Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 76452 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 382(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76452 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 382(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
“Charlie,” I rasp. Fuck me. Her eyes on me have my skin feeling hot all over. Her attention snaps to mine, and her cheeks turn a bright shade of pink. I hold my hand out for her, and she takes small steps toward me, placing her palm in mine. I give her hand a slight tug, and our naked bodies collide. My cock twitches against her belly, and she sucks in a breath.
“That’s all for you, Charlie girl.” I kiss the top of her head, relishing the feel of this beauty in my arms with nothing between us. “Come on.” I take a step back and move to the tub. “Step in.” She does so hesitantly and sighs once she’s sitting in the warm water.
Without having to tell her, she scoots forward, making room for me. I step in behind her and pull her back to my front. My cock rests against her ass as she leans her weight against me. “I’ve never used this tub,” I confess.
“Really? How long have you lived here?”
“About a year and a half.”
“This is a lot of house for a bachelor. Not at all what I expected.”
“I bought this place knowing that I one day wouldn’t be a bachelor. At least I’d hoped.” I move her hair to the side and place my lips against her neck. “What did you expect?”
“I don’t know, but not this beautiful home.”
“It’s a big lonely house,” I admit.
“Yeah, my place isn’t near as big, but before Audrey moved in, I understood the part about being lonely. I still do. Our lives are so busy, we pass each other coming and going.”
“I get that too. When Linc stayed here just for a week, I hardly ever saw him.”
She’s quiet, and I know her well enough to understand that she’s working herself up to asking a question she’s not sure she has the right to ask.
“Just ask me,” I say, wrapping my arms around her.
“You said you knew one day you wouldn’t be a bachelor.”
“I did.”
“Do you want to get married? Or….” Her voice trails off, not wanting to ask me more, but that’s okay. I’ll give her more than she asked for.
“Yeah, I want to get married. I wanted the big house, which I’ve taken care of. Now I just need the love of my life to take my name, so we can fill this big place with babies.”
“You want babies?” she asks softly.
“I do. How about you? You ever think about changing your last name and having a few littles calling you mom?”
“It’s definitely something I’ve thought about.”
“How many?”
“Kids or husbands?” she asks, and I tickle her side. She squirms, and water sloshes around in the tub. “Just kidding,” she says, settling back in her spot against my chest. “At least two. I guess it just depends on my husband. You?”
“This is a five-bedroom house.”
“So, three and a guest room?” she asks.
“Four. The guest room is in the basement.”
“You want four kids?”
“Why should I deprive the world of these Pennington genes?” I tease.
“They broke the mold with you, Spence.”
“Maybe.” I laugh. “I was an only child, and it was an all-new level of loneliness. My parents always invited friends on our vacations, and I was always allowed to have a friend over, but it’s not the same. Those friends have lives, wives, and kids, and we see each other less and less as the years pass by. If I had siblings, that wouldn’t happen.”
“What about animals? We were never allowed to have them growing up because our mom was allergic.”
“Why not get one now?” I ask.
“Honestly, I’m not sure. At first, it was because I was in college and then starting my new job, which led to buying my first house, and… I don’t know. It never seemed like the right time, I guess.”
“Dogs or cats?”
“Dogs. You?”
“Dogs.”
“Inside or out?” I love this moment with her as we get to know each other on a level that’s never been an option for us until now.
“I don’t think I have a strong opinion either way. What about you?”
“Well, I’m going to have four kids, so if it’s an inside dog, he or she needs to be good with kids.”
She turns her head to look at me. “You surprise me, Spence.”
“Good surprise?”
“Definitely a good surprise.”
We talk until the water runs cold. It’s one of the greatest moments, one that I’m certain I will remember and cherish for a long damn time. “We should jump in the shower.”
“We’re already pruned.” She giggles as she holds up her wrinkled fingers.
“It won’t take long. We’ll shower and then order takeout, or we can see what I have in the kitchen to make.”
“Either is fine with me.” She moves forward and releases the plug on the tub, and stands. I watch as the water slides over her body. She moves to step out, and I offer her my hand.