Page 53 of Before You Can Blink
My heart twisted inside my chest at the anguish in her voice. “Of course I don’t want to. But after what happened today . . .” I swallowed, my voice growing thick. “I can’t give you the life you deserve. At least right now. I should have never dragged you into this. It’s not the best place for you or for Aspen.”
Daisy gave a firm shake of her head. “The best place for us is withyou.”
I hung my head. “How can you possibly think that? I’ve failed you, failed our daughter.”
Suddenly, she was standing between my legs where I sat on the edge of the bed. Cupping my cheeks, she lifted my face. “Jett Sullivan, you listen, and you listen good. You haven’t failed anyone. It might feel like that right now because you’ve decided to take the path less traveled, and there are a lot of days when it’s hard.” She exhaled. “Really hard. But one day, all of this will become a distant memory, and we’ll be able to look back on the sacrifices made and be proud of what we’ve built not only for us but for future generations of Sullivans.”
My eyes slammed shut. “Daze, I need to do right by you.”
“You’re already doing that. We have a roof over our heads, food in our bellies, and most importantly, we have your love. So, unless you plan to carry the two of us kicking and screaming off this ranch, we’re not leaving.”
A heavy sigh rattled my chest. “Why do I have the feeling you’re not joking about that last part?”
Warm lips pressed to mine. “Because I’m not. Our family is stronger together, and you won’t convince me otherwise.”
I let out a huff of laughter. “Have I mentioned lately how much I love you?”
Daisy’s arms wrapped around my neck as she settled onto my lap. “Yes, but I’ll never grow tired of hearing it.”
“I love you, Daze. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
Burying my face in her neck, I held on to this incredible woman who had become my anchor for dear life. And I couldn’t help but wonder what I ever did to deserve her unwavering devotion.
November
“Hey there, cowboy.”
The playful lilt to my wife’s voice told me she was up to no good, but my knees about damn near buckled when I spun around to find her dressed in those same tight jeans that had caused me to lose my mind all those years ago. The rest of her outfit didn’t register because my eyes were firmly fixed on the pale denim hugging her curves.
With my cock swelling to life behind my fly, my fingers flexed as I imagined them digging into the soft flesh of her wide hips.
I propped a shoulder against the wall of the tack room set inside the barn, and folded both arms over my chest. “Whatcha doin’ out here, darlin’?”
She sauntered closer, the exaggerated sway of her hips so mesmerizing I nearly jumped out of my skin when her hands landed on my chest.
Peeking up at me through thick black lashes, Daisy licked her lips. “Was thinking I’m overdue for a ride.” Her sultry tone made it clear she didn’t mean on horseback.
I swallowed roughly. “That so?”
“Mm-hmm,” she purred.
It had been months since we’d had sex. Too often, I dragged my ass home well past dark, only to find my wife already curled up in bed. That wouldn’t have stopped younger Jett from waking her up with his face between her thighs, but I was so bone-tired from a long day of manual labor that I passed out before my head hit the pillow. Then, before I knew it, it was morning again, and Daisy was rushing to get Aspen ready so she could drop her off at my ma’s before heading to school.
That sparked something in my lust-soaked brain.
“Where’s Aspen?” After the burn incident, Daisy watched that girl like a hawk.
“Your mama’s keeping her tonight.”
A whole night alone with my wife? Oh, hell yes.
My hands landed on that lush ass, crushing Daisy to me. That little vixen’s hips shifted restlessly, creating maddening friction against my borderline painful erection. As desperate as I was to be inside her, our intimate moments were often rushed, and a voice in the back of my brain told me to slow down and savor her because God only knew when I’d get another chance.
Dipping down, I tugged her earlobe between my teeth, relishing the sound of her loud moan.
Damn, I’d missed her sounds something fierce.
“Jett, I need you,” she panted.
