He was tensing now, every thrust he shook a little, and his grip on her one wrist tightened. His teeth nipped at her neck more, and as she cried out with her release, he captured her words with a kiss. He moaned against her lips as he thrust into her hard and fast. He rammed into her and hesitated, his breath shaking as he pulsed shots of warmth into her, matching her orgasm.
He rolled into her again…again…dragging out her release…dragging out his. And all the while, he kissed her. His grip changed on her wrist, and then he thread his fingers through hers, held her hand. And with his other hand, he cupped the back of her neck.
Kiss…kiss…kiss…
He was adoring her. That’s what he was doing, right? He was showing her care and affection, even after he was finished.
And when she was exhausted and completely sated, he rolled over and pulled her onto her side against him, rested his chin on top of her head, and every minute or so, he would kiss her there, right on top of her head.
“I don’t regret anything,” she whispered in the dark.
He made that rumbling sound but didn’t say anything. Not for a while. At last, he broke the silent petting and said, “Tell me that tomorrow, and I’ll believe you.”
“Will you stay in here with me?” she asked softly.
“Do you want me to?” He sounded genuinely surprised.
“Of course,” she murmured. “I don’t think I’ve ever felt so safe.”
He huffed a soft breath and held her tighter. “No harm will ever come to you no matter what happens tomorrow.”
She didn’t know what that meant, so she relaxed against him, determined to enjoy their time together tonight. She’d learned the hard way that no day is to be wasted. And no night should be wasted either.
So she scratched his back gently, massaged his thick muscles, rubbed his smooth skin, and smiled when his muscles lost all their tension and he sighed a relieved sound.
“I’ve never done this before,” he whispered.
“Done what?”
Two Shots did it again. He kissed the top of her head. “I’ve never stayed.”
Chapter Thirteen
Two Shots woke with a start in the dark. An alarm was going off, but it wasn’t his. It took him all of three seconds to remember where he was.
His arms were full of her. Of Cheyenne.
For the first time the night before a buck, he’d slept like the dead.
And speaking of the dead, Tarik sat in the chair in the corner, his elbows resting on his knees, staring at his hands, like he didn’t know what they were. Idiot ghost.
Stupid sonofabitch was gonna haunt her? He should go haunt the girl he was cheating on her with. Two Shots didn’t have much sympathy for Tarik’s plight after he’d found out he was a cheater. He could rot in purgatory for all he cared. Hell, that’s probably why he was stuck in the in-between—unfinished ghost business or something. You feeling the weight of your guilt, Tarik? Well, she don’t need you around to anchor her down anymore.
As if the ghost could read his thoughts, he looked up at Two Shots and then disappeared.
The alarm was still going off so he reached over her and hit the snooze button. It was only six-thirty. Damn, she was an early riser. The rodeo didn’t start until later this evening.
“I’m supposed to wake up Quickdraw,” she murmured sleepily. “He likes to get a warmup buck in before people get to the arena on event days.”
“He told you that?” Two shots asked in a hoarse, sleep-filled voice.
“No, I researched and asked around. That mean ol’ cow doesn’t tell me anything.”
Two Shots chuckled. “I would love to be around to see his face if you ever call him a cow in front of him.”
“I’ll make sure you’re there then,” she said as she connected a call and then buried her head back against his chest.
Damn, this girl sure was making his heart beat loud and fast. Even with her dull human senses, she could probably hear it, what with her face all pressed against his torso like this.
She wasn’t wearing a stitch of clothing, but her skin was covered in goosebumps as though she was cold. He didn’t get cold much, so it was kind of a foreign concept to him, but seeing her skin react to discomfort dredged up a little sliver of protectiveness. He pulled the comforter tight around her, sealing her into a little cocoon with him. His body ran hot, so he would have her warmed up in no time.
He liked that. He liked the idea that he could make her more comfortable. The confidence that he could take care of her. He really, really liked taking care of her.
“Hey,” she murmured into the phone.
She had such a sweet, cute sleepy voice.
“Get your ass out of bed. I have one of the arena workers opening the doors for you in half an hour.”
Okay, so she had the mouth of a pirate. Still cute.
On the other end of the line, Quickdraw rumbled, “I’m getting up.” And then he hung up.
Jerk. She’d set her alarm to make sure he would get up in time to beat any news reporters to the arena, had set up a way for him to get in, but he didn’t even notice or appreciate her effort. And the saddest part of that? She didn’t even seem to mind. Like she expected that behavior from Quickdraw. Did she expect that behavior from him?
Her phone lit up, and she frowned as she read the screen. “Quickdraw says ‘you don’t suck’ and ‘what time is lunch.’”
Two Shots laughed and nuzzled his nose against her neck just to memorize her scent. She smelled different when she was sleepy. Smelled even better somehow.
“Did you sleep okay?” she asked.
“Yeah, you put me in a coma, woman. You started massaging my back, and that’s the last thing I remember. I don’t even think I moved.”
She giggled, and he loved it so much he tickled her ribs. She burst out into more laughter, arching her back and pressing her toes against his shins. God, she was so damn cute. When she settled, her cheeks were all pink and her almond-colored eyes danced with her smile. She didn’t have a stitch of make-up on and, still, she was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen.
“You’re so pretty, Cheyenne.”
Her eyebrows arched up like she was actually surprised. “Me?”
“See, that right there makes you even prettier.”
“What does?” she asked, brushing her fingertip down his jaw.
“That you don’t even know how pretty you are.”
“I’ve put on weight since my barrel racing days.”
“Are you gonna argue with my compliment?”
“My motto is to argue everything.”
“Typical woman. Hardheaded, all of you.”
“But I have. You met me, and I was super skinny—”
“You were a girl. I had no interest in a girl, Cheyenne.” He slid his hand up the impossibly soft skin of her stomach and cupped the full weight of her tit. He was already hard as a rock. “You grew into one hell of a woman.”
The smile on her face faded and her eyes went all serious. “I was happier when you met me. Less damaged.”
“No. You’re happy enough now. You smile a lot.”
“That’s new. It’s because of you.”