“Everything is okay?”

“Yes.” He pulled her shirt up and off. “Even better now.”

“Door locked?” Kelly asked.

“Shit.” He darted away to lock the door before he came back to her. He stopped a foot or two away, staring at her. “Strong and fragile all at the same time. I missed you, Legs.”

“I missed you, too. It’s nice you never listen to me. Sometimes.”

“I’m not superhuman. You’re standing there in nothing but moonlight and a scrap of cotton. How can I possibly focus on anything but the way you are, just for me?”

Her breath caught in her throat. “I am. Here just for you.” Like she’d been meant just for him. No one else fit her the way he did.

He got rid of his clothes as he backed her to the window seat she’d just been on.

“I haven’t had you here yet. We should rectify that. Put your hands on the side there. Bend forward. Yes. Yes indeed.”

She did as he asked, turning away to grip the arm of the back of the seat. Vaughan dropped to his knees, nipped the backs of her thighs as he parted her pussy with fingers and then his mouth. A shock of pleasure went through her.

“No one and nothing else tastes like you,” he said against her skin but it felt as if he said it in her head. As if he lived inside her.

Kelly had lots of people to talk to. All day long, as it happened. But not a lot of people she could really share with. The man touching her right then hadn’t always been one of them, either. But that had changed.

Letting Vaughan put his cock inside her wasn’t half as intimate as the way he texted her at two in the morning just a few days before to share a lyrical snippet. He’d gotten in and he wasn’t going to let go.

“I suppose I can tell you now my IUD is working. We’re all good to go.” Not the most romantic thing ever to say, but he surged to his feet, pressing at her, the bead of his bare cock nudging her open.

“Today keeps getting better and better,” he murmured. He turned them both, sitting, bringing her astride him, facing away.

“I want you to ride me, Kelly.”

He held himself at the root as she slowly circled herself above him and lowered herself down, bit by bit.

“I missed this, not just because of how you feel when I’m in you, but because no one else makes me feel it but you.” Vaughan pressed kisses along her shoulders and back as she slid down him and pulled back up. Over and over.

She was glad she faced away. Glad he couldn’t see her face as he said such things to her.

Vaughan reached around, slowly stroking a finger over her clit as she gripped his forearm so hard she hoped she didn’t do any damage.

“It’s a lot harder to make myself wait when I’m in you like this.”

His free hand slid up her chest, in between her breasts to her throat. He cupped her there. Not hurting, but so, so unbelievably hot, shivers ran riot over her skin.

She undulated a little, rolling her hips. This felt so ridiculously good she wanted to melt into a puddle. But puddles probably couldn’t come so she decided against that and chose climax instead.

Once the first wave hit her, she let it go, let it crash over her and suck her down. Dimly, she knew he’d joined her but she was more aware of the way he held her—her back to his front—as he remained deep inside, one arm now around her waist and the other still banded up her chest.

He muttered a curse and lurched them both over to the bed, where they crawled beneath the blankets. Kelly found a shirt and her panties to pull back on as Vaughan pulled her into a hug.

“Going without this part sucks. I’m glad to be home.”

“I’m glad, too,” Kelly said, smiling in the dark.

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

“OH MY GOD, Stacey, I don’t know what the hell I was thinking.” Kelly paced in her closet, looking at all her clothes, not finding any of them suitable.

Stacey was on the phone because she was currently visiting her mom, who lived down in Eugene.

“I know your mom just had hip replacement but really, is that more important than being here to help me choose an outfit for this dinner? Selfish. Tell her I said that,” Kelly teased. Mainly.

After she finished laughing, Stacey adjusted her screen and gave her best scary lawyer face. “I need you to take a deep breath. Think of this as something you’d solve for someone who came into the boutique. A dinner and then stopping by a gallery opening. The kids will be with you at both, so there’s that. What’s on the menu?”

“Ham. It’s one of her specialties, I’m told.”

“Navy. It’s a good color on you. Understated and classic. Twist your hair back.”

“Pop of color.” Kelly found a pretty navy fit-and-flare dress. A good length. Flattering. No excessive cleavage. To go with, Kelly chose cute tangerine pumps. Not too high. And she had a bag that would go well. After showing Stacey everything—thank goodness for video calls—and getting approval, Kelly got ready to hang up.

“Thanks for talking me off the ledge.”

“You want her to like you. It’s okay, you know. She should like you. You’re wonderful. If she still doesn’t she can suck an egg.”

“Suck an egg, huh? Your mom must be nearby,” Kelly said.

“Yes indeed. You’re going to be great. You’re awesome. Vaughan loves you, your daughters love you. How can Shurley resist?”

“We’ll see. I’ll talk to you later.” Kelly hung up and got dressed. It felt like a job interview, which seemed stupid, but it did anyway.