Page 28

27

August

I woke up to a text from Brad, the contractor I hired to do the renovations at my house.

Contractor Brad:

Not great news to report today. We ran into a delay with the wall sconces the designer ordered. They won’t be here for another two days, which is later than anticipated. The rest of construction is nearly complete.

Me:

I appreciate the update, Brad. I think we can manage a two-day detour. I’d like to wait until she can see the full thing come together.

Sounds good, Boss. Safe travels.

Thank you! Keep me posted on the progress.

I don’t blame them for not having the library done. Honestly, I’m impressed they’ve been able to get what I asked them to do done this quickly. If I were Brad, I would’ve blocked my number and stopped taking my additional requests after a while.

Between the color changes, my request to hire a designer to furnish the space, and my last minute request to add a custom built-in high-low desk so Dakota can have the walking pad she’s been eyeing, it feels like I’ve requested something new every other day. But I just want it to be perfect for her.

Feeling Dakota begin to stir from where she’s sleeping on my chest, I set my phone back on the side table.

“Mmm. Good morning,” she mumbles, her voice laced with sleep.

“Morning, gorgeous. How’d you sleep?”

“Like the dead, considering you fucked me in the ocean, only to go caveman with your need to mark me twice more when we got back to our room,” she says in a haughty tone.

That makes me chuckle. “I can’t help it. I’m in love and obsessed with showing you just how much I worship you.”

Rolling to her side, she pitches herself up on her elbow. She yawns as she asks, “What time did you say we have to be at the airport?”

Catching her contagious yawn, I let out my own yawny reply, “Change of plans, Austen. We’re not going home tonight. I’ve got a little surprise for you, if you’re up for it?” I ask as she reaches over and begins running her fingers through my unruly mane.

“Where are we going?” she questions as I inch closer to her and sigh, relaxing into her touch that I’ve grown accustomed to these past few weeks.

“I can’t tell you, that would ruin the fun of it. You’ll find out which country when we get to the airport.”

Mostly I can’t tell her, because I’ve still got to figure it out and plan the logistics.

“Country?” she squeals.

“I had a dream last night, and I’ve decided we must cross it off my list of fantasies.”

I’m not lying. I had a dream last night that I took her somewhere special. Did the dream conclude with a happy ending? Of course.

“Your fantasy includes taking me to a different country? Other than Italy and America?”

Kissing a line up her torso, I press a deep kiss to her lips. Sometime after Venice we ditched our clothes at night, and I have appreciated the easy access sleeping naked allows me each morning. It’s a hard decision to make though, whether I’m going to start my day with her coming from my mouth or cock. So I quickly learned not to choose and have her come on both.

“It does,” I answer between kisses.

Where? I’m not exactly sure yet. Maybe England?

Shifting her on top of me, I rock my hips against hers as she sits back so I can watch my cock glide against her.

“You feel so good,” she mewls.

“I can think of a way to make you feel even better,” I practically growl. “Turn around and sit the fuck down on my face while you suck my cock like a good girl.”

Dakota doesn’t immediately comply, instead she gives me a few more teasing strokes of my cock against her drenched core. Biting her lip, she finally replies, “I’ll suffocate you.”

“Eating your sweet pussy would be the absolute best way to go,” I say truthfully.

When she finally turns and wraps her lips around my cock, situating herself above me, I yank her hips down impatiently and groan against her clit when I finally get a taste of her. She moans around my length, making my balls tighten with uncontained lust. I need this woman in every possible way I can have her.

Fighting back the urge to thrust up into her mouth, I focus on trying to make her come as quickly as possible. I refuse to come anywhere but her pussy this morning, and whatever she’s doing with her mouth and teeth right now, feels good enough to alter my brain chemistry. Just as she clenches around my fingers and I feel her fall apart above me, I lift her off of me, spinning her around.

“Grab the headboard, Austen,” I command.

As she does, I spread her cheeks and coat my length in her arousal. Lining myself up behind her, I work my way inside her inch by aching inch.

When my abs are flush to her delectable ass, I give it a light smack.

“Oh, fuck,” she moans.

“You were made for me,” I growl possessively into her ear as I drag my fingers down her side before finding her clit.

Desperate to give her a second release, I sit back and slam my hips forward. Once, twice, and on the third time she cries out, “Yes, Carson! Right there!”

“Play with your clit for me,” I tell her.

“Only if you grab my hips and fuck me harder, my lord.”

My cock swells inside her when she calls me that. Doing as she asked, I firmly grip her hips and piston my hips into her from behind. I push down on her back, and when she arches her lower back up, I nearly pass out with how much deeper the change of position gets me. With each thrust my balls slap against her at the same time as her hand frantically works her clit.

“I’m going to come,” she whimpers, and thank fuck, because I’m right there too.

“Be my good girl and come, Austen. Soak my cock.”

After a few weeks, you’d think I’d be used to the intensity at which I come when I’m inside of her, but I don’t think my body will ever acclimate to the need I have for this woman.

