Page 30 of Waiting for You (Balsam Cliffs #3)

In the last month I’ve not spent more than the work day apart from Hunter. We rotate between the houses and his constant asking that I just move in with him is becoming more alluring each day.

But since the snow has started, moving seems completely unappealing. And I love my little tiny cabin. Even if Hunter has to duck before getting into bed.

He rolls over, wrapping his limbs around me, laying his head in my lap and I put my book on the table.

“I don’t want to go to the inn today. Can’t we just stay here all day? Wyatt doesn’t have to come,” he grumbles through the sleepy haze.

Giggling, I slide down so I can face him. “Yes, we do. It’s our first holiday together. And I get to cook with the Keaton girls. I always wanted to be a part of that when we were together. And now I get to do it. Plus, the only reason Wyatt doesn’t have to come is because he’s working.”

“Fine. But only because it’s a dream of yours.” He pouts. “But, can we make one of my dreams come true too?”

“What might that be?” I rack my brain for something we haven’t tried. Something still left unexplored.

“I have this dream where you’re on your knees. With water cascading down that beautiful face of yours as you take my cock all the way before I slam you up against the tile wall and fill you up, hoping your birth control fails us and I can watch you swell with our baby.”

I squeeze my thighs together. “You got that fantasy. Yesterday.”

“I didn’t say fantasy. I said dream. And I sure as hell dreamt about it all night. But, I still don’t have the last part. Your birth control is holding strong like fucking Fort Knox.” He pouts for a second time this morning, but runs his hand over my belly.

“Slow your roll there big fella. I haven’t even agreed to move in yet.” I raise a brow at him.

I never knew a man could want a woman pregnant so bad, but that’s all this man thinks about.

He growls. “You will. I’m wearing you down.”

I have to laugh at him, as soon as I agreed to be his he’s been zero to a hundred. “You sure are. How about that dream for the shower?” I roll to straddle him. “I might not have the breeding kink you do, but I’m up for the practice.”

His hands settle on my hips. “What the hell is a breeding kink?”

“Where it turns you on to see your girl pregnant.”

Out of nowhere he flips me onto my back, caging me in with his forearms. “I definitely have that then. It’s a good thing this place has lots of bedrooms.”

Sliding down my body he never breaks eye contact and pulls on my ankles until I’m at the edge of the bed. Leaning into me, he throws me over his shoulder and runs into the bathroom.

“God, you’re such a caveman!” I shriek.

He turns on the water and doesn’t put me down until he deems it warm enough. “Only for you, Peach. You do something to me that makes me want to be the kind of man you deserve. One who can take care of you and worship every inch of your delectable body.”

Dropping to my knees, I respond, “Not before I get to worship you.”

Gripping around the base of his cock that’s been hard since he woke up, I slide my tongue down his length before wrapping my lips around him.

“Shit, Peach.” His hands fist in my hair, pulling at my scalp.

I look up at him, smiling. I love how undone I can make him because he makes me feel the same way.

He guides my head to take his cock just how he likes, deep and tight.

I hollow out my cheeks as he pushes further into my mouth.

Today he pushes a little farther than usual and tears start to form in my eyes, but fuck if I don’t like it.

I love when he controls us, giving himself and me exactly what we need.

When he pops out of my mouth, I take a deep breath. “I need you, up here, now,” he demands.

Before I can get the chance to stand he’s pulling me up and pushing me into the tile wall. “You’re too fucking good at that, Peach.”

“I didn’t even get to finish you.”

“Trust me you’re about to.” He pulls me up, wrapping my legs around his hips.

With his hard-as-a-rock dick resting on my clit, I move my hips back and forth to give me the friction I’m desperate for. I use him to get what I want as he trails his kisses along my collar bone.

“I need more, Hunter. So much more,” I beg.

Moving us together, he places me down again. “Put your leg up on the bench.”

Listening, I open myself to him. He slips into me easily, pulling us close together and holding me to him by my waist.

“You listen so well, Peach. Your body was made for me.” He slams back and forth, hitting my wall when he comes back in.

“Hunter. Shit. God, it feels so good.” I pant out, the steam from the hot water billowing around us.

“You need to come for me. Quick. I need you with me.” Reaching between us he rubs at my clit with the pad of his thumb.

I nearly jump out of my skin at his touch, I’m so sensitive. He matches his movements so he’s hitting my clit with his thumb when his cock slams into me. The pressure of it all has the nerves tingling.

“Now. Now. Now,” I shout.

He pushes into me one time, staying tight together, his hips jerking as his orgasm spills into me. I follow behind him, gripping his shoulders, my nails digging into his slick skin.

He kisses me deeply, our tongues tangling together in the post-orgasm haze.

“I will never get enough of you in my lifetime, Peach.”

“I don’t want you to.” I mumble into his kisses.

Gently, he moves my leg off the bench, spinning me around so he can wash my hair.

This is the part I love most. When he takes care of me afterward, whether it’s cleaning me up, washing my hair, snuggling me, getting me water, or a snack, he always makes sure I’m taken care of afterward.

Cooking with the Keaton women is now my favorite holiday tradition. Willow isn’t here but she’ll be here tonight with Gunnar. They’re spending the morning and afternoon with her family.

“Oh, my God! Seriously, just put my brother out of his misery,” Emma pleads with me.

“Please. I’m so tired of hearing about it.” Violet rolls her eyes.

“You two hush. She’ll move in with him when she’s ready.” Anna smiles at me sweetly.

“I want to, but I just want my parents and Neil to go away first. I don’t want to move in with this hanging around us.”

“He’s still texting you?” Emma’s mouth hangs open mid-stir on the mashed potatoes.

