Page 23 of Solitary Man

I swallowed, my mouth suddenly bone dry. “I-I’m fine, either way.”

And that was the truth. I wasn’t closed off to the idea. And maybe having kids with Cash would be amazing. He certainly wouldn’t abandon his children, I knew that much. He gifted me with another smile, a smaller one this time but no less devastating, and shut my door.

When he climbed in I asked, “And when do you want these kids?”

Now I was thinking about how we’d make these babies. We hadn’t had sex yet, and all of a sudden, I really, really wanted to, to the point that I was squeezing my thighs together. I mean, not the making babies part, not yet, but I was good with lots of practice.

He glanced at me, and his gaze moved over me again, hot and intense. He was thinking the same thing. It was there in his gaze. “No hurry.”

I let out a relieved breath as he leaned over and helped me buckle in like he had the first time I was in here with him. Only this time he didn’t shy away from touching me. No, his long, thick fingers grazed my arm, and as he pulled the straps over my shoulders his knuckles brushed the tops of my breasts. But he didn’t stop there. He then dragged his hand down the strap, skimming over my now hard nipple and down to the juncture of my thighs to lock it in place.

I sucked in a sharp breath and squeezed my thighs together again.

Cash made a low sound but didn’t look at me, or touch me more. He put my headset over my ears, then straightened, put on his own headset, and started the engine. I concentrated on breathing through the confusing feelings of fear and intense lust as we started moving.

“Okay?” he asked roughly.

“Yes. I know you’ll keep me safe,” I said again without thought but believing it with everything in me.

We barely knew each other, but in that, I had no doubt.

He’d keep me safe.

I also knew he needed me as much as I needed him. Cash had been lonely out here by himself. Anyone could see that. And I was determined to give him everything he needed and more. To nurture this connection between us.

Maybe his family could help me on that front? I had no idea how to get through to him.

I wanted my husband to let me in, and I’d do whatever it took to make that happen.

6

Cash

We’d been to the general store and loaded the plane with supplies. Landon and Riley had talked, free and easy, like they’d known each other for years, and I hadn’t liked it. Christ, I’d been jealous. I wanted to be able to talk with her like that, and I couldn’t goddamn do it.

Yeah, we had talked a little more since we left home, but not like that. There was an easiness between her and Landon, an easiness I craved but couldn’t find. I glanced at her again as we were coming in to land at our third drop-off and swallowed hard. Ever since we’d talked about kids all I could think about was planting a baby inside her. Riley all soft, her belly round.

I scowled. What is wrong with you? You can barely talk to her. We hadn’t even had sex yet and already I was thinking about her carrying my babies. But good Christ, something about the sweet girl beside me brought out the caveman in me.

Riley closed her eyes as we headed for the runway, a flat-ish field near the cabin we were stopping at to deliver food and fuel.

Seeing her scared like that was a punch in the chest. “Hold on,” I said, trying to gentle my voice. “This one’s bumpy.”

She scrunched her face up, squeezing her eyes tighter. As we touched the ground, her hand shot out again, like it had the first time—like she had when we landed at the general store earlier that day and the two stops after that—seeking comfort from me. I liked that she did that. Liked it more than was reasonable.

I know you’ll keep me safe.

Her words from earlier had been on repeat in my head as well. And hell, if it was possible, I’d fly the damn plane with her in my lap. There was nothing I wanted more than her soft warmth wrapped around me, holding her tight, making sure she never felt scared again.

We bumped and jerked as we taxied down the field, and Riley’s fingernails dug into my skin, adding more tiny crescent moons to the others she’d given me today. I liked that, too. I liked that she marked me while she used me to ground herself, that I’d be able to look down and see those marks for days to come and know that she’d sought me out when she needed me.

We stopped, and she finally opened her eyes, her entire body relaxing.

“Okay, darlin’?” The endearment had been slipping out more often, but still my face predictably heated. I blushed easily, and it was pissing me off.

She released a long breath and nodded, a small smile playing at the corners of her mouth. I wanted to kiss her. “Yes, I’m fine. But I don’t think I’ll ever get used to it.”

“You will.” I hoped so, anyway. She hadn’t wanted to be left behind, and I hated the idea of being apart from her.