Page 46 of A Simple Life

“Yes.”

Then she crawled into my lap, looping her arms around my neck. “You’re not boring. I find you intelligent and interesting. Funny.” She winked. “Even when you’re being a grump.”

I laughed. “Good to know. I live a simple life, Quinn. It’s what I know. What I’m comfortable with.”

“That’s what I want too,” she replied. “A simple life. That doesn’t mean boring. It means being happy, surrounding myself with the people I care about, and enjoying the world around me. Money doesn’t buy happiness. If anything, my marriage taught me that. For all the money Preston has, I don’t think he’s ever been happy since he started accumulating it. Being rich was his goal, but somewhere along the way, he forgot to live.”

I pulled her closer. “So you wanna try not being boring with me for a while?”

She pressed her mouth to mine. “Yes.”

I kissed her, groaning as our tongues slid together in a slow, sensuous dance. She buried herself tighter, her grip on my neck tightening. I slipped my hand under her shirt, tracing her spine, smiling as she shivered. I dropped my hands to her ass, cupping the cheeks and grinding against her. I felt her heat through the material that separated us, and I knew she’d be wet for me.

I pulled back, my breathing fast. Our gazes locked, and she licked her lips.

“You don’t kiss as if you’re just a decent fuck,” she whispered. “I think you’ll make me forget my name.” She ground against me. “And I want you to show me.”

My cock was hard as marble, her dirty confession echoing in my mind.

I gazed down the hall. “Does Abby wake up a lot?”

“No.”

“You really want this? Want me?”

She buried her face into my neck, kissing and biting at my skin. “Yes.”

I stood. “Then hang on, baby. I’ll remind you of your name later. Not that it’ll matter. All you’ll have to remember is that you’re mine.”

I carried her to her bed, laying her down. I pushed the door closed behind me, then turned to look at her. Her dark hair was spread over the pillow, her lips swollen and her gaze warm. Sultry. Focused on me.

She sat up, then pulled her shirt over her head. She wasn’t wearing anything else, and her breasts were full and tempting, the nipples pink and hard, begging for my mouth. My teeth.

I yanked my shirt over my head, dropping it on the floor. In one swift motion, I undid my jeans, pushing them off my hips. My erection tented the front of my boxers as I kicked away my pants and stared at her. I crossed the room, pausing by the edge of the bed, then leaned on my hands, caging her between them as I kissed her. I balanced on one hand, pulling her close with my other. She arched her back, her chest pressing into mine. She was soft and warm against my rougher skin, the delicate bones of her back melding to my hand. I kissed her until she began to tremble, gripping my shoulders and pleading my name quietly. I laid her down and, in one move, stripped her shorts off, revealing her to my eyes. For a moment, she looked panicked until I shook my head. “You are so incredibly beautiful, Quinn. I can’t wait to taste every inch of you. Feel you wrapped around me.”

She looked worried, and I frowned. “What is it?”

“Um, aside from my ex, I don’t have a lot of experience. And he said⁠—”

I cut her off. “His opinion counts for nothing. I don’t want to know what he said because I don’t care since it was no doubt a lie,” I stated fiercely. “It’s you and me now. I think you’re beautiful. I know we’re going to be amazing together. Trust me?”

“Yes.”

I lifted her foot and kissed the ankle. “Then relax. It’s just us.”

“I like us.”

I fell to my knees, pulling her close. “So do I.”

QUINN

I didn’t plan on the night ending up with John in my bedroom, kneeling in front of me. I was nervous and shaking, but after a few moments, the nerves were replaced by something else entirely. John kissed his way up my legs, pausing behind my knees to tease and taste. He did the same by my thighs. Then he kissed my stomach, ghosting his lips over the stretch marks I’d gotten while pregnant. “Pumpkin kisses,” he whispered. “Adorable.”

Preston had informed me they were unsightly and urged me to try to have them removed. He’d even booked me an appointment and had been upset when he’d found out they could be lessened but not erased. It didn’t really matter since he hadn’t touched me once I was pregnant anyway.

John’s reaction to them made me smile. From now on, I would think of them as Pumpkin kisses.

I gasped as he lowered his head, using his thumbs to open me to his mouth. He teased me, trailing his tongue slowly, circling my clit but not touching it.