Page 70 of Side Hustle
Granny smacked her lips together in that way only old people could and nodded back at him. “Okay, then. Congrats and all, by the way.”
Rip grinned, trying not to laugh at her surly congratulations. “Thank you, Yedda. I look forward to serving as your mayor.”
Granny brightened at that. She slid her arm between us and tugged Rip away from me with surprising force. Carrying all those cats every day really gave her some biceps.
“In that case, let’s chat about my idea for an animal parade this year instead of floats for the July Fourth celebration. Floats are so last year, don’t you think?”
The two of them walked off and I couldn’t hear Rip’s response, but the sight of the two most important people in my world walking arm in arm made my day.
* * *
“Good morning, sunshine,” Rip grumbled in my ear from behind me.
I nearly dropped the coffee I’d just poured as he crowded me into the kitchen counter. Shivers hit my skin instantly. I loved Rip’s morning voice. If he could bottle it and sell it, he’d make a fortune. He ran a finger up my arm to move my hair to the side, his lips exploring all the ticklish spots on my neck, and there were many.
“Hmm, itisa good morning.” I could feel him hardening against my backside. With just a little sway of my hips, I knew I could convince him to lift me up on the counter and show just how good a morning it really was.
But before I could work my magic, he backed away and folded his arms across his impressive bare chest. I got distracted by the muscles popping on his forearms and the way that little trail of hair led down his abs and into his gray sweatpants. Oh, hello steel pipe of glory, it was most certainly a good morning. It was unfair really, to walk around like that when females had no defenses against that level of sexiness.
“My eyes are up here, Hazel,” he crooned.
My gaze snapped up to his, my cheeks blushing. “You can’t walk around like that and not expect your fiancée to ogle you.”
He smirked, the scruff of a couple days’ worth of beard growth only adding to my attraction. I’d like to feel that delicious scratchiness between my thighs right about now.
“Hazel, honey. Focus.” Rip clapped his hands and chuckled like he could read my mind.
“Put a shirt on, then!” I snapped back, refusing to apologize for letting my brain wallow in the gutter.
“I declare today Hazel Day,” he said, unfolding his arms and putting his hands on my shoulders.
I froze, excitement tickling my senses already. “Really?”
“We’ve been focusing on me lately with all the mayor stuff, and I never want you to think that you’re some kind of side hustle. You’re always my priority, so I’ve declared today another Hazel Day. We’re going to start by baking disgustingly healthy cookies together, then go cliff jumping into the freezing water, and then we’ll host a little party here at the house tonight. What do you say?”
My jaw dropped open. “All my favorite things?”
Rip nodded, that smile with both sexy confidence and shy determination making my heart flutter in my chest. I put my coffee down on the counter and bobbed up and down with excitement. I was all in on this Hazel Day plan.
“Oh! And you know what else I love?” I bit my lip to keep my grin from taking over my face and squishing up my eyes.
“What?”
“Hot.” I took a step closer, our bodies touching. “Steamy.” I ran a finger down that trail of hair. “Rigorous.” My hand slipped beneath the waistband of his sweats. “Passionate.” I got my hand around his cock, making him jump. “Sex.”
Rip didn’t even answer. His lips fused to mine, and the next thing I knew, my ass was on the counter and my underwear was shoved to the side, his ready, aching cock buried deep inside. I groaned and tipped my head back, hitting the cabinets but not feeling a damn thing except my core simultaneously stretching and clenching around him.
He pulled out until he almost fell out of me, both of us pulling away from the kiss to look down to see where the tip of him still remained. Then he thrust all the way in and my eyes rolled back in my head. His lips came back to mine, his tongue mimicking his cock, both demanding entrance over and over again. This one would hit me fast and hard, I could just feel it.
“Peacocks? Really?” he said against my lips, his voice so gravelly I felt it rumble through his chest and into mine.
“Huh?” I couldn’t think. Couldn’t speak. Couldn’t do anything but hang on to his neck and spread my legs as wide as they’d go. I wanted every single inch of him, the next day’s soreness be damned.
“Your underwear,” he said through gritted teeth, his next thrust shaking the drinking glasses in the cabinet behind me.
“Oh!” I grinned and then bit my lip as a familiar trickle turned into a churning river inside my gut. Being with Rip was like riding the rapids. The swirl of the water carried me to places I’d never been before, all while thrilling me beyond belief.
I dug my heels into his ass and urged him along, his thrusts increasing in speed until I screamed out his name. The rapids shattered inside me, the thrill of the ride a happy glow that went on and on as I felt him thicken and stumble in his pace. My thighs trembled and I was pretty sure I pulled a muscle in my butt. He groaned against my lips, catching my gasps for air, his skin turning to goose bumps beneath my hands.
