Chapter 14

14

MERRITT

K annon drove me back to the house. His guys were gone. We stepped inside and everything looked bare. Naked. They had stripped away the old carpet that had once filled this space. As I walked through the empty rooms, each step echoed. It felt hollow, much like how I’d felt until tonight.

The room I was sleeping in had the carpet pulled as well. Someone had been nice enough to stack my things in the corner and put the bed back in the middle of the room.

“Looks different, huh?” Kannon’s voice broke through my thoughts.

“Yeah,” I murmured. It was beautiful in a cold, impersonal sort of way—nothing like the chaotic warmth that used to define it.

“Do you have an idea about what you would like to put down for floors?” he asked.

I turned to look at him. “I don’t know. You said you do this for a living, right?”

He nodded. “I do.”

“What do you recommend?”

He sighed and looked around. “What do you plan on doing with the house?” he asked. “Flipping it?”

I shook my head. “I don’t want to sell it. I was thinking about renting it out. I don’t know why, but I can’t imagine parting ways with it completely. It feels wrong, like I’m selling my dad.”

“Okay, for a rental, I would definitely recommend LVP for the flooring.”

“What is that?”

“Vinyl,” he said. “Waterproof and fairly inexpensive but it can look nice. You don’t want to risk stained carpets that have to be replaced or ruined hardwood. Renters are not going to give two shits about ruining your floors.”

“Good thinking,” I said.

“We’ll plan a day to get materials,” he said. “I know a guy that gives me a hell of a deal. The house isn’t too big, so I bet we’ll be able to get leftovers from a big build.”

I was so grateful for him and his knowledge. “I would appreciate any help you can give me. What about the appliances?”

He cringed. “I would get rid of them. They are old and sitting in this house for a few years didn’t do them any favors.”

I sighed. “Great. Know a guy?”

He flashed a grin. “I do. If it’s a rental, you don’t need to buy new. They just need to be functional. Once we get a little further along, we’ll do some shopping.”

I smiled, feeling a warmth spread through me. “Thanks, Kannon. Seriously, I would not be able to do this without you.”

“No problem,” he said. For a moment, the silence filled with something unspoken. “I should go. We’ll be here early to remove more trim and that fucking wallpaper.”

I laughed. “Why do you say it like that?”

“Wallpaper is a pain in the ass to remove. I swear it’s easier to just put up new sheetrock.”

“I could help,” I offered.

“We’ll see. I’m sure you have shit to do.”

“I’m not going to let you do it all,” I said. “I think I can be somewhat useful.”

He flashed a grin. “You might want to go get cleaning supplies. I think the bathroom fixtures will be fine, but they need some serious elbow grease.”

I grimaced. “Great.”

I walked him to the door.

“Goodnight, Merritt.”

“Goodnight.”

As Kannon rode away, the weight of the empty house was still there, but it didn’t feel quite as daunting as it did last night. I could see a vision of it completed. I wanted it to be bright and cheery and, most of all, welcoming. It was a three-bedroom house which would be perfect for a family. I could imagine kids coming home after school and sitting on the front porch swing.

I locked the door and turned off the lights. The place could use new light fixtures. I would talk to Kannon about it tomorrow. If he could save me money on the cost of appliances and flooring, maybe we could spring for new fixtures.

The house was quiet save for the usual creaks and groans of it settling. I put on my pajamas and climbed onto the mattress. I stared up at the ceiling, thinking about the day. The ride had been exhilarating. I knew my dad used to ride in his day. I felt connected to him. It was crazy how well Kannon still knew me. He knew exactly what I needed to feel better.

I shook it off and closed my eyes. The long, wonderful day had exhausted me, and Kannon’s crew would show up early again tomorrow. Of course, my last conscious thoughts were of Kannon, which led to him waiting for me in my dream state.

Kannon stood on a ladder, working a paint roller along the high edge of the wall. He was wearing nothing but a pair of black boxers that clung to his hips, outlining his perfect ass. A leather tool belt was slung low around his waist. My gaze traveled upward, taking in the broad planes of his back, the rippling muscles of his shoulders flexing with every stroke of the roller. His torso was bare, carved like a damn marble statue, with a light sheen of sweat catching the faint light.

I swallowed hard, unable to look away. He moved like he owned every inch of the space, completely at ease in a way that made me hyper aware of my own skin. The soft hum of his deep voice drifted through the room. He was singing under his breath, some song I didn’t recognize, but the sound was rough and soothing at the same time.

