Page 73 of The Hardest Part

Calloused fingers stroked her cheek. “With my mom and everything…”

“Jake told me she’s getting better.”

“She is.” With a subtle nod, his forehead dropped to hers. “Justin takes her to Jackson for therapy every day. She’s determined to speak like she did before in time for our weddin’.”

“Then she will.”

“She just might. Stubborn woman.” He chuckled, his fingertips still on her face. “Don’t matter to me none. She’s still here. And to think I almost lost her.”

“But you didn’t.”

He looked lost, and so very tired, the worry and fear etched in the lines of his eyes. Lines that shouldn’t be there yet. When had he slept last? Everyone was taking care of his mother, but who was looking out for him?

“Can’t I just hold you, Billy?”

“Prob’ly not a good idea.” His lips pursed, he stared down at his boots. “Bein’ we’re alone and all, we’re playin’ with fire here.”

“Yeah, in a smelly, cold barn.” She cupped his cheek. “Don’t be silly, now. C’mere.”

He stepped into the circle of her arms. Holding his head to her shoulder, she traced soft circles on his back. Emily could feel his cock grow hard beneath his jeans, but she ignored it.

“See, baby?” She kissed his brow. “It’s okay.”

“It’s not,” he rasped, his nose buried in the hollow of her throat. “You don’t know how close I am to sayin’ fuck the damn rules.”

“Aren’t rules made to be broken?”

“Not this one.”

But his lips were on her skin. He dragged them up the side of her neck, catching her earlobe between his teeth. And all good reason left her, then. A tremor shooting through her at the contact, tingles popped between her thighs, and she whimpered.

“Fuck it.”

Maybe it was instinct. Maybe he didn’t mean to do it, but in a swift move along her jaw, those teeth took her bottom lip into his hungry, wet mouth. And like an animal who’d been deprived of his food, he kissed her.

Messy and primitive and raw. Choking on tongues. Biting on lips. Hands groping at whatever they could reach. They found an oasis in each other.

He rucked up her shirt and pulled down the cups of her bra. “Gimme those tits.”

Then his mouth was on her nipple, sucking and nipping the sentient flesh. God, how she’d missed this with him.

“Has Jake been takin’ good care of you, baby?”

“Yes.” Now, she could imagine what it was going to be like to have them both together.

“I can’t wait to watch him fuck you.”

Billy unzipped her jeans.

“Stretch that little hole wide open for me.”

His fingers went inside her. She was dripping.

“Yeah, baby, I’m gonna shove my dick right in there beside his and fuck you with him.”

And she gushed into his hand.

“That’s what you dream about, ain’t it?”

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