Page 30 of Wildest Forever (Lovelock Bay #3)
“Ski slopes?” my brows furrow for a moment.
“Apparently so,” he nods heavily.
“Okay, so that's the winter months sorted... then what?”
“Well, they'll turn it into just a tourist holiday destination.”
I nod, swallowing the bile.
“How big are we talking?”
I watch the corners of his lips lift and a playfulness flames in his eyes, my cheeks turn in an instant.
“Wife...” one of his brows lift, the corner of his lip digging into his cheek and causing a boyish dimple to present itself.
Pressing my hands to my face, I try and hide the fire that creeps onto my cheeks and I feel the flames burn against my palms.
“I didn't mean that...” and he chuckles softly before I feel his fingers wrap around my wrist, softly pulling my hands away from my face and his eyes meet mine.
“I know you didn't,” he whispers against my lips, and I find myself tilting my head back, my lips parting slightly as he consumes me whole.
Silence crackles between us and I feel the panic pinch the back of my neck before my skin breaks out in cold goosebumps, smothering me in an instant.
“Morgan...” he trails off as his fingers slip from my wrists, his arms around my waist as he pulls me towards him.
“Pacey,” I whisper, my throat dry and I am desperate to swallow to coat it, my heart thrashing in my chest, blood pumping in my ears.
He leans in a little closer, lips slanting just above mine and I find myself placing my hands on his chest and pushing him away softly, but I drop my head as I look at my feet.
His fingers grip my chin as he lifts my face so I have no other option to look at him.
“I have never been kissed,” I admit, and I feel a blush creep over the entirety of my body.
His eyes widen ever so slightly, and if I wasn't being forced to look at him I would have missed it.
“Never?” he whispers, repeating my words and I shake my head, his fingers still gripping my chin.
“Never,” I repeat the word, and my heart quickens in my chest.
“Baby,” there's that name again that does things to me I can't even begin to explain.
I roll my lips, eyes still on him and his smile only grows.
“I get to be your first...” he whispers, and I find myself nodding.
He nods softly with me. “Not like this though,” he leans in but places his lips to my forehead and lingers there for a moment more, his hands are now cupping my face and I find myself closing my eyes and enjoying having his lips on my skin.
He steps back, then finally drops his hand from my face.
“Hungry?” my voice squeaks, and I hear the crack.
“Famished,” his eyes hood slightly before he is walking towards me, and I turn as he follows me down the stairs.
“What is your plan then?” I try and change the subject and ignore the way that the heat blossoms between my thighs.
“For your first kiss?” he says with a cocky smirk on his face as he leans against the kitchen door frame, his eyes dancing up and down my body and I slap my hand against the top of his arm before I am walking towards the refrigerator, sliding out steaks.
“For the mole... for the ski slopes... for everything?” I swallow. “Because I feel like the longer this goes on, the harder it is going to be to fight this battle between the suits.”
“I have no idea yet. Me, Riggs and Tripp are going to sit down with Conrad, Buck, Marty and Austin to see if we can come up with anything, but also to make up something to see if it gets back to the guys who are trying to fuck us over,” and I hum in agreement as I grab some fresh vegetables and produce that I need for dinner.
“Do you think that will work?” I ask, my voice a little higher.
“I hope so, if not I will have to line them all up and shoot them,” he replies deadpan and I turn quickly on my heel, dizziness causing my head to spin for just a moment before my horrified look settles on him.
He holds his hands up, lips tugging into a smirk. “I’m joking...” he trails off and I am not sure if I believe him or not.
“There must be a better way,” I say softly, slowly turning to face the work surface again but not before trailing my eyes across my shoulder and giving him the once over.
“Yeah... torture...” he wiggles his brows, and I find myself sighing heavily at his response.
“I'm joking,” he says again but I am getting the impression he isn't.
“Okay, so being serious now...” I trail off when I hear the sound of his footsteps echoing behind me.
“Yes wife?” his front is to my back, and I find my breath hitching as his fingers curl around my hip.
