She peered up at him, and with that one simple apology, it seemed he’d let her see so much more of his heart. “Thank you.”
“This whole week, all I could think about was how you weren’t here.” He inched closer, and she closed her eyes, feeling his presence up against her. “Without you, I didn’t care anymore. I’ve won competitions. And it’s never made me feel as good as I feel when I’m with you.”
“Lance…” There were so many things she wanted to say, but he took her hand, stealing the words along with her breath.
“I want you,” he said through an utterly helpless sigh. “I don’t have much to offer. But I want to be there for you. I want to make you happy. I want to hold you in my arms and feel you against me. Nothing in my life has ever felt as good as holding you. Nothing.”
The quiet conviction in his voice filled her eyes. “I want you, too.”
He said nothing more, only pulled her against him and sealed her lips with his, right there in the brightly lit corridor with people walking past them, his mouth devouring hers, hungry and passionate, as if he’d been saving up his whole life to offer her this one kiss.
It carried her away, the feel of his chest heaving against hers, the strength of his hands as they held her. “Lance,” she murmured, letting her purse drop to the ground. “My God, Lance.”
“Let’s get out of here,” he groaned.
And she couldn’t have said no if she tried.
* * *
“My room is closer.” She wrapped her arms around his sturdy back, holding on as he urged her into the elevator.
“Floor ten,” she said, against his mouth. As the elevator zoomed up, his tongue teased its way into her mouth, weakening her knees, which made her cling to him tighter. The doors rolled open and they stumbled out, moving clumsily down the hall, unable to let go of each other.
“Key’s in my pocket,” she breathed, already undoing the buttons on his shirt.
He groped a hand into the pocket of her jeans until he found it.
As he unlocked the door, he caught her waist and pulled her against him again, bringing his lips to hers as he somehow pushed into the hotel room.
Her feet faltered along with his and before they’d made it to the bed, she kicked off her tennis shoes while he stepped out of his boots.
“I don’t know how I lived without you so long,” he murmured in her ear while his hands tugged up the hem of her shirt. “I don’t think I was ever really alive.”
She opened her mouth to answer, to tell him that she must’ve never really been in love before because this all felt new. Her heart pounded her ribs so hard they threatened to fracture. And it was so good. So good it almost hurt.
He pulled her shirt over her head and slipped his fingers into her bra and ohhhhhh. What was she going to say again? Nothing. She couldn’t speak. She slumped against him while he touched her, teasing her nipples in long strokes while she clumsily undid the rest of the buttons on his shirt until she could push it off his shoulders and run her hands over the hard muscled plane of his abs.
H-ello. Just the sight of him was foreplay…
But looking wasn’t enough. She wanted to feel him, to taste him. Threading her fingers between his, she ducked her head and kissed her way down his neck to his chest, sucking and licking and breathing hotly against his skin. When she reached the waist of his pants, she let his hands go and started to work at that rather impressive belt buckle, but before she could get it undone, he hauled her back up to him. “Not yet.”
Tearing back the comforter and sheets, he laid her down on the bed, hovering over her, those eyes seeming to note every detail.
“I can’t get enough of you,” he breathed over her. “I’ll never get enough of you.” With that, he lowered his lips to her neck, sneaking his hands underneath her back so he could pop the clasp of her bra. Rising, he slowly slid the straps down her shoulders as though he enjoyed the torture.
“Too slow,” she breathed, pushing up to her elbows. She tore the bra away and drew his face to her breasts.
His warm tongue traced every inch of her skin, forcing her head to fall back to the pillows. Without taking his lips away from her, his hands hitched up her hips and he took down her pants and sensible cotton underwear in one fluid motion.
“Should’ve worn my pretty underwear,” she said with a gasp.
“I like you better without any.” He pulled his body over hers, kissing her lips with a sensual rhythm that charged every part of her. God, no one had ever made her ache like this…
His lips moved down her neck again, covering her chest with warm, wet kisses, then moving lower to her stomach.
