Page 56 of Against All Odds

“It’s just the Wildflower,” I admitted finally. “Things are slow. Summer is tough.

“Summer’s always slower in Aspen. You’ll bounce back once fall comes around.”

When the colors changed, we got the tourists back, and I was crossing my fingers for that. Ultimately, I needed the locals to come back home. Otherwise, I’d have to sell or walk away, and even the thought made me shiver.

“Hey, it’s all going to work out.” He kissed the side of my head.

I bit the inside of my cheek, holding back the words that I wanted to spill out. He didn’t get it. This wasn’t just a seasonal dip—it was a freefall, and Alexa was the one cutting my safety net.

“I hope so.”

The silence stretched between us again, but it was easy and comfortable this time. He didn’t ask for more, and I didn’t push. I rested my head against his chest, listening to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat. It was soothing, even with everything unsaid hanging between us like clouds caught on a mountain ridge.

“You feel good,” he murmured, running his hand up and down my back.

“I could feel better,” I teased, and he chuckled, the sound rumbling through his chest.

“Yeah?”

I crawled away from him, wanting the intimacy, the connection because there we were compatible and gave and took equally. His eyes hooded as he watched me kneel between his legs. He didn’t help me as I unbuckled his belt, unzipped his jeans, and pulled him out, erect, precum glistening on the tip.

He watched me, one hand resting on his thigh, the other stroking my hair.

I licked him, and I felt his groan more than heard it.

I took him in my mouth and moaned around the length of him. He hit the back of my throat almost immediately, and I pulled back, bobbing my head.

“Fuck, yeah,” he said hoarsely. “I look at your mouth, and I get hard thinking about having your lips wrapped around me.”

His dirty talk made me wetter, and I hummed in approval. That made him swell more, and both his hands slid into my hair, starting to control and direct my movements.

“I’m close, babe.”

I let him set the pace as his hands took over. I felt his cock expand before he exploded in my mouth.

“Yeah, babe, swallow it all.”

I did, feeling shy suddenly.

“Open your mouth,” he ordered, “Show me.”

I did. He smiled and stroked his thumb over my lower lip. “You liked sucking me off, Bambi?”

He yanked me up to him and kissed me, tasting himself, and I felt the rightness of being with Heath. I was too old to believe in soulmates and that shit; because I knew better—but if I did, I’d think it was him…well, except for the part where he wasn’t on my side. That thought clouded my mind, but it couldn’t stay there—not while he took me to my bed, undressed me, and settled between my thighs. His fingers stroked across my clit, making me gasp, yearn for more, and press my hips against his hand.

He slipped a finger inside me and then, as if he couldn’t help himself, put his mouth against my core. He began to lick and suckle hard as if he was out of patience.

It felt damn good and all-consuming.

He added a second finger, and my hips beganto move in counterpoint to his thrusts. Then, suddenly, he pulled away.

“Heath,” I whimpered.

“I know, babe. I know. I’m going to take care of you.”

He took his clothes off and leaned over my bedside table to find a condom. He sheathed himself and then slowly entered me. He was hard, like he hadn’t just come. In books and movies, men seem to have a constant erection, but I knew in real life, and unless you were a teenager, it took a minute.

“When it’s you and me, Bambi, magic happens,” he answered my unasked question.

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