Page 24 of The Wrangler
“I know,” Alex nods. How could he know. He’s never here. And why would he bother to notice? “I promise to make sure she’s taken care of and has plenty of writing time. I’ll even make her lunch when I make mine so we can both have sack lunches.” His tone is teasing and he’s slanting one of his sweet, Southern-charm grins at me. Anddang it, it works.
Why does he have to be so nice? So adorable? He’s supposed to be a monster. It would be so much easier if he acted like what he was. Or maybe not. Maybe I can’t condemn someone for their past when I know how situations can spiral out of control in seconds.
After breakfast, I hide in my room and actually write in between long session of staring at my keyboard. Not sure I can do this. Actually get an entire novel written. It’ll probably be horrible. But I have to try. The book was the reason I came out here. Maybe not the reason my uncle sent me, but I didn’t know when I hopped on the plane. At least by writing the book, I’m not a complete liar, only mostly.
There’s a rush after lunch, suitcases dragging from the rooms and down the stairs. Conversations in the hall about where they’re staying and if Cade and Eliot need a hotel room. It hits me that these people are a family. They care for each other in all the ways a family should. All the ways my family used to. Before I told the secret that made my dad and mom to divorce. Before Alyss moved away from Texas with her mom. Before I made the worst decision of my life and my creepy uncle started holding the photos he took over my head.
Was my family ever really normal or was it just the make-believe innocence of my childhood? Do Cade and Eliot and Amy and Tyler realize what they are to each other? Does Stone? What will happen to this family when I take Alex from them? Can I do that? Break them apart for a man who claims to be my family but who isn’t interested in protecting me at all?
My gut churns and the little bit of food I ate at Amy’s insistence threatens to reappear. The book can wait, I have to lie down right now.
Heavy footsteps coming up the stairs rouse me from the half-dreaming state I’ve been lazing about in. I must have slept for hours because the summer sun is brilliant but low in the sky. Any minute sunset will paint the sky in oranges and reds before the stars blink into being. I should get up and at least open sheers. Appreciate this beautiful space before I ruin it and my chances for coming back someday.
I drag myself out of bed. Everyone left hours ago, so it must be Alex I heard. I wash my face and freshen my makeup for dinner. The hallway of the inn feels colder, wider, and so empty. I glance to my left, toward Alex’s room. I should go downstairs and wait for him. But when I step out of my room, I turn in his direction. With slow, hesitant steps, I close the distance.
His door gapes the tiniest bit, like he shoved it closed but it didn’t latch. A deep grunt filters into the hallway and hits my neck as if it was my throat making the sound, shooting a sensation of longing and seduction right into my brain. What is he doing? I can’t really see inside unless I were to lean on the door or maybe knock. But I don’t want to disturb him. Another grunt or moan. Is there a word for both? Not really a great time to search the thesaurus.
“Fuck. SJ.”
That does it. I place my palm on the door and push.
Oh. My. Fucking. Damn.
Alex, is fully stretched out on the bed, naked. Muscles in his arms rippling as he strokes the most gorgeous cock I’ve ever seen with one hand and grasps the headboard with the other. That dim encounter in the hotel between the rooms while he hid himself behind his hands didn’t prepare me for hard, masturbating Alex. The way the muscles in the V of his pelvis would tense and relax as fucks his hand. The way his entire body arches up with need. He’s fucking glorious.
“SJ,” he grunts as his come splash over his hand on to his laddered abs.
I must make a noise, because he bolts up, grabbing the towel next to him and covering himself. So disappointing.
“Tie me.” I’m not sure why that’s what I say, but it’s the most true thing in this moment. I want him to tie me to the bed and fuck me senseless until I come as hard as he did.
“What? What are you doing?” Alex drops his head. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have been doing that. Give me a minute and I’ll clean up. We can have dinner and?—”
“I want you to tie me up.”
He jerks his attention to me, his eyes wide. “No way.”
I slip off my shirt and drop it to the ground. “Please?”
He shakes his head, his gaze locked on my chest.
“There’s nothing stopping us.” I unclasp my bra and cup myself with my hands.
Alex blinks, he finally looks at me. I peel away the fabric and let the straps slide down my shoulders. He grips the towel and presses down on his cock. Nice recovery. I prop a breast in each hand, lifting them and pinch each nipple between my thumb and forefinger until I gasp and arch into the pain that shoots into my pussy. “You made me so wet.”
“What are you doing?”
I drop my hands and pop the button on my shorts. “Guess.”
“You shouldn’t.”
The zipper rasps as I pull the tab. A moment later, the fabric is pooled at my bare feet. I step out. Closer to him.
“We can’t”
I slip my fingers inside my panties and pull the wetness onto my clit, slow easy circles, never taking my gaze from his. Faster. My fingers move to match my need.
“Stop.”
