Page 40

I’m on the verge of dozing off again when the loud creak of the stairs cuts through the quiet.

I sit up in bed, the hair on the back of my neck standing on end.

Caleb always comes to me first, and he’d never venture downstairs in the dark alone, so it has to be someone else.

Briar’s never stayed up this late unless she’s with me, so I can’t imagine she’d be roaming around at this hour either.

She usually sneaks into my room after Caleb’s asleep but slips back to her own bed before we drift off.

Tonight though, Caleb went to bed later than usual, so she didn’t come to my room.

I’m guessing because she has an early start tomorrow.

We’ve been careful not to let Caleb catch us together, but I wish she was here with me through the night.

I slide out of bed in nothing but boxers, not bothering with clothes.

I tread lightly down the stairs, wincing at every groan of the steps.

I don’t want to alert whoever’s down there.

We live on a ranch, so it’s possible an animal found its way inside, but that wouldn’t explain why the noises started upstairs and are now coming from the kitchen.

As I round the corner, I’m met with the soft glow from the light above the sink. What I don’t expect is to find Briar bent over the open freezer, her perfect ass in the air.

Fuck me.

She seems completely unaware of the show she’s putting on, and watching her from a distance is my brand of torture. Her baggy T-shirt has ridden up, revealing the curve of her ass and leaving little to the imagination. The sight before me sends the blood rushing to my cock.

I step in behind her, my hands settling on her hips. She stiffens for half a second, then straightens. The startled look on her face shifts into a smirk when she looks at me. I tug her closer, my hands moving along her curves as I press a kiss below her ear. She exhales softly, melting into me.

“Why are you sneaking up on me in the middle of the night?” she asks.

“Heard a noise,” I murmur against her ear. “But something tells me that you knew what you were doing when you came down here dressed like this, didn’t you?” I lift the bottom of her shirt just enough to trace the lace of her panties.

“Maybe.” She slowly spins around to face me, her palm trailing up my bare chest. “Or maybe I just had a late-night craving.”

My gaze drags down her body, stopping when I realize she’s wearing the panties that say ‘All You Can Eat’ across the front—and damn if I’m not ready to take that invitation literally.

“These panties say it all, sweetheart. And I’m starving,” I say, dropping to my knees in front of her.

“Jensen.” My name slips from her mouth on a shaky breath.

“Shh, sugar. Let me taste you. ”

A blush spreads across her cheeks as I kiss the strip of bare skin between her shirt and panties, then trail lower, dragging my mouth along the soft curve of her abdomen.

I slide her underwear past her thighs, easing them down her legs.

Once they’re bunched at her ankles, I tap each foot, slipping the panties off and tossing them aside.

She gasps when I lean into the apex of her thighs, nipping at the sensitive skin.

Christ, this woman is going to ruin me.

She runs her hands through my hair, allowing me to hook her left leg over my shoulder, offering the perfect angle to claim what’s right in front of me.

My fingers dig into her skin as I glide my tongue along the seam of her pussy.

Her body reacts on instinct, pushing my head farther into her thighs, chasing the electrifying pull between us.

After several shallow strokes, I run my tongue over her clit, causing her to buck her hips as she grinds on my face. Her enthusiasm is addictive, fueling me like a man starved as I lick her core.

“Damn, baby, you taste like mine,” I say, coming up for air.

Briar whimpers when I insert a finger, pushing in and out in teasing strokes.

She lets out a throaty moan as I set her nerves on fire but never give her enough to satisfy her craving.

I push a second finger inside her entrance, moving them in and out in steady strokes, keeping her teetering on the edge right where I want her while tracing her clit with my tongue.

A bead of sweat trickles down her brow as she gasps for air.

“Oh god, please, Jensen,” she mewls, her voice strained.

“You’re so pretty when you beg,” I croon.

Not letting up, I keep working her clit, swirling my tongue in languid circles, feeling as Briar’s body coils tighter with each thrust of my fingers. When she’s on the brink of release, I abruptly pull my hand away.

