From the window of the Big House, I watched Joanna stare at the envelope. She moved it in her hands, looking at the front and back. I was a fucking wreck. My gut clenched. My veins burned.
I didn’t know if she would open it there or—fuck—maybe even throw it away without a second thought. I knew I didn’t truly deserve any more than that for what I had put her through.
I watched as she moved gracefully up the side of the hill, picking up her pace as soon as she thought she was out of view. Joanna tore open the letter, sinking back against the side of the cottage.
My pulse hammered as I watched her read the letter. Her hand moved to her mouth. I’d never been good with words, and I hoped it would be enough to show her how much she meant to me.
The old man’s hand clamped down on my shoulder and gave it a squeeze. “If she didn’t love you back, she wouldn’t still be reading,” he reassured.
Jesus, I hoped he was right.
Joanna wiped at her eyes and pressed the letter to her chest. I had to calm my breathing to not throw myself into a panic attack.
In, two-three-four. Hold, two-three-four. Out, two-three-four.
My spine stiffened when I saw Joanna look up from the letter, wipe her eyes again and look around.
She moved quickly, out from the shadows at the side of the cottage. All of the crowd had gone. Her long legs moved swiftly under her, and she walked into the open area between the cottages and the Big House.
Was she leaving? Please don’t leave.
When her head snapped up, our eyes met through the window glass. Tears shone in her green-gray eyes, and I knew.
My girl had come home.
I moved away from the window, pushing open the back door. “Joanna!” I called out to her.
She took off like a shot, barreling toward me. My strides ate up the distance between us, and I leaped off the deck. I couldn’t get to her fast enough. As I raced across the lawn, Joanna’s strong body slammed into me, her legs wrapping around my waist as I lifted her, holding her hips tightly against me.
I held her close, pressing one hand on her upper back. I slanted my mouth across her neck, trailing frantic, wet kisses along her soft skin. I could feel her heartbeat hammer against my lips, and it drove me further out of my mind.
I was starved for her.
“Baby, I am so sorry.” I pulled back to look at her beautiful face. She held my face between her hands, and those gorgeous green-gray eyes were swimming with tears but looking right at me. I rested my forehead against hers. “I am so sorry for everything I put you through.”
“Shh,” she whispered and stroked the back of my head.
“No, I need to say this.” I swallowed hard, and my breath came out in ragged drags. “I never meant to disappoint you, and there’s a chance I’m going to again. But I need you to know.” I looked at Joanna and my heart tripped in my chest. “I love you. I have always loved you.”
Joanna tightened her arms around my shoulders, pulling me into her. “I love you too, Lincoln.”
We stood there, clinging to each other, afraid to let go. I pulled a deep breath into my lungs, smelling her citrus shampoo, and I never wanted to let her go again.
“Lincoln, the letter. The house. It’s too much.”
“It’s not. You deserve this. I want you to have it.”
“But I don’t understand.” Joanna shook her head.
I reluctantly lowered her to her feet and ran my hands down her arms. I twined my fingers with hers. “Five years ago, the old man was selling his house and property because it had become too much for him to take care of. I bought it, figuring it was the least I could do for him after he took me in. But the moment I saw your face light up when you hiked onto it, I knew it was meant to be yours.”
She squeezed my hands and rested her head against my chest. I lowered my lips to her hair. I couldn’t get enough of this woman.
“So, does that mean I can move back into Cottage Two?” she asked. The laughter in her voice filled my soul.
“Fuck no.” I laughed. “We’re moving into the Big House.” I smiled at her confused face. “I’ve been arguing with Mr. Bailey ever since I bought the place about moving into the house. He wants the cottage, but that just never felt right to me. But now, if you want it—want me—we’ll make it our home.”
“I have never wanted anything more than you, this place, and a grumpy old man to go with it.”
Joanna kissed me again, deeper, and I felt my cock thicken between us. She felt it, too, because she pitched her hips forward, pressing into me.
“Lincoln,” she breathed between kisses, “take me home.”
On a growl, I bent down and threw her over my shoulder like a fucking caveman. Joanna yelped, and I slapped her ass as I stalked toward my cottage.
I was barely in the door before I kicked it closed and hauled her against it. Her legs were trembling, and my mouth covered hers, my tongue tasting her. My hand grabbed roughly at her hip, and I groaned at the feel of her beneath me.
Joanna pulled at my shirt, lifting it off my chest as she dragged her tongue and teeth over my sensitive skin. Little shocks of electricity buzzed beneath her mouth. I needed to feel her skin on mine.
