Broken Beginnings: A High Heat Small Town Romance Suspense (Citrus Cove Book 1)

I DECIDED that despite everything happening, if I didn’t whisk Haley off for the picnic I’d been promising her, it would never happen.

It had been a couple of days since the text message from her stalker. Nothing else happened since then, and it almost gave me a false sense of security. A hope that maybe he’d decided to move on.

Even if he hadn’t moved on, we couldn’t let our world simply stop. We had to keep living.

My foot eased on the brakes as I pulled up to Haley’s house, eyeing her red Corvette in the driveway next to Honey’s old beat-up truck. I smiled, glancing at the picnic basket in the back seat before sliding out and going to the front door.

I knocked and waited.

After a few moments, the door opened, and I was met with her grandmother.

“Mrs. Hamilton,” I greeted.

She narrowed her crystal-blue eyes. I suddenly felt like a kid again, ready to be scolded. “You know you can call me Honey, Cameron Harlow. I’m assuming you’re here for my granddaughter and not me.”

“I could be here for you too,” I said. “I can arrange a nice date for the two of us. Wine and a steak dinner.”

She laughed, stepping to the side. “I’ve got Mr. Johnson for that. Didn’t you hear?”

Yep. Haley told me all about her grandmother dating Mr. Johnson. “I may have heard a thing or two…”

She snorted. “Come on in, Cam.”

I stepped inside. I’d always loved Honey’s house. It reminded me of my own grandmother.

“This is a surprise.” Haley’s voice drew my gaze to the top of the staircase. She cocked her head. “I thought you said we were meeting up tonight.”

“Well,” I said, “if you’re free, I’d like to steal you for our picnic.”

Honey chuckled. “He offered to take me on a date. I think he’s a keeper, Haley.”

She grinned at her grandmother. “I think he is too.”

“You kids have fun.” She left us alone, heading toward the back porch.

Haley broke out into a broad smile and came down the steps. I met her on the bottom one, unable to stop myself from bringing her into a kiss. She was freshly showered, her curls damp. Her arms wrapped around my neck, her touch going straight to my cock.

We both pulled back, a soft curse leaving me. I wished that she lived with me because then I’d be able to take her upstairs and taste her before our date.

“Are you sure going out is okay?” she whispered.

I cupped her face. “Yes. No one will find us where I’m taking us, and we can’t hide, sunshine. Part of me hopes that the bastard has moved on.”

“I wish,” she sighed. “I really wish. But you’re right. We can’t simply sit around and wait.”

“I’ve been promising you a picnic for a week now,” I said. “We’ll be safe. And I’ll finally get to spoil you some…”

She kissed me again, chuckling. “You do like that, don’t you?”

“More than you know. If I could buy you the moon, I would.”

“What if I don’t want the moon?”

“Then the stars,” I said. “Or whatever you desire.”

“What if I just want you?”

“You’ve got me.”

She pressed her forehead to mine. “Let me get dressed,” she whispered, her cheeks blushing. “I’ll be back in a few, and then we can go.”

“Perfect.”

* * *

The drive out to my parents’ place went by fast. I’d told them not to disturb us because I didn’t want her to be overwhelmed with pleasantries and nosy questions, but I could still see my mom’s face in the window as she stole a glance at us.

I was honestly impressed that she was giving us privacy. But she also knew everything that was going on.

Haley grinned at me as we got out of the truck, the picnic basket and blanket secure in my arms.

“Should we go say hi?” Haley asked.

“Nope.”

“Do you need help carrying anything?”

“Nope.”

“Where are we going?” she asked.Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.

“Just come with me, sunshine,” I chuckled.

She rolled her eyes but followed me. I led her back through my mother’s garden and then down a path to the vineyard.

“It’s not too far of a walk, but if it’s too much, I can always carry you,” I said.

I heard her snort. “I can walk by myself, Cam.”

A smile tugged my lips as I kept treading on. The rain had ushered in cooler weather, and even if it was brief, it was nice. A breeze ruffled us as the path led us on, winding through the rows of grapes until we came to the apple orchard.

