Knock on Wood Read online

  I saw Noah and Liam off to the side, even saw Mia, Noah’s girlfriend, standing on the other side of her man. Mia had become such a close friend with me over this short span of time that I couldn’t see her not being in my life now. She was funny and witty, and didn’t take any shit from anybody.

  They glanced over at me and I lifted my hand in greeting. All of us had gotten together numerous times since Johnny and I had made things official. His brothers, hell, even Mia, made me feel like family, like I was welcome, part of the crew. And the love I saw between Mia and Noah made me feel like they saw the same thing between Johnny and myself.

  I wasn’t going to hide my emotions anymore. I didn’t care if the PDA was too intense at times. I loved being close to him, and I knew he felt the same about me. It was obvious when he always had to have his hands on me, always had to have me pressed up against his side. And it was especially evident when he made sure to kiss me in front of a room full of people every chance he got.

  Just thinking about him, about what we did, how he made me feel, had goosebumps forming all along my arms and legs. I was already getting turned on thinking about Johnny, about being pressed up against the wall of the trailer, about having him slide down my body and tear my panties away. God, I was so wet already.

  I made my way over to the trailer, wanting to see Johnny, needing to see him. I walked up the ramp and thought about knocking, but instead I turned the knob and pushed the door open. Johnny was hunched over the small steel desk to my right, his big body dwarfing the piece of furniture. He had his hands on either side of his head, clearly concentrating on something in front of him. His muscles bulged underneath his plaid shirt, showing me he was all man. Papers were strewn all over the table, and the scent of coffee filled the small interior.

  He’d left before the sun had even risen that morning, and I knew it had been nonstop for him since. It had been like that for everyone working on this project. These guys were working hard and tirelessly on this job, and the long hours were probably getting to them.

  Johnny lifted his head, a scowl on his face, as if he were about to snap at whoever just interrupted him. But when he saw me his face softened and he smiled.

  I smiled back at him, feeling my heart jackknife in my chest. “Hey,” I said softly.

  “Come here, baby.”

  Instantly I melted. I shut the door and walked over to him, my knees feeling a bit wobbly from the wave of emotions and adrenaline rushing though me. Once I was close enough to him he pulled me closer instantly, and I sank down onto his lap. For long seconds all I did was rest my head on his shoulder and let him hold me. He smelled good, woodsy and clean, like the soap he’d used this morning for his shower.

  I was looking at the papers on his desk, saw blueprints, contracts, even phone numbers scribbled on the back of coffee-stained napkins. I could feel how tense his body was. I wanted to help him feel better, to help the stress melt away.

  “You’re so stressed,” I said softly.

  He grunted and held me tighter. “I feel a hell of a lot better now.”

  I closed my eyes, feeling love and contentment. I also felt a hell of a lot more. “Anyone plan on coming in here?” I asked softly, seductively. I heard this rumble leave him. Good, he knew what I wanted to do.

  He wrapped his hands around my waist and lifted me off of his lap and onto his desk before I even knew what he was doing. I braced my hands behind me, causing papers to scatter to the floor. He scooted closer, the wheels of his chair squeaking softly from the movement. I was forced to spread my thighs wider so he could move between them.

  Looking down at him, seeing the expression of raw passion reflected back at me, had me breathing harder, faster. God, I want this so bad. And by the deep sounds coming from him, and the fact I can see, from my position, that he’s sporting major wood, that Johnny is right here with me.

  “Fuck, I missed you.”

  My heart gave a little lurch. “What do you want, baby?” he asked in his deep, gravelly voice.

  I felt my body temperature rise. I licked my lips slowly and said, “I want you to show me how much you missed me.”

  He leaned in close, right to my denim-covered pussy, and inhaled deeply. “God, you smell fucking incredible.”

  I shivered in response.

  And then the sound of raised voices right outside the trailer had me groaning. We were just getting to the good stuff, too. Johnny stood and gave me a long, lingering kiss, before pulling away from me and adjusting himself.

  Johnny pushed open the door, and there, right in front of us, was a shiny black town car. The woman standing at the front wore a pair of stilettos, a pencil skirt, and a blouse. She looked like she had money, and a lot of it. Her red hair was up and twisted in a complicated updo.

  “Who’s that?” I asked and leaned against Johnny’s side. He wrapped his arm around me and held me close.

  “Andra Corletti. She’s here for the new construction. She’s taking over the production and overseeing the construction.”

