Page 24 of That One Night (The Heartbreak Brothers Next Generation #4)

Chapter

Twenty

It was a few minutes after eight when Hendrix wandered out to his front porch with his second bottle of beer. The sun was slowly sliding to the horizon, casting an orange glow over the fields.

He sat on the swing hanging with rusty chains from the rafters, and looked over at the farmhouse opposite, his eyes full of speculation. Her mom’s car was gone. And he was a little too pleased about that.

He hadn’t messaged her since this morning. Things had been too hectic at the farm, and he also didn’t want to come on too strong. For both their sakes. He wasn’t used to this aching need, this constant feeling of wanting to touch her.

If he thought on it too long it was going to make him panic. So he threw himself into work instead.

The front door to her cottage opened and she stepped out, wearing a pair of cut-off jeans and a lace top that made her look both sweet and sinful all at the same time.

He could see the tattoo on her ankle, all healed now, and a smile ghosted his lips at the memory of their trip to the tattoo parlor.

She had a pile of papers in her arms, holding them against her chest like a student running between classes.

“Hey,” she called out. “Room on that swing for two?”

He tipped his head to the side. “Always.”

She smiled and walked over, her hips swaying to a rhythm that matched his heartbeat. She opened the gate to his front yard and blew Frank a kiss before heading up the steps to the porch.

Her hair was tied back in a low ponytail, but the heat made some strands stick to her neck. She sat down beside him and he was so damn aware of her presence he had to curl his hand into a fist not to touch her.

“Where’s your mom gone?” he asked her.

“Book club.”

His mouth twitched. That was a good thing. His own mom went to book club – hell, half the town did – and he knew it always went long. Not because they were talking about the book, but because somebody always brought punch that hit harder than liquor, and book talk soon changed to local gossip.

He turned to look at her. Up close he could see a little trail of freckles along the bridge of her nose. She wasn’t wearing makeup, but her skin still glowed. “How was your day?” he asked her.

“Long.” She ran her tongue over her dry lips. “I spent a few hours going through these,” she told him.

That’s when he realized what the papers were. He hadn’t even noticed they were gone from his kitchen table. That’s what no sleep and a long day of work did to you.

“You took them?”

She looked uneasy, like she thought she’d done something wrong. “I just thought I’d go through them. Since you’re so busy and all.” She lifted the top few sheets up. “These are applications for grants. I’ve completed them for you. They just need your signature and I can mail them off.”

He shifted in his seat. “You’re not my secretary, Emery.”

“I know.” She gave him the most tentative of smiles. “I did it more for me than you. Seeing that paperwork every time I go into your house is going to give me hives.”

He knew she was lying. She’d done it for him.

“There are a couple of bills that you need to pay here,” she said, pointing at a few papers with red sticky notes on them. “And the rest can probably be thrown in the trash.”

His jaw felt tight. He didn’t like that she’d done this. He didn’t like her knowing that he couldn’t cope with this stuff. It made him feel small. Like the kid he once was, wishing he could learn as easily as his brothers. Hating that he was letting people down.

Acting up, because if he was gonna be called an idiot, he might as well earn the damn title.

“Emery…”

“It’s just paperwork,” she murmured. “You’ve done so much for me. My list. Last night…”

“You did a lot for me last night too,” he reminded her. The memory of her lips on his body made him shift on the swing. She took a long breath, her pink lips parted, like she could read his mind.

“You wanna come here?” he asked. Because he didn’t want to talk about paperwork. Or about anything, really. He wanted to touch her. Wanted to feel her.

He’d always preferred action to talk.

Maybe she felt the same, because the words were barely out of his mouth before she was clambering on top of his lap.

Her bare legs on either side of his denim clad thighs, her chest pressed against his.

For a moment all he could feel was wonder.

And the pulse of need that was more insistent, throbbing as she looked at him, her wide eyes locked on his.

He ran his hands down her sides, feeling the warmth of her skin through the thin fabric of her tank. Assessing his options, he tried to find the resolve to take this slow even though all he wanted to do was throw her over his shoulders and carry her to his bed.

