Collapsed on top of her, his breaths came in sawing heaves that took him several minutes to slow before he realized she breathed as hard as he did, though not as well with his heavy weight on top of her.
He rolled to his side, gathered her close with one arm, and fell onto his back. She settled her head on his shoulder, her lovely breasts pressed to his ribs.
The quiet night settled around them. Their heated bodies cooled. She let out a soft sigh, her breath whispering over his skin. He held her closer.
“Stay,” he coaxed, kissing the top of her head.
“I don’t want to be anywhere but right here with you.”
He smiled into the night. For the first time ever, he’d asked a woman to spend the night and began thinking about ways to get her to stay longer. Maybe even forever.
Chapter Twenty-Five
* * *
THEY SAT IN the circle of light cast by the candles on the table. They’d never see past that glow to the hiding spot behind one of the thick trees. They had long since finished the meal he cooked for her. That just riled.
Claire sat pretty as a picture, drinking her wine, her gaze always going to Owen, sweeping his body with a longing no one could mistake. Owen saw it, responded to it with smiles and smoldering looks that said only one thing: he wanted her in his bed tonight. Who could blame him, she was a beautiful woman.
Their conversation floated on the breeze in muted tones that gave no hint to the actual words said. The words weren’t necessary when you watched the body language between the two of them. The way she tilted her head to listen. The way he touched her foot or leg, massaging her muscles, tempting her into more. He leaned in close, like he was telling her a secret. She smiled and laughed, giving him a playful smack on the arm.
Finally, Claire stood to leave, but turned back when Owen stood to walk her out. His charms weren’t enough to make her stay, because he didn’t really want her and she knew it. All he wanted from her, nothing more than a night in his bed.
Moving positions around the house after they went inside, the wait grew too long. Claire never came out the front door. Lights never went on in the house.
The anger came swift and hard.
So, she’d gone willingly to his bed.
Maybe she needed a stronger reason to leave. And if she didn’t leave, maybe she didn’t deserve to live.
Chapter Twenty-Six
* * *
CLAIRE WOKE UP by degrees. At first, the hand covering her breast seemed like just another cozy position to sleep next to Owen’s big warm body. Then his tongue swept over her other breast, tightening her nipple. The hand over her breast caressed down her belly in soft, slow circles angling down until his fingers dipped low and one slipped into her slick core.
“You are always so hot a wet for me.”
She smiled, thinking of last night and how he’d woken her a mere two hours after the first time they made love to do it all over again. The first time had been a combination of slow buildups and fast and hard lovemaking. The second time he’d taken her with a need that defied all logic or attempts to slow things down. He’d wanted her and had her in less than fifteen minutes, but she didn’t mind when it was that explosive.
This was something altogether different. Just like the man who looked like a lawyer one minute, a jock the next, and a rancher after that, Owen made love in much the same way. He had a way about him, depending on his mood. So far she loved the two he’d shown her. This slow, sweet, take-your-time Owen just might make her melt, when the others had simply demanded she play.
“More.” She spoke the thought out loud. With him, she always wanted more.
“All you want and then some.”
“I want you.”
He planted a kiss on her stomach, his tongue sweeping out to taste. He did it again and again, sinking her deeper and deeper into his spell. His fingers worked in and out of her slick sheath, building the sweet tension coiling in her belly. He cupped her, rubbed his palm over that sweet spot he could find now with his eyes closed. She grinded her hips into his hand and his fingers stroked. She sighed, and he shifted up her body, planting more of those open-mouthed kisses until he got to her breast, where he took her into his mouth but kept things soft and light like a waking dream.
Nothing had ever felt like this. No one made her feel quite like this. Free. Loved. Special. Beautiful.
“Owen,” she called to him, moving her hips, wanting more. Wanting him inside of her, filling her.
He shifted over her again, this time rubbing his whole body over the front of her as he rose up on his hands and nudged her entrance with the head of his cock. He pushed in languidly slow. She sighed out a long breath as he eased his way in until he was buried and softly grinding against her.
Owen buried his face in her neck and hair and whispered, “Good morning, my sweet Claire.”
“It is now.”
She meant it, and he liked her all the more because when he thought they might be awkward in the morning light, she surprised him and wrapped her legs around him and pulled him closer. No reservation. No hesitation. No shyness to her moves, or the way she wrapped her arms around his back and held him close as he moved in and out of her. He just wanted to be close to her, find the special moment they’d shared last night and know how real it was even in the light.
So he rocked his hips back into hers and lost himself in making love to her, kissing her neck, her lips, her shoulder as their bodies moved together. He stayed close to her, wrapping her up against him, needing the feel of her body moving against his.
