Page 66 of Finally Home

When I hear her whisper “Oh my God.” I figure it’s safe to stand. She squeals, dropping the papers onto the island as she does a little happy dance that involves a lot of bouncing. I bite my fist to hold back a groan.

For the love of God do not get hard in front of your parents.

I’m so busy distracting my thoughts that I miss Wren saying my name until my dad lightly smacks me upside the head. “Sorry, what?” I ask with a blush.

She smiles affectionately, used to my daydreaming. “Did you know about the changes they made?” She asks, thrusting the contract into my face.

I smirk and shrug as I read over the details laid out in the document. The pay has me raising an eyebrow, but I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. It’s a little more than they originally discussed, which makes me wonder what exactly happened during her interview.

“You’ve earned it, baby. I’m so proud of you!” I give her a sloppy kiss on the cheek, and she screeches with laughter.

Archie’s reading over the contract now too, and he lets out a low whistle. “So now you get to live by your family, follow your boyfriend around all season, and get paid to make him look good? You got yourself a sweet deal there, kiddo.” He chuckles and continues to tease his daughter, but the warmth in his eyes is impossible to miss.

He pulls me aside while Wren chats with my parents and hugs me hard, patting my back a few times. His voice is choked when he finally speaks. “Thank you for helping my Starshine get her shine back, Rhodes. I couldn’t imagine anyone better for our girl than you. Thank you for giving Wren the family she needs.”

My heart swells with his whispered words. “You did that, Arch. Wren is who she is today because you raised her so well. Sure, her family is bigger now, but she never needed anyone but you. If we ever have kids one day, I hope to be half the father to them as you are to her.”

Mom’s voice startles us when she appears next to us with tears in her eyes. “We’re so lucky to have met you and your sweet girl, Archie. Thank you for always treating my boy like your own.”

I pull away from Archie and laugh as I wave them off. “Okay, enough sappy shit. We have a new job to celebrate!”

The rest of the night is spent talking logistics about who will watch Finn when we’re gone, which really means Wren and I just listened to all the parents argue about who got him during which games, and watching Wren show off all her art from Color Me Crazy. After making sure Finn can stay with my parents, we say our goodbyes and hightail it to my SUV, laughing like a pair of trouble-making kids.

It’s time to take my girl home.

“You’re such a little tease, Starling. Do you get off on making me nearly embarrass myself in public?” I groan once we make it into the house. Our hands are everywhere, touching whatever skin we can reach in a desperate race to get the other naked first.

I drop to my knees to pull off her shorts and lace thong, stopping to place open-mouthed kisses on each of her hips. I slide my hands up her torso and drag my jersey up, nearly growling when I see she’s braless. Dragging my tongue over her nipple, I suck it into my mouth and give it a gentle nip.

Her gasp spurs me on as I move to the other side, but she digs her fingers into my hair and pulls me up before I can take it into my mouth. Wren kisses me intensely, massaging my tongue with hers and forcing a moan out of me as the jersey falls from my hands to cover her again. My cock has been like granite since we left dinner, and I’m dying to get inside my girl.

I pull back and slap her ass with a smirk as I lead her up the stairs. “I’m pretty sure I promised you a punishment, baby. Go bend over the bed for me.”

She pouts but does as I say, and it sends a little thrill up my spine. We still experiment and try new things together all the time, but there’s something about this strong, independent woman letting me take control that turns me on more than anything else.

I follow her to the bedroom, only to stop short in the doorway with a growl when I see her bent over, tying her hair up into a messy bun. Her dripping pussy peeks out just beneath the hem of my blue jersey. “Starling, are you trying to kill me?”

She stands up with a breathy giggle and walks towards the bed, swinging her hips a little more than necessary, intentionally driving me crazy. I prowl her way and bend her back into a deep kiss. Circling a gentle hand around her neck, I break the kiss and turn her so her back is pressed to my chest.

Keeping my hands soft, I massage her shoulders to working out the knots. Her quiet sighs of pleasure do nothing to lessen the erection pressed against her lower back. We’re only separated by two thin layers of clothing, but it’s two too many.

Wren grinds her ass back against me again, so I reach down and smack the outside of her thigh. “You’re a little needy today, aren’t you, baby?

She moans quietly in response, and I chuckle darkly. Placing a line of kisses down her throat, I move us forward until her chest is pressed against the wall. Landing another slap against her thigh, I force her hips back into mine. A quiet whimper falls from her lips as I cup her sex, just barely pressing the heel of my palm against her clit.

“Have I told you lately how much I love your sweet pussy?”

She turns so her cheek rests against the wall and arches a sassy eyebrow. “This morning over coffee when I came down in nothing but your shirt.”

That makes me laugh. “Good point,” I say with a nod. Lowering my mouth to her ear I whisper, “Now be a good girl and go put your hands on the bed so I can punish your pretty ass.”

I step back so she can move, but Wren takes my instructions one step farther and drops so her shoulders touch the bed. I take the opportunity to step back and enjoy the view of my dream girl bent over for me, my number plastered to her back, her needy pussy dripping down her thighs for me.

I step forward and glide my hand over her smooth ass cheek. Without warning, I bring my hand down in a hard smack that makes her whimper. Her cries and pleas for more spur me on and I land five more on each cheek in quick succession.

“Rhodes,” she begs.

That one breathless word is my undoing. I flip Wren over and move her to the head of the bed as I push my boxer briefs off. “I can’t think straight when you say my name like that, Starling—all breathless and sexy and begging to be fucked. You know I can’t resist you when you sound like that.”

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