I leaned against the doorframe, crossing my arms as if that would hold me together. My eyes darted down his legs, strong and powerful. He was built like a man who had spent his life hauling heavy things, working with his hands, and breaking a sweat just to make ends meet. A man who could probably snap me in two if he wanted to.

But God help me, I didn’t want him to stop.

“See something you like, Merritt?”

His voice startled me out of my trance. My heart jumped. My face burned as he turned to face me, the smirk on his lips unmistakable. His eyes, dark and knowing, roamed over me like he could read every wicked thought that had just been racing through my mind. He had looked into my heart’s desire and clearly liked what he saw.

“I—” I started, but my voice caught. “I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

“Didn’t seem like you minded watching,” he said, climbing down the ladder with a slow, deliberate grace. Every step made my pulse race faster. He was like a panther. His muscles rippled with every move.

“I was just…” I trailed off, unable to tear my gaze from his chest. The sharp V of his hips disappeared under the waistband of his boxers. I was embarrassingly fixated. The boxers were tight enough to reveal every detail of his impressive cock. The thick outline made my mouth water with need.

“Just what?” He stepped closer, his voice dropping to a low rumble. His lips twitched, amusement dancing in his eyes. “Admiring the view?”

“Don’t flatter yourself,” I shot back, my voice too breathless to sound convincing.

He stopped just in front of me, close enough that the heat of his body wrapped around me. “Too late for that.”

He reached out, brushing his fingers along my arm. The touch sent a jolt of electricity through me. I couldn’t remember the last time someone had made me feel like this—like I was burning from the inside out. I was wet and wanting. I licked my lips, craving him.

“Kannon…” I whispered, his name slipping out before I could stop it.

“Tell me to stop,” he said, his voice a husky challenge. He took another step. Despite wanting him, I backed up. We continued that way until I was against the wall. His hands came up, bracketing me, caging me in. “Tell me you don’t want this.”

I opened my mouth to protest, but the words wouldn’t come.

He leaned in, his breath brushing my ear. “Didn’t think so.”

His lips found my neck, trailing down with a maddening slowness that had my knees threatening to give out. I pressed my hands to the hard expanse of his chest. His skin was warm under my fingertips, his muscles rippling with power.

“You drive me crazy,” he muttered against my skin, his voice raw. His hands slid down my sides. I arched into him, desperate for more, for everything.

“Kannon,” I gasped, my voice trembling with equal parts desire and disbelief.

He pulled back just enough to look into my eyes. “Tell me you’re ready for this, Merritt.”

I nodded, unable to form words as his lips crashed into mine. The kiss was fierce and all-consuming. I melted into him, letting the world fall away. His hands gripped my hips, lifting me as if I weighed nothing. My legs wrapped around him instinctively.

He carried me to the couch, laying me down with a gentleness that didn’t match the fire in his eyes. His mouth never left mine, exploring, tasting, claiming. My hands roamed over his back, his shoulders, pulling him closer, wanting more, needing ? —

My eyes snapped open, and I was staring at the ceiling of my old bedroom.

The rush of sensations, the weight of his body, the heat of his kiss all disappeared. It was just the empty air around me. My heart pounded against my ribs as I blinked, disoriented and disappointed.

It had felt so real. I could still hear his voice in my ear, feel the press of his lips on my skin. But the room was silent, the only sound my ragged breaths. I had been so close to a climax.

I groaned, throwing an arm over my face. “I’m in a lot of trouble.”

The knot of desire low in my belly refused to untangle itself. My body was primed and ready. There was no way I was going to be able to sleep feeling this way. Only one thing was going to get me through this.

My hand drifted down, slipping under the waistband of my panties. If my dreams were going to torture me, I figured I might as well do something about it.

My fingers found their way to the heat between my legs. Images of Kannon flashed in my mind. I envisioned his intense eyes and that enticing smirk as he taunted me against the wall. My body responded instantly, a sharp pang of longing coiling tightly within me.

The memory of the dream felt so vivid. I imagined his hands exploring my skin. I circled slowly, building the pressure gently—every touch amplified by the lingering echo of his breath against my ear. The frustration and intensity from the dream heightened every sensation. I rubbed my clit, pretending it was him, and it didn’t take long for the orgasm to hit. I groaned and rolled to my side, trembling with pleasure.

This thing with Kannon was going to make me crazy. I wanted him and hated being around him at the same time.

Lord give me strength.