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“Sadie and I are content with our life as it is. We’ll leave the kiddos to folks like you guys. You’re incredible parents, and your children are just gems.” Jamie was laying it on thick, but I was grateful that he took the reins on this conversation.
“Oh, nonsense! It feels that way now, but once you have children, your life just gets so much richer!” Diana basically purred with contentment. I plastered on a smile and tried to find words to say that weren’tover my dead body,orI would rather not have sex ever again.
“And we are pleased as punch to see families like yours be so filled with joy. Sadie and I are happy with how our life looks now, however. Oh, look Sadie! Isn’t that the new homeowner? We should go introduce ourselves!” Jamie’s tactic was equally perfect and horrible. On the one hand, he pulled the brakes on the dreaded baby talk, but on the other hand, it meant having to approach Thatcher. Thatcher in swim trunks. Thatcherwetin swim trunks. I took a deep breath, steadying myself for the conversation to come. Oh, who was I kidding? I clenched my thighs together and pretended I wasn’t wet and achy at the thought of being close to him again. The man was making me crazy — and far too sex-crazed. It wasn’t like me.
“Hello, Mr. Wells.” I greeted Thatcher as we approached, his back turned to us. I realized, for as much talking about the man as I had done, I had not formally introduced him and Jamie. He spun, his face breaking out into a brilliant smile as he ran his fingers through his dark, wet hair.
“What’s with all this Mr. Wells nonsense? Thatcher will do just fine, or Tripp if you prefer,” he said with a grin that instantly transported me back to our night at Haven.
“Thatcher, allow me to introduce you to my husband, Jamie Day.” I turned to my husband and did not miss the way Jamie’s eyes ran over Thatcher’s lean, muscular body for a brief moment before taking the man’s hand.
“It’s nice to meet you, Tripp. I’ve heard…a lotabout you,” Jamie said with a smirk of his own. I could have smacked the man.
“Oh, I’d love to hear more about these tales Sadie has been telling you.” Thatcher spared me a look — a look that ran down my neck, straight to my cleavage, and back up to my eyes again. “She’s a vivacious one, isn’t she?”
I take it back. I could have smackedbothof them.
“I think I’m gonna like you, Tripp,” Jamie said with a chuckle, taking a sip of his beer. Thatcher mirrored his movement, sipping on his own drink, finishing it with a loud sigh of contentment. “Let me get you a refill. IPA, or something else?”
“IPA would be perfect,” Tripp answered. I opened my mouth to argue, wanting Jamie by my side as a measure of protection, but before I could utter a word, he was gone, leaving me standing there with Thatcher. A half naked Thatcher.Fuck.
“How are you enjoying the party, Sadie?” he asked with a certain glint in his eye as he spoke. “I must say, you are looking quite lovely today. There’s something…domineeringabout it I just can’t quite put my finger on.” The asshole was teasing me, and I stood there, completely wordless. I had no comeback.
“Um… well…” I sputtered out words, trying to find some semblance of control. What I truly wanted to do was put him in his place — right at my feet. But this wasn’t Haven, and I was not Lady Luxe. “Thank you, Thatcher.” I finally managed to utter the words, trying to sound somewhat dignified in my response, and failing miserably.
“Although, I must say,” he began, leaning in and lowering his volume until only I could hear his words. “I much prefer you in leather and lace.”
His voice, that low, rich timbre, had a shiver of arousal running down my spine, situating itself right over my clit. The man was a walking temptation, one I wanted desperately to make kneel right at this very moment — time and place be damned. But I was better than that. I had more control than that.
“Watch yourself, Sept — I mean, Thatcher.” Christ on a cracker, I was not on my game. Where the hell was Jamie? I looked around, seeing him catching up with another of our neighbors. I silently swore at him, wishing he’d hurry up and save me from my personal nightmare.
“I want to talk to you.”
“We are talking, Thatcher.”
“That’s not what I mean, and you know it.”
“Then perhaps you should be more articulate in how you phrase your questions.” His eyes never left mine, and I wasn’t about to back down.
“Fine, if that’s the way you’d like to do things. I would like to discuss having another scene with you because I cannot stop thinking about being under your control, under your touch, and being able to taste —”
“Enough.”My whispered warning only earned me a sinister smirk from the man plaguing my fantasies.
“Perhapsyoushould be more careful with your wording, Sadie Day.”
“Oh, I would love to —” I cut myself off, remembering exactly where we were and who was around
“Did I miss anything good?” Jamie asked, walking back up to us, two opened beer bottles in hand.
“Not yet,” Thatcher answered, saluting me with his beer bottle before taking a swig.
“Oh, he’s a fun one. I like this one, Sadie,” Jamie said with another short laugh.
“I’ll bet you do.” My words were muffled under my breath, though I knew Jamie had heard me.
“I was just telling Sadie here that I —”
“We will talk later, after the barbeque,” I said between clenched teeth. “Enjoy the party,Thatcher.”
