Chapter 21

KINLEY

I blinked, my brain grappling to process his declaration. “What did you just say?” I choked out.

“I know it’s crazy.”

“A little bit.”

“I’ve never felt this way before,” he whispered. “I came inside you. ~Twice. ~And I’m not the least bit concerned.”

“That doesn’t mean you’re in love with me, Harland.”

“I think about you all the time, Kinley. When you walk into the room, nothing else matters. You’re so beautiful, inside and out, that my heart races every time I see you.

“I walk around with a permanent erection because you’re so hot. And I think crazy thoughts. Like leaving my life in New York City. Like having a family.

“I never imagined wanting that kind of life before. I couldn’t see myself getting up on Saturday morning to take kids to hockey or going on vacations to Disney.

“And then I dumped a load of my best swimmers inside you, and I was okay with it. So much so, that I did it again the next day.”

“Maybe you were just being irresponsible and horny.”

“No way,” he declared, shaking his head. “I never lose my head like that. I always wrap it, no matter what.”

“Well, I’m glad to hear that. You know, because of diseases.”

“Did you know I didn’t wear a condom?”

“Of course!” I chuckled. “Did you think I wouldn’t notice the tsunami of goop leaking out of my body?”

“Goop? It’s not ~goop~, sweetheart. That is some high quality baby-making juice I gave you.”

“Well, it was too early in my cycle to get pregnant anyway.”

“I’m so overwhelmed right now, Kinley. With the house and the kid. Not to mention all the revelations coming to light about my father. And the letters…

“I can’t make you any promises. New York City is no place to raise a family, and I don’t know if I can leave my life there.”

“I would never want you to do that unless you were sure.”

“I want to explore this thing we’ve got going on between us, baby.”

“We have lots of time. Why don’t we just take it slow?”

“Is that a yes?”

“I don’t know what the question was.”

He lowered his mouth to mine, kissing me softly before pulling back to gaze into my eyes. “Will you be my girl?”

“Okay,” I giggled. “Let’s go steady.”

“It’s not 1950.”

“What are the kids calling it these days?”

“No idea. But it means you’re mine. No more lunch dates.”

“I can’t believe you were so jealous.”

“I was not.”

“You were so!”

He sighed. “Fine. I was jealous. The thought of some other guy putting his hands on you was more than I could handle.”

“There was no chance of that happening with Robert,” I said, laughing.

“No? He didn’t get your sweet pussy juices flowing?”

“Harland!”

He feathered light kisses up my neck before swirling his tongue around inside my ear. “You don’t like dirty talk, baby?”

“I don’t know…”

“I think you do,” he murmured, slipping his hand under my skirt, his fingers tracing over the outside of my panties. “Have I mentioned how much I like the fact that you own so many skirts?”

“Mmm.” I closed my eyes, moaning softly when he rubbed his thumb over my clit.

“You’re busted, honey,” he growled, his fingers sliding through my wetness. “You love the dirty talk. The evidence is right here in your panties. Your delicious peach is gushing.”

“Keep talking.”

He captured my earlobe between his teeth, his fingers continuing to work their magic between my legs.

“I’m gonna lick every inch of your pussy, suck on your clit, and make you come over and over until you beg me to stop because you can’t take anymore.

“Then I’m gonna spread these sexy thighs and fuck you so hard, you won’t be able to sit down for a week.”

“Meh.”

“Did you just say ~meh?~”

“I’ve read way dirtier stuff. That was PG at best.”

“Oh, you’re in trouble now, woman.”

“Bring it on.”

He threw me over his shoulder, muttering to himself as he carried me into the bedroom. I found myself facedown on the end of the enormous bed, my feet dangling and my ass in the air.

I laughed. “How high is this bed?”

He grabbed my hips, pulling me back so I was right at the edge. I braced my face on the mattress, craning my neck to see what he was doing.

I watched him remove his pants and boxers, his swollen cock bobbing angrily while he searched through his pockets, then roll on a condom before he kicked my feet apart.

“Chest down,” he barked, placing his hand in the center of my back.

I did as he asked, waiting for the bad memories to surface and ruin this incredibly hot moment.

A man was holding me down, ripping my panties off as he prepared to take me roughly. It should’ve thrown me into a tailspin. I couldn’t enjoy this type of sexual encounter after being raped—it was completely illogical.

But the memories stayed put, buried deep in my subconscious. Locked away where they couldn’t hurt me.

He entered me with a hard thrust, his rigid cock driving deep inside me as I surrendered to the pleasure. His fingers dug into my hips, holding me firmly in place while he delivered on his promise.

I’d never been fucked this hard before. His balls were slapping against my ass, his grunts filling the room while he hammered away.

The bed muffled my screams as my orgasm charged through my body, leaving me a quivering, spasming mess of limbs as he erupted inside me with a deep growl of satisfaction.

He pressed open mouth kisses over my back and shoulders, his hands coming around to cup my breasts while his cock continued to spasm before softening.

I couldn’t move. My muscles were completely drained of energy.

He eased slowly out of my body. “I’ll be right back,” he whispered.

I could only nod my head, his footsteps disappearing across the room. He returned a moment later, scooping me up and placing me under the covers.