She pulled her knees higher, and he sank deeper. Desperate to draw this out and show her he could be gentle. He tamped down his need to thrust harder and pick up the pace. Never passive, she grabbed his ass and pulled him to her, rolling her hips to create that delicious friction that always sent her over the edge when he pushed into her and circled his hips to increase her pleasure and his. Her wet core tightened around him, she gave him a soft bite on the shoulder and smoothed her tongue over the small hurt that sent a shaft of heat through his system. He kept the pace, but made his movements longer and harder. Her body tightened around him; she held him close and lost herself in the moment, pulling him with her into the depths of pleasure.
Spent, he lay on top of her, his arms banded around her in the same fashion as she had her arms and legs wrapped around him.
He felt like he should say something. His emotions felt heavy in his chest, but he couldn’t find the words.
“I wish we could capture this moment somehow,” she said.
He felt the same way. “Me too, but I have to get up and go feed the horses.”
“It’s barely morning.”
“If I don’t feed them at the same time each day, they get antsy and start beating down the gates.”
“Is this your way of getting out of cuddling with me?”
He chuckled, liking the way she lightened the mood, but still kept things intimate between them.
“I’d like nothing better than to stay with you in bed all day, but I need to take care of this.” He kissed her softly and rubbed his nose along her cheek to her ear. “Sleep. I’ll be back.”
“I’m counting on it.”
That made him smile. He rolled off her and slid out of bed. He pulled the sheets up around her and she glanced at him briefly with a soft smile and a sigh before her eyes drooped closed again and she drifted back to sleep.
In the weak morning light, she looked ethereal with her golden hair spread over the white sheets. He liked seeing her in his bed. He liked it a lot. So much so that he wondered how he went about getting her to stay tonight, too.
It would make it easier to keep her safe. Then again, it might put a bigger target on her back. The thought sent a chill up his spine.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
* * *
CLAIRE WOKE WITH a start, not knowing what made her uneasy until she saw a pair of jean-clad legs next to the bed she recognized.
&n
bsp; “Don’t you sleep?”
“Not when I have a beautiful woman in my bed,” Owen teased.
She didn’t want to think about the other women in his bed. He must have read her mind and added, “Of course, no other woman actually stayed the night here, or slept in my bed, so I guess it’s just having you here.”
That got her attention. “You’ve never had another woman to your house?”
“It’s easier not to actually sleep with a woman if you don’t have to make excuses to get them out of your house.”
“So, are you standing there, trying to come up with a polite way to get me out of here?”
“Nope. I’m staring at your fine ass and hoping you’ll roll over so I can stare at your beautiful breasts that make my mouth water.”
“Well, saying things like that isn’t going to get me out of your bed.”
“I’m on the right track then.”
She leaned up on her elbow, realizing the blankets were tangled at her waist, and he was in fact staring at her breasts.
“What exactly are you trying to do?”
“Decide if I’m going to make love to you again, or tell you I made you breakfast.”
Her stomach rumbled at the mere mention of food. Her heart melted that he’d made her breakfast, which meant he really didn’t want her out and fast. No, he wanted her to stay awhile.
“I guess that means you want the food.”
She rose up on her knees in front of him and wrapped her arms around his neck, giving him a quick, sweet kiss. “I want you, too, but if you don’t feed me and give me coffee, I won’t have the strength to live up to the amazing sex we had last night and this morning.”
“Well, come on, woman. Eat. I’ve got plans for you for later.”
“Really?” she asked, wondering if this was real or just wishful thinking.
He traced a finger over her forehead and down the side of her face, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear, and unveiling even more of her breasts from behind the curtain of hair that fell over her chest when she got up.
“I was hoping you’d want to hang out here today. With me. It’s Sunday. We don’t have work. I’d like you to stay,” he finished, a touch of hesitation in his voice.
“You mean that.”
“That’s why I said it.”
“Okay.”
“Okay, what?”
“I’ll eat. I’ll stay.”
Since she was plastered to the front of him, she felt his exhale of relief all the way through her body. She hid the smile and gave him another quick kiss.
“Let me use the bathroom, and I’ll be down in a minute. Can I borrow some toothpaste at least?”
“I found a spare toothbrush and left it on the counter for you.”
“A toothbrush today. My clothes in the closet tomorrow. Before you know it, this might be a real relationship. You sure you wouldn’t rather I run home, clean up, and come back later?”
She kept her tone teasing and light, but his eyes narrowed and his hands came up to cup her face.
“This is a real relationship. You and me and the possibility of forever. So brush your teeth. Put the toothbrush in the garbage can or in the holder, whatever makes you comfortable at this point, and come down and have breakfast with me.”
She stopped him when he reached the door. Naked, sitting in the middle of his bed, she bared her soul. “Owen, do you know why I like being here with you?”
She expected a smartass remark like “Great sex,” but he surprised her and asked in a solemn tone, “Why?”
“Because I know you want me here with you, and that scares me just a little bit.”
“We understand each other then, because it scares me just a little bit how much I want you here. The thing is, you not being here scares me more.”
She cocked her head and smiled, because she knew how hard it was for him to make that admission.
“If I had a camera, I’d take your picture right now. God, you’re beautiful.”
