She glanced at Nick, who was laughing with Darla at the moment and wondered if she belonged in Hope Wells at all. Should she finally make her decision to leave town?
Getting in on the ground floor of a new progressive clinic was an opportunity that came around only once in a lifetime. Those thoughts swept across her mind at intervals during each day, and each day the temptation seemed greater. It was like a magnet that pulled her in the direction of Denver. Whenever she really weighed her options, Trey Walker’s image would pop into her head to confuse her and perhaps blind her to the possibilities.
“Hey, no pickle-pusses around here.” Jack made a lighthearted jab at her jaw. “It’s time for cake.” He took her hand and led her into the dining area, and Maddie let thoughts of Trey ebb from her mind. She had friends here and she wanted to enjoy their company.
Hours later Jack pulled up in front of the house at 2 Hope. “It was a wonderful evening.” Maddie sighed.
“I’m glad you had a good time.”
“I did.” She turned toward Jack and met with his mischievous eyes. “You’re a good friend, Jack Walker. Even if you lied through your teeth to get me there.”
Jack laughed. “You don’t know how much I hate lying, but I had to. Trey wouldn’t do . . . uh, never mind.”
Maddie sat up straight in the seat and stared at him. “Trey? Was he supposed to bring me?”
“Uh, well . . . doggone it, Maddie. Sometimes my cousin is just a big jackass. Emphasis on ass.”
Maddie squeezed her eyes shut. “It’s okay, Jack.”
“No, it’s not okay. Hell, if you weren’t head over heels about Trey, I’d be asking you out day and night. He’s a damn fool, Maddie. But in his defense, he thinks this is best for you. He really cares about you.”
Maddie glanced at the house, noting that Trey’s light was still on. “I know he does.” And that was why it hurt so darn much. She feared Trey had deliberately stayed away tonight, for her sake.
“Don’t let it spoil your birthday.”
“Oh, I won’t. I see everything clearly now. If anything, this has helped me make a tough decision.”
Maddie leaned over to kiss Jack on the cheek. “Thank you for being a wonderful friend.”
Jack smiled. “Anytime.”
He helped her out of the car first and then balanced boxes of her birthday gifts in his arms as he walked her to the door. “Want me to bring them in for you?”
Maddie shook her head. “No thanks. I’ve got everything under control.”
She did have everything under control.
She sighed as she entered the house alone.
Her big decision was finally made.
*
Half an hour later, and twenty minutes past midnight, Maddie stood bravely behind Trey’s bedroom door. In her hands, she held a small square white box with a card that read:
Happy Birthday, Maddie.
Love, Trey
Her eyes had misted immediately upon seeing this small gift lying on her bed, a tied bunch of wildflowers eloquently crossing over the box. She immediately recognized the flowers as the ones that had sprouted up in a patch near the barn. She’d passed them every day, never really paying attention to their vivid color or sweet scent.
Her tears fell freely when she’d opened the box Trey had left for her. He’d given her a bracelet. It was an exact, nearly flawless replica of Aphrodite. The silver shone more brilliantly, but the bracelet matched her Grandma Mae’s necklace perfectly.
Maddie had never received a more thoughtful gift.
“Oh, Trey,” she whispered, standing behind his door with a rapidly beating heart, wishing things had turned out differently.
She knocked once, her hands trembling. “Trey, it’s Maddie.”
He opened the door seconds later, his dark hair swept back from his face. He wore jeans that dipped below his waist and nothing else. Maddie’s breath hitched at the magnificence of his broad shoulders, the luster of his tanned chest. She hadn’t forgotten the salty all-male taste of his skin, the granite hard feel of his body pressed against hers. Her mind flooded with memories of making love with him, of being as close as two people could possibly get. They’d shared more than body heat and desire. Their hearts had bonded together and no matter what Trey said or did Maddie knew that bond to be real and true.
“May I come in?” she asked and Trey opened the door wide to allow her entrance.
She stepped into the middle of his room and swiveled to look into the depths of his dark eyes. “I, uh, wanted to tell you, that I’ve made my decision about leaving for Denver.”