“Are you okay?” he asked, wrapping me up in his arms after slipping in beside me.

“Yes,” I rasped. “Just really tired.”

“But I did all the work, sweetheart,” he teased, tweaking one of my nipples.

“Mmm.”

He chuckled, pressing a kiss to the top of my head, and I drifted off with a smile on my face.

***

I stared at my reflection in the mirror, and my mother stared back. I looked more like her every day. We were only fifteen years apart, but people often assumed we were sisters.

I had her eyes, hair and facial features. But we had completely different body types. Mom was skinny. She had no hips or ass, and had a flat chest.

I must’ve inherited my body from my father, but I had no idea who he was. Mom just said he hadn’t been father material. Then she told me I had the curves to bring men to their knees with their wallets open.

Great advice to give to your fifteen-year-old daughter.

Harland was falling in love with me… His admission had floored me, and I was so blown away I never shared my feelings about him.

But I’d never even come close to falling in love before, so how was I supposed to know when I was in love? Was Harland hurt that I didn’t reciprocate?

I wish I had someone to talk to. Like a ~mother. ~But even if my mother was alive, I wouldn’t go to her for advice.

I laughed, envisioning ~that ~conversation.

~Mom, Harland told me he’s in love with me. I’m pretty sure I’m falling for him, too, but how do I know for sure?~

~Kinley, get your head out of your ass and stop reading those stupid romance books. They’re putting foolish ideas in your head. Harland is rich. You’d be a fool not to spread your legs for that man.~

~And make sure you get knocked up. That’s your meal ticket, girl. Who cares if you love him?~

“The joke’s on you, Mom,” I said aloud. “I don’t need Harland’s money. Your husband left me one-third of his estate. And even if I was still living paycheck to paycheck in my tiny apartment, I wouldn’t choose money over love.”

I finished my makeup and smoothed out my dress before I stepped into the bedroom. Harland was standing at the window with his back to me.

Our eyes locked in the reflection in the glass. He turned slowly, his gaze roaming over my body, and gave a rumble of appreciation.

My knees trembled as he crossed the room and pulled me into his arms. “You’re so beautiful, Kinley Davenport.”

“Thank you.”

“Are you ready to go enjoy a delicious dinner?”

“Definitely. I’m starving.”

“Sex will do that,” he whispered, leaning in to steal a kiss.

He linked his fingers with mine and led me outside to the car. It was a short drive up to the main lodge.

Harland was right—most of the other guests were dressed casually. We were seated at a private table by the fireplace.

“I love it here,” I said. “It’s very cozy. I bet it’s beautiful in the wintertime as well.”

“Maybe we can come back.”

I glanced up at him with a shy smile. “I’d like that.”

He reached across the table and captured my hand. “I’d like that too.”

***

“I ate too much,” I groaned, rubbing my belly.

“That was one of the best meals I’ve had in a very long time,” he agreed. “I’ll have to compliment the chef.”

I took a sip of my wine, and when I glanced up, Harland was staring at me. I fidgeted in my seat, fiddling with the napkin in my lap.

“What’s wrong, sweetheart?”

“Nothing.”

“Would you like to dance?”

“Okay.”

He led me to the adjacent ballroom and pulled me in close. We swayed to the slow music, several other couples dancing next to us.

“I have a confession to make,” I said.

“What’s that?”

“I’ve never danced with a man before.”

“What? Well, you’re doing pretty good for a beginner.”

“It’s not hard,” I said with a nervous giggle.

“Not when you have a skilled partner leading.”

“You are a skilled partner,” I whispered, caressing the back of his neck with my fingers. “And I’m not just talking about dancing.”

“Is that so?”

“Uh-huh.”

“Maybe we should head back to our cabin.”

“We should definitely do that.”

***

I gazed up at Harland, his blue eyes sparkling in the moonlight that flooded the bedroom. Our limbs were tangled together, our sweaty bodies satiated after hours of lovemaking.

He was an amazing lover. I didn’t have much to compare him to, but based on the number of orgasms he gave me, I was giving him top marks in the bedroom.

“This weekend has been amazing,” I whispered, tracing his abs with my finger.

“I’m glad you enjoyed it.”

“Imagine what our teenage selves would think if they could see us now.”

“I’d be pretty pleased to know I was banging a superhot chick.”

“You didn’t see me that way back then.”

“I knew you were gonna be a beauty.”

“You hated me, Harland.”

“Hate is a pretty strong word. And I was a kid. I didn’t like my stepmother, so I took it out on her mini-me.”

“Why did you hate her so much?”

“I knew she was just after my dad’s money. She was lazy—and rude to the staff from the first day you guys moved in. And she made no effort to get to know me.”

“My mom was obsessed with being rich. I don’t know where that came from. My grandparents aren’t like that at all.”

“Let’s not talk about her,” he said. “She’s the last person I want in my head when I’m in bed with you.”

“Your friend thinks it’s weird we’re together.”

“If we’re going public, we should be prepared for similar reactions.”

“I really don’t care what people think, Harland.”

“Me either. I don’t two give two fucks.”

“Hey, Harland?”

“Yeah, baby?”

“I’m falling in love with you too.”