quicker if I thought of someone else, the only person I wanted to do this with.
But that didn’t feel right either. I didn’t want her like this. I wouldn’t want her facing away from me, just a body to invade. I’d want to see her face, to feel her hands on me. Not that any of it mattered.
Overtly aware of Morgan waiting for me, I began to stroke myself. After a whole minute of trying to get things started, my own hand was failing me. So I stared at the strange woman’s opening, spread open and on display. That wasn’t working, either.
“Need some help?” She sounded utterly bored.
“No.” I ran through every scenario in my head that had gotten me hard before, every one but that one.
Nothing did it for me. I knew it the moment I saw this woman standing outside my door. As Jandro put it, I might as well try to shoot pool with a length of rope. Nothing that had previously worked for me could any more. Only she did.
I released my limp dick with a sigh, tucking it back into my pants. “I’m sorry. This isn’t going to happen.”
“Well.” She didn’t hesitate in sliding off the bed and picking up her discarded dress. “Thanks for completely wasting my time.”
“I’ll make sure you still get paid,” I told her, looking away as she got dressed.
“Uh, yeah,” she scoffed. “I better be.” She paused once she got her dress on, looking at me from head to toe. “Gotta admit, I’m kinda bummed,” she mused, her voice softer. “You look like you could be a good lay if you weren’t in your head so much.”
Sure, like that was going to happen.
I grabbed the doorknob and swung the door open. “Sorry to waste your time. Have a good night.”
“You too, big guy.” She cast a coy look over her shoulder as she walked out. “Good luck.”
It felt like I couldn’t close the door fast enough, and I forced myself not to slam it. My room was blissfully empty of other people again, but my relief was gone. I thought of her and my cock stiffened instantly.
I leaned against the door, letting the back of my head hit the wood as my hand cupped over the front of my pants. The room wasn’t just empty now, it was lonely. I did want someone here with me, but only if that someone was her. I wanted those lips that smiled at me and kissed my cheek. I wanted the only hands that ever touched my bare skin like they desired me.
Thirty
MARIPOSA
“Holy fuck, I’m exhausted.” Gunner laid his head on my shoulder as soon as the car door closed behind him.
“Same here.” I ran my fingers through his soft hair, watching blankly through the windshield as we pulled away from the building. “I have a feeling I’ll be too wired to sleep, though.”
“Right?” Jandro’s voice was raspy from cigar smoke. “Just like that, we could have a house gifted to us by the governor of Four Corners? Shit’s fucking wild.”
“If we’re all losing sleep over this, that’s a sign we shouldn’t accept it,” Reaper called from the passenger seat.
“Or you’re just looking for excuses not to,” I pointed out. “I’m glad you brought up the club, though. Everyone else, like Tessa and the boys especially, need a stable place more than us.”
“Yeah, I dunno what to think,” Reaper admitted. “I don’t get a slimy vibe from him, but I didn’t from Tash either.”
“Sleep on it.” I leaned forward to kiss the back of his shoulder. “Or try to, at least.”
The short ride back to the B&B was in comfortable silence. My feet ached once the car pulled up and we stepped out. I couldn’t wait to shed this dress and heels.
Under the porch light’s glow, I saw the silhouette of a large man sitting in one of the patio chairs.
“Sup, dude,” Jandro greeted Shadow as we walked up. “Thought you’d be in bed by now.”
He got a noncommittal grunt in reply. “Just felt like some fresh air.”
“All right, well,” Jandro was already yawning. “Good night.”
We slipped inside and quietly made our way to our room. Taking my shoes off was a huge relief, as was getting out of the dress. But I wasn’t ready to turn in yet, albeit for different reasons than fantasizing about a home to share with my loves.
“I think I’ll sit outside with Shadow for a bit.” I pulled on a long-sleeved shirt and lounge pants.
“Okay.” Reaper didn’t