Page 41 of Deception & Daylight (Oak Ridge #3)

When the song comes to an end, we pull apart and head back to the bar.

Mags opts for a bottle of sparkling water and I get a hard cider before settling beside her on one of the stools.

When she excuses herself to the bathroom, my mom slides into her place.

“That girl’s a special one,” she says, pinning me with her all-knowing stare.

“She is,” I agree. “Thanks for helping me set this up.”

“Anytime. Just find a way to keep her, Miles. She’s not the kind of woman you want to let slip through your fingers.”

I chuckle knowing just how much my mom has fallen for Maggie’s charm. She’d adopt her right now if she could. “Don’t I know it.” Not a moment too soon, Maggie returns and my mom pulls her in for a hug before saying her goodbyes, leaving me to contemplate how the hell I’m going to make her stay.

The first ch ords of ‘Man I feel like a woman’ ring out and the women scream “Let’s Go Girls” as they drag each other onto the dance floor.

My eyes are fixed on the lavender daydream in the middle of their circle, arms extended over her head as she whips her hair back and forth before throwing herself into Paige’s arms.

“You’re a goner.” Liam’s shoulder bumps mine as he hands me a beer.

I accept the proffered drink with a silent thanks before taking a long pull, the cool liquid a stark contrast to the overwhelming heat thrumming through my veins. “What makes you say that?”

He nods towards the dance floor where Maggie’s dissolving into a fit of giggles, her shoes kicked off, nowhere to be seen. “It’s the way you look at her.”

I know better than to ask, but I’m a glutton for punishment. “How do I look at her?”

“Like she’s the air you breathe. Like you can’t exist without her. Like you love her.”

I huff out a breath. “What do you know about love?”

“More than you’d think,” he admits, but before I can question him further, he disappears behind the bar, leaving me alone with that dangerous thought and the uncontrollable urge to pull Maggie into my arms.

Without another moment of hesitation, I rush onto the dance floor, snagging Mags by her hips and spinning her into my embrace.

Her melodic laughter shoots straight through my chest. The song changes to a ballad and she slips her hands into my back pockets, her head tilted back, something almost tender in her gaze. “Hi,” she says breathlessly.

“Hi yourself,” I respond, kissing the tip of her nose. She smiles softly, resting her cheek on my chest, and I wonder if she can feel how fast my heart is beating for her. Like I love her.

“What do y ou say we get outta here?” I whisper as I cling to her body like she’s my last hope of salvation. My arms are wrapped tightly around her waist from behind as we stand off to the side, still gently swaying to the music.

Despite her earlier protests, we’ve spent the better part of an hour wrapped up in each other, dancing and cuddling.

With a contented sigh, I feel her nod against me, and before she can protest, I have her up in my arms, her giggles echoing around the bar as I carry her through the back door.

She waves at everyone as we pass, and Liam calls out, “I told you so” just before the door shuts behind us.

“What was he talking about?” she asks.

In an act of self-preservation, I decide to play dumb. “No idea. Do you want to come back to my place tonight?” I ask, gently placing her in the passenger seat of my truck.

I consciously curbed my alcohol intake tonight so I could get her home safely. I had intended to take her back to the inn, but the thought of finally having her in my space feels much more pressing. Her gaze softens as she leans in and presses a fleeting kiss to my lips. “I’d love that.”

When I pull up to my house, I don’t waste any time lifting her out of her seat, carrying her to my front door as she wiggles to get out of my hold.

I lay a stinging slap on her ass and she shrieks as I fumble with my keys in the lock.

A single light by the door illuminates the massive wraparound porch, casting long shadows from the recen tly installed porch swing, a mirror image of the one at the inn.

I always knew she’d be here with me someday, and I wanted to be ready.

Giving up on unlocking the door one handed in the dark, I reluctantly place her back on her feet.

The massive oak door opens to a spacious foyer with vaulted ceilings and exposed beams. The grand staircase to the left is original to the house, leading up to the second-floor bedrooms. To the right is the open concept living space and kitchen, complete with an oversized cream sectional separating the living room from the state-of-the-art kitchen that is woefully underutilized by my unskilled hands.

