Page 88 of Hold the Line

“Oh, thank god.” I took his face in my hands, memorizing exactly what my man looked like when he gave himself to me.

He indulged me for a few seconds before shaking free so he could claim my mouth again. That was where he stayed as his thrusts increased, faster, harder, our skin slapping each time we collided. My inner walls were swollen, gripping his sliding length to pull him deeper. There was no getting enough of him. I had him, and still, I wanted more.

He hooked his arm beneath my bent knee, lifting my foot from the stool to open me wider, then planted himself solidly inside me, stealing my breath. Shoving, grinding, he hit my clit so perfectly, I was struck with another teeth-rattling orgasm. Quivering in his arms, I held on tight, trusting him to keep me from falling apart.

His groan echoed in my brain, heart, lungs, and chest. It was so visceral and unleashed. He thrust through my climax, making his way beyond my flexing muscles to my farthest depths. With his mouth on mine, his hand on my ass, the other on my thigh, he went still except for the hot pulsing inside me, filling me to the very brim.

When it was over and our bodies began to relax, he placed my foot back on the stool and pulled back enough to look me over. His brow was pinched with worry, and his pink, puffy lips rolled into a flat line.

“Are you okay?”

Okay was such a silly word to describe what I was. So silly my mouth curved into a goofy smile, and I giggled softly.

“Oh yeah, I’m okay,” I replied. “Don’t I look it?”

He cocked his head, his concern giving way to something more amused. His fingers skimmed my throat, trailing down to my collarbone then tracing lightly over my chest.

“You’re all red from my scruff and mouth.”

I pressed my thumb to his bottom lip, feeling the heat still lingering there. "And you're red from how hard I kissed you."

He nipped at my thumb. “How am I gonna take you back out there with all your family?”

My grin widened. “We should probably clean up before we do that.”

He cradled my face with both hands, his gaze locked on mine. After a moment, he released a long exhale. “You mean it, don’t you? You love me.”

"I do, honey." I curled my fingers around his wrists, the rapid flutter of his pulse beneath my touch. "I mean it, and I couldn’t be happier that you came here for me."

He chuffed. “Just had to get my head out of my ass. Hailey did a lot of the dragging.”

“We can talk about what was keeping you away later. For now, I’d like to go celebrate my sister, and I want you with me.”

“I’m all in,” he vowed.

Finally.

Chapter Thirty-seven

Deacon

Iwasanidiot.That was all there was to it.

There was nothing intimidating about the night. Hell, Hannah and Remi had all the attention—and rightly so. I just had to hang with my girl and sister, and everything was right as rain.

Phoebe’s grandad grilled chicken, and the rest of the food was catered by the resort. Her mom had made it a point to stop by and tell me all of it was safe for me to eat.

I shook the hands of her brothers, dad, and grandad, was introduced as her boyfriend to people I’d never met and got ordered by her grandmother to sit down and take a load off since Phoebe had told everyone I’d been working all day.

I could almost forget this family was richer than I’d ever be able to imagine if not for the uniformed waitstaff and view of the land they owned as far as the eye could see. They were down to earth, the food wasn’t anything fancy, and the conversation centered around either Hannah and Remi’s wedding or ranch business. The same things regular folks probably talked about at events like this.

Hailey was eating it all up. She’d made friends with Margot, the woman I’d met briefly at Joy’s a month or so ago. Margot had taken Hailey right under her wing, plying her with food and introducing her to every single person in attendance. Then she invited my sister to a spa day—on her. And I was pretty sure Hailey’s head almost exploded.

Phoebe and I were on one end of an outdoor sectional. My arm was curled around her shoulders, hers draped across my lap. Comfortable, close, no space between us—exactly as we should’ve been.

I tipped my chin, lowering my voice. “Is everyone who works at the resort as nice as Margot?”

She laughed. “No. She’s an exception. She and my mom became fast friends because they’re both into fashion and all things designer. It’s tough being glamorous on a ranch, but they find a way. I’m sure Margot wouldn’t mind recruiting Hailey as part of their glam squad. There’s strength in numbers, you know.”

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