Page 45 of The Bourbon Bargain

I unravel my hand from her hair and stroke her back, her shoulders, anywhere I can touch her reverently. “You are everything I have ever wanted. You are more perfect than anything I could have dreamt up.” My mouth won’t fucking close as I come down off this climax. I’m not a talker, but I can’t stop. “God, I fucking love you.”

I drag my fingers down her back as her breaths slow, palming her glorious round ass cheeks in my hands as I slowly pull out of her. She stretches out languidly below me, boneless and shivering with aftershocks. I gather her in my arms and press her back to my chest, holding her tightly and whispering in her ear as I nuzzle. There’s an anxious feeling gnawing at me now that I’ve had this part of her. It would kill me if I lost her after this.

“You’re amazing, angel. You took all of me, every hard thrust like you were made for this. I’m never fucking letting you go.”

“You can’t shake me, Hayes, so don’t even think about letting me go. There is no one else for me but you.” Hearing her soft words as she curls into my arms calms my mind and puts the lid back on my mouth, keeping me from uttering every manic thought flying through my mind.

“Let’s get cleaned up. We’ve been dirty enough for one evening, and I have pizza and a movie to introduce you to, next.”

Paige giggles as I scoop her up and walk into the bathroom. “Dirty enough? Inconceivable.”

I stop and look down at her. “You have seen the Princess Bride, haven’t you?”

“I looked up some memorable quotes when you were grabbing the pizza. That was just too easy.”

“I fucking love you.” I bite her shoulder and think maybe she’s right. There’s no such thing as dirty enough with her. Despite our attempts to get clean, we end up on round two under the spray of the shower heads with Paige pressed against the shower wall as I take her from behind again.

twenty-four

Paige

“Ifinallyunderstandallof the quotes and references I’ve heard over the years that I just thought were vaguely funny. It was actually pretty good for an eighties movie.”

We’ve just landed back in Savannah and I’m still thinking about last night. Not only did Hayes introduce me toThe Princess Bride, but he also broadened my sexual interests.

I thought for sure I would hate anything that had to do with my behind. It scared the living daylights out of me when he asked about having methere, which is not a question I ever anticipated receiving. Now? Well, now I think I wouldn’t mind that again, and that is a revelation. Just because something sounds scary, doesn’t mean it will be. Besides, when it comes to Hayes, I don’t know if I will have any boundaries I wouldn’t let him cross. He’s taken me so far, in such a short time, and I haven’t been disappointed once.

Hayes kisses my head and hands me my seatbelt. “I told you that you would like it.”

I watch him round the front of the sleek Maybach and get into the driver’s seat. It was so nice to have a night to ourselves without having to think about this wedding stuff, or how crazy my mama is.

“I’m dreading today. I’m sure Mama’s gone off the deep end because I asked for one day without her and one piece of the planning she couldn’t have her hands on.”

“Do you want me to make some changes to my schedule so I can be there with you?”

I turn to face him, tucking my legs under me and curling my entire frame into the seat like it can protect me from Mama’s fury. I don’t want him to have to cancel anything just so I have a defender. I should be able to stick up for myself and not let Mama push me around every other moment.

“No, I can handle her. Mostly it’s just going with what she wants, anyway. That’s not too hard when I don’t care.”

“What about when you do care? Are you willing to keep fighting for the little things that matter to you in this whole production?”

“I think the only part I really care about is the ceremony and my moments with you, and we’ve managed to get what we want in those instances. There’s nothing left to fight with her about.” Admitting this brings new levity to the situation where there was just trepidation before. If I can tolerate Mama’s craziness a few more days, and play along at the planning sessions, this thing will be over before I know it and I’ll finally have unguarded access to my trust. Whether I can stand being with Mama every waking moment for the next few days, is a different story.

“You don’t want to take a stand on something insignificant just to make her work for it? That’s what I would do.”

I shudder. “I hate fighting with Mama. The last thing I want to do is start picking fights about stuff I couldn’t care less about. Let her have her way and make this event something she wants so she’s happy and it’ll be over in a few days.”

“I promise I will never let your mother plan another event for us. If there’s something that needs planning, I’ll hire the whole thing out and tell them not to bother us.”

I put my hand over my heart and give him my best appreciative princess face. “My hero.”

“I thought I hated public events and being in the spotlight more than anyone, but I think I found my match in you.”

I salute him and grin. “Your equal in hating being in the spotlight, reporting for duty, Sir.”

“Mmm, say that again.” I catch the change from mirth to desire as it occurs in his face and swallow.

“Which part?”

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