Chance: A Small Town, Enemies to Lovers, Protector Romance (Ghost Ops Book 2)
Chance: Chapter 38

Morning light was streaminginto the bedroom when Rory woke to the feel of a hard dick between her ass cheeks. Not literally, but Chance was wrapped around her, holding her close, and her ass was pressed to his groin. She shifted and pressed backward. She was rewarded with a sleepy groan.

Rory turned and pushed him onto his back, ripping her top off. She was smart enough not to wear bottoms to bed since she’d started having sex with Chance again. All he wore was those form-fitting boxer briefs, which she dragged down his hips with a little help from him.

“Whatcha got in mind, babe?” he asked, lying on the sheets in all his naked glory, his dick standing tall and ready for her.

“So many things,” she purred, sliding down until she was between his legs. She grasped him in both hands and he groaned again.

“Rory.”

“Chancey Pants.”

She licked him from balls to tip and he stiffened. “Fuck, baby.”

“That’s the plan,” she laughed before sucking him into her mouth as deep as she could. Which wasn’t all that deep, but it was enough to make him swear and slide his hands into her hair to grip her head gently.

“You’re gonna kill me,” he groaned as she set up a rhythm of sucking his cock and squeezing his balls the way she knew he liked.

“Mmm,” she said, swirling her tongue around the tip, catching that salty bead of moisture that appeared.

She loved looking at him while she sucked, loved the way his eyes gleamed, the strain of muscles in his abdomen as he watched her. The way his neck corded as he worked to keep his orgasm at bay, and the little sounds he made when she sucked a little harder or licked around the crown, or squeezed his balls just right. Every bit of it was intoxicating.

She didn’t remember ever feeling this way before, but she told herself it was the pregnancy hormones. She was flooded with the kind of things that made her want to touch and be touched, to explode with pleasure and then do it all over again as soon as she caught her breath.

She’d been hot for Chance before but now it was almost painful the way she wanted him. The way she needed him.

He reached for her, dragging her away from her focus on his dick. Even as he did so, he was mindful of her pump and monitor. Chance never forgot, even when he had to be out of his mind with need, that she had them.

Rory climbed onto his chest and canted her hips until she could lower herself onto him. He raised his torso off the bed until he could suck her nipples, sending arrows of sensation into her core as he tended first one and then the other.

Rory sat for a minute, getting used to him, before she started to move. “Oh my God, it feels so good.”

Chance lay back and glided his thumb over her clit. Then he rounded her body with his other hand and teased her back entrance. She’d never been someone who thought of anal sex as something she wanted to try, but that little bit of a fingertip that invaded her with each thrust heightened every sensation.

And Chance knew it. He knew it so well that he stopped manipulating her clit and focused solely on her backside, tormenting and teasing as she rode him faster.

“You’re so fucking sexy,” he said. “I love watching you ride me, Aurora. If I died right this minute, I’d still be a happy man.”

“Don’t you dare die on me. Oh God, how did you know that would turn me on so much?” she said on a moan.

“I didn’t. Not until the first time I did it. But you love that little tease, baby. Makes you wild.”

It really did. Rory moved faster, dragging herself along the length of him, sinking deep, her body starting to shake with the sensations building to a crescendo inside.

The next time she sank down on his cock, Chance thrust his finger a little deeper into her ass⁠—

And Rory exploded. She would have collapsed on him but he gripped her hips and kept thrusting, milking her body for everything she could give.

He came deep inside her, his body arching up into hers, her name a hoarse groan on his lips.

It was everything she’d ever wanted, and more. It was her romance novel sex come to life, though maybe not with horns or fangs, or five dicks all intent on pleasing her, but it was hot and sexy and so tender it made her chest ache.

Chance reached up and took her throat in one big hand, gently pulled her down to him, and kissed her. “Damn but I fucking love you, Aurora Harper. Never felt this way with anyone but you.”

Rory folded onto his chest like an accordion. She wanted to tell him it was the same for her, that she’d never felt this way before. That she was pretty sure she’d broken all her rules and fallen in love with him, too.

But the words wouldn’t come. They were stuck, dammed up behind a wall she’d erected a long time ago and didn’t know how to breach.

Maybe it was safer. What happened if she said the words and then he left her anyway?

Rory felt fantastic for a change.After she woke Chance with hot morning sex, they’d had shower sex in her dinky shower, Chance sliding into her pussy from behind while she pressed her hands to the tiles and held on as best as possible while he fucked her into another shattering climax that left her breathless and boneless.

Once they were done, bodies dried off, he’d wrapped her in a towel and then dried her hair with another before combing it carefully until there were no tangles left. Then he left her to dress while he took care of the chickens, returning to make ham and cheese omelettes with toast for breakfast while she sat at the kitchen table and watched him work.

