Page 95 of Hold the Line

She scooted forward, putting herself firmly in my space, exactly where she belonged.

“Have I told you lately how much I love Hailey? The customers adore her too. I’ve had more than one stop me to tell me the ways she’s gone above and beyond for them. Camille agrees. We wish we could clone her.”

I cocked my head, unsure why she was bringing this up now. “She’s a good kid.”

“Mmmhmm. Yoursisteris a good kid—the girl who shares blood with you.”

I sighed, understanding where she was going. “I get what you’re saying, baby.”

I picked up a lock of her hair, rubbing the silk between my fingers. She was trying her hardest to comfort me, but she had no idea how deep this ran.

If I could’ve kept it from her, I would have, but we didn’t do that. She needed my honesty, so I’d give it to her.

“When Richie called a few weeks ago, he asked a lot of questions about my job. Tonight, he told me he’s creating a pipeline of road workers to transport goods and asked if he could stash something in my truck and have me drop it off on my way to Casper.”

She jerked back. “Something—like…drugs?”

“I wouldn’t doubt it. I didn’t ask. It’s none of my business, and I sure as hell don’t plan on becoming a mule for him.”

“Then you won’t.” Her fingers dug into my thighs. “He has no power over you, honey. He can ask you to do dirty deeds until he’s blue in the face, but that’s all he can do. He has no leverage. Nothing he can say or do will force you to say yes.”

“He can come after you.” And I would kill him with my bare hands.

“He could…but there’s no closing that door now that it’s open. He knows we’re together. There isn’t anything he could tell me about you that would make me stop loving you. And I know he’s a complete asshole. It’s not like that’s any surprise.”

I scoffed. “Understatement.”

“Yeah…” She leaned forward, brushing her cheek against mine. “I think we shouldn’t go looking for trouble. We’ll take things as they come. And we’ll do it together. You’re not alone anymore, and you don’t need to shoulder this on your own. I’m here. You’ve got Chris, Tilly, and Joy. Not to mention, my family would have your back if you needed it.”

I took her face in my hands, angling it back so I could look her over. Serene as ever, she let me see her, meeting my gaze without shields. She meant what she’d said, and her sound logic was enough to knock down the flimsy walls I’d been subconsciously building.

“You stick with me; this might be something I’m dealing with for a good many years,” I warned.

“I’m sticking with you.” She did not hesitate. “We’redealing with it.”

“Jesus, Phoebe.” I wrapped my arms around her so tight her breath whooshed out of her, but she returned my embrace just as fiercely. “I love you so damn much, sugar. Don’t know how I got this lucky, but I’m not giving you up. Not for anything.”

“I’m not going anywhere. Never, ever.”

Her mouth latched onto my neck, pressing hot kisses and soft suckles along my tense muscles. “Deke,” she murmured into my skin. “I love you.”

My hand in the back of her hair, I took her mouth in a hard, needy kiss. Our teeth clashed, tongues tangled. It wasn’t enough. I needed her. God, did I need her.

She ripped her mouth from mine, panting as she shoved my shirt up. I helped her, yanking it over my head, then she went for the waist of my jeans, unbuttoning them and yanking down the fly before I could grasp what she was doing.

“Phoebe, I—”

Her hand slid into my briefs and wrapped around my cock. I was already rock hard—hell, all it took was one look from her and blood rushed below my waist. She pumped me a few times, pulling me free from my underwear, then dove down, wrapping her sweet lips around the head.

So good. My fingers slid into the sides of her hair, pulling it away from her face so I could watch her. Her eyes were closed, long lashes brushing her rosy cheeks. And those lips, pink and plump, stretched around me, working their way up and down my length. She was gorgeous, always, but damn, when she lost herself in giving me pleasure, I could barely look at her; she was so stunning.

I had no idea what I’d done to deserve to be loved this well, but I had every intention of giving it back to her tenfold.

“My beautiful angel girl,” I rasped. “I love watching you sucking me, baby.”

She smoothed her palms along my thighs and up my abdomen, humming as she took care of me. Her mouth was hot velvet, and it took all my willpower not to surge up into her.

I trailed my gaze over her, along the line of her arched back, to the flare of her hips and round ass.

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