Page 32 of Imperfectly Ours

Exposing more room of her delicate skin, I leaned forward and pressed my lips against the top of her shoulder. She tasted warm and sweet, with a hint of peppermint, as I trailed soft kisses across her neck. Once below her earlobe, I bit down softly.

“Weston…” Her voice was quiet, my name drifting out with a shaky breath. I licked the spot on her skin as she slid the hand against her hip down. Pulling from her grip, I pressed my palm flat against her thigh and dug my fingers into her leg.

I closed my eyes, feeling every small movement from her body as she shuddered against me. Her back arched lightly as I sucked gently on her neck—wanting more. So much more, simply because it was her.

Soft fingers danced across my forearm and then wrapped around the back of my head, threading through my hair. I tightened my hold against her thigh and slowly pulled away from her, opening my eyes.

She whined softly, her lashes fluttering open, and I smiled, lowering my hand from her throat. Her brows lifted as she tipped her head to look at me.

“Why’d you stop?” she gushed, her voice quiet.

I didn’t say a word as I used my hold on her leg to turn her around to face me. Her gaze widened, locked onto mine.

Stepping into her body, I wrapped both of my hands around the back of her thighs and lifted her from the floor. Her lips trembled in excitement. I didn’t care if we didn’t end up having time alone at my house to bake cookies or whatever she wanted to do. We were far past that as she wrapped her legs around my waist and I turned away from the horse, ready to shove her against a stall wall.

And froze.

Chapter 11

Butch stared at us, hand in hand with Charlotte. His mouth was wide open, and she didn’t even blink. Tenley wiggled in my arms, trying to climb down, but I seemed stuck, unable to let go of her.

“You have your own house. Why here?” Butch finally groaned, slapping a hand over his eyes.

His words jolted me free, so I quickly let Tenley jump down onto her feet. She skirted around my side, hiding behind my back, her ears and cheeks red like wine. I watched the two of them for another moment.

“Technically that’s where we are headed,” I replied.

Butch’s mouth fell open, his eyes widening as Charlotte finally blinked.

“Besides, pretty sure you’re in here to do the same thing,” I added, and Charlotte squeaked, stepping halfway behind Butch.

“Yes, but I don’t have a house. So why here?” he whined, reminding me just how young this kid was.

“And I don’t have a vehicle here, so we are improvising.” I couldn’t believe I was once again arguing with a fifteen year old. Over something so dumb and childish.

“So get on the dang horse and leave.” Butch pointed to Darla beside us. “Or you know, you could borrow the truck hooked to the horse trailer that no one’s using right now.” He tossed a thumb over his shoulder. I knew exactly where his mind was, of what he was thinking.

I blinked, startled, and suddenly felt like a fool. Why had I not thought of that? Instead I was thinking it was reasonable to ride a horse halfway across town and back in this cold weather. With Tenley. Two of us on one horse. So yeah, maybe I wasn’t thinking entirely straight.

“The keys inside?” I asked, and Butch nodded once, like it was an obvious question.

“You say something, I say something,” I cautioned him, and Butch curled his lip and gave me that look of annoyance. He wanted me out, and out quickly. “Oh, and just… be smart,” I added. Butch’s face went bright red as Charlotte sighed, rolling her eyes, and pursed her lips.

“I’m done.” She let go of Butch’s hand, turning around. She was gone before Butch could even register what was happening.

Swinging his gaze back and forth between where Charlotte had disappeared and where I was standing now, his mouth fell open again. And then embarrassment twisted his features.

“But, like why would you say that?” he whined, a little angrily. Butch stomped forward, quickly closing the distance between him and me. “You’re not my dad.”

“I’m not trying to be,” I replied. Feeling confused.

“Then stop it! Yesterday and now today? Why can’t I just have some peace with her?”

“Butch, I just want to make sure you don’t do something stupid.”

“Something stupid? Like you have any experience in that field. You’re an almost forty year old virgin, so why would I listen to you?” he replied exasperated, throwing his hands in the air.

I clenched my jaw, trying to remain calm. “Butch McCoy. This is not about me, this is about—”

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