Trey swallowed and took a deep breath, nodding his head. “I figured.”
There was no question in his eyes, and no regret, either. Just resolute resignation. He didn’t ask her intentions, and Maddie couldn’t bring herself to discuss her decision. Tonight wasn’t the time. Trey’s bedroom wasn’t the place.
“And I wanted to thank you for this.” She opened the box she held and lifted out the bracelet. “It came as quite a surprise. The whole night has been full of surprises,” she said in earnest. “But this . . . it’s the most precious gift I’ve ever received. I’ll treasure it as much as I’ll treasure my time here with . . . my time here at 2 Hope.” She handed him the bracelet. “Will you put it on me?”
His large, work-roughened hands fumbled a bit trying to undo the clasp. He leaned in to get a better look and they bumped heads. Both chuckled awkwardly and when he gazed into her eyes, Maddie knew she couldn’t leave his room tonight. She couldn’t sleep her last night at 2 Hope alone, when Trey was only a few rooms away.
“There,” he said, taking her hand and turning it to admire the bracelet. “It fits.”
His slight touch sent shivers throughout her defenseless body. Maddie smiled up into his eyes. “It does—a perfect match to my necklace.”
“The jeweler used a sketch I’d made and well . . . he did a pretty darn good job.”
Maddie touched Trey’s cheek with one hand. “You went to all that trouble for me?”
He shrugged a shoulder, in that same way he had of brushing off a compliment. He spoke softly, “No one’s more deserving than you.”
Staring directly into his eyes, she didn’t doubt his sincerity. Tears she’d thus far held back, fell one at a time, slowly, trickling down her face. “It’s the best gift I’ve ever received, but it’s not enough, Trey. I guess I’m a greedy woman, because I want more.”
Maddie unzipped her dress, allowing the material to skim over her hips and down her body. She stepped out of it, her gaze never leaving Trey’s eyes. She stood before him in her strappy sandals and newly purchased bold red underwear. “I want one last parting gift. One more night with you, Trey Walker.”
Chapter Twelve
Trey’s heart slammed into his chest seeing Maddie’s tearstained face, realizing that this would be her last night at 2 Hope. This would be their last night together. He’d always known that Maddie wouldn’t stay. Hell, he’d done everything in his power to push her away.
And it worked.
She planned on leaving.
But Trey couldn’t push her away tonight. Hell, he didn’t have that much willpower, not when every cell in his body cried out for her. Not when he ached to hold her in his arms, kiss her adorable heart-shaped mouth and caress her smooth porcelain skin. How could he possibly deny her a last request when he wanted the same?
In the morning he’d wake up broken as a shattered shell of a man who would feel the loss of her leaving for a long time to come. But that didn’t matter because she would move on to something better. She’d carve out the life she’d always wanted. She’d be free of him and the heartache he’d caused her.
He looked at her sweet expectant face and then followed the lines of her body along each alluring curve and hollow. He made a complete and thorough sweep.
“Like I said before, I’d want you with or without those sexy things. You’re beautiful, Maddie.”
Maddi
e cast him a coy smile. “Without?”
Trey smiled and took her into his arms, pressing her body up to his. Her hands grazed his bare chest then moved up to circle his neck. His groin tightened and his heart pounded like a schoolboy being granted his first kiss. “There’s time for without. I sorta like the with, for now.” He toyed with the crimson strap of her bra. “Did you wear them for your party?”
Maddie lifted up on tiptoes and kissed his lips softly, but far too quickly. “No, I put them on afterward. For you.”
“God, Maddie. You’re killing me. You know that?” This time, he bent his head and kissed her, a hot exploration of lips and tongues with bodies meshed together and hearts pounding.
Without another word, Trey took her hand and led her to his bed. He sat down then gestured for her to sit next to him. “I’ve dreamt of making love to you here, sweetheart.”
“I was only a few steps away,” she whispered.
“Don’t I know it.”