I tore off my shirt and ran my hands up her sides, pulling her shirt off with one motion. She reached back, unclasping her bra and letting it tumble to the floor. I palmed one perky breast and lowered my mouth to the other. I sucked and teased the hard pebble of her nipple.
“Yes,” she whimpered. Her hands were clawing at my belt buckle, and my cock was throbbing to be inside of her. “God, I’ve missed this, Lincoln.”
Needing more of her, I dropped to my knees in front of her. I pulled the tab of her jeans, releasing the button. I slowly dragged the zipper down, revealing a smooth, silky scrap of fabric.
I licked a line along the top of her panties as I pulled her jeans down her hips. I sat back on my heels and watched as she slipped her legs out of her pants. I could see a line of wetness from her arousal, and I about lost my damn mind.
I dragged a thumb up the wet crease in her underwear, circling the tight bundle of nerves as I licked the sensitive skin where her leg met her center. Her deep moan made my cock throb in response. I reached down and palmed it once.
Joanna pressed herself back against the door as I hitched one leg up and rested it on my shoulder. Teasing her slit, I moved my fingers over her. She tipped her hips forward, begging for more.
“You are everything.” I dragged the flat of my tongue up, stopping at her clit and circling it with my tongue. I sucked it in deeply, and her hand tangled into my hair. I groaned into her as I devoured her sweet pussy and she climbed higher. Her thigh beside my face quivered with need.
“Lincoln, please,” she begged. Giving my girl the release she needed had me increasing the pressure. I slipped a finger inside of her and felt her heat clamp down on me. My cock was aching to be inside her—the heaviness between my thighs was shockingly intense—but I was determined to drag this out for her, make her feel incredible.
Using my hand and my tongue, I brought Joanna to the edge and then slipped another finger into her soaked pussy. She was soft and wet and warm, and I lapped up every drop of her. Gently, I teased her clit with my teeth as I pumped my fingers into her.
On a cry, she called out my name and I felt her legs go liquid. I peered up and saw her face flushed, eyes heavy-lidded, and a smile danced across her beautiful face. As I stood, I pulled my fingers from inside of her and brought them to my lips, tasting her again, and I looked into her eyes.
Fire and desire rose in her eyes as she watched me lick her arousal from my fingers. Unbuttoning my jeans, I let them drop to the floor. I pulled out my dick, hard as steel, and stroked it from root to tip.
“Get over there,” I said, motioning with my head toward the kitchen counter. Joanna bit her lower lip, and a surge of pressure throbbed in my cock.
Joanna moved quickly toward the counter, and I grabbed her hips, helping her up. She tried to reach down and feel me, but if she touched me, I knew I’d come right then and I had to be inside her. I moved her hips forward and lined my cock up to her entrance. I rubbed the head of my dick up her pussy, coating the head with her juices. We both moaned.
Sliding it back down, I moved my hips forward, easing into her tight pussy. I felt it pulse around me, and my body needed to move. I drove a steady rhythm, worshipping her body as I chased my own release.
A bead of sweat trickled between Joanna’s perfect tits. I saw her nipples tighten and felt her press her legs into my ass. I leaned forward to lick a path from her pink, peaked nipped to her neck. I traced my tongue into the dip of her collarbone and felt her heartbeat drumming wildly.
“Oh, baby, I need you. I need this.” I hammered long strokes into her.
“Yes, yes, yes,” she panted over and over.
I reached a hand forward, playing with her clit, begging her to come again, come with me. Her clit throbbed, and I lost any semblance of control. Her pussy clamped down around me, and I felt the gush of her orgasm as my own tore through me. I kept pumping into her as I filled her with deep, hot spurts.
Coming down from my own orgasm, my legs felt weak. I had handed every part of me to Joanna. She had my body, my heart, my soul.
Our heavy breathing filled the silence in the cottage. Still deep inside of her, I moved my hips.
“Mmmmm,” she groaned.
I lifted my hand to her face, brushing the small pieces of hair that stuck to her forehead. “You are so beautiful.”
Her eyes sparkled, and I fell even harder for this amazing, stunning woman. I would spend the rest of my life trying to be the man she deserved.
My voice felt thick with emotion. “Finding you was the best thing to ever happen to me.”
She looked at me and smiled. “My sweet man.” She ran her hand along the scruff of my jaw. “I think we found each other.”