Everything about her was beautiful. When was the last time anybody had done anything as sweet as going through paperwork for him? He had no idea. All he knew was he needed to show her his appreciation.

“Aren’t you going to kiss me?” she murmured. Impatience was written all over her face. He liked that way too much. She was needy and he was the man who was ready to fulfil that need.

Before he could answer she pulled her tank over her head, exposing her upper body to the evening air. A smile pulled at his lips at her sudden bravery.

“So pretty,” he murmured, kissing her throat. His hands spanned her bare waist, moving her closer. He kissed a trail to the swell of her chest where her bra pushed her sweet breasts up. She let out a gasp and his smile widened.

He palmed her breasts, feeling the hardness of her nipples against the rough palm of his hands. Then he dipped his thumb inside the lace cups, seeking them out, teasing them, pinching them until Emery whimpered.

Pushing her bra down to expose them, he dipped his mouth, capturing a nipple between his lips. He licked, the taste of her like nectar against his tongue. His ministrations made her breath hitch as he sucked her in, then he scraped his teeth against the hard nub until she started to rock her hips.

“Oh.” She tipped her head back as he moved to her other breast, her hands moving to his hair, her fingers threading through the strands. She kept his mouth pressed against her, like she could never get enough.

Yeah, well, neither could he. He lifted his head, kissing her softly. “Shall we go inside?” he murmured. Mostly because yes, she was turned on right now, but she was also a good girl at heart. He didn’t want her to feel exposed out here, even if they were all alone.

Her mouth opened, and she pulled her swollen bottom lip between her teeth. “We could stay here…” she trailed off, her cheeks pinking up.

And fuck if that didn’t make him even more excited. His good girl wanted to be bad.

“What if Frank comes out?” he asked, teasing her now, because Frank had disappeared behind the shed, like he was bored with them. But the rush of endorphins was making him feel heady. Like he wanted to make her laugh and make love to her at the same time.

“Fuck Frank.”

The way she said it made him laugh out loud.

“I’m serious, Hendrix. Stop teasing. I’m desperate here. You’re all I’ve been able to think about all day.”

His eyes caught hers and he felt a little thud in his chest. Like something had broken and been fixed at the same time.

Reaching behind her, he unfastened her bra, pulling it off her slim arms, and throwing it to the deck.

“This is the second time I’ve seen you half naked outside like this,” he told her. “The last time kept me warm for weeks.”

Her cheeks pinked up at the memory of him seeing her post skinny dipping. “The way you looked at me kept me warm for weeks, too.”

He didn’t think he could get any harder. But the thought of her touching herself, thinking of him, was more potent than any aphrodisiac. He let out a groan, kissing her again, his tongue teasing hers as he reached for the waistband of her shorts.

“You first,” she whispered, tugging at his t-shirt. He lifted his arms, making it easier for her to tug the fabric over his head, throwing it on the porch next to her bra.

And then she pressed her bare chest against his and it felt like heaven. Soft skin against hard. His breath felt ragged as she leaned in to kiss his jaw, his cheek, the corner of his lips.

There was such a sweet danger to being half naked with this woman on the porch of his cottage. Sure, he wasn’t expecting any visitors and neither was she, but it still felt like they were exposed.

He was so damn aware that if they were seen like this it would be worse for her than for him. It was an annoying fact that the world judged women and lauded men. But he knew that if it came to that he’d throw himself in the way. He’d do anything to protect this woman.

Even if she didn’t need his protection.

She leaned back, her hands tracing the thick muscles of his shoulders, before trailing down to his chest. Her fingers brushed against his nipples and he gasped.

“You like that?” she whispered.

“I like everything you do.” And wasn’t that the truth? He would never get bored of this woman. He had to grit his teeth as she leaned in to kiss them, her tongue flickering at his like she was feeling him out.

“Fuck…” Every touch of her sent a shot of pleasure down to his dick. He slid his thumb under her chin, tipping her head up until their eyes caught. “If you keep doing that I’m gonna come.”

“From me kissing your nipples?” Her eyes narrowed like she found that a turn on.

“From you being here with me.” He brushed her lips with his again. “From being mine.”