“What if there isn't a mole?” I whisper, slicing into the vegetables.
“But there is...” his breath is on the back of my neck causing my skin to pebble.
“How certain are you?” I ignore the way my skin is burning under his soft touch.
“Very,” his grip tightens, and my chest expands as I swallow down a mouthful of air, willing it to relieve the burning that is slowly torturing me inside out.
“Okay,” I whisper, my knife trembling as I hover it over the peppers when his hand places over mine and I freeze.
“Why are you so interested?” he whispers, and I find myself turning slightly, my eyes cast down to where his hand is.
“Just so I know if you're going to be bringing danger to my doorstep.”
“Never,” he brushes his lips against the back of my neck ever so gently, like a feather tracing across my skin and my breath catches at the back of my throat.
“I would never do that to you,” he reassures me just as he presses my hand down gently so the knife is now on the work surface before he spins me around, so I have no other option than to look at him.
I give him a nod because I know deep down, he wouldn't, but it still brings worry to me.
“I just wish this would all go away,” I whisper, dropping my eyes for a moment.
“There is no need to wish, it will go away, I promise.”
His fingers are on my chin as he lifts me to look at him, his eyes volleying between mine.
“I am just trying to be open with you, you heard part of my conversation, I don't want to keep you in the dark. You're my wife, this will affect you too, so I want to tell you what my plans are.”
I nibble the inside of my lip.
“But I promise you Morgan, this will all be over with soon.”
Silence crackles between us for a moment or two before he is stepping back and disappearing upstairs.
Letting my breath slow, my heart is back to beating steadily in my chest, I turn and get back to cooking supper.
It's not long before I am walking the dishes into the dining room, Pacey has laid the table and is sitting waiting for me.
The head of the table is empty, and a sad smile finds itself on my lips.
Placing the dishes down in the center of the table, I pull my chair out and sit opposite my husband.
“This all looks amazing,” he chimes, shuffling in his seat as he grabs the serving spoons and tongs and begins to dish mine and his food up.
It's a quick dinner, but also full of goodies too.Roasted veg, creamed potatoes, steaks and a homemade sauce.Once he is finished with my plate, he serves his own.
“How are you?” he asks, sliding his knife into the medium rare meat.
I pause for a moment, a blink passing between us.“Not too bad...” my brows furrow as I pop a forkful of food into my mouth, chewing slowly.
“I just wanted to check in, that's all... I know it's been a tough few weeks.”
I swallow then reach for my water, bringing it to my lips and taking a mouthful.
“It has,” I smile at him, “but I feel at peace knowing he is out of pain, not that it makes my pain any easier, but...” I trail off and place my drink back down.
“I get that,” he nods, forking another mouthful of food past his lips. “This is really good,” he gives me a boyish smile and I smile back.
“Is there any update on the Boot?” I ask, trying to get the conversation away from me.
“Riggs has put the plans in and has instructed a construction crew to be available, but nothing much yet. He wants to make it pretty much how it was before. There is something about that place...” he pauses.
“That's how I feel about Randy's,” I admit, cutting into my steak and swiping it through the creamy mash.
“I'm looking forward to going with you... maybe we can have a dance... re-visit all those weeks ago when you came up to me so brazen...”My cheeks turn pink at his words.
“You're not shy Morgan, far from it...” he licks his lips as he places his knife and fork on the plate and reaches for his water.
“Maybe I’m not...” I trail off and my insides are twisting as the seconds go on. “But then again, I had some tequila flowing through my bloodstream... and well, you seemed like a challenge but now we're married well...” and I see the way his eyes darken in seconds.
“Are you trying to tease me?” his tongue is pushed into his cheek, and I pull my bottom lip behind my teeth.
“Me?” my hand moves to my chest, “never.” I shake my head from side to side.
He chuckles softly before picking up his cutlery and eating.
I wait a beat or two before I finish my own dinner and for the first time in a month, a slither of happiness wraps around a bundle of sadness.
But it's momentary.