“You know that’s one of the reasons they’re babysitting, so you two can be alone.” Pete reached for a bridle draped over the porch railing.
“I suspected as much. Dad’s in matchmaking mode for sure.”
“How about you? I mean, more than the obvious. There has to be more to it than sex.”
“That’s what I intended to find out when I drove up to Great Falls on…damn, was it only last Thursday?” He hung up the bridle he’d been working on and took another.
“Time crawls when you’re having a crisis.”
Gage laughed. “Did you just make that up?”
“I did, as a matter of fact.”
“Well, I like it. Might steal it.” He rubbed saddle soap into the leather. “I know that technically this is a crisis, but I’ve had some really good times in the past couple of days. I don’t think you’re supposed to have fun during a crisis.”
“Or maybe that’s a sign that you’ve found someone special, someone who knows how to make lemonade out of lemons.”
“Are you calling me a lemon?”
“This isn’t about you, cowboy. It’s about Emma, who finds herself in a difficult situation and manages to enjoy herself, anyway. Just in case you didn’t notice.”
“I did. She’s been all in.”
“Yet she’d never set foot in this town before and the only person she knew here was you. And you were a wild card.”
“True.”
“You know her better than I do, bro. But from what I’ve seen, you’ve stumbled upon a remarkable woman. Dad and Kendra think so, too.”
“So they took Josh so I could seal the deal?”
“Oh, hell, no. Who knows if that’s possible? Besides, I’m sure they couldn’t wait to have that little guy to spoil. If that furthered the romance between you and Emma, bonus. I doubt they expected you to launch into any sealing the deal maneuvers.”
“Good, because I’m miles away from that kind of thinking. Last Thursday I was investigating the possibility that Emma might turn into more than a two-week fling. Then things got real. My brain is nothing but scorched earth at this point.”
Pete laid another bridle on the rail. “I’m guessing the rest of you is scorched for a different reason.”
“Smartass.”
“Just calling it like I see it. Nothing wrong with lusting after the mother of your child. I’d call that a definite positive.”
“Theoretically. We were great together before, but it was all fun and games back then.” He finished another bridle and hung it on the rail. “Neither of us had any responsibilities. It may not be the same.”
“Maybe it’ll be better.”
That started his engines. “I’d better go shower and change.” He stood. “I want to be ready when she texts me.”
Pete laughed. “Something tells me you will be.”
* * *
Gage parked in the visitor section in front of The Nesting Place and grabbed the bottle of red wine he’d picked up at the Guzzling Grizzly on his way through town. He’d tucked it into a GG wine bag from the Country Store. Flowers would have been nice, too, but they weren’t available on a Sunday night.
Damn it, he was nervous. Yesterday he’d been over the moon about this opportunity. Earlier today he’d been trading sexual banter with Emma and looking forward to holding her. But like he’d told Pete, the dynamic wouldn’t be the same as it had been nineteen months ago.
The front door of the B&B was still open at this hour and the entry was blissfully empty. He wasn’t up to making small talk with Mrs. Stanislowski.
He’d settled the bill over the phone this morning before Emma had arrived with Josh. They wouldn’t be coming back here next weekend because Kendra had invited them to stay at Wild Creek Ranch.
And yet, how would that work out? It didn’t exactly set the stage for intimate encounters. Staying there would be great for his son, though.
He paused outside Emma’s door, took a deep breath and focused on his purpose for being here. He’d promised to relieve her anxiety about Josh’s first overnight with lots of hot sex. No pressure.
He tapped on the door and after a few seconds she opened it. Her mascara was smeared all to hell and she clutched a wad of tissues in one hand.
“Oh, Emma.” Stepping inside, he set the bottle on the floor, nudged the door closed with his foot and wrapped her in his arms.
She clung to him and buried her face against his chest. “I’m…sorry.” She gulped. “Silly. So silly.”
