“So what? If you’re there, that is the only thing that matters.”
He leaned in again, and we spent a long while locking lips, but I had all the time in the world, so I didn’t care.
17
FLYNN
The longer Istared at the bill in front of me, the harder I wished it out of existence, but unfortunately life didn’t work that way. The piece of paper stayed where it was, clutched tightly in my hands as I frowned at it. The sound of Judge’s footsteps in the hallway had me closing the letter and stuffing it into my old-fashioned binder, hiding it before he got to the kitchen of our rented home. It’d been a month since we’d moved in together and it had taken us two weeks to find a place. He’d started work in a small high-end grocery store over on Vert Island, and while his parents weren’t happy with the idea of him not going to a new law school, they emotionally supported us. They’d tried to give us money, too, but Judge and I refused. If we wanted to do this right, we had to do it on our own.
Hiding bills wasn’t something I planned on always doing, but I wanted Judge to get used to living a different life than he had before. There was no more mansion with a fridge his parents always filled—this wasreal life. I wanted the transition to be gentle so he wouldn’t run for the hills—literally. His parents’ home was on a hill, not like this one-bedroom home situated in a reasonably priced suburb stacked with houses almost identical to ours.
As soon as he came into the kitchen he laid a kiss on my cheek, breathing me in and making a sound of contentment. “I love the way you smell.”
I closed my eyes and tilted my head, laying it against his and chuckling quietly. “You love the way my shampoo smells.”
“Yeah, but it’s still you.” He hooked his finger under my chin and turned my head so he could place a gentle kiss on my lips. I leaned toward him, giving myself up to him completely. I’d taken a risk on Judge and was happy with the outcome. “You’re mine.”
“Yours,” I said with a gentle sigh, smiling. “Always yours, Charming.”
He laid another sweet kiss on my mouth, and I closed my eyes, enjoying the sensual movement of his lips until he pulled away again.
“I have to work today.” He frowned, brows dipping low in reluctance as he took a seat at the table beside me. He wasn’t dressed yet and still wore his favorite green boxers with no shirt, as though he’d rolled out of bed. It was seven in the morning, so it wasn’t surprising. It was more shocking that he was awake already because usually he didn’t rise before nine these days. “I wanted to spend time with you before I start in the afternoon.”
“We need the money,” I said truthfully, touching his hand and squeezing it. “That is life outside of Vert Island, Judge. We don’t get to choose when we work, we just do it to survive.”
“I know, doesn’t mean I have to like being away from you.” He winked, and my heart fluttered. Judge Daughtler had my entire body buzzing at any given moment.
I laughed and shook my head. “Then spend time with me. What do you want to do?”
He waggled his eyebrows, and I rolled my eyes. I should’ve guessed. These moments reminded me of Judge’s age. He could have sex all day and still be ready for more—oh, how I wished I could be twenty-four again.
A beep came from the washing machine in the laundry room, and I laughed, standing. I leaned over to lay a gentle kiss on his lips and hummed at the taste of minty toothpaste. At least he’d brushed his teeth already.
“Let me put the clothes in the dryer, and then we can dowhateveryou want until you go to work. How does that sound?”
His grin stretched wide across his rosy lips. “Perfect.”
I gave him another kiss, because I couldn’t resist his tempting mouth, before I dragged myself away. Leaving him in the kitchen, I went into the laundry room and switched the clothes from the washing machine to the dryer, then turned it on before I headed back to him. The moment I walked into the kitchen I froze at the sight of him rifling through the bills I’d filed away. A frown creased his forehead and his mouth twitched.
Guilt assaulted me immediately and my stomach churned as I took slow steps toward him. When he glanced up, I cringed and flashed him an awkward, apologetic smile.
“What are these?” he asked, showing me the electric bill we’d just received in the mail.
“You know what they are,” I said quietly with a sigh.
He flipped through the other bills I’d taken a red pen to, striking it across the page with the wordpaidscribbled above the line. “I didn’t know we had things to pay already.”
“I didn’t tell you,” I admitted, taking the seat beside him again. I watched his face and the concern that slid onto his handsome features. His nose scrunched up in an adorable way.
“Why?” He glanced at me, a hardness that reminded me of his dominance making me shiver. This wasn’t just Judge sitting in front of me, it was my Sir.
My skin prickled with goose bumps and I swallowed around the excitement that rose in my throat. I fucking loved how his voice deepened. “Because I didn’t want to scare you away. Living without your parents’ help isn’t easy, Judge—”
“Sir,” he interrupted, and I gasped without meaning to. Pleasure fired hot in my veins and I tugged at my shirt as my chest and neck heated.
“Sir.” I licked my dry lips and my dick perked up, swelling in my sweatpants. “I didn’t want you to walk away from me. From this. I was scared if I didn’t ease you into the bills you’d go back to your parents. It would be easier for you.”
His frown deepened and he grabbed the back of my neck, squeezing. The harsh hold was a power move—nothing more than a male cat biting down on his mate’s neck to assert his dominance—and I crumbled under his touch. My limbs became jelly and I let out a long breath. Pleasure coiled tight in the pit of my stomach and my dick throbbed, stretching out down the leg of my pants and along my thigh.