Moonlight streamed in, casting her in a soft glow. Trey had always thought Maddie in the moonlight to be a beautiful thing, but never more than tonight. Light shimmered on her fiery hair, framing her pretty face and bringing a lustrous sheen to her smooth skin.
“It was all I could do to keep from coming for you in the middle of the night.”
Maddie’s eyebrows lifted with uncertainty. “Really?”
“Don’t doubt it. It put me in more than one sour mood in the morning.”
“Trey, why didn’t you?”
“Shh.” He placed a finger to her lips. “You know why, but let’s not go there tonight, okay?”
She nodded and he kissed her softly on the lips. “We’ve wasted so much time,” she whispered.
“And all we have is tonight.”
Trey leaned back against the bed pillows, making room for Maddie. He took her hand and turned her toward him. She climbed on the bed and straddled his thighs. She made a sexy picture in her lingerie, so pretty, so unabashed in her trust of him. Her palms flattened on his chest, her slightest touch creating hot molten embers on his flesh. The burn was almost too much. Her tentative explorations made him grit his teeth, he wanted her so badly.
She toyed with his chest hairs, wrapping them around her slender fingers teasing him with tiny tugs and quick touches. Softly she sighed and the tempting sound echoed in his ears. Trey thought he would die from the pleasure.
She leaned down to kiss his lips, her thighs rubbing his, her torso tight against him, her red-lace-encased breasts crushing his chest. A groan erupted from his throat. A granite erection pressed the tight confines of his jeans and made him ache.
Maddie broke their lips apart and moved lower down on his body. She kissed his throat, his shoulders and his torso, then with her moist, perfect tongue she encircled his nipples and suckled.
“Damn, Maddie,” he uttered, barely containing another groan.
To Trey, everything with Maddie had been about his self control. He’d resisted her for so long and right now, all he wanted to do was flip her onto her back and love her, driving them both over the edge until they were sated and spent. He wanted it all with Maddie. He wanted her to take her pleasure and give pleasure all night long. He wanted their last night together to be perfect. “I’m about to bust out of these here jeans, honey.”
Maddie glanced down and shot him the sexiest, dewy-eyed look Trey had ever seen. It didn’t help matters. His willpower was cresting.
She gestured to his zipper. “Want me to . . . uh.”
“Yeah,” he uttered, “although that might make it worse.”
“But in a good way,” she said. She slipped off him long enough to unzip his jeans and remove his boxers. Relief came quickly when he sprung free.
Maddie cupped his manhood, and Trey jerked and gritted his teeth.
They faced each other in the darkness as she moved her hands on manhood, gliding up and down the shaft effortlessly.
He kissed her again and again as she turned his boring, lonely world completely upside down.
A minute of amazing torture later, Trey grabbed her hand and held her still. “How about we do the without now?”
Maddie chuckled softly as he reached around and unfastened her bra.
“The without is pretty damn good, too, sweetheart,” he said, gazing at her. He tossed the bra aside and cupped her breast. The soft globe molded in his palm and he sucked in a deep breath. Leaning closer, he brought his mouth down to kiss the rosy-tipped crest.
Maddie moaned and wiggled her body. Trey continued to kiss her, using his tongue to moisten each nipple and then suckle gently until she was hot and wet from his lusty caresses. “So beautiful.”
There would never be another woman in his life like Maddie Brooks. She was intelligent and wholesome, funny and sexy, innocent and bold as can be. Trey liked the way she gave all of herself to him. He liked the daring side of her. She’d been the best sex partner he’d ever had and she’d probably hold that title for the rest of his life. Hell, there wasn’t one damn thing he didn’t like about her.
“Trey?” Maddie lifted her head with a question in her eyes. “Did you go somewhere?”
Trey kissed her again, guiding her back down onto his bed. “Just regrouping,” he said, realizing he’d lost his focus. He’d been in the middle of making love to a beautiful woman and bittersweet, niggling thoughts had crept into his head. He shoved them away and concentrated on Maddie and making her his, if only for tonight.
