Rodeo rebel, p.12
Rodeo Rebel, page 12
Only now, she had Gavin’s strong arms to anchor her, his hands roving everywhere, arousing every inch of her with his touch. The sensations he stirred felt so good, so dizzying and sweet, that her legs trembled beneath her.
“I haven’t stopped thinking about you since that night at the bar,” she confided, her hands picking up where they’d left off outside, gliding along his abs just beneath the hem of his T-shirt.
“I haven’t quit thinking of you since that kiss in the garden.” His voice was a low growl in her ear as he captured her wandering hands in his. “Which means I’ve had plenty of sleepless nights to consider just how I want to do this.”
A shiver vibrated through her at the sensual promise inherent in those words. Or maybe it was from the way his fingers gently restrained her wrists.
“A man with a plan,” she mused, unable to keep herself from canting closer, stepping between his thighs so their legs brushed. Her belly grazed the impressive length of his erection on the other side of his zipper, the contact making her blood sizzle. “Care to share?”
“Since I only have the promise of one date with you, one night, I can’t rush. I won’t hurry. Not when I need you to remember this for a long, long time afterward.”
Her knees turned liquid as they faltered beneath her.
Not just from the rush of pure longing for whatever he had in store for her. But also from the jolt of a sudden fear that once would never be enough to satiate everything she wanted from him.
For a moment, she wondered if she should renegotiate terms. Suggest they not worry about a time limit for this. But she’d only made up her mind to enjoy the connection. Seeing him again this way in the future would make it more difficult to tell where the fun ended and a relationship began.
Something she wasn’t ready for.
“But I want you,” she told him simply. Honestly. “It’s not rushing if we spend all night indulging each other. And we could start right here.” Glancing around to get her bearings, she saw they were mere steps away from a sunken living area. Leather couches rested at angles to one another, positioned to take in the best views. “On the sofa.”
“I want you too.” He hooked a finger in the waistband of her jeans, tugging lightly. Making the denim move against her in a maddening caress when she craved his hands. His mouth. “But if we start tearing one another’s clothes off on that couch, I’m going to forget all about my good intentions for you. And I refuse to lose focus.”
She might have replied, but he chose that moment to slide his fingers along the front of the waistband to the snap of her jeans. Flicking it open, he lowered it slowly, his knuckles grazing her in ways that made her waver on her feet.
“Ooohh.” She couldn’t possibly articulate an answer when his brown eyes seared hers so that she couldn’t look away. “Gavin.”
His deliberate touches torched her thoughts along with her argument, until all she wanted was to put herself in his hands. See where this night would take them.
His forehead tipped to hers, the warmth of his skin stirring her, along with the flat of his palm where he laid it over the black lace of her underwear.
“Will you come with me to the bedroom?” He whispered the question lightly through her hair, just above one ear. “Let me undress you and take my time pleasuring you.”
Another shiver tripped down her spine. She’d wanted this. To quit trying to please everyone else all the time and embrace life. Experience. Joy.
“Yes, please.” Her words were a rasp of air along her dry throat. “But, Gavin, it can’t all be about me. I want you to feel good too.”
“Every single thing about this is going to make me feel good,” he promised, his brown eyes serious as he took her hand and drew her toward the back of the luxury cabin.
Anticipation sending her heart slugging against her rib cage, she followed him along the gray-stone floor through the sleek chef’s kitchen, the dark quartz countertops and light wood cabinets mimicking the colors outside the tall windows, where daylight was quickly fading. A bowl of clear blue stones decorated a natural-slab dining table.
Every moment’s delay, every second making her way through the large vacation home, had her aching for more. Wishing they’d stopped at the sofa after all.
Then, beyond the kitchen lay a main floor suite, its open double doors beckoning them toward a king-size bed that dominated the room. A stone fireplace took up one wall, while two sets of French doors with lake views filled a whole other side of the room. Here, too, the view was stunning, the lake still visible in the violet dusk. But as soon as they crossed the threshold, Gavin pressed a button on a wall remote to shutter the doors, blinds in the glass blocking views in or out.
Sealing the two of them into their own private haven.
With the press of another button, flames lit the gas fireplace, the orange blaze flickering to life to cast a moody glow over the gray-and-white quilt.
Anticipation sparked along with it, especially as she watched Gavin shrug out of his flannel shirt. Then he reached for the hem of his tee and raked that up and off his body, revealing a male physique so mouthwatering she remembered why he’d been a Men of Rodeo calendar staple every year he was on the bull-riding circuit.
But when she reached to touch him, he captured her hands. Kissed the knuckles.
“Now you,” he prompted her, guiding her hands back down to her sides. “I’m dying to see more of you, Lauryn.”
Was he? The idea tantalized her as he lowered the zipper on her black quilted jacket, peeling it off and tossing it on a leather ottoman nearby. Then, returning his gaze to her, he slid his hands beneath the long-sleeved shirt she’d wore, bunching it higher. Higher. Lifting it over her head to join the jacket.
