Page 125 of Tulips and Lost Time

“Luc,” she breathes. Her cheeks burn hot enough to let everyone know, if only they were to turn and look. “You can’t…” she shakes her head. “We can’t…”

“Because you don’t want to? Or because you’re afraid of being caught?”

“The second.” Her voice crackles, desire and need, pulsing from her flesh to mine. “Definitely the second.”

“So you’re not morally against me touching you.” I walk my fingers closer and grin when she parts her legs. Just a little. Just an inch or two. “You’re just pre-embarrassed on the off chance we get caught. Which,” I swallow down my groan when I find her wet. Waiting.

That’s not sweat. It’s need.

“We won’t be caught. Anyone looking this closely is being inappropriate. And we’re completely covered. Any person who thinks we’re doing something wrong has a filthy mind and probably should see a shrink.”

“You’re being ridiculous.” But she releases a soft, beautiful breath of surprise when I find her fiery slit and discover: no panties.

“Really, Bear?” My cock roars to life, crushed between her backside and my own fucking leg. “No underwear? You’re naughty.”

“I’m told the wedding night is supposed to be… ya know, fun.”

“So you thought you’d save me the step of removing them?” I slip two fingers deep into her pussy and take her lips with mine when she releases a cry that would get us both busted. I steal her every sound. Every breath. Every moan. And I secret them away in the base of my lungs. Her wedding gift to me. “Shhhh,” I whisper against her lips, sliding my fingers out, then back in again. “You have to be discreet or we’re both getting in trouble.”

“This is wildly inappropriate.” And yet, she wraps her arm over my shoulder—it looks like a hug, I’m sure—and crushes herself close. “Luc…”

“Quietly, beautiful.” I find her clit with the pad of my thumb and swallow to lubricate my throat that has gone suddenly dry. “You want more? You want faster?”

She closes her eyes and simply concentrates on breathing.

I extend my pinky and slide it into her ass, earning a whimper of surprise and delight, and the first wash of pleasure filling my palm.

“Shit,” I groan, wishing for nothing else in this moment but a bed. Privacy. A chance to push her dress up to her belly so I can lap at her with my tongue. “I love you so much.”

“Don’t stop now.” She squeezes me closer like that’ll somehow ensure my compliance. “Please don’t stop.”

“Open your eyes.” I hold her hip with my free hand, anchoring her sweet body to my lap, and sliding my tongue along her bottom lip. “Open them, Bear. I wanna see you.”

She flickers them open, gifting me with two beautiful, glassy green eyes that literally reflect myself back. Then hesitantly, she turns and looks out at our crowd. None are really paying attention to us. We’re all family here, and the social bubbles were set long ago. But they’re here anyway, in this room. So close. “You’re such a naughty girl.” I bite the ball of her shoulder and fill her tight pussy. “So naughty, getting off with an audience.”

“Luca…” She brings her gaze back around, her lips dropped wide and pouty and her eyes, hooded. “You should stop.”

I smile, victorious when she explodes in my hand anyway, soaking my palm and making a mess of us both. “You need to let go,” I tease. “Enjoy new experiences.”

I catch her when she slumps against my chest, pressing my lips to her forehead when she hums with pleasure, and when she continues to crush my fingers, I simply… leave them there. Touching her clit every now and again until she vibrates. “Such a good girl, Mrs. Lenaghan.”

41

LUC

ALL THE DETAILS

“Ididn’t catch the last bit of your story.” Kane sets his elbows on the table and his chin in his hands, and grinning like the Cheshire Cat, he bounces his brows. “You said Jess and I were making out, then you stopped talking out loud, bro. Finish it.”

“I did finish it.” I crack the seal on my Coke and turn the can so the lip faces me. “I just didn’t feel you were entitled to hear it out loud. Anyway, you know what happened that day. Got married. Danced. Drank. We were gone before midnight and the rest of you partied on. I’m not asking you what you did, and you don’t ask me what I did.”

“You’re lucky my wife is your sister.” He points a finger, like a gun, straight between my eyes. Then scowling so a long line marks the middle of his forehead, he grumbles, “Damn lucky. I know you hid some of the good details from me, Lenaghan. I’ve hurt men for less.”

“Uh huh.” I pick up my soda and take a long sip. “That night was two years ago. And now here we are. The house has been mostly finished. The yard is like… a little bit landscaped. The nursery was set up, but only because of Kari since I was clearly too fucking busy to help.”

“You were working extra shifts and making money for your family. Don’t spiral down that hole and fuck your mental health up. You were setting up your family’s future.”

“We needed time together! We have money, Bish.”

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