Tank cleanly nipped each piece. When he was done, Colt said, “I’ll be right in.” Then he steered Tank away from the cabin and over to the small barn. He hadn’t missed the flash of anger in Avery’s gaze.
Colt didn’t waste time stabling Tank. He left his saddle and blanket on him, gave him some water and grain, then left him there to go deal with Avery.
A heaviness pervaded his being, and squeezed his chest, and he prayed that they would come to some agreement without angry barbs. Colt stepped inside the cabin in a cautious fashion, unsure of what he might find.
It sure as hell wasn’t Avery walking into his arms and latching her mouth onto his. He held still for a moment, fighting against the incessant waves of desire as they battered against his control. But then her tongue teased the seam of his lips, and he groaned. He palmed her cheeks, holding her steady as she eviscerated the last remaining shards of his composure.
With a curse, he yanked her into his arms. One more time, he just needed one more time with the wild, thrilling rush of having her in his arms.
She vaulted up, wrapping her legs around his waist. His hands moved to cup her sweet ass, and he knew that wild horses couldn’t drag him away. He walked a few steps with her until he reached the kitchen table. Setting her on the table’s ledge, he stroked over her slim shoulders, past the swell of her breasts to the hem of her shirt.
He needed her naked, needed to feel her sweet heat clenching around him.
She purred into his mouth when his hands teased her nipples through the material of her bra as he drew her shirt up. Colt tore his mouth off hers and tugged the tank the rest of the way off. Her hands unbuttoned his gray and white flannel, shoving the material out of her way. Taking her mouth once more, he groaned at the feel of her naked breasts after he removed her bra. The sensitive nipples were hard points against his palms as he kneaded the firm mounds.
Hands raced over exposed flesh. But it still wasn’t enough. She undid his buckle and drew his jeans zipper down, then reached inside the waistband of his boxers. The hot vise of her delicate fingers slid around his dick.
On a groan as she squeezed and stroked him, he almost ripped her jeans and panties from her form, until she was naked and bare in his arms. Avery shoved his boxers and jeans down with his help, fitting his erection against her opening. With her mouth moving against his, he plunged his tongue inside just as he thrust into her pussy.
A gale force of need roared within them, picking them up as they came together with startling intensity. This wasn’t the gentle lovemaking and light touches experienced over the weekend. It was a savage conflict as they clashed together, full of pain and pleasure, as if by the very nature of their relationship, deep down they knew from their first coming together that the last time would be an all-out brawl. Both combatants laid bare before the other, the pleasure bittersweet and almost violent in its strength.
He thrust wildly, trying to imprint himself on her in some way, needing to feel her surrender. But even that would be denied him as his balls drew taut. Avery exploded in his arms, her body racked with tremors as she came. Her pussy spasmed around his thrusting cock, and her climax hurtled his body over the ledge.
Colt tossed his head back, straining as he plunged, bellowing in ecstasy as he came. His seed jettisoned into her quivering channel in hot waves of elation so profound, he had to lock his knees to keep them from buckling from the sheer cataclysmic force.
He buried his face in the crook of her neck and held her close. She was wrapped around him and he was still embedded in her sweet heat. Avery pressed a kiss against his neck and whispered, “I love you, Colt.”
He stiffened. Like he’d been dowsed with a bucket of ice water, the haze of sexual satisfaction evaporated.
Rage rose up and damn near choked him with its wrath. Disentangling himself from her arms and body, he stepped back and glared at her. “That’s rather convenient timing, don’t you think?”
“What are you talking about? Because I love you, you think it’s convenient? How, because I said it out loud? You’re not making any sense.” She reached for him.
Be he backed away, yanked his boxers and jeans back into place and snapped, “Just stop with this whole love deal—you don’t even know me, you can’t possibly love me.”
She jumped down off the table looking like Lady Godiva in her naked glory and paced after him. “I think I know myself very well. I know my own heart. I’m sorry if my feelings scare you. That wasn’t my intention, but I won’t apologize for the way I feel about you.”
He buttoned up his shirt and snarled, “They don’t scare me. I just don’t believe you mean them, given the timing is rather suspect. Now that you know I own the ranch and have a nice fat bank account.”
She appeared taken aback by his statement. “You can’t honestly believe I care about that. That I would tell you I love you because I know you have money. I’ve known that I was in love with you for days.”
He shrugged even as his heart bled. He wanted to believe her. “Money always matters, it always changes things.”
“Not for me, Colt. I have never once lied to you. I have been honest with you from the beginning, which is more than I can say for you. And I suppose this means I can put you down for a no for Bermuda then, or was it always no and you just told me what I wanted to hear?”
He snorted. “Just because you can go flitting about without responsibilities, doesn’t mean I can. Most adults have obligations that keep them tethered. You’re so scatterbrained that it’s not like I can take you seriously.”
She jerked back like he’d struck her. Hurt bloomed in her eyes and she wrapped her arms defensively around her body. “I see. I think we finally understand one another, Colt. I’m going into the bathroom. I would appreciate it if you’re gone by the time I come out.”
“Avery,” he said as the guilt ate away at him.
She held up a hand and leveled him with a glare. “You know, for all your bluster about being a Dom in control of your universe, you’re fucking terrified to truly experience life and the world. You think by cutting yourself off, it makes you strong and impervious to harm. When all it really does is prove that you’re a fucking coward. Just get out.”
She stormed off and slammed the bathroom door behind her. He heard the audible click of the lock, and the sound of water rushing.
Colt picked his hat up off the floor when what he really wanted to do was go to her and apologize for everything he had just said. He’d been vicious and cruel. In all her time here, she had never shut him out. The slamming and locking of that door had been like a bomb detonating in his chest.
He staggered out the front door and to the barn. Even Tank appeared pissed at him, and bit his shoulder when he opened the stall door.
“Cut it out, wise guy.” He led Tank out of the barn and made sure the door was closed before he mounted him. With a kick of his heels, they rode off. At the ridge, he turned and looked at the cabin, at the telescopes and tent erected outside, wishing he could touch the woman inside. That her words of love were true.
Because he loved her with every last breath in his body, but he couldn’t trust that love. So he turned from it and from her, riding back the way he came. But instead of finding the clarity he’d sought, he was more confused and bereft than before.