LOLA, AKA HICKEYS, BUTTERFLIES, AND BLUE BALLS

Once under the hot water, I’m so horny after making out with Val that I barely need to touch myself to come hard. This relief won’t last long. As soon as I see Val, my body will spark an edgy hunger only he can satisfy.

I soon stand in the kitchen, trying to think clearly. Val and I are getting married. I need to consider my situation realistically. Am I making smart decisions with a man I plan to know for a long time?

Right now, Val brandishes his power to leave me stupefied. He walks out of my bedroom, wearing red boxers and a Budweiser T-shirt. His muscular thighs instantly draw my gaze.

Shaking free of my stupor, I focus on his damp face. Val absentmindedly runs his hands through his wet hair and slicks it back.

“One day, we’ll shower together,” he murmurs.

The thought of us naked under the water leaves me dumbfounded. I wouldn’t be surprised to learn I’m slack-jawed and drooling.

Val is a sexy beast when he’s out of reach. Up close and wanting to erase the space between us, Val is the devil. He makes me nuts, and I launch myself at him.

Catching me like a pro, Val doesn’t react with surprise to my horny desperation. He’s a man fully aware of his manly attributes.

When my lips cover his, he meets my hunger with his own. We wrap our arms around each other and hold on tight.

A hard rap at the door instantly kills the mood. For me, anyway. Despite how I wiggle out of his grip, Val doesn’t want to stop.

“It’s Duke,” I mumble, breaking free of Val’s horny fingers. “He has spies located on this block.”

“Why would he care if I’m here? We’re getting married soon.”

“Let’s ask him and find out,” I say after checking my clothes to ensure I’m not obviously in a state of heat.

Duke’s fist is prone to knock again when I yank open the door. Before he speaks, he takes in the sight of Val in boxers.

“Why is he here?” my dad asks, forcing me to back up so he can enter. “You two shouldn’t be hanging out until this thing is a done deal.”

“I have staked my claim upon this woman,” Val says and rests his hand on my shoulder. “She belongs to me now. The ceremony and legal stuff are only formalities.”

“Sure, skippy,” Duke growls, moving around me so he can reach Val. “I don’t want you getting what you want and running out on our deal.”

Val sighs deeply, almost revealing a temper. I’m startled when he shuffles his fine ass out of my apartment door.

“You’re scaring him away,” I whine to Duke.

“He’s a grown-ass man. You need to see him clearly.”

“So do you. He isn’t one of your club guys. He didn’t grow up unloved and desperately seeking a mentor. His family raised him to be confident, not stupid. You’re misreading what you’re seeing.”

Duke’s cranky reply shorts out when Val returns with a bag in his hand. I knew the sexy beast wasn’t leaving since he’d want his pants if he was riding back to Tumbling Rock. Still, I’m startled when he kneels in front of me and shoves his hand into the bag. He removes a ring box and opens it.

“Lola McGraw, I knew instantly that you were my dream girl. If your dad had offered Clover instead of you, I would have said no to his deal despite knowing I’d make an awesome president. It had to be you.”

“That’s not the reason you gave when we met,” Duke mutters.

I flash a dark frown at my father. “You’re interrupting a beautiful moment here. Zip it.”

Duke rolls his eyes as Val slides the ring on my finger. I kneel in front of him and share his smile.

“I knew you were special, too. I’m glad you’re the one who took the deal.”

Val slides a second ring on his finger. “This is so women will know I’m a taken man.”

His sincerity makes me tear up. Then, he reveals a box with a jeweled butterfly necklace inside.

“You told me that night how you loved butterflies. You said your dad gave you a butterfly figurine or stuffed animal for your birthday each year. Even drunk and horny that night, I was listening.”

“Val,” I say, going gooey inside.

After the necklace hangs from my neck, I kiss him. Val smiles softly, knowing he’s got me on the hook. Our gazes flash upward to Duke who stares at Val like he’s looking like a goddamn alien.

