“It’s nothing like the view from your parents’ house, I’m sure,” Grover said with a small shrug.
“It’s not, but it’s beautiful in its own way,” Sierra reassured him.
“And yeah, I know the leather couch isn’t very practical. When Trigger, Oz, and Doc helped me get the damn thing up here, they gave me all sorts of shit about it. But I like to come out here and enjoy the view. Remind myself that there’s beauty in the world, if we only take the time to stop and see it.”
Sierra walked closer to the opening, but Grover took hold of her hand as she passed. “Careful, I haven’t had time to put up any safety barriers yet.”
Nodding, she walked with Grover to the edge of the loft. The drop to the ground was about fifteen feet, so nothing terribly extreme, but if she fell out, she’d definitely hurt herself.
Sierra couldn’t take her eyes from the countryside in front of her. Texas was very different from Colorado, that was for sure. But she hadn’t lied, it was just as pretty as her hometown…but in a different way.
The area immediately around the barn was landscaped, but just beyond there was tall grass as far as she could see. The strands were gently blowing in the breeze, and she could smell earth and a slight hint of honeysuckle on the warm air blowing through the barn.
She closed her eyes, soaking in the moment. Grover had stepped away, and she vaguely heard noises behind her, but didn’t pay much attention to what he was doing.
“Sit,” he said softly after a moment.
Opening her eyes and turning to look at him, she saw that he’d pulled the couch a little closer to where she was standing near the edge of the loft. Smiling, she sat, and Grover did the same. Without hesitation, Sierra scooted closer and snuggled into him. She lay her head on his chest and stared out at the world.
She could feel his heart beating under her cheek and the feel of his arm around her shoulders made her sigh in contentment. “This is perfect,” she whispered.
“It’s nothing like the views we had in New Mexico,” he said quietly.
“Nope,” she agreed. “It’s better because it’s your home.”
She felt him make a sound deep in his throat. It rumbled against her cheek. “You’re right. Sometimes I come up here with the hopes of seeing animals in the grass. Every now and then I’ll get lucky and spot a deer, but most of the time I get skunks and armadillos wandering around out there.”
“I love the tall grass. I don’t think I’d like to go walking in it, since it looks like it’d be over my head, but it gives this place a prairie kind of feel,” she mused.
“It does,” he agreed. “I could’ve cut the grass, but I like the wild look of it, especially when it sways in the wind.”
“Me too.”
How long they sat in the loft of his barn, Sierra didn’t know. But when she heard his stomach growl, she knew they should get up and head inside. Lifting her head, she took in Grover’s face so close to hers…and the expression that she couldn’t quite define.
He didn’t ask, simply leaned down and kissed her.
Sierra immediately opened to him. He shifted one hand to the back of her neck and held her still as he took what she freely gave. Making out had never felt so…poignant. She and Grover had a deep emotional connection she’d never experienced with anyone else. As corny as it sounded, it was as if their souls knew each other.
They’d kissed in New Mexico, but this time was more intense. Maybe it was being here on Grover’s home turf. Maybe it was because she felt as if she was well and truly on her way back to being the independent woman she’d been when she’d made the decision to go to Afghanistan. Whatever it was, she liked it. A lot.
Moving to a more comfortable position astride Grover’s lap, Sierra tilted her head and took control of their kiss. His hand dropped from her nape and pulled her hips closer. She could feel his erection, and that only fueled her need. She nipped his lip, then thrust her tongue into his mouth, loving that he let her take the lead.
By the time she pulled back, Sierra felt a little embarrassed at how aggressive she’d been. Realizing that she’d been practically humping his lap, she gave him a small smile.
“Damn, woman,” Grover breathed out.
“Um…do I need to apologize?” she asked, wrinkling her nose.
“Fuck no,” he said immediately.
“Did you put this couch up here so you could have sex on it?” she blurted.
“No. I haven’t dated since I’ve moved in here.”
Sierra was unabashedly fishing for information, and she wasn’t disappointed in his response.
“I’ve kinda buried myself in building this barn and getting my house set up the way I wanted it during the last year, to distract myself.”
She swallowed hard. “From what?”
“From wondering what I did to make you not want to talk to me,” he said with a shrug. Before she could apologize, he went on. “And of course I now know that you weren’t purposely blowing me off, but that’s what was going on in my head.”
Sierra nodded. “I’m thinking I like the privacy you have out here,” she said.
“It is pretty private, isn’t it?” he agreed.
“Yup. And I imagine when the sun goes down, the view of the stars from here is pretty amazing.”
“It is.”
Sierra put her hand on his cheek and gave herself a short pep talk. This was Grover. She could tell him anything. He’d more than proved that in the two weeks they’d spent together at The Refuge. If she was going to become the woman she used to be, she needed to go after what she wanted. And she wanted him. “This couch was a great idea. It’s comfortable as hell and I can picture myself sitting out here a lot, relaxing and watching the world go by.”
“Yeah, I’ve spent many hours out here myself,” Grover said with a nod.
“I can think of some other things we can do out here together,” she said suggestively, wiggling her hips against him.
“Damn,” Grover breathed, clamping his hands on her hips to hold her still. “You’re killing me, Bean.”
She smiled.
“And don’t think I haven’t thought about taking you here in the last week and a half. I have. A lot. But not two-point-three minutes after you arrive.”
“So…maybe six-point-seven minutes then?” she asked suggestively.
Grover’s gaze heated. “I want you,” he said simply. “I haven’t been able to sleep, thinking about what it’ll be—”
“You haven’t slept? Have you had more nightmares?” Sierra interrupted.
“No nightmares, just staying awake because I’ve missed having you next to me,” he reassured her. “But my point is that I’m trying to take care of you. Hell, I haven’t even gotten you in the house yet.”
“I’ve never had sex outside before. Wait…does this count as outside?” she asked.
“I think this is as close to you being outside without clothes on as I’m comfortable with,” Grover said.
His words were turning her on. Big time.
“Who said anything about being naked?”
“Okay, we’re done here,” Grover said. “You need to stop saying ‘naked.’ I can’t handle it. How about we get up and I show you my house? Then we can eat. You’ve got to be tired after driving so long today. You probably should’ve broken the trip up a bit more.”