Total pages in book: 145
Estimated words: 145231 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 726(@200wpm)___ 581(@250wpm)___ 484(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 145231 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 726(@200wpm)___ 581(@250wpm)___ 484(@300wpm)
“Kay. Karate too! I’ll show you all my new moves.” He drops the phone and scrabbles to pick it up again. “Don’t tell Mrs. Gabbard,” he whispers, so close to the mic the sound distorts.
I chuckle at his antics.
“We won’t tell anyone,” I say.
“Are you coming home soon, Mommy?” Arlo asks, a slight whine entering his voice. He’s holding the phone so near his face all we can see are blue eyes. “I miss you.”
“Miss you too, honey. I’ll be back tomorrow.”
“I hope so. Mrs. Gabbard wouldn’t let me have ice cream and you always give me ice cream on weekends.”
Salem glances at me helplessly, then back at Arlo. “Well, if Mrs. Gabbard says you’re a good boy when we get back home, you’ll get a little extra. Maybe we’ll even go out for it.”
“Yay!” He pumps his little fist.
“But now it’s time for bed, okay, big guy? Can you do that for me?”
He bounces up and down, looking more like he’s ready for a marathon. “I wanna stay up. Can I?”
“Do you want that ice cream when I get back?”
He considers it, his little eyes ticking like a clock.
His face falls as he comes to the inevitable conclusion. “Yes.”
“So go get ready for bed. Mrs. Gabbard will tuck you in and read you more Inky. Give Mommy a kiss.” She puckers her lips and he makes a kissing sound. “Okay, sweetie. I love you.”
“Love you too.”
“There we go,” Mrs. Gabbard says, taking back the phone before it starts spinning again. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Salem.”
“See you then. Thanks so much for looking after him.” She waves, and after exchanging a few more words, hangs up.
“He’s a great kid,” I say, and for once, it’s not a total lie.
He’s grown on me, about as much as any little hellraiser can.
For some reason, that makes her tense. I run a hand up and down her arm.
“Don’t worry. I don’t hate him anymore because he called me Grumpybutt and ruined my favorite tie.”
“God, don’t say it like that.” She laughs awkwardly, but those lines in her forehead don’t fade.
“It’s fine.” I kiss her on the temple. This time, she relaxes. “Should we head back? That pool is calling my name.”
“Pool and beer,” she decides. “It’s our last night, after all.”
The last night.
Shit.
That stirs my blood and brings up things better left unsaid. Right now, in the middle of a restaurant, definitely isn’t the right time.
As soon as we’re done eating, we head out. I’m still holding her hand when we break apart so we can climb in the vehicle and drive back to the resort.
Neither of us brought swimming stuff, but that doesn’t matter now with a private pool.
My breath stalls when I see Salem pad out to the water naked.
I follow her in, doing nothing to hide my erection, and then we’re in the warm water under an endless starry night.
“Last night,” I growl, grabbing her waist and pulling her in. Her body fits against mine like it was designed for it. “How do you want to celebrate?”
“You mean besides beer?” She tosses her hair back and takes a sip.
“I meant after the beer.”
“I blame the beer for this whole situation,” she says, but there’s the hint of a smile. I take a swig from the open bottle she brought out with her and kiss away her protests.
“Then I’ll be forever grateful to the beer,” I tell her. “And to you for listening.”
She trails a finger down my front, skimming her way down my chest and abdomen. “I suppose you deserve some credit too, Mr. Rory…”
“So you do think I’m hot? About time you said it.”
“I have my faults, but I’m not blind, Patton.”
Grinning, I lean against the side of the pool and slide my hands down, cupping her ass. “What fucking faults, woman? Don’t see any here.”
She gasps wickedly.
“You’re just looking from the wrong angle.”
“What’s the right one, then?” I lift her up so I can kiss her neck. Below, her nipple hardens, and I try not to take it in my mouth. “From here?”
“Patton—”
“Or maybe”—I hoist her up so she’s balanced just above my cock, which is already hard, so ready to plunge in—“there’s a better angle here. Surely.”
She tightens her hands on my shoulders until her nails dig in.
“Not outside,” she whispers. “Someone might hear.”
“You’ll just have to be quiet.” Madness claims me. I tease the head of my cock against her slit, toying with the folds as she wraps her legs around me. Pool sex isn’t necessarily the best idea, but there are two perfectly good sun loungers on the side.
If this truly is our final night together, I want to make it memorable.
With her legs wrapped around me and my hands gripping her ass, it’s easy enough to carry her out of the water and haul her to the nearest chair. The cool air caresses our skin, but when she shifts her hips so I’m at her entrance, I don’t notice the cold anymore.