But she’d thrown down a gauntlet, and any man worth his salt wouldn’t ignore the challenge. Sinking to his knees, he cupped her smooth bottom and bestowed a similar, long, slow and very deep kiss on the moist cleft that was the entrance to all things wonderful.
Then he breached that entrance and reveled in her moans of pleasure. He brought her close to the edge, could almost taste victory, when she clutched his head and forced him away from paradise.
“Fair is fair.” She gasped out the words, but they were clear enough. “You wouldn’t let me, so I’m not letting you.”
He had a good argument for why she should let him give her a climax. She could have several to his one. But if she wanted to stay even, that was okay, too. He stood and sought her mouth again. His lips were wet from all that he’d enjoyed, and she couldn’t seem to get enough of kissing him.
They both became a little frantic after that. He grabbed for the condom box, but she was the one who took out the packet, tore it open and dressed him up. While she did that, he concentrated on not coming and ruining the entire enterprise.
They had a brief, breathless discussion about location, and they ended up on the floor with her on top. The floor was damn hard, and his muscles hadn’t recovered from his morning ride, but once she lowered herself over his aching cock, he didn’t notice or care. As she leaned over him, he finally paid proper attention to her sweet breasts, which fit exactly into his hands and tasted like wine on his lips.
She set the rhythm, and he rose to meet her as if they’d created this dance long ago. They fit together so perfectly that he found himself thinking of fate and destiny. He tried to hold her gaze, but she looked away, as if the force of this passion scared her a little.
He understood. It scared him, too. Then she pumped faster, and he forgot to be scared or even to think. There was only the pleasure, the rushing, crashing, incredible power of it driving him to lift into her, over and over.
A shred of sanity remained, enough for him to wait until he felt her convulse around him. Then he surrendered to a climax that bulldozed the breath right out of him, leaving him panting and dazed. She slumped forward, and he held her close.
As he slipped his hands under the silk of her robe to caress her warm skin, he realized she’d never taken off the robe. Its cool, smooth texture had billowed around them as they’d come together again and again, seeking their bliss. He was glad. If she kept the robe, it would always remind her of this moment.
That’s when he admitted that he wouldn’t be satisfied with the brief time they’d have together. He’d probably known that all along, but he’d pretended not to know. She might have done the same thing. But whether she realized it or not, he certainly did. This night had changed the game for both of them.
* * *
KERI SPENT THE night in Michael’s bed, and a very fine bed it was, too. Choosing his king over her double had been a no-brainer. To make up for interrupting his soak in Epsom salts, she’d rubbed liniment into his sore muscles.
That had naturally led to a more interesting massage that resulted in another round of incredible sex. They’d both had a long day, so the addition of a couple of mind-blowing climaxes guaranteed that they’d sleep soundly, wrapped in each other’s arms.
But Keri had neglected to bring her alarm clock over to Michael’s room, and when she opened her eyes, the sun was up. Way up. The aroma of coffee and bacon told her that breakfast was being cooked without her. For the first time since arriving at the Last Chance, she’d overslept.
Struggling out of Michael’s sleepy grip, she climbed out of bed. “I have to go.”
He opened his eyes, but he wasn’t fully awake. “Go where?”
“Downstairs. To my job. Mary Lou is cooking breakfast without me.” She glanced at a small clock sitting on the nightstand. “Good grief. I should have been down there an hour ago!”
Michael sat up, the sheet pooling around his hips. His hair was mussed and his face was shadowed with the beginnings of a beard. He looked sexy and rumpled, the kind of man any woman would want to crawl back into bed with. “They’ll make allowances,” he said.
“You don’t know that!” She caught a glimpse of his privileged upbringing in that statement, but she’d had a year to get over that attitude. “I doubt that Jack gave us carte blanche to ignore the ranch routine.” She tied her robe with a jerk on the sash. “I’ll see you later.”
“Keri, wait.”
“I can’t. Last night was great, Michael. Really great. But I have to go.” She ignored the plea in his stormy blue eyes and left the room. No matter what Jack had said, he’d still expect a day’s work out of her.
Michael might see things differently, but he was a product of the world she’d left. He was used to people making allowances. Once upon a time, she had been used to that, too. But she wasn’t a spoiled little rich girl anymore, thank God.
Her new lifestyle had taught her to shower and dress in record time, so she was down in the kitchen in a matter of minutes. Her hair was still damp, but her clothes were clean and so was she.
Breakfast in the cozy kitchen, a meal she usually helped prepare, was in full swing. No doubt Watkins had already left for the barn, but Sarah and Pete sat at the oak table with full plates in front of them. They were involved in a deep discussion, probably something to do with the wedding. Keri could have dealt with having them there when she apologized to Mary Lou for sleeping in.
But Jack stood at the counter pouring himself a cup of coffee. She wasn’t as sure that she could deal with Jack.
She met his dark gaze and caught a glint of curiosity there. She wasn’t sure what he’d seen in her expression, but the corner of his mouth tilted up.
Her first impulse was to mumble some excuse and leave the room. Her second impulse was more worthy of her. She remembered that she was Keri Fitzpatrick, of the Baltimore Fitzpatricks. A Fitzpatrick didn’t run and hide her head when she was caught in an awkward situation. A Fitzpatrick woman braved it out.