“Why did you stop?” Briar cries .

I rise to my feet, crowding her against the fridge, my hand gently covering her mouth.

“We have to stay quiet,” I whisper, my lips grazing her jawline. “When you come, it’ll be around my dick.” I stop for a second, raking a hand through my hair. “But we’ll have to take this upstairs since I didn’t exactly come prepared.”

The urge to have her without any barriers is strong, but that’s a conversation she’ll have to start, as I’d never pressure her into something she’s not comfortable with.

Briar slips a hand into the side of her bra and pulls out a condom. “Oh, you mean one of these?”

“Sneaky little thing. You were hoping I’d come downstairs,” I state.

She gives me a sly smile. “I wasn’t going to take any chances.”

Thank god for that.

I quickly strip out of my boxers, hanging on by a thread, just as close to losing control as Briar is. Once I’m undressed, I rip the foil package open, toss the wrapper on the floor, and roll on the condom in one smooth motion.

I shift us away from the fridge to the cabinets, spinning her around so her back is pressed against me, her palms splayed on the countertop.

She bends forward, her pear-shaped ass lifted in the air, every inch a perfect invitation.

I place one hand on her waist, the other guiding my cock into her from behind.

“Yes. Right there,” she groans.

I clamp my hand over her mouth. “Shh, baby. We have to be quiet,” I remind her.

She nods absently, each deep stroke drawing a ragged sound from her throat.

I slide my hand up, palming her breast as she arches into me with a desperate push of her hips, meeting every thrust like she’s starved for it.

We’re past thinking now, lost to the rhythm and pulse of something spiraling between us .

With Briar on the brink of release, I dip my head to her ear. “You’re close, aren’t you?”

She nods, her head tipped back as pleasure washes over her.

“Let go for me, baby.” I growl, my tongue tracing her collarbone as I slam back into her.

With my other hand, I roll her clit between my fingers, dropping my head on her shoulder and putting all my energy into driving home.

“God, yes! Just like that,” she cries out.

Her body shudders against mine, and I muffle my groan into her neck, staying locked to her through every wave. My arm stays tight around her waist, keeping her grounded as she comes undone, and part of me wishes I could freeze time and keep her here with me forever.

As she comes back to reality, I stroke her spine, pressing kisses along the nape of her neck. “Are you okay, sugar?”

She tilts her head, a sated smile curving her lips. “Mm-hmm. Amazing. I’ve worked up an appetite and have a serious craving for that chocolate ice cream I spotted in the freezer earlier.”

I meet her warm brown eyes, lifting her hand to my mouth and kissing her palm. “We’ll get you your ice cream, but after that, you’re sleeping in my bed.”

Briar glances toward the hallway. “What about Caleb?” she asks softly.

We’ve tiptoed around him, making sure he never catches us giving each other more than a hug or harmless touches.

Tonight, we pushed the boundary, but the creaking stairs serve as a built-in warning and would have given us enough time to separate before Caleb might have seen anything he shouldn’t. Thankfully, we didn’t have to.

I brush a thumb along her hip, and she shivers beneath my touch. “You’re usually gone before he wakes up,” I say, my voice low. “Stay with me so I can hold you tonight. ”

She grins. “Only if I get to be the little spoon.”

I laugh, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “Anything you want, sugar.”

Even if all she wants to do is sleep, I still want her beside me. But after the mind-blowing sex we just had, keeping my hands to myself may prove to be challenging.

I’d keep her in my bed every night if I could, and that thought terrifies me.

This wasn’t part of the plan. We agreed to not get attached.

I’m meant to be leaving Bluebell soon, and we’re supposed to go our separate ways.

What was meant to be uncomplicated and no strings attached now feels anything but.

And the worst part? I’m starting to wonder if I’ll be able to let her go.

For now, I push aside the chaotic thoughts swirling in my mind, choosing to be present and focus on the time Briar and I still have.