“Shh, it’s okay. Perfectly natural.” He held her close and rocked her slowly back and forth. Lowering his head, he laid his cheek against her silky hair. She’d left it down. For him.
“I was fine.” Her words were muffled against his chest. “Until I texted you.”
“That made you cry?”
“No. The videos. I had the phone in my hand so I started watching them.”
“Ah. Videos of Josh.”
“Uh-huh.” She took a shaky breath, lifted her head and gazed at him. “And now I look like some deranged chick from a horror movie.”
He grinned. “Kinda.”
“Hey! You’re supposed to say I’m beautiful, no matter what.”
He recited it in a monotone. “You’re beautiful no matter what.”
Her lips twitched. “Not like that. With feeling.”
“You’re bee-you-ta-ful, no matter what!” He lifted his eyebrows. “Better?”
She laughed. “Absolutely perfect. Makes me feel like a freaking goddess.” She wiggled out of his arms. “If you’ll excuse me, I’ll go repair the—yikes! I got mascara all over your white shirt!”
He glanced down. “So you did.”
“Take it off. Let me work on it right now before it sets.”
Undoing his cuffs, he pulled out his shirttails and started on the row of snaps down the front. “Déjà vu all over again.”
“Not quite.” She stood back with her arms crossed. “This time I don’t have to pretend I’m not looking. I can indulge in a full-out ogle.”
“What’s so great about a guy’s chest, anyway? I never got that.”
“Muscles. Women dig ‘em. Pecs and abs. Yummy.”
“Why?” He stripped off the shirt.
“Probably goes back to a time when a man needed brute strength to defend his family from the saber-toothed tiger. We’re conditioned to be attracted to muscles.”
“Sounds primitive.”
Her eyes darkened and she moistened her lips. “Because it is.”
“To hell with the shirt.” Balling it up, he sent it sailing toward the table by the window. Then he took off his hat and scored a ringer on the bedpost behind her. “What, no argument about the stain on my shirt?”
She shook her head. “I like how this is going.” Her breath came faster, now, rippling the dark green fabric of her top, loose-fitting with thin straps. No bra. The pants were made of the same stuff.
He unfastened his belt and slipped it out of the loops. “And I like what you’re wearing.”
“My PJs.”
“Pretty slinky for PJs.” He let the belt drop and unbuttoned his jeans as he walked toward her. “I don’t remember those.”
“I didn’t wear PJs then.” She swallowed. “I slept naked.”
“I do remember that.” He reached her and cupped her face in both hands. “Want to know what else I remember?”
Her pink lips parted as she sucked in a breath. “Sure.”
“Your eagerness.” He feathered a kiss over her soft mouth. “How you didn’t even want to wait until I took my boots off.” Heart racing, he touched down, tasting mint with the tip of his tongue, then hot desire as he slid deeper.
She moaned and gripped his shoulders, digging in with her fingertips the way she used to.
He cupped the back of her head and slipped a hand under the loose hem of her top. The pleasure of cradling the smooth, plump weight of her breast in his palm made him shiver. Slowly he stroked his thumb over her t
aut nipple.
Flexing her fingers, she began a firm, sensuous massage of his shoulders, then his pecs. When she pinched his nipples, he gasped and lifted his mouth from hers. “Emma…”
“I’m still eager, Gage.” Her voice was low and sultry as she stroked his quivering abs. Then she moved lower, pulled down his zipper and slid both hands inside the elastic of his briefs.
A red haze of lust enveloped him as she grasped his cock in both hands. He groaned.
“Let’s do it with your boots on,” she murmured. “For old time’s sake.”
“Wonderful plan.” He struggled to breathe. “Turn me loose so I can maneuver.”
“All right.” But she took her time about it, squeezing and fondling him before she finally let him go.
Scooping her up, he transported her to the bed and sat her on the edge. He had those flimsy pants off in two seconds, his jeans and briefs shoved down in another two. “Where are the—”
“Drawer.” She pulled her top over her head and tossed it away.
