by Rae Davies
“I know it’s not right, but I’m hoping to get something better.”
Patsy jumped at Will’s voice so close behind her. “What? What’s not right?”
“The bed. It’s too modern for the house, a leftover from Chicago. A lot of my old furniture I left behind, but you kind of need a bed. Don’t you think?”
“Yeah, a bed is important,” Patsy murmured. “I mean, you have to sleep somewhere.” She took a step away from Will, a step closer to the bed. She turned around, putting her back to it.
Will followed her movement. He was within inches of touching her. The heat of their bodies was crushed between them, forming a tangible but invisible bond. The tractor beam again. Will exhaled. She felt his breath on her face, but he wasn’t touching her. She drew in a shaky breath. How could something so innocent fill her with such anticipation?
His eyes darkened, the pupils dilated and glimmering. He was tempting, so tempting. She wanted to touch him, but she held back. She shouldn’t be here. She knew where this was leading. She couldn’t let her guard down. If she did, what would happen to her dreams? Could she be with Will even just once and still move on? She couldn’t risk repeating history. She tore her gaze from his to the door behind him. She had to escape. The attraction was too intense. The reality might melt her, destroy her, trap her in Daisy Creek.
“Patsy?” Will leaned in, but kept his hands at his sides. Starting at her ear, he blew a path of cool air down her neck, down to the indentation of her throat. She inhaled deeply and pressed her palms against his chest for support. It was too much. The pounding of her heart beat down the last of her control. She shoved her hands into his hair and pulled his mouth to hers.
Will groaned as their lips collided. They grappled to get closer. His hands swept down her back, cupped her buttocks and guided her pelvis until it nestled next to his. The hard ridge of his erection rubbed against her, almost painful, but exciting. The clothing between them added to the friction.
She reached down and yanked his shirt free from his pants, exposing his abdomen to her touch. She ran her fingers over the swell of muscles and slipped her arms around him to explore his back, to pull him closer.
Will leaned forward, tipping her backward. The backs of her legs hit the bed, and she fell onto the mattress, cradled in his arms. He rolled over with a frustrated groan and put Patsy astride him.
She pushed herself upright, her hands pressed against his chest, her arms straight. The intensity in his eyes gave her a sense of power. Looking down at him, she asked, “Is this where you ask me if I’m sure about this?”
He surged upward, attempting to capture her lips, but she kept her mouth out of reach.
“What?” he asked, falling back on the bed.
“You’re supposed to ask me if I’m sure, right about now.”
“Sure about what?” His voice was husky.
“About this.” She wriggled her hips, reveling in the pressure of his hard arousal against her. She was in control. She had the power.
Will groaned and rolled over, flipping her beneath him. “To hell with that. You’re sure. Trust me.” He covered her lips with his, slipping his tongue past her teeth and into her mouth.
Patsy met the force of his tongue with her own. He was right. She was sure. Why had she even considered leaving? She could handle this. She was handling this. Her fingernails scraped along his back, then up his sides. She was in control, in every way. She chose to make love to Will, and she would deal with the consequences later.
She wanted to touch his bare skin, feel it against her own, but his shirt blocked her way. She struggled with the tight-fitting cloth. With a jerk on the knit, she bared a few inches of his warm skin. It wasn’t enough.
Will pulled away, yanked the annoying shirt over his head, and flung it against the wall. The cool air in place of his body was equally disturbing. Patsy grasped his shoulders, pulling him back. He skimmed the line of exposed skin between her shorts and shirt with the pads of his fingers. Patsy shivered at the light touch. She ran her hand over his pectoral muscle, flicking her thumbnail against his nipple.
He jerked in response and let out a low laugh. “You are dangerous, aren’t you?”
“Only to myself,” Patsy murmured. The control she had felt only seconds before seemed to be slipping from her grasp. Lost in a wave of sensation and emotion, she pulled his mouth back down to hers.