He walked back to the bed, planted his hands on the mattress, and leaned in for a kiss. She caught his face in her hands and held him in the kiss for a moment before touching her forehead to his, taking in the moment.
“Come down to breakfast when you’re ready.”
This time he did walk out the door, leaving her wondering about how fast this thing between them was moving. Where did she really want it to go?
She walked into the bathroom and stopped short at the sink, taking a step back when she saw what he left her. Not only did he find her a toothbrush, but he left her a towel, washcloth, a comb, and a hotel-size bottle of cucumber-melon lotion. She smiled and put her hand over her fluttering stomach.
“Damn the man makes it hard not to want to leap.”
She turned on the shower taps and stepped into the hot spray to wash away the makeup she’d slept in. She used his soap and shampoo, wishing for more time to indulge in the huge white marble stall. She’d love to turn on the other shower across the way and have both of them work on her sore muscles. Owen had certainly given her a workout last night.
Finished in the shower, she used the towel he left her to dry off and squeeze as much water as she could out of her hair. She used the comb to get out the tangles and let it all fall down her back to air dry. She opened the bottle of lotion, smelled its sweet fragrance, and used some on her legs, arms, and hands. She grabbed Owen’s toothpaste and used her new toothbrush to brush her teeth. She smiled at herself in the mirror when she automatically put the toothbrush in the holder on the sink without even thinking about it. She stared at the two of them together and shrugged the whole thing away.
“You never know. I might need it later.”
Again, without any real thought, she opened the medicine cabinet and tucked the small bottle of lotion away. Done, she hung the damp towel on the empty bar next to his and walked back into the bedroom. She didn’t have anything but her clothes from last night. Warm after her shower, she pulled on the tunic and left the room feeling sexy and flirtatious.
OWEN DIDN’T KNOW what had come over him this morning when he came back in from feeding the horses and saw her lying in his bed. He rushed through his chores because he wanted to be back in that bed with her. Instead of waking her with another round of morning sex, he’d showered and changed and rummaged through the cupboards to find her some supplies. He’d had to stop himself from grabbing her keys and going down the road to her place and packing her a bag.
The shower went off upstairs and he smiled, liking the fact she’d made herself at home and jumped in without even asking if he minded. Hell no, he didn’t. That’s why he left her the towel and supplies.
He cracked six eggs into the pan and scrambled them up with the spatula. He pushed the lever down on the toaster, added salt and pepper to the eggs, grabbed the shredded cheese from the fridge, noticed the bin of mixed greens, opened it, and pulled out a bunch of spinach to add to the eggs. He may not be a gourmet cook, but he could make her a decent meal. If she felt as ravenous as he did after last night, she needed the food as much as he did.
He folded the eggs and spinach over in the pan and added the cheese to the top. She walked up behind him, wrapped her arms around his middle, and looked over his shoulder, standing on her tiptoes. “That looks wonderful.”
“You smell good.”
“Thanks. I smell like you plus the lotion you left me. I used your soap and shampoo.”
“Use whatever you like.”
“Thanks, I knew you’d say that. I need coffee.”
“I left you a mug by the pot.”
She kissed his neck and walked over to the pot on the counter, giving him a nice view of her long, toned legs. He hadn’t seen her walk in half-naked, but he sure did appreciate it.
“Honey, you’ve got the best looking legs.”
She turned with the mug in both hands and blew on the steaming brew. She leaned back against the counter and crossed her ankles, completely at ease standing in his kitchen h
alf-naked. God, he liked her.
“I like the way you go barefoot at home.”
“Don’t want to be walking through the house in my mucked-up boots.”
“No, you wouldn’t. You like things neat and tidy.”
“Probably because my father lived a messy life, and Brody and I were always the ones to clean it up.”
He dropped the subject and turned back to the eggs. He cut the omelet down the middle and slid each half onto a plate. The toast popped and he set the pan on a cool burner and grabbed the toast and buttered it. Claire opened the drawer behind him and pulled out silverware. He took the plates to the table and set hers next to his. He took the chair, and she sat in the padded cushion in the window seat. Before he took a bite, she leaned in and kissed his cheek.
“Thank you. This smells really good.”
“You’re welcome, sweetheart. Eat. You must be starved.”
She giggled and took the first bite. “I am. Oh, man, that is so good,” she said around the mouthful.
He laughed with her and dug into his own food. It didn’t take either of them long to work their way through the meal with nothing but smiles and small talk.
Her phone buzzed and she rose to grab her purse off the counter and check it. She dug through her purse and pulled out a round plastic case, pulling a pill out of it and popping it in her mouth, chasing it with her coffee as she came back to the table. So, that answered the question about whether she was on birth control. Not that he hadn’t protected her last night and this morning, but it was good to know they had backup.
Or was it?
He thought of his nieces, Dawn and Autumn, and the way they loved Brody. He wanted children of his own, but things with Claire were far too new to discuss having a family someday.
Falling for Owen Page 18
