Chapter 15

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

BAILEY

T he past few weeks have been a little crazy. Arizona is gone on the overseas bathing suit campaign. Ripley is going through some personal struggles. Struggles that truly shocked us to the core. Kam has had a few photoshoots, but she and I have spent a lot of time with Ripley lately helping her nurse a broken heart. I’ve also been able to help with Harper more consistently as we establish the off-season schedule.

As for Tanner and me, we spend nearly every night he doesn’t have Harper together. And even when she’s at his house, there are plenty of stolen moments for kissing and touching. We’re insatiable for each other and it keeps getting better and better. I’ve never experienced this level of pure, unquenchable need for man, and he seems to feel the same about me.

We don’t go out in public, but it’s not only sex between us. We talk and watch movies. Sometimes I cook for him, and sometimes we get takeout. Our boundary lines have very quickly become blurred. I can’t deny that I have real feelings for him.

He mentioned that they rent a cabin in Vail, Colorado to ski every winter. Apparently, they celebrate Christmas Eve and Christmas morning as a family unit here in Philly, but then he takes Harper to Vail for a week. Fallon flies out on his last night there. He then flies home, and she stays out there with Harper for another week.

He invited me to come with them. With Harper bringing Dylan this year, needing the extra help is an easy excuse for me to join them. I’ve never skied and am excited at the prospect, but I’ve never gone that long without Kam. I told him I need to talk to her about it. He mumbled something about codependency being unhealthy. I’m not sure he’s wrong, but it’s still a conversation I want to have with her before I commit.

Even though she’s away, Arizona begged all of us to spend Thanksgiving at Quincy’s so that Layton wouldn’t be alone. He’s been in a state of depression since she left. He was originally supposed to go with her, but his injury threw a wrench into those plans.

We tried to talk my father into flying in, but he won’t leave my mother, and she barely leaves the house at this point.

It’s the night after Thanksgiving. Ripley packed up and went home to her mother’s in California. After some prodding as to what was the matter with her, she dropped a bombshell on us that she’s pregnant. She’s emotional and said she needs to get out of town for a yet-to-be-determined amount of time. I have no idea what this means for our team, but her mental health is more important right now, and she wants to be with her mother.

It’s just Kam and me. I’m nervously fidgeting, knowing I need to talk to her about Colorado. She sighs at me. “Spit out whatever it is you have to say. You’re sweating like a cucumber in a convent.”

I scrunch my face in disgust. “Ew. That’s gross. I’ll never look at a cucumber the same again.”

She crosses her arms in waiting.

I sigh. “I want to talk to you about Tanner.”

“Ooh. Are you ready to give me all the juicy details yet?”

She obviously knows I’m having sex with him at this point since I sleep there all the time, but I haven’t indulged her FBI-level inquisitions for details as of yet.

“No dirty details for you, but he asked me to go skiing in Colorado with them the week after Christmas. I know we’ve never been apart that long but—”

“Maybe…you should go.”

If she grew a third eye right now, I think I’d be less shocked than I am at that response.

“What? Really? I thought you were going to throw a fit.”

“It sounds like fun.” She twists her mouth nervously. “And…umm…Cheetah asked me to go home with him for Christmas. I was planning to talk to you about it.”

I think my jaw must drop to the floor. “Seriously? Are you together?” I know she occasionally has sex with him, but I haven’t known her to do anything more than sleep with someone in over a decade.

She shakes her head. “No, no. Nothing like that. Don’t give me that damn hopeful look. He has, like, a hundred siblings who are all married with kids. His mother constantly pesters him about getting married. Apparently, she’s even got the woman picked out. Cheetah asked me to come home with him to pretend to be his girlfriend for the week. I told him I’d let him know. I can’t imagine spending Christmas without you, and the prospect of flying without you is making me sick to my stomach, but he promised me an all-expenses paid trip to Jamaica afterward if I go with him.”

“Wow. His family lives in Texas, right?”

“Yes. I think near Galveston.” She nervously runs her hands through her hair. “I don’t know if I can do it. Fly without you. Be without you for that long. I haven’t slept since he asked me.”

