re trying very hard to look sober right now,” she says, amusement in her voice rather than judgment.

I can’t help but smile. “Maybe a little.”

“Don’t let me stop you.” She gestures toward the open bedroom door, but as I start to move, she reaches out and catches my wrist. “Wait.”

I stop, looking down at her hand on my skin. Cool to the touch, yet it ignites a fire deep inside me. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” She tugs gently. “Will you…come here a second?”

I hesitate, then sit on the edge of the bed at her request. Hulk gives a soft snort from the foot of the bed, but doesn’t move. Clearly, he’s the one judging me tonight.

“I was worried,” she says quietly. “You didn’t text me back.”

Guilt gnaws at me. I meant to, but the night got away from me. “I’m sorry. Things got rowdy and Stan was threatening to take away phones. I forgot.”

She’s quiet for a moment. Her eyes, soft in the moonlight, search my face. “Did you at least win some money?”

I chuckle. “Actually, yeah. About three hundred. If you think I’m a shit liar, you should’ve seen Duke. He quit after the second round.”

She smiles softly. “I’m glad you had fun.”

Her fingers are still around my wrist, her thumb absently stroking my pulse point. Does she know what she’s doing to me? Can she feel my heart racing sitting beside her?

Something about the way she’s looking at me makes everything slow down. Disappear. Refocus. Fuckin’ hell, she’s beautiful . “Callie…”

“You look good,” she says out of fucking nowhere . Her gaze drops to my mouth. My cock thickens at the mere glance. “All rough and…you know.”

I have no idea what she’s talking about, but I can’t stop staring at her. “Yeah?”

The air between us shifts, charged with whatever energy she’s putting out. And whatever the hell it is, I’m drawn to it. A moth to her flame. Only her .

She nods, then sits up on her knees in an attempt to match my height beside the bed. Her hands dance up and down my forearms. Her touch is light, but it sends heat racing down my spine at the thought of her hands elsewhere.

“Yeah,” she breathes.

“I should shower,” I say, not moving an inch. “I smell like—”

“I don’t mind,” she cuts me off, her voice dropping lower. Seductive. “Not right now.”

I may have been out of the dating game for many years now, and fuck …

It’s been a long time since I’ve been with a woman.

My heart hammers against my ribs as she leans closer. I can smell the faint floral of her shampoo, see the flecks of gold in her eyes. Gorgeous. You have no idea how bad I want you, sweetheart .

“Callie,” I say again, my voice rough from all the whiskey and smoke. I need to get my shit together. Figure out what’s going through her head. Because if we do this… “What are we doing?”

She doesn’t answer. She closes the distance between us, urging me to bend toward her as her lips meet mine hesitantly at first, then with growing need. My hands find her waist, pulling her flush against me as our kiss deepens. The soft gasp she makes sends heat racing through me.

Her arms circle my neck and her fingers thread through my hair, nails lightly scraping my scalp.

I groan. Her lips are warm and pliant under mine.

My tongue traces the seam of her lips and she opens for me.

Our tongues meet in a slow, sensual dance.

The whiskey on my breath mingles with her sweetness, creating an intoxicating flavor that’s entirely us.

Whiskey and honey .

I’ve spent a second tasting her and I’m fucking addicted.

When we finally break apart, she’s breathing hard, her cheeks flushed. “I’ve wanted to do that for a while now,” she admits, her fingertips dancing over the back of my neck. “I got tired of waiting for you to make the first move.”

My thumb traces the curve of her jaw, tilting her gaze to mine. I search her eyes, desperate to know. “You want me, sweetheart?” I ask. Low, tentative, like her answer might break me.

And it does.

At her shallow nod, I growl.

My cock hard and straining in my jeans, I kiss her again, slower this time, savoring the way she melts against me. My hand slides up her back, feeling the warmth of her skin under her thin top.

Her hands come to rest on my shoulders, then slide down my chest until she’s gliding her fingers beneath my shirt. Her palms flat against my chest. “I’ve been thinking about you a lot lately,” she says softly, her nails gliding over my pecs.

“Callie,” I groan. I grip her hips firmly. Ready to hold her in place permanently, or end this all together. “Are you sure about this?”

She looks up at me through thick, knee-weakening lashes, and the sight nearly undoes me.

“Yes.”

Goddammit .

I capture her mouth with mine. The kiss hungrier, deeper. Her body responds as she presses against me, her hands grasping at my shoulders for purchase as I lean over her.

“Lie down,” I growl against her lips.

I gently lay her back onto the bed. Her hair fans over the pillow, and moonlight catches the flush spreading across her cheeks and down her neck. Her breath quickens.

I prowl over her on the bed, my knee resting between her thighs.

I press my lips to her collarbone, neck, jaw, before trailing down her sternum.

I take my time, and with every breath on her skin, she arches into me.

I push her shirt up slowly, revealing every inch of honey-soft skin.

She watches me, her breath coming faster as my fingers graze over the peaks of her breasts.

I bend to kiss between them, over her heart.

“Beau,” she whispers, her hands threading through my hair.

“Let me take care of you,” I tell her, my lips moving to the soft curve of her breast.

She arches her back as I lick and suck at one pert nipple. She whimpers when I pull away to kiss down her stomach. My rough palms slide along her sides, memorizing every dip, every curve. When I reach the waistband of her shorts, I look up at her, seeking permission.

She lifts her hips and I slowly slide them down her legs. No panties . No bra .

She knew what she wanted tonight.

The sight of her, laid out before me in nothing but the dim light of the moon, steals my breath. “Fucking beautiful,” I groan.

My cock strains painfully in my jeans as I position myself between her legs and gently part her thighs. The glisten of her pretty pink pussy has my cock weeping.

Her breathing grows ragged, and when I finally taste her, her gasp sends a surge of desire through me. The taste of her—the smell of her. I bury my face between her thighs and groan with every lap of my tongue through her folds.

Her hips lift from the bed as my attention—and tongue—aims for her throbbing clit. Wet and needy. When she starts to squirm, I lock my arms around her thighs and pin her between my mouth and the mattress. She whimpers and gasps, moving against my mouth. Grinding against my face.

“Beau,” she moans, her hand darting out to fist my hair. The action spurs me on to unravel her completely.

I flatten my tongue over her clit, groaning as I flick and swirl over her sopping wet pussy. The tension in her body builds and she trembles. She’s close . “Don’t stop,” she pleads. “Please, don’t stop. Oh, Beau…”

I keep my pace, increasing the pressure ever so slightly that it causes her to break. She screams. Arching off the bed with a cry of my name as she comes beneath my tongue. Fucking perfect .

I stay with her through the aftershocks, gentling my touch as her breathing slowly steadies. When I finally move up her body, she pulls me down to her, kissing me deeply, tasting herself on my lips.

“Beau,” she starts, her eyes twinkling. She laughs.

I brush her hair from her forehead, smiling down at her. “You’re incredible.”

“Me?” Her hands skim over my shoulders. “I think you’re the incredible one.”

“Glad you think so.” I grin, slowly backing down her body for round two.

I wasn’t lying when I said the taste of her was addictive.

Her playful smile turns to a gasp as I push her thighs upward, pinning them to her chest. Her pussy and ass lift to meet my watering mouth. I need to feel her come against my tongue again.

I fucking crave it.

Something permanent shifts inside me.

And I make her come and come and come …