Page 21 of Quid Pro Beau

chapter twelve

Beau

I hold her hand all the way to my truck.

I feel reborn in a way I don’t understand. All I know is that seeing Daisy’s daughter with her tiny toes and fluttering heart and that sweet, sweet profile, changed me. I am not the same man that walked into that office.

By the time we reach my truck, my blood feels like it’s humming through my veins. Vibrating on a new frequency.

Before I open Daisy’s door, I press her against it.

“That was amazing. Thank you for sharing it with me.”

She looks up into my face and she’s so goddamn beautiful, everything inside me cracks open. I lower my mouth to hers and finally taste her. Her lips part immediately, and her arms come up around my neck. Then she’s kissing me back.

With every press of her lips, every swipe of her tongue, the broken parts inside of me piece back together.

Our kiss deepens, and we are likely being obscene for a parking lot in Saddle Creek. But I can’t get enough of this woman.

I pull back, far enough to press my forehead to hers.

“If we don’t stop, I’m going to fuck you right here in the parking lot. I want you too goddamn much,” I say.

“Home,” she manages.

And that’s all I need to know. I help her up into the truck, then race to the other side. I don’t dare touch her on the drive back to my rental house because I don’t trust myself not to just pull to the side of the road and lose myself inside her.

“Fuck, Little Mama,” I say, my voice rough, “I’m so damn hard for you, I’m surprised my dick hasn’t drilled through my zipper.

She reaches over and presses her palm to the front of my jeans. “My panties are soaked,” she admits.

By the time I hit my driveway and park under my carport, I am half out of my mind for want of her.

“Stay put,” I tell her. When I open her door she tries to step out, but instead I pick her up, cradling her to my chest like she’s my bride. Like I get to keep her.

I shove those thoughts away. If she’ll have me, I’ll stay with her in whatever capacity she’ll let me. Her and her daughter.

I march us straight into my bedroom, not even bothering to peek into the backyard and check on Mouse. Nothing matters more in this moment than Daisy. I set her down on the bed and immediately start taking off my clothes.

Then I pause. “Shit,” I murmur.

She’s halfway out of her shirt. “What’s the matter?” she asks.

“I just remembered that I don’t have a condom. I haven’t needed any in a while. Haven’t been with a woman in a long damn time.” I haven’t admitted that to any of the guys. I’m sure they all still think I’m hitting the bars every weekend and bringing home a new woman. But the appeal of one-night stands faded before I even got back stateside.

She pulls her shirt the rest of the way off but holds it against her chest. “Well, you can’t get me pregnant.”

“I’m clean, Little Mama, I promise you.”

“I trust you,” she says. “I’m clean too. They checked me for everything when I found out asshole Timothy had been sleeping with his wife at the same time as me. So even though I was an idiot, my daughter is the only thing that came out of that mess.”

I cup her face. “You are not an idiot. You should never have to wonder if a man is being faithful to you. You are everything, Daisy. If that dumb motherfucker couldn’t see it, then he’s the goddamn idiot.”

She kisses me. And we finish getting undressed in between our heated kisses.

Her hand tries to fist my cock, but her fingers don’t quite meet. “You touch me too much, beautiful, and you’re going to have me coming before I’m inside of you. I’ve never been this hard before. Never wanted—needed—anyone the way I need you.”

I run my hands down her curves, wrap my palms beneath the weight of her stomach.