Page 24 of Saddled in Secrets (Cloverleaf Meadows #2)

S hock and relief slam into me simultaneously the instant Bianca’s mouth meets mine. I’m stunned into a brief stupor. My mind splits in a hundred directions before realizing this is actually happening.

After that, instinct floods in and I cinch an arm around her waist. A whimper breezes from her and she wiggles closer. My other hand lifts to cradle her jaw, fingers spreading to touch more of her. So damn soft.

I part my lips over hers on a rumbled inhale. She doesn’t hesitate to sweep her tongue out to glide along mine. Satisfaction and unbridled lust saturate my tastebuds as a reward for my patience. It’s intoxicating.

Molten desire pumps into my veins, making me feverish and frantic.

I’m already hard for her. Pressure throbs into my dick, demanding release.

Bianca mewls while bucking her hips forward.

My palm kneads her ass and pulls to eliminate any remaining space.

We’re pressed flush without a breath between us.

I sip on her exhale while she swallows my desperation for more.

A shudder rolls through me when she nibbles on my lip.

That spurs me to suck on her tongue, flicking the tip like I plan to do to her clit.

The throaty noises she releases encourage me to repeat the motions.

In response, her nails drag along my scalp and grasp onto the short strands.

I tremble from the electric sensation, which has her smiling against my mouth.

Her happiness nurtures mine. The constant chill in my bones begins to thaw just having her in my hold. It might look like just a kiss, but this is where our forever starts. I’m more than ready to make her dreams come true. All I can beg for in return is that she makes an honest man outta me.

My gentle grip on her face allows me to control our pace. She sags into me and opens wider. Heat engulfs me as I bask in her surrender. Fucking finally.

Except she only agreed to consider it. That won’t do. I cling to her harder as if she’ll disappear or change her mind. To prove the opposite, Bianca moans and grinds against my cock shamelessly.

But then a shrill whistle rips into our frenzy. “Hit it and don’t quit it, girl.”

Our surroundings return in a flash. The fire in my veins sizzles like I stepped into a cold shower.

Bianca notices I’ve gone rigid and not just in my dick.

Her lips slide from mine in a farewell that hurts on a soul-crushing level.

I’d rather lie on a bed of nails than quit touching her, but we’re making a scene. The silence in this bar is deafening.

She peeks up at me from under lowed lashes. “Was that too fast?”

I bark out a laugh and she blanches. “It was perfect, Princess. Just like you. But I’m not gonna maul you in a place called Dirty Dicks.”

“Seems more than appropriate.”

“Nobody gets to see your pleasure but me.”

We have an audience, but I don’t see them. Bianca fills my vision with her swollen lips and flushed skin. I drag my thumb along the curve of her mouth, traveling up to caress the red stain. When she nuzzles into me, I almost dive right back in.

But then I notice several men leering at what’s mine. Awareness crawls up my neck in violent flames.

Bianca gasps. “You’re blushing again.”

“I forgot where we are.”

Her lids droop to hood her eyes. “That good, huh?”

“Better.” I kiss the tip of her nose.

Another loud moan slips from her sinful lips. “Just take my panties off already.”

The fire burns hotter in my face and I dip down, pressing our foreheads together. “Gonna get me arrested, baby girl.”

There’s an unmistakable sparkle in her fern-colored eyes as she gazes at me. “Can’t have that.”

“No, I’ve got plans for you.”

Color rises in her cheeks to match mine.

In a swift maneuver that feels practiced, I thread our fingers together and latch on tight.

Spud is quick to abandon his sprawled-out position on the floor.

Our dog reads our body language as if we’ve been a cohesive unit for years rather than hours.

His protective stance aims for the exit, ready to guide us out for a hasty retreat.

My free hand grabs his leash from Bianca, which gives her the freedom to give our audience a parting wave.

“Thanks for your help. There’s nothing quite like a supportive community.” She blows a kiss to the grabby women from earlier.

The blonde one lifts her beer. “Stick around for a drink.”

“We won’t bite.” The brunette pats the empty stool beside her. “Not until he asks nicely.”

Bianca bristles and scoots in front of me. “Maybe next time.”

I duck to hide a grin, stamping a kiss onto her crown. Lilac perfumes her silky hair. A deep inhale calms me and I squeeze her palm in mine. “C’mon, we’re going home.”

Her sigh is dramatic, which pairs well with her flouncy stride. “He’s gonna shag me rotten. Don’t wait up.”

A chorus of mixed messages from the patrons follow us to the curb. Two want us to stay, but the rest are a colorful variety of good riddance. Can’t say I blame them. We tossed a wrench in their predictable afternoon.

I shake my head while boosting Bianca into the truck.

Spud has springs on his paws, hopping in without trying.

She holds her arms up while he gets comfortable, resting his head on her lap.

That leaves his butt pointing at the driver’s side—most definitely on purpose. Those two are already thick as thieves.

The brazen instigator is all smiles as I round the hood and get settled behind the wheel. Her joy is infectious, rushing my movements to get gone. Fern roars to life to announce our departure and I swear there’s a collective exhale from Dirty Dicks.