“You haven’t slept in twenty years. ”

She smiles. “True.”

I rub her back. “You should definitely go, and so should I. This could be good for us, Kam. We’re too old to have never spent time apart. We’re eventually going to have to learn how to do that.”

Tears sting her eyes. “You’re my soulmate, Bails. You jump, I jump.” She tugs at her collar. “I’m sweating just thinking about it.”

I hug her. “I know. You’re my soulmate too, and I’m equally nervous, but we need this. We both know it’s time. It’s probably way past time.”

We both have tears streaming down our cheeks when my FaceTime rings. I pull away and look at my phone to see that it’s our father. It’s odd that he’s calling us considering we spoke with him yesterday.

“It’s Daddy.”

She smirks. “Which daddy?”

I roll my eyes and answer. “Hey, Daddy. Is everything okay?”

TANNER

I’m getting things ready for poker night when the doorbell rings. I wonder who’s here early. Very early. It’s unlike any of them.

I open the door to Bailey in tears. My face falls. “What’s wrong?”

She looks behind me and around the house. I shake my head. “No one is here. We’re alone.”

She throws herself into my arms and starts sobbing. I hold her tight and caress her back. “What’s the matter, sweet girl?”

“It’s my mom. She’s sick. Our father just called and said that she has some sort of liver disease caused by all the years of drinking. They gave her a year to live.”

I pull her tighter into my arms. “I’m so sorry.” I know they’re not close, but I imagine it still hurts. “Do you need to fly down there?”

She shakes her head in my arms. “No. She doesn’t want to see us. She said we didn’t care about her in life, and she doesn’t want us to come now that she’s dying. Dad said to give her a few weeks to absorb everything and then we’ll revisit. Kam doesn’t want to go, but I do. I just…I can’t leave things unsettled like this.”

I pull her inside and close the door, still holding her in my arms. I don’t think she needs me to say anything. She just needs me to be here for her, though I wonder where Kam is. I’d think Bailey would want her at this time.

After she finally calms down, she breathes, “I’m sorry I bothered you. Kam was just acting so cold about our mother dying. She wouldn’t talk about it. Then she took off saying she had plans. I needed a little comfort. I know you have poker night. I should head out. Maybe it’s finally hit her, and she needs me.”

I squeeze her hard, not letting her go. “You’re never a bother. I’m glad you came to me. You bottle things up, always needing to be the brave one. It’s okay to be vulnerable. It’s okay to be the one needing to be taken care of.”

Her face is buried in my neck as she nods her head and mumbles, “Thank you.”

Her hands are fisted in my shirt. I simply hold her close as the remaining tremors of sobs begin to dissipate.

When I’m confident she’s completely calmed down, I hold her cheeks and lift her face so that our eyes meet. “Are you okay?”

She whispers, “I think so.”

“Let me cancel tonight.”

She shakes her head. “No, I’m sure they’re on their way. You need this time with your friends. I should probably go find Kam anyway, though I doubt I’ll have any luck. When she wants to disappear, she fully disappears.”

She looks up at me with an expression that threatens to break me. “Just a few more minutes of you. It helps.”

I hold her in my arms, trying to give her whatever it is she needs, secretly loving that it’s my arms providing her comfort.

She begins kissing my chest, eventually trailing those kisses up to my neck. Her fingers run through my beard. She loves doing that.

Before I know what’s happening, she’s standing on her tippytoes with her lips brushing over mine. “I need you. We can be quick. Don’t hold back. Make me forget, even if just for a few minutes.”

In an instant, my mouth is on hers. I feel the warmth of her body relaxing into mine as her arms circle my neck. My hands move around the back of her thighs. I lift her and she wraps her long legs around me.

She breathes, “Tie me up. Do whatever you want to me. Just make me feel good. Please.”

I do the only thing I can do right now. I nod and begin kissing her again.