“Holy shit. This place is incredible. I thought the work you did at the inn was amazing, but this — Miles, you’re really talented.” I didn’t know I could blush, but Maggie’s praise has my cheeks heating.

“Thanks. Want a tour?”

“Is this your way of getting me into your bed?” She spins to face me, her arms wrapping around my neck as her hands absentmindedly twist in my hair. “Because I hate to break it to you, babe — that was always the plan.”

My eyes narrow and I let out a feral sounding growl. “Say it again.”

She cranes her neck, brow creased.“What?”

“You called me babe.” I lean in close, my lips brushing her cheek as I speak.

“And?”

“And you hate nicknames. You only use them for people who mean something to you. So it stands to reason I might mean something to you.” I grip her hips, walking her backwards until she hits the wall, then lean one elbow above her head, gripping her chin with two fingers as I force her to meet my gaze.

One hand trails down my chest and she smirks. “You might be growing on me a little.”

In response, I thrust forward, letting her feel just how much I want her.

“Only a little?” Her eyes don’t leave mine as her hand trails down my stomach, not stopping until she’s palming my erection.

She’s playing with fire. I wanted to take things slow tonight, but my restraint is hanging on by a thread. “Careful, Wildcat.”

“Or what?” She bites her bottom lip and arches into me.

The feel of her pressed up against me is my undoing.

I’m on her in an instant. Threading my fingers through her hair, I tug, baring her neck to kiss and nip along all of her favorite spots, eliciting moans and whimpers that make my dick impossibly hard.

Before she can protest, I bend and grip her ass, lifting her to wrap her legs around my waist. She giggles as I head for the stairs.

Something about having her in my space, her sounds bouncing off the vaulted ceilings filling my home with her unrestrained laughter feels like the final puzzle piece sliding into place.

Suddenly, I can’t wait to have her. Unceremoniously setting her down at the bottom of the stairs, I tug at her dress to reveal…

nothing. She’s not wearing anything under her fucking dress.

I stare at her, slack jawed, as her expression turns sinister.

“See something you like?” She asks, echoing something I’ve said in the past.

“You know I do, baby.” She reaches between us, unfastening my jeans before tugging them down my thighs just enough to free my cock from my boxer briefs. When she’s satisfied, she places a delicate hand on my chest and pushes me down until I’m seated on the fifth step from the top.

I watch in awe as she stands between my spread thighs then turns her back to me. Gripping the railing with one hand to steady herself, she uses the other to guide my cock to her already soaked entrance, giving me a view of her gorgeous ass as she lowers herself down my shaft.

“Fuck, baby girl. You feel so good wrapped around my cock. Ride me. I’m all yours.” She has no idea just how true that statement is.

With one arm banded around her waist, I intertwine our fingers on the railing as she lifts up and sinks back down over and over.

Her breaths are coming in pants, and I can feel her pussy clenching around me as she gets closer to her release.

“I’ve got you. Touch your clit. I wanna feel you come with me. ”

She immediately follows my command, her fingers parting in a v-shape around where I’m buried inside her, and the brush of her fingers has my cock pulsing with need.

It only takes a few strokes before her thighs are convulsing and she’s squeezing the life out of me, drawing out my orgasm seconds later.

She releases a strangled sigh, resting her head back against my chest, as I hold her to me, still softening inside of her. “You’re going to be the death of me,” I admit.

“And what a way to go,” she says breathlessly.

Mags

“Morning.” Miles steps onto the porch in nothing but a pair of low slung grey sweatpants, and despite the fact that my body is deliciously sore, I’m suddenly ready for another round.

He hands me a mug of tea, casually leaning down to place a chaste kiss on my lips before taking a seat beside me on the porch swing.

“Thanks,” I say, instinctively draping my legs over his lap.

The sun is barely peeking over the trees, casting the sky in a golden glow, but I’m too distracted by the easy affection we seem to have fallen into.

I could wake up like this every morning and be completely content, a nd that thought is almost paralyzing. “Wait. Is this lavender?”

“Of course. Did I get it wrong?”

I bring the mug of steaming liquid to my lips and inhale the familiar scent. “No, it’s right.” Exactly right. He knows my favorite tea. Did he keep this on hand? Or did he buy this specifically for me?

“What are you thinking about?”