This time, his eyes never wavered from her body, still clad in a black lace bra that matched the underwear now visible through the open zipper of her jeans where he’d touched her earlier. She didn’t own much lace, and she hadn’t worn this set before. But the effort she’d made was well worth it as his focus narrowed to her breasts, his pupils so wide she could only see a hint of the brown iris ring before his head bent to kiss her through the lace bra cup.
Back arching, she fed herself to him shamelessly, needing more. Aching everywhere. His arms banded around her, her hips meeting his and teasing forth another ache, hot and urgent.
She twisted against him, pleading without words. He only answered by switching to her other breast, kissing and licking at her through the lace of her bra until she shrugged and wriggled her shoulders free of the straps. She didn’t want him looking too closely at the back of her shoulder anyway, where a network of old scars lingered. The dim room and her hair kept them hidden for now.
“You’re so beautiful,” he said against her skin as he unfastened the hooks at her back. “Everything about you makes me want you more.”
When he’d freed her from the bra cups, the lace fell free, exposing taut pink nipples damp from his kisses.
“I like looking at you too,” she reminded him, hooking her fingers in the waist of his jeans. “It’s only fair.”
The hot skin of his abs twitched under her touch, and she had to fight the urge to stroke him through his jeans. Now that she’d made the decision to embrace this time with him, she found it hard to go slow. Especially with her heart drumming triple time and Gavin’s sensual attention making all her nerve endings prickle with awareness.
“You first,” he reminded her as his hands slid into the gap in her open jeans. “Remember? That’s going to be my mantra tonight. Lauryn goes first.”
He cupped her hips in his broad palms, igniting more shivers as he worked her jeans down her legs. When they stalled at her boots, he bent to remove first one and then the other.
She balanced herself with one hand splayed on his broad, naked back, marveling at the fact that this was happening. She was going to be with Gavin Kingsley.
And he wanted her to go first.
By the time her jeans came off, leaving her in nothing but her panties, she trembled everywhere.
Straightening, Gavin’s eyes were molten until he noticed the way she shook.
“Hey.” His hand cupped her cheek as he pulled her against him. “Is everything okay?”
“More than okay.” She nodded fast. “I’m just...so ready. I haven’t done this in so long and—”
He kissed her again, quieting the words that were awkward for her. Only when she forgot what she’d been saying did he pause enough to speak against her lips. “I didn’t know. Let me take care of you.”
She wanted to tell him that he didn’t need to worry about it. That orgasms weren’t a big deal for her and it would only stress her out to put too much emphasis on having one since hers were about as common as unicorn sightings.
Especially when she was with a partner.
But then he was kissing her again. Lifting her against him to carry her toward the bed. She wrapped her arms around his neck. And with his body rubbing against hers as he walked...she lost herself in the way he made her feel.
Aching. Hungry.
Wet.
When he lowered her to the mattress, she kept her hold on him, liking the way his stubble—a few days’ growth, at least, shadowed his jaw—raked lightly over her skin. She arched into him as he lay over her, wanting more contact.
Instead, his heavy thigh pinned hers, leaving himself room to touch her through her panties. Circling. Rubbing.
Stars lit up behind her eyelids, it felt so good. So exactly right. And when he slid aside the damp lace to touch her slick heat, she felt waves of pleasure like an electric shock.
This man wasn’t guessing or fumbling. He knew exactly where she needed his touch.
Her face heated. Her whole body heated as Gavin crooned in her ear, telling her how beautiful she was. How sexy. How much he wanted her. How very much he enjoyed watching her.
And a moment later, her potential release twisted and coiled, tightening her to the breaking point. Her breath caught. Held. Then, unbelievably, the release just...unleashed.
Pleasure flooded through her hard and fast. Over and over.
Her body undulated against his hand as he wrung every last ounce of her orgasm from her body.
Breathless, panting, she wanted to tell him what a miracle that had been for her. But when she opened her eyes, she saw the desire in his. The need. Sweat popped along his brow. Tendons stood out at his neck as he reached for a condom from somewhere. His jeans, maybe.
He left the condom on the mattress beside her while he raked his jeans off. She swallowed hard to catch her breath, wanting with her whole being to make him feel as good as he’d made her feel.
“It’s your turn,” she reminded him, reaching down to wriggle out of her panties.
His teeth were already on the condom packet.
A moment later, he had it rolled into place.
When he nudged his way inside her—inch by inch, to let her adjust to him—she wanted to weep from the pleasure. Everything about being with him felt so good. So right.
She knew part of that was from the hormones and the orgasm. But, oh God, having him inside her was amazing.
Once he was seated fully, she tilted her hips. His gasp thrilled her. So she did it again. And again. Soon, they moved together in sync, driving each other higher.
Rolling over to take turns being in control. At some point, he felt the scars on her shoulder and went still. He looked questioningly at her, but she placed a finger over his lips, silently asking him to leave it for now.
She wanted this night to be about pleasure. Living to the fullest.
Only when her legs were aching pleasantly did he flip her to her back again, his lips sucking at her neck. Gently biting. Sensation tripped down her spine as he held there, his movements faster. More intent.