In a frenzied state, she unbuttons my shirt and opens it. Without breaking the kiss, I move us upstairs to my bedroom, and we fall onto my bed. I grind my covered cock through her center. She moves her hands all over my back. All over my body. I’ve never felt her more needy than she is right now.

Why do I like her dependence on me? I’ve never liked that in women, but with Bailey, it’s only serving to make me want her all the more. But I hate the notion of giving it to her hard and fast and then sending her on her way. There’s something so wrong about that.

An idea occurs to me. I reluctantly pull away, loving that she audibly whimpers at the loss.

I command, “Get your ass naked.”

The corners of her mouth raise and her eyes flash with mischief. “And if I don’t?”

“I’ll take that ass in my hand and make it red.”

She runs her lower lips through her teeth. “What if I want that, Daddy?”

My fucking cock threatens to poke through my pants at her word choice. This woman will be the death of me.

I calmly respond, “You think you know how to push my buttons, don’t you, sweet girl?”

“I know I do.” She happily removes her top and then her bra. I watch each of her tits fall heavily with a slight bounce as they’re freed from their confines. So full. So perfect. So mouthwatering.

She then lifts her hips enough to remove her leggings and panties in one movement before turning over onto all fours and wiggling her ass. “Give it to me.”

I place my palm over her ass. She lets out a moan in anticipation. But I don’t spank her. I lean over and whisper in her ear, “Do you want to be punished?”

She pants, “Yes. Please.”

“Get on your back and spread your arms and legs.”

She hesitates for a moment, likely in surprise, before obliging me. I unlock the chest and remove the fluffiest ties I own.

After securing her arms and ankles—tightly—I pick up my shirt from the floor and begin to rebutton it. Her eyes widen. “What are you doing?”

“I have guests about to arrive.”

She pulls on her cuffs and adorably harumphs in frustration. With a lot of edge to her tone, she spits out, “Fine, I’ll leave. Untie me.”

“No, I want you here all night. You’ll wait here for me. I’m feeling generous though. I’ll turn on the television.” I lean over her and very slowly run my tongue through her pussy, only grazing her clit. I rub my beard through her a bit too. “I’ll keep your taste on me for the evening, reminding me what’s up here waiting for me.”

She unsuccessfully pulls on her restraints. “Tanner, let me go. I’m not waiting here all night, naked and shackled, while you circle jerk with the boys.”

I smile. “That’s a lot of sass. I have a special punishment in mind for sassy girls. One I’m more than sure you’ll enjoy, but if you don’t want to stay, all you have to do is say payoff pitch and this can end.”

Her lips twitch. I see it on the tip of her tongue, but she won’t give in. Leaning over her, I whisper into her ear, “I’ll make it worth your while. I promise.”

Her nipples immediately harden, and she exhales a long breath in frustration but doesn’t use her safe word. I’ve got her right where I want her. She wants to forget her sorrows? I’ll make that happen for her.

I run my thumb over her lower lip. “I want you frothing at the mouth when I return.”

She sucks my thumb into her mouth and playfully bites it.

“Ooh, that will cost you, Ms. Hart.”

She thrusts her hips up to attempt to rub herself against me, but I pull away and nonchalantly use the remote control to turn on the television. “What does it for you, Ms. Hart? Do you prefer Fifty Shades or 9 ⒈／⒉ Weeks ?”

She scoffs. “Is that question for real? One hundred percent 9 ⒈／⒉ Weeks . It’s not even close.”

I chuckle as I turn on the movie for her, close my bedroom door, and head downstairs just in time for the doorbell to ring.

I open it to see Layton, Cheetah, Trey, Vance, and Daylen. With a frown, Trey mumbles, “Gemma made me come. I’m only staying for a few hands.”

I look at Layton, leaning on his crutches, and roll my eyes at how Trey is about Gemma. He shrugs his shoulders. “Sorry, man, if my girl was in town, I’d want to get home to her too.”

I shake my head. “You’re all pussy-whipped.” Then I think of the delicious pussy I have waiting for me upstairs and have a drop more compassion for them.

As we’re walking down to my mancave, Layton nods at Cheetah. “You were the last one in the front door. We need a fun fact from you.”

