Page 9 of Merry With A Milkman

“If you say you’re not worthy, I will have to punch you.”

Ah, there it is. His easy smile. “If you still want me when the time comes, I promise to give you everything you desire.”

His voice drops when he says desire, sending trills of longing straight to my lady bits. “Everything?”

“Maybe more.”

“You think I’m not going to remember this discussion, don’t you?”

His shrug confirms his belief.

I’ll show him. I struggle to my knees on the worn couch cushion and balance myself with my hands on his shoulders. “I’ve waited too long for you. I won’t forget. Now, I’m gonna seal that promise with a kiss.”

Rhone meets me halfway and I press my lips to his. One of his hands cups the back of my head while he lets me control our first kiss. I touch my tongue to the tiny separation of his lips and he opens for me, allowing me to explore and chase his tongueuntil I’m breathless. “Oh my,” I whisper against his lips before easing back.

“I need to leave,” he says. There’s a delightful reluctance in his tone. “You need to sleep.”

“I know. Will you tuck me in? Give me a goodnight kiss?”

His thickly fringed eyelids lower to hide his dark eyes. “I don’t know if that’s a good idea.”

“Please? I’ll sleep so much better.”

“I won’t,” he mumbles. “Go on then. Get into bed. Let me know when you’re ready.”

“Don’t sneak out.” The fear he might just do that holds me frozen in place.

A shift in his expression shows I’d hit the mark again. “Tegan, go to bed.”

Nodding, I stand and wait a few seconds for my wobbly knees to steady. I don’t know if it’s still the wine or if now I’m drunk from the kiss. Either way I don’t want to waste time, so I turn and hurry to my bedroom. In my bathroom I change into sweatpants and an oversized tee shirt. Rhone can’t accuse me of trying to seduce him while wearing this.

When I peek from the bedroom, he’s standing at the kitchen island. I clear my throat. “I’m ready.”

By the time he steps through the doorway I’m pulling my fuzzy blanket up under my chin.

“Sleep well, Tegan,” he says softly as he bends to straighten the blanket and press a lingering kiss to my forehead.

“Good night, Rhone. I’m going to dream about you.”

His rough chuckle settles over me and my eyes drift closed. I listen to the soft rustle of his movements as he leaves the bedroom. A moment later the outer door opens and closes. He rattles the knob to check that the lock catches. I love how he’s taking care of me.

With the memory of his face filling my brain, I shift to my side and smile. I love this man of mine.

six

Rhone

Good thing it’s late and there’s not much traffic because my drive home happens on autopilot while Tegan’s words spin around and around in my brain. She’s a virgin. She wants me to be her first. Asked me to give her everything.

She doesn’t know when I suggested more, I meant forever. I will be her first lover. Her last lover. Her only lover. Both my brain and my hard dick agree. She’s mine. Forever.

Parked in my drive, I ease my death grip on the steering wheel. Maybe she doesn’t want forever and once I’ve scratched her itch, she’ll move on. She’s young and although there really aren’t that many years separating our ages, my past, my experiences could widen the gap. As deeply as the wordmineis branded into my soul, if she doesn’t want me… I refuse to imagine that possibility.

Fuck, I don’t need this. I’ve got a business to get up and running. Unfortunately with everything left to do, I’m not going to be open in time for the holidays. So I’ll aim for early next year. There’s no time for a relationship. No time, but yeah, ourrelationship is happening. I can’t escape the fact even if I wanted to. And I don’t. All I want is her. Simple. She’s mine and I want her.

Somehow we’ll find balance.

To my surprise sleep comes easily with the memory of her tucked into her bed, her golden-red hair spread across the pillow, and her soft smile when I kissed her forehead. I wake up far from soft and after dealing with my morning wood, I head out to the farm. There’s only a couple stops on Steve’s delivery sheet, and Choco-Love isn’t one of them. I shove back the disappointment and plan to stop there anyway.

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