As I’m pulling onto the road, I glance over at my princess. “Satisfied?”

“Not yet, but I’m gonna be”—she glances at my phone docked on the dash—“in seventeen minutes.”

“No pressure, huh?” My foot instinctively stomps on the gas. I don’t need the map to know where we’re going, but it’s an ingrained habit to avoid surprises.

“Based on what I’ve seen, you have no problems satisfying a woman.” Her gaze roves over me like I’m about to be her favorite meal.

My cock throbs, already halfway hard and fully uncomfortable. “Only care about pleasing you.”

“Which makes it even more likely.” She takes a break from petting Spud to rub along my arm.

Desire floods into my veins in a rush that makes me dizzy. The pavement ahead seems to stretch on indefinitely. At this rate, I’ll never survive the short journey. “Just for the record, I was talking about our dog.”

“Our dog,” Bianca echoes. “See? It sounds natural.”

And it does. I didn’t even realize I’d already referred to him as ours earlier.

“Does that mean you’re done chasing a dead end?”

She nods, resuming the languid strokes to Spud’s belly. “He’s stuck with us.”

My heart beats wildly. That sounds an awful lot like a commitment from her. I glance over to catch a serene grin lifting her lips.

“You’re happy, Princess?”

The sigh she expels confirms as much. “Mhmm, Stalker. I’m about to get dicked really hard.”

A dry chuckle loosens the pressure in my chest. “That dirty mouth of yours is something else.”

“If you’re a good boy, I’ll let you fuck it.”

I clench my eyes shut, just for a brief moment. It doesn’t pause the erotic onslaught of her lowering to her knees in front of me. “Dammit, Bianca.”

She giggles and bites her nail. “Is it something I said?”

“Are you actually giving me a chance or is this just about sex?”

“Both?” When I scowl, she whines and thumps her head against the seat.

“Excuse me for being horny. I’m in a constant state of arousal just thinking about you splitting me in half with that monster in your pants.

The anticipation is edging me to the brink.

I’m tempted to climb onto your lap right now and scratch the itch.

” She pauses for a breath, inhaling deep.

“But you’re worthy of much more than a quick fuck.

All those considerate gestures? Porn for my heart.

You’ve managed to turn me on emotionally.

I didn’t even know that was a thing until you waltzed in and romanced me.

The thought you put into every detail is very attractive. Am I making sense?”

An unfamiliar sense of calm settles over me. Is this peace? Whatever it is comprehends her meaning and fills me with comfort. I think she’s going to choose me. Willingly.

Fuck, now my pulse is galloping in the opposite direction of tranquility.

Bianca clears her throat. “So, yeahhhh. I’m not planning to use you for your pierced penis.”

Sweat slicks my palms and I can’t get a grip on the wheel. “What are you planning?”

“I’m considering what our future might hold.” Her body turns to face me. “I’ll agree to date you on a trial period.”

Which is more than I deserve, but less than the end goal. We’ll get there. It’s a big step for her.

“You’ve never dated anyone before. At least not seriously,” I rasp.

“Ohhhhh, look who wants to rehash the past. Are we trading secrets?”

“Eventually,” I mutter.

Her head bobs. “That’s first date material. Gonna take me to dinner at Dirty Dicks?”

“We can do better than that.” My mind whirls with possibilities as the road stretches on. “Does this mean you forgive me?”

She snorts. “For what?”

As if I’m going to list off my crimes against her. “The wrong things.”

“Mostly. I’m still pissed you stole my phone.”

“Brody told—”

In a freakishly fast motion, Bianca reaches over to smush a finger against my lips.

“We’ve already been over this. Remember when I called you a twat waffle and swore to never speak to you again?

Pretty sure you don’t need a repeat, but I’ll say it again.

I don’t care that my brother told you to do it.

You’re allowed to say no. There’s always a choice. Put me first.”

My gulp is thick with guilt. “I do.”

The flint in her stare calls me a liar. “What if he asks you to do something like that again?”

This is a hard limit for her. It’s not negotiable. If I want her to choose me, I need to do the same.

“I won’t do it.”

She studies me closely. “Even if it costs you the job?”

“I can always get another one of those. There’s only one of you.”

Her posture relaxes. “Really good answer.”

“Even if Brody hates me for defying him, I won’t betray you again. Unless your safety is at risk. You have my word, Princess.”

Bianca’s brother might’ve saved my life, but that life isn’t worth living if she’s not at my side.

“And you have my permission to protect me by any means necessary. I might even let you tie me up.” She winks.

“Fuck,” I grunt and push Fern for more speed.

Her fingers trace the tribal patterns on my forearm. “Don’t worry about Brody. He hates everyone. If you’re doing right by me, he won’t exile you. That’s why he hired you in the first place. Besides, we’re on the run and don’t need to seek shelter at the farmstead manor.”

Before I can reply, an alert appears on my phone. There’s movement detected at the driveway entrance. Perfect timing. Our house is just around this bend.

“Do you see that, Spud?” Bianca’s voice is sweeter than her lilac perfume. “Daddy is grinning like the stars just aligned. I wonder what’s waiting for us at home.”