When she wrapped her legs around his waist, he reached between her legs to touch her the way he had earlier, his fingers sure as he stroked her again. Coaxing her body once more into that trick that no other man had managed.
“Gavin.” She wanted to tell him it couldn’t happen again.
Except the first waves of it were already stealing her breath. Her body clamped around his. Tight. Tighter. And then he was shouting her name while she thrummed with her own release, his body following hers into that blissful oblivion.
His chest heaved against hers. Her pulse hammered in her ears, the aftermath making her skin tingle and buzz. For long moments, she just lay there beneath him. Overwhelmed by her senses and the magic that had just happened.
She didn’t think that was overstating it either. No one had ever wrung so much pleasure from her body before. Herself included.
A dozen slugging heartbeats later, Gavin rolled away from her, kissing her on the temple before he stood to clean up. Which gave her a little time to watch him as he moved around the bedroom, his bare skin bronzed in the firelight.
Her mouth went dry just looking at him. Thinking about what had happened between them tonight. What did it mean? What came next?
Questions—worries—piled up in her brain, one after another. She had no exit strategy for this. No clue how to “be” when he returned to bed. She’d spent so much time this week imagining what it would be like to live a little, but she hadn’t really plotted out what would come afterward.
Her heart beat harder as he returned to her, holding a glass of water in one hand for her.
She melted a little more inside, her defenses nowhere in sight. Tomorrow, she would worry about how to be. He knew it was temporary, after all, and he’d done this kind of thing before, hadn’t he? She’d just follow his lead.
For tonight, she had hours and hours in front of her to make the most of her one night with Gavin.
Eleven
Gavin cracked open one eye at a sound in the kitchen. The electronic beep of a coffeepot, maybe. He could smell the scent of java in the air.
It took a moment to orient himself since the sun hadn’t yet risen after his night with Lauryn at the mountain-house retreat. Dark hung heavy in the bedroom suite. He’d shut off the gas fireplace at some point, so he couldn’t see much now. Still, the cold half of the bed told him that Lauryn was no longer beside him. Her scent still clung to the sheets.
Memories from their evening together bombarded him. After that first time making love on the bed, they’d devoured the offerings delivered by a local catering company. The champagne and caprese salads were easy enough to open and serve themselves, but they’d decided to steam the king crab legs. They’d worked side by side in the kitchen, him preparing the shellfish while she warmed up the side dishes. Then they’d spread a blanket on the living floor to eat a picnic in front of the fireplace.
Only to shower together and repeat all the fun of their first time together and more.
Which made him wonder where she’d found the energy to be up at this hour. They’d been awake half the night exploring all the ways they could give and take pleasure from each other.
Now, after peeling off the covers and tugging on his jeans, Gavin brushed his teeth before following the scent of coffee into the kitchen of the three-story cabin. He saw her by the light over the range, her pretty face illuminated in profile as she lifted a steaming cup of coffee to her lips.
Was she already second-guessing their time together? He feared that might happen, especially when they hadn’t discussed anything before they’d launched into one another’s arms. He understood Lauryn wasn’t the kind of woman to enter into a physical relationship lightly. He’d heard she’d dated in college, but there hadn’t been anyone in her life in Silent Spring—serious or otherwise—as far as he knew.
And the rumor mill in a small town was relentless, so if there’d been other men locally, he would have heard something.
He dragged a counter stool toward him to take a seat, alerting her to his presence. “You’re awake early.”
A thin smile curved her lips briefly. “Sorry if I woke you. I was having trouble sleeping.”
“It seems too early for morning-after regrets,” he observed lightly, trying to get a read on her. “At least, I hope it is.”
She was shaking her head before he even finished speaking. “Nothing like that.” Taking a step toward him, she halted again. “Do you want a cup of coffee?”
“No thanks, I’m good.” He pulled out the stool beside him so she could take a seat on the gray leather chair. “Is anything wrong?”
Rounding the island, she padded closer on bare feet. Her brown waves were gathered in a loose knot, secured by a pencil. She wore the jeans and long-sleeved black shirt from the day before.
“I’ve been rehashing an argument I had with my dad last week before I saw you at the Stockyard.” Sliding into the seat beside him, her arm brushed against his, calling to mind all the ways they’d touched the night before.
Even after acting out their feelings for one another over and over again, just that graze of her body still stirred arousal. Sharp. Fierce.
“You had a disagreement with the sheriff?”
She raised a brow, giving him the side-eye. “You say that like my father is an easy person to get along with.”
“Sorry. I just meant that it seems as if the two of you have such a solid relationship. He’s so protective of you. He obviously loves you a great deal.”
Lauryn fitted her fingers around her mug, as if trying to absorb as much warmth from the steaming cup as possible. “Thank you. It’s good for me to remember that being overprotective is his way of showing love.”
“Then why the argument?” he prompted, genuinely curious about her.
He didn’t know when he’d stopped trying to pry free information about his own father from her, but he acknowledged to himself that Lauryn didn’t seem like she’d had any kind of vendetta against him. No reason to share negative stories about him to his father in the years they’d worked together. The woman he’d come to know wouldn’t have done something like that.
