Page 40 of Searching for Sunshine

“Whoa, dude, we were just talking. No reason to be upset,” the man says, clearly drunk and almost stumbling over himself as he holds up the hand not wrapped around Stella’s arm in a sign of surrender.

“And while you were talking, did you not realize that she kept moving away from you? Or that she’s wearing a fucking wedding ring?” I ask, my voice raising loud enough that most of the people around us freeze and turn to watch.

I’m vaguely aware that Everett is walking over from the other side of the bar, but all I can focus on is the fact that this asshole is still gripping Stella’s arm. When she winces in pain at the way he squeezes her arm, I step forward, ready to do whatever I have to in order for him to leave Stella alone.

“Dude, what’s got you so possessive of her? She’s got a nice ass and all, but I’m sure I don’t mind sharing if you don't—” the drunk guy starts, laughing to himself as Stella yanks her arm out of his hold and turns to kick him hard between the legs. He falls to the floor, and she stands over him, looking down on him like the trash that he is.

“First of all, I asked you nicely multiple times to leave me alone. And second of all, I wouldn’t sleep with you if you were the last fucking man on earth. Maybe if you learned how to talk to a woman instead of addressing her like a piece of meat, you wouldn’t be in this position right now,” she says, and several of the people around the bar clap.

Everett leans down and grabs the man’s shoulder. “Yeah, she said it better than I could, but you’ve gotta get the fuck out of here. And don’t even think about coming back either.”

As soon as the man’s out of sight, Stella turns to me and gives me an apologetic look. “Sorry, I shouldn’t have done that. I justdidn’t want you to feel like you needed to fight this battle for me too. But I’m so sorry I probably embarrassed you. And I’ll apologize to Everett as well for doing that in his bar.”

I blink at her in confusion. All the rage I was feeling just a minute ago has turned to possessive desire and I suddenly feel desperate to have her in my arms. I know I’m probably not thinking straight, but I don’t give myself time to question what I know I’m about to do.

Leaning forward, I whisper in her ear, “Stella, that was the hottest fucking thing I’ve ever seen in my life. I was ready to handle it, but watching you stand up for yourself was fucking incredible. And I’m pretty sure if we don’t get out of here right now, this whole damn bar is going to see how bad I want you.”

CHAPTER 19

STELLA

Wyatt takes my hand and gently tugs me out of the bar while I hurry to keep up with him. Letting him lead, we make it to the truck and I lean against the cab while he opens my door. As soon as turns back to me, I pull him against me and feel his hard cock through his jeans.

“Damn it, Stella. We agreed we were going to ease into this, remember?” he groans. I look up at him through my lashes and shrug.

“I thought about it, and I don’t want to wait if you don’t,” I mumble, teasing my hand up and down the front of his jeans.

He looks at me for a moment before whispering, “Fuck it.” As soon as the words are out of his mouth, his mouth is on mine, and he lifts me so I can wrap my legs around his waist.

“Fuck, Stels. Do you have any idea how damn bad I’ve wanted you?” he asks, kissing down my neck, and I groan in contentment. “I’d give anything to rip this sweet little sundress off you and fuck you right here, but I won’t ever forgive myself if the first time I feel that sweet pussy come around my cock is in a goddamned parking lot. So I need you to get in the car and let me drive you home so I can spend the rest of the night making you scream for me.”

Damn, has this man always had a mouth like that?I wonder. “Sounds like a perfect night to me,” I murmur, then pout when he sits me in the front seat of his truck and pulls back to walk around the front of the truck. As I watch him, I smile at the fact that my anxiety seems to be completely gone with him, and I feel my excitement build at the thought of finally having him inside me.

He cranks the truck and we ride in silence, neither of us wanting to break the spell between us. The ride to the Hideaway is less than five minutes, but tonight I’m pretty sure it takes an hour.

As soon as he pulls into the parking lot, I dive into his lap across the console and kiss him hard. I’ve never been this turned on in my life and I’m desperate to feel him everywhere.

“Come on, baby. Let’s get you inside,” he groans, easily lifting me off his lap to get out of the truck and he carries me across the dark parking lot. Every step he takes, I feel his hard cock pressing against me, and I resist the urge to moan as I imagine how good he’s going to feel inside me.

He carries me across the property, and I press kisses against his neck as he fights to open the door of the cottage. “Fucking finally,” he whispers, putting me down so he can push open the door and lead us inside. “I’ve never needed anyone more in my life.”

“Same,” I admit, reaching for his shirt and tugging it over his head. I let my hands wander down his bare chest, drifting lower until I palm his cock through his jeans. He sucks in a breath, and I smile at the sound.

“Are you being a tease?” he asks, and I lead him into the bedroom and close the door so that Duke won’t interrupt us.

As soon as I turn around, Wyatt reaches down and tugs the hem of my dress over my head. “Damn it, Stels. Are you seriously not wearing any panties?”

I shake my head. “I didn’t want panty lines.”

“Jesus fucking Christ,” he mumbles, running his hands up and down my sides. “You’re so damn hot.”

I lead him to the bed and sit on the edge to tug his jeans and boxers down. I try to stay in the moment, but as soon as he’s naked my anxiety kicks in the same way it has every time I’ve had sex in the past.

Wyatt clearly notices the shift in my mood and sits down on the bed beside me, looking concerned.

“Hey, Stels. What the hell just happened?” he asks, and I try to avoid eye contact, completely embarrassed with the way I’m shutting down. “If you don’t want to do this, we absolutely don’t have to.”

“No, it’s not that,” I admit, sighing before I continue. “My anxiety just gets really high when it comes to sex sometimes. I get really nervous about how long it takes me to get there and then I worry I’m not doing something right. Then my brain starts going, and I can’t focus on anything and I basically spiral from there. And now, here I am freaking out like an idiot when all you want is to fuck me.”

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