Her chin lifted. “Good morning, Jack.”
“Morning, Keri.” He smiled. “Sleep well?”
Jack Chance had such a devilish streak. “I did, thanks.” She glanced at Mary Lou, who had turned from the stove at her entrance. Mary Lou also looked curious. “Sorry I didn’t make it down in time to help you this morning, Mary Lou.”
Sarah interrupted her private discussion with Pete. “Don’t worry about it, Keri. I helped her. It felt good to wield a spatula again. Listen, Pete and I need everyone’s opinion about the music for Saturday.”
And just like that, the subject shifted away from Keri’s late arrival to wedding plans. It could have been unintended, but Keri had been around Sarah Chance long enough to know that Sarah was a master at guiding social interactions into safe waters.
She wondered if Sarah had talked with Jack. Mother and son were very close, and it was always possible that Sarah had an idea of what was going on. Then again, she was extremely observant, so she might have figured things out on her own.
Pete, however, seemed oblivious. He simply followed Sarah’s lead and opened up the discussion of wedding music to the group. “We planned to have Watkins play his guitar for the ceremony, but he’s suggested adding the new guy, Trey Wheeler, and making it a duo. What do you think? Too much?”
Mary Lou laid down the spoon she’d been using to stir a big kettle of soup intended for lunch. “I don’t think you can ever have too much guitar music. Trey and Watkins were jammin’ in the kitchen the other night, and it was wonderful. Remember, Keri?”
“I do remember. I loved it. What songs are they going to play?”
“Just don’t let them play ‘Achy Breaky Heart.’” Jack picked up his coffee mug and took a sip. “They purely love that tune, but it’s not wedding material.”
“It would be good for a laugh, though,” S
arah said.
Pete leaned back in his chair. “Yeah, but are we going for laughs? How about ‘I Cross My Heart’?”
“That’s a good choice,” Jack said. “But I don’t want to get in the middle of this discussion. I’m taking my coffee and heading down to the barn.” He started out of the kitchen, but then he paused. “Hey there, Michael. What’s up?”
“Morning, Jack.”
Keri gulped. Just when she was hoping that any potential awkwardness had been avoided, here came another dose of embarrassment through the kitchen door. She wished he’d stayed upstairs a little longer, but he hadn’t, so she turned toward him with as much nonchalance as she could muster.
“Sleep well?” Jack asked oh-so-casually, repeating the question he’d put to Keri.
To Michael’s credit, he didn’t look at her. “Sure did. The Epsom salts and liniment did the trick.”
Good Lord. Keri had to glance away and press her lips together to keep from laughing.
“Excellent news.” Jack cleared his throat. “Well, I’m off to the barn. Meet me down there whenever you’ve finished breakfast. We’ll saddle up Destiny.”
“Good. Can’t wait.”
“That’s what I like to hear. See you soon.” He left the kitchen.
“Pull up a chair, Michael,” Mary Lou said. “Keri, you go ahead and sit, too. There’s bacon left and at least two helpings of the egg casserole Sarah and I made.”
“Let me get it.” Keri moved over to the stove. “You’ve already started lunch.”
Mary Lou smiled at her. “I can wait on you this once. Go ahead and keep Michael company while he eats.”
“Yes, please do,” Sarah said. “Pete and I have to leave. We’re driving into Jackson for some last-minute decorations, and you’ll be happy to know, Keri, that we’re also buying new sheets for the bunks. After two seasons of adolescent boys, we need something less worn for the wedding guests.”
“New sheets would be lovely.” Keri slid into the chair Michael held for her. The scent of his shaving lotion was nice, but it was the underlying aroma of liniment that stirred her the most. He must have put on more this morning. She vividly remembered helping him apply it last night, and what happened after that....
Michael nudged her knee with his, and she snapped back to the present.
Mary Lou hovered over her expectantly. “How many pieces of bacon, sweetie?”
“Two is plenty.” She had a bad feeling that Mary Lou had been trying and failing to get her attention while she was daydreaming about sex with the man who currently sat right next to her. “Thank you.” She directed the comment to both Michael for nudging her and Mary Lou for serving her.
Sarah tucked her napkin next to her plate and pushed back her chair. “You’re looking especially pretty this morning, Keri.”
“You do look great.” Michael gave her a warm glance, probably warmer than he should have.
Sarah had a knowing gleam in her eye. “Maybe you should sleep in more often.”
And now Keri was blushing for sure. She’d worked so hard not to get flustered, but a girl had only so much fortitude in these situations. “Thanks, but I don’t like shirking my responsibilities.”
“Which is laudable.” Sarah rose from the table. “You’ve been extremely conscientious, and I appreciate that. But you and I both know this isn’t a permanent career path for you.”
Keri sighed. “No, it’s not. I’ve learned so much, though. It’s been good for me to have this job, in so many ways.”
“A little physical work is always good for a person.” Mary Lou scooped a helping of casserole onto Keri’s plate. “Keeps you connected to the basics.”
“That’s exactly what this job has done for me,” Keri said. “I wouldn’t have missed the experience for the world.”
