Page 35 of Destined Chaos

I moved to the stairs and plopped down on the steps. There wasn’t even a chair accessible in the house. Not even in the kitchen. These living arrangements were less than ideal for anyone, even though a contractor would be in heaven to work without anything in his way.

Hugh returned a few minutes later, rubbing his hands together with a big smile on his lips. “I found us the perfect place. It’s just off the kitchen. I’m thinking that it may have been a housekeeper’s suite or possibly a place for in-laws or something. It’s big, with a separate bathroom and fireplace and yet out of the way of everyone.”

“I don’t even have towels.” My voice came out broken. Even though I’d packed clothes and toiletries, I was missing the basics—linens, towels, hell, a bed.

“You leave that up to me,” Hugh said and pulled out his phone.

Within an hour, three other guys and women had shown up with bed, furniture, linens, food, and cookware. I’m pretty sure my eyes had watered, trying to hold back the tears that were about to explode. I’d never been a needy person, but the relief from not having to figure it all out on my own hit me like a ton of bricks.

He’d introduced me to a few of his brothers and their wives. They were a great bunch, including me in conversations like they’d known me forever and I was just a neighbor in need of help.

We’d paid them back with a run for pizza and beer before they left.

I’d taken a bath and climbed out, careful of my boot, and put on my robe before leaving the bathroom.

Hugh had a fire going in the hearth. He’d changed into track pants and a T-shirt and was stroking the fire as I hobbled out.

“The fireplace works?”

“Good bones, remember?” Hugh answered. A content smile softened on his face as I neared, standing over him.

I rested my hand on his shoulder, and he covered it with his own as he rose to his full height. “Libby. I was thinking…”

I didn’t give him time to tell me what he was thinking about. Instead, I showed him what had been on my mind.

I lowered his head to mine and kissed him, not like a friend but like a lover with a heat that couldn’t be contained.

16

Hugh

My hands landed on her waist as she pressed her lips against mine. I hadn’t even told her what I’d been thinking. It didn’t matter. She was showing me the same answer, and this time I didn’t want to stop. The heat of her touch burned through the fabric of my shirt.

I deepened the kiss, taking what she wanted to give until we were both left breathless and panting when I pulled away.

I stared into the need shining in her eyes. She wanted this, and so did I.

“Libby. Tell me to stop if you don’t—”

“Friends with benefits. This would be one of those times.”

“Right,” I said. She squealed as I swooped her up into my arms and carried her to the bed. I eased her down onto the mattress and slid the robe off her shoulders to find that she was naked beneath.

My body hardened as I stared at her.

“I was hoping you wouldn’t turn me down.”

I didn’t even bother with an answer. I showed her instead by kissing her hard on the lips and trailing a hot wet path down her neck. Taking her breast in one hand, I sucked her other one into my mouth, eliciting a moan from her lips.

Her hands slid into my hair, and she held me in place.

I watched her as I trailed kisses down her stomach. My fingers caressed the sensitive area behind her knee. I blew my hot breath at the juncture of her thighs. She moaned. I smiled, and then I descended again, and I didn’t come up for air until she was screaming my name and her legs were clamping around my head.

I let her fall over the cliff before stroking those flames again until her need matched mine. I climbed back over her, hovering. When her hands pulled me down to kiss her lips, I was starting to like the way she thanked me.

I broke the kiss and pulled back. “Hold that thought.”

I climbed off her and grabbed my wallet, taking out a condom. I pulled the shirt over my head and undressed before climbing onto the bed again.

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