Page 52 of Pretty Lies & Ugly Truths

I lean down to kiss away the tears that have spilled out onto her freckled cheeks, lapping them up with my tongue.

“Shh…I know, baby. I know,” I whisper against her skin.

She is so tight, her pussysqueezing me like a fist. It feels like heaven, but if I don’t get my shit together, this is going to be over a lot sooner than either of us wants.

“Breathe…I need you to relax for me,” I tell her.

After a few moments, I feel her body start to soften, and I begin to move, slowly at first, giving her a moment to adjust to my size before picking up my pace.

She feels so damn good, I’m not sure how long I’ll be able to last like this. Needing her to come again, I pull out, flipping her around before entering her from behind. I pull her up on to her knees, bringing our bodies flush together.

She hesitates at first, as if unsure what to do in this position, but I guide her hips helping her find her rhythm, until she is riding me shamelessly, chasing her own pleasure.

“That’s it, baby. Just like that. You’re doing so good,” I praise, reaching around to stroke her clit until she comes with my name on her lips, her pussy clenching and pulsing around me, sending me closer to the edge.

Gripping her hips, I increase my pace.

“So. Fucking. Good,” I say, punctuating each word with an upward thrust of my hips.

My teeth clamp down on the soft flesh at the juncture between her neck and shoulder as my orgasm erupts from me. Burying myself deep inside her, I spill into the condom, suddenly wishing there was no barrier between us.

An image of Maggie’s belly swollen with my child pops in my head, and my heart squeezes. I’ve never allowed myself to dream of things like kids or a family.I’ve never felt like I deserved them. But being with Maggie has made me see the possibility of a different future for myself, one I thought I would never have.

Reluctantly, I slip from her body, moving to the bathroom to dispose of the condom before joining her back on the bed. I wrap my arms around her, pulling her in close to me.

“Do we have to go?” she asks, head resting on my chest.

I consider just saying to hell with the damn benefit, but I can’t do that to my brother. I’ve already slacked off enough as it is.

“I wish I didn’t, but I’ve gotta go help Jayce. I can’t leave him to do it all by himself.”

“I understand,” she sighs, placing a kiss along the underside of my jaw. “You’re a good brother.”

My arms tighten around her reflexively, a heavy weight settling on my chest, and I can’t shake the sense of foreboding that soon, this will all be snatched away from me.

We arriveto the lounge almost two hours late, only to be greeted at the door by the one person I was hoping to avoid.

Carolina Graham-Vance, the mayor’s wife, stands by the entrance, her breasts spilling out of a skintight red dress.

“Archer Wilder,” she croons, her blood red lipscurving up into what I imagine is supposed to be a seductive smile but has my balls retreating back into my body instead. She moves in as if to hug me, but I politely decline, taking a step back as I introduce her to my date instead.

“Carolina, this is Maggie McKennan. My girlfriend.”

A flash of shock colors Maggie’s face, and her questioning eyes dart up to meet mine. To be honest, I’m not sure where that came from. We’ve never really discussed it, but her standing here beside me, cheeks flushed from our earlier tryst, her wavy hair loose around her shoulders to hide the bite mark I put there… It just feels right.

Whatever she sees written on my face must answer some unasked question, because she smiles softly before leaning up to press her lips to mine. My arm slips around her waist, drawing her in to deepen the kiss. A throat clearing cuts through the haze, and Maggie jumps back, her cheeks coloring.

“Well…it was good meeting you,” Carolina says through pursed lips, her saccharine voice dripping with barely concealed disdain before stalking away.

“She was…nice?” Maggie says, face screwing up like she tasted something bitter.

“Yeah—I guess that’s one way to put it,” I mutter.

“Did you two ever…?” She trails off.

“No. Never,” I reassure her, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear, exposing the mark on her neck, reveling at the dark blotch that mars the milky expanse of her throat. Something about seeing it there speaks to someprimal part of me and gives me a twisted sense of satisfaction. My hand cups her nape, and she shivers when my thumb brushes over it lightly, her body melting under my touch.

“Let’s go find Jayce so we can hurry up and get out of here.”

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