Page 74 of Someone to Hold
I grab the box of condoms, rip one open, and sheath myself.She’s still holding the vibrator loosely in one hand, so I take the device from her, turn it off, and toss it to the other side of the bed.
“But I need you to come for me again.” I lean down and kiss her, and she wraps her legs around my hips as I drive forward. She feels so fucking good. This feels like where I was meant to be.
“I don’t know if I can,” she says, breath hitching again.
I continue to pump into her, but reach a hand between us, gently tracing that sensitive, swollen nub.
“You can, Molly. There’s no one else here. Just the two of us. And right now, we’re all that matters.Youare all that matters. This is easy, remember.”
Then I press the pad of my thumb more firmly against her and feel her break all over again. A moment later, I follow, burying my face in the crook of her neck as I whisper her name.
This right here is everything to me—and more. This woman saw me at my lowest and believed more for me than I could believe for myself.
And somehow, she made me believe in more, too.
We lie together after, her head on my chest, our breathing slowly evening out. I run my fingers through her hair, memorizing the feel of her body against mine.
“Stay,” she whispers against my skin, so soft I almost miss it.
The word hits me like a punch to the gut. Because I want to stay more than I want my next breath. But we’ve already crossed too many lines. And I can hear in her voice that she’s already halfway to falling for me—another man who doesn’t deserve her.
23
MOLLY
When I blinkawake Sunday morning, light is streaming in through the edges of the thick curtains. Next to me, the bed is cold and empty, like Chase was never there.
But I know it was real. My body holds traces of our night together in both sore muscles and a bone-deep sense of satisfaction. I can still almost feel his stubble on my skin in the most delicious way.
I roll over and press my nose into the pillow. There it is—the clean, woodsy scent of him. An unexpected rush of shivers courses down my spine.
Maybe he’s gone downstairs for coffee, or out to the barn to feed Fancy. He wouldn’t just leave. Whatever this situationship is, we’re long past hookup behavior. Right?
I pick up my phone from the nightstand. No messages. But…wow. It’s almost nine.
I haven’t slept this late since before Luke and Laurel were born. I didn’t even know my body could stay in bed so long. To be fair, Chase and I mostly dozed between rounds of lovemaking.
I climb out of bed and pull on pajama shorts and a tank, throwing an old fleece over the top before lacing up the boot over myinjured ankle. Sleeping naked is another thing I don’t do, but being pressed up against Chase’s warm body, skin to skin, was too irresistible to let modesty get the best of me.
The main floor of the house is also empty, but the coffee maker is filled with water and fresh grounds, ready to brew. I flip the switch, then look out the window.
My heart does a funny lurch when I notice his truck’s gone.
Not a big deal, I remind myself. Maybe he had something to take care of on a Sunday morning. He doesn’t owe me a note, or an explanation.
After coffee and a granola bar, I head out to the greenhouse, only to find that Chase has done all my chores. What time did he get up? And, seriously, how did I manage to sleep away the morning?
When I stop at the pasture behind the barn on my way back to the house, Fancy greets me at the fence. I reach out to scratch her between the eyes and manage not to flinch—much, anyway—when she nuzzles my arm.
“Did he tell you where he was going?” She gives a soft snuffle. “I take that as a yes. You’ll always be number one in his heart, huh, girl?”
I start to pull my hand away, then freeze as Fancy nips lightly at my wrist, telling me she wants some more love. I give her another few pats, then slowly make my way over the uneven ground, feeling more unsettled by the second.
Why would I think I hold any place in Chase Calhoun’s heart? That way lies madness and goes against everything I’ve been trying to do with my life.
Love makes me weak. Too willing to put aside my needs and wants for the sake of someone else. Hell, before the bucket list challenge, I was unwilling to admit I evenhadmy own desires. There’s no way I can let some casual connection and a few rounds of great sex distract me from my path.
I shower, get dressed, and am baking a batch of muffins when the kids rush through the front door, followed by Piper.