  I watched as Liam strutted over to her, his shirtsleeves rolled up his muscular forearms, sweat glistening off his forehead. Today was an especially hot day, and with the Ash brothers working hard to get everything ready for the foundation being poured over the next week, plus their own business workload, I was surprised one of them hadn’t already passed out from exhaustion.

  We were close enough we could hear what they said, and it seemed Andra wasn’t pleased with the timeline.

  “This is unacceptable,” Andra said, her tone harsh.

  Liam smirked, his gaze roaming over her body. “You could always put on a hard hat, grab a chainsaw or axe, and help out if you want it to go faster.”

  I almost snorted at Liam’s comment. He wasn’t one to mince his words, or to sugarcoat anything.

  “This is taking longer than what was agreed.” Andra’s body was stiff, her focus on Liam.

  “If you want quality then it’s got to be done right, and that takes time. We’re only a few days behind.” Liam smirked wider. “We could go out, maybe grab a drink, some food to pass the time?”

  Andra slowly lifted her hand and removed her sunglasses. She narrowed her eyes at Liam, and looked him up and down. “I’m not into plaid,” she said with enough whip in her face I couldn’t help but laugh. Liam looked less than pleased by her comment. He was less pleased by my laughter, if his narrowed gaze toward me was anything to go by.

  Johnny shut the door as Liam and Andra started in at each other again. “I am already calling it. Liam’s going after her, and he won’t stop until he’s got her.” I cocked an eyebrow at that.

  “She’s not into him, clearly.” I grinned.

  He turned and faced me, pulled me in close, and dipped down to kiss me soundlessly. “Thank God you love plaid.”

  I started laughing. Yeah, I liked plaid a whole lot, especially when it was Big Johnny wearing it.

  Epilogue

  Johnny

  One year later

  I had my face between her thighs, my tongue deep in her slit. She tasted incredible, sweet yet musky. Addicting. Eating out Flora was one of my favorite things. I grew drunk off of her, fiended for her flavor.

  I had my hands on her thighs, spreading her legs even wider. I closed my eyes and hummed, dragging my tongue from her pussy hole up to her clit. I sucked the nub into my mouth until she cried out. I knew when her orgasm washed through her. I felt her body tighten, her hands going to my head and gripping my hair, pulling the strands. That shock of pleasure and pain had me reaching between my legs and gripping my cock, which was pulled through the fly of my jeans.

  I started stroking myself from root to tip, faster, harder. I was going to come, but not before she did once more. I sent a silent demand for her to get off for me, just once more. I sucked on her clit harder, and moved my hand down toward her pussy hole, where
I slipped too thick fingers inside of her. I curled them upwards and stroked. I found that secret, sensitive area, and finally she exploded.

  She came for me again, her thighs tightening around my head, her pussy clenching around my fingers. I pumped my fingers faster inside of her, stroked my hand harder on my cock.

  And just like that I got off.

  I came hard, my seed shooting out the tip of me, spilling to the floor, my grunting a verbal sign of how good it felt. Only when we were both sated did I finally pull away from her, remove my fingers from her body, and bring them up to show her how glossy they were. Her eyes were at half-mast as she watched me lick the fingers clean. I moaned at how good she tasted.

  I thought about what I had planned for tonight, what I was going to ask her. Truth was it scared the fuck out of me. Flora stood and started getting her pants and panties back on, and I just sat there, on the floor, watching her, loving the view of her bent over for me. I stood, and before she could straighten and walk away I had her pulled close to me, and had both of us back on the couch, with her on my lap, her legs spread on either side of me, her chest pressed to mine.

  I held her tightly for long moments, and she sunk right against me, molding to me as if she were made just for me.

  She is.

  I pulled her back toward me, wanting to shelter her, to protect her. Hell, I’d lay down my life just to ensure she was okay, that she was always happy. We sat there, staring at each other, her love for me tangible. I hoped she could feel mine as well. It was powerful, like this wrecking ball slamming into a building, toppling it until the pieces lay on the ground for all to see.

  She was quiet, and I sensed the atmosphere changing a little, shifting so I could feel that she had something on her mind, something weighing heavily.

  “Hey,” I said softly and cupped the back of her head. “What’s wrong? Where did you go?”

  “I’m right here,” she said and smiled before leaning down and kissing me softly.

  “Something’s on your mind.” I murmured the words against her lips, and although I wanted to keep kissing her I pulled back to look into her face. “You can talk to me about anything.” I kept my other hand at the small of her back, keeping her close to me, wanting her that way always.

  “You love me?”

  I was shocked she’d ask that. “Of course. With everything I am, baby.” A part of me was starting to get a little worried, but I kept my composure and made sure to be cool. I didn’t want to worry her further over the fact she was starting to freak me the fuck out.

