Page 74 of Surrender
I swear to fucking Christ my heart stops.
“Did she just…” Tanner barks from the table, his chair scraping loudly against the marble floor as he shoots to a standing position.
“Was that?” Vi’s voice is high-pitched as she rushes over to where I stand stock-still, staring into Rocky’s beautiful blue eyes. “Did she just say your name?”
“I don’t know,” I reply, then look back at my perfect niece. “What did you say, Rocky?” I ask softly, not wanting to frighten her.
With a wide, toothless smile, she says it again. “Garee.” Then she slaps my cheeks happily.
I burst out laughing. “She’s saying my name!”
“This is utter bollocks!” Tanner bellows, stuffing the last bite of pancakes into his mouth. “I see her more than him by miles!”
“Garee,” Rocky coos again, then nearly kills me as she rests her head on my shoulder and gives me the most heart-melting hug I could ever imagine. She tucks into me like my shoulder was created just for this moment.
“Give her to me,” Tanner says, his arms outstretched as he walks toward me.
“Piss off,” I state, turning my back on him. “My niece and I are having a moment.”
Vi wraps her arms around the two of us and whispers, “Even Rocky knew you needed cheering up.”
DRAPED NAKED OVERGARETH ISN’Ta bad way to fall asleep every night. We’ve spent another full week screwing like wild animals. I even got to try my hand at spanking him earlier tonight. I can’t believe the rush I got when I had him push me against a wall and fuck me.
Good God, how am I ever going to quit this arrangement when it only gets better and better? And it’s not about having control over him that gets me off. It’s the strength he displays in his submission. Anyone can yield from a position of weakness, but to truly surrender entirely of his own free will simply because he wants to…That is what’s so freaking sexy. He’s so unexpected but wonderfully perfect for where I’m at in my life. I can’t believe he’s mine.
I sigh contentedly and lift my head to look up at him, the blue light from his closet pouring in, illuminating his smouldering features. We’re in bed early because Gareth has a game tomorrow. I learned quickly that he needs his sleep on Friday nights, but I can’t stop myself from asking a simple question.
“How did you get this?” I ask, propping myself up on his chest and running my finger down the ridge of his imperfect nose.
Before he answers, I stick my finger in his mouth and wordlessly will him to suck.
He sucks.
I smile.
“Football accident,” he replies after my finger retreats.
He watches me hungrily as I bring the digit to my mouth and suck off his spit. There’s not a thing I’m uncomfortable with around Gareth anymore. He’s turned me from an insecure, emotional wreck of a divorcée into a sex goddess who’s currently in love with life. “What happened?”
His Adam’s apple slides up and down his throat as he adds, “I took a boot to the face during my first season with Man U.”
“Ouch. Did it hurt?” I ask, propping my chin on my hands.
He shrugs. “Might have hurt if I hadn’t liked it so much.”
My brows lift. “You enjoy pain outside of the bedroom?”
He runs his hand slowly up my spine, his thick, rough fingers causing a riot of goosebumps to erupt all over my body.
“No,” he replies and splays his hand flat on my arm. “But I do enjoy hurting my dad.”
“How did your injury hurt your dad?”
“Because he couldn’t get to me. He couldn’t fuss over me, or help me, or be any part of the doctor appointments.”
“Why not?” I ask, frowning curiously.
“He refuses to return to Manchester.”
