Page 53 of Peaches

Ouch, that one actually hurt, Peaches!

“My ex treated me like shit!”

Ex? What the fuck am I missing?

“Your father treats all women like shit!”

Poke.

Poke.

Enough already, Grace!

“You. Will. Not. Treat. Me. Like. Shit!”

Poke to the ribs times seven.

Okay, I get the damn point already!

She turns hot on her heels and starts off towards the cottage. I’m too caught up in her hips as they sway in her tight wet dress to tell myself to do the same until she is almost at the front steps. Slapping myself back to reality, I quickly break out in a slight jog to make it to her side just as she starts to climb the front porch.

“It wasn’t like that, Grace.”

“Yeah. Right. Sure.” She swings around as she reaches the top platform and stares me in my eyes. “You know what, Brett! I was wrong! You do fit in here! With your shitty asshole father and all his bastard friends!”

My restraint snaps!

Oh hell no, she didn’t just go there!

What did I say about things that remind me of my father?

I’m quicker than she is and reach out to grab her by the arm moments before her hand makes it to the doorknob. Swinging my all too tempting, (and I have to remind myself “fake fiancé”), around, I push her up against the screen door and force myself against her. Not too hard, but hard enough for her to hopefully get the fucking point.

“Let’s get one thing straight!” I hiss out as her face immediately tries to turn to the side to avoid my stare, but I grab her chin harshly in my hands and make her look me in the eyes when I’m talking to her. Okay, maybe Iama little like my old man. But I prefer to think of it as manners. Then again, manners wouldn’t have me holding her hostage against the front door with my dick growing harder by the second, but from the slight way her body curves into mine, I’d say she likes it.

“I. Am. Nothing. Like. My. Father!”

“I think…”

“For starters,” I insist, cutting her off and watching as her eyes grow with slight rebellion. “I fucking care about whatyouthink. Hell, Grace, I find myself hungry for every word that comes out of your cute, sassy, captivating mouth.”

On instinct, my hand raises, and I brush my thumb over her lips. Her body shivers and my eyes raise and hold her own. I don’t know if it’s the rain, the night, or the all-consuming moment we’ve both found ourselves in. But damn, I’d do anything to taste her right now. I lick my lips subconsciously and watch as her gaze drops, and her breathing quickens.

“Wanting to hear what I have to say and actually thinking it has value are two different things, Brett,” she whispers, slightly broken down, and it snaps my hormone infused thoughts and heart that she even thinks that way.

I look up at her stunned. But hell, her statement is right. The only error in her response is, I’ve always thought of her aswaybeyond valuable. Something to be cherished. From the moment I set eyes on her. Like an enticing peach you can’t help but lust after. And as I quickly realize that fact to its fullest extent, something snaps inside me and I find myself backing away from her and needing a little space.

“I’ve always thought of you as so much more than something that holds value, Grace,” I find myself saying as I reach out and do the chivalrous thing by opening the door and allow her the space to decide our boundaries, how far to push them, and just when andifthey ever will break. If she’ll ever cave.

God, for my sanity and guilty sexual pleasure, please fucking cave, Peaches!

But it’s way more than that.Just sex.She knows it. I do too. Our racing hearts are proof of that. In fact, I’m starting to feel exactly how much moreitis, and I can tell we’re both scared to faceit.

She turns to walk away, deciding for both of us what my mind knows we need, something my body doesn’t want to give, either. Space. From each other, from our thoughts, and from tonight’s events.

But before she can get through the door, I reach out and stop her. Needing her to hear once again just how muchI’meven fully realizing she means to me. Whatwemean to me. I wasn’t done talking. And she needs to hear this.

“Remember, Peaches,” I whisper. “Priceless. You’re fucking priceless. And that’s something I’ll honor even when you don’t realize it. I’m always going to be devoted to worshiping you, Grace. Hopefully one day you’ll see that, too.”

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