BethanyBeing back on campus felt good, felt right. Bethany breathed in deeply, the heat in Texas stifling, but the smell of fresh-cut grass and honeysuckle made it worth dealing with. She wasn't looking forward to working for one of the business professors for the next semester, but it was a requirement of the master's program. She would just buckle down and get through it and keep her eyes on the future.The future.It seemed as though Damon was willing to be a part of that plan. She honestly couldn't fathom it without him in it, and yet they still had so many obstacles to jump over to get there. The fact that they were about to be family was the largest, but working together and both being so damn bullheaded were competing for a close second.Bethany moved back as a large group of girls piled out of the business building, one of them turning to give her a once-over. She chuckled and slipped into the coolness. Wanting anything other than a man had not occurred to her, but it was bec
Bethany"There's the girl of the hour!" Krista walked toward the car as Bethany got out, a smile lifting her mouth at the sight of her best friend."Has it only been a couple of weeks? Feels like for-fucking-ever." Bethany wrapped her arms around the other girl and sank into the hug."Can't text or call nobody? Too busy being important?" Krista moved back and tugged at a strand of Bethany's long hair."You too, butt nugget." She winked and walked toward the apartment. She would be staying with Krista most days of the week, some at Kent's place and hopefully some in the arms of her handsome stepbrother. Bethany reached over and ran her hand down the back of Krista's hair."You totally got some low-lights put in your hair."Krista opened the apartment and moved back. "I did. I just felt like it was too blonde. With it being so short and gold, everyone kept calling me Tinker Bell."Bethany laughed and let her eyes scan the living room before sinking into the old beat up green couch she h
BethanyWorry clouded her thoughts as she drove to Damon's house. The situation with Krista and Jake was so odd. It was hard to imagine it happening, and yet it seemed to be. Maybe Krista had been obsessed with Jake for much longer than either of them imagined?Her phone buzzed in the seat next to her, and she pulled it out as she parked the car in front of Damon's place.Damon: Where are you? I'm getting impatient. Bethany: Here. Why does that not surprise me?He opened the car door as she yelped and hit her knee on the steering column."Because you know me so well after only a week and a half?" He lifted his eyebrow and moved back. His white button-down shirt was open, the swell of his beautiful chest and abdomen muscles on full display.She got out, not able to wait another second to touch him. Sliding her hands around his waist inside his shirt, she lifted to her toes and pressed her lips to his with a soft moan. He wrapped his arms around her and tilted his head, deepening the k
Bethany"It's like a fire," she started as she reached up and pushed his shirt from his shoulders, reveling in the beauty of the beast before her. "A sharp, stabbing jolt of electricity. It starts in my stomach and races along my skin, leaving me hot and wet, needy and willing to do anything just to feel your hands on me.""Good, baby. Keep going." He bent over her, pressing his body to hers. The soft brush of his lips along her throat almost undid her, the strong tick of her pulse in her neck only getting worse as he whispered along her skin."It's not just your words but seeing or even thinking about you. I want you to explore me, to teach me and open me up. I need to be beneath you, bent over for you, on my knees for you.""You do, baby. I need you too," he whispered against her ear as his fingers slid between them, pressing softly into her wetness above her slacks as he growled against her throat."I want to drown in your scent and bathe in your depravity. I don't know why you cho
Bethany"What did you mean by 'a training ground'?" Bethany asked before lifting her sandwich to her lips. She sat in one of his T-shirts, her body bare beneath it. Soft music played from the TV as they snuggled into the couch together."Exactly what it sounded like. You're not used to a man wanting to take pleasure from you, both his own and yours." Damon licked mustard from his finger before glancing over at her. "If I'm going to settle down with one woman, I want her to get used to me taking what I want.""Sounds greedy to me." She shrugged, not minding it at all. The idea of him settling down with one woman and her being that woman left her heart racing. What she wouldn't give for that to be the future."It is. Life's too short not to be though." He moved her legs off of him and stood, his slacks the only thing he wore. "Plus, it's not like I'm taking something from you that you don't want to give. I'm talking about opening you up to the possibility that as your man I know what yo
Bethany"I wasn't going to say anything, but I know being transparent and open is important to you, so I promise you one thing ... no secrets between us, at least not from my side of the relationship."He pressed another kiss to her neck and slid his hand to her stomach, pulling her back toward him as he slipped one of his legs through hers and wrapped himself around her tightly. He didn't have to say anything. His action spoke volumes. He wanted love as much as everyone else did, and like half the population walking around lonely, he was scared. How could he not be?"I still hate her, Beth.""I can imagine so." Bethany reached back and ran her fingers along his thigh before pulling from his hold and turning to face him. She lay down on her side, snuggling into him as she nuzzled her face into the sexy smell of his chest."I wish I could just tell Dad, but what good would it do?"She looked up as he reached down and brushed her long hair back, his eyes on her but looking far away from
BethanyBethany lay in Damon's bed as he slept. Their sex was delicious and so fulfilling. He hadn't taken her much longer after they stood up, the pressure overwhelming them both. After a quick shower, they had slipped into bed. She couldn't sleep, her heart far too full to let her mind rest. Various scenarios of where they might be headed ran through her, none of them ending with a happily ever after.She growled softly and slipped out of the sheets around three in the morning. Damon's soft snoring was stupid levels of precious; his big strong body laid out across most of the queen-sized bed. She picked up the towel she had been wearing earlier, wrapped it around her and walked to the couch. She turned on the TV and muted the sound as she nibbled at her lip.How badly she wanted to tell him that she loved him, but the last time she did he had taken it poorly or had he? Shock sat on his handsome features, his voice losing strength as he whispered his response to her confession.You l
Bethany"Bethany, wake up." Damon's voice pulled her from her nap, her eyes opening as she gulped for air. "Hey ... it's okay. We're here."She sat forward, brushing her fingers through her hair and trying to make sense of the scene. Several cop cars sat around the parking lot. People milled about everywhere."Oh my God. You don't think something has happened to Jake, do you?" She pointed to a spot nearest the action, not really wanting an answer from Damon. "Park over there.""I don't know what's going on, but don't rush into it, please. I don't want anyone manhandling you. I'm possessive if you haven't noticed, and I've had very little sleep. This wouldn't be good for anyone if a cop thought to overstep his boundaries."She didn't pay him any attention but reached for her phone that sat silent between the two of them."How can I have a zillion text messages from Jake and now nothing? He and Krista both know that I'm worried." Her voice was pinched as fear worked to consume her.Damo