Sparks flashed low in her belly, sending flares of heat between her legs. She pressed her lips together so she wouldn’t moan. She shouldn’t be this close this fast…
He paused and glanced up at her. “You can be as loud as you want,” he teased. “No one’ll walk in on us this time.”
Before she could respond, he took her hips in his hands, kissing and nibbling his way down to the inside of her thigh.
Her legs fell open. She did make noise then—a long groan flowed out of her lungs, deflating them completely.
“I love turning you on,” Lance said, all low and hot as his fingers parted her.
She felt his sultry breath against her most sensitive parts first, then the slick wetness of his tongue. Her hands grasped for something to hold on to, finding only fistfuls of the sheets. Cries stammered from her lips as his mouth sucked and nibbled while his fingers slid in and out. A powerful tightening in her abdomen intensified until she broke apart, and it came so fast and so forcefully she may have cried out.
Lance’s face appeared in front of hers, sly grin firmly in place. “You might’ve disturbed the neighbors,” he said, playfully kissing her forehead.
“That would be a first,” she admitted, her breathing still ragged. She’d never had a reason to be so loud before. She’d never been so overtaken that she lost control that way…
“I liked it.” His eyebrows danced enticingly. “Let’s do it again.”
“Nope.” Because it wasn’t nearly as fun when she was the only one being so noisy. She squirmed out from underneath him, rising to her knees, which might never stop wobbling. “This belt is coming off now, cowboy.” Her hands fumbled with the brass buckle until it released. Locking her eyes on his, she gave him a small smile while she ripped open the button fly on his jeans and shoved them down, taking the boxer briefs with them. “I can turn you on, too, you know.” She climbed onto him, wrapping her legs around him and grinding her hips into his.
“I’m turned on just looking at you,” he uttered, pulling her so tightly against his body that nothing stood between them. His eyes locked hers in an intimate stare and he brushed some hair away from her forehead. “Seriously, Jessa. I want to give you everything. I want to be the person who loves you.”
She cupped his cheeks in her hands and drew his lips to hers. “That’s enough.” She didn’t need him to be perfect. She wasn’t looking for the perfect relationship. Only someone who was willing to try every day. That was enough.
Still kissing his mouth, she straddled him and adjusted her hips until she slid onto him, pausing there, feeling him quake beneath her. He filled her so perfectly, so deeply, that her body started that delicious throb again.
His fingers dug into her shoulders, urging her chest lower until he took her breast in his mouth and swirled his tongue around the nipple. Urgency pulsed inside of her, forcing her to move. She lifted her hips and thrust down onto him hard but smooth, again and again until his head fell back to the pillow. “Hell yes, Jessa,” he panted. “God, I’m so fucking lost in you.”
“I have some tricks, too,” she murmured, hoping she could hold on long enough. Before it was too late, she squeezed her thighs together, rocking her hips against his, cradling him as tightly into her as she could.
A cross between a growl and a groan purred against her skin. Lance’s hands went to her
backside, bringing her against him faster and harder until she was completely lost in the breathless anticipation of what was coming. She tightened her legs around him even more and his body bucked beneath hers, sending a final thrust so deep into her that she came apart again, shuddering and crying out and delighting in the sound of her name on his lips as he convulsed beneath her.
A happy exhaustion took her over as she draped her body over his. He held her, nestling her head into the crook of his arm while his lips sought hers. She kissed him back somewhat lazily, given the fact that her body was sedated.
“I’ll love you the best I can, Jessa Mae Love,” he whispered in her ear.
And she knew it was true.
* * *
He’d never woken up with a woman in his arms. Not once in his life. And damn, it seemed he’d been missing out. Jessa lay against him, her silky back against his chest, her soft hair spilling over his arm. He didn’t want to move, didn’t want to disturb her and end this moment. But he also wanted to see her face.
Slowly, he eased up his head to peek over her shoulder.
Her eyes were wide open in a look of fear.
The feeling of contentment snapped and he sat up straight. “What’s wrong?” How long had she been awake? Why didn’t she look as calm and content as he felt?
She shifted onto her back, her captivating eyes staring at the ceiling. “I just…things moved so fast last night. We may have gotten a little carried away.”