“If you’re going to be skulking around my town, I might as well take you on a ride one day,” Duke grumbles at Val.

“Killing me won’t fix your problems,” Val says and stands up. “Plus, you’ll miss out on the stellar grandkids we plan to give you.”

As Val tugs me to my feet, I smile at my dad. “They’ll either be utterly gorgeous or the weirdest fucking looking kids in the entire state. I feel like this much hotness can only go two possible ways.”

Val kisses me while Duke patiently checks his phone. I climb into Val’s arms and wrap my legs around his hips. His boxers slide precariously close to revealing his mighty shlong.

I’m in the process of giving Val a hickey when my father’s patience wears out.

Duke mutters, “Enough.”

“Sir?” Val asks, seeming dazed as I continue sucking at his neck. “Did you want to stay for dinner?”

“It’s two in the afternoon.”

“What’s your point?”

“Didn’t you eat at the diner a few hours ago?”

“Yes, sir. Very much so, sir. Just a little more and I ought to be properly marked, sir.”

“Knock it off,” Duke growls and takes a dish towel to smack my ass. “Stop slobbering over him in front of me.”

“I’m sorry,” I mumble as Val eases me onto my feet. “He makes me crazy.”

“Uh-huh.”

I focus on my dad until he peels his annoyed gaze from Val and looks me in the eyes.

“It’s okay,” I tell him. “This is a good thing. You don’t need to be stressed.”

Duke’s frown darkens. I don’t know why he’s upset over Val proposing to me. The more his future VP wants to be in Basin Rock, the less drama there’ll be over leaving Tumbling Rock.

Also, I assumed my dad would be happy for me. Is Duke so focused on his club that he forgot how my heart is on the line here, too?

“Val, can you go test out my mattress to determine which side you want to sleep on?”

“Sure, babe, but you’ll probably need to get a king-sized mattress if you want space for yourself.”

Val struts out of the room, leaving me alone with Duke.

“You’re being an asshole,” I mutter.

“I know.”

“Then why do it?”

Duke rubs the back of his neck and sighs. “I don’t know.”

“I want Val to care about me. He’s so certain about his feelings that maybe the curse won’t matter.”

My dad gives me a pained look. “I want you to have everything.”

“But you don’t like him.”

“It’s not that. I mean, yeah, he gets on my nerves, but a lot of my irritation came from how he reacted during the meeting between clubs. He made it seem like you were trashy.”

“Val likes to poke at people to see how they react.”

Duke reaches out and taps the butterfly pendant. “This is more than I expected from him. So maybe I’m not seeing him clearly.”

“I’m falling for Val,” I whisper.

“I can see that.”

“And I know I might get hurt, but I have to try. The curse might swoop in and ruin things. Until then, I plan to have fun with Val.”

“Good.”

“If that’s how you feel, why do you still look upset?”

Duke can’t break loose from his frown. I feel him having a conversation with me in his head that he refuses to share out loud. Finally, my dad steps back and exhales.

“So, what’s the plan? Is he moving in already?”

“Val’s staying for dinner. If he doesn’t irritate me too much, I’m riding him tonight,” I admit and then smirk. “There’s no way he’ll irritate me enough to stop this rodeo.”

“Why not slow down and wait until you’re married?”

Studying my dad, I try to find the words to make him understand. “Imagine you were going to marry a woman in less than a month. She’s the hottest damn thing you’ve ever seen, and she wants you bad. Would you wait if she was begging for it? Because what would be the point? You’re suffering blue balls for nothing.”

“It’d be more romantic if you waited.”

“No way. You taught me to live as if life might end tomorrow. Just go for shit, don’t be scared. That’s what you said.”

“Right, but I was talking more about myself. I’m a pussy when it comes to my girls suffering the consequences of their actions.”

Smiling, I’m glad to see my dad settling down. Val Mercer is what we both need. I’m looking for love. Duke wants a capable heir. The man we require is currently stretched out on my bed.

If we can keep our stubborn McGraw natures in check, we’ll both end up happy.