“Not a bad life.” I wouldn’t mind cuddling Willow’s lush curves either.
A jovial laugh tinkles through the air, and her obvious amusement warms me from the inside out. I always want to see that look of pure joy on her face.
Settle down. It’s too soon to jump into forever thinking.
But I can’t help the pull Willow has on me. Can’t deny the possessive feelings or hungry need building inside my body.
“Nope, not at all. If only we could all live as simply.” The town square comes into view with its statue of one of the founders at the center of a closed fountain. Willow hops onto the concrete ledge, bringing her nearer to my height though the top of her head still only reaches my chin.
“Careful,” I warn, instinctively wrapping my hands around her hips for stability. Her arms loop around my neck as her head tilts slightly back, and my blood heats at the implication.
Willow studies my expression as if searching for an unspoken question before it seems she makes up her mind about something—an entire silent conversation occurring while my mind whispers prayer after prayer that this leads to where I’m hoping.
“Kiss me, Rhys,” she finally rasps, a shy sultriness entering her voice. “I think I need a little more heat to combat this February chill.”
“Whatever you need, kitten.” My head lowers until our mouths meet in a swirl of steam and passion, mutual groans of satisfaction ringing in the air. I squeeze her soft body tighter tomine, enjoying the plush give in her curves as they conform to my firmer muscles.
Yes, this is what I want.
Willow—a flesh and blood woman whose kiss is as hot as the fire that burns in my kiln.
Physical attraction, real and tangible.
Who needs a romantic fantasy when I can have this?
CHAPTER FIVE
WILLOW
The winter cold fades as Rhys’s warmth seeps through the layers of my clothing. I’ve never felt small in my life, yet in his arms—with his strength wrapped around me—I feel petite, a delicate creature safe and under his protection.
It’s a heady thought considering how unattainable such a thing has been for most of my life. My body’s always been short and chubby and never featured in movies or those cute video clips of girls jumping into their boyfriends’ arms.
Realistically, I figured it was too much to hope that I’d find a man able to make me feel so secure and light—not a burden to lift even for a moment of overwhelming joy.
But with Rhys…
Another shiver of pleasure cascades downward to center on my core as his hold tightens, bringing me up to my tiptoes as if I really am as dainty as the “kitten” endearment he keeps calling me.
His mouth demands mine submit while his beard scrapes my cheeks, electrifying the fine nerve endings, and a muted moan hums in my throat.
“Damn, kitten…” Rhys murmurs against my lips. “You’re too sweet for words. I can’t believe our paths haven’t crossed before now.” He nibbles his way down my neck, hot licks of his tongueleaving behind damp patches that burn in the February air—a study in extremes that sends my senses spiraling deeper into desire.
“That’ll change with our friends marrying.” King and Hannah’s marriage is bound to bring Rhys and I together more often, and it seems like fate that we would’ve met eventually. That even if a dating app hadn’t matched us, destiny or some other higher power would’ve ensured our meeting.
Heart sparks.
“It’ll change because now I know you exist. Know the taste of your pretty mouth. The intoxicating honey scent of your skin.” He crushes me impossibly closer, and I yearn to rub my sensitive nipples across his chest, to gain any sort of relief from the ache he’s built inside me, but I’m locked in his immovable embrace. “You’re in my blood now, kitten, and there’s no escaping.”
Goodness…Is it possible to come just from a few roughly spoken words?
My thighs clench together as the throbbing in my clit intensifies. Rhys puts my book boyfriends to shame, and I’ve got some good ones, not gonna lie. But here’s a hot-blooded mountain of a man basically claiming me as his own—this is the stuff my dreams are made of.
“Kiss me again,” I pant, desperate for his possession. Rhys growls before complying, sweeping me off the edge of the fountain and walking us backward until my back hits the brick of a building.
Town hall, probably, my mind absentmindedly provides.
I’m not sure how long we stay there, locked together for every citizen of Suitor’s Crossing to witness our frantic passion. All I know is that by the time he escorts me back to my car, I’m sweating as if it’s summertime instead of winter, my lips are swollen from his harsh treatment, and my vibrator is about to get the workout of its life when I arrive home.
