Page 33 of Touch My Shelves

He spanks one ass cheek and I gasp. He leans over my back and murmurs, “Death by pussy. There isn’t a better way to go.”

I snort at his reference, any thoughts of this not ending well flying out the window of his castle as we share another heart-stopping round of sex, a shower—where I finally get my mouth around him—and then fall asleep in his arms. Sometime in the middle of the night, he carries me to my bedroom in the opposite wing and leaves me with a kiss to my forehead.

As I lie there in my cold sheets, I promise myself to keep my emotions on lockdown. That’s the only way I will survive being with Brax. Compartmentalizing my time with Freeya and my time with Brax, and closing myself off to feelings, is the only way to keep things from becoming messy.

For whatever time I have with Brax and Freeya, my life has direction. It’s not the direction I’d envisioned, but it’s worthwhile. When they leave, then I’ll decide what’s next.

* * *

Little did I know that decision would be made just a few weeks later. But before that, OMG, the sexual heights this man can take me to is nothing less than awe-inspiring.

The next two weeks pass in a blur of school work and special times with Freeya, and my nights are spent in bed with Brax. The man has no problem locating a woman’s clit and his motto is I always come first. Heck, first, second, and sometimes third before he takes his own pleasure.

He makes me feel beautiful and like his purpose in life is to give me as many orgasms as he can, a kind of personal best situation. I don’t mind one little bit. I’ve spent these weeks living a dream life I never imagined I’d want. Other than the hours spent in his bed, my most favorite times are the ones the three of us spend together.

Brax took us out on his boat one weekend, another time we had a picnic on the beach, and once we dressed up in wigs and glasses and went into town for ice cream. Simply sharing meals with them makes me happy. I love how Brax includes Freeya in discussions and finds value in her responses.

I never thought the family life was for me. I watched too many of my friends get married and then disappear. At least that’s the way it seemed. It’s like their individuality vanished, swallowed up by their husbands. Even my mom isn’t the same woman she was before she married my dad. I’ve seen pictures that I can’t believe are of her.

I grew up as part of a big family in a small town, where getting married right out of high school and then having a few babies before you’re twenty-one is the norm. Some of my best friends I haven’t spoken to in years because they stopped having time to talk or get together. I never want that. I don’t want to lose me and become an extension of my husband.

Brax is a big personality that would be easy to get lost in. I’d never fit into his world. But none of that matters because what I have with him is just sex. If I don’t believe that, I’m just asking for trouble in the worst way.

The one bad spot in the time we’ve spent together is when I wake up alone in my own bed. I try to leave after marathon sex with Brax, but sometimes I’m so far into orgasmic bliss I fall asleep. Those are the nights he carries me to bed and I wake disoriented and missing his arms around me.

I look up as Brax walks into the breakfast room. Our eyes meet and my cheeks flush as we both remember his mouth between my legs a few short hours ago. Tingles erupt low in my stomach.

“Good morning. Sorry I’m running a bit late.” Brax gives Freeya a kiss on the top of her head before he sits. We share a silent moment.

“Did you oversleep, Daddy?” Freeya asks.

Brax pours tea from a china teapot into his cup. “No, sweetie, I had a call from my editor.”

He turns to me. “They love the new season I pitched. Your idea, really, about the story before the story.”

The bite of pancake that had been headed to my mouth pauses mid-bite. “Really? That’s incredible. I can’t wait to read it.”

A handsome grin appears before one brow teases upward. “Now I want to read your book.”

I start to tell him there’s no way that’s happening when my phone rings. I can see it’s Hannah Murphy calling. “Oh, I wonder what Hannah wants this early.”

“Answer it and find out.”

I connect the call. “Good morning, Hannah.” I start to rise to excuse myself to take the call privately, but I almost drop the phone in my haste to ask Hannah to repeat. “What did you say?”

Brax stops stirring his tea and turns his concerned eyes my way. I sink back down onto the chair.

Hannah chuckles and repeats, “I said there’s a store available on Main Street and the town is offering it to you rent-free for one year.”

My mouth drops. I never dreamed of anything like this happening. I look at the curious gazes turned my way. “That’s what I thought you said.”

“It’s a very good location between UnCommon Grounds and the bakery. They’ve decided to turn your old location into a natural area with trees and plants, a few tables and benches where people can take a break, maybe with a coffee, muffin, and a good book. There’s even talk of a small stage for live music and book readings and such. I can just see carolers at Christmastime on the stage in old timey costumes.”

My brain doesn’t really pick up more than it’s between two busy stores. The foot traffic would be an asset. My eyes find Brax, who has given up any attempt to finish his meal. I thought this morning would have been awkward. After all, the man had his mouth between my legs only hours ago, but it wasn’t. There had only been a shared knowing glance between us. I track back in as Hannah finishes talking. “That’s an incredible opportunity. When do they need to know an answer?”

“Within the week. If you don’t take it, then it will go up for rent. Hershel has been holding on to it thinking his grandson would move here and open a surf shop. Evidently, he and his new wife moved to Hawaii to work as contractors on a government project instead.”

After a bit more conversation, I hang up and two sets of eyes meet mine, waiting for me to explain. “That was Hannah. The town has offered me a new store on Main Street.”

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