Explosive Memories

by Sherri Thomas

  Heading to the shower, he stripped, and stepped under the hot spray, hoping to clear his head. An hour later, restlessness fisted in his gut, chasing him from bed. Tugging on his jeans, he hobbled out to the porch and stared up at the starlit sky. How’d life get so mixed up? Before Jordan returned, he was…

  Nowhere.

  His life was idle. Not moving forward, stuck in the routine of daily life.

  Where did he want his future to go? What did the next sixty-some years hold?

  Land for sure. Hell, he’d never give up ranching, but the idea of being alone for the rest of his life held no appeal. Sure, his brothers were here, but someday they’d have spouses and new lives. Nick already started.

  Did he want to follow in big brother’s footsteps?

  Trent glanced around and found a light shining in Jordan’s living room window. Without pausing for thought, he ambled over the pebbled ground and knocked on the door.

  The woman he needed to see appeared on the other side of the screen. Her hair was swept back from her freshly scrubbed face, and she now wore a navy blue tank top with gray, cotton shorts.

  “Did you forget something?” her soft voice asked as she clutched the door, her gaze glued to his chest.

  “Can I come in?”

  Without a word, the barrier opened farther.

  Jordan wasn’t sure what to think when Trent entered and stood in the center of her living room, shirtless. When he deserted her earlier, she figured he’d keep his distance…far away.

  “I want to apologize for cutting out.”

  Insides quaking with nerves, she tore her gaze from the rising and falling muscles of his upper body.

  “Thing is, I’m not sure what to feel, or what I’m supposed to feel.” He ran a hand through his hair.

  “You don’t have to feel anything. Nothing’s changed.” For him anyway. Angry with herself for the bitterness, she gritted her teeth to keep the words in.

  “Everything’s changed, but I’d be damned if I can explain why.” He sighed and closed the distance. “There’s something ’bout you.”

  A large hand slipped to her neck. Instant heat bolted down her spine, and she stifled a moan.

  “I feel more around you than I have anyone.” The sexy cowboy rested his forehead on hers. “For the record, I’d have been honored to be our little girl’s d-daddy,” he whispered.

  A mountain of chills ran over her body.

  Was the testament so easy for him to say because the situation no longer existed?

  Tender lips played with Jordan’s, causing her knees to weaken.

  “And you’d have been an awesome mother.”

  Rather than sink into the strong, masculine pull, she held back, afraid to believe, afraid to give into temptation.

  “I want you.” He nuzzled the side of her throat. “I need you. You’re like the missing half of me, and that scares the hell out of me.”

  She wanted him, too, but struggled with the decision to give in.

  Tell him to go before it’s too late.

  Tipping her head, she got caught in the web of his gaze. Her tummy tightened and fluttered, sending a tingling sensation to every nerve ending. Her resolve weakening, she leaned into him. How good would it feel to let herself go? To feel alive and not like she walked around in someone else’s body.

  Trent cupped her cheek in his calloused palm and wrapped the other arm around her waist, drawing their bodies closer together.

  A tidal wave of sensations flooded her senses at the feel of him. His tongue traced her lower lip, and before she drew another breath, his mouth crushed hers.

  An adrenaline rush like no other traveled through her. Her hand flattened against his chest. Skin to skin. This was wrong, yet right.

  Frantic for more, she launched her own assault, kissing his lips, jaw, chin, neck, and back to his sinful mouth. It had been so long. Too long. Tracing a path up the hard contours to his silky hair, an ache pooled heavily at her core.

  High on his scent, dizziness washed over her. Her mother always told her to keep her head out of the clouds. What was she doing? This was wrong. She owed her parents the courtesy and respect she failed to show them during those high school years.

  No. Jordan rolled the thoughts aside. I’m an adult now.

  His hand slid underneath the hem of her shirt, skirting her ribs, and up to cup her breasts. The feel of his palms through the thin cotton covering her nipples was her undoing. She needed this. Needed him.

  Leaping up, she wrapped her legs around his waist.

