“Not yet,” I rasp.
“Yes,” he growls. “Come. Now, Cara.”
I can’t help it. I clench down on him, my pussy convulsing around him as I come again and scream his name.
Before the contractions slow, he cups my ass in his palms and begins a hard, fast rhythm again, pushing into me forcefully and steadily.
“I have a weakness for you.” His teeth are clenched and the muscle at his jaw flexes as he speaks. “You are mine, do you understand?”
“Yes,” I whimper, and lean my forehead down to rest on his.
“Look at me.”
I pull back and meet his brown eyes.
“Mine.”
“Yours.”
His face contorts in a mixture of ecstasy and agony as he comes, pulling me down against him and grinding against me hard, making me come again as well.
“Josh!”
“Fuck.” As his body calms, he leans his head back against the cushion, panting and stroking my skin with those amazing hands of his.
I lean in and kiss him, softly, tenderly, cupping his face in my hands as he continues to gently stroke my back, sides, and thighs. I sweep my lips over his, nuzzle his nose with my own, and kiss each of his cheeks.
“Love you so much,” I murmur against his mouth.
“I can’t be without you, Carolina.”
“Back at you, Joshua.”
* * *
I wake to soft sunlight and a cold bed. Without opening my eyes, I know that Josh has already left to go back to the ranch to take care of his responsibilities.
And that’s okay.
Because he loves me and he wants me.
I turn onto my side and feel something crinkle under my cheek. Opening my eyes, I pull the piece of notebook paper out from under my head and grin when I see Josh’s handwriting.
Baby,
I didn’t want to wake you. I have to go back and handle a few things, but I’ll see you later today at the festival. Save some ice cream for me.
Love you,
J
With a wide grin, I hug the note to me and sigh happily as I snatch up my phone and send him a quick text.
I love you too. Will have huckleberry ice cream waiting for you. xo
CHAPTER
Fourteen
“How are things going?” Mrs. Baker asks as she ties her pink polka-dotted apron and joins me behind the ice cream counter.
“Good. I’ve already sold three five-gallon tubs’ worth. My arms are going to hurt tomorrow.” I smile over at her as she grabs a scoop and motions for the next person in line. The weather is perfect. The sun is shining brightly, and the crowds are thick and loud. The scent of grilled hamburgers drifts over to me from the vendor next to us, and my stomach growls, reminding me that I’m hungry.
“You should squeeze a tennis ball,” she informs me. “Builds those muscles right up.”
“I’ll remember that for next year.” I laugh. Despite her age, Mrs. Baker has kept herself in excellent shape. She’s petite with short, salt-and-pepper hair and a wide smile.
“Cara!” Seth and his grandma Nancy King are next in line.
“Hi, guys.” I grin at Seth. “Let me guess. You’re here for crab legs?”
“Dude, we want ice cream.” He shakes his head and frowns at me.
“Right.” I wink at him and begin rolling the soft, purple ice cream. “One scoop or two?”
“Two!” Seth crows at the same time Josh’s mom says, “One.”
“I tried,” Seth mutters, and grins.
I hand him his cone and smile at his grandma. “The same?”
“Please.” She nods happily. “How are you, Cara?”
“I’m great, thanks for asking.” The Kings have always been nothing but kind to me. “And you?”
“I’m staying busy and out of trouble.”
“Sounds boring.” I wink at her as she throws her head back and laughs, taking the cone from me.
“I like you, Cara. I’m glad Josh has found you.”
I feel my cheeks burn as I look down at the ice cream before I meet her gaze and offer her a small smile.
“Me too.”
“Come on, Seth, Cara has work to do.” She leads Seth away and I watch them go, happy that Josh’s mom approves of me.
“She’s a nice woman,” Mrs. Baker remarks beside me.
“She is.” I nod and smile down at her just as she glares at the next customer in line.
“She, however, is not.”
I follow her gaze to find Misty next in line, take a deep breath, and mentally prepare myself for her nastiness.
“Misty.”
“Cara, how nice to see you.” She throws me a sharp, fake smile from beneath her pink baseball cap. She’s wearing short denim cutoffs and a white sleeveless button-down top, tied above her navel to show off her flat stomach.