Here With Me: An Ex-boyfriend’s Dad, Age Gap Small Town Romance (Sugarland Creek Book 1)
Here With Me: Chapter 18

Having to bend over with a horse hoof between my legs for hours at a time with raging blue balls isn’t my idea of a good time.

But when it comes to Noah Hollis, I’d suffer through anything for a chance at another taste.

So when I replace myself at her door at precisely nine o’clock that night, I make sure to bring something with me that’ll ensure I don’t cross any lines.

Besides the ones that have me sneaking over here like I’m seventeen again.

I even parked on the retreat side again and walked half a mile to make sure no one noticed my truck. Though I didn’t bring my rig this time, I’m not taking that chance.

“Is it on VHS?” she asks when I tell her I brought over a movie from the ’80s.

I deadpan, and she bursts out laughing.

“Blu-ray,” I defend. “Do you even know what a VHS looks like?”

“Yes, I saw it on some vintage early 2000s documentary.”

I nearly stroke out at the thought of vintage being only two decades ago.

She finally reads the title. “We’re watchin’ Overboard?”

“I need to educate you on who Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell are.”

“Who?”

I shake my head, take out the disc, then put it into her player. “Exactly.”

“Do you wanna tour beforehand? We can replace some drinks and snacks, too,” she says, grabbing my hand.

Since her cottage is on the smaller side, the tour takes two minutes. It’s bright and quaint, exactly how I would expect a woman like Noah’s place to look. Photos of her with friends, family, and horses cover the walls. There’s a framed scenic watercolor photo of the ranch that looks as old as the movie we’re about to watch. The sunset shining between the trees with a rustic fence in front makes for a beautiful picture.

“Who painted this?” I ask before she leads us into the kitchen.

“I’m not sure. My grandfather gifted it to my dad when he took over the ranch. It was my gift after moving out so I’d have a piece of home with me.” As she stares at it, she laughs. “It’s silly because I’m literally five minutes away, but we’ve always been close.”

“None of your brothers wanted it?”

“I asked him the same thing, and he claimed they wouldn’t appreciate it the way I would.” She shrugs. “My brothers tease me for being a daddy’s girl, but I don’t really think they minded. My mom got photos printed of it so we had copies for the scrapbooks.”

“Ah.” The one Jase complained about. “I can’t wait to see yours.”

“I’m sure you will tomorrow because my mother has no boundaries when it comes to oversharing. Prepare to hear about my first period.”

I scratch my cheek with amusement. Seems the whole family isn’t afraid to speak their minds.

“Are you a popcorn or candy man?” she asks as she digs in her pantry. “I have both because I’m an M&Ms in my popcorn girly.”

“That sounds good. Salty and sweet.”

“Good choice. For drinks, I have sweet tea, Red Bull, or Budweiser.” She turns, waiting for my response.

Arching a brow, I ask, “Why do you have beer?” More specifically, the exact kind I like.

She grabs a bottle for me and a Red Bull for herself. “I was hopeful you’d come tonight, so I went into town after work and stocked up. Mrs. Bridges was workin’, and she’s a little nosy.”

I chuckle, though I don’t know who that is. “What’d she say?”

“Asked who I was buyin’ it for and about my plans tonight.” I grin when she twists the cap before handing it to me, remembering when she’d done that at the bar the night we met.

“Thank you,” I say. Then she pulls out a bottle of Jägermeister. “What’s that for?”

“Me.” She pops the tab of the Red Bull and then pours both liquids into her glass. “Luckily, I’m not drivin’ tonight.” Her little smirk has me smiling.

“I’ll stick to beer. I have to walk through the woods back to my truck.”

“Or you could just…stay here, and I’ll give you a ride in the mornin’.” She takes a sip of her concoction but stares at me over the rim.

“You tryin’ to give Mrs. Bridges somethin’ to talk about, ain’t ya?” I walk toward her.

She nearly spits out her drink but quickly covers her mouth. “At least that’d be newsworthy.”

Setting my beer on the counter, I stand between her legs, tilt up her chin, and rub my thumb along her lower lip where some of the liquid dripped. “Ya know, maybe she was just makin’ conversation and being friendly.”

“Oh, no. Sugarland Creek locals are gossips. It’s why Gramma Grace meets up with them for Saturday brunch. They talk about all the town drama.”

“An old ladies’ club?” I grin. “That sounds hilarious.”

“Not when you’re the subject,” she counters, putting her glass down. “And trust me, if I told Mrs. Bridges I was buyin’ beer for the new local farrier, who’s twice my age and my ex’s father, it’d be on the front page of Sunday’s newspaper.”

I lower my mouth, brushing my lips softly underneath her ear. “So what’d ya say when she asked?”

Noah cocks her head, wrapping her arms around my waist as I suck lightly. “Told her to mind her own damn business…in nicer words, though. I said a lady never kisses and tells.”

Gripping her waist, I inhale her shampoo as I bury my face in her neck. “We wouldn’t wanna give her anythin’ to talk about, now would we?” I suck harder, and she giggles.

“I can cover up a hickey with the right concealer and hairstyle, but your mouth would be more useful in other places.”

Chuckling, I bring my mouth to hers for a quick kiss but don’t deepen it. “Let’s go start the movie.”

She frowns when I create distance between us. My dick’s been hard all day, so if I don’t, it’d only take one moment of weakness to give in to what we both want.

“Your moralities”—she air quotes—“are a cockblock.”

Smirking, I grab my beer and her glass. “Bring the snacks.”

The only TV in her house is in the bedroom area, so I set our drinks on the nightstand, and once she comes in with the popcorn and candy, I press play.

“Anythin’ I need to know about this movie, or do I just dive in blind?” she asks, handing me the bowl and getting comfortable against the headboard.

