“I love you, honey.” At the front end of the house, we hear a door open, and voices trip over the top of each other. “The cavalry has arrived.”
When Seth enters, my heart fills at the sight of him. His limbs move with unusual grace for someone his size, and perspiration dampens his short hair. He’s wearing a tank top with a ragged neck, and as he wipes his face on the hem, I catch a glimpse of the dagger that bears my name. Flutters of anticipation stir in my lower half. He straightens, and catches me staring. His eyes fix on me, pupils dilating. Damn, he’s so hot, and every part of me wants him.
I might be a little in love with him too.
Seth
Fuck, the way she’s looking at me.
Like she’s hungry and wants to eat me up. I’d gladly return the favor.
“Good run?” Mom asks, swiping her cheeks. Both her and Ashlin’s eyes are suspiciously moist, but I don’t mention it. If they’ve had a heart to heart, then good for them.
“Not bad,” I reply, and jerk my thumb at Harley and Devon. “These two are out of shape though, if an old man like me can keep up with them.”
“Hey!” Harley’s protest comes right when I expect it. “Weintentionallykept pace with you, and it’s not as if you’re that old. You spend every damn day at the gym.”
“Yeah, standing around and holding pads. Hardly the same thing as training.” I grin, my heart lighter than it’s been in ages. Running through Cedar Bend in the dawn of a new day, following on the heels of my conversation with Mom, I can see it for what it is. Just a place. It’s the people who made it seem so awful. People I don’t have to see again if I don’t want to now.
“You got us, old man.” Devon flops onto the one spare seat left at the breakfast bar. “We’ll have to up our game, or you’ll replace us in no time.” He looks at Mae. “You raised a hard-ass.”
She smothers a smile. “I think he turned out all right.” She meets my eyes, a question in her own. I nod, to let her know we’re all right.
“I need to shower,” I announce, because despite all appearances to the contrary, I worked my ass off to keep up with those two, and I refuse to sit at the breakfast bar smelling of old gym shoes. I head to the bathroom and yank my top off, and I’m about to do the same with the bottoms when there’s a knock on the door.
“I’m in here,” I call.
The door handle turns, and a moment later, Ashlin slips inside. Her lips curve into a naughty smile when they settle on me. She locks the door, crosses to me, and rests her palms on my sweaty chest. Her gaze is fixed on me and she squeezes her thighs together. Fuck, my girl is turned on. She needs me. I recognize the signs. She traces the contours of my muscles with her hands, and then slips down my abdomen to the waistband of my shorts.
“Do you have any idea how sexy you are right now?” she asks.
“Me?” I scoff. “Look at yourself.” Gripping her hips, I spin her to face the mirror, then position myself behind her. In the reflection, her eyes widen in shock. I slip a hand inside her robe and smooth it over her tits. A groan rips from deep in my throat, and I shove the fabric down her shoulders, baring her from the waist up. My fingers find her nipples, and the little buds are already tight from wanting my touch. The pad of my thumb grazes the top of one, and she shivers.
“Look at you,” I repeat, snaking my other arm around her and drawing her back to my chest. Together, we look fucking indecent. I’m all sweaty ink and hulking muscle while she’s delicate and porcelain-pale. Yet the flush of her cheeks and the short, sharp breaths she takes prove she wants me. I stroke her between her legs. “Fuck.” Her pussy coats my fingers with sweetness. “You want it bad.”
“I do,” she whispers. “So, so bad.” Her hips roll, begging me to give her what she needs.
I slide a finger into her folds and press my palm firmly over the mound of her sex. “Is this what you want? Me touching you like this while I’m worked up and unclean and you’re fresh as a horny little daisy?”
She nods, and rests her head against my shoulder. “Yes.”
God, how did I get so lucky?
My fingers continue to move, and she squirms against me. I should insist we wash first, rather than rubbing all over her with my dirty, sweaty self, but I can’t bring myself to leave her unsatisfied for even a moment longer. We may have had problems near the end of our relationship, but never in bed.
I support her weight and press a blunt digit into her tight pussy, working it in and out, watching her flush deepen in the mirror until her entire body goes taught and she shudders in my arms. I kiss the side of her neck.
“I’ve got you, baby. I’m here.” I don’t stop until she grows limp, and then I nuzzle her temple. “Good?”
“Perfect.” She turns in my arms. “Now you.” She reaches behind me and starts the shower. The bathroom has one of those tiled floors where you can splash water as much as you like. She steps out of her robe, tosses it to the side, and kisses me. As our lips touch, I guide us into the stream of water. She shudders as it sluices over her, but I think it’s from surprise rather than the temperature because the water is warm. My hands roam down her waist, over her hips, and around to her ass. She may be petite, but my wife—ex-wife—has plenty to tempt me with. Every part of her is perfectly made.
My fingers dig into her flesh, and I groan in her mouth. She stretches onto her toes, pressing closer. I never understood how someone who looked like an angel could let me touch her and make her mine. It doesn’t add up, but I’m grateful for it. Taking her weight in my palms, I try to hoist her up, but she slips out of my grasp.
“No.” She steps away from me. “Not like that.”
“Then what?”
Her eyes light with wickedness, and I know I’m going to like what’s coming. Slowly, she steps out of the water and drops to her knees.