Will’s fingers brushed her shirt upward, exposing the material of her lace-covered bra. Patsy squirmed under him, impatient to feel his hand on her bare skin. Tracing the edge of the lace, he followed it to the front clasp. One quick snap and her breasts were free. She pulled her mouth from his and tugged her shirt and bra over her head. In a fluid move, she fell back onto the bed.
Intense again, Will lowered his head to her neck. He cupped her breast and nibbled his way down her neck, over her collarbone to the swell of flesh in his hand. He captured the other breast, and as his thumb circled one nipple, he lowered his mouth to the first. He flicked the nipple with his tongue and then blew cool breaths on her moist skin. Patsy arched against him, pulling on his head in an attempt to return his mouth to hers. Will smiled and gently pulled her nipple between his teeth, tugging and sucking in a way that caused Patsy to clench and quiver in response.
“Enough,” she said.
“Enough?” Will turned his attention to the other breast.
When Patsy thought she couldn’t survive more, she felt his hand leave her chest and slide down her side to the waist of her shorts. She followed his lead, quickly unbuttoning his shorts and tugging them down his hips. Grabbing the elastic of his underwear, she pulled it down also, pausing only briefly as it caught on his erection.
“Damn,” Will whispered.
“Enough?” Patsy asked.
Will bit her earlobe in response and sent her shorts to join his on the floor. Patsy ran her leg up the side of his, relishing the feel of his rough hair against her smooth skin. The head of his penis pushed against the thin barrier of her cotton underwear. She pushed her pelvis upward, rotating her hips, increasing the pressure.
“Just a minute.” Will leaned to the side, digging in a small bedside table. The sound of rustling paper and objects dropping onto the floor followed. After another muffled curse, he returned, foil packet gripped between his teeth. With a deft jerk, he ripped open the package and rolled the condom on.
Patsy sighed as his hands slid inside her underwear. He paused momentarily to caress her butt before pushing the fabric down her legs. Past this last obstacle, his penis rubbed against the entrance to her vagina. Patsy stroked his erection, guiding it into place.
“Now are you sure?” Will asked.
Patsy grabbed his shoulders and shoved her hips upward to meet his thrust. The pressure inside her built as he moved in and out, faster and faster. She grabbed his back and nibbled on the side of his neck. Will groaned and pulled her legs to his waist. She squeezed her thighs around him, capturing him, desperate to keep the rhythm going.
As the tempo increased, Patsy lost track of everything except the pressure building inside her. Higher and higher she seemed to go, as if flying from her body. Almost panicked with want, she tilted her hips toward him. His hands gripping her waist, Will surged upward until he was staring down at her, gazing into her eyes. With one last thrust, he shuddered and her world exploded into twinkling lights.
Panting, but still connected, they lay together on the bed.
“You’re beautiful.” He brushed the hair from her eyes and kissed her lightly on the forehead.
Patsy hugged him to her, loving the feel of his warmth, the musky smell they had created, and the sense of contentment that settled over her. It should always be like this.
He kissed her on the mouth, a simple sweet kiss with no pressure, no expectations, just acceptance. Slipping out of her, he rolled onto his side, then gathered her in his arms. With her held close, he pressed his lips to her temple and gently stroked her hair.
&
nbsp; Patsy sighed. She was content, completely content. There was nothing in the world she wanted at this moment; everything was perfect. Curling up against him, she fell asleep.
o0o
Sometime later, she awoke. The room was dark, but Will’s arms still encircled her. She moved to sit up, but his arm tightened around her. Warmth filled her, nice, simple, like she belonged—like they belonged, together. With his eyes still closed, he dragged his lips up her neck. Patsy sighed. This was how her life should be—straightforward, easy, and content.
Her hand reached up to caress his hair. Content. She couldn’t be content. Contentment’s what got her in trouble before. Got her stuck in Daisy Creek with a cheating husband and a dead-end job, at twenty, for God’s sake. She stiffened at the thought. She could not make the same mistake twice.
It was great with Will right now, this minute, but when they rolled out of bed, things would change. They were still in Daisy Creek, and Patsy was still Patsy, and he was still Will Barnes. He still wanted to stay in Daisy Creek, and she still wanted to leave. Had to leave; it was the only way to get ahead. If she stayed here, even with Will, nothing would change. Sure, maybe things would be good for awhile, maybe even longer than before.