Cheetah smiles. “I’ve got a good one. McCaffrey will love it.”

Vance practically growls, and Cheetah smirks as he says, “The state of Montana has three times as many cows as it does people.” Vance is originally from Montana.

Daylen chuckles. “That explains McCaffrey’s prom date. The photographer had to tell her to moooove to the left. Mooooove to the right.”

The guys all laugh except Vance. He gives Daylen the finger and mumbles, “Assholes. Why do I come to these nights?”

Everyone pours drinks and makes plates of food. I hear Cheetah mention Ezra’s name. I know he has a thing for Bailey and calmly ask, “How’s he doing these days?”

Cheetah shrugs. “You know Ezra. Slightly socially awkward. He’s the kind of guy who, when he goes to the gas station, if the card reader says see cashier , he gets in his car and leaves.”

I chuckle. “That’s funny.”

He nods. “Yet true. His childhood friend, a cool chick, was here a few weeks ago. They were touchy-feely, but he said that’s just how they are. She apparently has a boyfriend. Anyway, he went home for a few weeks. He’ll be back in the new year as our off-season workouts ramp up a bit.”

I can’t say I’m sad to see Ezra out of town and out of sight for Bailey.

We begin playing cards, and I enjoy the usual banter, though my mind is on the naked woman waiting in my bedroom. I decide it’s time to check on her. Standing, I hold up my phone and say, “Play a round without me. I need to check on Harper. She’s at a friend’s house.”

I quickly make my way upstairs and open the bedroom door to a relieved Bailey. “Oh thank god. Untie me.”

I shake my head. “Nope. We haven’t had our fun yet.”

I rub my pointer finger over her lips before sliding it into her mouth and commanding, “Suck.”

She briefly hesitates before she does as I instructed.

“Good girl. Next time I come up here, this will be my cock.”

Her eyes widen. “Next tim—”

“Shh.”

I pull the finger out and slowly drag it down her body. Down her neck, through her tits, over her now trembling belly, and then through her pussy. “You’re wet, sweet girl.”

She breathes, “More.”

I slide the finger deep into her tightness, and she cries out, “Yes.”

Still with my finger pumping in and out of her, I bend and flick my tongue over her tiny bundle. Her hips buck, though I never break stride.

It takes only a minute or two before her legs begin to shake and I know she’s almost there. I then pull away.

She yells, “No. Please. I’ll do anything.”

She’s trying desperately to rub her legs together but can’t with how I have her restrained.

I give her a hard, open-mouth kiss before standing again. “You’re so beautiful when you’re at my mercy.” I wink. “Back to my game.”

“Please, Tanner. Stay. Make me come. Just once, and then you can go back.”

I blow her a kiss before sucking on the finger that was inside her. “See you in a bit.”

I close the door and head back downstairs, smiling the whole way.

Forty-five minutes later I return and she’s in tears. “What’s wrong?”

She turns her head to me. “I forgot how sad the ending of this movie is.”

I can’t help but let out a laugh. “Only you, Bailey Hart, would cry during 9 ⒈／⒉ Weeks .”

“If it helps, I’m also unimaginably turned on by it. Is your game over?”

“Nope. I’m just here for a little fun before I head back.”

Her face falls. “I can’t do this anymore.”

“All you have to do is say the words and I’ll let you out.”

Her lips start to form a P, but the words never spill from her mouth. She briefly closes her eyes. “This better be the best orgasm of my life.”

“It will be. For now, I’ll take one because sitting down there with my friends, knowing you’re in my house naked, tasting you on my lips and fingers, has my cock on overdrive.” I start unzipping my pants. “Open your mouth, sweet girl.”

Her lips curl in amusement. “Yes, Daddy.”

I have to squeeze my newly freed cock to tame the throb. What is wrong with me that her words affect me so much?

I climb onto the bed and begin tracing my tip around her wet lips. She flicks her tongue over it. “Hmm, you taste good, Mr. Montgomery.”