She felt loved, and it was confusing. She told herself not to rush into this, to let her feelings unfold naturally. To exercise caution.

But she didn’t want to. She wanted to throw herself headlong into a life with Chance Hughes and this baby they’d made. Scary. Dangerous.

Tempting.

Her phone rang, interrupting her chaotic thoughts. She knew it was Emma Grace by the ringtone.

“What’s up, Doc?”

“You will never get tired of that, will you?” Emma Grace asked.

“Nope. Too many Bugs Bunny reruns as a kid.” She and Theo had watched them often because her grandmother had said they were her dad’s favorite cartoons growing up. “You’re calling about Jimmy Turton, am I right?”

Emma Grace blew out a noisy breath. “Yes. What was that asshat thinking anyway?”

Chance was at the counter, chopping ham into bits. Rory sighed at the sight of his fantastic posterior in those faded jeans. Already, she was getting a little prickle of arousal in the lady bits. Apparently, twice wasn’t enough for her in the morning.

“I don’t know,” she said, dragging her attention back to her friend. “I think he’s just desperate to get his mother to sell the property so he can have a different kind of life.”

“I’m not sure how reliable this is, because I heard it in the bakery first thing, but Wendy said she heard that he called you a whore and then Chance beat his ass.”

“Oh Lord. No, he didn’t call me that. He asked Chance if I paid him in pussy to be my guard dog, which is probably where that came from. And Chance did not beat his ass, though he threw him out on his ass right after that.”

Chance threw her a look. She mouthed “Emma Grace” just in case he hadn’t figured it out. He nodded and went back to prepping breakfast.

“That’s certainly a more reasonable version than what Wendy told me. I mean I know Jimmy’s crass, but I don’t think his mother would approve of him calling anyone a whore in public. Though I guess suggesting you pay someone in sexual favors is the same thing.”

“Pretty much. He’s mad, and I get it. It’s not entirely his fault, though I’m not letting him off the hook for being a dick. The people to blame in this mess is D&B Properties. They told him they’ll only buy all three parcels, not a single one. I guess I’m the holdout. I haven’t heard from Carter that he’s selling, but I have to assume so if Jimmy’s haranguing me in public about being selfish.”

“I spoke to Dolly Coombs yesterday. She said he wants to sell. He’s ready to retire. I don’t think it’s what she wants him to do, though.”

The ATV tracks from the garden had come from the direction of Coombs land a few days ago, but Rory didn’t picture Carter climbing on a four-wheeler, riding through the woods, and destroying the garden in some wild plan to visit financial hardship on her and Theo. He was a quiet man in his sixties—not that sixty-somethings weren’t capable of doing dumb things. But she just didn’t see it. He and Dolly went to the First Baptist Church every Sunday, where he was a deacon, and he volunteered with the fire department after working all day on the farm. Carter and Dolly had four sons; a doctor, a lawyer, a diesel mechanic, and the youngest, Jack, who was still in high school. Jack helped his dad on the farm, but Rory didn’t know if he wanted to take it over or not.

Gramps and Granny had liked the Coombses. They’d liked the Turtons, too. Called them salt of the earth people.

“I hate that the Davises are manipulating everyone this way. Just buy the two farms and build around me, for heaven’s sake.”

“If they really want this development to go forward, they will.”

“I never thought I’d say this, but I hope you’re right. I’ll get used to seeing subdivisions where there used to be farmland. If it helps Carter and the Turtons to sell, then I hope Ronnie Davis stops being a jerk and buys both farms. He doesn’t need my forty acres, too.”

“Hopefully he’ll come to that conclusion soon. Okay, gotta run, babe. My next patient is here. Just wanted to check in and learn the truth about last night. I’m glad Chance didn’t beat Jimmy up. I have a feeling that wouldn’t be an even match.”

Rory winked at Chance as he slid a plate in front of her with a big omelette and toast glistening with butter. “You mean you think a ninja-assassin-warrior-monk-Navy-SEAL is too much for a redneck farm boy from Sutton’s Creek?”

Emma Grace laughed. “I definitely think so. Jimmy is scrappy and strong, but he probably doesn’t have the moves. Unless he took a self-defense class over at One Shot Tactical.”

“I’m gonna doubt that.”

“Me, too. Talk to you later, Ror.”

“Later.”

Chance poured more coffee and brought it to her, then sat across from her. “She wanted to know the truth about last night, huh?”

“Yep. Apparently Jimmy called me a whore and you beat him to a pulp.”

Chance shook his head. “Gotta love the way a rumor grows as it makes its way around town. I’ll be honest though and say beating his ass is exactly what I wanted to do.”

Rory took a bite of her omelette. “Mmm, so good. Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.”

“So why didn’t you?” she asked after she scarfed another bite.

