His growl sends shivers throughout my body that dampen my already-wet panties. He twists his long fingers through my hair. No longer in control, my lips suck and hands work as he guides my head, pushing me down until I'm sure I'll choke, only to release me and then do it again. With each assertion, my core clenches, wanting its own relief, but more than satisfied knowing that it's me who has this gorgeous man on the edge of ecstasy.
As the pressure mounts, Duncan's hand trembles. And then he releases me, allowing me to back away.
I don't.
“Kimbra…I’m going to come.”
I don’t stop. Instead, I dive down, taking him to my limit as my hand continues to pump. I didn’t start this with the intention of quitting.
His whole body shudders as he comes apart and warm streams of thick liquid fill my mouth and flow down my throat.
It isn't until I've licked him clean that I finally sit up. When our eyes meet, I smile and lick my lips.
With his gaze only on me, his voice rumbles. "Fucking perfect.” His grin quirks to a sexy smirk. “Tell me, Kimbra, did you come?"
Since his cock was just in my mouth, his question no longer seems inappropriate.
I tilt my head and return his grin. "I'm very turned on, but no, I didn't."
"Are you wet?"
"Soaked."
Duncan takes my hand in his and pulls me forward. Our lips unite as his tongue searches for his own taste. When he releases me, he stands, adjusts himself in his jeans, and says, "Let's go upstairs and I'll do what I can to rectify that situation."
As we walk toward the house, Duncan looks up at the dark windows and asks, "Tell me about Susan. She's very quiet."
"I think it's because she doesn't know you. She and Kevin have been married since the summer they graduated college."
"College? Kevin is a farmer."
"Yes. He studied agriculture at Purdue. Being a farmer is more than planting seeds and harvesting crops. It's a science." I turn us back toward the field. "Like this field. This year it has corn."
Duncan hums his agreement.
"But every third year it has soybeans. It's about preserving the land, the soil. For too long people just took from it. When that happens, the earth can't give the size of crops needed. With the stuff Kevin learned, he and Dad have multiplied their yield. Dad has the experience and Kevin understands not only the science, but also more of the business: weather cycles, when to sell, when to store. It's all rather complicated."
Letting go of my hand, Duncan wraps his arm around my shoulder and pulls me to his side. "You, Miss Jones, amaze me."
I laugh, enjoying the warmth of his embrace and the way I fit against him. "I impress you because I know a little bit about how to grow corn and soybeans?"
"So much more than that. You’re loyal to a fault. Even after the jabs Kevin has made at you, you’re touting his attributes. I’m also impressed because you’re full of knowledge. I've seen you in action at Buchanan and Willis. I've seen the reports and know how you work with the different departments to increase productivity. I've sat through meetings where you've fired people twice your age and not hesitated or backed down once. What I hadn't seen, until this weekend, is the woman who blushes at her grandma's jokes, protects her older brother, and cares about her cousin enough to walk into a gentlemen's club to be sure that no one gets hurt."
"I wasn't too worried about Jimmy."
"Maybe you should be," Duncan says. "I don't know him, but I know an unhappy person when I see him, and he's not loving life right now."
A heaviness crushes my chest as I scrunch my nose. "Wow, I guess I didn't realize how bad it was. I do care about my cousins. We all grew up together. I know that now they think I'm strange, but we used to be close. I say things about Scarlett being perfect, because it's annoying as hell. But...I want them all to be happy. Sheila is the oldest of us four girls. She had her life all planned out, but her plans have had detours. Jillian and I are the two misfits."
Duncan lifts my chin until his green eyes are all I see. "You, Miss Jones, are not a misfit. You are, however, wrong."
"I am?" I question. "I thought you just said I was smart."
"I said you're knowledgeable. You're also smart, beautiful, kind, and loving, and in no way are you a misfit or any less than Scarlett. Don't get me wrong: I can appreciate a pretty woman when I see one. Your cousin is pretty. From what little bit I've talked to her, she seems nice and extremely in love with Kurt, but if she walked into my office, I could admire her and forget her." He kisses my nose. "June, three years ago, a stunning woman walked into my office. She hasn't left my thoughts since."
Before I can remind us both that this is only pretend, Duncan's lips cover mine, swallowing my reply. Without thought, my body melts against him. The way my breasts press against his hard chest reminds me of the promise he made earlier. When our kiss ends, I tug him toward the steps.
Still outside, I remember his question and say, "Susan does talk. Tonight, while we were out, just the girls, she was talking and laughing with everyone. You met my other cousin, Jillian. She lives in Illinois. The two of us are the misfits, whether you see it or not."
"Why?"
"Well, for one, after tomorrow we'll be the only ones not married."
Duncan laughs. "Or without 2.5 children."
I shrug. "Or a dog."
He leans in and brushes his lips over mine. "I can't help you with any of those things, but I can help you with something else."
"What is that?"
"Remember that little problem I promised to rectify? Let's go upstairs and I'll prove to you that I'm a man of my word."
For the first time that I can recall, I have a desire for what Duncan can't or doesn't want to help me with, the whole deal, more than just plus-one—marriage, children, and dog. However, the way my insides pinch at his reminder, I also want what he's offering me upstairs.
Quietly we make our way to my room.
Chapter Sixteen
Duncan
”So tell me about my granddaughter."
Helen’s question takes me by surprise.
I move my focus from the sun-drenched fields to Helen's serious expression. The two of us are sitting in wooden rocking chairs on the wide porch. Kimbra, Susan, and Judy are all in the kitchen. I offered to help with the breakfast dishes, but Judy pushed Helen and me out the door into the warm morning air.
Kevin and Oscar are doing something on the farm. Their parting comment was about how there's no such thing as a day off. Generally, I'd agree. However, this weekend is different.
Of course, I haven’t been totally without contact. I've been in communication with Jorge and Mike. Via texts and emails, I'm up to date on everything happening in New York and at our satellite locations. After Kimbra's interesting proposal and before we left, I told Mike everything.
He wasn't pleased with what I'd done, or almost done, in the bathroom; nevertheless, he was cautiously optimistic about my deal with Kimbra. We both laughed that she would truly think she's blackmailing me into being her plus-one. If there is anyone who knows me, it is Michael Buchanan, and he and I both know that I wouldn't be here if I didn't want to be.