He didn’t know why, but he was hyper aware of every sound, from the steady hum of air conditioning to the rustle of her legs under the blanket. If he never had more than this—the gentle stroking of her fingers, the heat of her body, and the soothing tone of her voice—he would die a happy man.
“I was also thinking about the job offer you got, and I hate that you’d give up the one thing you’ve always wanted. But then I remembered what you’d said about starting a training camp here, and I’m wondering if owning the team and building the training camp would make you happy.” She lifted up on an elbow. “I just want to be sure you follow the right path for you. Not me. Not Kurt. You.”
“There’s only one path that’s right for me.” Cupping her shoulder, he tipped her onto her back. “And it brought me here. To your bed.”
She pushed his hair back behind his ears. “I love the way you look at me. You make me feel beautiful and sexy. You make me feel like I’m the most amazing person you’ve ever known.”
“Because you are. All of those things.” He kissed her. The first brush of their lips sent a current of electricity through him. He toppled into her sweet, fresh scent and her sexy little sigh that sounded almost like relief. Needing more, he licked along the seam, and when their tongues collided, he burst into flames.
She was his ignition source. No one else had the power to fire him up the way she did. Braced on his arms, he lowered himself, desperate to feel the curves of her body, to feel her hands smooth down his back and cup his ass.
He loved the way her legs wrapped around him, and her hips ground against his cock, as if she couldn’t get enough. “I want you.” He left a trail of kisses on the smooth column of her neck, the gentle curve of her collarbone, and then he gently bit her nipple through the thin cotton of her tank top. Sitting back on his heels, he grabbed a fistful of cotton and yanked his T-shirt off. She took the momentary break to shed her clothes, too, and the second she lay back down, his hands covered her breasts, his thumbs caressing the beaded points. She shifted restlessly beneath him, her eyes burning with desire.
He sucked her nipple into his mouth, swirling his tongue and flicking.
“God, Declan.”
Every time he was with her, it got better. He slipped inside this sexy space of warm bodies, gripping hands, and an arousal so intense it swept him under. Kissing a path down her stomach, he parted her thighs and licked into her hot, wet pussy.
Her back arched, and he lifted her legs over his shoulders, tilting her ass. When his tongue grazed her clit, she cried out, her hips twisting. Fueled by her gasps and moans, he worked harder to drive her relentlessly closer to release.
Pleasuring her turned him way the fuck on. He wanted to be the source of her happiness. He wanted her smiles, her hands, her attention—he wanted all of it.
He wanted to consume her.
A bright streak of fear crossed through him, yanking him out of the moment. He broke out in a sweat, his heart beating so fast he grew disoriented.
“Hey.” Her voice reached through the panic, and she tugged on his shoulders. “Come here.”
He reared up and over her, going back in for a kiss so he wouldn’t hear the voice that made him lose control. And then he grabbed his cock, pushing inside her tight, slick core, and when she sighed like she’d touched nirvana, he groaned.
“I want you.” Yes, that’s it. Reducing his feelings to sex settled him down. As he drove into her, a sizzling heat streaked from his cock to his heart to the top of his head. His hips snapped, and he thrust hard, sinking deep, all the way to the hilt.
“Oh, God.” Her hands went to his ass, cupping, squeezing, pulling him deeper.
He drove into her, completely lost in everything that was Phinny. Every cell in his body went hot, vital, and tension wound him up so tightly he knew his orgasm would wreck him. Sliding a hand under her ass, he fucked her at just the right angle to scrape across her clit. She set her feet on the mattress, arched her hips, and held herself right where she needed him most.
He’d never felt more connected to another human being in his life. And as she cried out, her head tipping back, the roar of his climax ripped through him. He shouted, fusing their hips together, his punching, hers writhing. One shockwave after another ripped through him, and he never wanted it to end. Finally, he shuddered, and when he collapsed beside her, it took several moments before he came back into his body.
She lay still beside him, her chest rising and falling. He wanted to roll onto his side, tuck his face into her neck, glide his hand up her belly and cup her perfect, plump breast. He wanted to feel her arms come around him, holding him.
But he didn’t. Because his blood pressure soared. He shot up. “I’m going to uh…”
She didn’t say a word. Just watched him, waiting to see what he’d do, how he’d finish his sentence. But his mind went blank, and his skin prickled like it was covered in a rash. He rolled off the bed, wanting to walk away, but he couldn’t. He was locked in her orbit.
Look at her. Her tousled hair, swollen lips, and plump breasts. She leveled a gentle smile at him, and he practically heard the whisper of her thoughts. It’s okay.
She held out her hand.
He should go.
But if he wanted her to stay, if he wanted to keep her, then he needed to be brave.
He needed to tell her the truth.
And if he couldn’t do that—if it was too soon—then he at least needed to let her know that he was all-in. That he wanted her.
No, that she could trust him not to break her heart.
He climbed back into bed, and she snuggled up against him.
And then he stared at the ceiling.
Letting the truth pump into his bloodstream, carry to every corner of his body and soul.
I love her.
I’m in love this woman.
Chapter Eighteen
Phinny loved the sepia-toned photographs in her dad’s albums, but the Wild West Festival made her feel like she’d actually gone back in time. Mitch, dressed as a sheriff, and Tina, wearing a bustle dress and bonnet, had transformed the ranch so completely, she could almost believe the blacksmith working outside the barn teaching people how to make a horseshoe was one of the original Grevers brothers. And that the woman churning butter right nearby was his wife.
A pair of horses clopped along, leading an antique buggy loaded with visitors, and the scent of grilled meat, fresh hay, and sage filled the air.
Tina was right. Everything ran like a well-oiled machine to the point that she and Declan weren’t needed at all. They’d spent the morning in town watching the parade, and tonight they’d watch the fireworks at the lake.
Sitting on a wooden fence, the sun warming the top of her head, she watched guests hurry over to grab a good viewing spot at the corral in time for the next barrel race.
Had she ever been this happy? This truly content?
No, she hadn’t. She’d spent her whole life trying to be a good daughter so Andrew would love her—no, wait, that wasn’t it. God. How had she not seen it before now?
It was so he wouldn’t leave her like Kurt had.
Of course. And it had impacted every area of her life. Look how hard she’d worked to keep her friends, being the life of the party, constantly coming up with fun ideas. No wonder I’m so good at glad-handing for auction items. She lived to make everyone happy. To win them over.