“Oh, that’s so nice of you.”When did I get so awkward?“Margot, will you cover the register for a bit?”
“Absolutely.” Margot gave me a wink as she shooed me out from behind the counter. “Enjoy your meal,” she called after us as I led Beckett to the office door.
He stepped inside after me, his large frame taking up way more space than he used to.
“I thought you might be hungry.” Beckett placed the bag on my desk and waited as I closed the door and stepped around him.
“You were right. I haven’t eaten much today.”
Beckett stepped closer, our bodies nearly touching. “Then I’m glad I’m here.” He tucked a strand of hair away from my face.
“Me, too,” I whispered. My pulse hammered in my throat.
Beckett leaned down as if to kiss me but stopped only an inch away from my mouth. I realized it was an invitation, not hesitation. I wrapped a hand around his neck, lifted myself onto my toes and closed the space between us.
Immediately, Beckett wrapped his arms around my waist and held me against his broad, muscular chest. Everything else fell away as Beckett took his time exploring my mouth.
I wanted more, so much more. But I knew we had to stop before someone walked in on us. I didn’t want anyone knowing about whatever was happening between us before we figured it out ourselves.
I broke the kiss and he pressed his forehead to mine. We were both breathing heavily and if I didn’t back up, I’d kiss him again.
I stepped out of his arms, but he followed with one hand on my waist as if he didn’t want to let go.
When had things between us changed so dramatically? What did it mean? Why now?
“Sorry. I didn’t come here for that. I’m not complaining but it wasn’t why.” He paused and took a breath. “I brought you a chicken salad on a roll and chips.”
“Thank you. I love Juan’s chicken salad.” Juan, the long-time head chef at the Hearthstone Lodge, refused to give up his secret for the best chicken salad to ever exist. I took the bag and placed it on the desk behind me.
“I know.” Beckett grinned at me. “I can’t stay. I have to get back to working on the trail maps, but I needed to make sure you ate something.”
My heart swelled at that last sentence. “You take excellent care of me, Beckett Ashland, thank you.” I kissed his cheek and had to force myself to back up.
He reached for my hand, his fingers twining with mine as he pulled me in and whispered against my ear, “I’ll text you later, little wren.”
And then he was gone, leaving me breathless and the door closing behind him.
I’m so screwed.
Chapter Five
Beckett
I’m never going to get enough of Clara, of her taste, of the noises she makes as I explore her body.
It’s enough to drive me to distraction even hours after I brought her lunch and tasted her again. Not helpful when I’m supposed to be working on a plan to clear up the riding trails through the woods on our property.
The trails had been neglected over the last winter, what with the insane amounts of snow and rain we’d gotten in the area, and a few distractions with other things had kept us from getting them ready earlier in the year.
Not to mention the paperwork for the change in management I needed to get together so I could get it sent off to the proper places. And help Noah figure out a plan for some extra funding for the updates and renovations he wanted to make for the Lodge and guest rooms. We’d used up too much of our savings to help cover expenses over the last year or so while the economy tanked. We were lucky that our family had been squirreling away money for such an instance. A lot of rancheshad either sold off parcels of land to developers or had to close down entirely.
But instead of focusing on that, every few seconds I glanced out the window of the study, to the corner of the barn where the tack room is.
This morning had been … unexpected, and right in so many ways. I wasn’t sure how Clara felt about the sudden and undeniable change in our friendship, but she’d been just as eager as I’d been.
She’d kissed me back with just as much intensity, as much need. And holy hell had she been beautiful and needy with the sounds she made and the way she’d rode my fingers and my tongue.
My cock was hard again within seconds, reminding me that I hadn’t had my own release. No, I’d wanted to taste her and explore as much of her as I could, and make sure she was more than fully sated. My orgasm could wait. I had spent too long dreaming of the way she tasted.
