STORY EXCERPT

Juliana

“What do you feel like for dinner tonight, cowboy?” I ask Wyatt as he clears his plate in record time. “Do you ever think you should take some time to chew your food before you swallow?” I ask him while I rinse his plate and utensils before shoving them into the dishwasher. The clink and clank of the dishes cause a throb in my head.

Wyatt comes up behind me and wraps his arms around my waist. My body flinches and my heart pounds hard in my chest.

“Shit. I didn’t mean to startle you,” Wyatt says as he releases me and takes a quick step backward. “I’m sorry Jules. I shouldn’t have come up behind you without warning. Fuck.” Wyatt hangs his head.

“No, it’s okay, Wyatt. You didn’t scare me,” I tell him honestly. “You have always been my safe place, you know that, cowboy.” I face him with a bright smile and wrap my arms around his middle.

“I love it when you smile, angel. Sets my heart aflame.” Wyatt brushes some wispy hairs from my face and places them behind my ear. Goosebumps adorn my skin as his fingertips graze my earlobe. “So beautiful and you don’t even know it.”

He shakes his head and smiles sweetly, then continues, “I meant to tell you last night. Must have slipped my mind, but I won’t be home for dinner tonight. I’ll just be stopping home after work long enough to shower. I have a date with a woman I met at the gym a few weeks ago.”

My skin turns cold. I lean back hard against the counter with a thud. As if my heart has failed, my blood runs cold. I wrap my arms around myself. My eyes fall to the parquet floor that Wyatt and I worked so hard on. I focus my attention on the medallion inlay and wish it would swallow me up.

Wyatt

“Earth to Juliana. Did you zone out again or did you hear what I said?” I ask with a furrowed brow. “Listen, angel, if you don’t want to be alone tonight, I can reschedule the date. I’m sure Cassidy wouldn’t mind.”

Laying a finger under Jules’s chin, I lift her head and scan her porcelain face.

“No, no. You go and have fun. I’ll be fine. It was only a nightmare that got to me. I’ll shake it off in no time.” Jules waves her hand and moves to rinse the pans she used to prepare my breakfast and cleans the kitchen frantically. “I just wasn’t aware you were seeing anyone,” Jules mumbles as she scrubs at the stovetop.

“This is our first date. I met Cassidy at the gym a few weeks ago, and we hit it off. Finally got the nerve to ask her out,” I say with a chuckle. “It’s been a month of Sundays since I’ve been on a date. She seems like a nice girl. I think you would like her.”

I snag the paper towel she was cleaning the stove with and toss it in the trash can across the room. “Score.” Jules ignores my antics.

“Okay, well... I better go upstairs and prepare to conquer that list of tasks you left for me. I suppose I’ll see you tomorrow,” Juliana walks her coffee mug to the sink and rinses it. Water sloshes inside the cup and drops of coffee-stained water splash across the countertops.

I remove the mug from Juliana’s trembling hand and place it inside the sink with a clank. Juliana winces.

“Seriously, Jules...I’m canceling the date and I’m staying home with you. It seems like that nightmare did a number on you. Let’s make that appointment.” I take Juliana by the arm and turn her small, curvy body to face mine. “I’ll go too. It’s been a while since I talked to Dr. Simms.” 

“I’ll be just fine, cowboy. I’m a big girl and I don’t need a babysitter. Besides, you installed that state-of-the-art security system. What more do I need?” Juliana stands on her tippy toes and kisses my cheek. She lingers just long enough to cause my cock to stir behind my blue jeans.

“Please, go on your date with Cassidy. You work hard and deserve a night out, Wyatt,” Juliana makes her way to the staircase in the hallway. “I'll call you this afternoon and give you an update on my progress today.”

“Jules, hold up.” I rush to meet Juliana on the stairs.

“Yeah?” Juliana turns on the step. “Wyatt, what’s up?” Juliana searches my face with her glittering almond eyes. “Well, get on with it. I need to take a shower.” She tilts her angelic face to the side.

I tower over Juliana from the step below her and place my hands atop her slight shoulders. “No... I just wanted to say...shit. I forgot what I wanted to say.”

Our eyes make direct contact and my breath catches. My hand palms her velvety cheek.

Jules’s eyes flutter closed for just a moment before she speaks. “Well, if you remember, shoot me a text. I need to get moving. Have a good day, cowboy.” Before she can make her getaway I grab ahold of her soft hand. “Wyatt, I’m never going to be able to get to that list if you keep hindering me from making it up these stairs.” She shakes her head and her silky blonde hair fans across her tempting collarbone.

I kiss the top of her hand and am instantly intoxicated by the smell of her vanilla lotion. "I...thanks...umm...thanks again for breakfast,” I stutter and release her hand. Juliana giggles before leaving me behind on our old staircase.

On my drive to the old mansion that Juliana and I are restoring through our restoration company, the Carolina rain spatters across my windshield. I glance down at my hands gripping the steering wheel of my truck and my thoughts travel back to the stormy night these bare hands took the life of another.

ADULT EXCERPT

Wyatt

“Is this how we live now? I have to watch you parade around our home in your underwear all day.” Juliana waves her spatula about. “How am I supposed to get anything done with you…with you…looking like that all the time!” She huffs.

“Do you have a problem with the way I look, angel?” I stalk toward her and back her against the counter.

“No. I mean, yes. No! Damn it, Wyatt. I can’t think straight right now!” Juliana licks her lips.

I lift my angel onto the countertop without effort and part her legs. My hands roam the silky skin of her inner thighs. Juliana’s eyes flutter closed and she spreads her legs further. I pull at her tiny shorts and she lifts her perfect ass. I toss her shorts aside and return my attention to her creamy thighs. When I reach her center my finger teases her clit through her damp, pink panties.

“Wyatt, please.” Juliana squirms on the granite countertop.

I slip inside Juliana’s panties and dip the tip of my finger in her dripping-wet pussy. Juliana’s eyes go wide and her mouth forms an O. I send my thumb to work her clit as I gently move my fingertip in and out of her pussy hole.

“Is this okay, angel?” I ask as I place butterfly-soft kisses over her face. “Fuck, you’re so sexy.” My breathing becomes heavy and erratic.

Juliana grabs hold of my shoulders when my finger probes further inside her pussy.

“Wyatt.” She moans my name and my cock does its damnedest to push through my underwear.

I hook my finger and Juliana’s ass comes off the countertop as I stroke her G-spot. Her legs shake as she falls apart on my hand. Juliana’s pussy pulsates around my drenched finger as she comes down from the peak I took her to. I slowly remove my finger and taste her sweet honey. Juliana’s face goes red and she covers it with her hands.

“Hey, don’t ever hide from me, angel.” I gently remove her hands and replace them with mine as I kiss her deeply. “Let’s get some breakfast. I’m starving,” I say, breathlessly, as I rub my naked stomach.

“But…What about you, cowboy? Looks like you need some help.” Juliana’s cheeks redden again.

I look down and my rock-hard cock that is still attempting an escape. “Down, boy.” I point at it.

Jules shakes her pretty head and laughs at me. “You’re such a weirdo.”

I help her down from her perch and wrap my arms around her. “Yeah, but I’m your weirdo.” I kiss her temple and she sinks against me. “Okay, how about that good-smelling food you were cooking when I interrupted you?” I ask as my stomach growls at me.

“Okay, okay. Give me a few minutes. I need to go…clean up.” She moves out of my arms and waves her hands around her middle.

“Oh no you don’t, angel. There won’t be any freshening-up happening today. Not on my watch. I want me to be able to smell your wet panties all day and night.”