read between his words.
“Like I said, it’s your choice to stay or go. You know my vote: don’t want you leaving. Want you right here with me and Bryce.”
I’ve never felt so wanted, like I just belong. “I don’t want to go somewhere else, Flint, but having to look after my whole family? That’s a lot to take on.”
“It’s nothing. I’ve already got my guys heading out this evening to install the new systems. Your ma and Ray can pack up and skedaddle in another day or two.”
I love how easy he makes everything sound, and show my gratitude with a quick kiss.
I smile into his eyes. “Bet you never thought this would happen when Cash dragged me in like a stray.”
He grins, touching his nose to mine. “Nah, baby, but I already thanked him. He’s a good friend. Sometimes.”
His lips touch mine then, softly at first. It quickly grows into the exquisite slow-burn I’ve come to love with this handsome giant. It’s hard to keep worrying over every little thing when his tongue delivers pure euphoria.
Then it delivers a whole lot more later that night, when we’re in his bedroom, after the rest of the house is sound asleep. We’d barely slept last night, considering the sun was rising when we’d gotten home this morning, and the house filled up with people a few hours later.
Fresh out of the shower, I’m brushing my teeth in nothing but a towel when Flint pads into the bathroom. He steps up behind me, folding his arms snug around my waist.
His lips attack the side of my neck, hot and sweet and oh-so-bothered. “Bad timing. I was hoping to catch you in the shower. But this works just fine.”
“Oh?” I put away my toothbrush, all the while watching him in the huge mirror in front of me. “Can I help you with something, sir?”
My little coy act must be working. He breaks into a savage, bright-eyed grin.
“Depends. How are those hands?”
I hold one up to the mirror. “Better. I changed out the bandages, just need to be careful for a few more days.”
“Then we’ll be careful, Val. Keep your hands behind you when we fuck,” he growls, gingerly running his fingers up my arm.
Oh, wow.
He untucks the edge of the towel between my breasts and lets it fall to the floor. “Also think you need a full exam from someone more qualified to handle this body than Cash. Gotta make sure you don’t have any bumps or bruises from yesterday.”
His hand cups my breast and I tumble back against him, loving the feel of him touching me, holding me up, making me weak at the knees. “Hmmm. And what will you do if you find any sore spots?”
“Kiss that shit and make it better. And if I can’t...I’ll make other places sing so loud they drown out everything else.” He kisses my shoulder.
I lean my head to the side, rubbing my shoulder. “Come to think of it, this is kinda sore.”
He kisses my shoulder, softly at first, then adding a quick, electrifying brush of his tongue. “Better?”
“I think so.”
I let out a husky moan, letting him know exactly how it feels.
“Just think?”
I nod. “Not sure, yet. Might need a little more convincing...”
Biting back a grin, he trails more smoldering kisses down my shoulder, up my neck.
“Val?” he growls between more kisses.
“Mmm, I think...oh. Oh. Definitely better.”
Then his hand wanders down, finds my nipple, and rolls it between his fingers. “And these? Do they need some therapy too?”
I arch my back, inadvertently pushing my boob into his hand. “Well, now that you mention it, doctor...”
Growling, he spins me around, lifts me up, and sets me on the counter.
My pulse quickens even before his mouth attacks one of my nipples, pooling between my legs in this steady throb. I lean back, arching into him, giving over everything.
Flint turns less caring doctor and more hungry thief. He claims every aching bit of me with his lips, his teeth, his hands, leaving me a squirming mess on the counter.
His fingers find my folds, moving in, thumb against my clit with just the right pressure.
There’s no time to think anything more nuanced than how flipping good he feels.
When his face pushes between my thighs and kisses upward, when his tongue replaces his fingers and makes me shake, when I’m grasping at his head even with the cuts on my hands stinging, creating this mad, magnifying clash of pleasure and pain...
Holy hell, I’m gone.
And Flint Calum Takes. Me. Places.
I