Big (A Real Man, 20) Read online

  It had been a couple hours since I’d left her in my room sleeping, and I was working on my third cup of coffee when I heard her stir. The fire was already going, the January weather leaving frost all over everything in the early morning, right before the sun rose and started to melt it.

  I stood when I heard my bedroom door open, looked at the table I already set for breakfast, and prayed like hell she didn’t think I was overstepping bounds and going too fast. But I’d wanted to make her breakfast, to feed her. I wanted to squeeze those oranges, so she had fresh juice, wanted to have her taste the bacon I’d gotten from the butcher shop just last week, because it was the freshest I’d ever had.

  I wanted her to tell me how good the homemade pancakes were, not because I needed my ego stroked, but because I would know I was nourishing her.

  I just wanted to take care of her.

  She came out with a blanket wrapped around her body, her curves visible and making my pulse race. God, she was gorgeous with her hair mussed, her cheeks flushed, and lips that were plump and pink from my kisses.

  She stopped right before she got into the kitchen and gave me this sleepy smile before her focus turned to the table.

  “You made breakfast for me?”

  My chest puffed up like I was some kind of proud bastard she’d noticed. Hell, who was I kidding? I was damn proud she noticed. I walked over to the table and pulled the chair out, waiting for her to take it.

  “I wanted to make you breakfast. Hope you’re hungry enough to eat it all.” I chuckled nervously. Hell, I’d never felt this kind of anxiety before, never been so worried about pleasing somebody in my life. But I wanted Landry to be happy. So damn happy.

  “Thank you. Everything smells delicious.” Her voice was soft, still laced with sleep. She was only a foot from me now, getting ready to sit down, but I reached out and curled my hand around her waist, bringing her closer to me. Her womanly body pressed against my hardness, and I had no doubt she felt the stiff outline of my cock digging into her belly.

  The little sound of surprise she made told me as much.

  I buried my face in the crook of her neck and closed my eyes, inhaling deeply. I loved how she molded against me, her arms wrapped around my shoulders, her head resting on my chest. She made me feel like such a man, and every primal part of me wanted to take care of her in every single way that mattered.

  “What are you doing?” Her voice was soft and pleasure-filled.

  “Enjoying the moment with you, not wanting it to end.” I was going to be honest with her. I’d always tell her the truth, no matter what.

  She melted into me a little bit more and I heard her let out a sigh, one that was filled with contentment and relaxation. A low growl left me before I could stop it.

  “I could stay like this forever,” I said honestly, tightening my arms around her body even more.

  “I’d be okay with that,” she responded, and I made another gruff sound in the back of my throat.

  I gave the side of her neck one lingering kiss before pulling back and sliding my hands up her body so that I could cup her cheeks. I tilted her head back slightly and looked down at her lush lips before leaning down and claiming them in a soft, sensual kiss.

  Although I could’ve fucked her right here on the breakfast table, just pushed everything off and bent her over, spreading her thighs and sliding in deep, I was just savoring this moment, enjoying it.

  “I thought about this for so long, Landry. So long.” I murmured those words against her lips before pulling back and giving her a smile. She looked dazed and content as she glanced up at me, and then a slow smile spread across her perfectly pouty lips. I loved that I’d put that expression on her face.

  “Me too,” she whispered and rose up on her toes to be the one to kiss me now.

  God, I loved this woman.

  When she was seated at the table, I filled her plate with bacon and eggs, pancakes, and hash browns. I filled a glass to the brim with fresh-squeezed orange juice. It was only then that I sat across from her and realized I’d given her enough food to feed an army.

  “This is quite a spread,” she said as she looked down at her plate, a smile on her lips. “You must think I am ravished.” She chuckled and glanced up at me.

  “I guess I’m used to only serving myself those heaping amounts.” I laughed and leaned back in the chair, reaching for my coffee mug before bringing it to my mouth and taking a long sip. “Don’t feel obligated to eat it all.” I set my mug back down and just watched her, wanting to see her take that first bite, wanting to know if she liked it.

  “I’m not ashamed to admit I like a nice home-cooked meal, and I haven’t had anyone cook for me in years.” She gave me this shy little grin that sent my heart racing.

  She picked up her fork and started in, bringing a forkful of scrambled eggs to her mouth before making a humming sound of pleasure. She brought a piece of bacon up next, the meat glazed with brown sugar and a little bit of cayenne pepper. It had been my father’s recipe, and I wanted Landry to taste it, to experience it like I had while growing up.

  “Big, this is absolutely delicious.” I could hear the genuine pleasure in her voice, and it made me proud.

  “I’m glad you like it.” I started eating then, the morning conversation easygoing as we got to know more about each other. I could have stayed like that forever, hearing her voice, listening to the story of her life.

