by Jen Talty
Hayden was a few years younger and based on her trembling fingers playing with the buttons on his shirt, they were both in the same boat.
That excited him beyond belief.
Being with someone who didn’t want to control him or make him their boy toy did something to him on a primal level. To be with someone that was his equal. His partner. That was something he’d never experienced, and he wanted it so badly he could taste it.
He ran his thumb over her lower lip. “I have a confession to make.”
“Because we haven’t made enough of those tonight?” She smiled that sweet innocent smile that made his heart melt. It was like his innocence had been returned to him and the Gods were going to allow him to return to high school and go to prom.
So much had been stolen from him and while he’d taken back parts of his life, lying on this bed with Hayden in his arms, he realized how much he’d let pass him by and he didn’t want to do that anymore and that meant putting an end to his grandmother’s reign of terror.
“I’m so nervous around you.”
She tilted her head. “You don’t act it.”
He took her hand and pressed it against the center of his chest. “My pulse is raging out of control and I keep thinking I should tell you to leave.”
“Are you going to?”
He shook his head. “I want you to know that I haven’t been with very many women.”
“You’re an incredibly sexy man who sings in a bar. I find that hard to believe.”
“Well, it’s true. I just don’t put myself out there and those that I have been with have used me.”
“That makes me sad.”
“Don’t be. But I want to be with you, and I want to make sure it’s good for you.” He fanned her face. “I’m afraid I won’t live up to—”
“This is so embarrassing, but I’ve only had sex a couple of times and that was all before my accident.”
“No reason to be embarrassed. It’s not like either one of us are so old and should have all these wild exploits.” A warmth filled his gut. He ran his hands up and down her back, gliding them under her shirt, fiddling with the hooks on the back of her bra, but he couldn’t quite undo them without making a big production out of it, so he continued with his strategy to work it every couple of seconds until eventually it would come off, or he’d give up and just put his hands under the fabric, finding her bare skin and beg for her help.
“Most girls my age have more experience than I have.”
“I can say same about men my age, but since I don’t have many friends and I keep to myself, I don’t worry about it.”
She lifted her shirt over her head, tossing it to the side and showing off her lacy white bra. Her tight pink nipples pushed hard against the fabric.
He pressed his finger over the swell of her breast and traced a path across the fabric. “You’re the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen.”
“I’m covered in scars.” She tapped a few on her shoulders.
Her arms.
And then her stomach.
He raised up and kissed the center of her chest. “Those don’t change how I see you and I see all of you. Inside and out.” He managed to find those hooks this time and her bra fell to her waist, exposing her perfect mounds. Two scars curved between them. He kissed the tender skin before taking a nipple into his mouth, swirling it between his lips, using her soft moans as a guide.
She ran her fingers through his hair, clutching at the sides of his head as her body ground against his. There was no way he’d be able to control much less contain his excitement. He’d have to make sure he brought her pleasure before he took his own and even then, he could only hope he’d be able to put that off for as long as he could. At the end of the day, he really didn’t care about himself.
He only cared about her.
Flipping her to her back, he undid her pants, rolling them over her hips. “Tell me what you like.”
“I don’t really know.”
“Not that I want to hear about other men, but tell me what’s worked.” He pulled her thong down over her thighs, to her knees, and finally over her ankles, tossing them across the room. He stared at her and swallowed. He reached out and ran a finger gently across her hard nub.
“Oh, that works.”
“Be more specific. As in, do you like oral sex?”
“I’ve never been on the receiving end.” She smiled wide, reaching her hand between his legs and squeezing gently. “But I really liked giving it.”
He felt his eyes go wide with surprise and he groaned. “I’ll remember that for the next time.” He batted her hand away and lowered his head. He kissed her tenderly, licking his lips, tasting her sweetness. “For now, my goal is to find out exactly what makes you shiver in delight.”
“You’re on the right track.”
He didn’t consider himself a master by any means, but he’d had a few lessons on how to please a woman this way and he planned on using every single one. He kissed her inner thigh and thought better of his plans. Just because he had some experience with an older woman didn’t mean a lady his age and who was his equal wanted him to perform.
And that’s what it would be.
A performance.
Instead, he needed to work on instinct and how her body responded and what she wanted.
“Please, just tell me if I do something you don’t like and if something I’m doing really hits the mark.”
“I will, but this talking isn’t doing it for me.”
He cupped her breasts and lowered his mouth, licking her and tasting her as she rolled her hips against him as if they’d been doing this together their entire lives. Making love had never been a natural act for him. It had always been contrived and a dance that he had to learn.
With Hayden, it was simple. It was all about pleasure and while he wanted her to tell him what was working, every movement he came up with satisfied her in all the ways he hoped.
Her soft moans grew louder with every lick and stroke.
“Yes. Yes. Please. Just like that.”
He used his tongue and fingers in unison. She tasted like honey drizzled over a sweet piece of melon. If she orgasmed and he didn’t, he’d be satisfied. His life would be fulfilled. He lived for her and no one else. Every song from now on would be about her and no one else.