He yanked the thing open and had to laugh. She had them scattered inside, loose and available. He snatched one up. “Handy.”
“Told you I’m eager.” She scooted a little farther onto the bed.
“Don’t go too far away.” He suited up. “I’m hobbled by these jeans, and…you know what? I should take the time to—”
“No. Come get me. It’s tradition.”
“Can’t buck tradition.” He crawled onto that bed the best he could, making sure his booted feet hung over the side. Easing between her warm thighs, he gazed into her green eyes as he sank his cock to the hilt.
Then he stayed there, not moving, not speaking, absorbed in the intense sensation of being with Emma like this. Again. At last. As if his body had been waiting.
She didn’t move or speak, either, but a lot was going on with her judging from her expression. Aroused…happy…a little scared. Not so different from what was going on with him.
She was beautiful, no matter what. Smeared mascara and all.
Reaching up, she cupped his cheek. Her voice was soft and slightly breathless. “I wondered how it would be.”
“Me, too.”
“It’s still good.”
“Better.”
Her smile reached right into his heart. “Yeah. Better.”
Chapter Twenty
What a miracle. Emma had never expected to see Gage again, let alone experience…this. They could have been awkward with each other. Tentative. Instead she lay beneath him dazed by the magic that had not disappeared. Instead it had grown stronger.
He held her gaze. “This is so perfect. I almost hate to move.”
She smoothed her hands down his broad back. “But I love it when you do.”
“I remember that.” He rocked his hips, easing out and sliding back in. “You used to make noise.”
“So did you.” She sucked in a quick breath. That slight bit of friction had set off little explosions, hints of what would soon follow. “But that was winter, windows closed, my place.”
“Don’t worry.” He drew back and pushed forward. “We’ll manage this without bringing the house down.”
“I’m not so sure.” She clutched his hips and arched into his next thrust. “That feels really good.”
“It’s supposed to. Otherwise folks wouldn’t bother.” He continued the leisurely pace. “Ready to take it up a notch?”
“I could be persuaded.”
“Mm, a challenge. I like that.” Resting his weight on his forearm, he maintained the gentle rocking motion as he cupped her breast. “You used to like being touched here.”
Her breath quickened. “Still do.”
“I can tell.” He began a slow massage. “You’re squeezing my cock.”
“And you like that.” Everything was coming back, as if they’d parted days ago.
“Sure do. But I don’t want to come. Not yet.” He toyed with her nipple. “Ladies first.”
“That’s right. You never—”
“Point of honor. And it’s time.” Leaning down, he drew her nipple into his mouth.
The double assault of his sweet suction and the steady rhythm of his cock sent her flying over the edge. Her jubilant cry was cut short when he abandoned her breast and covered her mouth with his.
A moment later he lifted his head and gave her a chance to gasp for breath. “Noise level.”
“I know.” She gulped for air. “I forgot.”
“Then I must have been doing something right.”
“Quite a bit right. I was in outer space.” Gradually she stopped quivering and peered up at him. “But you haven’t—”
“No, but I will.” He seated his cock more firmly inside her as his hot gaze roamed her body. “I could almost come just looking at you, all pink and sweaty from your climax.”
“I’m dripping. Did we sweat like this before?”
“Maybe not. It was winter.”
“This is sort of erotic, getting all slippery.”
“The earthy aspects of life.”
“Yeah.” She smiled. “Down to basics.”
“Uh-huh, and speaking of that, remember how you used to wrap your legs around me?”
“Yes.”
“I want you to do that. Tuck your heels against the small of my back. Open up for me.”
“Here goes.” She lifted her legs and crossed her ankles over his hips. “How’s that?”
His chest heaved. “You can’t imagine how great that feels.”
“Probably not, since I don’t have your equipment.”