He wasn’t Johnny, but he and Johnny had a lot in common—rabble-rousing in their youth and smooth manners that disguised a sexy danger. Sooner or later, history would repeat itself. He’d start leaving her alone while he visited the roadhouse. He’d dance with some woman, innocently at first, but eventually they’d be in bed together, maybe even this same bed, and Patsy’d be right back where she started—stuck in Daisy Creek with no career prospects and no future.
She couldn’t get involved with Will. She had to be strong. She had to walk away. Better to do it now before she opened herself up for even more heartbreak and humiliation.
He was awake and staring down at her. As she looked up at him, she felt tears overflow her eyes and roll down her cheeks.
“What’s wrong?” Will’s eyes clouded with concern. “Are you okay? Are you hurt?”
“I’m fine.” She brushed away the tears and looked away.
“Then why the tears?” The sound of his voice upset her more.
“Nothing. I’m being silly.”
“Tell me.” He turned her face toward his.
“It’s just. We shouldn’t have done this.” She gestured with her hand down toward their still entwined bodies.
Will pulled his leg off of hers. “Why not? We’re adults.”
Patsy sat up and pulled the blanket over herself. “Yeah, but we can’t get involved. I mean, I hadn’t told you, but I’m leaving Daisy Creek. If I get a chance, that is.”
“Oh, I see.” Will stood up and retrieved his underwear and shorts from the floor. With his back to her, he said, “That’s not a problem, at least not for me. It’s not like I’m looking for a commitment. That’s the last thing I want.” He picked up Patsy’s clothes and tossed them to her, his back still turned.
“I hope you’re not worrying about hurting me.” He jerked on his clothes and banged shut the bedside table drawer that held the condoms.
Patsy jumped at the noise.
“No, of course not. Like I said, I’m just being silly. Just post-sex emotions.” She rubbed her eyes with the blanket and gathered up her clothes. She didn’t look up until she heard the door slam behind him.
Chapter 14
So Patsy wanted to leave Daisy Creek. So she didn’t want a commitment. So what? Neither did Will. It was the perfect situation—a fun, no-ties relationship. No worry about Patsy trying to rope him into marriage. No house in suburbia, no country club membership, no 2.2 kids. What was there to complain about?
How about that she ran away? Barely gave him time to pull on his pants before her feet hit the floor and the door banged behind her. One quick roll in the sheets, and she was done. How about that, suddenly, a no-ties relationship didn’t have the same appeal it once had? No ties meant, well, no ties. Patsy was free to go as she pleased, and apparently that’s exactly what she intended to do—go.
Will slammed the cabinet door shut, causing Ralph to leap to his feet and move next to his owner. Seeing his dog’s alarm, Will sank to his knees and pulled him onto his lap.
“Sorry, boy. It’s okay. I’m not mad, not at you.” It was a half truth. Will wasn’t mad at Ralph, but he was mad, and insulted, and, mainly, confused.
He thought he knew what he wanted or didn’t want. Then Patsy sauntered into his life, and his bed, screwing everything up. He felt like she’d drop-kicked him across the county.
When she’d first started crying, he’d been worried. Who wouldn’t have been? He wasn’t a complete callous heel. He didn’t want to hurt her. He was prepared to reassure her. Tell her it wasn’t a meaningless afternoon of sex, that she meant something to him. He wasn’t sure exactly what, but something. Then she’d told him she was leaving Daisy Creek and didn’t want a relationship. It was the last thing he’d expected.
Rubbing Ralph a little harder on the head than he intended, Will stood up. Fine. She didn’t want a relationship? Neither did he. It was just one afternoon of sex—nothing more. But if she thought she could pretend it never happened, she had a lesson to learn.
o0o
Patsy pulled into her driveway a little after seven to find Ruthann waiting. Her friend was going to want to know why Patsy was late, and Patsy couldn’t think of a single excuse except the truth. Not much hope of hiding news like this from someone you’d known since diapers. Knowing Ruthann, she’d start chanting “Will and Patsy sitting in a tree, k-i-s-s-i-n-g.”