  “And you see us together, forever?”

  I felt my brows dip low, not able to hide my concern any longer. I straightened on the couch, but kept her close. “Flora, you’re it for me. I’m not going anywhere. You’re my whole world. Now, please, baby, tell me what’s going on because you’re really worrying me.”

  She exhaled slowly, her focus on my face. For long seconds she didn’t say anything and just when I was about to probe her again she finally stated to speak.

  “I’m pregnant, Johnny.” She’d averted her gaze from mine after she’d spoken, but after a few seconds she looked at me again.

  I couldn’t have accurately described how I felt in that moment. I was stunned speechless, which didn’t help Flora feel secure about any of this. Finally I got my shit together and placed my finger under her chin to tip her head back slightly so she could really look at me.

  “A baby, Johnny. Crazy, right?”

  “You’re going to make me a father?” It was then that the happiness exploded in me, causing me to grin from ear to ear. My love for Flora grew in that moment, so much so that I could have fucking cried in that instant. “We’re going to have a baby, Flora.” I started laughing out of happiness, and pulled her close, my hand on the back of her head, her cheek resting on my chest. “A family.”

  “You’re okay with it?” Her voice was soft, muffled by my shirt, but she clung to me, her arms wrapped around my body so we were almost one.

  “You feel that?” I asked, referring to the steady beat of my heart. She nodded after a second. “It beats for you, for that baby you carry.” She pulled back then and I saw she was crying. I wiped the tears away and smiled. “I love you so fucking much.” She pulled back and I immediately leaned in and kissed her. “I’m not going anywhere. The world means nothing without you in my life.”

  “I was so worried you’d be upset.”

  “God, no, baby. Never.” I felt the opposite. I was happy, so fucking happy, in fact. “We’re going to be parents.” I hugged her then, closing my eyes and just absorbing the feel of her. I was the luckiest man in the world. I had so many emotions running through me, some more than I could even contain. I figured I would just do this now. I’d planned on asking Flora to marry me this weekend, had a nice camping excursion planned out, just the two of us surrounded by the wilderness as I asked the only woman I’d ever love to be my wife. But right now seemed perfect. We were connected even before this, but right now I wanted her to know that I wanted forever with her as my wife.

  I adjusted her so she was sitting on the couch, and I got up and moved toward the drawer where I held the ring. When I turned around I saw she was staring at me. I didn’t waste any time. I got down on one knee in front of her, popped the lid to the velvet black box, and stared into her eyes. “Flora Anna Beaumont, I love you more than you’ll ever know. I’ve been in love with you since before I could really understand what that meant.” I kept staring at her face, seeing the tears start to fall faster. “I want to spend the rest of our lives together as husband and wife. You’re my soul mate, and soon to be the mother of my child. Marry me.”

  She didn’t speak, and I worried I’d scared her or, hell, freaked her out. “I certainly didn’t see this moment going this way. I had it planned out for this weekend. But then you told me about the pregnancy and this seemed like the perfect time.” She was still silent, still crying. “Shit, did I fuck this up?”

  She smiled and shook her head. “No, you didn’t. This is perfect.”

  I cupped her cheek and stared in her eyes. “I’m already the happiest man on this planet because of you, and now you’ve topped that by making me a father. I love you, baby. Marry me.”

  She leaned in and kissed me. “Of course I’ll marry you,” she said against my mouth.

  I got on the couch, wrapped my arms around her, and pulled her closer so she was pressed on my chest. I had won the fucking lottery when it came to Flora, and I wasn’t going to waste another minute of my life not loving her.

  * * * * *

  Acknowledgments

  As always, it’s such a pleasure working with the Carina Press team!

  Also available from Jenika Snow and Carina Press

  Hard Wood

  And Coming Soon

  Touch Wood

  About the Author

  Jenika Snow is a USA TODAY bestselling author of erotic romance. She lives in the northeast and enjoys gloomy weather, as it’s the perfect time for writing. She can be found at the following sites:

  Web: www.JenikaSnow.com

  Facebook: www.Facebook.com.com/JenikaSnow

  Instagram: www.Instagram.com/JenikaSnow

  Twitter: www.Twitter.com/JenikaSnow

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  Get down and dirty with the lumberjacks in Jenika Snow’s Dirty Bits series:

  HARD WOOD (Lumberjack series, book 1)

  KNOCK ON WOOD (Lumberjack series, book 2)

  TOUCH WOOD (Lumberjack series, book 3)

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