In this fantasy, though, Billie and I aren’t safe at all. We’re reckless. And the sex is really,reallyfucking good. How incredible would it feel to fuck this pretty girl bare? Nothing between us? I got nothing to worry about on my end.
Because I’d keep her safe. Keepussafe, including any babies we’d make.
I wince when my dick goes full salute.
Jesus Christ, did I just get hard thinking about knocking up Billie Wallace?
Since when is that shit sexy? Thank God I still have the guitar on my lap to hide the tent in my jeans.
If I’m being honest, I did feel a pang when I found out Duke and Wheeler were pregnant. At the time, I chalked it up to feeling a little left out. Because now I had to share Duke with a girlanda baby when I’d had him to myself for so many years.
But now…I wonder if I was jealous. If Iamjealous. And if that jealousy is pointing me in the direction of something I haven’t allowed myself to want.
A woman like Billie. Maybe a baby too.
My heart races. So do my thoughts. How the hell did things get so deep so fast tonight? We’ve been together for all of an hour, maybe two, and here I am, thinking about doing life with Billie.
“Your mom.” Billie still has her head tucked against my shoulder. “She loved Stevie Nicks. I remember that song playingin your kitchen when y’all had us all over for your tenth birthday. Remember?”
You’re fucking killing me, honey.“I do, yeah.”
“Tell me.”
“What?”
“All the ways she loved you.” A pause. “All the ways you loved her.”
I’m laughing again, even as I raise my free arm to wipe my eyes. “You really like seeing me cry, don’t you?”
She looks up at me, brows pulled together. “I don’t like seeing you in pain. But I do like seeingyou. The real you.”
How are you the only one who’s picked up on the fact that I’m hiding?
Why are you the one who cares enough to call me out on it?
As I search her pretty eyes, an alarm goes off in the back of my head. I gotta call it a night. I’m worried that if I spend another minute with this girl pressed up against me, all honesty and fearlessness, I’m gonna do something real fucking stupid.
Colt’s been betrayed before by someone he loves. I ain’t gonna be the guy to repeat that.
Even if Billie weren’t his sister, I know her well enough to recognize that she wants more from me than just a good fuck by the fire. I’m not sure I’m capable of giving hermore, though. I’ve never wanted it with anybody else. Who’s to say I won’t end up hurting this woman? Breaking her heart? Yeah, I’m opening up now. But there’s no guarantee that will keep happening.
I wouldn’t forgive a friend who broke any of my brothers’ hearts that way. I wouldn’t expect Colt to forgive me either.
I can’t live without his friendship.
Suddenly, though, I don’t think I can live without Billie’s either.
“Now that I’m thinking on it…” I let out a silent sigh of relief when I’m able to get a grip on the situation in my pants. “Momloved me no matter what. Like I could cry in front of her too, and she would just, you know, give me a hug and ask me what was wrong.”
Billie nods. “She was your safe space.”
“Something like that, yeah.” My voice is thick.
“You okay?”
“Nope. But also…” I think on the words. “This feels right.”
Her eyes widen, and my stomach flips when I realize I just shoved my boot in my mouth.
