Chapter Twenty-Seven

Rob

“Hey, boss.”

I turn and find Miguel standing there, looking strangely uneasy. He's shifting his feet and won't meet my gaze. Gerald drives the car off, heading for the garage and Jack gives me a nod as he walks into the house, leaving me alone with Miguel.

“What's up?” I ask. “You okay?”

“Yeah, yeah,” he says. “I'm good.”

I look at him closely, part of me afraid he's about to resign his position with me. Miguel finally looks up and meets my eyes, holding my gaze firmly.

“I just want to say thank you,” he says. “For what you did for me back at that bar with Landon.”

“I didn't do anything,” I say.

“You took up for me. You had my back,” he says. “There were guys I served with who never would've stuck their necks out like that for me. And I just want to say I appreciate it.”

I give him a small smile. “You're a good man, Miguel. One of the most honorable I've ever known,” I say. “I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I let a cockroach like Landon Hall speak to you that way.”

He gives me a small, rueful smile. “Thank you, sir,” he says. “That means a lot to me.”

I hold out my hand and Miguel looks at me and pulls me into a tight, manly embrace. I laugh and pat him on the back. A moment later, he gives me a bashful smile and a nod before heading into the house.

I don't know why, but Miguel's appreciation really touches something within me. It makes me smile. Makes me feel good. I think the world of Miguel and appreciate everything he does for me. Which is why it offended me so deeply to hear a pile of human garbage like Landon spouting racial slurs at him. Miguel served his country with distinction – Landon simply leeches off everybody and everything.

So, I wasn't about to sit there and let that pass without comment.

Turning, I walk into the house with a small smile on my face and a strange feeling running through my body. I can't explain or quantify it, but I feel – good. Not just because of what happened with Miguel, I just somehow feel lighter and freer.

I look around, noticing that Ella and Fitz haven't bounded up to greet me, which is unusual. I'm usually covered in dog hair and slobbery kisses ten seconds after stepping foot inside the house. I walk toward the back, figuring that they're enjoying the sunshine of the afternoon, grabbing a bottle of water from the kitchen on my way.

Stepping out onto the deck, I look around and through the screen of flowers and vines, can see that Harper is sitting in the gazebo in the middle of the rose garden. Her back is to me, so I can't see what she's doing from where I'm standing, but from what I can see, she's got her head down and seems to be very intent on whatever it is. And given the shine they've taken to her, I assume that's where I'm going to find my dogs.

I follow the path out to the garden, inhaling and enjoying the fragrance of the flowers on my way. As I draw closer, I hear music and realize that Harper is singing and playing her guitar. I've never heard her sing before and I'm entranced by it. Her voice is absolutely beautiful. So pure, so strong and clear – she's incredible. Moving slowly and quietly, I try to get closer, hypnotized by the music, enjoying every note and every word.

And then, of course, Ella and Fitz come bounding out of the gazebo, giving me away. Laughing, I step around the corner and into the gazebo, finding Harper looking up and smiling at me. I sit down on the bench across from her, reveling in that smile, realizing just how happy it makes me to see it.

Ella and Fitz put their paws up on the bench, demanding my attention, and I happily give it to them. They lean into me, panting, whining, and wiggling as I scratch them.

“Your voice – it's amazing,” I say. “Really, really amazing.”

I see her cheeks flush and she looks away. “Thank you,” she says softly. “I haven't played in a few days and it's such a nice day out – I thought I'd take advantage of it.”

“Not a bad idea,” I say. “That song you were just playing –”

“Oh, it's nothing,” she says quickly. “Just felt inspired this morning and wanted to put together some new material.”

“For nothing, it sure sounded pretty amazing to me,” I say.

She smiles and looks back down at her guitar, strumming a few chords. There's an awkward tension in the air between us – though, it's not one that seems too bad or negative. It just feels almost – expectant – in a way. I'm not sure what the expectation is, but it's there all the same.

Sitting on her bench in a loose flowing skirt and shirt, her long strawberry-blonde hair spilling over her shoulders, Harper reminds me of one of those artsy, folk singers my mom used to love. A Joni Mitchell type. Something catches Ella and Fitz's attention and the go racing out of the gazebo to chase whatever it is.