But he’d got it all wrong, he realized. It was so much more than that. He was hers. And that was the truth of it. All she had to do was say his name and he was gone.

“Then take what’s yours,” she told him, reaching down to unbutton her shorts.

The band gaped open, revealing the taut skin of her stomach and the scalloped edge of her lace panties.

She slid off of him, kicking off her sneakers before she pulled her shorts down her toned legs, kicking them away too.

And there she was, this piece of art, standing in front of him, wearing the same kind of tiny panties he still had in his cottage.

“Do you know how beautiful you are?” he asked her.

A smile played at her lips. “Tell me.”

But he preferred to show her instead. He pulled her back to his lap, kissing her, caressing her soft skin. His fingers played at her nipples, making her gasp. Then he slid his hands down, his fingers touching the lace of her panties.

“I need you,” she whispered. Her hand reached for him, her fingers unbuttoning his jeans before sliding inside his boxers. Her eyes widened when she felt how rock hard he was for her.

He had been all day. Every time he thought about her.

Then she pulled him out, the warm air surrounding him as she kissed him back, her body so close to his he could feel her wetness.

“Emery…”

“I want you inside of me,” she told him, her mouth soft.

“Birth control?”

“I’m covered.” Her eyes met his. “And I had a test last month. I’m clean.”

“Me too.”

She smiled softly, her hand still circling him. She pulled those pretty lace panties to the side, like she couldn’t wait long enough to pull them down. Then her hand lined him up, his thickness brushing against her most intimate place.

As soon as she slid down on him, it felt like a billion fireworks exploding in his brain.

She let out a gasp at the sudden intrusion.

“Okay?” He held her in his arms, brushing his lips against hers.

“Yes.” She locked her own arms around his neck, letting him slide his hands to her hips and move her down. He took it slowly, filling her up, feeling her pulse around him as she got used to his size.

“You’re inside of me,” she whispered, a smile pulling at her lips.

“I know.” The feeling was overwhelming.

“I didn’t.. I haven’t…” She shook her head. “I didn’t know it could feel like this.”

“Like what?” He had to grit his teeth as he attempted to stay still. Every cell of his body wanted to fuck like he’d never fucked before. It was exquisite torture, staying still, waiting for her to speak.

She inhaled, like she was short of breath. “So intimate. Like perfection.”

This woman was going to kill him, sweet word by sweet word. He groaned softly, burying his face in the dip between her neck and her shoulder, breathing in the scent of her skin.

He curled his fingers around her hips, lifting her up until he was almost out of her, then slid her back down, making them both groan. She was so tight and so perfect. His mouth sought hers, kissing her softly as he started to find a rhythm.

“So good,” she gasped.

“I know.”

“Don’t stop.”

“Not sure I can.”

She laughed softly against him, the shaking of her body causing him to groan in pleasure. And then he put one hand between them, finding the aching center of her nerves, rolling his finger against her until her eyes were wide with pleasure.

“Oh my god,” she whispered as their rhythm increased. “I can’t believe I’m so close already.”

“Do it. Come for me.” He could feel it. The tightening around his cock. She started to tremble on his lap, her head dropping against his shoulder, her breath warm on his skin.

And then she stilled, a strangled gasp escaping her mouth, her body tightening so hard around him that he couldn’t move her even if he wanted to.

“Oh….” She bit down on his shoulder, the sudden pain so close to pleasure that he felt himself thicken even more inside of her. And then she was coming, clinging onto him, calling out his name as he held her tightly.

He followed her seconds later, a low, aching groan rumbling through his chest as he spilled inside of her. And that’s where they stayed, her straddling him, his arms around her, holding her tight, their lips moving together like they couldn’t bear to stop.

It wasn’t until Frank let out a bray that rational thought rushed back into his brain.

Emery started to giggle and fuck if that didn’t send some aftershocks through him. His eyes caught hers and he grinned.

“I’ve never had sex outside before,” she murmured.

For some reason that made him feel ten feet tall.

“Well we can have sex inside, in about half an hour,” he told her.

Just as soon as he remembered how to breathe again.