“You’re going to swallow me down like a good girl, aren’t you? ”

She looks up at me with those innocent big eyes of hers and nods.

“Open wide.”

She does, and I slide my cock all the way in until it reaches the back of her throat.

“Wrap those beautiful lips around me.”

Again, she does as she’s told as I begin my thrusts in and out of her mouth until I come down her throat.

“You’re being very compliant.”

“Reward me.”

I smile as I remove the nipple clamps from the chest at the end of my bed. Her eyes widen. “What the hell are those?”

“Only pleasure, Bailey. We can stop this anytime.”

I spend a few minutes teasing and sucking on her nipples, preparing them for what’s coming next.

Pinching her nipples with my fingers, I ask, “Does that feel good?”

She moans, “Yes. I want you. Make me come.”

I shake my head. “So impatient. Not yet.” Warming each clamp with my hands for a brief moment, I then attach them to her nipples.

Her eyes practically roll to the back of her head as her back arches and she yells out, “Oh my god.”

“Shh. We don’t want my guests to know you’re here. Let me go wrap things up downstairs, and then I’ll give you what you crave.”

“No. Don’t go. Stay.”

I fiddle with the remote control again and put on Outlander for her. I remember Fallon’s obsession with that show when we were married.

I’m again downstairs. I’m not wrapping things up quite yet. I want to allow the clamps to get her teetering on the edge to the point where detonation is the only option for her .

Trey is gone, so it’s just the five of us. I look at Layton. “How are you managing?”

“Day by day. The fucking cast sucks, my girl isn’t here, Quincy disappeared, and my career is over, but I’m sick of my pity party. I’ve got some things in the works that I’m looking forward to.”

“What do you mean Quincy disappeared? Weren’t you at his house last night?”

He nods. “Yep. But he texted us this morning that he was heading out of town and he wouldn’t be reachable for the foreseeable future. Dinner was awkward as fuck last night. He doesn’t get along with his parents. Ripley, Kam, and Bailey were all pissed at him for some unknown reason. Arizona doesn’t know he took off yet. She’s going to be worried. I hope he comes back before she returns home in a few weeks.”

Cheetah nods in agreement. “It was definitely awkward.”

We spend a little time chatting about the Christmas holiday. Vance and Daylen are in season, so they’ll be in town. Cheetah mentions that he invited Kam to come home with him, but she hasn’t given him an answer yet. I hope that means Bailey is free to spend that time with me in Colorado.

The boys all eventually head out, and I make my way up to my bedroom. When I open the door, she’s breathing loudly. She whimpers, “I swear to god, if you brush by my clit, I’ll come. I’ll do anything. Don’t leave again. I’ll suck your dick every day for a year if you make me come right now.”

I smile as I begin unbuttoning my shirt. “I’m not going anywhere until you have the greatest orgasm of your life. I promise.”

She lets out a breath in relief. “Thank duck. ”

I inwardly laugh. Even in this moment, she won’t curse. So dedicated. So disciplined.

The more clothes I remove, the more her breathing increases and she pulls on the cuffs. She’s not kidding about being on the cusp. I need to play this carefully. I want this to be the best orgasm of her life.

I undress painfully slow for her. I know that drives her nuts. She’s always frantic with need. Making her wait is half the fun. Well, less than half, but it’s still fun.

Finally down to my boxer briefs, my cock strains against its confines. It’s been hard to keep him under control all night knowing who was waiting for me and her current state of being tied naked to my bed.

Running my fingers around her reddened nipples, I ask, “How do the clamps feel?”

“I don’t know if they were sent from heaven or hell. I’ll let you know in a few minutes.”

I smile as I lean over and taste her smart mouth. She loves kissing, and I love the effect my kisses have on her.

My tongue slowly explores her mouth while hers rapidly ravages mine. She sinks her teeth into my lower lip and bites down, mumbling, “I’m not letting you go until you make me come.”

I reach for one of her breasts and squeeze the clamp. She lets out a scream, releasing my lip.

“You’re a bad girl.” I slap her pussy, and she bucks her hips and yells out.

