HARDY

“Are you almost done in there?” I call out to Everly who is in her bathroom, finishing up her shower.

“Yes,” she calls out just as the door opens and I catch sight of her in her silk robe, her hair wet and draped over her shoulders. “Is dinner ready?”

“Yup,” I say as I set two bowls of tomato bisque soup on the table along with some bread that I warmed in the oven.

She walks up to me, the cinch on her robe entirely too loose, and she presses her hand to my chest before standing on her toes and kissing my chin. “Thank you for making dinner.”

“Anything for you,” I say as I lift her chin and kiss her on the lips. When she returns the kiss, I wrap my arms around her waist and pull her in even closer. And when she moans, it’s like music to my goddamn ears.

Her hand slithers under my shirt, her fingers dancing along my abs as she deepens the kiss. A few more seconds like this will lead to her robe on the floor and me feasting on her pussy rather than the soup I made…just like last night…and the night before and the many nights before that.

But not tonight.

I pull away and put my arms on her shoulders, giving us some distance.

“Hey,” she says with a pout. “I was just about to stick my hand down your pants.”

I chuckle. “As amazing as that sounds, hold that thought, because we are having dinner tonight, the way I want to have dinner.”

“And that doesn’t entail my hand being down your pants?”

“No.” I shake my head and then bring her over to her seat. As she sits down, I hand her a spoon and add, “Now eat.”

“That’s very demanding of you,” she says.

I take a seat across from her. “It’s not, when I’ve been wanting to have a normal dinner with you so we can talk about your day.”

When her eyes meet mine, I see the soft expression that passes over her features in understanding. It was one of the things that stuck out to me when Everly and I first started getting to know each other: wanting someone to come home to, someone to share a meal with, someone to talk to at night. After the wedding, I swore to myself I will be the man she wants, the man she desires, and that means being there for her when she gets home from work, ready to welcome her and spoil her. But it seems like I can’t get a hold on this simple task, even after two weeks of being together—every chance we’ve had, I’ve fallen for a quick kiss and turned it into so much more.

Not tonight.

Tonight, I will give her what she wants…at the dinner table and then on top of it.

“So, tell me about your day,” I say.

She crosses one leg over the other and tries to hide her smile, but I can see it clear as day. “Well, I was planning an event I’m working on with one of my bosses and ended up getting bent over his desk instead.”

“Everly…” I raise a brow at her.

“What?” she says with a smile. “It was a highlight of my day. If only he would do the same right now.”

“Great things come to those who wait.”

“I waited long enough for you. I should be able to have you whenever I want.”

Did I mention she’s insatiable?

Did I mention…so am I? Hence the bent over the office desk sex we had today.

“After dinner, promise, but I want to hear about your day first. Humor me.” I offer her a wink.

She sighs. “It’s cute that you’re doing this. It does not go unappreciated. I want you to know that.”

“Thank you,” I say.

“But I got a new toy in the mail today, and I really want to use it.”

I gulp because a new toy means a lot of moaning and biting in my future, something I can’t fucking deny.

“Then eat fast and tell me about your day even faster.”

She laughs. “Honestly, the best thing about it was seeing you in your office. I know it was a rough day for you, so being able to put a smile on your face really made my day.”

“You always put a smile on my face.”

She leans across the table, looking for a kiss, so I give her one but pull away quickly.

“We also landed a big event with the Fog Horns’ children’s charity, which is amazing. Scarlett will be heading it up. She’s been a huge asset to the team. And then I worked on some centerpiece ideas for a wedding Maggie is in charge of—she was struggling, so I came up with some ideas. Then I came home to you making soup, and everything is right in the world.”

She reaches for another kiss, and I give her one.

“Are you ready to talk about why you were in such a bad mood earlier?” she asks.

I pick up a piece of bread and tear off a bite. “Hudson and I were served today—by our father. Wasn’t sure it was going to happen since he was taking so long, but he went through with it.” I let out a sigh as Everly gets up from her chair and sits on my lap. She wraps her arm around my shoulder, keeping herself in place as my hand goes to her bare thigh. “It’s really fucked up, and Hudson is taking it pretty hard. I know he’s trying to act like everything is okay, but I know it’s not.”

“I’m sorry,” she says as she rubs my chest. “Does he have any leg to stand on—your dad, that is?”

I shake my head. “Our lawyers don’t think so. It’s a frivolous case that will just be a waste of time, but it doesn’t take away from the fact that he went through with it.”

“I know,” she says softly. “I’m sorry. You both deserve so much better than that.”

“Thank you,” I say as I run my hand up and down her thigh slowly. “I worry about Hudson though. He’s been staying late at the office, working and not taking much time off. He’s so determined, so set on not being our father, on proving him wrong, that I think he’s getting lost. When I ask if he wants help, he just shakes his head and tells me to go home to you. I’m afraid he’s taking on so much and not giving himself a chance to breathe. And today did not help.”

“Have you talked to him about it?” she asks.

“Not yet, but I will. He’s also been working Jude’s sister hard too. She stays late with him.”

“She has?” Everly asks.

I nod. “She’s always there.”

A small smile passes over Everly’s lips. “What if there’s something there between them?”

“Between Hudson and Sloane?” I ask incredulously. “Yeah, no fucking way.”

“What? Why not?”

“Uh, first of all, Sloane is Jude’s little sister—there is no way in hell Jude would ever approve. Second of all, she’s Hudson’s assistant, and he would never be with anyone he worked with, especially that closely. Third of all, she’s way younger than him, and I don’t think they have anything in common.”

Everly shrugs. “You never know, they could be opening up to each other. They could be getting to know each other over late-night dinners in the conference room.”

“This is your little romantic mind going off on tangents. Trust me, they are not together.”

“And what if they were?”

“If they were?” I ask. “Then…hell, what would you want? I would give you anything.”This text is property of Nô/velD/rama.Org.

“How about those three little words I’ve been looking for?”

I smirk. “Everly, you don’t have to make a bet with me to hear me say, I love you.”

Her expression grows into one of full joy.

“Because I do,” I say as I unknot the belt of her robe and push the fabric off her shoulders. “I love you, more than anything.”

She straddles my lap, her nearly naked body wrapping around me. “I love you too, Hardy.”

“You mean that?” I bring my hands up her sides, to her breasts only to lightly massage them as her eyes try to focus on mine and not roll to the back of her head.

“I more than mean that,” she replies as I lower my head to her breasts and suck on one of her nipples. “Oh, Hardy,” she moans. “Mmm, I thought we were having dinner.”

“You convinced me that eating you would be so much better.” And then I lay her down on the floor in front of me, spread her legs, and feast.

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