“He is, but isn’t. He doesn’t actually care.

He just gets annoyed because my father is up his”—Anna shoots me a look—“butt about me coming home. I’ve talked to him, told him that I quit, that I moved home, and that I left Neil.

In true Bernard Thomas fashion, he doesn’t care.

He only wants what looks good for him and he thinks that I’m just going to do what he says. ”

Anna side steps to me, hugging me across my shoulders. “I’m so sorry, honey. You shouldn’t have to deal with that. He should be happy you’re happy.”

“Only you have unconditional happiness for your children, Anna. With my parents, there’s always conditions. And I spent so long meeting them, I’m finding it hard to break out of it.”

“I can understand that,” Violet answers quietly. “I wanted to be independent when I came to Balsam Cliffs. But then Liam was here and he made me fall in love with him.”

“That’s a special kind of love, because he was grumpy with a capital G.” Emma laughs.

“Peach, your phone is ringing.” Hunter pushes into the kitchen of the inn handing me my phone. Looking down at the caller ID, he gives me a sad smile. “I didn’t know if you’d want it, but I wanted you to make the choice.”

“Thank you.” I hit the decline button, but it rings again immediately. “I’m sorry. I have to take this.”

“Do you need me?” Hunter asks.

I nod. I don’t need him, but I want him. I want him to hear the conversation, I never want him to doubt me, or think I’m not being transparent about Neil.

He follows me out the back door into the cold. Sucking in a lungful of air and expelling it slowly, I swipe to accept his third call.

“Hello, Neil.”

“What the fuck, Evelyn. I’ve called you six times today. Where the hell are you?” I can picture his cheeks reddened and the vein on the side of his temple pulsing.

“I’m in Balsam Cliffs. With my family.”

“Wrong. Your family is in Portland. With your boyfriend and the mayor and his wife, among other important people that you’re needed for this evening.” Closing my eyes I will myself the strength for this conversation.

“I’m not coming, Neil. We’re over. And I’ve left the family business. I don’t want anything to do with Daddy’s political career. I have told both of you this numerous times.”

“Bull-fucking-shit, Evelyn. I did not invest as many years as I did into our relationship for you to fuck it up now. I’m so close to being your father’s right hand man in the dream political career we both want and you are an integral part in that for me.”

Hunter’s hand tightens on my hip and his nostrils flare wide. “No, Neil. I told you months ago we were done.”

“And I told you to go get that blue collar idiot out of your system and come back to do your duty as the daughter of Bernard Thomas. You are not going to do this to me. You better be here tonight, or else.”

“Or else what, dickwad?” Hunter’s voice booms. “I know you’re not threatening, my woman.”

“Oh that’s rich, Evelyn. Stop slumming it for a few hours and come home for what you’re needed for.” With that he hangs up.

“Fuck, Peach. Is that what you’ve been dealing with? I didn’t know he was being so cruel. I just thought he was annoying you.”

A sob gets stuck in my throat. “He has been. He’s different today. The Thanksgiving dinner is a big deal. The people coming, Daddy needs their support for his election. And Neil is obviously going with Daddy wherever he ends up. And apparently I’m the key to this plan working.”

He gently takes my phone out of my hand, turning it off and putting it in his pocket.

“We’re not doing that again, Peach.” He kisses my forehead.

“You don’t deserve to be spoken to that way.

” Cupping my cheek, he tilts my face to his.

“I will handle this from here on out. Go back to having a good time with Mom and the girls, okay?”

“Okay.” I chew nervously on my bottom lip. I don’t want Hunter going up against my dad, but I also am so tired of dealing with him. Clearly, I don’t have a backbone. And what I say doesn’t matter to him. Maybe he’ll listen to Hunter or Rome. Yeah, right.

He kisses me, showing me how I deserve to be loved.

“I love you. Don’t let them get you down.

Today is going to be perfect. And I can’t wait to eat what you’ve made.

Even more, I can’t wait to have my dessert later.

I might have saved a little whipped cream at the house.

” He winks before slapping my ass and pulling the door open to the kitchen before I can respond.

Anna, Emma, and Violet all scurry back to their areas, simultaneously all three of them are stirring something.

“I know you all heard.” I announce.

“Heard what? Mom, did you hear anything?” Emma feigns innocence.

“Just Violet’s beautiful singing.” Anna lies through her teeth.

“There’s no music playing.” I point out.

Violet laughs. “That’s why I was singing, silly.”

“Not only are you all lying to me, you’re all terrible at it.” I chuckle at their attempt.

“Ugh fine. We were totally listening.” Violet caves.

Anna and Emma call out at the same time, “Violet!”

She just shrugs. “I control the sugar. No one will be mad at me for too long.”

The kitchen doors swing open and my brother comes in.

“Eve. I had no idea Dad was being that much of an ass. I mean I know him, but damn that’s next level. Hunter and I have it under control for you.”

“What does that mean?” I ask him, almost nervous for the answer.

“Just that it’s handled. Block Dad, and block Neil. There’s nothing else they need to say to you until you want to talk to them.” He doesn’t wait for me to answer, just turns and leaves.

“He’s bossy as hell.” I remark.

“Yeah, it’s kind of hot.” Emma stares at the still swinging kitchen door after my brother.

“Emma Keaton!” Anna admonishes her daughter.

Laughing Emma corrects her, “It’s definitely Emma Thomas now, Mom.”

The tension is broken and we’re able to go back to the joking we had before. Violet even truly starts singing, only she is accompanied by her phone. Goodbye Earl blares through the kitchen and the four of us scream the lyrics at the top of our lungs.

It’s just the therapy I needed.