“I’m glad.” Sarah beamed at her before turning to Pete. “Ready?”
He drained his coffee mug and stood. “Let’s do it.”
“Don’t forget to buy those extra chafing dishes while you’re in Jackson,” Mary Lou called after them. “For the wedding buffet.”
“They’re on the list!” Pete called back as they walked out of the kitchen.
Mary Lou glanced at Keri. “I also know you’ll be leaving this job eventually, but thanks for staying through the wedding.”
“Of course!”
“Normally Sarah helps when we have a big event, and I swear she’d try to do it, but we can’t have that.”
“No, we can’t. Besides, I want to be on hand for the wedding. I’m excited for her, and for Pete. I’ve only known them for a year, but I feel as if it’s been longer.”
Mary Lou nodded. “That’s the kind of people they are. They make you part of the family.”
“It’s a gift,” Michael said. “I’ve only known them for a couple of days, and I already feel right at home. It’ll be hard to go back to New York at the end of the week.”
“Do you have to?” Mary Lou asked. “I don’t think anybody needs that room in the near future, and I’m sure you’d be welcome.”
“That’s nice to hear, but I have to go back. There are some...some things I have to do.”
“All right, then. If you must, you must. Speaking of things to be done, I have a couple of letters I was planning to write while the soup simmers, so if you’ll excuse me, I’ll get to it.”
“By all means,” Keri said. “I’ll watch the soup for you.”
“Thanks.” Mary Lou walked back into her apartment.
After she left, the kitchen was silent except for the soft bubbling sound coming from the stove. Keri had been spared a morning-after discussion because she’d had to leave Michael’s bedroom in such a rush. But she’d bet they were about to have one now.
However, they had to be careful. A normal discussion would carry into Mary Lou’s apartment, but if they murmured softly, that would seem suspicious, too.
As if they’d choreographed it, they turned to each other at the same moment and started speaking.
Michael grinned, and it was the cutest expression she’d ever seen. He looked so damned happy. “You first.”
“No, you.” Every reservation she’d had about continuing this affair under the noses of Jack and Sarah disappeared when she saw the banked heat in his eyes, which seemed far more blue than gray this morning.
“Okay.” He angled his head in the direction of Mary Lou’s apartment, as if acknowledging their need for caution. “I wanted to thank you for locating the Epsom salts and the liniment for me.”
“You’re welcome.” She winked at him. “It was my pleasure.”
“You’re very good at what you do.”
“Thanks for the compliment.” Heat sluiced through her at the look in his eyes. “It’s wonderful to be appreciated.”
“I plan to make a habit of the Epsom salts and liniment while I’m here.”
She pressed her napkin to her mouth to keep from giggling. When she had control of herself, she leaned toward him. “I absolutely think you should. It’s so good for you.”
“I know.” His tone became more urgent. “Sure wish I could take a treatment right now.”
“But Jack’s expecting you any minute.”
“Yeah, he is.” He scooted back his chair and picked up his plate.
“Hey, you didn’t finish your breakfast.”
“No.” He stood and gestured to the prominent jut of his fly. “But as you can plainly see, I have to leave.”
She gazed up at him. “Pity.”
“Isn’t it, though?” He winced as he walked over to the sink and dumped his food down the garbage disposal. “If I had time for a treatment, I might not have so much trouble walking right now.”
“Think about Destiny. That’ll take your mind off your problem.”
“I meant the horse.”
“I was hoping you meant the concept. I don’t think it’s an accident that we both ended up at this ranch together.”
“Michael, I—”
“Gotta go. See you at lunch.” He walked slowly and deliberately out of the kitchen.
She sat there staring at the empty doorway. Maybe he’d come back, pop his head in and say just kidding. But he didn’t, and she was left with the conviction that he’d jumped way past this week and was already planning a reunion once they were both on the east coast.
If so, she needed to let him know that she wouldn’t be living there from now on. She didn’t want him building castles in the air. He was a storyteller, so he might be prone to that.
But damn, he’d looked so happy this morning. She hated to burst his bubble. But as she’d concluded last night, she wasn’t a city girl anymore.
9
WHEN MICHAEL ARRIVED at the barn, Jack had already mounted a black-and-white Paint, one that was smaller than Bandit and didn’t have the eye patches. Destiny was tied to the hitching post by his lead rope.
Jack walked his horse toward Michael. “Go get Destiny tacked up. We’re heading out today.”
Michael squinted as he looked up at Jack, who was wearing his shades again. Michael had pricey sunglasses in his room, but he hadn’t worn them. He figured they’d fly off his face and get crunched in the dirt within the first five minutes of bouncing around on Destiny.
This morning, though, he wished he’d worn them, after all. Jack would have a harder time reading him if he had on shades. “Am I ready for that?”
Jack grinned. Despite his dark glasses, there was no mistaking the mischief in his expression. “You tell me. If you’re too exhausted from your night’s activities, we can always—”
“I’ll saddle Destiny.” Michael lengthened his stride as he headed for the barn. Now that his erection had subsided, he moved damned well, if he said so himself.
The Heart Won't Lie Page 8