  Hours later, we sat on the sofa in front of the fire, the flames crackling and popping over the wood, the scent of cedar filling the living room. I held her, my arm wrapped around her shoulders, her body pressed right up against mine. We hadn’t said anything for long moments, but the comfortable silence was relaxing, making me feel content and happy.

  “I love you,” I said for the first time since I’d uttered those words last night as I fucked her, as I made love to her. She was silent for a second but then shifted and looked at me. I lifted my hand and cupped her cheek, smoothing my thumb along the soft skin right below her eye.

  “I love you too,” Landry whispered softly, and I knew I’d never get tired of hearing those words come from her. “I’ve loved you for five years, Big, and for the first time in my life, I actually feel like life is how it was always supposed to be. With you.”

  God, she’d taken the words right out of my mind. I leaned in and kissed her softly then pulled back and just held her. “This is the beginning of forever for us, Landry. The beginning of forever.”

  Epilogue

  Big

  I couldn’t stop staring at Landry’s round, perfect candy-apple-shaped ass. Fuck, she was reaching up higher, her body stretched out as she tried to get something off the top shelf.

  Should I tell her I’d purposefully put the colander that high, because I knew she’d have to work for it and I’d get one hell of a show?

  “Big, I know you did this nonsense,” she grumbled, and I grinned. “I can feel your gaze on my ass again.”

  Yeah, my woman knew me.

  The wind howled outside, the storm pelting shards of ice and snow against the windows.

  I found myself walking up to her, standing right behind Landry, my fingers itching to touch her. I closed my eyes and inhaled, taking in her sweet scent. God, she smelled like spun sugar, that extra sweet cotton candy you knew would give you a toothache, but you just wanted to keep eating it.

  I growled low, the sound leaving me on its own accord. I had absolutely no willpower when it came to her, absolutely no desire to control myself. And I knew she fucking loved that about me. She liked my hands on her, my cock deep inside her.

  I didn’t stop myself from sliding my hands up to her waist, that little feminine dip that drove me crazy. I moved my fingers over her stomach, the slight swell of her baby bump making me feel extra possessive. And that was saying a hell of a lot, given the fact that I was pretty damn territorial over her.

  She was only four months along, and I couldn’t wait for her to get big, her belly swollen
because my baby was growing inside of her. I’d wanted to get her knocked up well before now, but I’d waited, controlled myself. I wanted to do things the old-fashioned way, make it perfect for her. So as soon as we got married, as soon as I had her in my—our—bed on our wedding night, I prayed like hell I got her pregnant.

  Sure, I hadn’t waited to taste her until we were married, but fuck, a man only had so much self-control and willpower.

  I leaned down and kissed the side of her neck, her skin warm and soft. I pulled back enough to move the hair fully off her shoulder, giving me an unobstructed view and access to her nape. I kissed and suckled at that sensitive skin on the back of her neck, felt goose bumps form along her skin. I slipped my fingers along her arms, feeling those little bumps, that little sign she was affected by my presence.

  My cock was rock-hard, and when I pressed it against the small of her back, she let off this little moan. She dug her ass against me, and I closed my eyes and gritted my teeth.

  “Do you want me?” she asked softly, almost teasingly.

  I didn’t answer verbally, just gently bit the side of her throat as my response. She rested her head back on my chest and sighed.

  “That answer enough for you, baby?” I ground my cock against her over and over again, the stiff length like a fucking steel pipe between my thighs.

  She moved her hand between our bodies, reaching behind herself so that she could rub her palm up and down my dick. I was going to come if she kept that up.

  “Come on, baby. Let’s take this to the bedroom.” I kissed the side of her throat. “Or I can just fuck you right here against the counter, like I did last night, and the night before that.”

  She chuckled softly, but it was laced with arousal.

  She turned around and faced me, winding her arms around my neck. “If you want me, I need you to do one thing for me.” She gently bit her lip, and my focus was trained on her mouth, at the supple, pink flesh that tantalized me.

  “Anything you want, baby,” I said without hesitation. I’d give her the fucking world if that’s what she wanted.

  She grinned seductively and rose up to press her lips gently on my mine. “Get me that colander and finish cooking dinner, and maybe I’ll let you have dessert.” Those words were brushed against my mouth before she gave me a smoldering kiss, pulled back, and smacked my ass before walking away, giggling as she went.

  I growled low and braced my hands on the edge of the sink, looking over my shoulder at her retreating form, her ass bouncing slightly as she walked down the hallway. “Woman, you’re going to be the fucking death of me.”

  She stopped and looked at me, smirking. “Yeah, but what a way to go.”

  God, I fucking loved that woman.

  The End.

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