Page 36 of Moonshine and Magnolias (Just Add Peaches #1)

Wendy held Rob’s penis in one hand, so close to her wet heat, and balanced against his shoulder with the other. He throbbed in her grasp, hard, rigid, and he bucked his hips, gently. As if she needed the reminder of where it went.

Instead, she raised herself up until he stopped moving.

When he lay still, she slammed down on him, taking him all in one immediate, hard movement. The pain of the swift entry was quickly replaced by the pleasure of friction. He groaned beneath her.

One of his hands moved toward her breast but she grabbed it, then twined her fingers through his, and pulled his arms around her back. He could break her hold if he wanted, but he was willing to do it her way.

It put her breasts close to his mouth, but she wasn’t going to let him taste her. In fact, she wasn’t going to let him do anything. Whatever medication he had been taking for his issue was working just fine, and she was going to make the most of it.

She rocked back and forth, raising and lowering herself and building the friction and her pleasure. Rob’s breathing got faster as her pace increased and his hips followed her movements. Like they were tuned together. Like he knew exactly how to move with her .

The tight coil low in her belly grew and she needed more freedom of movement, so she released Rob’s hands.

And he broke.

Hot, primal energy passed between them and he feasted on her throat and her neck with a raw, aching need.

She shimmied against him and moaned, letting him take what he wanted.

She balanced against his chest, her fingers digging into his shoulders while her body drove her movements, lights swirling behind her eyes as her frantic pace increased until it moved solely by instinct, finally exploding in a sensation of light and release.

She was on the grass within seconds with Rob still between her legs, pushing into her to satisfy his own driving need.

She locked her ankles around his hips and wrapped her arms around him, making him work with limited movements.

The position also drove him deeper into her, and her second orgasm built.

He jerked inside her, the delicious friction setting her off again so close to the first time. He pressed his forehead against hers, his chest heaving with spent breath. She dragged his head down so she could kiss him. Hard, demanding, without surrender.

“Apology accepted,” he said

***

The buzzing of Wendy’s cell phone destroyed the cocoon of happiness made up of Rob’s arms, her thick blanket, and nothing else. “Nooooooooo,” she said.

The only thing that had existed for her for the past ten hours was within the four walls of her room. She and Rob had left the orchard and snuck upstairs, where she let him finish what she had stopped the night before. Twenty-four hours made a hell of a difference.

The ringing stopped, only to start again a moment later.

“Can you see who it is?” Rob asked.

Wendy grumbled and reached for her nightstand. The area code and exchange fit in with Steward Hotels corporate location. “I don’t want to answer this. ”

Because she knew it wouldn’t feel good, and therefore went against her new philosophy.

“So don’t.” Rob nuzzled her neck and threw his leg over hers. The curly sprigs of his hair tickled her skin.

The ringing continued, and her work ethic could only be pushed so far. “Hello.”

“Wendy, hi. It’s Beth in Human Resources. Sorry to call so early, but I wanted you to be able to think things over before tomorrow. I didn’t know how busy your day was.”

“Hi, Beth. It’s fine.” Every nerve went on alert and she folded her arm across the blanket on her chest to smother the sudden chill. Rob propped himself on his elbow, his hazel eyes darkening with concern.

“I’ve read your letter and went over my notes and your contract. Emotionally, I’m on your side.”

It wouldn’t work.

“But you. You’ve inherited a big bundle of uncertainty along with that inn. Going strictly by what’s in your contract, Tina or any executive officer could fire you for cause. You have a non-compete agreement for any type of boarding establishment.”

Coldness seeped under Wendy’s skin. She could lose her relationship with Fountenoy Hall. The one constant in her life, with Grandma at the heart of it. “You’re kidding me.”

Steward’s had been her present and future since she graduated college. She couldn’t risk getting fired. But Fountenoy Hall was her blood. Abandoning it would kill her.

And being killed did not feel good.

“I wish I were,” Beth said.

Rob shifted his arm under her head and pulled her against his solid, naked warmth. Her solitary instincts rallied against this simple gesture of support. She was so used to dealing with every crisis by herself that the physical comfort was almost a distraction.

