The length of his body presses against mine as he consumes me. No one has ever kissed me like this. No one has ever owned my mind and body simultaneously, making me think that without them, I would cease to exist. And for a second, I hate myself for caving. I was supposed to be steering clear. For all I know, this is nothing more than a joke to Nash. I could be just a warm body to pass the time.
I’m on the verge of coming to my senses when he sucks on my tongue, his palm slipping beneath my dress and squeezing my naked butt cheek. I’m not a big woman, but my ass is, and those cheeky underwear I love so much don’t cover much.
“Fuck, baby,” Nash groans into my mouth. “Keep rubbing me like that and I’m going to come in my jeans.”
I only giggle against his mouth, sinking my fingers into the hair at the nape of his neck, crushing his mouth to mine. I’m lost in the deepening, hungry kiss, ready to give him anything he wants, just as his fingers dip into the front of my panties, and a knock cracks at my door.
My body jumps, stumbling and landing on my ass as Beckett’s voice comes through the door, and the handle jiggles. “Betty?” he calls out. “You in there?”
“Uh,” I pant, my eyes wide as I stare back at Nash, who looks like he has a cross between murder and regret in his eyes. “Uh, yeah. I got my dress wet doing the dishes. Just drying off a little.”
“You’re such a klutz,” Beckett laughs. “Hurry up, Mom and Dad want to hang out with all of us before Nash has to leave.”
“Yeah, okay. Yeah, I’m coming.”
I wait until I hear Beckett’s heavy footsteps down the hall before trying to get up, only for Nash to extend his hand, pulling me to my feet in one swift motion.
“You okay?” he questions, and I know whatever just happened has passed. He’s put his guard back up, and I feel like a fool.
“I’m fine. I need to go finish the dishes.” His hand finds my forearm, but I can’t look at him. “Don’t worry, I won’t say anything or expect anything.” My voice cracks, and I want to curl up and die because of it. How many times will I keep doing this to myself?
“Beatrice, I—”
“Please stop calling me that.”
“Sorry-I.” He clears his throat, releasing me before unlocking my bedroom door and grabbing the handle. The expanse of his back is all I can see, but I hear his words loud and clear. “That can’t happen again.” Then he walks out, and I crumple back to the floor.
Dammit, Betty.
Chapter 9
Nash
Grunts and the clank of weights hitting the rack fill the gym. It was the only place that could help after this past weekend.
Vortex Fitness became my happy place a long time ago. The national chains and gimmicky training facilities don’t do it for me. I needed black walls, solid equipment, and the scent of sweat. I needed a place where patrons were more concerned with pushing their bodies to the limit than with creating content for social media.
It’s the only place where the noise can drown out my thoughts, other than the family ranch. I’d meant to create my own on my property. That’s why I bought the fifty acres, but life got away from me, and Katherine was never interested while we were together. So I kept my head down and focused on everyone else, ignoring my need for a piece of home here in Montana.
Pain lances through my jaw as I grit my teeth, raising my weights for a fifth set I have no business trying to crank out. Mymuscles shake as I drive the hundred-pound dumbbells up at an angle for what feels like the millionth time. Every fiber burns as if live flames engulf my tissues, but it doesn’t compare to the images and sounds of Betty that will forever live in my mind.
I can’t get her out of my fucking head, and I need to.But that kiss.Her whimper. The brush of arousal on my fingertips… Fuck…
Pushing out another rep, I fight my thoughts, not wanting to get hard in the gym with a bunch of massive dudes and the no-nonsense women that will beat your ass, though they’re half your size. Sweat pours down my face, over the bridge of my straight nose to my mouth, where each forceful exhale sends droplets flying.
Hunt chuckles, “Save some for tomorrow.” Slapping my shoulder, the ache seems to throb down my arm as he rounds the bench I’ve been perched on.
“Don’t you have your own workout to do?” I snarl, struggling through yet another thrust of my arms up and out.
He quirks a blond brow, his hazel eyes sparkling with that knowing stare. “I’m done, and we have a meeting in an hour and twenty-seven minutes.”
The guy has a sense of humor like no other and will call you on every bit of your shit, but with business, he’s the best partner a guy could ask for. He’s meticulous. No detail is ever missed. Hunt is the glue every business needs.
With a huff, my elbows bend, my arms violently shaking as I fight to press out one last rep. “Alright, that’s enough,” he groans, his hands pressing behind my elbows to extension and then supporting some of the weight as they sink back toward my chest.
He doesn’t say a word, returning the weights to the rack and then waiting for me to shove off the bench.
My head is no clearer as we grab our bags from the locker room and head toward our separate vehicles. “I’ll be by in twenty,” he calls over his shoulder before climbing into a tiny ass sports car. My lip curls, praying he shows up in his SUV instead; otherwise, we’re taking my truck. No way I’m folding my large frame into that tin can again.
