Wild.”
Piper groaned. I silenced her with another kiss. This time, I was rough and demanding, flicking my tongue over hers with an expectation of something more devious to come.
I’d have her against the wall as I knelt before her, legs spread, that beautiful pussy waiting for my taste, my bite, my pleasure. I nearly took her once, but the water separated us. Only my fingers found that perfect heat between her legs.
I’d have it.
I’d take her.
Again and again.
Through the night, hours of pleasure and fucking. Her body would be used, abused, and worshipped as the goddess she was.
I didn’t expect the sudden collision to my knee.
Or the giggle.
Or the little hands prying our legs apart.
“Mamamamama!”
Rose bounced and clapped. She edged between us just to hook her little arms around Piper’s leg. I froze as she reached for me, squeezing my calf as tight as she could get it.
She smiled, thrilled to be tucked between us in the most inconvenient hug imaginable. She was the cutest cock-block ever, and Piper and I pushed away from each other.
Why wasn’t this child afraid of me?
“I…” Piper’s words trembled, breathless. “She needs to go down for a nap. I really…I should…I have to take care of my daughter, Cole.”
She didn’t just mean for the nap.
It was a warning. No. An excuse.
And I wasn’t having it.
She rushed to the stairs with the baby. Rose waved bye-bye. I sucked in a pained breath.
It didn’t matter that Piper had a kid. Didn’t matter that she thought she was protecting herself by denying both of our desires.
I’d take Piper just the way she wanted it, how she needed it.
Hard. Fast. Bestial.
Because I didn’t know any other way to fuck a woman.
But for her…I’d learn.
12
Piper
“Cole Hawthorne will be your biggest mistake.” Dad lowered his voice, muttering his chosen insult. “Well…your second worst mistake. I don’t think you’ll get pregnant again.”
I had a packet of birth control pills in my purse, but they’d find a better home stuffed up Dad’s ass.
Why did I even answer the phone? Two weeks of radio silence from Dad had been merciful, but he’d finally called to learn why and how I was acting as representation for Cole.
I considered hanging up, but no one insulted my daughter—least of all her grandfather.
“Leave Rose out of this.” I kept my voice soft as she slept in the crib. And here I thought her granddad wanted to Facetime to see her. Apparently, he just wanted to fight. “And I didn’t ask your opinion of Cole Hawthorne.”
“Obviously not. I would have warned you not to take him as a client. You have no idea what you’re doing. He’ll ruin your career...and your life.”
“Don’t start.”
“You’re living with him?”
I wasn’t having this conversation. “It’s none of your business. I can take care of myself, Dad.”
“Or you can let Jasper do it.” He sighed. “Piper, please. He’s a decent man. You and him used to get along so well. Marry him and stay at home. Raise Rose and have a bunch more babies. That’s all he and I want for you.”
“Now you want me to have babies?”
“I want you to settle down. This agenting life isn’t for you, and you’ve always been the…intellectual sort. You could have your babies, take care of your husband, and study all those books you love at home—nice and comfortable.”
I nearly popped a vein. I gritted my teeth and counted to ten.
Didn’t work.
How did Cole cope with his anger issues all the time?
“I want more in this life than to be Jasper’s baby-momma,” I said.
“It’s a little late for that, Piper…unless you plan to be Cole’s too.”
I ended the call and almost swore.
Did he think I was helpless? Like I couldn’t care for my daughter and manage my client and live my own happy and healthy life without him?
Or worse—without Jasper?
I had better things on the horizon for me than to be Jasper’s mindless little sexpot, personal chef, and womb-on-demand. He didn’t want me. He wanted the kids, the image, the pretty woman on his arm.
I was no one’s trophy.
But for the past two years I’d lived in the shadows, fearing I blew my chance to change my life. Well, no more. It was time to take that first step and search for the adventure I wanted.
And I knew exactly where to find it.
Rose immediately fell asleep after a long day of paddling in the pool and running in the garden. I carried her baby monitor with me and crept through the mansion. Cole’s room was in