Page 33 of Deception & Daylight (Oak Ridge #3)

She rolls her eyes, dramatically popping a grape into her mouth, followed by an exaggerated moan. I groan. “I can’t wait to turn your ass red.”

“Promises. Promises.”

Once we’re done with our meal, I top off our wine glasses and move us further i nto the truck bed, propping my back against a row of pillows I’ve lined up along the back of the cab.

When Mags goes to sit beside me, I spread my legs and gesture for her to sit between them instead, wrapping my arms around her waist as she leans into my chest. Everything about having her in my arms just feels right; like nothing else matters — not the past, not what comes next — only this.

“I don’t think I can ever go back to Toronto,” she whispers.

”Do you miss it?” Please say no.

“I thought it was my home, but now I’m not so sure.

Even before…” She hesitates, but she doesn’t have to say what she means by ‘before’.

I cup her chin, turning her face so I can kiss her forehead, my lips lingering for just a moment until she turns her gaze back to the lake.

“After Paige left, things shifted. Then that night happened and I couldn’t get away fast enough.

Even if I can’t remember what happened, I know .

If I go back, it might trigger those memories and I don’t want them.

If that makes me a coward, then so be it. ”

“You’re not a coward. You’re so fucking strong. Just because you don’t want to remember the horrible thing that happened to you doesn’t make you weak. I’m glad you can’t remember. I don’t want that for you.”

“But what if it could help them catch the man who did it?”

“It’s not worth your suffering.”

“You don't think that’s selfish?”

“We all have to make difficult choices to protect our peace. If you want to go back there, I’ll support you.

If you want to send someone else to pack up your shit and bring it back here so you never have to step foot in the city again, I’ll support that, too.

But it’s not selfish to want to protect yourself.

You are not responsible for what that vile piece of shit does. ”

Silence descends as my words linger in the air between us, leaving only the faint chirping of cricket s beneath the intrusive buzzing of the emerging cicadas.

I stare out at the lake, watching the water lap against the shore while her fingers absently trace the scar along my forearm.

Her touch is gentle, almost reverent. “Where’s your dad now?

” Her voice is barely above a whisper, but the abrupt conversation shift is enough to momentarily knock me off my axis.

“Honestly? I don’t know. Last I heard, he was living it up somewhere outside of Nashville with his third wife, who’s young enough to be his daughter. I haven’t spoken to him in years. I suspect Matt has contact with him, though.”

“What happened between you two? Why do you hate each other so much?”

Exhaling a shuddering breath, I close my eyes and squeeze her to me, willing the contact to soothe my ragged nerves. I never want to outright lie to her, but there’s no way I can tell her everything, so I give her as close to the truth as I can manage without saying too much.

“After dad left, I took responsibility for Matt. I helped him graduate from high school, moved him into his college dorm, and made sure he had everything he needed. All while I was learning how to run the business without my dad. When Matty dropped out and moved back to Oak Ridge to work with me, he moved into my house. I thought we were getting closer as brothers, but he started behaving erratically. He was drinking too much, treating women like objects, and I didn’t agree with what he was doing, so I gave him an ultimatum — he could fess up to his bullshit and do better, or leave.

I had hoped he would do the right thing, but he chose the latter and our relationship never recovered. ”

She listens intently as I explain, her fingers absently tracing my scar, and when I finally finish, I search her face, but I don’t find the judgement I expect to see there.

“How does Lucy feel about it?” Of course she ’d worry about my mom.

They have a connection I don’t think either of them ever expected.

I’d even go so far as to say Maggie’s becoming the daughter my mom never had.

“It was hard for her at first. Still is, sometimes. But she knows it’s beyond saving at this point.

I didn’t tell her everything that happened between us, but she knows Matty is too much like our father for me to want to reconnect with him.

” Sometimes I wonder if I could forgive him, but then I remember the countless women he’s hurt in my name, and I think about the woman in my arms and I know I can’t undo the damage he’s caused.

But I can and will do my best to earn her forgiveness.

