How can I be mad when he just wants me?

“I want you too, Rhys.”

“I want you, yes, but I fucking need you. Do you have any idea how damn terrifying that is?” He tips his forehead to rest on mine. “Seeing another man come on to you, and you not shoot him down right away was a knife to my chest.”

“I’m sorry. I was about to shoot him down.”

He shakes his head, unable to speak any more as he thrusts in and out of me, harder than he ever has. His fingers are gripping my ass so hard he’s sure to leave marks. Not pink ones: bruises.

I’ve never seen him this intense. This…needy.

And it’s all because of me.

“Mine,” he mutters again, and reaches between us to press his thumb on my clit. “Come. Now.”

My whole body clenches as I come, caught between him and the door, my entire world breaking apart and coming back together again, all centered around this amazing man holding me up.

“Did you just mark me?” I ask breathlessly.

“Literally or figuratively?”

“Both.”

“Yes.”

Chapter Fifteen

~Gabby~

“Gabby, I heard you hired some help,” Mama says as she stirs the red beans and rice on her stovetop. We’re all at her house for a Sunday dinner, as usual.

“About six weeks ago, yes,” I reply and smile as Rhys leans down to kiss me on his way to help set the table. He’s been very affectionate with me in front of my family. My brothers are all a little twitchy because of it, but Van, Charly and Kate just wink and smile.

Mama simply pats my shoulder.

He makes me happy.

“And how is that working out?” Declan asks and picks a carrot out of the salad bowl. “You’re such a control freak.”

“It’s my business,” I reply with a shrug. “I should be a control freak. But it’s working out great. Eva comes in for me in the mornings and takes care of breakfast, and helps check guests out. She leaves by about noon each day.”

“I’m glad you took Rhys’s advice and hired Eva,” Kate says, ignoring Eli’s glare. “You were taking on too much.”

“It was beginning to be a lot to handle,” I admit softly. “But I love it. It’s not work for me, you know?”

“But it is work,” Rhys says and plants his lips on my head. “You work your ass off, sugar.”

“She comes by that honestly,” Mama says with a smile. “Every one of my children are hard workers.”

“Just like our parents,” Van says.

“There’s nothing wrong with hard work,” Beau adds. “But there is also a time to admit that you need help, and I’m glad you did.”

“It is nice to have some flexibility in the morning,” I reply with a nod. “And Eva seems to love it. She caught on quickly, doesn’t piss me off, and is happy to have the job.”

“Perfect,” Charly says with a grin and pulls the pork chops out of the oven. “There is nothing worse than an employee who pisses you off.”

“Of course she’s happy to be there,” Mama says as she pulls me in for a big hug. “You’re very easy to love.”

“You’re my mom. You’re supposed to say that.”

I glance up at Rhys, who winks at me then resumes a conversation with Kate and Beau, and I can’t help but remember an evening in bed with him not long ago, when after we’d made love, he smiled and said, “You’re so easy to fall for.”

Yet, he’s never said he loves me. But he shows me he does in so many little ways. The easy affection he shows me, the way he jumps in to help me whenever he thinks I need it.

And I’m beginning to hope that maybe, just maybe, he’s not going to disappear from my life. He seems so content here. Maybe he’ll stay.

I wish I wasn’t so fucking scared to just ask him what he wants. But Daddy always said don’t ask a question that you don’t want the answer to.

And if the answer is that he’s having fun with me for now, but he’ll be returning to Chicago soon, well…I don’t want to hear that.

So, I’m basically a coward.

“Earth to Gabby,” Declan says, waving his hand in front of my face. “Where did you go there, baby-doll?”

“Sorry.” I smile and shake my head. “Daydreaming.”

“About what?”

“Dessert.” I glance longingly at the pecan pie Mama made for dessert.

“Can we have pie now?” Sam asks, just as he does every Sunday. And every Sunday he gets the same response.

“I know you’re not gonna try to eat my pie before dinner,” Mama says, shaking her finger at him. Sam’s shoulders droop and he lets out a long sigh.

“No, ma’am.”

“Dinner is just about ready,” Charly says, plating all the dishes, and passing them to me to put on the long table in the dining room. Charly and Mama are the best cooks in the family.

“Why doesn’t Gabby ever help cook?” Beau asks. “You’re a great cook.”

“I do well enough at the inn, but I don’t love it the way Mama and Charly do.” I shrug and set a bowl of salad on the table. “And I helped chop the salad.”

“I like your cooking,” Beau says.

“Does that mean you’d like to join us for more dinners?” I prop my hands on my hips as a smile slips over my eldest brother’s lips.

“Well, since you invited me so nicely, sure.”

“Uncle Beau wants mac n’ cheese,” Sam says as he sits in his chair. “Every night.”