I slowed, glancing over my shoulder at Haley. She was beautiful, wearing a pastel-yellow dress that gleamed in the dappled sunlight. She winked at me, and I felt lust curl through me, taunting me.

After another couple of minutes, we finally came to an open field with an oak tree at the center. It was massive, the branches winding up toward the blue sky. I huffed as I sat our basket beneath it, spreading the blanket over the dirt.

“Is this the famous oak tree?” Haley asked.

I took a step back and looked up at it. “Yes, it is,” I said proudly. “The Harlow family oak tree.”

From here, I could see the different carvings. Initials with hearts, our own ancestry carved into the wood of it. It had weathered storms, the hottest of summers, fires, and much more—just like ours.

“It’s amazing,” Haley said. “It’s even better than I imagined.”

I beamed, my heart beating a little faster.

I dreamed of us, one day, carving our names there.

Of her initials next to mine.

Haley’s arms suddenly circled around my waist, her face pressing against my back. I closed my eyes, her touch soothing me. We stood like that, soaking up each other’s presence, basking in being together.

I’d always wanted this.

I turned around, cupping her face. Gold eyeshadow glittered, drawing out the shades of brown in her eyes. The sun dried her curls, her cheeks rosy from the walk. I wanted to kiss every freckle that dusted across her nose.

“You are stunning,” I whispered. “I—” I cut myself off, the words almost tumbling out of my mouth. I love you. 

Her eyes widened. “Cam…” she whispered.

“I was just going to say that you’re so beautiful. I have no words.”

My recovery was lame, but she arched a brow and then smiled. She leaned up on her tiptoes, her mouth brushing against mine. “I have a hard time believing that the boy who gave me so much trouble growing up is the sweet-talking man in front of me right now.”

I ran my thumb over her cheek, humming. “I’ve learned a lot from being an idiot. Grown a lot.”

Her hands slid over my chest, drifting lower. “You have grown a lot.”

I swallowed hard, my cock hardening against her. She smirked, a wicked look in her eyes turning me on.

“I wanted to eat first,” I said. “And drink. I had it in my mind that I would romance you first and then devour you.”

“At your family oak tree?” she teased.

“Right in front of god and my ancestors.”

She laughed, her voice music to my ears. “Is that so?”

“Yes.” I drew in a deep breath and forced myself to take a step back. There were reasons why I wanted to have our picnic first. “That’s what we’re going to do.”

“You’re such a tease,” she rasped, shaking her head.

“I am,” I said, although it was just as cruel to me. My cock strained against my jeans, protesting at my decision for us to eat first. But it would be worth it.

I moved past her and knelt on the plaid blanket, opening up the basket. She kicked off her shoes and joined me, sitting next to me as I drew out bottles of wine, two glasses, and a plate of cheese and fruit with crackers.

“This is lovely,” she gasped. “You made all this?”

“I did,” I said. “When I first decided to open a tap house, I visited several in the area. I ended up taking some classes on what pairs nicely with what. I’m a fan of making boards like this.”

She reached into the basket, her eyes widening as she pulled out edible flowers and fresh bread.

“Oh my.” She bit her bottom lip as I took the items from her. “Bread is my weakness.”

“You and me both.”

“It looks fresh.”

“Mhmm. Picked it up from the bakery this morning. Fresh loaf of rosemary sourdough.”

“You’re the devil. And by devil, I mean angel. This is amazing, Cam.”

I chuckled as I spread everything out. It was lovely, just like her. Just like today. For once, everything had gone to plan.

“I’ll open the wine,” she said. She poured us two glasses. “I don’t know how you kept everything cold,” she chuckled.

“Magic and ice packs,” I said. “That is a plum wine. It’s refreshing and not as sweet as other fruit wines. It’s one of my favorites. I also brought a reserve bottle of my favorite cider and a bottle of white wine.”

And one of my plans was to lick it right off her body.

