Merry with a Lawman (Love Beach, Holiday Collection)

13. Been a Fool

THIRTEEN

BEEN A FOOL

DAVIS

We leave the courthouse, and I get home, thanks to Belle and Addie helping me. I crash on the bed and nod off, only to wake some time later to find Belle curled into my side, sleeping. Too many things plague me now and more rest eludes me.

I didn’t know she’d stay with me like this. But then she’s always there for me. Even when I do my best to push her away. The house is quiet, so I have no reason to believe Addie is still here. I’m sure Belle sent her off, promising to call if needed.

So we’re alone.

My Belle… But is she mine? Yet? After having a pretty good time during the parade, Richardson shows up with her at the courthouse today. Why? The proceedings have nothing to do with him. Unless he came to support her or she asked him to come along.

Just when I realize I want to hold her close, she’s the one pushing me away and running to another man.

But she’s here with me now, our bodies touching. I’m too aware of her breathing, her scent, her very existence, like she’s everything I need to survive. I’ve been a fool with closed eyes until now. After all the kisses we shared at the parade, I should take her in my arms and hold on tight.

Instead, I spend another hour watching her sleep, trying to figure out my emotions. I’ve never been good at that.

This thing between Belle and me isn’t going away. That’s clear now. But if I thought I had problems before, they’ve multiplied. It’s possible the wrong person went to prison. My mother didn’t run me over; my gut tells me she was speaking the truth.

As for the senator, yeah, it would not surprise me if Chadwick did this and forced Mom to sign her life away. But why? Sure, while he was married to Addie, I couldn’t stand the fucker, but there’s more to this than meets the eye.

When approaching the senator, I should take great care. For one thing, I need to play his game. And Chad has spent years more than I have at playing games.

Belle finally stirs, stretching, eyes slightly parting, peering up at me. The sweetest face of the most beautiful woman in the world.

“Hi.” I turn toward her and kiss her forehead. Only I can’t stop there, not now, since knowing how good it feels to kiss her lips. I brush mine down to hers and connect again there. Within seconds, we’re on fire. Hands everywhere, tearing off clothes until we’re completely naked, skin on skin, holding each other tight.

“I need you inside of me, Davis,” she begs, moving under me.

“Not going to get an argument from me.” I reach for a condom on my nightstand—she stops me.

“No. Bare. Please. I’m on the pill.” She flutters her lashes at me. But I have one demand if we’re going to do this.

I caress my hand up her torso and breast plate and circle her neck, lightly strumming my thumb across her lips. God, I’m an ass, demanding this of her, because it’s the type of commitment I run from, but she’s mine. I know that now. No more running. So I can’t help this. “Then there can never be another dick inside of you. Only mine, hear me?”

“Good. Because I only want yours.” She lifts, crushing her lips to mine, opening her legs wider for me.

My cock finds his way into her wet channel all on his own, sliding through her tight walls like he knows the way home. My stomach flips, my pulse races, and I don’t even fucking know what my heart is doing, beating out of my chest.

Our tongues keep dancing. Her hands reach down to my ass, clutching my globes, kneading them, using them to guide my hips. Nice and slow, feeling every inch of my cock gliding in and out of her. This is more than fucking, like we’ve reached another dimension. A step above where we were before, heading somewhere I cannot control anymore.

“I could lose myself in you, Bells.”

“There’s nothing stopping you.”

She’s right. My hips piston harder, like I can’t get enough of being inside of this woman. I go wild, faster, wanting more and more of her. But I fight off my release.

Suddenly, I shift down and bury my tongue inside of her. She yelps, threading her fingers through my hair, pulling me in. She arches her back, bucking against my face until I can’t breathe. But I don’t stop licking and sucking and fingering until she crashes to the shore, coming in wave after wave, feeding me her sweet ecstasy.

After an enormous sigh, the smile of satisfaction reaches her pretty face, as I kiss back up her body to her ear and whisper, “Get on your hands and knees to take my cock like a good girl. ”

“Yes, officer. You know, all I want to be is a very good girl for you,” she purrs. Her sultry tone sets my rod harder and thicker and ready for this final approach.

