Page 126 of Sugar & Shadows

“No,” I whispered as his eyes widened in response to my touch. “I don’t want it. I need it.”

He threw his head back and swore. “Fuck me, Sabrina.”

“That’s the plan.” I smiled. “Now get on the couch.”

I took my time lowering myself onto his hard length, savoring the feel of every inch of him. My thighs shook with satisfaction as I moaned, so full and so turned on.

“You are exquisite.” He arched up and took one nipple into his mouth.

My pussy clenched around him. Hot damn, my nipples were sensitive.

“And these.” He gripped my breasts, which had recently outgrown my bras. One of the perks of pregnancy, I guessed.

He chuckled, giving attention to the other one as I focused on friction. My body was wound tight and begging for release. It only took a moment to find a rhythm, and when I did, I gripped his shoulders and rode him. I threw my head back, trying to focus but I was aching and wild.

He pushed my hair out of my face, capturing my mouth in a kiss. “You’re incredible.” He shuddered. “The way you’re grinding on me. Fuck.”

“I’m close,” I breathed.

He clutched my ass, guiding me as I picked up the pace. The angle of his seated body provided me with the most delicious friction on my clit. “Touch me.”

Without hesitation, he licked his thumb and found the perfect spot, tracing circles.

Almost immediately, my eyes rolled into the back of my head. “Yes. Right there. A little more pressure,” I commanded. “Yes. Just like that.”

He snapped his hips, meeting my thrusts, the pressure between us building with each move. He kept one hand on my hip, anchoring me to him, while the other continued to tease my clit, and suddenly it was too much.

I came with a loud cry, capturing his mouth in a sloppy kiss. I spasmed around him, moaning into his mouth as he clenched beneath me.

He groaned, spilling inside me, but he didn’t slow until I’d ridden out my orgasm, and when I collapsed against him, he hugged me tight.

“That,” he said, pushing my hair behind my ear. “Was fucking insane.”

Sated, I smiled against his hard chest, too exhausted to move. The velocity of that orgasm had depleted me of all my energy.

I’d tried to set some boundaries. I’d wanted to keep things from getting messy.

But as Gabe’s racing heart pounded against my sternum after that consciousness-shattering orgasm, I realized that boundaries were seriously overrated.

Chapter 32

Gabe

The stack of work I’d been neglecting was calling my name. It was time to lock in and power through, but damn, did I want to go home. I fought the urge, and in the end, I ran over to the market to pick up something moderately nutritious to eat. After, I’d finish the MacNulty’s trust and the property easement for Smith’s farm.

As I stepped outside, I stopped and filled my lungs with fresh air. It was freezing, and the sun had just set, but spring was coming. Josh had been busy at the farm, and I’d been helping as much as I could. His nephews were in high school now, so they’d picked up my slack while I’d been working round the clock with the farmers to get syrup subscriptions up and running and to put together plans for spring tours. The Fitzgeralds had rallied some of the smaller farms, all but ensuring that our plans would grow into something bigger than we imagined.

Projects like this were what I loved about my job. I enjoyed sitting down with the townsfolk and rolling up my sleeves to help solve problems.

But more than two years in, I’d finally begun to understand that that wasn’t the job. Not of the mayor or Maplewood. At least according to my loudest critics.

The job more often involved listening. And placating people. And delaying. And finding creative and fun ways to say no.

And when I considered those duties and how they might translate to parenthood, I panicked. How could I be a good dad when I was barely a good mayor and a certifiably terrible adult? I was barely surviving most days, and I’d be damned if this was the example my child got.

My phone buzzed as I walked down the sidewalk, and when Marigold’s name appeared on the screen, my heart rate raced.

“Marigold,” I said, bringing the device to my ear. “Are you okay? Did you fall?”