He slipped his hand down her torso, his fingers sliding under the red, lacy thong. He began stroking her softly.
“Mmmm, I like the way you regroup, baby.”
Trey groaned. Maddie had a way with that one word that sent his heart racing and his body into overdrive. His strokes grew faster and she moved her body with more urgency, until Trey couldn’t hold back another second. He knew the time was now. He reached for the bedside drawer and withdrew a condom. He’d picked them up shortly after their first time together, not trusting himself to keep his vow to stay away from her. At least that way, he’d act responsibly, if not rationally.
“Old ones?” Maddie asked, her brows lifting.
“New ones,” he replied honestly, “with only your name on them.” He handed one to her and she fitted it into place, taking her time and driving him crazy.
With a finger, he slipped her panties down her legs quickly. He came over her, parted her thighs and looked into her pretty green eyes. “I’ve missed you, Trey.”
God, he’d missed her too.
He entered her in one careful thrust and Maddie cooed softly.
Trey slammed his eyes shut, overwhelmed with the very same sentiment. The first time with her had been amazing, but this time their joining meant more than satisfying lust and desire. This time, it counted for more emotions than he could name.
As Trey drove his body deeper, he absorbed every sensation, every nuance that was Maddie, committing it to his memory. They moved together in sync, wrapped in each other’s arms. And minutes later they climaxed in unison, their bodies joined, their heartbeats pulsing against each other.
He sank back to Earth, sated and complete. Trey took Maddie in his arms and held on tight, brushing his lips to her forehead, her cheeks. With each moment drawing closer to dawn, he feared he’d awaken an empty, hollow, defeated man.
*
Too soon Maddie woke from a blissful, easy sleep. She opened her eyes to find Trey beside her, one arm draped protectively and provocatively below her waist. She smiled at the man she loved with her whole heart and reached up, not quite touching his face for fear of waking him. And that’s how it was with Trey. Maddie had almost touched him, but she hadn’t been able to get close enough to wake him out of his self-imposed sleep. She wanted to shake him and shout that he wasn’t cursed, that he was a man she could count on, again and again.
But Trey had to decide that for himself. She knew that now. And she hoped that someday he’d come to that realization before it was too late.
<
br /> Maddie rested her head against the pillow and sighed quietly. She’d be leaving him soon, the hour nearing dawn. But she took a minute to relive the night, recalling the way Trey made her feel when he touched her, recalling his hands on her body, making magic, creating tingles and shivers. So vividly, she recalled his lips on hers, the way he claimed her mouth with gentle command, forceful and demanding, but also sweet and tender.
He left no part of her untouched, making her feel treasured and loved. Having his hands on her body seemed as natural as breathing. There was no shame, no regret. Making love with him, having him inside her, felt like coming home.
Right as rain.
Good as gold.
He made her bold, when she’d never been before. He made her ache and then he soothed her. He made her wanton and then he satisfied her. He brought out her true self, the one she kept hidden from everyone else. Trey had filled her body, but he’d also filled her heart and her mind.
He’d done his best to push her away, yet she’d never felt closer to another human being. Her heart cried out for him in the worst way, but she knew that he had to come to terms with his past to gain his future.
Maddie sighed again, staring at Trey as he slept soundly. They’d made love twice last night, each time had been so different, so compelling, so earth-shattering.
A ray of predawn light entered the room—a dusky stream that appeared before the sun lifted high and bright in the sky. Maddie knew her time at 2 Hope was up. She rose from the bed and glanced at Trey one final time, her eyes growing wide, a barrier to her unshed tears.
She left his room.
She’d be off the ranch before dawn.
*
Trey punched open the screen door and stepped onto the front porch. Sunlight beamed down and slapped him in the face, making him squint. “Damn it.”
He’d overslept this morning for the first time in ten years. Deep, dark despair had washed over him, and it had been all he could do to drag himself out of bed today.
Maddie had left 2 Hope.
He’d been successful in his quest to drive her away.
Taming the Texas Cowboy (Forever Texan Book 1) Page 14