Hell yes, they’d gotten carried away and he hoped they’d do it again. As soon as possible.
“Do you regret it?” she whispered. “Walking away from the celebration? I mean, has anyone ever done that? Will you be disqualified? What’ll happen?”
“Everything’ll be fine.” Easing out a breath of relief, he lay back down, gathering her into his arms to coax out her concerns. He didn’t care what happened. “The only regret I have is that I didn’t discover you sooner.” The rest of his life seemed like such a waste compared to this. Compared to being connected so deeply with someone as good and bright and beautiful as Jessa.
“What about Ilsa?” she asked, suddenly looking worried again.
“The pig?” He laughed. He didn’t mean to, but Pork Chop was the last thing on his mind right now.
“Yes.” She searched his face. “I know you’re not that crazy about her, but I love her. She’s such a little sweetheart, and if we ever end up…you know…together someday…” She seemed too embarrassed to finish.
He brought her hand to his lips, kissing her fingers. “Actually, she’s growing on me.”
“Really?” She didn’t look convinced.
“If it weren’t for Pork—I mean Ilsa—you might never have talked to me again,” he said, stroking her arm. “That makes her a saint in my book.”
Smiling happily, Jessa propped herself up, gazing down at him, beauty spilling from her bottomless brown eyes. “I don’t want the money, you know.”
“You deserve the money.” And she needed it for the shelter. “I always keep my word.”
Her head shook. “I won’t take it. You might need it. For your dad. For his treatments.” A smile plumped her lips. “Besides, some of my old grad school friends are helping me create a social media campaign to build a donor base. I guilted them into doing it for free.”
He doubted she had to guilt them. Everyone who knew Jessa seemed to love her. And she would always be one of those people who gave more than she took. “We’ll see,” he said, not willing to argue about it now. If she refused to take the money he’d promised her, he’d simply find another way to give it to her.
“What did it feel like to win?” she asked, trailing her fingertips over his biceps.
And God she was so sexy, her blond hair trailing over her shoulder, her eyes glistening as if he could tell her anything and it would stay safely locked away in the vault of her heart.
“It felt like the end.” He hadn’t considered that until he said it, but the truth was, it felt like a relief.
“You’re okay with that?”
“I’m ready to start the next phase.” A whole new life waited for him. One he’d never thought he’d have. “I don’t want to be anywhere but here right now. With you,” he murmured, running his fingers over her shoulders, down her breasts. He couldn’t resist the temptation of touching her. “Doing what we did last night. As many times as you’ll let me.”
“Mmmm-hmmm,” she hummed, her eyes closing as she shimmied her hand underneath the sheets. “I can see you’re up to the task.” Her hand clasped the solid length of him.
Yeah, there was that. He’d woken up hard. With her in his bed, that’d most likely be the norm. He slipped his hand under the sheets, too, letting it wander down her hip…
Turning, she wrapped her legs around his waist and brought his body against hers. “No need to bother with all the foreplay.”
“I like the foreplay,” he said as he sank into her. The power of it stole his breath. He had plenty of ways to draw it out as long as possible, to tease her. “It’ll be worth it—”
A knock pounded on the door. “Jessa!” a woman’s voice screeched from the hallway.
She froze underneath him, her eyes wide.
“Are you in there?” came from another woman.
Lance lifted his head. “Who the hell—?”
She pushed him off her and started to scramble. “It’s Cassidy. And Darla!”
“What’re they doing here?” he demanded, trying to pull her back to him.
“They wanted to come to Vegas.” She gave him a sheepish smile. “They’re staying at the Bellagio. Sorry. I forgot to mention that.”
He captured her in a hug, settling her back to the mattress. “It’s okay. We don’t have to answer the door.”
“But I was supposed to meet them for breakfast this morning…” She snatched her phone off the bedside table. “Twenty-three missed calls.”
Shit. “Will we ever be able to make love without being interrupted?” he wondered aloud.
“Jessa!” Now that was Naomi. He’d heard her worked up enough times to recognize it.
