He hunched a shoulder. “For a minute.”
I smiled. “Well, every minute counts.”
We stood there for a moment, staring at each other. After everything we’d shared recently, I hadn’t expected the awkwardness. At the same time, I couldn’t bring myself to say anything.
Preston did the talking for me, though, when he said, “This isn’t how I imagined this night ending.”
I swallowed. “How did you imagine it?”
He tugged me to him and kissed me. “With you riding my dick,” he murmured against my lips.
“In that case,” I breathed. “I’d better get naked then, huh?”
His mouth met mine again and we stumbled into my house. Preston kicked my door closed while I struggled to remove my clothes, then his. He picked me up and carried me over to the couch and fell back against the cushions. “Feel free to take your time,” he instructed. “I can do this all night.”
I smirked. “That’s good to know.”
We made fast love, coming in a matter of minutes, our mouths sealed to each other. And all I could think of was…I want more.
Chapter Twelve
Let it Burn
Preston
With everything I’d gone through, I tended to be the glass-half-empty type with a shot of optimism reserved only for business. Because I excelled at my job. I loved the science of building design, from planning to development to implementation. I enjoyed preparing drawings and blueprints, compiling feasibility reports, creating project proposals, and estimating costs. Work had been the one part of my life I could control, so I gave it my all. Lately, though, the focus on my career had started to wane. And it was all because of Dallas.
The past month and a half spent with her had turned my well-controlled life upside down. Not in a bad way, either. Initially, I’d thought it’d be fun to hang out with her, get to know her in a different way. I hadn’t really gone into this expecting us to cross the line. Maybe I’d thought we’d have sex once or twice, but not daily. Yet, that’s exactly what had happened after we’d gone to Tristan’s birthday celebration a couple of weeks ago.
I’d planned for the fundraisers, the outings, and even dinners. After all, we’d started this entire thing to help her clinch the coveted spot in the Color of Law organization. What I didn’t plan for were the movie nights, the private chats, the double dates with her sister, the lazy mornings wrapped around each other. All of those things were outside of the scope of our initial agreement but were nonetheless important to me. Our business relationship had somehow morphed into mostly pleasure. And as time sped toward the induction ceremony, I wondered if everything we’d shared would fade as fast as this fake relationship had started.
The bombshell revelation that Hayes wasn’t my biological father had thrown me for a loop, but it could’ve been much worse. I could’ve experienced this alone. I could’ve been left to pick up the pieces myself. Yet, Dallas had been right there with me—supportive, encouraging, and even sweet during one of the worst times of my life. And she was here today, with her contagious smile, chatting with my new siblings while I was glowering in the corner.
When we’d arrived in Wellspring that morning, Brooklyn had greeted me with a hug. From there, it had been a whirlwind of introductions, brunch at the hotel, a tour of the small town, and now an early dinner at Bryson’s home. According to Brooklyn, Senior had left the house to Bryson in his will with the stipulation that the youngest Wells sibling live there for a year, which had been hard due to the abuse he’d suffered at our father’s hands.
“Overwhelming, huh?” Veronica said as she approached me.
After meeting all of them, I found I related most to Veronica because of our late entry into the clan. She’d moved to Wellspring after Senior died, had thrived in the town, and had even fallen in love.
“Pretty much,” I admitted softly. “How did you do it?”
She shrugged. “I just did. And I’m better for it.” Ronnie sipped her drink. “I will say that they’re some of the most genuine people I’ve ever met. It was easy to love them.”
I actually believed her. Parker Jr., Brooklyn, and Bryson had been nothing but hospitable the entire time I was there. In these types of situations, I’d expect them to be wary of me and maybe even accusatory. It was no secret the Wells family was very wealthy. I wouldn’t be surprised if other siblings came out of the woodwork claiming to be an illegitimate offspring of the notorious philanderer, Parker Wells Sr. “It’s an adjustment,” I mumbled. “I grew up thinking I was an only child. Now, I have four siblings.”
“Me too.” She smiled at her boyfriend, Juke, when he handed her a plate of veggies. Once he’d left us, she said, “I always knew about Senior, but thank God, I never experienced him up close and personal.”
I snickered. “I guess that is something to be thankful for.” Living with my mother was no treat, but from all accounts, it would’ve been ten times worse if Senior had been in the picture.
Bryson joined us a few minutes later. “Are you two okay over here?”
Dallas never left my line of sight. I’d watched her rock one of the babies, laugh with Bryson’s wife, Jordan, and hug another woman who’d just arrived at the house. “We’re good,” I said.
“You seem like the quiet type,” Bryson observed. “I guess we have that in common.”
“You think you’re quiet?” Veronica muttered.
Bryson shoved Ronnie with his shoulder. “Shut up. Give us a minute.”
