Page 61 of A Package Deal

“I promise I’ll never hurt you, baby.”

And then she pulled me down so she could kiss the ever-loving hell out of me. When her hand dipped into the waistband of my jeans to grip the erection that always seemed to be at the ready when she was around, I let her. Because while I needed her to trust me, I had to show her I trusted her too. We were partners, husband and wife, best friends.

And somehow, claiming my wife against the side of my truck with her skirt scrunched up around her waist and my jeans around my ankles was the exact right way to end our second date.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

Emmerleigh

Warrick always seemed to know what I needed before I did. Blurting out my trust in him, followed by a quick and heated coupling against his truck, was exactly what I needed to soothe the nerves that were trying to derail something good finally happening in my life. But it was when we snuck back into the house and he tugged me toward his bedroom, slowly undressing me and climbing under the sheets to snuggle, that I realized just how well he’d come to know me. All those glances of his these last few weeks had been him measuring me, tuning into my emotions, studying what made me tick.

Everything about the way Warrick loved me was the complete opposite of my previous experience. I hadn’t trusted it at first, for obvious reasons, but now that I’d paid attention, now that I’d given it some time, I was willing to open up my heart again. Those three little words echoed through my brain, making me feel warm and comforted. But I wasn’t ready to say it back yet. I couldn’t. Not until I knew I was completely, wholly, and forever in love with Warrick too. And that would take time.

Warrick nuzzled his nose against the back of my neck, sending shivers down my legs and stirring up a desire for him yet again. I turned my face into the pillow, embarrassed that I already wanted him so soon after having him. His hand traveled up and down my body, gently kneading muscles and making my eyes droop with exhaustion. Then his fingers swept over my hip and delved between my legs. I whimpered and the answering rumble of his chuckle was the only sound.

“I’ll give you what you want, my wife,” he whispered, gently lifting my leg in his hand and guiding his erection to my opening.

He slid inside, gentle and slow. My hands found purchase on the sheets and I arched my back, giving him better access. The rhythm was slow and unhurried, the opposite of our moment outside at the pond. Waves of pleasure rolled over my skin, lighting me up inside, but also keeping me right on the edge of sleep. The heat built between us and he finally reached around my thigh and found my clit, pressure there making the orgasm instantly shoot through me. It was long and low and deliciously lazy, a pleasure that kept going and going. I whimpered softly into the pillow and Warrick didn’t stop his movements until the last tremor shook me and then stilled.

My eyelids were so heavy. I felt Warrick behind me, and in the back of my brain, I felt him slide out of me. I wasn’t sure if he’d finished, but work and lack of sleep and worries about my life had led to an exhaustion that couldn’t be held at bay. I slid into a peaceful sleep that only someone who trusts her partner explicitly can manage. With Cayden, his pleasure had always come first, or certainly had never been ignored. If he hadn’t come, I would have needed to stay awake and take care of that for him. The fact that I didn’t worry about that at all with Warrick was a surprising revelation and one that stacked another log in the towering pile of trustworthiness.

I woke early, as all mothers do, sliding out of Warrick’s bed and finding one of his soft, expensive T-shirts. The sun wasn’t quite up yet, but I had a jobsite to get to and caffeine would be a must. Warrick had already said he’d watch Georgia for me. Tiptoeing out of the bedroom, I headed for the kitchen and got the coffee pot going. I was reaching for the mugs in the upper cabinets, stretching as far as my short self could when the kitchen lights flipped on.

I squeaked and turned around so fast I whacked my hip against the new countertops. Gigi stood there in a bright blue bathrobe with a smile splitting her face. Glasses were already jammed on the top of her head. I stood there like a deer in headlights, my hands tugging down Warrick’s shirt to hopefully my knees. Had I just flashed my entire ass to Warrick’s mom? Kill me now.

Gigi shimmied her way into the kitchen with impressive moves, sliding up next to me and getting her own mug down from the cabinet. “Top of the morning to you, Em!”

“G-good morning,” I stammered, wondering if I could just slink out of the room and we could forget this ever happened.

She poured both of our cups of coffee and turned to look at me expectantly. “Listen, if I had an ass like that, I wouldn’t wear pants either.”

I rolled my lips in and felt my face heat to approximately one hundred degrees. I stared at my toes like they might fall off if I didn’t keep an eye on them.

Gigi’s laugh was a friendly tinkle. “Oh, honey, don’t be embarrassed. I’m so happy my son is in love, nothing could make me think less of you. You got that man to finally set his sights on a worthy woman.”

I lifted my head, shocked. Gigi just shook her head and looked out the window. “For awhile there, I wondered if he’d ever find his match.” Then she turned her head and patted my arm. “My son has a big heart. Always has, and while that’s a good thing, a mother worries he’ll be used for it. Acts of service is his love language. I’m sure you’ve seen that in action. That boy clearly loves the two of you.”

No words came out, but she was right. Warrick did show his feelings through acts of service. I’d spent most of our time together refusing those acts. Warrick had also assured me that he told his mom this was all temporary. How could she be saying these things, knowing I’d used him to help with my court case?

“But…”

Gigi took a slurping sip of the hot coffee and then set the mug on the counter. “Oh, I know, honey. It’s all temporary.” She used air quotes around the word before grinning. “But I know my son and he’s head over boots in love with ya, honey. And quite frankly, I’m already in love with my granddaughter, so you better figure out your feelings quick.”

“I…”

Gigi squeezed my arm. “You don’t have to tell me. Tell Warrick. Now why don’t you get dressed and I’ll make you some eggs and toast.”

“Oh no, you don’t have to do that,” I began. Gigi waved away my objection.

“You have to get to work and I have all the time in the world these days. Let me mother you, Emmerleigh.”

I bit my lip, refusing to let the burn in my eyes turn into tears. I missed my own mother quite fiercely and I certainly missed that feeling of being mothered, knowing that not everything was on my shoulders. Gigi’s face softened and she patted my cheek.

“I always wanted a daughter.” Then she turned and got busy getting the ingredients out of the fridge while I fought to breathe.

I walked out of the kitchen on stiff legs, gulping back tears. I’d been worried Warrick’s mom would kick us out when she came home from her cruise. I hadn’t realized I needed to be worried about her knocking down the last of my defenses.

The magnet I’d ordered for the side of my truck was waiting for me on the front porch as I left to go to the jobsite for the barn we were building for Roger. I threw it in the back of the truck bed and headed out, pulling up right on time. Roger was already pacing his property, grumbling under his breath. I gave myself a moment to drill down deep for patience before exiting my truck.

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