Page 46 of My Secret to Protect

‘Um, not much. I have a physical job, and I do weights at home. I’m not a gym bunny like you.’ I raise one eyebrow, and she rolls her eyes.

‘What about cardio?’

‘I walk Beans a lot. He needs a couple of good walks a day.’ I think about the other cardio activities I used to do but haven’t in a long time, and then I look down at the woman in my arms. Since I got out of prison, I’ve had a lot of sex, all of it casual. I have a few contacts I can call up for some release if I need to, and I have no trouble meeting women who are fine with no strings. These few weeks in Forest Falls have been the longest I’ve gone without sex in twelve years, but until now, I haven’t really thought about that.

‘Well, you look good, Arlo. I’m sure you know that, but I can’t pretend you don’t.’

‘You look good too, short stuff.’

I always loved that about Bree. She’s always been so open. That’s why what she did to me hurt so much.

‘Arlo,’ she says, pressing into me, causing her tits to push against my chest in a way that makes my dick jump to life in my jeans.

‘Yeah, Bree?’ I realize now that we aren’t dancing anymore. We’re standing still in the middle of the dance floor, me holding her body against mine, her lifting her chin so my mouth hovers just above hers.

‘People are watching us,’ she whispers before running her tongue across her bottom lip, making the soft pink lipstick she’s wearing shine under the bar lights, and I understand what she’s saying to me. We have an audience, so let’s put on a show.

Reaching up my hand, I grip her chin lightly between my thumb and forefinger, then take a breath and ready myself. I talk a big game. I’m the one pushing this cart to move faster and reminding her it’s not real, but when it comes to it, I want this woman the same way I always did, and kissing her is going to fuck me up. I know that. Still, I wet my bottom lip with my tongue, loving the way her eyes widen, and I lower as she pushes up, meeting me in the middle and taking the kiss I was about to give her.

Tell Your Dick It Wasn’t Real

Bree

Ohmygod.Iforgot.

I didn’t know I had forgotten. I thought I remembered very clearly what it was like to kiss Arlo Harper, but I did not. Kissing this man is like nothing I have ever known, and I don’t ever want it to stop.

Arlo’s fingers spread on my back as mine grip into his shirt, feeling the hard expanse of his muscled chest beneath it, and there’s nothing phony about this kiss. His tongue rolls against mine, and I moan into his mouth, which only drives him on. His free hand grips the back of my neck, positioning me exactly how he wants me as he plunges into the kiss, and his beard is rough against my skin in a way that I hope leaves a rash.

‘Y’all need to get a room, chief?’

I pull back, gasping for air and becoming very aware of the hardness pressing against my stomach as my eyes find Jenna’s, Kacey in her arms as they dance and stare at me and Arlo, clearly amused.

‘Um.’ I turn back to meet Arlo’s gaze, but he’s smiling at Jenna.

‘Arlo, hey.’ Cool as a cucumber, he introduces himself, and I just stand there, slack-jawed, as he holds my body against his to hide his erection.

‘Jenna,’ she grins, not even trying to hide her amusement, ‘this is my girlfriend, Kacey.’

I’m still kiss-drunk as Arlo says, ‘Nice to meet y’all,’ in that sexy, deep drawl that makes me shiver before he releases me, taking my hand and leading me back to our booth.

‘You want a drink, or shall we leave?’

Blinking, I notice the bar full of people who have known me forever, trying not to stare, and suddenly I feel hot. I have never kissed anybody in the bar, not a kiss like that, anyway. I’m their chief of police. It feels a little inappropriate, which I know is crazy, but I’m not in my right mind.

‘Leave,’ I say, and he nods as I grab my purse, and he takes my hand to lead me from the bar.

On the walk home, I want to ask him what the hell that was. I want to ask him why that didn’t feel fake and what happens now, but I remember as the cottages come into view that we are probably being watched and listened to, so I stay quiet and try to keep up with his long strides in the stupid heels I can’t wait to take off.

Arlo walks me to my door, and I know if just get him alone, I can ask him about the kiss.

‘Do you want to come in?’ I ask softly, and he reaches up to push my hair behind my ear as he steps close, and his hand gently grips the back of my neck.

He lowers, pressing his mouth to mine. This kiss is chaste in comparison, but my stomach flips all the same until he pulls back. ‘Not tonight, sugar.’

‘Arlo,’ I whisper as I try to plead with him, tell him that I need to understand, but he just steps back.

‘Not tonight.’ His voice is a little firmer now, and I step back, unlocking the door as Arlo shoves his hands in the pockets of the jeans that he wears so well.

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