She ignored the internal battle and nestled into him, drawing on the strength of his presence.

The air swirled around her with sudden realization.

She wasn’t alone anymore. Even after Rob finished his work and left, she’d cling to what he had brought into her life.

“Beth, my grandmother just died. I can’t make a decision like this under pressure.

If I don’t get the time I need, I’ll be second-guessing myself for the rest of my life. ”

“That’s perfect.” Beth drew in a breath.

“I mean, I’m sorry. About your grandmother.

” Wendy heard her tapping on a keyboard and waited for Beth to do what she needed.

“Okay. Even though there aren’t any provisions in your contract for this, I can hold them off with argument for compassionate noncompliance.

You’ve always been an exemplary employee.

It won’t buy you much time, but it’s something.

Mr. Steward will agree. He’s not a heartless man. ”

Rob’s hand rubbed over her hip. The motion soothed her. “How long do I have?”

“Thirty days. I can try to make it more.”

The solution hit Wendy so clearly it was a wonder she hadn’t seen it before. If she was going to give her cousin full faith like she had asked for, then Wendy needed to be all in, too. She scrambled her feet to push up and sat against the headboard, drawing her knees against her chest. “No.”

Beth made a noise of relief. “Good. Getting more than that would have been difficult.”

Wendy drew a quick, ragged breath. And leapt. “I’m turning in my notice, Beth. I’m going to stay at the Hall.” Rob’s hand tightened around hers. Or maybe she had grabbed his. It didn’t matter.

The HR director squeaked. “You’re what? You can’t! You… you… I’m going to need to tell Mr. Steward. Please tell me you’re open to hearing a counter offer.”

The room tilted a bit, so Wendy closed her eyes against the dizziness. “Do I need to send an email or something?”

“No, you need to wait. I promise I can get you more time. ”

“I appreciate everything you’ve done, but this is it. I need to see where this takes me.” Was that about Rob or the Hall? “So, an email?”

“If you’re sure. Yes.” Beth cleared her throat. “Send it to Tina and copy me.”

“Thanks, Beth. I’ll be in touch.” She hung up her phone, but stared at the small screen while she assessed her body’s reaction. No twitching, no tingles or tightness in her chest. Slight elevated heart rate, but that wasn’t surprising. “Huh.”

She had known. In her gut, her soul. The job for which she had worked so hard, had sacrificed her time and holidays, had immersed herself to where it was her life, and she flat-out quit. Not because it was practical, but because it was right and it felt good.

She was home.

“You just quit your job.”

“Yes.” Reality suddenly ripped away the relief and she jumped out of the bed. Fanned her face with her hands. “Oh, fiddlesticks. I just quit my job.” What the hell had she been thinking? She had taken the known and the secure and the practical and let the door hit them on the ass.

Rob stood with her in his glorious nakedness, his hands tracing over her shoulders. “Take a breath.”

She nodded, grasping his wrists and keeping her eyes trained on his face. Inhaled. Exhaled. The whispers in her mind settled. “I’m glad you’re here.”

“I’m glad I’m here, too.” He kissed her, the heat from his lips going straight to her core.

Her nerve endings cried for more. “And naked.”

His hand found her breast. “Always a benefit.”

A knock on the door sounded and Rob rubbed his thumb against her nipple. Wendy covered her mouth with her hand.

“Wendy?” Brandi’s voice called out.

Wendy put her finger to her lips and Rob nodded. She reached for her phone on the bed and shifted it to mute.

Brandi knocked again. “She’s not in her room, Aunt Eulalee. I don’t want to head out until I have a chance to talk to her. I’ll try texting.”

Her footsteps retreated, and a few seconds later, Wendy’s screen lit up. Hey, call me. Where are you?

She put the phone face-down on the nightstand and aligned it with the corner. “I really should get ready. We have the librarian’s retirement party today.”

Rob kissed her bare shoulder. “If you have to.”

Oh, what the hell. “I don’t think a few more minutes will matter all that much.”

And that definitely felt good.