Page 78 of Roughing It

During her live a couple of mornings ago, she giggled and swooned over the sunrise. I can’t help but compare that to oursecond early morning hike, the one she kept for herself. She was so different in those two moments. I wish she’d trust herself, her true self. Let the people who follow her see that other side of her—the softer, real side she shows me.

She lets out a light snore, and I chuckle. Even in her sleep, she has to make noise. So damn loud.

When you’re alone with someone, day in and out, it warps things. I’ve had every meal, every shower, every shit with Blakely feet away. In that sense, two weeks is more like two months. So it’s hard to believe I’ve only known her for fifteen days. And even harder to believe I only have fifteen days left with her.

I brush my thumb over her lips, and she stirs but doesn’t wake. “You’re maddeningly beautiful. You know that, though, don’t you? Got me doing things I swore I’d never do again, and I don’t just mean your damn socials.” I bury my nose in her hair and inhale.

With a sigh, I leave her to sleep and decide to take a quick shower. I step into the old-fashioned clawfoot tub, yank the shower curtain closed, and adjust the tap until the water runs warm. As it streams over me, memories of last night flash in my mind—Blakely beneath me, hair splayed out on the pillows, face flushed, lips parted in pleasure. Using my soapy hand, I grip my cock. That woman. The effect she has on me is ridiculous. I move my fist up and down, twisting at the head and squeezing.

I’m falling into a steady rhythm when the shower curtain opens and a naked Blakely stands before me. “Let me help you with that, Bear.” She smiles and steps into the large tub behind me.

I groan, watching her slender fingers reach around my waist and glide over my cock. “Did you just wake up?”

“Imight’ve been awake when you were saying nice things about me in bed this morning.”

“You little sneak.” I spin and capture her lips in mine.

She draws back, her hand still ghosting over my cock. “I’m very naughty. What are you going to do about it?”

“Blakely, you’ve had?—”

She pulls my hand to her ass and places it against her skin. “I need to be punished.”

I worry she’s using this as a bandaid, but how do I say no when my Spitfire wants to play? Nibbling on her jaw, as my other hand glides up her body to settle on her throat, I murmur, “Are you sure you want this?”

“Don’t make me ask again, Hudson.”

Giving her neck a gentle squeeze, I say, “Lean over and grab the edge of the tub. Brace yourself. Do you understand?”

A rosy hue creeps up her cheeks, and she nods at me.

As she turns away, I stop her. “If you want this to end, what do you say?”

“Stop or red.”

“Atta girl.”

She jumps when I lightly smack her ass. “I wasn’t ready!”

“Consider that a warmup.”

Blakely bends at the waist and grasps the edges of the bathtub, offering me an incredibly tempting view. I adjust the spray of the water to keep us from getting cold, turning back just in time to catch her wiggling her heart-shaped ass. Such a brat.

I walk my fingers down her spine, loving how she arches into my touch. When I reach her ass, I palm it, give it a gentle squeeze. A firm slap cracks over the sound of the shower. Blakely makes a noise, something between a moan and a yelp, and rocks toward me.

“How do you feel?” I ask as I trace small, soothing circles over the pink mark.

She swallows. “I haven’t learned my lesson yet.”

Smirking, I repeat my actions: palm, squeeze, spank. Another moan fills the room and Blakely’s hips jerk.Soothe, palm, squeeze, spank.

Then again. And again. Until she’s panting.

“And now?” Her ass glows a rosy red.

“M-make it an even ten,” she stutters.

God, she’s perfect.Soothe. Palm. Squeeze. Spank.

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