Page 64 of Riding the High

“I don’t know what the fuck is going on in that pretty head of yours, Ginger,” I say as I lean into the mirror beside her. Her freshly showered coconut scent overwhelms me as I tilt closer.

“And you can keep hiding behind that sassy, standoffish little attitude all you want. But you need to understand two things.” I turn my head, rinse, and work away at the other side of my face as I talk. Just having her in here makes the bathroom that much more humid.

“One. No one is perfect, and whoever made you feel like you had to be all the time was wrong for putting that kind of pressure on you. People make mistakes, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t worthy of your trust.”

I know for a fact it is her father that constantly makes her feel this way, but I don’t point that out. I finish shaving and turn to look at her.

She gazes up at me, then breaks free from her trance and gives me the universal motion with her first finger forcome hereand a little grin. That tiny gesture instantly turns me on.

“You missed a spot,” she says softly. I immediately shift my body toward her, getting close enough to make her breathing speed up.

I look down at her and use my free hand to tap her knees. Like the good girl she is, she instantly opens her legs wide enough to accommodate me.

I sink between them, never taking my eyes off hers. The connection between us is crushing as I flip the razor over and hand it to her. Her eyes widen.

“Fix me up then,” I tell her.

She doesn’t say a word, but takes the razor from me, a look of concentration on her face.

“Two,” I continue, “I’m not messing with your head. I don’t fucking understand this any more than you do. But I do know that, even if you’re unsure about me, you wanted me to kiss you last night.”

Ginger makes a nervous sound that I know most people don’t hear from her. She’s always the picture ofnothing phases me.

“Just stop talking or I’ll cut you and Iwon’tbe to blame.” She smirks, intent in her eyes.

She does a little dance of trying to figure out where to anchor her free hand to stabilize herself before she begins.

I don’t give her more than ten seconds before I roll my eyes and take her hand into my own, placing it firmly on my bare shoulder. We look at each other and the room around us fades away when we lock eyes this close.

I see her lips part and her thrumming pulse in her throat.

I grin. “Shouldn’t be afraid to touch your husband, Vixen.”

Her eyes narrow and she uses her knuckles to raise my chin, rather roughly, which makes me laugh even more. Then, she places the razor at my throat and carefully drags it up, swiping the foam as she goes. She lets out a breath I know she was holding in when she finishes, and I eye up her handiwork in the mirror.

“I’m still alive, so that’s a plus,” I mutter.

“For now,” she retorts.

In truth, it’s a perfect shave. One that leaves me rock hard beneath my towel.

Turned on by shaving. Another first.

I look down at her at the precise moment she hands the razor back to me.

She hops down from the counter, inadvertently grazing my hardened cock. Her eyes move down when she feels it, then back up to mine.

“So happy to be of service.” She grins. “Better take somedowntime before you get ready. But not too much. You can’t be late for your own party, Law Daddy.”

I look down at my hard-on, ready to bust through my towel. The fuck am I supposed to do with that now?

Not twenty minutes later, I stare at myself in my uniform. It’s a suit of sorts with a matching officer’s hat. The gold stars line my collar, and the sheriff badges sit flush on my upper arms. They feel heavy. I’m holding onto all of this by a thread. And now tonight, not only will my whole family be there, but Ginger will be too.

I check my watch and straighten my hat. It’s go time. I’ve already been the sheriff for weeks but, for some reason, today it feels real.

“Let’s go, ladies, times a wastin’ …” I say as I enter the living room.

Every thought in my head dies as I take in the sight of Ginger standing in the window, fixing Mabel’s hair.

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