I’m exhausted. Beyond exhausted, really. My body aches, my mind is a swirling mess of to-do lists and unfinished tasks, and I can feel the tension in my shoulders tightening with every passing minute. The grand opening of the bar is tomorrow. I’ve been running myself ragged, fueled by sheer determination and caffeine to make this place happen. But as I twist my back, a sharp pain shoots through me, causing me to wince and curse under my breath.
Kendric, the infuriatingly charming pain in the ass, notices my discomfort and rushes over, concern etched across his face. “Sloan, sit down. Seriously, you need to rest,” he insists, his voice laced with genuine worry.
I roll my eyes and attempt to brush off his concern. “I’m fine Kendric. It’s just a little tweak. I’ve had worse. Hell, you bent me into a pretzel the other night. Pretty sure I can survive this,” I mutter dismissively, trying to push through the pain and continue arranging the bar stools.
He sighs, frustration clear in his voice. “Dammit, Sloan! Will you please take a break for once? You’ve been pushing yourself too hard. It’s not healthy.”
His words strike a nerve, and my exhaustion and stress bubble to the surface. I turn to him, eyes blazing with anger. “You think you know me so well, don’t you? Just because you’re sticking your dick in me doesn’t mean you get to dictate the rest of my life or my business, Kendric.” I scoff, turning away from him and slamming another barstool into place before continuing. “You know what? You’re just like Aiden! You want me to fail so you can swoop in and buy it all out from under me! You are waiting for me to fall on my face like he did!”
Kendric’s face contorts in shock, clearly taken aback by my accusation. “What? Sloan, that’s ridiculously not fair. I’ve been here with you every step of the way, supporting you. Hell, every bottle in this place is from my business, because I believe in you and this place. I wouldn’t tie my name to something I want to fail. I believe in you, dammit!”
I feel tears prickling at the corner of my eyes, a mixture of frustration, fatigue, and lingering insecurities warring in my mind. “You don’t understand! I’ve never done anything like this before, anything this hard. Anything with a real chance of failing. I’m scared, Kendric. Scared of this business falling apart, scared of this town, and scared of letting myself fall for you. I’m just fucking scared.”
He releases a pained sigh, frustration etched into his features. And just as I’m about to storm off, to escape from this emotional turmoil, he growls, “Nope, no, not gonna happen. We are not doing that third-act breakup bullshit. I refuse.”
I freeze, my body tense as I turn to face him, confusion evident on my face. “What? What the fuck are you talking about?” I all but growl back.
Kendric steps closer, his hand firmly gripping my bicep, turning me to face him. “I’m not letting you walk outta here and pull that third-act breakup shit. We’re gonna work this out and move past it like fucking adults, Sloan.”
A mix of anger and confusion churns inside me, but his determination and unwavering presence overwhelms my anger. “Third act? What the hell, K? Third act sounds like we’re almost done anyway… that’s the end of the story, ya dingus. What’s the difference if we end it now or in two weeks after we fight some more and truly hate each other?”
He gazes at me, his eyes brimming with unwavering resolve and something I can’t quite place. “See, that’s where you’re wrong, Kitten. The third act is just that much closer to the happily ever after.”
His words deflate my anger, leaving me feeling vulnerable and exposed. My temper may run hot and just beneath the surface, but it burns out just as quickly as it appears, like a flash in the pan. I find myself apologizing, my voice barely above a whisper. “I’m sorry, Kendric. I didn’t mean it. I’ve just been so stressed and scared that I wouldn’t be able to pull it off. I’ve never done anything this hard before, never done anything where there was even a slight chance of failing. I’m scared, Kendric. Scared of failing, scared of failing you. You’ve put so much into this, and asked for almost nothing in return. You’re right; you aren’t someone who would put their name and business on the line for something they didn’t believe in. But that just makes the pressure that much more intense for me. You put your faith and your business on the line for me, and if I fuck this up, it’s not only me that will suffer.”
“Sloan, take a breath, Kitten,” he urges, holding his hands out toward me like he’s trying to calm a wild, skittish animal, which is how I feel right now, if I’m honest. Like I might bolt at the slightest wrong move or word. “My business won’t be hurt. I won’t be affected. You know why?”
“Why?” I croak, my voice shattered from holding back a sob.