  He caught her and cupped her backside, squeezing, kneading as he carried her to the bedroom and placed her on the mattress.

  Trent paused next to the bed, giving her a minute to study his well-sculptured muscles. She licked her dry lips. His torso—though broader than she remembered—sported a thin layer of dark hair in the center and two scars. One she assumed resulted from his surgery, but the other was farther down, below his rib cage. What happened to cause such angry lines? She reached out and touched the puckered skin.

  Strong hands closed around her upper arms. “No.”

  She jumped and searched his face, noting an underlining uneasiness. Rising on her knees, she kissed the surgical spot.

  He tensed under her administrations, but didn’t stop her.

  She nibbled her way up to his neck and collar bone and back down the magnificent chest, tracing his nipples with the tip of her tongue. Licking the salty skin across his flat abdomen to the waistband of his jeans, she made quick work of the belt buckle blocking her way. She was stunned by her own brazen actions, but unable to calm the hormones raging inside her malnourished libido.

  A shudder ran through him before he trundled her back on the mattress and kicked free of the denim. Her gaze filled with narrow hips and dark blue boxer briefs. She reached out to trace a fingernail over the erection concealed in the underwear and over to the birthmark on his left thigh. Once, she thought the symbol odd and intriguing. Now, the horseshoe held heartache and love, nightmares and memories.

  “My turn.”

  The sound of his deep drawl and feel of hot hands on her skin yanked her back to the present.

  Trent slipped her shorts down her legs and drew the tank top overhead, exposing her lace-covered breasts and skimpy black thong.

  “I see you still like sexy underclothes.” He wrapped his arms around her and pressed his mouth to the exposed mounds of skin above her bra. She arched to meet wet lips and shivered as his kisses traveled down to her rib cage.

  The magic, the sizzle she remembered was real.

  Heightened sensations caused her to thrust into the impressive bulge growing behind the cowboy’s briefs.

  “In a hurry, are you?” He released the front clasp, freeing her to his waiting tongue, and flicked the pebbled nipples one by one.

  Ultra sensitive to his administrations, she grasped the back of his head and held him tight as she had before. This was how he made her feel all those years ago. A few touches and she went up in flames. The chemistry between them hadn’t diminished by any means.

  “Please, Trent.”

  He suckled harder, sending waves of wet heat rushing to her center, dampening the thin material of her thong.

  She grabbed his hand. “You’re driving me crazy.”

  “Can’t have that now, can we? Tell me what you want,” he murmured against her skin.

  She placed his hand at the juncture of her thighs. “Touch me.”

  He grazed her breasts with his teeth as he cupped her, slipping a finger in and out of the side of the silky barrier.

  Jordan gasped at the rush of overwhelming sensations. She was on fire, and he had only begun to stroke the coals.

  “I can feel your heat. You’re so wet.”

  In one fluent yank, he ripped the lace off, and replaced his hand with his mouth.

  She sucked in a breath as his tongue flicked over the sensitive area.

  “You taste so good.” He stroked her in an
d out, up one side, down the other, and back in.

  No other man had ever made her this hot, this crazy, this wild. Abandoning all her reservations, she let herself go completely to the only person she’d ever trusted. Her hips moved, meeting each thrust harder, faster, her orgasm building. Light exploded behind her lids, and she called out his name.

  His body slid back up, and she opened her eyes to stare at the most desirable male she’d ever met. Her heart fluttered and skipped a beat as Trent’s sinful mouth met hers.

  Needing to explore him as he had her, she shoved at his upper body until he sprawled back on the bed. Once again, she was drawn to the scar close to his shoulder and the one on his lower abdomen. Wanting to savor the moment, and save anymore talk for later, she lavished each as if she could kiss the marks away.

  She explored him with her hands, fingertips, and tongue, reacquainting herself with the taste and feel of him. Licking at the salty skin and kissing her way across his chest, over his torso, and lower. Catching his gaze, she pulled the briefs away and grasped his shaft. Slowly, she slid her tongue up the thick length and over the rim, remembering the way he liked her to those many years ago.