“Nope, not tellin’ ya anythin’. I want your raw reactions.” I sit beside her so we’re shoulder to shoulder, facing the TV.

“Fair enough. Prepare for honest commentary.”

And not that I expect Noah to hold back, but she has a comment about everything.

The fashion, the hair, and how unrealistic it’d be that this storyline could happen in today’s world with all the technology and social media. And how a woman found at sea with amnesia would be plastered all over social media and talked about in podcasts. I don’t use or listen to either, so I just nod.

“Don’t tell me her husband cares about her now when he’s the one who left her at the hospital?” She sighs, rolling her eyes. “He’s the worst.”

I mostly keep quiet, enjoying her critiques even if it shatters my ’80s-movie-loving heart.

“Oh no, the boys are gonna be heartbroken! She promised the little one she’d never leave!” She sits up and leans closer as she holds her breath.

“Then maybe I should turn it off so you aren’t sad.” I grab the remote as if I’m going to stop the movie.

“Don’t ya dare,” she scolds, reaching back and smacking my hand. “You got me hooked on this stupid film, now let me finish it.”

Holding back laughter, I move behind her with the little space between her and the headboard and situate her between my legs. Then I pull her back until she’s pressed against my chest.

“Should I distract you?” I tease, bringing my lips to the nape of her neck and blowing warm air on her cool skin.

“You’re not playin’ fair.” She shivers against me as her focus stays glued on the screen. “tryin’ to seduce me now when I’m distracted.”

Chuckling, I snake my arms around her waist and slide my hands between her bare thighs. She’s in comfy shorts that rode up when she sat down.

“I dunno what you’re talkin’ about. I’m just kissin’ your neck.”

“Liar…” She breathes out. “And a bad one at that.”

She arches as my fingers slide over the fabric covering her pussy.

“Should I stop?” I ask.

“No…” Her chest vibrates as I add more pressure.

“Keep watchin’. You gotta see this through to the end now.”

“Is it gonna be a happy endin’? Because if not, then I’m turnin’ ’round to get my own happy endin’.”

“Noah,” I laugh out her name. She’s easy to rile up, and though I shouldn’t be teasing her so much when I know she wants to see Annie and Dean end up together, it’s amusing as hell to watch her try to resist for once.

Her hands grip my thighs as I gently rub and kiss her neck. She’s trying so hard to stay focused and not crack.

“He better fight for her, goddammit.” She shakes her head when Annie gets into the limo with her husband, and the kids run after it. “Oh my God. I can’t take it.”

“The movie or me touchin’ you?”

Her head falls back against my shoulder. “Fuck. Both.”

“Think you can come like this before their happily ever after?” I taunt, inching my fingers beneath her panties and feeling her arousal. “Goddamn, you’re soakin’ wet.”

“You do not play fair, Mr. Underwood.” She widens her legs as she squeezes my thighs. “There needs to be a 2x speed on this movie.”

“Tsk tsk. No skippin’ ahead. Maybe I shouldn’t let ya come until after it’s over and see if you can wait.”

“No, no, no. I don’t think I have that much willpower left in me.”

Oh, sweetheart. You and me both.

“I like that idea…” I muse, slipping a finger deep inside. “No comin’ until the credits roll.”

With my free hand, I slide it underneath her shirt and replace her pierced nipples.

Goddamn, she might not be the only one who can’t hold back.

“You’re evil,” she grinds out, her breath erratic as she tries to keep her eyes open.

“Not yet, I’m not.” My thumb replaces her clit and presses hard as I continue finger-fucking her tight pussy. Her juices coat my hand, and I know it wouldn’t take much to send her over the edge.

“Fisher, please. I’m not above beggin’.”

“We’re so close, baby. Hold on. Kurt’s about to go get his woman,” I tell her as he jumps off the boat and swims toward her.

“He needs to fuckin’ hurry, or I swear to God,” she complains when Annie jumps off her boat.

The two characters finally meet in the water and get pulled onto the deck.

“Just eight more seconds, Noah. Can ya do it?” I murmur in her ear when Dean asks Annie what he could possibly ever give her since she already has everything.

An insecurity he and I have in common.

“Seven.”

Noah licks her lips as she tries to keep her orgasm from bursting.

“Six.”

Annie pauses to look at the four boys making long Christmas lists and then smiles at Dean.

“Five.”

And then she tells him she wants a little girl.

“Four. Keep your eyes on the screen, or you’ll miss the final scene,” I whisper, and she shudders.

I squeeze her nipple harder as the music starts playing. “Three.”

Annie and Dean finally have their moment and kiss.

“Two.”

The camera zooms out, showing all six of them on the boat, getting their big happily ever after.

“One.”

And then, when I grind deeper against her pussy and circle my thumb, she shatters against me. Noah screams and bites her lip as she flies off the ledge.

“Such a good girl, Goldie.” I cup her jaw and bring her mouth to mine, smelling her on my hand.

When I break our kiss, I lick one finger, then dip the other between her lips.

“Taste so good when you come, don’t you?”

“That was the longest eight seconds of my life,” she mutters.

I laugh. “Story of my life.”

After thoroughly kissing Noah good night, I walk to my truck with blue balls again. She wanted to return the favor, but I was more than satisfied giving her what she needed. Noah will always mean more to me than our one-night stand. When the time comes to confess our relationship, whether people accept it or not, I’ll know what we share isn’t based on only our physical connection because each secret moment brings us closer.

Noah wanted me to stay over, but I’m meeting Jase in the morning to see the house he wants to buy. Even if I feel like shit for lying to him and keeping secrets, I still want to be the father who shows up. Maybe if I ask him questions about her, especially after our awkward dinner, I’ll get a better sense of their friendship and telling him won’t be as bad as I think.

Or at least, I hope.