Page 14 of Golden Rule

I let myself imagine it, trying again, having our family and friends here to lean on when we get in our heads. Or when I have a hard day and can’t motivate myself to get out of bed. I’m comforted knowing this time won’t be like the last.

Dark.

Lonely.

There’s a spark of hope that I force myself not to quench, remembering that it’s okay to be optimistic. It’s okay to imagine how good the future can be. Besides, for all we know, this could be it.

This could be the round that makes me a mom, makes West a dad.

He lifts me by my waist, then turns me until I’m straddling his lap. The long t-shirt I stole from his luggage rides up, and when he realizes I’m wearing nothing underneath, a groan rumbles inside his chest. It’s deep and primal, and I kind of like the sound of it.

Heat from his large hands pushes up my thighs, then over my hips until he’s gripping my ass.

“The fuck are you trying to do to me, Southside.” The intense rasp of his voice has me flashing a coy grin.

“I’m not sure what you mean.”

He arches a brow. “Don’t you think I know you a little too well for you to play innocent?”

When his lips warm the side of my neck, I’m recalling every instance I’m surehe’sthinking of, too. Times in our past when I more than proved his ability to bring out my bad side.

In all the best ways, of course.

He feels like hot steel between my legs, hardening as I swivel my hips, grinding against his dick. A frustrated growl rips its way up his throat. Then, half a second later, I’m squealing as he shoots out of the chair, my legs tightening around his waist.

“Still a damn tease,” he accuses, and a laugh bursts from my lips as I’m tossed onto the bed. But before I can complain about the distance between us, he’s on top of me, settling between my legs as they fall open. There’s no way he doesn’t feel me squirming with need when the soft cotton of his sweats brushes my inner thighs.

“Know what I heard?” he rasps.

“What’s that?”

He holds in a smile. “They say it’s customary to fuck in a new house the night you move in. You know, for good luck, of course.”

I laugh against his ear. “Really? That’s what they say?”

“Yep. True story.”

“I see, but… the thing is, there’s a flaw in your rationale.”

He arches a brow, and I resist the urge to kiss the corner of his mouth. “Yeah?”

“Yeah,” I say with a nod. “This house isn’t new to us. We’ve lived here before. Remember?”

He pauses to think of a clever rebuttal, but only comes up with, “That’s more of atechnicalitythan a problem. Wouldn’t you say?”

His lids are heavy with need and… shit. Why is he still so fucking irresistible?

“Perhaps,” I sigh, finding it harder to concentrate. “But, lucky for you, I’m willing to overlook the fact that you’re completely full of shit.”

He buries his face into the side of my neck, and his warm, breathy laugh has my skin prickling with goosebumps. It’s a sensation that has me melting against him, like I’ve done so many times before.

“But for the record, I’m only making this exception once. Andonlybecause you’re sort of hot. Like,barelyhot,” I tease.

He laughs again, sending a wave of warm heat cascading across my collarbone. My nipples harden against his chest, and I’m at his mercy.

He leans away, teeth gleaming when that wicked smile of his grows. “So, what you’re saying is… this will totally be a pity fuck.”

My eyes flit toward the ceiling as though I’m mulling over his words. “Yeah, pretty much.”

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