“I love you. Oh, god, I love you so much,” she chants and it’s my undoing. My spine tingles at the same time my abs tighten, and I come inside of her with a ferocity I’ve never felt before. Dakota shatters around me, her pussy choking my cock has it spasming inside her and I swear to god I think I could come again.

“Goddammit, I love you more than anything,” I croak against her spine. Completely spent, I rest my forehead between her shoulder blades, placing open mouth kisses along each of her vertebrae.

I reluctantly pull out of her, and she rolls onto her back, arms splayed across the bed, hair disheveled, and she’s never looked so beautifully mine .

“No. Shut up!” Dakota exclaims as she realizes where we’ve just arrived. “Oh my god, you’re joking. Stop it.”

“Welcome to the Jane Austen House Museum, my lady,” I say as I open the door and hold my hand out for her to take, bowing before her.

She takes my hand and gets out of the rental car. “You’ve spoiled me so, my lord.”

Pretending to be a gentleman that I most certainly have not been around her lately, I offer her my arm and escort her through the gardens toward the front door of the museum.

When we get inside, I urge Dakota to take a seat at Jane’s writing desk. I wouldn’t be a good boyfriend if I didn’t fill my camera roll with dozens of photos of her sitting at the desk.

“My favorite author sitting in her favorite author’s writing spot,” I say out loud as I finish sending off my favorite photo to Mack to print out for the home library reveal when Dakota wraps her arm around my waist and squeezes me tight. I hurriedly put my phone in my pocket and pray like hell she didn’t see the text exchange.

Dakota gets lost in the details of the house for the next hour, and I watch her take it in with rapt attention. I could watch her do the most mundane things for the rest of my life and never get bored.

I’m so lost in her, I don’t realize how much time has past. This isn’t the first time this has happened—she easily captures my attention, especially when her smile reaches her eyes, making her nose scrunch up in the most adorable way.

“This is so amazing. But now that we’re here, I’m dying to know how this was one of your fantasies,” she whispers into my ear as she balances on her tiptoes, placing a peck on my cheek.

Slipping my hand into the back pocket of her jeans, I pull her closer and continue to walk the path that leads us to the Greyfriar, where we plan to grab lunch. I’m sickeningly in love with my girl, and I want everyone around us to know it.

“Anything I do with you is my fantasy. Truthfully, I just wanted to see your reaction to visiting this place. And the smile that lit up your face for the past half hour is everything I could’ve imagined and more.”

That earns me a chuckle, and my chest puffs with pride.

I’m obsessed with Dakota’s smile, but I crave the sound of her laugh each day. Even better, I love earning her laughter. How crazy would she think I am if I recorded her laughing so I could listen to it on the road when I’m missing her? She’d probably think I’m demented, but I’m oddly okay with it.

I’ve just got the front door open to the tavern when my phone rings in my pocket.

“Why don’t you get that while I use the restroom?” Dakota suggests.

“Sounds good,” I say in reply before seeing it’s Griff who’s calling. Swiping to accept, I answer, “G, what’s good, buddy?”

“Hey, Carse. How’s the detour going?”

“Really good, we just got done touring the Jane Austen House Museum. We’re flying home tomorrow morning.”

“Good to hear man. Look, that’s kind of why I’m calling.” He pauses on the line before continuing, “I was talking to Brad today because he’s going to do some work at our place. Anyway, he said there was a guy hanging around the outside of your house last night when he was heading out for the night. He said he didn’t get a good look at the guy, but that when he caught him scoping out the place, the guy took off. Do you want me to get in contact with my buddies from Boston and see if they can install an upgraded security system at your place? I think it wouldn’t be a bad idea for us to get one installed here too.”

My stomach churns as unease slithers its way up my spine. “These paparazzi have gotten out of hand. I’m so fucking sick of the media.” That’s been a huge bonus of this trip—no one knows me as the NHL’s rookie golden boy. I take a deep breath trying to ease my frustration. “If you don’t mind, I think it’d be a good idea to have someone do an upgrade.”

“Consider it done. Do you think it’s the same photographer that crashed into you and Cadence?” he questions.

“I don’t know, but I’d like to have more cameras in place around the perimeter of the house so we can catch these scumbags.”

“I’ll give them a call now. Maybe the girls should stay together at our house once the season starts until they figure this out,” Griffin suggests.

“Yeah, or even with my parents. I don’t want to take any chances,” I agree.

“Alright, well sorry to be the bearer of bad news. Safe travels, we’ll see you guys once you get back.”

“Thanks, G. Love ya.”

He chuckles over the line. “Did you tell Dakota that yet?”

“I did. She actually told me first.” A huge smile takes over my face, pressing my cheek against the phone.

“I can hear you smiling through the phone you simp.”

“Takes one to know one, fucker.”

“Touché. I’m really happy for you, Carse.”

“Thanks, man. We’ll see you.”

I hang up and try to shake the feelings of unease so I don’t ruin our last day together, but I can’t help the sinking feeling taking hold of me. I’ll never jeopardize Dakota’s safety or happiness, and part of that is making sure she feels secure—in our relationship and in what I hope will soon become our home.