  His penis twitched in her palm as she wrapped fingers around the velvety skin. Watching him watch her, she took him into her mouth and sucked hard. Not once, but twice she glided her hand up and down.

  “Stop.” Trent dragged in ragged breaths. “No more.”

  Flipping her onto her back, he leaned over and opened a drawer on the side table.

  “What are you doing?”

  He let out an audible sigh and revealed a small packet. “Praying these were still here.”

  “How’d you know they were?” Thankful the package was there, she wondered where the prophylactics had come from in the first place. Had he brought other girls to the cabin?

  Of course he’d been with other women. She’d be stupid to think otherwise. A bit miffed with the idea, but trying not to be, she gave a quick laugh.

  He grinned from ear to ear.

  “What?”

  “You’re jealous.”

  “Ha! Of what?”

  “You think these are mine. That I’ve had sex with other women here. I see it in your eyes.”

  Damn. How could the man read her so well?

  Trent cupped her chin in his palm and smiled. “Darcy used to live here, and Nick mentioned…well never mind. Just know they aren’t mine, but lucky for us, there’s a box left.”

  He leaned down, and warm lips touched hers. Feeling like an idiot, but more at ease and happy with his explanation, Jordan snagged the condom from his fingertips, ripped the foil open, and rolled the rubber down his length.

  “Time for a ride, cowboy.” She shoved him playfully onto his back and slid a leg over his waist, eager to feel him.

  Large hands grasped her hips, holding her suspended over him. He pushed upward barely touching her opening with the tip of his penis.

  She wiggled. “Trent, please.”

  Slowly, he lowered her onto his awaiting shaft. Her breath hitched at the invasion. Savoring the feel of him deep inside, she closed her eyes. The sensations so long waiting, so long in coming.

  “You’re tight,” he hissed through gritted teeth and cupped her breasts, kneading the tissue.

  Her body stretched, accommodating his thick size. She lifted up, and sank back down, burying him deep and rocking against him. He fit so perfectly, felt so good. Tipping her head back, she pressed her breasts forward.

  He bit a nipple with his teeth and suckled one then the other, before holding her face in his hands and bringing her lips down to his.

  She nipped at him and pulled back, staring into his brown eyes. Only with this man had she ever let her guard down or felt cherished, and she wanted, for the first time in years, to embrace herself and what may be in her future.

  Believing in herself and the man who held her heart, she released her fears and lowered the walls she’d built to protect herself.

  “God, you’re beautiful.” He thrusted upward, driving harder, deeper, faster.

  She leaned forward, scraping her nipples along his chest, and bit at his jaw. Sure hands slid around, cupping her ass, spreading her open. She bit her lip to keep from crying out his name at the erotic sensations.

  His finger slid between their bodies, and his thumb circled her sensitive nub. She wanted the pleasure to last, but the pressure was too intense. Every nerve ending screamed out. Powerless to stop wave after wave, her heart thudded in her ears. The orgasm flowed more intense than the first and she gasped, hearing him shout her name as he, too, let go.

  Chapter Ten

  Jordan rubbed the sleep from her eyes and stretched. Her aching body protested the movements, and she smiled, recalling the reasons.

  A heavy arm landed across her midsection. She shifted closer and planted a kiss on the cowboy’s lips.

  “Mornin’,” he murmured, brushing strands of hair off her shoulder.

  He ran the finger over her collarbone, up the side of her neck, setting fire with every inch. For too many years, she longed to be close to another human being…well, not just anyone. She never found this heightened place or sense of security with any other than Trent.

  She glanced to the clock on the bedside table and blinked to clear her sights. No way. Sitting up, she exclaimed, “I can’t remember the last time I slept past five.”

  Trent half-rose. “What time is it?”

  “Seven,” she answered, staring into his handsome face.

  A hand shot through his hair, causing the strands to stand up on end. “Damn. I need to go. I should’ve been at the barns hours ago.” He rose and picked up his pants off the floor.

