Rory: Hope City, Book 7 by Maryann Jordan (uplifting books for women txt) 📕

across the table. Her hand had reached out to rest across Ted’s forearm, and Rory could see that her fingers were squeezing as well. Her face mirrored Sandy’s, and she said, “I think that was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever heard. Don’t you think so, Ted?”

He swung his gaze back to Ted, uncertain that the wealthy businessman would admit that another man’s honest proclamation about his family would be the most beautiful thing he’d heard. Ted’s face was unreadable, and Rory felt a trickle of unease that perhaps his burst of family description had been the right thing to do.

Then, slowly, Ted smiled. Tentative at first, then wider. And Rory watched as Sandy’s father offered a crooked smile, and he chuckled in return. It seems Sandy gained more from her father than just business acumen.

They made their way into the comfortable family room, where the atmosphere—as well as the conversations—were much more casual. Sandy was snuggled next to him on the sofa, and after a while, he noticed she continued to yawn. Giving her a squeeze, he turned to Martha and Ted. “I hate to end the evening, but I think it’s time I took her home.”

Martha retrieved their coats, then she and Sandy stood near the front door, heads bent together chatting.

He shook Ted’s hand. “Thanks for a nice evening.”

Ted’s handshake was firm but congenial. “I can see my daughter is happy. She talks about you in glowing terms, and I can see why.”

“Thank you, sir. That means a lot to me.”

Sandy walked over and he wrapped his arm around her shoulders, tucking her into his side as they said their last goodbyes.

22

With her head tilted back to the ceiling, Sandy felt the ends of her long hair tickle her lower back near where Rory’s hands were squeezing her ass. Lifting and plunging, she bit her lip as she rode him. The covers were a tangle on the bed, and Ocee had been unceremoniously shut out of the bedroom. Their clothes were tossed onto the floor in puddles.

Her inner muscles gripped his cock, and she dropped her chin, pinning him with her heated look. He shifted his hands to her breasts, tweaking her nipples. When her release hit, her fingers dug into the thick muscles of his shoulders. Crying out his name, her body shook with the explosion of tremors that rocked from their physical connection deep inside her core to her extremities.

He followed immediately after, his fingers almost bruising as they moved back to her ass, digging into the flesh. His head pressed against the pillow, his teeth clenched, and he groaned out his release, his pulsing cock emptying deep inside her core.

She flopped boneless onto his chest, grinning as a grunt left his lungs. “Death by electrocution.”

“What?”

Lifting her head, she smiled down at him. “Didn’t you feel it? The electricity that was firing all over my body.”

He chuckled, causing her body to move along with his. “I admit I saw stars behind my eyelids. Never thought about electrocution, though. What a way to go.”

As their mirth slowed, she dragged her finger along his stubble, tracing the planes of his face. Strong jaw. Kissable mouth. Straight nose. Blue eyes. Her finger moved over his lips before she settled her mouth over his again. She mumbled, “I think I could kiss you all day.”

“Good by me.” As soon as his mumbled response was out, he placed one hand on the back of her head and took the kiss deeper. Long strokes with his tongue caused her to squirm, the tingling in her core increasing again.

Finally, they separated, and he sighed. “Hate to move, but I’ve got to deal with the condom.”

Nodding, she rolled off him and stayed snuggled under the covers until he returned. He slid back into bed and curled her into him. With her head resting on his chest, she hesitated for a moment then spoke tentatively. “So, was my family dinner a lot different than yours?” He chuckled, and she loved not only the sound but the feel of his body shaking with laughter.

“You know my family. Large. Loud. Loving. Throw in the Kings next door, and it was even more large, loud, and loving.”

“That sounds nice.” She heard the wistfulness in her voice.

“Yeah, it was. But that didn’t mean it was always easy. Especially for the youngest son.”

She lifted her head and held his gaze, wanting to know more. “Tell me.” He hesitated and she encouraged, “I want to know all about you, Rory. Everything.” He shifted slightly, and she settled with her hand on his chest, giving him time to consider his thoughts.

“I remember the first night I met you when Harper made a comment about Sean. He was and is the quintessential oldest brother. In many ways, he’s the most like Dad. Responsible. He was a great athlete in school, but also in the math honor society. Smart. Tenacious. And I think he knew from the time he was born he wanted to be in law enforcement. Kyle? He was always a bit of a wildcard. He was the one who’d buck Mom and Dad’s rules just to see what he could get away with. Just as athletic and smart as Sean, he liked going his own way, and I think Mom lit many candles in church praying that he wouldn’t end up on the other side of the law. I can’t imagine how many Hail Marys she said when he decided to join the police force.”

That image caused her to laugh, and she squeezed his waist, soaking up all the information about his family.

“Me? I was easygoing but always wanted to go my own way. Dad was an investigator for the FBI. Sean and Kyle were in the military police and then came back to become detectives.” Shrugging, he said, “I can’t explain it, but I didn’t want to join the police force. I like the idea of being in the medical field, but I had no desire to become