“Oh, baby,” she purrs, her hands coming to cradle my face. Bending her head, she drags her lips gently over my scars, making my entire body ache. “You can’t break me the way you want to. And I won’t let you keep breaking yourself. See you tomorrow, caveman. When you come tonight, you should be thinking about me—because I will be thinking about you.”
Rain slides from my lap just as fast as she climbed on, before she strolls out of my cabin, taking a part of me with her.
Chapter Four
Rain
One thing I got from my father is a poker face.
One thing I got from my mother—her wandering spirit. When I first began venturing beyond the safety of the ivory towers of my life in The Pillars, I realized how much world is out there. I set out to see as much of the world as I could while I had the time. Life is too short to miss sunrises in Hawaii or spring in Ireland. I am well aware of how fortunate I am to have the luxuries that give those experiences.
I am also aware of how small someone’s world can get. If they get hurt or betrayed, grow afraid of rejection or being misunderstood, their world can close in on them. It means they’re not watching sunrises or embracing the world’s beauty—they just want to survive another day, make it through another night.
My mother’s world grew very small when she got sick. Her illness made all of us a little sick with her. Because we watched her fade, no longer watching sunsets or embracing the earth around her. Losing her was the catalyst it took to push me out of the safe haven of my father’s care. I had to go out to experience the world for myself.
Now I know better what to cherish, what to revel in.
Kissing Reece last night proved that for me. He is something I want to cherish. I was never a romantic but there is something so romantic about how he makes me feel. Sitting there with him last night, trying to break down his walls with a good meal and better company, it was my own boundaries that got wrecked.
“Reece has no idea what is coming for him,” I mutter as a sort of pep talk to myself. Sitting outside his cabin, trying tocalm myself, I glance over at the tin covered pie beside me. Food worked last night so I am hoping it will work again today.
Climbing from my uncle’s truck, I let out a trembling breath as I head up the stone pebble walk to his front door. Walking out of here last night was almost impossible. I wanted to stay. Hell, I wanted to never the moment I pressed my lips to his. Leaving was all I could do.
Reece does not trust me yet—but he will.
Before I can make it to the door, it swings open. And holy Jesus. There he is again,once againbarely clad, in just sweats and a tank. Adamptank top that clings to every crest and valley of his massive chest and powerful arms. Lord forgive me for the sinful thoughts flooding my brain. Such as ripping that scrap of cloth from him so I can lick each drop of sweat from his skin.
“Rain,” Reece calls my name as if he is not surprised to see me. “Why would you come back here after last night?”
Pausing, I cock my head as I brandish the pie. “We never got to dessert last night, caveman. It’s not a meal without dessert,” I declare as I sail past him into the cabin, not waiting for an invite.
Last time I let myself in which, yes, is bold. I was a woman on a mission, little stops me when I am so focused. Stepping inside the cabin tonight, I slow down a little to take it all in. There is a fire going in the fireplace in one corner, though its mostly burning embers. A long, narrow couch that definitely is not big enough for him sits in front of it.
Besides the beautiful oak table he admitted he made himself, I spot a few more handmade pieces, including a rocking chair. A strangely familiar rocking chair. It is dark outside but warm light casts the cabin in a comfortable glow. I smell coffee brewing in the kitchen, so I head there.
“Rain, you cannot keep coming here to….to…to do whatever it is you think you can do.”
“I came here to give you pie, Reece. Pecan pie, my mother’s very favorite. It’s sweet but…” I trail off as huge hands circle my waist, lifting me off my feet.
I gasp as I am sat down on the granite island in the small kitchen. The pie is taken from my hands, set aside with a thud. Blinking, I have no time to get a handle on things before I am wrapped up in his thick arms. I soften the moment his mouth crashes against mine. God, he tastes even better than I remember. And I spent all night last night remembering how sweet and spicy his tongue was as he licked my mouth greedily.
Reaching between us, I slip a hand past the waistband of his sweats. I never do this sort of thing. I’ve never even been with a man. Something about Reece has hit a switch inside me. Parts of me lying dormant have come to life. Need. Want. Possession. I want it all and I want it with him—no one else will do this to me, I know.
“Reece,” I whimper, so lost to the warmth of him, his earthy scent, his hands on my skin.
“I do not want pie, princess. I want something a little sweeter,” he grunts the words in that raw, throaty tone he used last night. When I told him I love the growly sounds he makes.
Before I can comprehend his words, he moves. I start to pout, reaching for him, but I can’t grasp hold. Reece is huge but moves fast, shoving my thighs open wider as he drops to his knees. My entire body heats up when his rough hands yank at my shorts, tearing them off before he tossing them behind him.
Then the rough tips of his fingers brush over my bare pussy. “Bad princess. You came here to give me something, didn’t you,” he hums, his mouth vibrating against my thigh. I gasp as his fingers brush over my wet folds, spreading me open to his hungry gaze. “Fuck, that’s so pretty. Such a pretty princess pussy,” he grunts.
My hands drop to tangle in his thick, dark hair as he lowers himself. I cry out in shock when his teeth scrape over my clit. It is so swollen it aches. He does it again and I almost come off the counter. Reece circles my thighs with his powerful arms, tugging to bring me to the edge of the counter. Then his mouth covers my pussy, and I am taken to a place I have never even been close to.
Planting a hand behind me to hold me up, I watch in fascination as Reece eats me hungrily. The sounds of his licks, his sucks at my clit, his hums when he plunges his tongue inside of me, it’s the hottest thing I’ve ever heard. It’s messy and raw and I am so fucking glad my it’s him on his knees for me because it wouldn’t be anything else.
“Oh my god,” I pant, pulling back from his mouth before he grunts and yanks me to the edge again.
“You brought me sweets, now let me eat them princess,” he growls, biting down hard on my aching clit. I buck off the counter, seeing stars when he pushes his tongue deep inside me. Sensations overrun me, pleasure, wet heat as his tongue pumps slowly, the smell of the coffee and the pecan pie, the power of his arms holding me up so he can feast on me as he pleases.
