Page 77 of Solitude

Beck steps out of the shadows, laughing at something Gus says off to the side, and when his eyes meet mine, I feel absolutely star struck. Just like the first time I saw him all over again.

I always thought that after a while the obsession and intensity we felt for one another would simmer at least alittle, but instead it seemed to ramp up over the years. Just one look from Beckett Hale, and I’m toast.

He smirks at me from across the room, and it takes my brain and legs all of half a second to get on the same page before I’m launching myself at him, wrapping around him like a koala bear. My legs tighten around his hips, and my arms lock around his neck, holding him close as I bury my face in his neck and inhale deeply.

“I’m so fuckin’ happy to see you,” he whispers, just for me.

I pull back and kiss him in front of everyone. I missed him too much to care about what anyone else thinks. “I thought you were going to be late.”

“Small lie,” he tells me bashfully. “Wanted to surprise you. How’d I do?”

“Pretty good, I have to say.” Swallowing, I flick a hand around us. “You threw me a party.”

Beck cups my bottom, unabashedly groping his wife in front of all of our friends and family. I kind of love the fact that he’s never been able to keep his hands to himself. “You deserve a party. You deserve more than I’ll ever be able to give you, but I’ll die trying.”

I kiss him, ignoring the way my dress is gathering awkwardly around my thighs. I might flash everyone, but right now, I don’t care. I can’t find it in me to care.

Then two pairs of tiny hands and strong arms wrap around Beck’s legs, and he’s dropping me in an instant, kiss forgotten, to squat down to the twins level, scoopingthem up in his arms. He closes his eyes, like he’s savoring the feel of their full body hugs.

“Daddy!” Jude yells so close to Beck’s ear he winces.

Stevie grabs Beck’s face in her tiny hands and turns him so he’s looking at her. “We’re making you special breakfast. No green stuff allowed.”

Beck nods, taking his daughter’s demands very seriously. “No green stuff. Got it. We both know if mama is cooking she won’t go near that green stuff anyway.”

“Hey.”

He chuckles, looking at me pointedly. “Eat a piece of broccoli before you get scurvy, babe.”

I flick his ear, and when he winces, Jude comes behind me to kiss it better.

The night passes in a blur after that. I’ve never had a real birthday party, and while Beck has always known that, I told him last year when we were laying in bed two days after my birthday had passed about my secret yearning for a party.

And tonight is perfect.

There’s streamers hung from the doorways, helium-filled birthday balloons floating all around the house that the kids are enjoying batting around wildly, and a cake so big and beautiful that I have to wrap Gwen in my arms and kiss her cheek wetly in thanks. She squirms away from me, giggling and running to hide behind her hunky husband.

Like he’ll protect her from my love.

Pfft. As if.

It’s nearing ten o’clock when Beck finds me as the party is winding down, clean up in full force as Beth and Cole take Jude and Stevie upstairs to what has become the grandkids room while they’re here. He drags me outside and past the barns, his hand wrapped tightly around mine as I follow after him.

“Where are you taking me?” I ask breathlessly. “My legs are too short to keep up with you! Also, you know I hate running.”

Beck doesn’t slow down. Instead, he spins around, bends at the knees as he wraps his arms around my legs, and hoists me over his shoulder like I weigh next to nothing. God, his strength is insane.

He smacks my butt, the sound ringing out in the quiet stillness, and I squeak as he keeps walking past the barns. I don’t even fight him. I love this playful, strong side of him, and I’ve missed him too much to do much more than soak up as much of his presence as I possibly can.

I raise my upper body slightly, hands planted on his sides. “You’re not taking me out here for a quickie, right? Because Cole said there’re coyotes.”

Beck chuckles, the sounds vibrating his torso. “He was fuckin’ with you, Win.”

“What a jerk.”

He rubs his large hand up the back of my thigh, his digits dangerously close to my wet pussy, and I suck in a breath. Then his hand disappears for a moment before he’s smacking my butt again. “Seems like you’re conflicted about that quickie.”

Huffing,I drop down and let myself hang there.

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