Page 48 of Love Deep
My stomach dips a little. It’s not that I didn’t know he did me a favor. Of course he did. But hearing it? It hurts more than I expected.
“A budget forJuniper’sart?”
“For art generally.”
“So, not specifically for Juniper’s work?”
“No. We didn’t know we were going to buy Juniper’s work until Rosalind, my designer, saw it.”
“I guess I’m just asking if you bought Juniper’s work as a favor to her.”
I wish I could transport myself off this porch. I don’t want to hear about Byron’s pity purchase. I close my eyes and brace myself.
“Her stuff is all over the Club. There’s no way Rosalind would let me compromise the work we put into the Club just to make Juniper happy. I’d rather have written Juniper a check. Rosalind liked the work, and it fitinto her vision or aesthetic or something. Why are you asking me all this?”
My body relaxes, and I’m not sure I can quite believe what I just heard. Tentatively, I open my eyes, and Fisher gives me anI told you solook.
“Just getting clarity,” Fisher says.
“Clarity for who? Grace?”
“No, just peace of mind. That’s all. Gotta go.” He hangs up before Byron can question him further. “Believe me now?” he asks.
I take in a deep breath. “Kinda.”
“It would have been easier to write you a check if he wanted to do you a favor. Juniper, until you believe in yourself, I’m going to believe in you twice as hard to make up for it.”
I don’t think anyone has ever said anything so nice to me. I press my palm to his cheek and lean over and kiss him.
It’s athank you.
It’s anI like you.
It’s ahow did you appear in my life outta nowhere, giving me everything I need right now.
He groans as our tongues meet and each hair on my body stands to attention. Every molecule of my body wants him. Wants all of him. I push my hands into his hair and he pulls me onto his lap, my knees on either side so I’m sitting astride him. His hands roam over my back and ass and tuck me against him. His hardness presses against my clit. His denim against the cotton of my leggings.
We’re so close, but there’s too much distance between us. I want him hard and bare and heavy against me. I want to feel his heat, trailing up and down my folds. I want to strip naked and feel him naked against me. I want more of him. I want all of him.
Instinctively, our bodies rub together and Fisher’s kiss becomes more demanding, deeper, rougher, less controlled. My breaths come quicker, and I can feel the coil inside of me winding tighter and tighter. We’re fully clothed and just kissing, but I’m vibrating. I’m needy. I’m dizzy with wanting.
“Juniper,” he hisses, “Juniper.” He says it like a warning, like we’re about to cross a threshold or open a door to something, and he’s trying to resist. Or trying to stop me. I can’t decide.
I push against him, grinding on his thick cock, beneath the layers of fabric between us. But it’s not enough.
I want more.
I reach a hand between us, my fingers fumbling for his zipper.
His hand clasps around my wrist. “Juniper. Riley is inside.”
His sharp tone snaps me back to reality.
“It’s fine,” I say, my words come out like I’m panting. “She never wakes up so long as she’s not sick.” I’m not making excuses, it’s true. The kid sleeps like a rock. But I get it. He doesn’t want to risk it, and I don’t want to make him feel uncomfortable.
I lift my hands to his shoulders and grind against him, my hips swaying and circling.
He gasps and his head falls back. “Juniper, you’re going to make me come in my pants.”