With the sun shining through the gazebo, it makes her hair shine like gold and makes her skin glow. She's staggeringly beautiful and it takes my breath away just to look at her. The longing and desire in me is powerful and I'm overwhelmed with the urge to kiss her. To touch her. To feel her body pressed against mine.

Harper looks up at me with those wide, innocent eyes, and I can see the same feelings coursing through me reflected in hers. Her face is filled with desire and seeing it there only stokes the fires of passion burning within me.

She sets her guitar gently back in its case and gets to her feet. She steps forward, biting her bottom lip, and takes my hand, pulling me to her. Our gazes remain locked as I slide my hands around her waist, pulling her against me.

I lean down and kiss her and she slides her hands around the back of my neck. Her mouth opens and I slide my tongue in, savoring the feel of her mouth pressed to mine. I run my hands through her hair and run them down her back as our kiss grows hotter, more passionate. I feel my cock growing stiffer and take a small step back, but Harper pulls me forward, gripping my waist and grinds herself against me.

I pull back and look into her eyes – and the look of absolute hunger I see sets me on fire. I kiss her again, letting her feel every ounce of passion and desire I have for her. She moans softly, grinding herself against my stiff cock, and I slide my hands down, cupping and squeezing her firm little ass through her skirt.

Harper surprises me and makes me flinch when she slides her hand down my stomach, gripping my cock through my slacks. She squeezes and rubs it, her kisses growing even more intense, as if the act of touching me were setting her ablaze inside as well.

I turn her around and pull her to me. I kiss her neck, running my tongue down her collarbone as I grind my cock against her ass. Harper pushes back against me, lifting her arms up so she can run her hands through my hair as I kiss her neck.

I slip her top off and toss it onto the bench, sliding my hands up her body, relishing the feel of her soft, smooth skin beneath my fingertips. She's not wearing a bra, so I take her perky, full breasts in my hands and knead them, giving her nipples a firm pinch that draws a moan from her. She pushes back harder against my cock, grinding her ass against me.

Turning her around again, I give her a long, lingering kiss before I push her down onto the bench. Pushing her skirt up around her waist, I put her legs over my shoulders as I slide her panties to the side. Harper's hands are in my hair, pulling it, as I plunge my tongue into the warm, wet center of hers. She moans and grinds herself against my face as I circle my tongue around her clit, before I gently nibble on it.

Taking her clit into my mouth, I suck on it a little harder at the same time I slide two fingers into her hot, wet little pussy. Harper cries out as I drive my fingers into her, banging her harder again and again. I lick and suck on her, feeling her grinding herself down against me, her moans filling the air around us.

I relish the feel of her juices on my lips, as well as the taste and scent of her. I suck on her clit and bang her with zeal, her moans and movements driving me absolutely crazy. I hear her breathing growing labored and feel her body tensing beneath me.

I drive my fingers into her faster, harder as I lick and suck on her clit and a moment later, Harper cries out. Her body trembles and she inadvertently gives my hair a vicious tug as she comes hard for me. As she comes, my cock grows so stiff, pressing against my pants so hard, it hurts. I need her. Need to be inside of her.

Slowly, her orgasm subsides and when I look up, she's biting her bottom lip again, a look of absolute desire and sheer ecstasy on her face.

“That was amazing,” she gasps.

I stand up and pull her to her feet. Embracing her tightly, I look down into her eyes for a moment before leaning down and kissing her. She strokes my cock through my slacks again, her kiss and stroking growing more intense by the second.

She kisses my neck, her breath still coming in gasps. “I need you inside of me,” she says. “I want you, Rob.”

Taking a step back, I look her in the eye. I see a little hesitance in her eyes and I start to pull myself back a bit. But goddamn, do I want this girl. More than I've ever wanted anybody before in my life.

But, this is her decision to make. Not mine.

“Are you sure?” I ask. “You don't have to do this. We don't have to do anything else, Harper.”

She bites her lip again and says nothing for a moment and I can see the wheels in her mind turning. But then she turns around and fishes something out of the pocket of her guitar case. A condom.

“I want to,” she says, her voice breathy. “I really want to. With you, Rob. I want you to be my first.”