  Watching him draw the denim up his naked thighs, she wished for another hour or two to lie in bed with him, keeping reality at bay for a while longer.

  “You okay? You got a funny look on your face.”

  “What? Oh, I’m fine.” She tugged the sheet up over her breasts.

  The mattress dipped with his weight as he sat. His finger traveled along the ridge of the cotton and dipped into her cleavage, his tongue soon following.

  Goose pimples rose on her skin, and she closed her eyelids, savoring the feeling.

  He moaned and crept over her, forcing her to lie back. “I guess a few more minutes won’t matter.”

  And who was she to argue when his mouth inflicted such delicious assaults.

  Hands grasped her hips and flipped her over; his fingers and lips traveled down her spine, setting the skin on fire. He kissed every inch of her back, biting her ass lightly until she withered against the sheets.

  “Lift up.” Wrapping an arm around her waist, he positioned her on to her knees and slid a finger over her vagina once, twice.

  A heaviness settled low between her thighs, and she pushed back toward the sweet torment of his errant finger, wanting more. He inserted another, slipping in and out, shallow then deeper, slow then faster until she thought she’d go mad.

  Jordan whimpered as she tried to hold back her climax. She wanted to feel him throbbing inside, to feel his thick size stretching her, pleasuring her when she went over the edge.

  He pulled out and pushed back in at a rapid pace, bringing her orgasm that much closer, but withdrew at the last second.

  “You are so cruel.” She turned to see what he was doing, but a strong arm held her still.

  “Don’t move.”

  He reached past her and grabbed a condom, then spread her legs farther and mounted her from behind. The invasion sent a shock to her core. Never had she imagined feeling so wanton. He withdrew and plunged inside again and again, his testicles slapping against her sensitive flesh.

  His fingers traveled up her back, gently pressing the top half of her onto the mattress, while his other snaked around to find her swollen nub.

  “Oh, I’m…” She bit the pillow, pushing back, wanting him deeper, harder, faster. Stars danced behind her eyes as he moaned her name, and she tumbl
ed over the ecstasy cliff with him.

  An hour later, he rose. “I really need to get out of here or my brothers will hunt me down.” Kissing her lips, he stared. “Go for a ride with me later?”

  She giggled. “We already did.”

  “Horseback riding, you nymph.” He bit her neck. “I’ll swing by in a couple of hours.”

  “Okay.” She smiled, reveling in the happiness and contentment that filled her.

  One more quick brush of his mouth and out the door he went.

  Jordan shook her head and marveled over the changes one day could make in a person’s life. Sinking back in bed, she inhaled Trent’s lingering scent on the pillow. Maybe she’d stay right here until he returned.

  ****

  After a quick wash and shave, Trent headed to the barns, whistling along the way. His mind at peace, his muscles relaxed for the first time in years. Being with Jordan last night—and again this morning—was hot, sweaty, intense, and…like coming home after a long, hard rodeo.

  “I see you finally decided to show up,” Sam commented, walking out of the horse barn.

  “Didn’t mean to stick ya’ll with the chores.”

  His brother scrutinized him with open curiosity. No doubt wondering if he swallowed more pills.

  “Don’t worry, we saved the best for last. Chris is in the cattle barn, and that leaves you, my friend, with the small animals.”

  “No problem.” Nothing could sour his mood. Feeling like ribbing his brother a bit, he asked, “Why is it you were the one who brought pigs, sheep, and smaller critters to the barn, but we seem to be the ones cleaning up after them?”

  “Because I’m brilliant, and they’re a rip roaring success with the guests, especially the children. Hell, they even provide some food for the business.” Sam chuckled, swinging a bag off a skid and loading the feed into a storage bin. “Missed you at the meeting.”

  “I’m sure ya’ll did fine without me.” He started off, wanting to get his duties done and hurry back to Jordan.

  “That permanent smile you’re wearing wouldn’t have anything to do with a certain dark-haired woman staying in Darcy’s old cabin, would it?”