My lips meet the scorching skin of her cleavage as I slowly drag them down her body. I can’t help but inhale her. I love her scent. I love the way she feels. I love everything about her.

She begins to visibly tremble with anticipation. She’s so on edge.

Eventually I get down to her center, gently kissing it before lightly running my tongue through her. I whisper, “Is this where you need me, sweet girl?”

Tears leak from the corners of her eyes as she squeezes them shut and nods.

Another soft, slow lick through her, and her back arches off the bed. “That’s it, sweetness. Daddy is going to make you feel good. Relief is coming. This pussy is going to sing for me tonight.”

My tongue meets her center again and I can tell she’s about to come, so I pull away.

She writhes under me and screams, “No!”

I run my lips back up her body, to her favorite spot on her neck. She again bucks her hips, desperately seeking any type of friction. It won’t take much to bring her over the cliff into the sea of ecstasy.

With my lips still pressed to her neck, my fingers make a winding, long trail down her body until I reach her opening. Slipping two fingers through and then into her, I push deep until I reach the spot I’ve come to learn drives her wild.

Her body begins to squeeze around my fingers, and I again pull out. More tears leak out of her eyes . She sucks in a short breath. “Please.” Short breath . “I’ll do.” Short breath . “Anything.” Short breath .

I reach over and sheath myself in a condom. This orgasm is going to be explosive. I want to feel it on my cock, not my tongue or fingers.

Her eyes are shut. She’s in a different world right now, having no clue what I’m going to do to her next. I get off on the control I have over her body.

We’ve experimented with some of the toys and edging over the past few weeks, but this is the furthest I’ve taken things with her.

I know the end will be worth the long journey. Giving her new experiences and pleasure is so hot. I love opening her eyes to a new world, one she seems to be enjoying.

I hover over her on my hands so as not to disturb the clamps. I know they only add to her enjoyment.

Bringing my tip to her entrance, I tease it for only a few seconds before thrusting all the way in. She yells out, “Ah, Tanner!” I can feel her begin to convulse around me.

One, two, three deep, hard thrusts, and her pussy squeezes me so damn tight. It’s a miracle I don’t come. She screams at the top of her lungs as fluids gush from her body in a way I haven’t seen from her before.

I continue my strokes. Her orgasm hasn’t ended yet. She’s completely out of control. I think if she weren’t tied down, she’d either be hovering above the bed or have fallen to the floor. I’m not sure she’s fully conscious.

She’s writhing and jerking as much as she can within her confines. The orgasm rolls on and on. It’s not until I feel the tremors begin to subside that I push in deep and give in to my own release.

We’re both sweaty and breathless. I’m not sure she knows what planet she’s on. I want to collapse, but I need to carefully remove the nipple clamps first.

I gently remove them, sucking on each nipple as I do so to soothe them. Aftershocks work through her body each time my tongue barely grazes her nipples.

Her eyes are still shut as I untie her. She wraps herself around me like a koala bear and begins to weep.

I hold her and rub her hair. “Shh. It’s over. I’m here. I’ll take care of you, sweet girl.”

She sobs into my chest, her body clinging to mine for dear life.

“Are you hurt?”

She shakes through her continued tears. “It was incredible. I don’t know why I’m crying.”

“It’s emotional. That’s okay. Did it feel good for you? ”

“It was perfection.”

“Are you hungry?”

“Famished. I feel like that orgasm took everything out of me.”

“Let me feed you.”

I try to stand, but she doesn’t let go, so I stand with her wrapped around me and walk downstairs to the kitchen.

I gently place her ass on the kitchen counter, and she screeches. “Ah, cold.”

“Sorry. Stay put. Let me grab you something.”

She peels herself off me and leans back on her hands, completely exhausted and completely exposed to me.

After quickly removing and disposing of the condom, I open the refrigerator and pull out a bowl of sliced pineapples. We’ve been keeping a steady supply on hand since Bailey started working here. She eats them all the time, and now Harper and I do too.

I stand between her legs, but as soon as I offer her one, she giggles.