Nothing wrong with that image, but the next passage wasn’t a possibility. No space for love, marriage, or baby carriages in Patsy’s plans.
“Where’ve you been? I been calling you on your cell phone for twenty minutes.”
“Sorry, I left it in the car.” Patsy staggered up the walk, smoothing wrinkles out of her shorts.
“What have you been doing? You look like you pulled your clothes out of the laundry hamper.” Ruthann eyed Patsy while she unlocked the door and flipped on the lights.
Inside, Ruthann grabbed Patsy’s chin. “What’s this? Is that beard burn?”
“No.” Patsy pulled her face away from her friend’s gleeful gaze. “I better let Pugnacious out.”
The dog blinked at her from the couch where she was sprawled belly up.
“She’s fine. Tell me what’s going on.” Ruthann plopped onto the cushion next to the pug. “Where have you been?”
“Did you bring the pizza?”
Ruthann sighed. “I left it on the porch.”
Patsy retrieved the cardboard box and carried it into the kitchen. “What do you want to drink?”
“Anything.” Ruthann slid into a chair at the table. “Are you going to fess up or not? Was it Will?”
Patsy busied herself dropping ice into glasses.
Ruthann raised both eyebrows and said, “It was Will. Well, it’s about time you decided to go for it. Everyone but you knew it was going to happen.” She flipped open the pizza box and selected a slice. “I’m glad one of us has a love life, finally.”
She was jumping to conclusions, just like Patsy was afraid she would. “It isn’t like that. I don’t have a love life. It was just, you know, one of those things.” Patsy swirled Diet Pepsi around in her glass. “I told him we couldn’t get involved.”
Ruthann dropped her slice back into the box. “You what? Why would you do that?”
“You know. I may get a call for that job any day now, and I’m not letting a little lust sucker me into the same mistake I made before.” Patsy tried to sound confident, but petulance snuck in toward the end.
“You’re going to let someone like Will Barnes get away because seven years ago you made a mistake and married an idiot?” Ruthann might as well have been snapping a ruler against her palm, her displeasure was so pronounced.
“Johnny wasn’t an idiot, at least not when I married him,” Pa
tsy objected. “It was this place, the marriage, everything. Nothing lasts in Daisy Creek.”
“How about your parents?”
“They don’t count. They got married years ago. Things have changed since then. Besides, even they’ve had problems.” Patsy drew a heart in the condensation on the side of her glass, then drew an X through it. “The point is, I messed up once, and I’m not doing it again. When I get a job offer that gets me out of Daisy Creek, I’m taking it, so there’s no reason to waste time getting involved with anyone here.”
“But...”
“No buts, it’s the way it is. Hand me a slice of pizza. Did you get onions?”
Ruthann shook her head, but kept her mouth closed. It was a good thing. Patsy was in no mood to debate the issue. The smell of Will still clung to her, and she could still feel the light touch of his hand brushing away her tears. Why had she cried? It made her look so weak, and she wasn’t, she was strong. She was doing the right thing, the responsible thing.
She shoved the pizza into her mouth and asked around it, “How about you? Have you seen Randy?”
Patsy only half-listened as Ruthann bemoaned her lack of luck in securing Randy. Instead, Patsy let herself drift back to Will, his enthusiasm for his new house, his dedication to his dog, and his acceptance of her eccentric family. It was a shame things couldn’t work out. But they couldn’t. He was staying here, and she was leaving, period.
“What should I do?”
“Hmm?” Patsy dropped the slice of pizza she was holding.
Ruthann watched her expectantly. “What should I do? About Randy.”
It took Patsy a beat to change gears, but she was grateful Ruthann had gotten diverted by her own issues. For once, Patsy needed to follow her lead. “Well, like we talked about the other night, it’s a two-prong problem. There’s Randy and his complete lack of backbone.”
Ruthann gave her a baleful look.
Patsy continued, “And there’s his momma. Which one do you want to tackle first?”