I scooted closer to her, lifting a bunch of grapes. She parted her soft lips, taking one into her mouth. I loved watching her; the intimacy of feeding her like this amazed me.

Her cheeks turned red as she swallowed. “This is…”

“A surprise?” I murmured. “There’s something… deliciously hedonistic about being fed while being pleasured. And that’s what I’d like to do to you.”

“I’d like that too,” she said.

Her pleasure brought me pleasure. I smiled as I lifted her glass of wine, offering her a sip. I tipped too far, and she made a noise of surprise as it dripped down her chin, streaming down to her breasts.

She swallowed and gasped as I licked it up.

“Oh. This is something I never knew I needed until now.” Her voice was filled with lust.

The neckline of her dress dipped down, her breasts pushing against the fabric. I pressed my face between them, biting her softly before drawing back.

“I’m so turned on right now,” she whispered. “You’re driving me crazy.”

“We’re just getting started,” I murmured.

I set the wineglass down, reaching for the grapes again and watching as she pulled one off, enjoying her blush. I chuckled as I leaned away, reaching for the cheese and bread.

“Drink your wine while I make these,” I said. “And open the others if you’d like.”

“I feel like a princess.”

“You are a princess.”

Her silence made me frown, so I looked up at her. Tears glistened in her eyes. I reached for her, cupping her face. “Well, this wasn’t how I wanted to make you cry.”

“It’s just really kind,” she whispered, sniffling. She blinked back tears and then laughed. “I don’t know how I can be this turned on and teary-eyed at the same time. It’s just that no one has ever done this sort of thing for me before.”

“Get used to it,” I murmured, stealing a kiss.

I spent the next couple of minutes making other snacks for us, slices of cheese on bread, strawberries, grapes, and other fruits spread out on a board I’d brought. She finished her wine and reached for the bottle of cider, uncorking it.

“How did you get into this?” she asked. “Is it just because of the farm, or…?”

“Well. I always wanted something that was my own,” I said. “And I love my family, truly, but I needed it to be something that was apart from them. It’s still connected, of course. But I just fell in love with it. I like the atmosphere of my place, seeing friends and loved ones come in and spend their time there. And then we get the tourists who are always surprised by the charm of Citrus Cove. It’s hard to find places now to live where people take care of their own, but I feel like we do here. And I wouldn’t trade that for anything else.” I cleared my throat, giving her an apologetic look. “Sorry, that was lengthy.”

“Don’t be. I love listening to you talk. Especially when it’s something you’re clearly passionate about.”

“I am,” I said. “It’s stressful sometimes. I work more than I should. But it fulfills me.”

She leaned against me, her head on my shoulder. “That’s how I feel about my articles. And traveling. I do love to travel—I don’t think anything will ever change that. But I think it’s mostly that I just love discovering those places that are hidden gems. When Katie and Anna told me they planned their honeymoon around places I recommended, that fulfilled me. That I helped them live their dreams with just my words.”

“You’re amazing,” I said, kissing the top of her head.

I felt the ache return. I would never stand in the way of what she loved. But perhaps there was a middle ground we could find, one that would make us both happy.

I wanted her to stay more than anything else in the world.

“I swore I would never come back here,” she whispered. “But lately, it has started to feel like home again.”

“That makes me happy,” I murmured.

“I’m sure,” she chuckled, leaning back to look up at me.

I was drawn into her all over again, and this time, I couldn’t resist. I slid my hand behind her neck, fisting her hair. Her breath hitched, her eyes fluttering.

“I thought the plan was to eat.”

“It was.” My grip tightened. I leaned down, my voice a soft growl in her ear. “But now, I think I’m going to drink our wine off your body and then fuck you so hard you beg me to stop.” Her breath hitched, her body pressing against me. “How does that sound, sunshine?”

“Please,” she whispered. Her gaze locked with mine, our lips almost touching. “Make me beg, Cameron.”

My fingers tightened. I felt a part of me, the part that I did my best to keep at bay, rise up—a primal hunger to take her. To fuck her, to make love to her in a way that could only happen with her.