“What’s got them all riled?” he whispered. Maybe if they were real quiet the crazies would go away and let him finish what he’d started.
“I should’ve called them,” she whispered back. “They get worried.” Squirming out of his grip, Jessa threw on a bathrobe and unclicked the deadbolt.
“Where’ve you been?” The door burst open and Cassidy, Naomi, and Darla all charged in, then halted, gaping at the two of them like they’d caught them doing jumping jacks naked.
“We thought you’d been kidnapped!” Naomi squealed.
“Vegas is a huge hub for human trafficking,” Cassidy added knowingly.
“Then you wouldn’t return our calls!” Darla finished as if the whole thing had been scripted.
“Nope. Not kidnapped.” Jessa glanced at Lance, biting her lip as though trying not to laugh. “Sorry. I kind of lost track of time.”
Despite the fact that there were three high-drama women staring at him naked in bed, Lance grinned back. They’d lost track of a lot of stuff. Shoes. Clothes…
“Obviously.” Darla eyed Lance like he was a big juicy cut of meat.
He pulled the covers up to his chin.
Naomi stared at him, too, but it was more of a glare. And judging from the way her hands sat rigidly on her hips, she didn’t like this at all. “So you two figured things out?” she asked suspiciously.
You could say that. He still had some work to do, but he’d do whatever it took. “I realized nothing I did seemed to matter without Jessa,” he said, even though there would’ve been a more appropriate time for this conversation. Later. After he’d had his way with Jessa and was fully clothed.
Beaming a happy, teary smile, Jessa sat on the bed next to him and took his hand.
“Awww,” Darla and Cassidy said collectively.
But Naomi simply narrowed her eyes protectively. “What does th
at mean?”
He turned his face to Jessa’s and couldn’t help but pull himself up to kiss her lightly on the lips. From the sound of the sniffles in the room, that was a good move. “It means I love her. It means I’m dealing with my shit so I can be with her.”
“It means that you three need to get out of my room,” Jessa added. “If you couldn’t tell, we were kind of in the middle of something.”
“Oh! Right! Sorry!” Darla clamped her hands onto Cassidy’s and Naomi’s shoulders, dragging them backward to the door. “You can give us all the details later.”
Lance shot Jessa a look.
“Not all of them,” she promised.
“OhmyGod, I’m so happy for you two!” Cassidy sighed before she disappeared.
Naomi wriggled free from Darla’s grasp.
Lance half-expected another angry glare, seeing as how she didn’t exactly think he was worthy of Jessa. But instead, she smiled. “I’m happy for you, too. Really.”
“Thanks,” Jessa called, shooing her away impatiently with a hand. “Okay. Bye, now. We’ll talk later.”
When the door finally slammed, he gathered Jessa into his arms and rolled her onto his body.
She laughed. “Wow, someone’s got energy.”
“The pressure’s on,” he said, showering her shoulders with hot little kisses. “I’d better give you some incredible details to tell your friends.”
Epilogue
Not once in the history of Topaz Falls had the Cortez family ever hosted a party. Until Lance started dating Jessa, that was.
Jessa stood on the front porch of Lance’s home, admiring how the ranch came to life in the spring. All the aspens had their baby green leaves back. Wildflowers were starting to dot the meadows. Though they’d still likely get a few more snowstorms, the land looked like it was finally emerging from winter, so bright and fresh and new. Everything at the ranch felt new and exciting and hopeful. It didn’t hurt that half the town had turned out for the first shindig of the season. The laughter and murmur of gossip seemed to give the place a new life.
All winter she’d drifted in and out of this house, laughing and living and loving with this family while she and Lance got to know each other. Lucas and Levi had both stayed on for the holiday months, helping cart Luis to doctor appointments and therapy treatments. They’d all spent the evenings out by the fire pit, surrounded by drifts of crisp white snow while they roasted marshmallows and laughed as the three brothers relived their childhood antics. When the fire burned low, they’d pour the wine and listen to Lucas play his guitar. That was her favorite, snuggling with Lance and his wandering hands underneath a blanket while the soft notes of strings floated around them.
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