As if reading my mind, she says, “Forgiveness needs to be earned, and you are not obligated to offer it if he refuses to acknowledge his mistakes and make the necessary changes to be a better person. From what I’ve seen, he hasn’t earned your forgiveness.”

“And have I earned yours?”

“We’re getting there.” She spins in my hold, draping her legs across my lap as her arms wind around my neck, fingers toying with the hair at my nape.

“I can think of a few other ways to earn your forgiveness.”

“Is that so?” She gives me a cheeky grin, and the weight hanging over us instantly dissipates.

“Mmm hmm.” Hopping off the tailgate, I motion for her to slide to the edge, then lift her into my arms.

Her melodic laughter rings out as I run towards the trail down the side of the embankment. “What are you doing?”

“You’ll see.” Once we've reached the shoreline, I deposit her in the sand, making quick work of her clothes until she’s standing before me in nothing but a set of white lacy underwear.

Reaching around her back, I unclasp her bra and let it fall to the ground, watching her for any signs of discomfort before I hook my fingers into her panties and pull them down, too.

When she’s completely naked, I tug off my own clothes, tossing them into the pile alongside hers.

She crosses her arms over her body, trying to hide herself from view. “Miles! What if someone sees us?” Her words are barely above a whisper.

“This beach belongs to the inn, and you’re the only guest right now. Unless my mom is magically going to find a way to get down the embankment in her wheelchair, I think we’re safe.”

Interlocking our fingers, I sprint towards the water, tugging her along with me. The unrestrained smile on her face nearly knocks me on my ass, and the fact that I put it there does something to me I can’t even begin to describe.

I stop when the water reaches my ankles, pull her flush against my body and kiss her thoroughly, devouring her giggles.

Her palms land flat on my chest as the water crashes around us.

Placing my hands under her ass, I lift her into my arms, her legs instinctively wrapping around my body as I walk us further into the cool water.

Her pussy rubs against my already hard cock, and I have to hold back from plunging inside her before she’s ready.

She curses as the tide rises above her tits, and I catch a glimpse of her perfectly pebbled nipples when it dips below her sternum.

Letting temptation get the better of me, I latch onto her breast, flicking my tongue over the hard peak.

She moans as pleasure ripples through her body, her hands clinging to me like I might drop her.

Our height difference keeps her head above water for now, but if I were to let her go, she’d drop like a stone; not that I would ever let that happen.

I release her nipple, bringing her lips to mine in a filthy kiss; tongues tangling, teeth nipping.

She tilts her head back in the water, arms outstretched, as she lets go of me and floats backwards.

I snag her by the ankle and nip at her toe.

She squea ls and rights herself, dipping below the surface momentarily before popping back up laughing.

I stalk towards her with purpose and suddenly a massive splash hits me in the face.

I shake the water out of my hair as she dashes towards the shore, her gorgeous body on full display.

Catching her around the waist before she can reach the beach, I sink down to my knees and bring her with me.

“Did you really think you could get away with that?”

“Worth a shot,” she teases, nipping at my earlobe as she grinds herself on my cock.

My lips trail down her neck and along her collarbone as she continues to swivel her hips against me, moaning when she finds the right rhythm.

Reaching between us, she lines me up where she wants me, then, with a shaky breath, sinks onto my length inch by inch.

She pauses once she’s fully seated, and I decide I’m done letting her take control.

I grip her hair in my fist, tugging slightly to expose the column of her neck.

My teeth sink into her pulse point, hard enough to leave a mark but not hard enough to break skin.

I buck up into her, but the water is making it difficult to get as deep as I want to.

With my cock still fully seated inside her, I stand and rush to the shore.

“Grab our clothes,” I say, bending down so she can reach them.

Once she has them bundled in her arms, I rush up the embankment towards the truck — I really fucking wish I’d thought to bring towels.

When I deposit her on the tailgate, she scurries back against the pillows as I crawl over her body, laying kiss after kiss along every inch of exposed skin.

I pause over a heart-shaped birthmark near her right breast, committing every part of this perfect woman to memory.

Growing impatient, Mags tugs on my hair.

“Stop teasing me,” she says through gritted teeth.