Chance sighed. “I didn’t want to disappoint my guys. We’re in this business together, and something like that would reflect poorly on all of us. But don’t think that means I won’t do whatever it takes to keep you safe, Rory, because I will. That situation didn’t warrant violence so much as removing the offender from the premises.”

Rory couldn’t help but grin at him. “Listen to you. Not only a pretty face and hot body, but you’ve also got a brain in there. You’re smart. Who knew?”

He snorted. “Smartass. Yeah, I’ve got a brain and I know how to use it.”

“I’m relieved. Means our kid will get smarts from both parents instead of just one. I was worried, I gotta admit.”

“You weren’t,” Chance said, grinning at her. “Brat.”

“No, I wasn’t.” She sipped her coffee, enjoying herself more than she would have thought possible a few months ago. Back then they’d poked at each other for a reaction. “Listen to us sparring back and forth and not getting mad at each other.”

“I haven’t said Hotty Toddy yet.”

“I don’t think I care if you do. So long as I’m getting the big D on the regular, I can overlook your faults.”

“You can have all the D you want, kitten. Does this mean you’re gonna let me stay with you longer than it takes to deal with whoever’s been sneaking around your property?”

Her heart squeezed. She’d told him it was temporary, just until he caught the asshole, but she wanted this. Mornings like this at the breakfast table. Nights together on the couch. Making love, eating food, sitting on the porch together. All of it.

She didn’t want him to go back to the range to live. She wanted him here. Couldn’t imagine waking up without him in bed beside her.

“You can stay for now, I guess. We’ll see how it goes.”

Because of course she couldn’t let herself think it was permanent. Not yet. Maybe not ever.

He reached across the table and took her hand in his. “It’s going to go better than you expect, kitten. I promise you that.”

Her heart was hammering. “The jury’s out, but so far you’ve been doing a pretty good job of cooking and taking care of business in the bedroom. Oh, and feeding the chickens, collecting eggs. You’re a handy guy, Chancey Pants. Keep up the good work.”

He laughed and slid his chair over next to hers. Then he kissed her temple while she took a bite of toast. Her entire body shivered at his touch.

“I love you, Aurora Harper. Like it or not. I’m gonna prove it to you, one way or the other.”

“You can try.”

“Intend to. I didn’t tell you this last night because you were half-asleep, then we were a little busy this morning, but there was an ATV in the woods when I did my rounds. I don’t know who it was or why they were there, but they took off when I got close.”

The shiver of his nearness turned into a different kind of shiver. “Could have been Jimmy. He was mightily pissed off last night.”

“He was. They went west again but that could be a ploy to make us think it’s someone else. Could also be RJ, doing his dad’s dirty work.”

“Or somebody looking to steal tools or copper or you name it from Gramps’s copious collections of junk.”

“Do you really think that in light of everything else that’s happened?”

Rory shook her head. “No. But I’m really tired of these jerk offs sneaking around and trying to scare me off the land. Makes me even more determined to stay.”

“I know it does, babe. Need you to be careful though. Arm the system when you’re here alone, and don’t let anybody who’d benefit by a land sale into the house if they show up wanting to talk. Call me and I’ll drop everything. Still working on that security overhaul in Huntsville so it’ll take a little bit, but I’ll send one of the guys until I can get here.”

Fresh fear nipped at her but she was determined not to let him see it. She hadn’t had an alarm system when Kyle Hollis walked into her house. Hadn’t known she needed one, but she did now. She hated that she had to be suspicious of people, but she’d learned her lesson. She wouldn’t let anyone in who she didn’t trust.

“I’ll call the police and then you.”

He nodded. “That works. I’ll still send one of the guys over, though.” His phone dinged. He glanced at it and slid his chair back to stand. “Blaze is coming up the drive. I gotta get going.”

She didn’t want him to leave, but she bit the inside of her lip to keep from asking. Since when did she need a man around 24/7? She had Liza Jane and a phone. She could handle herself until it was time to go to the Dawg. And she wouldn’t be here alone at night, which seemed to be when the cowards showed up anyway.

“You’ll stop by the Dawg later?”

“I’m coming here first, see if anyone’s hanging around in the woods but yeah, I’ll be there.”

Her pulse skipped. “Please be careful, Chance. I don’t want anything to happen to you. I’m just starting to like you.”

He laughed and tipped her chin up with a finger, pressed a quick kiss to her mouth. “Love that smart mouth, Aurora. You can use it on me later tonight.”

“If you’re lucky.”

He winked and strode away. She heard him grab his range bag, heard the door open and shut. The lock engage.

She wanted to get up, run to the door and rip it open. Tell him she more than liked him.

But she didn’t do it.

Instead, she cut into her omelette and daintily ate another bite.