Page 8 of Branded

I feel like I need her to, like the only way that I’m going to be able to prove to her that I’m the man for her is if I can get her to agree to this crazy idea. I didn’t plan on the bet; it just sort of happened.

All I know is that I can’t let her walk out that door. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about her since last night. She even followed me into my dreams. I woke up thinking it was real, that she was mine. But when I reached for her, the other side of the bed was cold, and reality came crashing back down.

I want that though. I want everything with her. She’s it for me. I’m sure of it.

My cock hardens in my jeans, agreeing with me. I had to jerk off twice last night before the fucker calmed down enough to let me get some sleep. Even so, I woke up with morning wood for the first time in damn near a decade. I know the only way to find true satisfaction is to sink inside my sweet girl, and watch her come with my name on her lips. That will have to wait, however.

Monty holds out her hand, and my heart leaps into my throat. I almost knock over my coffee cup in my haste to shake her hand.

The same sparks from last night hit me as soon as my skin touches hers, and I suck in a deep breath as she pulls away.

I grin at her, trying to keep things light. If she knew how I felt about her, the possessive, primal thoughts trying to push their way to the surface, I bet she would run screaming and never come back. I need to keep things friendly, at least for a little bit so that I don’t scare her off. Something happened that made her skittish around men, around relationships in general. It’s now my job to make her feel safe and wanted. Without being an obsessive bastard.

“You start tomorrow then. I’ll help you get your things tonight though, and we can grab something to eat on the way home.”

I can’t wait to get her in my space. I want to wake up to her things and fall asleep with her scent on me. Jesus, that’s not helping me keep myself in check.

“What?”

“Hmm?” I ask, distracted from my thoughts.

“What do you mean go get my things tonight?”

“Well, it’s a live in housekeeper position.”

Lie. Why did I say that? How is this taking things slowly?

“I didn’t know that,” she says, hesitating

“You’ll have your own room and everything,” I keep rambling. Now that I’ve pictured her in my home, I have to make it a reality.

“Can’t I just come over super early in the morning?”

“I wake up at five every morning to start my day,” I tell her.

“Five!? Why?”

I can’t help the chuckle that falls from my lips at her wide-eyed, exasperated look. “There’s a lot to be done around here.”

She sighs, and I can see her trying to find some kind of argument, some way to fight this. My girl is strong. She’s independent and smart, and she’s certainly shown that she won’t take any of my shit.

My parents are going to love her.

“It’s only for a month, right?” I ask though I’m hoping it’s really forever. Her eyes sharpen and lock on me.

“Right.”

“So…”

“So, let’s go get my things already. Unless you need a refill on your coffee.”

She stands from the table, eyeing my coffee before spinning around. I grin, adjusting my dick as discretely as I can before following her down the hall and back outside.

“We’ll take my truck. It will fit more.”

Monty nods, following me over to my black pickup truck. I open the passenger side door for her, trying to win her over already, but she doesn’t look impressed as she climbs into the seat.

I jog around the truck and slip behind the wheel.


Tags: Shaw Hart Romance