My shaft teases at her entrance. She’s perfectly wet for me. I enter her all the way, and pause once I’ve filled her up, caressing my hands slowly over her curves. From her round hips and slender waist to her back and shoulders, I rub there, massaging. Then around to her front, eliciting a moan as I drag my palms over her nipples, plucking at them with my fingers. Down her torso to her swollen clit. Her skin, smooth like silk everywhere, responds to my touch, pebbling with goose pimples, and warming up.

“Like that?” I ask.

“Mm. Someone has the moves.”

“I’ve paid close attention to every massage you’ve given me.”

“I like it. Rarely have I had a man reciprocate that way.”

The idea of another man placing a finger on her kills me. Our entire situation of the past year plays on fast forward through my mind, and I see it all so clearly now. How wrong I’ve been.

A new fear takes hold of me, turning me cold. The fear of losing her now that we’re here. If I do, it’s because of me and everything I should have said and done to keep her.

I weave my fingers through her red locks, gathering the ends in my fist, and I lean over her, closer to her ear. “You’re so beautiful, Bells. I’m a fucking asshole if I haven’t told you that enough.”

“Oh, Davis.” Her sweet hips and bottom gyrate, urging me on, and before I know it, we’re moving together as one, working to satisfy the animal urges between us. Her breath comes in soft pants and moans, as her walls stretch and melting around my shaft.

I flip her then, seeking more, sliding into her once again, facing her. Our fingers lock above her head. No more words between us, only sounds of passion, body to body, mouth to mouth. My cock sinks into her deeper, burrowing toward her fiery core. I groan and pull out a little, then drive back in.

My movements are slow and possessive. I don’t stop. Taking my time and waiting until the right moment… This one. To the pleasured cries of my name from her lips, her pussy clenches and ripples around me, milking me of everything I have, every drop flooding her. So intense, she has me shaking; leaves me weak.

I collapse on her, blowing hot breath into her ear, panting her name.

“Bells. Fuck, Belle. Yeah, Belle. We’re not done though.”

I sweep her up into my arms and carry her into my shower. I clean us up under the water, lathering her with soap. Rinsing her off, so gentle with her, like she’s my most prized possession and I need to treat her with the utmost respect. My cock reaches full mast again, taking care of her like this.

“Davis, wow. What’s got into you?” Her eyes widen as I lift her and guide her onto my cock, leaning her back against the shower wall.

“You, baby. You’ve done something to me. I never thought possible.”

“Something’s changed between us. The kissing. The way we’re fucking today. I’m not complaining, but… I think we should have a long talk about things. About… Us. Don’t you?”

I only nod, pumping hard into her, hardly able to form words from the exertion. Unable to express my feelings verbally, but with every fiber of my being. “We will. In time. Okay?”

Besides, there’s only one thing I can think of to say to her. But I wait until we’re finished, cleaned up, dried off, and back to resting in my bed.

I spoon her, holding her tightly to me under the blankets when I finally speak.

“Don’t see Richardson again.” I don’t post it as a question. It’s a requirement.

“I can hear the jealousy in your voice.” She turns and faces me.

“Fine. Yeah. The idea of you with him is unsettling. But there’s something off about him. I know it. So for your safety and mine, don’t see him again.” I brush the hair off her forehead, planting another kiss there and adding, “Please.”

“Are you giving me a reason not to see other men?”

Yeah, I am. But I hesitate a little too long trying to form the right words to say.

“It’s getting late. I need to go.” The frustration in her speaks clearly through her sigh. I grab her arm to keep her from going.

“You don’t have to rush off. We could have dinner here or—out?”

“Out? Really?” She stares at me like I grew a second head. “Like on a date?”

“Yeah. A date. Just you and I.”

Questions are loaded in her eyes, ones I’m not ready to deal with yet.

“Look, I think I’ve made huge leaps and bounds the past couple of days. Let’s get a bite to eat, and enjoy our time together. Because we have time to figure things about between us, right? We don’t have to rush toward the answers all in one night.”

“Sure. Time.” She nods, but as we both get up and get dressed it seems like the concept of time could be a huge issue between us.