The sun rose with Hayden.
And it set with her.
“Oh, my God. Yes.” She shivered and convulsed. Her body shook as if it were a volcano and he were the lava.
“I want you,” he whispered as he removed the rest of his clothing and pulled out a condom. He wrapped himself in the protection and settled himself between her legs, pushing gently inside her, feeling how tight she was, worried he might explode before it even started. “Am I hurting you?”
“No,” she said, wiggling harder and faster beneath him. “You feel so good.”
“You feel better.” He thrust deep, but slowly. He repeated the motion, all while kissing her passionately. This was nothing like he’d ever had before.
This might as well have been his first time.
It was real.
It was honest.
“Hayden,” he whispered as what little control he had slipped through his fingertips. He let his climax rip through him and into her, joining them together in such a primal way that would forever bond them. He couldn’t explain the connection if he tried. “Sweet Hayden.”
She kissed him, then wrapped her arms and legs around him and buried her face in his neck.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes,” she whispered.
“Then why are you shaking?”
“Because that’s the best orgasm I’ve ever had, including the ones I’ve given myself.”
He laughed. “Now that’s the best compliment I’ve ever been given.”
9
Hayden stretched and quickly contracted when her arm hit another body. She wasn’t used to sleeping alongside someone else. “Sorry,” s
he whispered as she rolled to her side.
Strong arms wrapped around her body, pulling her close. “No need to apologize.” Sawyer kissed the nape of her neck. “How’d you sleep?”
“Wonderfully,” she admitted. She couldn’t remember when she’d had such a restful night. “I’ve never spent the night with anyone before.”
“Really? I’m honored and honestly, I hope you’ll do it again tonight.”
“I think that can be arranged.” In a daring move, she wiggled her butt against his hard body.
“That’s dangerous.”
“What I’m feeling isn’t dangerous. It’s amazing and I want it.” She twisted her body and shimmied herself lower, kissing his chest and stomach as she took him into her hands. She’d had some experience in giving blow jobs and she’d always enjoyed it, but she’d never seen or felt anyone as beautiful as Sawyer. She didn’t know if he was larger or wider than average; all she knew was that he was exquisite. He was a contrast in being as hard as a rock and yet his skin was as soft as silk.
His personality was identical. His body was solid where the rest of him was soft and sweet. He made her feel cared for and he looked at her as if she were the only thing in the room he saw. The only person that mattered. She saw the broken child. She felt the lost soul.
They shared those common bonds.
And together they mended those pieces that could have been destroyed by their past. The destruction his father and grandmother caused fused with the betrayal her father created when his bigotry condemned her uncle to a life of shame.
She took him into her mouth, her hands following, squeezing gently. She let her instincts take over, ignoring the little voice in the back of her head telling her she didn’t know what she was doing.
Based on the way his hips moved, his hands threaded in her hair, and he gently encouraged her to keep going, she suspected she was doing everything exactly right.
And then some.
She splayed her hands on his stomach, gauging his ragged breath. She blinked open her eyes and paused.
He smiled and tugged at her hair.
“I don’t want to stop.”
“But it’s time,” he said.
“Why?”
He positioned himself between her legs, fiddling with a condom before entering her slowly, but deeply. “Because I won’t last much longer. You make me crazy.” He reached between them, finding her hard nub and rubbing gently.
She gasped, gripping his shoulders, rolling her hips. She stared at the ceiling, inhaling sharply, trying to keep from screaming, but it would be seconds before her orgasm tore through her system. “Yes, Sawyer. Now.” She wrapped her legs around his body, digging her heels into his ass. “Now.”
He didn’t disappoint as he thrust deeply inside. “Hayden,” he whispered. “You’ve changed me.”
She ran her hands up and down his back. She didn’t want to get into what that meant right now, but she’d have to address it at some point because it changed her as well.
Not the words.
Nor the sexual act.
But he changed her on a fundamental level, and he needed to understand why.
Hell, she needed to understand it, but all that would have to be put on hold.
She accepted his weight and nuzzled her face in his neck. “I hope you have good coffee because I could use a strong cup.”
“I don’t know about good, but I can say it’s strong.” He slipped from the bed, finding his pants and hiking them up to his hips. “I also make a mean egg and sausage sandwich.”
“Oh. I’m down for that, but only if you make it a double.”
“You are a girl after my own heart.” He held out his hand.
Shamelessly, she took it and stood before him with not a stitch of clothing on. Never in her life could she remember letting another human view her naked body. The scars and the bruises made her feel like a monster, and most people who got even a small glimpse let her know they agreed.
The few men she’d been with saw the zigzags across her skin and winced, especially the ones on her chest.
But Sawyer stared at her with admiration and desire in his eyes.
He let out a long sigh. “Wow,” he said. “Can we just go back to bed?”
