I WOKE UP WITH A START, my skin hot and sticky. I hadn’t remembered falling asleep, but Joanna’s soft, steady breathing was a stark contrast to my short, rasping breaths. At my jolt, Joanna shifted slightly, but didn’t awaken.
Thank fuck.
The delicate strands of her dark blond hair were splayed out behind her, and her cheek was pressed against my shoulder. Her skin felt warm and smooth against me, her thigh hitched up across my body.
I had never had a woman draped over me—I had never been a cuddler
—and I couldn’t help but feel like it wouldn’t feel right unless it was with her. I pushed that thought down, stayed focused on the present. If I was going to make it through every day, I couldn’t focus on her leaving or, worse, wanting her to stay.
Despite my restlessness, Joanna stayed tight against me, her hand across my chest.
This woman was definitely getting under my skin. I could feel something creeping in. For years, she took up space in my brain, but now she was in my work, my home—and fuck—rooting and taking hold in my heart. When I thought about meeting Joanna from the letters, I never expected her.
Not only was she a knockout—her green-gray eyes and full lips always seemed to be smiling—but she was capable and strong and sweet. She had no use for a fucked-up basket case who felt an overwhelming need to protect her. She could do just fine on her own. And soon she would be leaving, back to her old life, once Finn was healed up.
I clenched my jaw and worked my fist open and closed, trying to release the building tension. Anger bloomed in my chest at the thought of her leaving. I took a deep inhale of her citrus scent and willed myself to get a grip. This incredible woman deserved so much more than I could ever offer her.
But right then, in that moment, I pulled her even closer to me, nuzzling my nose into her hair. I may not be able to have her forever, but I could pretend tonight that I could.
THE WEEKS PASSED SWIFTLY as we settled into a comfortable routine. Most days, Joanna filled in for Finn—guiding groups and keeping customers supremely happy. Recently, people started asking for her by name, and I felt a swell of pride every time that happened.
Nights were always spent together, either her cottage or mine. After two weeks, we stopped pretending like we weren’t going to end up falling asleep together, and that was the end of that ridiculous nightly discussion.
Every morning, I made us coffee before my run, and by the time I got back, Joanna had made us both breakfast—usually eggs and toast or muffins she said her sister taught her to make.
I tried to ignore the nagging shadows that hung in the corners of my thoughts. Finn was cleared from his walking cast on Thursday, and once he was up and moving, Joanna would be free to leave. We both avoided that conversation completely, pretending everything was normal. She stole the breath out of my lungs without even trying, and I walked around with a hole in my chest, pretending it wasn’t there.
The more I pushed it away, the darker and more frequent the nightmares became. Acrid smoke filled my nose and lungs, choking me. Just out of reach, always, was Joanna—my Valkyrie. In my dreams, I strained, begged for her, but she would never take me. In the darkness, when I tried to calm my breath without waking Joanna, I thought back to her letters. It was only then realized exactly why my dreams were playing out in a horrible, repetitive pattern.
The Valkyrie only take the worthy.
“HEY, HANDSOME.” Joanna ruffled my hair and dropped a kiss on the top of my head.
Before she could get away, I grabbed her wrist, pulling her down onto my lap with a squeal from her. “Not so fast, sugar.”
My hand moved to her hip, squeezing her ass, and my dick got hard under her weight. Joanna tipped her lips down to mine, her hands on the sides of my face. I wrapped my arms around her torso and pulled her closer to me. Deepening the kiss, I swiped my tongue over hers and groaned. I could taste the cinnamon-flavored coffee on her lips.
“Fuck, you taste good. Let’s play hooky today.”
“Mmmm.” She groaned through our kiss. “Can’t. My boss is a real grouch.”
I shifted my weight and pulled Joanna across my lap so she was straddling me. Tilting my hips up, I showed her exactly why I wanted her to stay home with me today.
“You are a hard man to say no to.” She circled her hips into me.
“I can show you hard.” I stood, keeping my mouth on hers, and lifted her with me. I turned and placed her ass at the edge of the countertop, spreading her legs wider with my hips.
Joanna wound her arms around my neck and arched her back, flattening her breasts against my chest. God, I loved how she responded to me.
I moved my hand up, my thumb brushing against the curve of her full, round tits. Slanting my kiss over her neck, I brushed my thumb against her hard nipple. My cock twitched in response.
“I need you, Joanna.” My words were barely out before she pulled open the front of her shirt, exposing her bra. Through the flimsy material, I sucked one hard, pebbled nipple into my mouth and was rewarded with her throaty gasp.
Needing pressure, I stroked my rock-hard cock through my jeans from base to tip. Everything inside of me wanted to be buried in Joanna, but I urged myself to slow down. I wanted her to feel the incredible power she held over me.
Trailing wet kisses down her ribs and over her exposed belly, I licked and sucked a path to her center. With a tug, I pulled her pants down her hips. I nearly lost my fucking mind when I saw that her underwear was
already wet with her arousal. Teasing the edge of the fabric, I brushed my fingers against her sensitive skin.
Slipping my middle finger under the edge of the fabric, I caressed her folds. Teasing her slit, I kissed lower, finding her apex through her underwear. With a gentle nibble, I teased her clit, and she grabbed my hair with a gasp.
Smiling, I looked up at Joanna—her mouth was open, entranced, and her eyes were filled with desire. “Let me taste this pretty pussy, baby. You have no idea how badly I want you.”
I slipped one thick finger into her center and felt her walls clamp down on me. My dick was begging to slam into her and chase its release, but I had the overwhelming desire to taste her orgasm on my tongue.
I grabbed the waist of her underwear and slid them down her legs. “Keep your legs here,” I instructed, placing her legs on each of my shoulders. “Hold on.”
With that, I lowered my head again, breathing in her heady, sensual scent. With a long, flat drag of my tongue, I stroked up her pussy. She tilted her hips forward, begging for more.
Giving my girl exactly what she needed, I devoured her. My fingers played with her folds before pushing into her center as I sucked on her throbbing clit. Her grip in my hair stung but sent a hot bolt of heat between my legs. I needed her to come.
Like a starving man, I reveled in her taste—teasing, sucking, groaning into her. When her legs stiffened, I knew she was at the peak. With two fingers, I pushed into her again, curled them forward, and stroked her. Joanna pulled my face deeper between her legs. I happily lapped at her clit and gave it a gentle bite. She exploded around me. I continued my assault as her pussy pulsed against my tongue, and I nearly came right there with her.
Joanna was panting, her body going slack. I stood, wrapping her legs around my waist.
“I got you, baby,” I said, holding her close. With one hand, I pulled down my jeans and rubbed the tip of my swollen cock up and down her soaked folds. The tension rising in my balls was too intense, so I surged into her and ground out her name.
“Yes, Lincoln. Fuck yes. Please.”
With a steady rhythm, I held her—one arm around her waist, the other holding her legs to me. Pumping into her, I felt her tight, slick walls squeeze me over and over. With long, hot spurts, I emptied myself inside her as she clung to me.
I love you. I love you. I love you.
The words tumbled through my mind over and over. I would never be the same without Joanna.
