Page 90 of Read With Your Heart

Shit.

“Did I get it wrong, pretty lady?”

With that, she bursts into tears and falls into my arms. Then the next minute, she’s climbing my body, knees raised at my hips, and arms around my neck. She’s kissing my face. Between her tears and her kisses, every inch of my cheeks is wet, and I’m laughing because I don’t know what this is.

“You gave me a home,” she mutters between kisses, balancing on my body as I hold her under her ass even though her brothers stand behind us, and her mother is watching. “I love this so much. I love you so much. Leon, thank you. Thank you for this.”

Her mouth crushes against mine, and I stumble back from her eagerness.

“Hey, we helped, too,” Ethan calls out, hinting I should share her enthusiasm, but there is no way I am.

“So did I, but I want none of that,” Tom gags behind us.

“I want that, so it’s time I get home to Emily,” Jess says, and Tricia finally leans back, but remains clamped onto me.

“Thank you, all of you,” she calls out and then returns to my mouth. We don’t hear any of them leave.

+ + +

“Please,” she whimpers. We were on our way up to our bedroom as Tricia wanted to thank me for the gift of a kitchen—for the second time. She’s already thanked me once, falling to her knees on the new kitchen floor and taking me with her mouth, but now we’re bent over the dining room table, and I’m thrusting into her. She jumped on my back as we left the kitchen and nipped at my neck. I knew I couldn’t wait the distance it would take to get up the stairs. I flipped her to the dining room table, repaying her eager appreciation with my mouth between her thighs before we took to this position.

“Thank you,” she stutters as I enter her over and over again. Little does she know I’m the one grateful for her, and if I’d have known she was hot for appliances, I’d have taken her to a home improvement store every night. Then again, we’ve been having sex often enough with or without new appliances, so there’s been no loss by not visiting a Home Depot.

“You are so beautiful,” I say to her, my eyes gazing over her body spread out on the antique wood like a feast. Her legs dangle off the edge of the table, and my arms hold me upright as I repeatedly surge into her. My fingers reach for her clit. On a final cry, she stills, arching her back like she does when she comes, and I go off inside her, giving her more of me each time we join like this. I’m waiting for the day she says it takes—we’re having a baby—but I’m prepared to keep trying until it does.

That night as we lounge on our bed, and she turns to me. “I don’t think I can top a kitchen with my Christmas gift for you.”

“You already give me everything, baby. I don’t need anything more.” I really don’t, and I’m not just saying that to get into her pants one more time before we sleep.

“How did you afford the kitchen?” I’ve been telling her I planned to get a truck near the holidays.

“Uhm…” Yeah, the truck needs to wait a little longer, but I don’t mention it until her hand claps on my forearm.

“Leon, what did you do?”

“I gave you a kitchen,” I state, looking up at her sitting next to me.

“But a truck?”

“Can wait.”

She groans. “Leon, why would you do this?”

“Want to give the kitchen back?”

“No, but still.”

“I love you, baby. I want to give you everything. I want you to feel safe. A home. A baby. Me.”

I can almost read her thoughts, rambling over the list I just gave her.

“I love you, too, but what will you do?” she says.

“Be extra careful on my bike.” Her concern warms my heart because I know she worries I’ll skid on black ice. “Let’s not talk about the bike. Let me tell you what I want.”

Her brows pinch, and I hold her gaze until she agrees.

“Pick a nightie.”