Harper
My hands shake when I lift my key to slide it into the lock on my front door. So much so that Austin places his hand over mine to steady it. “Shit,” I gasp, feeling like a fool for reacting this way when finding someone to love me is exactly what I’ve dreamed of. I want this. Ridiculously so. But I’m worried I’ll disappoint him...
“It’s OK,” he says, taking the keys from my hands and opening the door for me. “If this is too fast, we can just talk.” We step through the door, and I turn to face him, my heart thundering in my chest. “We’ve got all the time in the world to be together.”
“No. I want to. I’m just...I’m trying to wrap my head around this,” I admit, pressing my lips together as I force myself to meet his eyes. “I’ve never done this before. And I want to get it right, but...hell…I’m not used to feeling out of my depth. And you’re...you’re so fucking beautiful. You could have any girl you wanted, Austin. Why are you here with me?” All of my insecurities seem to tumble out of my mouth at once. Decades of being passed over have left me feeling wholeheartedly unwanted. It’s hard for me to believe what’s standing in front of me is real.
“Does there need to be a reason?” he asks, his voice thick. Just like he did on the ranch, he reaches out and removes the elastic from my braid, freeing my tightly bound hair.
“Yes, Austin,” I cry. “Yes, there does need to be a reason. Because...because no one has ever wanted me like this. I’ve had to do everything on my own. I’ve had to be everything to myself, and it’s been so fucking hard to get to a point where I’m OK with that. I moved out here because I’m finally OK with being alone. Then you come along with your broad shoulders and your smoldering gaze, and I’m scared. I’m scared to believe that this is what you say it is. I’m scared to let this happen. I’m scared to trust that this is real. Austin…” My emotions get the better of me, and I close my eyes, my hand flying up to cover my eyes as I turn away, trying to hide the mess of a woman I am from him.
“Harper,” he whispers, his big hands coming to rest on my shoulders as his broad chest presses against my back. “I can’t change your past. But if you’ll let me, I’ll change your future.”
I whirl around in his arms so I’m facing him head on. “How can you promise me that? You barely know me.”
Those big hands of his reach up to cup my face, his thumbs moving across my cheeks, wiping my tears away. “I know you,” he whispers. “My soul recognized you the moment you got off that bike and walked into the diner. You are mine, Harper Jones. Let me love you.”
“Austin.” Fresh tears fall from my eyes.
“Harper. Please.” He holds me just a little tighter, his eyes darkening with intensity. “Let me love you.”
“OK,” I gasp. “OK.”
“Say it. Say it or I’ll walk out that door, Harper. I’ve got my heart on my sleeve here. Tell me what I need to hear.”
“I want you to love me, Austin. I want you. I love you too.”
“Harper.” His mouth collides with mine, intense and hungry as his hands shift into my hair and down to my ass. He’s rough and needy, pulling me tight against him as his tongue slides along mine with demanding force. “My God,” he moans, pulling back for a breath and meeting my eyes. “I’ve been dying to do that since you ran away from me. I need you to be mine, Harper. Need.” He punctuates his words by grinding his hips against me.
I twist my hands in the fabric of his shirt, my body set aflame against his. “I’m yours. You can have me any way you want.”
“Music to my fucking ears,” he moans, pulling his shirt over his head and dumping it on the floor.
“Holy mother of god,” I gasp, my eyes going wide as I take a step back so I can admire the view. The man has muscle, upon muscle, upon muscle. And those pecs, my word, they’re bigger than my D-cups.
“Your turn,” he says, a grin tilting up the corner of his mouth as he steps toward me.
“Nah-uh.” I shake my head, stepping back until I’m out of his reach. “I can’t top that.”
“Give me your hand.”
I reach out tentatively, my breath hitching when he wraps his palm around me and crowds my space, guiding my hand to the bulge in his jeans.
“Do you feel that?” he rasps, encouraging me to explore what he has to offer. “Do you feel how hard I am right now? That’s with your clothes on. The moment I see those big tits of yours and that pretty pussy that I know you’ve never used right, well…I’m probably gonna come right in my pants. Don’t hide from me what’s mine, Harper. I want to see it all, taste it all, fuck it all.” He grinds himself into my palm, and I let out a tight whimper, heat flooding to my core. “Take it off. Take it all off. Let me see my girl.”
