“I’ve been thinking,” Trixie said.
“Should I be worried?”
She giggled. “No. I want to thank Tempe for helping me, and Jilly for guiding me with this outfit, and Travis for being patient while I looked at the horses. And I want to thank you for everything you’ve done for me.”
“The dining room table is right there.” He grabbed her ass. “Ready and waiting for you to thank me properly.”
Her eyes darkened. “I, um…I love that idea, but first let me tell you about this other idea I had.”
“Does it involve you and me getting naked?” He kissed her neck.
“Afterward, yes.”
“Okay, go ahead.” He squeezed her butt. “But this ass is mine, and I’m not letting go.”
“I’d be disappointed if you did.” She smirked and ran her fingers down his chest. “What do you think about having your family, Tempe and her family, and Travis and April over for a bonfire and barbecue? You’ve got that gorgeous firepit. Sharing it for a few hours would be fun, and I’ll do everything. I’ll cook, clean up, and make sure nobody’s wandering around inside your house.”
He opened his mouth to respond, but she put her finger over his lips and said, “Before you answer, I was thinking we could also invite Walt, because we know he’s lonely and he’d enjoy it.”
“Trix, you know how I feel about having people over.”
“I know. Just hear me out. I talked to Travis about his grandmother, and he said she’s lonely, too. So I was thinking that since we’d invite your parents and Walt, we could also invite his grandmother.”
“So you want to play matchmaker?”
“I…well…not matchmaker, but maybe open a door between Walt and Travis’s grandmother that could lead to more fulfilling days for both of them. He might not have that many years left, and he loved her once. What if that special spark comes back? Love is good, Nick. I know you think it equals destruction, but it’s not like that for everyone, and beneath Walt’s rugged exterior, I think he’s a lonely man who has love to give. You love Walt like family. Don’t you want him to be happier?”
How the hell could he argue with that?
“But that’s not the biggest reason I want to have people over, and neither is thanking everyone. Although, that was what made me think of the idea.” She traced the ridge of his pecs with her fingers, her eyes soft and a little tentative, which was new, and chipped away at his resolve. “I know we’re early in our relationship, but having people over is a couple thing to do, and I kind of love the idea of doing a couple thing with you.”
Fuck. That look in her eyes, and the hope in her voice, tugged at him.
“You can say no to this, Nick. I don’t want to push you. That’s not who I am.”
He scoffed. “That’s exactly who you are.” And I wouldn’t want you any other way.
“You’re right. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have suggested it. I’ll set up a time with everyone, and we can all go out for pizza instead. It’ll be fun.” She kissed his chin, smiling like she wasn’t disappointed.
But he knew better.
“I’m going to change my clothes. I’ll meet you outside to work with the horses?”
She stepped out of his arms and he pulled her back to him. “You really want to do this couple thing, don’t you?”
Hope rose in her eyes as she nodded. “But we’ve come so far so fast, the last thing I want to do is make you uncomfortable. I don’t mind going out for pizza instead.”
The honesty in her voice made his insides go soft. His eyes swept over the vase on the counter, filled with fresh wildflowers. When had she refilled it? He gazed into her eyes, and not only couldn’t he tell her no, but he no longer wanted to.
“Okay, we’ll do it. But I don’t want everyone going through my shit.”
She squealed and kissed him hard. “Thank you! This is going to be so fun, and we’ll keep everyone outside. I promise! Except if they have to use the bathroom.”
Her giddiness made him smile. “I think I can handle that. Just tell me what I need to do.”
“Nothing. I’ll do it all.”
“No, darlin’. I’m pretty sure that’s not how couple things work. If we’re doing this, we’re doing it together.”
“Really?” she said dreamily. “Thank you! I’ll go change, and we can talk about it while we work with the horses.”
He pulled her close again. “I believe I’m owed a proper thank-you.” He glanced at the dining room table and raised his brows. Her eyes flamed as he ran his hands up her thighs and pulled down her panties.
“I think I’m going to have to start requesting more get-togethers.”
She stepped out of her panties, stroking him through his jeans. She was just as sexually driven as he was. His mouth came ravenously down over hers as they stumbled toward the table. He tore his mouth away and spun her around. She pressed her palms flat on the hard surface as he hiked up her dress.
“You’re so damn gorgeous.” He caressed her ass and kissed each rounded cheek. “So soft and perfect. I’m so fucking hard for you, darlin’.” He teased her with his fingers, earning those sweet and sinful sounds as he kissed and nipped her cheeks. She writhed, her sex clenching around his fingers. Desire seared through his veins, and he lowered his mouth, taking one glorious lick of her essence. She moaned, long and loud, and so hungrily, he had to do it again.
“Nick, I need you,” she pleaded.
He dropped his drawers and clutched her hips, pulling her back as he thrust into her tight heat. Pleasure consumed him, and they both moaned. He pounded into her, driven by lust, greed, and something so much more powerful, it took over the rest.
“Don’t stop,” she begged. “So good.”
Consumed by pure animalistic need, there was no chance of him stopping, and she was right there with him. Every pump of his hips brought a moan or a plea for more. He couldn’t get enough, deepening every pump, grinding into her.
“Nick…oh God…”
He wrapped one arm around her, zeroing in on the spot that made her detonate with his fingers. His name flew loud and hungry from her lips. “Nick!”
He stayed with her. Her body clenched tight and hot around him, fueling his need. But he couldn’t get close enough. He needed more of her. He needed to see her.
“I need to see your beautiful face, darlin’,” he gritted out as she came down from the peak.
His request whirled in his head as he turned her around, but he didn’t fight it. He needed to see her even more than he needed to be inside her. He lifted her onto the edge of the table. The emotions in her eyes drilled into him, seeping into his bones, as their mouths and their bodies crashed together. He lifted her legs higher, taking her deeper, and quickly lost himself in their connection, in the feel of her fingernails carving into his arms and her needy moans climbing from her lungs into his. He clutched her ass with one hand, his other buried in her hair as they pounded out a frantic rhythm. But still she felt too far away. What the hell? Whatever it was, she must have felt it, too, because she lifted off the table, clinging to him. Her legs tightened around his waist like a vise, taking him right up to the edge of ecstasy. But this was better. Their bodies were flush, and her every breath became his. Holy hell, this was heaven. Her head fell back, and she sucked in quick gasps. She was so damn sexy as she gave in to her release, it slayed him, and he followed her over the edge, their bodies shaking and thrusting through the very last pulse.