It was wet, long, thorough, soft, and sweet.
He gave what he just gave, so that was all for Merry.
And it was a beginning that even me, who’d managed to read a lot of important things wrong in my life, couldn’t miss.
When he released my lips, he stayed close, drawing his nose along the side of mine, our positions meaning our eyes had difficulty meeting.
But we managed it.
“How you doin’?” he asked quietly.
That made me want to laugh, the question was so damned crazy.
I was limp in his arms.
Hell, I was in his arms.
How did he think I was doing?
“I’m hangin’ in there.”
He found humor in my response too; I saw it light his gaze.
It sobered as he murmured, “My brown-eyed girl.”
I sobered too, that feeling hitting my eyes again as I whispered, “Merry.”
If I meant to say more (which I didn’t know if I did or didn’t), I couldn’t when he gave me a fierce squeeze.
“Means a lot, you takin’ a shot at this with me.”
Oh God.
I had to give it to him.
I had to.
I couldn’t fuck this up again. Not for him. Not for me.
“Means a lot to me too.”
His sober eyes warmed.
“Like your boy, Cherie. Wanna get a chance to get to know him better when the time is right for you. But that’s gonna wait. Right now, wanna know when you’re next day off is ’cause just you and me are goin’ to Swank’s.”
And it came again. Something I’d never had. Something I’d never felt. Something incredible given to me by Merry.
This time it was him asking me on our first date and telling me that date would be at Swank’s, a fashionable, expensive restaurant in Indy.
This meant not a bullshit date.
This was a big-time, whole hog, in your face, this means something to me, we’re gonna ride it out but we’re gonna start that ride right date.
“Swank’s?” I whispered.
“You got a nice dress?”
I didn’t have one good enough for Swank’s. But I’d steal one if I had to.
“Yes,” I lied.
He smiled.
Oh God.
“Night off, babe,” he prompted.
“Feb doubled me up. This week, Thursday and Friday.”
“I’ll get us in Swank’s tomorrow.”
Oh God.
He wasn’t messing around.
“I’m scared.”
There I was again with the blurting.
His smile died, but his arms got tighter. “I know.”
We stared at each other without either of us saying more.
This lasted a long time and it was time I didn’t want to end, standing in my living room in Garrett Merrick’s arms.
It seemed, since he didn’t move, he agreed with me.
But life was life, so eventually we’d have to let go of that moment.
And, not surprisingly, it was Merry who was the one who had the strength to do it.
“Wish we had time to talk shit out right now, but I gotta get back to work.”
“Right,” I said, making a move to pull away.
He didn’t let me go, so I stopped and focused on him.
He lifted his head and I straightened mine but neither of us went far.
“For planning, you gotta know, Cherie, that you owe me.”
I felt my eyes narrow in confusion. “I what?”
“Owe me, baby, and when we work out that debt, I’ll want more than your hand down my pants.”
My legs got wobbly.
“Right,” I said again, this time breathy.
One side of his lips curled up and it was again cocky. “I’ll get you home to your boy after Swank’s, but just sayin’, whoever’s lookin’ after him’s gotta know you’re gonna have a late night.”
My still-sensitive clit gave a throb that was of a strength and enjoyableness I preferred to focus on, so I just nodded.
He kept the cocky grin as he watched me do it.
He apparently had enough time to continue looking smug and not let me go and go to work, which I started to find annoying.
“Would you like me to send a thank you note for my orgasm, or would me providing that gratitude verbally right now suffice?” I asked touchily.
“Prefer your gratitude to come in a different form than both, so I’ll just wait until tomorrow.”
Hold On
Kristen Ashley's books
- Holding the Dream
- Dance Upon the Air
- High Noon
- Moon Island(Vampire Destiny Book 7)
- Illusion(The Vampire Destiny Book 2)
- Upon A Midnight Clear
- Son Of The Morning
- MacKenzie's mission(MacKenzie Family Saga #2)
- Loving Evangeline(Patterson-Cannon Family series #1)
- A Billionaire's Redemption
- A Convenient Proposal
- A Dishonorable Knight
- A Headstrong Woman
- A Passion for Pleasure
- Atonement
- Beyond a Doubt
- Beyond Control
- Cavanaugh on Duty
- Colton's Dilemma (Shadow Breeds)
- Conceal, Protect
- Conflict of Interest
- Confessing to the Cowboy
- Dreams Don't Wait
- Explosive Attraction
- Find Wonder in All Things
- Forbidden Fires (Bondage & Breakfast)
- Galveston Between Wind and Water
- Game On
- Gone with the Wolf
- Honor's Players
- Illusions of Love
- Intaglio Dragons All The Way Down
- Just One Song
- Living London
- Lone Wolf (Shifters Unbound)
- Love Resolution
- Lyon's Crew
- Mountain Moonlight
- Need A Want Companion Novel
- Of One Heart
- Once a Bad Girl
- Once a Thief
- Once Again a Bride
- Once and Again
- Once Touched, Never Forgotten
- Once Upon a Kiss
- Once Upon a Prince
- One Desert Night
- One More Kiss
- One More Sleepless Night
- One Night of Misbehavior
- One Night Standoff
- One Texas Night
- Only Love (The Atonement Series)
- Operation Endurance
- Primal Bonds
- Questions of Trust A Medical Romance
- Reflection Point
- Retribution
- Savage Redemption
- Second Chance
- Secure Location
- Someone I Used to Know
- Son of a Preacher Man
- Soul Bonded
- Sunset Seduction
- Sweet as Honey (The Seven Sisters)
- Sweet On You
- Tempting Cameron
- That Carrington Magic
- The Bridgertons Happily Ever After
- The Demon's Song
- The Dragon and the Pearl
- The Lone Rancher
- The Millionaire Cowboy's Secret
- Translation of Love
- Twisted Perfection
- Vision In White
- When Love's Gone Country
- The Lost Tycoon
- Down on Her Knees
- Love, Your Concierge
- A Demon Made Me Do It
- Campbell_Book One
- The Lady of Bolton Hill
- Born to Ride_A Clubhouse Collection
- A Question of Honor
- Blood on Copperhead Trail
- Passion and the Prince
- Top Secret Twenty-One
- Dungeon Royale
- Make Me Bad(Private Lessons)
- My Fair Billionaire
- Writing Our Song:A Billionaire Romance
- Kissed by Moonlight
- Redemption in Love
- The Masterful Mr. Montague
- Diamonds are Forever
- Every Second with You
- If You Only Knew