“We do have all day.” She found his boxers as well as one of his undershirts. She put both on and smiled. “As well as tonight to enjoy ourselves.”
“I think I understand why Viagra could be dangerous.”
“Excuse me?” Her gaze lowered and she blushed. While he wasn’t fully aroused, he was showing just enough excitement that if it were the seventies and tight pants were still in style, it might be hard to hide.
He chuckled. “I might be walking around like this forever around you.”
“I think I’m proud of that.” She breezed past him, running her fingers across his chest, making sure she grazed his nipples.
He hissed. “Oh. That’s going to cost you.”
“Good. I’m counting on it.” She giggled. “This part of adulting is fun.” She ran toward the kitchen. So much of her life had been robbed from her. Granted, she hadn’t known what assholes her parents had been until she’d understood what a bastard her grandfather had been. The things he’d done to both his boys were just horrid. But the worst had been what he’d done to Kevin. And Kevin forever got a pass for some of the things he’d done.
She touched her nose.
“What are you thinking about?” Sawyer asked. “Your uncle and what he did you?”
“Yes,” she admitted.
“Why?”
“I’m trying to understand why I can be so forgiving of him when I can’t be of my father, or my grandfather anymore.”
“What are you talking about?” Sawyer said.
“Both my father and my grandfather abused Kevin for being gay. I can’t forgive them for that. But I can forgive Kevin for breaking my nose.”
“Well, Kevin is still here; that makes it easier,” Sawyer stated the obvious. “You can have conversations with him, and he can explain himself and prove he’s changed by his actions.”
“I suppose you’re right,” she said. “Do you think I’m crazy for wanting to give him another chance?”
“If hadn’t gotten to know him, I’d say yes. But he doesn’t want to live like this anymore.” Sawyer stepped into the kitchen and opened the fridge.
She tilted her head and admired his half-naked body. That’s when she noticed a piece of paper on the floor in front of the door. She bent over and picked it up.
It was addressed to both her and Sawyer and it was in her uncle’s handwriting.
Shit.
She hadn’t given much thought to what her uncle would think about where she laid her head for the night. He was probably pissed and she was a little surprised all she got was a note. Of course, she hadn’t checked her cell which was on the floor next to Sawyer’s bed, probably dead.
With shaky fingers, she tore open the envelope. “Sawyer, come here.”
“What is it?”
She flicked the paper. “I found this under the door from my uncle.”
“Read it.”
“Hayden and Sawyer. I had to go to work and didn’t want to wake you, but I want you to know MacKenzie has been in contact and wants to meet me tonight after work. I’ll text you the details when MacKenzie sets it up. Kevin.”
“Shit,” Sawyer said. “That’s all he wrote?” He glanced at his watch. “When does he go to the ranch?”
“Usually heads in around five in the morning.”
“So, he’s been gone for a couple of hours.” Sawyer sidestepped her and dived onto his futon; reaching across the bed, he found his cell.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“Calling Crew.”
“Why?”
He held his phone up. “Because MacKenzie has called me three times. My grandmother never calls me. She’s up to something and we need to get one step ahead of her before that meeting tonight.”
So much for getting the upper hand with his grandmother. His grand plan to manipulate her by having her think he was in debt due to a gambling problem would have to be tossed out the window now.
10
The blood in Sawyer’s veins boiled. His fingertips burned. The idea he could be breathing the same air as his grandmother in the next hour changed his essence. At least the meeting would be outside and not indoors.
He wouldn’t be able to tolerate being in an enclosed space with MacKenzie.
His pulse pounded between his ears. The amount of emotion swirling around in his gut overwhelmed his brain. He didn’t know what to do with the feelings; there were so many conflicting ones. They ranged from fear and intimidation to rage and wanting revenge.
He wasn’t exactly sure how to file everything away so it didn’t destroy whatever plan they came up with because now that MacKenzie had reached out, things would happen quickly. They had to because she wouldn’t come to town unless she was willing to pull that ace out of her sleeve.
“You need to settle down,” Crew said from his perch on the fence as he watched his fiancée, Heather, one of the trainers at Whiskey Ranch, and Hayden work with a couple of the horses.
Even though Hayden wasn’t training and no one would let her get on the backside of a bronco, there was no reason she couldn’t help out while Sawyer, Crew, and Kevin tried to come up with a strategy for dealing with MacKenzie.
Only, thus far, they had been digging out of the backstory, filling in all the holes. It was necessary, but they needed to push forward so they could put an end to this once and for all.
“When my grandmother is behind bars, I’ll be as relaxed as a loggerhead riding the East Australian Current,” Sawyer said.
Crew chuckled. “Your first payment is next week?” Crew turned his attention to Kevin.
“As soon as we get paid from the rodeo.” Kevin nodded. “We send it right to MacKenzie.”
“What else does she have you doing?” Crew asked.
“Nothing, yet. And I didn’t tell Hayden this, but MacKenzie did tell me that she might want Hayden to throw an event or two. That was the deal when she gave me the extension.”
