Page 19 of The Gift Rarely Given

“Yup. I’m fine. Dandy. Peachy,” I bite, throwing a fit like a giant baby. So much for using my words and communicating just like I always said I would.

“Okay…since you’re fine, dandy, and peachy, you wouldn’t mind coming over to my house for a bit, right? I have some farm chores to do and could use some company,” he says.

“Yup, I can.”

We ride the rest of the way in silence. He doesn’t live far, so I knew it would be a quick drive, but what I didn’t expect was how gorgeous his place is. I expected Alex to have more of a bachelor pad somewhere or even one of the newer fancy condos downtown. But no, his property is more of what southern dreams are made of. We drivedown a long L-shaped driveway framed by more live trees than I can count. Towering oaks arch gracefully overhead, their sprawling branches creating a beautifully green canopy that filters the sunlight, casting shadows on the gravel below. As we follow the road, it leads us to a charming white farmhouse, its crisp exterior standing in stark contrast to the greenery. Beside it is a cozy smaller house that looks like the twin of the main house, and Alex parks right in front.

“Wow,” I let out on a breathy whisper.

“It’s beautiful here, isn’t it?” he asks as he looks around his property.

I nod. “It is.” Alex hops out of the truck and walks to my side to open the door, but I beat him to it and I’m already out. I feel so damn gross from yoga, all sweaty and shit while he still looks like a damn superhero.

“Agh, it’s not even fair.”

“What’s not even fair?” he asks, confused by my little outburst.

“That you still look that good while I look like a smelly raccoon after getting into a fight with a hose.”

Alex bursts out laughing and tries to cover it with his hand. “Liv, you don’t look like a raccoon. And even if you tried to look like a raccoon, you would be the cutest raccoon there ever was. If you were uncomfortable, I could’ve dropped you off at home—you didn’t have to come.”

“Agh, I didn’t even think about it!” I was in the middle of throwing my little fit back there and didn’t stop to think. “I’m all wet and gross and a shower sounds about perfect.”

“Then take one.” He walks toward the front door of the smaller house. “I may not have strawberry soap, but I have some options.”

“And what? Stay naked or put my dirty clothes back on?”

“I mean, naked sounds great.” He winks at me before opening his door. When I don’t go in, he takes a deep breath and says, “I’m kidding, Liv. You can wear some of my clothes while I wash yours, or I can just take you back home.”

“No!” I shout, stomping into his house.Very mature. Very cutesy, Livie.

Alex places a hand on my forearm, stopping me before I can get any farther. “Please tell me what’s going on. I’m trying here, Liv, but you’re not giving me much to work with. I thought you liked the yoga. You were doing great and looked so peaceful every time I looked back—and trust me, I looked. I’m not sure what went wrong here.”

I rub my eyes with the heels of my hands. “You’re going to think I’m insane.”

“I won’t. Come, let’s talk. You want some water?” He’s so calm as he holds my hands and guides me along the beautiful cinnamon brown wooden floors and into his all white kitchen. Tall ceilings, white furniture, and barely any pictures. Minimalistic, got it. His kitchen is pristine; not a single crumb anywhere and not a myriad of utensils lying on every surface like mine. It’s picture perfect in here. Of course it is; he has zero flaws, so a perfectly clean house is on brand for sure.

“Do you even live here?” I ask while looking around, afraid to touch anything. He makes quick work of getting some water as I watch him move effortlessly, like my heart doesn’t skip a beat at the sight of this man. I'm wrapped in his perfect scent that happens to be everywhere here. He hands me a glass of water, foggy from the cold, as the condensation runs down my palm. I take a quick sip, lettingthe crisp water cool me off from the inside out and set it down before hopping onto the countertop. Fuck, habit I guess, but his house is so pristine and I’m beyond gross so I hop back down. “Sorry, sorry. I hope my sweaty ass didn’t mess up your clean counters.”

Alex walks to me, his eyes darkening with intention. He puts his glass down and wraps his arms around me. He leans down to grab my ass with both hands and whispers next to my ear, “The only thing your ass will make a mess of is my face, Livie. You can put that perfect ass of yours anywhere you want in this house and it will be my greatest honor. Stop apologizing.” He lifts me up with his firm grip and places me back on the counter. His hands slide to my hips, and I shiver when he lets out a raspy breath right in my ear and murmurs, “You’re so tense, Liv, and I’m not exactly sure what’s happening—but I can help with part of it. If you’d let me, that is.”

“There’s nobody around, though, no need for an act,” I whisper. I shiver as he gets closer to me and I try to control how he’s affecting me. With his damn Christmas cookie smell, even after a whole morning of yoga. ?

“Do you thinkthisis an act?” he asks, tilting his hips forward so I can feel his hard dick on my leg. “Do you think that reaction is for people who might be watching us? Because let me answer that for you—it’s not. It’s because you’ve been driving me absolutely and completely fucking insane for the past seven days, and it’s taking every ounce of chivalry I have not to bend you over and fuck you every time you pass by.”

My breath hitches at his confession, my chest rising and falling rapidly and my hands frozen in place over his chest becausesame, boy, same. “Please bend me over and fuck me anytime you want, Alex,” I whisper.

He got his permission. He got his consent, and he’s not waiting a second longer to do something about it. Alex spreads my legs apart, sliding between them and grabbing my face with both hands. He hovers over my lips for a second, and when I don’t feel his lips on mine, I open my eyes to find his gaze on me, pure molten lava. “Don’t ask me for things you can’t handle, Shortie, because I will take your word for it and fuck you in this kitchen.”

“I’m yours to do with as you wish. Kitchen or not,” I whisper. He pulls my head to his and crashes his lips to mine. Not the tender careful kiss he usually begins with—this is a searing kiss. The kind that melts you from the inside out. I feel the embers rising from within as he kisses, licks, and pulls me close to him. He shoves my leggings and lace undies down, taking my shoes off and yanking the leggings off. Now my bare ass is on his cold and clean countertop, and here I was worried about my sweat. He opens my legs and drops his eyes to my center. I can see it in him; the heat, the desire, and it makes me feel so fucking alive I may combust just from the way he’s looking at me.

“God, you’re fucking perfect,” Alex groans as he hooks his hands under the back of my knees and pulls me to the edge of the counter, spreading my legs even wider. His hand crawls up my leg, using his fingers to draw goosebumps all over me.This is too much. I’m so exposed in front of him and he doesn’t seem to care, not one bit. The complete opposite, actually—he’s so eager to touch and to watch what he’s doing.

His thumb slides between my lips, finding my clit and pressing against it. The urge to close my legs at the sensation is strong, and almost as if he can hear my thoughts, he says, “Feet on the counter, Liv.” He taps his other hand on my foot to raise it up, and fuck if this isn’t both hot andobscene at the same time. He bites his lip as I’m spread wider right in front of his face. “Fucking perfect.”

He positions his mouth right above my clit, replacing his thumb with his tongue and making my back arch. I moan as he licks my clit over and over again while he slides two fingers in. He pumps them in and out, keeping up with the same cadence of his tongue. I squirm under his touch, at the overwhelming feeling. It’s so good, I don’t know how long I’ll last without coming all over his mouth.

He licks and sucks my clit hard as he slides three fingers in now, making me feel so full. “Fuck, Alex. Yes, just like that,” I beg between moans and breathy sounds as he picks up the pace. I lift my hips to try to get more pressure on my clit, and when he bites gently, I see stars and burst into nothingness right on his mouth.

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