“What’s so funny?”

“Do you know why I eat pineapples?”

“Because you like them?”

She smiles. “Because Kam told us it makes your…” she points between her legs, “taste better.”

My face falls. “Are you serious? My whole family is now pineapple addicts because of Kamryn’s crazy?”

She lets out a laugh. “Yep.”

I rub a slice over her lips. “Perhaps I should punish you for that too.”

She licks the juices from her lips before taking a bite. “I might be up for that.”

I rub it over her lips again, but this time I lick it off. “Hmm. I must say, you do taste very sweet. Maybe she’s onto something. ”

“Maybe.” She lets out a moan. “That was the most drawn-out orgasm of my life. It lasted forever.”

“Worth it in the end?”

Her lips curl up. “Also the best orgasm of my life.”

I can’t help but smile in satisfaction.

She looks up at me. “Were you always like this with women? What got you into this type of sex?”

I raise an eyebrow. “Do you really want me to talk about other women with you?”

She nods. “Yes. I’m curious.”

I rub her thighs because I can’t seem to keep my hands off her. Contemplating her question for a moment, I eventually answer, “Something happened in high school that took an emotional toll on me. I felt like I lost a bit of control in my life. The only good news for me at the time was that I still had the interest of girls.”

She smiles. “I bet you did.”

I raise an eyebrow.

“You’re gorgeous and so damn sexy. I have no doubt women did and do throw themselves at you.”

I roll my eyes at the compliment. “Anyway…that’s when I began experimenting. I liked the control it afforded me.”

“What happened where you lost control?”

“Nothing I want to talk about.”

“Was Fallon into it? The way you are in bed?”

“I’m not discussing my sex life with Fallon with you.”

She feeds me a pineapple slice. “I’ll take that as a yes.”

After I finish chewing and swallowing, I admit, “Let’s just say that our physical relationship fizzled along with the marriage.”

She shrugs. “Her loss is my gain. You’re undoubtedly a tough act to follow. That’s probably why she doesn’t date.”

“She doesn’t date?” That’s news to me. I assumed someone like Fallon has an unlimited supply of men pursuing her. “How do you know that? ”

“She told me once when we were having dinner. You weren’t home yet. She said between her job, her parents, and Harper, she doesn’t have time.”

My face falls. “I’m sorry to hear that. That’s not what I want for her. She has a lot to offer.”

“She’s a beautiful woman who’s warm and smart. I’m sure it’s only a matter of time.”

I cup her cheek. “Speaking of warm, smart, beautiful women, is this one ready for another round?” I thrust my growing cock against her center.

“You’ve got a lot of energy, Mr. Montgomery.”

“You’re irresistible, Ms. Hart.” I lean in for a kiss.

She smiles into my mouth. “One more slice, and then I’ll be ready.”

As I feed it to her, I say, “Cheetah mentioned taking your sister home for Christmas. Does that mean we’re on for Vail?”

She nods as she swallows. “Yep. Kam and I talked about it. She’s leaving before Christmas though. My friends are all gone. I need to figure out what I’m doing, but I’m definitely free the next week.”

Without thinking, I offer, “Spend it with us.”

She pinches her eyebrows together. “How would that work with Fallon?”

“The truth. You don’t have your family or friends around. If she knew, she’d insist on you spending it with us anyway.”

“What do you guys do?”

“This year we’re doing Christmas Eve at Fallon’s with her parents. We alternate years. Harper will sleep there this year. They’ll do Christmas morning at her house first and then she’ll bring Harper here for another Christmas morning. Then we leave for Vail later that day.”

She smiles. “So I can stay with you on Christmas Eve? Or will your father be here? ”

I roll my eyes. “He won’t come the years we do Christmas Eve at Fallon’s. He’s stubborn, blaming her for the divorce. He’s planning to visit after New Year’s for Harper’s birthday.”

She smiles. “I can’t wait for her party. I told her I’d make the cake. She wants something softballish but said to otherwise surprise her.”

I lift her up and she giggles. “Enough talking. Time for my favorite cake.”