But when I squeezed into the shower, getting hit in the ass with the faucet knob every other second, I knew that was a lie. Still, at least my balls were intact. I couldn’t say the same would hold true after sharing a space with Wren for the next…however long. Just thinking about her plump lips and full breasts, that ass, had my cock hardening.
I yanked the faucet to cold. No.No. No. No. No. No.
How on earth was I going to hide the way my body reacted to her? But it wasn’t just that—not just the physical. It washer. Her sweetness and kindness, her sass.
With the cold water pelting my skin, I was motivated to finish rinsing quickly. In record time, I switched off the shower and toweled off. Once I was dressed and my bag packed, I checked out of Alpaca Acres and said goodbye to Larry, Daisy, and Willa the alpacas before heading over to Wren’s.
When I pulled up to the curb, I took a minute to admire her house. I’d been here a few times over the years, usually for a family event or something like River’s birthday party. Rarely ever when it was just the two of us. I knew better than to put myself in those situations. Yet here I was—walking up to her front door, knocking on it, and asking her to let me stay.
She opened the door in a pair of leggings that looked like an explosion of flowers and a black shirt that hung off one shoulder. I homed in on that shoulder, all the smooth, creamy skin. Skin I wanted to taste. Lick.
“Bennett, hey.” She smiled just as footsteps pounded on the wood floor, announcing River’s approach.
“Bennett!” Without warning, he flung himself at me, and I was lucky I caught him. I laughed, trying to find his face through the sea of green tulle.
“River.” I gave him a good squeeze then let him go. “What on earth are you wearing?”
He stood back, turning from side to side with the cutest fucking grin on his face.This kid.He was a ball of energy covered in glitter and wrapped in smiles. The green tutu fluttered when he spun, a matching T-shirt on top. He had a heart-shaped rhinestone stuck to the middle of his forehead and several smaller ones forming lines over his eyebrows. On his head were a pair of glittery heart antennae that wobbled every time he moved. And he never stopped moving.
“Let me guess,” I said, tapping my finger to my lips. “You’re a…caterpillar.”
“No. Silly.” He giggled, rolling his eyes. “I’m a katydid.”
“A who-did-what?” I teased.
“You know.” He held up a hand, his expression saying the answer was completely obvious. “A long-horned grasshopper. We’ve been learning about them at school, and they’re really cool. They have these super green bodies that look almost like leaves to help them blend in.”
“Wow,” I said, standing. “That’s amazing.”
“Yeah. We even have a few in our class. I got to name one of them, and I named him Leafy!”
I smiled, trying my best not to laugh.I placed my hand on his shoulder and squeezed. “That’s awesome, Riv.”
Wren opened the door wider. “Let Bennett come in,” she said with a smile.
River skipped inside, jumping over some pillows that were on the floor. “Mom said you’re moving in with us.” He panted, screwed up his face with concentration, then jumped again.
For a minute, I held my breath, bracing myself for him to totally fucking eat it. But he didn’t. He nailed it, complete with a gymnastics, arms-in-the-air finish. I laughed, delighted by his beaming smile and not just a little bit relieved.
When I glanced at Wren, she wasn’t looking at River as I’d expected. She was watching me. And when I smiled, she tilted her head. She finally seemed to relax and returned my smile. I felt as if I’d passed some sort of unspoken test.
“Is it,” River panted, taking a big leap, “true?” Another leap.
“Only if it’s okay with you.”
“Are you kidding?” he squealed, landing next to me on the couch—a ball of green energy. “That. Is. Awesome!” He half yelled, half sang the words, each one louder than the last.
“Come here, kid,” I pulled him into my side, giving him a good hug. “You’re awesome.” He giggled when I tickled him, which only made me do it more.
“Okay. Okay.” He laughed. “Let me go!” As soon as I did, he said, “More! Tickle me more!” Then ran off down the hall.
I shook my head with a laugh. “I’ll be there in a minute. I need to chat with your mom about a few things first.”
“Okay!” he called back.
I turned to Wren. “Are you sure you’re okay with this?”
“I was just about to ask you the same. Because spending time with River for an afternoon is different from living with him. It’s rarely quiet around here, unless he’s sleeping or out of the house.”
