Page 72 of Just One Spark

I had Hattie right where I always wanted her, riding my dick in my bathhouse.It might not have been in my actual fantasies when I thought of her, but that was only because I hadn't even thought of it.This was so far beyond what I ever thought I'd get with her.

I was the luckiest man in the world when she agreed to be my fake fiancée.I had a feeling convincing her to be my real girlfriend was going to be a whole lot harder.

She didn't trust easily, and she thought this whole thing was a sham.That was the hard part.How could she think that when my heart was bursting open, and I couldn't think of anything else but her?

She was it for me, a strong and independent woman.She loved fiercely, and she'd been through so much.I admired how tough she was on the outside and a total softy on the inside.

I'd tell her when the time was right.When I gave her that heart charm at the grand opening.Then she'd know how much I loved her.How I couldn't live without her.

I held her to me, telling her how I felt without words.How much I wanted to be with her.How I wasn't ready to let her go.

She gripped my shoulders, lifting herself up and then sinking down.I let her control the pace, mainly because my brain was all jumbled with emotion and pleasure.I felt out of control.

She dropped her mouth to mine, and I focused on kissing her.I reached around her back and tugged on the string.The top pulled away, and I cupped her breasts, rubbing my thumbs over her nipples.

She moaned into my mouth, and I continued to shower her breasts with attention.She moved faster, chasing her release now.My hand drifted lower, seeking her clit.When I found it, I circled the swollen nub, and she cried out, her body trembling from her orgasm.

I held her to me, thrusting from underneath.I hoped she felt the same way.How could she not?We'd lived together as a real couple for weeks.We'd explored each other's bodies and talked about our lives.Sharing our hopes and dreams.We were a real couple.

The only thing that wasn't real was the engagement itself.But that's what I wanted.A life with her.If only she was on the same page as me.

22

Hattie

Christmas night was magical.After we had sex in the hot tub, Rowan had held me while we gazed at the stars.Eventually, he'd got out a new brew he'd been working on, and we sampled that.

It was nice to not worry about work and just spend time together.

The next morning, the magic disappeared, and he was back at the brewery meeting with Beck about something.

I wanted Rowan to take a step back and enjoy this moment.View it as a celebration of everything he'd built.But he was too caught up in the idea that one mistake could cost him the business.

A desperate need to be perfect was driving him, and I was fairly sure that was going to backfire.

The week between Christmas and New Year's was busy for my hot-chocolate truck.People wanted to get in all the holiday things before the season was officially over.The light trail was open all week, so I moved my truck from the town square to the entrance to the trail.

Most visitors stopped for a drink before they entered the trail.It was great for business and kept me busy.

When there was a lull in customers, Jovie asked, "What's going on with you and Rowan?"

I thought about the bath we'd shared the other night, and my heart fluttered at the memory."It's good."

She poured herself a hot chocolate."I have to say that whenever he stops by, your relationship feels very real."

"I mean, I guess it is to an extent.We spend time together.We exchanged gifts for Christmas.But it's purely physical.We're forced to be together because of the engagement and our living arrangements.But after the opening, we'll officially break up, and I'll move home."There.I said it and made it sound easy.

Her forehead wrinkled."Is the work on your apartment done?"

"I just got the notice today."Tomorrow was the brewery's grand opening, so I figured I'd move home right after that."The publicity from the brewery will be over, and I can get back to my life."

Jovie considered me."Is that what you want?"

I scoffed."I was just living temporarily with Rowan, and it wasn't part of our original deal."

Her nose scrunched."You hate that apartment."

The thought of moving back there made me feel slightly ill.It wasn't particularly nice, and it bothered me that Rowan thought it was unsafe.The fact that he'd seen where I lived made it seem even worse than it had before."It's a place to live while I build my business."