Page 48 of His Gift
"Yes, don't worry. I'll just make sure to be the one who handles the barbecue. It has always been my go to. I'm actually happy you found friends here."As long as they keep a respectful distance.
"Yeah. I'm not crazy about the job, but I hope I won't have to move." Her hand slides from my back, lower, and then cups me, her thumb stroking my length.
"Harper…" The word is a low growl. "No. If we start something now, I will just fuck you senseless, right here, and I'm not even sure I'll be able to hold back."I know I won't.Every nerve ending in my body is screaming for her touch.
She doesn't ease her grip, her strokes becoming more deliberate. I'm already teetering on the edge. "I don't mind, Conrad." Her eyes, dark and heavy-lidded, meet mine, and the blatant desire in them nearly breaks me.
"No. No way. Be a good girl, step back and shower."I need to put her first, even when every instinct screams to lose it in her.
She looks up, a flicker of disappointment in her eyes, and I place a chaste kiss on her wet lips. Then I push her gently back, and finally, with a sigh, she relents. Propped against the cool tiles, I watch the water cascade over her, each drop highlighting the curve of her breast, the delicate line of her hip. My hand finds my cock, each stroke a poor substitute for her touch. She keeps her eyes glued to my hand, her tongue peeking out to lick her lips, mirroring my own unspoken need. Fuck.
"Go on, my gift. Clean up." My voice is thick with lust. With her eyes still locked on me, she quickly shampoos her hair, her movements languid and deliberate. Next, she picks up the body wash, pours some into her hands,and trails them all over her body, her gaze never leaving mine. It's a tease, a silent conversation of desire.
There's too much to look at once: her peaked nipples, begging to be tasted, the smooth expanse of her belly, the dark triangle between her thighs, her lush curves. I'd give anything to be the one lathering her, but I stick to my self-imposed restraint, and she's just rinsing when I come, a strangled groan escaping my lips as I bite down hard. I've barely scratched the surface of this need.
"Let me help." Harper picks up more body wash, her eyes smoldering, and her hands slide over my chest, down my belly, on my cock. Her touch is electric, and I'm so worked up that I haven't even begun to soften. If she keeps this up, I'll be fully hard again in a breath, and my resolve will shatter. Too soon.
"Let's get you out of here." I cup her soapy hands, kiss them gently, then swiftly wrap her in a towel and carry her to the bed. I remove the damp towel and use it to dry her hair, my fingers tangling in the wet strands. "Good. Now rest and relax. I'll be back with dinner."
Not bothering with clothes, I pause only to grab a fresh towel from the bathroom before heading to the kitchen. And I ignore her irritated sighs. By now, she should know I like to be in control.
thirty-seven
Conrad
"One, what's with the T-shirt? And two, put those folders down."
I've prepared the salsa like she taught me, chugged down my meal, boiled the pasta—all in a rush to get back to her—and she sneaked up behind my back. This girl.
And she shrugs. "My clothes are still inside the boxes and I wanted to take a look at these divorce papers. They promise to benasty."
"Oh, don't get me wrong, I love that you're wearing my clothes. I just prefer you naked. Now, scoot."
Balancing the plate in one hand, I settle behind Harper, my legs wide to make space for her. She turns slightly to give me a look and sighs.
"Oh, come on. It's not this big sacrifice, is it?" Harper gives me another sharp look, then shakes her head and relaxes on my chest. Way better.
"Hmmm, you follow instruction well."
I huff. "I dare say I made it better than you taught me, sweet girl." She must be famished because she forgoes a verbal fight in favor of scarfing down the pasta. Can't say it doesn't make me proud.
When she takes the last bite and I hand her the napkin I kept under the plate, I can finally wrap my arms around her and drag her closer. I have plans for tonight and they start with getting to know my gift better.
"So, why law school?"
"I thought you learned everything you needed to know about me in a week." Smart ass.
"Yeah. I thought so too. I didn't know I'd want to learn so much more about you." A contented sound escapes her lips.
"Well… I've always been shit with numbers and science. Law made sense. Luckily, my parents were both college teachers, so they didn't fight me for wanting a degree, even though the ultimate goal was for me to marry and be a stay-at-home mom. They should have taken a closer look at Ben. He was done with kids, and he's always been a legitimate Ebenezer Scrooge. Me working and having my money to spend, it suited him perfectly."
"Why don't you want kids?"
"You first." I swallow, tense.
"I've never seen myself getting close to anyone. A child needs… to feel loved. I thought I couldn't. I still think I can't, except with you. I felt close to my brothers, and they were nice to me, yet I was the odd one out. I couldn't really form any real relationship with any of them." I hope she hasn't changed her mind. If she wanted kids, I'd probably cave, but the idea alone of having someone between us makes me uneasy, and I'm pretty sure that's a disastrous start for fatherhood.
"I understand. I don't have an explanation. I never felt… maternal. I like kids, but I don't want my own. I can be the funny auntie, but a mom… I don't really see myself as one."And thank fuck for that.