“When you spanked me, I wished that your handprint would have stayed,” she whispered. “I wanted to wake up with your mark on me. To know that you used me. To remember how much pleasure you gave me. Is that wrong?”

“No,” I murmured, my cock now fully hard. I ran my hand down her body, cupping her breasts as I kissed her neck. “I want that too. I want every part of you. I want to hear you cry out my name and beg me to fuck you.”

She reached out, grabbing the bottle of wine. She held my gaze, her lips pulling into a wicked smile as she tipped it over herself, the drink running down her breasts, soaking into her dress.

“Another dress ruined,” she whispered.

“I’ll buy you another,” I promised.

“I was smart and packed another one in my bag.”

“That was smart.”

I shoved her back onto the blanket, moving on top of her. I parted her thighs with my knee, admiring her.

She gasped as I kissed her chest, licking up the wine. It was sweet on my tongue but not as sweet as the sound of her moans. I grunted and bit her nipple through her dress, biting down until she cried out.

“Oh, Cam,” she gasped.

I reached down between us and gripped the bodice of her dress, ripping. The fabric tore, her breasts spilling free. She moaned as I leaned down, licking up the trail of wine that ran all the way down her soft stomach.

“Fucking perfect,” I rasped.

She raised up for a moment and unclasped her bra. I pulled it free, immediately taking one of her nipples between my teeth. She cried out as I bit her, a growl leaving me as she arched against my body, her fingers gripping my hair.

I sucked the bite mark, moving to the other breast and doing the same. Biting and sucking, I slowly worked my way down to her pussy.

The noises she made were perfect. The soft gasps of surprise, the whimpers. I pulled the rest of her dress free, her lace panties all that was left.

“How come I’m almost naked, and you’re still dressed?”

“Because that’s how I want it right now,” I teased. “Turn over,” I rasped, my voice husky.

She obeyed me, turning over onto all fours. I moved closer and pushed her torso down, her ass up in the air.

“How do you feel about being spanked with a belt?”

Her body stiffened, but her breath hitched. She looked at me over her shoulder. “Are you going to spank me with your belt, cowboy?”

Fuck. The taunt went straight to my cock. I strained against my jeans, needing to fill her. To fuck her.

But not yet.

Patience was a virtue, and I was doing my best to be virtuous today.

“Is that a yes, sunshine?”

“Yes,” she said.

I chuckled and leaned back. I started to unbutton my shirt and tossed it to the side and then stood, unbuckling my belt and jeans. Her ass gleamed in the sunshine, the white lace bright against her skin.

I pulled the belt free, the sound of the buckle making her tense again. It turned me on.

All of my clothes ended up in a pile on the ground, my cock hard and ready. I placed the belt to the side of her as I knelt right behind her.

She moaned as I gripped her ass cheeks, giving them each a light tap. I reached down, tugging on her hair before letting go.

I slid my hand between her thighs, feeling how wet she was, even through the lace. I pulled it free and pushed her thighs further apart, admiring her gleaming pussy.

Soon, my cum would be dripping from her.

I kept her thighs spread and leaned down, running my tongue over her dripping cunt.

She gasped, the taste of her hitting my tongue, musky and sweet and what I wanted to drown myself in. I licked her, lapping at her until I drew back, rubbing her ass cheeks with my palm.

“Please,” she whimpered. “Please. I want more.”

“You’re so needy,” I said. “You really want me to spank and fuck you that bad?”

“Please. More than anything else.”

“Beg me.”

My words were met with a gasp. She looked back at me, her lips parting.

“Please. Please fuck me. Please spank me.”

I rubbed her ass cheeks, chuckling. “I think you can do better than that, my love.”

Her words were filled with a raw, aching need. “Cameron Harlow, I need you to fuck my pussy and breed me like I’m your own personal slut. I want you to spank me so that when I sit at Honey’s table in the morning, I know that ache is because of you. I need you to fuck me, Cam.”