“No, you have complimentary equipment.” Slipping his hands under her hips, he lifted her slightly. “This’ll go fast, but I intend for you to—”
“Don’t worry about me. Just go for it.”
He smiled. “Does all this sound familiar?”
“Yes, yes, it does. Nothing changes, does it?”
“Oh, plenty of things have changed. Just not this particular discussion.” He gazed at her. “You will come. You always do when I put the pedal to the metal. You like it fast and furious.”
“I like it any way you dish it out, cowboy.”
“I remember that, too.” He began to move, slowly at first, then faster, holding her gaze as he ramped up the action. His heaving chest glistened and his voice was rough with passion. “Hang on.”
She gulped for air as her quivering body began spiraling out of control. “I’m…with you.”
“I know.” His breathing grew ragged. “I can feel you tightening. So good…” He gasped and bore down. The bed began to shake. “Now, Em. now.”
Yes! She erupted, shoving her fist against her mouth to keep from yelling. Pleasure rolled through her, one glorious wave after another. Then he pushed home once more and shuddered, eyes squeezed shut, air hissing through his clenched teeth.
The pulse of his climax blended with the lazy undulations of hers as she gradually drifted down from that incredible high. His big body trembled. Throwing back his head, he took a deep breath.
When at last his gaze met hers, he took another long breath and lowered her hips to the bed. Then he began to smile, slowly, his dark eyes filling with happiness.
His smile triggered hers. “Doesn’t get any better than that.”
His eyes sparkled with mischief. “In that case, maybe I should pack up and vamoose. Quit while I’m ahead.”
“Can I reword my comment?”
“Please do.”
“That was a good start.” She unwrapped her legs from around his hips, but he remained tightly wedged between her thighs. “What’s next?”
“I was thinking along the lines of something like this.” Leaning down, he settled his mouth over hers. “Mm.”
“Mm-mm.” She tunneled her fingers through his damp hair and savored the sweetness of an unhurried post-climax kiss. No agenda other than the sensual delight of mouth-to-mouth communication.
With Gage, kissing was an end in itself. He could turn the sensual d
ance of lips and tongue into an art form, and she was the lucky recipient of his talents. They’d often topped off their lovemaking this way, a gentle wind-down after a boisterous interlude.
She drifted in a romantic haze as he made love to her mouth. Then gradually he changed the action from deep and stimulating to light and playful as he nibbled on her lower lip. “You taste better than a hot fudge sundae.”
“That’s saying something.”
“I know.” He lifted his head and gazed down at her. “Hungry?”
“Little bit.”
“I am, too. I’ve worked up an appetite.”
“You haven’t had anything since that sundae?”
“Only your delicious kisses. How about you?”
“The same.”
“I brought wine.”
“I saw that. Fancy bag, too.”
“Let’s have some. And eat our sandwiches.” He dropped a quick kiss on her mouth. “But first I need to take care of the little raincoat.” He eased away from her and climbed off the bed. “I’d forgotten how undignified the last part is after we do this with my boots on. And FYI, it was a lot darker in your bedroom.” He turned away from her and shuffled into the bathroom.
She smothered a laugh. “Thank you for granting my crazy request.” Grabbing her PJ top, she pulled it over her head before sliding off the bed to search for the bottoms.
“Don’t get me wrong,” he called from the bathroom, talking over the sound of running water. “Totally worth it. It’s not a bad tradition, just awkward at the end.” His boots thumped to the floor. “I’m taking them off, though.”
“You can take off anything you’ve a mind to.”
“Gonna keep on my briefs and jeans for wine and sandwiches.” He came back out as she was pulling on her pants. “I see you had a similar thought.”
“Yep. And I’m going to duck into the bathroom and wipe off the mascara.”
“I’m growing fond of those raccoon eyes.”
“You’re such a flatterer.” She slipped past him and went into the bathroom. “Yikes. This is what you were looking at the whole time?” She got out some cream and a tissue. “How did you keep a straight face?”
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