“Because I won’t let it. You aren’t in this alone. You aren’t going to fail. Everyone in this town believes in you and is excited about what you are bringing here. Luka has one of the best minds for business I have ever seen, and he is behind you, too. We won’t let things get away from us, and we won’t let it fail. It just won’t happen.” His calm reassurance finally breaks me, and I let out a broken sob, throwing myself against his chest and curling my fingers into the soft fabric of his shirt as I fall apart. His strong arms wrap around me, supporting me and rubbing soothing circles over my back as he whispers sweet, calming nothings against my temple, letting me get it all out. He’s solid, my rock, as everything falls apart and pours out of me. His quiet support slowly calms the raging rapids of emotions inside me and, bit by bit, helps me pull myself back together, building me up again, brick by brick.
After who knows how long, I step back, releasing the death hold I had on his shirt as I wipe the tears from my face, attempting to pull some modicum of composure back around myself.
His gaze softens, and he cups my face gently in his palms. “You’re not looking so much like a kitten anymore, Sloan. You’re my warhead,” he murmurs, his voice laced with a tenderness that takes my breath away. “I have faith and trust and didn’t have any pixie dust. You pulled this shit out all on your own. I didn’t do more than offer support. You did this, Sloan, all of it. You’re amazing.”
Tears well up in my eyes again, but this time they’re not fueled by anger or frustration. They’re tears of relief and gratitude. I wrap my arms around Kendric, clinging to him like he’s my lifeline. “I love you, Kendric,” I whisper, my voice trembling with emotion.
His grip tightens, and he breathes against my ear, “I love you too, Sloan.”
In that moment, as the weight of our fears and insecurities falls away, a profound connection is forged between us. The barriers we had erected come crashing down, and we find solace in each other’s arms. His mouth crashes to mine, and all the gentle tenderness of moments ago is gone as his lips and tongue claim me with a fierce intensity and passion I haven’t felt from him before.
Without breaking our kiss, he reaches down, grabbing my thighs and lifting, my legs automatically going around his waist. He takes a couple of stumbling steps forward and sets me on the bar top, stepping in close, forcing my legs further apart until his hips settle fully against my center. He pulls back, finally breaking our kiss, and looks down at me with a teasing glint in his eyes. “So fucking proud of you, Sloan. But still gonna make you pay for that little stunt.”
“Make me pay, huh?” I giggle, leaning forward, chasing his lips, but he ducks away, avoiding me with a smile and laugh of his own. “What exactly did you have in mind?” I goad, hooking my ankles behind his back and tugging him even closer.
“Something to shut that ridiculous mouth of yours for a bit,” he snarks, reaching back to trail his hands over my calves and around to my thighs, stopping just before reaching the hem of the cut-off denim shorts I shoved myself into this morning.
“Shut my mouth? Really? Might I offer a suggestion? One that I think you would find much more… satisfactory,” I purr, leaning in to nuzzle against his neck.
With a muttered curse, Kendric sinks his hands into my hair and uses his hold to tip my face up to meet his.
“Whatcha have in mind?” he asks, flexing his fingers against my scalp, making me bite back a groan.
With slow, deliberate movements, I unhook my legs around his waist, settling each foot on the barstool on either side of us, the position leaving me open like the delicious invitation I hope he takes full advantage of.
Kendric’s eyes go dark, almost feral, as he leans into me, pausing with his lips just hovering over mine and, in a voice that’s pure liquid heat, says, “Get those fucking shorts off so I can smother myself with that perfect little pussy, Kitten.”
Dear sweet baby jeebus. He. Just. Said. That.
Any ideas I had about teasing him or drawing this out to any extent go flying straight out the fucking window with those words. Pretty sure I can’t get to my feet fast enough, not giving a shit that he’s now laughing his ass off at me as I desperately attempt to rip the shorts from my body.
Finally managing to untangle myself from the shorts, I unceremoniously kick them off the end of my converse and send them disappearing somewhere behind Kendric. As gracefully as possible, I jump back up onto the bar, resuming my previous position.
“Off,” I growl, gesturing vaguely at the truly offensive amount of clothes he’s still wearing. By the time I tug my tank top over my head and send it flying in roughly the same direction as my shorts, Kendric has already stripped and is watching me, trying to hold back another laugh. I take a moment to drink in the sight of him. I’ll never tire of just looking at him like this, the twisting, curling ink of his tattoos rippling over the muscles it decorates, drawing my eyes across the perfect expanse of his chest. Dragging my gaze lower, my fingers itch to trace the little trail of hair from his navel to his groin, to follow that path with my tongue, pressing kisses against his hip bones. The sight of his cock standing at full attention has my mouth watering as I watch it bob against his abs as he tenses, the little bead of pre-cum gathering on the tip, now leaving an enticing string between his stomach and the head of his gorgeous cock.
