Page 75 of Bleeding Hearts

“I wouldn’t do that. But until you can follow the rules, then this is how it will be. Bethany isn’t going anywhere, so you better figure out a way to accept her. It’s what Stephanie would’ve wanted.” I close my eyes, shutting out the bright light and focusing on the darkness. “I will never stop loving your daughter. She was supposed to be my end game. But she died. It wasn’t her fault. It just happened. And I refuse to be a miserable man and not show my two amazing daughters what it means to live and love. Bethany completes us. She makes me a better father and man. Give her a chance.”

“I’ll try,” she grumbles, unconvincingly.

“Good. Because that woman is amazing.” I don’t know why I share this with her, but I think it’s something she needs to hear. “Every week she visits Stephanie. Sits on the bench and talks with her, just like we do.”

“I didn’t know that.”

“I’m not sure I’m supposed to know.” With a sigh, I rub my forehead, trying to ease the tension. “But I do. I know today was an accident, and while I’m upset about it, I’m more upset with how you handled things afterward. Do better. I’ll talk to you in a few days.”

I hang up after she says goodbye and think back to a few months ago when I stumbled upon the most beautiful sight I’d seen in forever. Bethany sitting in front of Stephanie’s grave spilling her soul out while sharing why it was so hard for her to believe in real love. I shouldn’t have eavesdropped, but damn, I’m glad I did. It dawned on me then that I had to let her work through her challenges at her own speed. My timeline was irrelevant to her healing process.

And I’m not about to make this easy for her. Nope. Repairing this relationship will be no easy task. She’ll have to swallow her pride and grovel a whole fucking lot.

I can’t wait.

Chapter 35

Nolan

The sight of Bethany on her knees, with my cock in her mouth, is a thing of beauty. This isn’t exactly how I envisioned accepting her apology, but given the relentless pressure and stress of these past weeks, I’ll take it.

“Are you wet for me?” I gently tug the fistful of hair in my grip, guiding her movements along my shaft.

Her response is a low hum that vibrates up my dick and has my balls drawing up. It takes all my strength to not give in and shoot my cum down her tight throat. But that’s not the hole I long to fill, not today. I want her walking out of here with it dripping down her thighs, going back to work smelling like me. Later, going home and remembering this stolen moment when she undresses to wash me off her. Maybe that’s barbaric of me, but I’ve earned it after she made me suffer while she got her shit together.

She hums again. Her eyes lower, and I know she’s as close as I am, which is why I drag her off my throbbing cock and yank her to her feet.

“Turn around. Hands on the wall.”

Her hands land on the wall as a yelp falls from her lips when I flip up her skirt and slap her ass. “Again.”

I kick her feet apart before grabbing her hips. “You don’t get to give me orders, lady. You will take what I give you and you will like it.”

The light seeping in from the hall catches the hues of her brown eyes, making them glow. If I didn’t know her as well as I do, I might think she’s trying to get me to back down. But I do know her. Deep down, she loves it when I punish her for bad behavior. And she’s been bad, very bad, so she’ll take it and love it.

But because I’m not a complete asshole, I lean forward as I press the head of my cock to her entrance. “Ready?”

“So ready.”

I’m not so sure she is, though. I wasn’t. I’d planned to take her hard and fast. But the moment her heat wraps around my dick, I knew it would be so much better to drag this out. Make us both wait.

“Nolan. Please.”

The last time she said those words while I was deep inside her was because I refused to let her come until she admitted her feelings.

“Tell me,” I say against her neck, pausing once I’m all in. “Say it, baby. Tell me.”

“I love you.”

To show my appreciation, I give her clit a slight pinch. “I know you do. I love you, too.”

Bethany wiggles her ass. “Fuck me, Nolan.”

Bending at my knees, I yank her body against mine. “No.” I slide my hand from her chest, up her body, until it reaches her throat. “Tell me what you really want me to do.”

Her breath catches as she wraps an arm behind my neck and holds on. “Make love to me.”

I pull out of her, readjust her in my arms so she’s facing me, then back her up to the wall. Once she’s there, I put my hands on her ass and lift her. “My pleasure.”

---