Page 70 of The Bourbon Bride

“You should see my brother. There isn’t a deal he can’t close.”

“Well, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go home to my wife and explain that, as of the new year, we will no longer have control of the Xenios Group and will be handing over The Mansion. I can feel the headache building from her shrieks and questions already.”

“Maybe lead with an extended vacation you plan to take her on, then drop the bomb of the buyout to soften the blow?”

I cross my arms over my chest as I begin dreaming of the honeymoon I owe Paige. We may have opted for a quick wedding, but now that this acquisition is finished, we can do what we want. I plan to take her wherever her heart desires and spend as much time as I can worshiping her body without work commitments stealing my attention.

“Son, you best worry about your own wife and how she will react. I know my daughter. Running the hotels is in her blood. I’ve had my time at the helm, left my mark, but Paige, well, she’s a tender soul with one dream, and you’ve removed that option from her. I don’t expect her to stay merciful when she finds out.”

My gut twists at his words. My sweet, kind, gentle angel may very well hate me and discover the soul clearing heat of bitterness before the night is out. I haven’t worked out how to tell her, but I know I have to.

“I did what I had to. Her legacy is now part of a bigger story.”

William gives me a wry look and raises an eyebrow at me.

“I damn sure hope you will be smarter than that when you tell her. You shouldn’t expect her to see things the same way you do.”

He slowly walks to the door of the boardroom before turning back to me.

“She likes Leopold’s ice cream. Butter pecan is her favorite, and it would do you well to pick up a pint before you say a single word to her. Oh, and you better do it fast before her mama calls to tell her the bad news and poison the well against you. I can only buy you so much time by holding off until after dinner. Then you’re on your own.”

He pats his palm on the heavy doorframe as he exits and leaves me pondering my next steps.

Ice cream. If it helps keep her by my side, I’ll buy the whole damn store.

“Well, hello stranger! You’ve been gone so long I assumed you’d gone back to Atlanta and forgotten your lonely wife here in Savannah.”

Paige greets me from the couch where she sits cross-legged, an open book on her lap.

“Can’t have you getting lonely, Mrs. Olsen.”

I stow the paper bag of ice cream in the freezer and place my suit jacket and briefcase on the island. Call me a coward, but I’d rather kiss the hell out of my beautiful wife than drop bad news on her the moment I walk through the door, so that’s exactly what I do. I mount the couch, take the book from her lap, and push her onto her back under me.

“You miss me, baby?”

She wraps her arms around my neck and smiles.

“Very much. I was about to hunt you down and make you come home.” She raises her head and kisses my lips. “Had I known the late hours you keep in Savannah, I never would have let you leave Atlanta.” She wraps her legs around my hips and brings me flush against her.

I devour her soft lips, putting the force of the feelings she’s brought out of me and the exhilaration of having conquered something new into the kiss.

She opens to me, her tongue meeting mine and swirling in her curious way, always wanting more. Her hands roam my back, sliding lower until she’s at my pants and circling around to pop my belt and undo the button. My girl is insatiable, and I’m more than willing to give her everything she wants.

I pull away from the kiss and sit up.

“I want you naked and on your knees by the time my pants are off.”

Her eyes heat as her mouth pops open with a breathyoh. She’s yanking the hem of her long sweater over her head and stripping the jeans from her legs before my shirt is even fully unbuttoned. She kicks her foot, stuck in the ankle of her jeans, and whimpers in frustration before she can pull her foot out. I toe off my shoes one at a time to give her the moment she needs. I push my pants down and step out of them, just as she’s turning over onto her knees, her peach of an ass pointed at me tantalizingly.

I run my palm down her spine and onto the round globe of her cheek and give it a full squeeze that rewards me with a trembling sigh from Paige.

She arches her back, pressing her ass harder into my hand. Her pussy tilts back toward me, tempting me to plunge my dick in to the hilt and fuck her hard. But Paige brings out something more tender right along with the rough desires, and I bring my thumb to the glistening center of her and press into the slick heat that I love instead.

“Please, Hayes, don’t play with me. I’ve wanted you so badly all day. I need you, now.”

Paige presses her chest to the couch, stretching her arms out in front of her and angling her hips right up for me.

Fuck me. I kneel between her legs and grab the base of my cock to direct myself inside. The instant tug of her inner muscles keeps me pushing straight in until I’m seated and she’s moaning with the fullness.

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