Maybe that’s not a normal thing to think about, but fuck normal. His cock is goddamn gorgeous. Thick, long, and with the perfect little upward curve that ensures he hits just the right spot every fucking time. Just thinking about how long it’s been since I’ve had my lips around him and heard those sexy little noises he makes when I do that thing with my tongue has me distracted and leaning forward, licking my lips in anticipation of tasting him again.
Before I can lean too far, his fingers sink into the hair at the base of my skull and tug my face back up to meet his. Looking up at him, I attempt to put on my most innocent expression, but I know it’s more ‘Let me suck you dry, Master,’ and less ‘Daddy, let me taste you pretty please.’
With an evil smirk tugging his lips, he tsks at me, shaking his head slowly. “I believe you have a punishment coming, Kitten.”
All I can manage is a whimper, licking my lips again, desperate to taste him. He can see I’m about to lean forward again, and his smirk turns even more sinister. He gives my hair another sharp tug and holds my gaze in challenge.
“I said, I want to smother myself with that perfect little cunt of yours,” he growls.
Can ovaries explode? Can you spontaneously orgasm just from the sound of someone’s voice? Because I’m pretty sure I just did. His voice is thick with need, more gruff than I’ve heard from him before, and I can tell he’s as lost in the moment as I am. The gush of wetness between my legs makes me moan, and all conscious thought flees my brain. Before I can form a single word of response, I lean back, planting my hands on the bar behind me to support myself as I spread my knees as far as my position allows, putting myself on full display for him. I look down at my body briefly before catching his eyes.
His pupils are completely blown, and he’s sucking in deep breaths through his nose, hands clenching and unclenching at his sides, a clear sign of his control holding on by a thread. With what I hope is an enticing ‘come hither’ look, I crook a finger at him, beckoning him to make his move. He pauses for another moment, his expression going positively feral. “Sloan,” he growls, deeper and more menacing than I’ve ever heard from him. That one word, combined with the look in his eyes, breaks what little resolve I might have had, and I lower my hand between my legs, ready to take care of this ache myself if he doesn’t make a move.
Kedric has other plans, though, because as soon as I start to move, he pounces, dropping to his knees, hooking his arms under my thighs to grip my hips in both hands to drag me toward him. Tugging me until my ass is barely on the bar's edge, his mouth finally descends on my center. The instant his lips connect with my flesh, he devours me. His tongue sweeps out and laps at me before his lips close around my clit, worrying the little button between them until my vision goes white, and I scream his name.
Time ceases, and I’m reduced to a writhing, screaming mass against him. His lips and tongue work me expertly, driving me up before backing off just enough to keep me riding that razor's edge for an eternity. As if his actions alone aren’t enough, the grunts, groans, and satisfied moans he’s making are, hands down, the sexiest thing I’ve ever heard in my life. All I can do is attempt to dig my fingers into the solid bar top as he works me over, my hips now shamelessly grinding against him.
I have no idea how long he has me riding the edge like that, but I know if he doesn’t let me come soon, I am legitimately going to die. My entire body is shaking. I can feel beads of sweat tracing down my spine, and I’m pretty sure I am no longer saying actual words as I beg and plead with him to let me come. I make the mistake of looking down at him, and I know I’m an absolute goner when the fucker winks at me.
Before my brain can process what that wink might mean, Kendric slides his fingers more firmly into the swells of my hips with bruising force and clamps his lips around my clit, sucking it into his mouth and flicking it so rapidly with his tongue, my mind short circuits. My orgasm crashes through me so quickly and intensely I’m pretty sure I actually black out.
The next thing I know, I’m lying back against the bar, trying desperately to catch my breath, my pussy still pulsing with the aftershocks of that earth-shattering climax. Kendric’s comforting weight settles over me, his hips slotting perfectly into the space between my legs, and I automatically wrap them around his waist. Kendric leans down and claims my lips in a devastating kiss as he sinks into me. Kendric seats himself to the hilt inside me and stays there. Our kiss melts into something deeper, less urgent, and more profound as our bodies entwine fully. For the first time in months, maybe ever, I feel a soul-deep peace wash over me with Kendric wrapped up in me so completely like this.
We fit. This is how it should be, how it always should be.
“I love you, Sloan,” he says against my lips, his voice reverent. Tears immediately spring to my eyes, and I arch below him. It’s too much, it’s all too much, and yet not enough. Wrapping myself tighter around him, I rock my hips against him, urging him to move.
“I love you, Kendric. So fucking much.”
The smile that breaks across his handsome face melts me completely and tells me everything I need to know. This man, this ridiculous, stubborn, endearing man, is my forever. And there is nowhere else I’d rather be than giving my whole heart, my whole life, to him.