“I like him too,” Miranda murmured. “Kira’s right. He’s a keeper.”
“What?” Travis gasped.
“Nothing. Just talking to the cat.”
Travis stiffened beneath her. “She didn’t talk back to you, did she?”
“No, she’s only purring.”
“Okay…just checking.”
Easing her hips slowly from side to side, she savored the thick heat that still filled her, his semen adding its creamy texture to an already incredible mix. An aftershock struck her, causing her to suck a breath in through her teeth. Amazingly, her ribs still didn’t hurt.
“You okay?”
“Never better.” Pushing off from the bed, she sat upright, gasping as his cock penetrated her fully. “Just wish it hadn’t taken broken ribs to get me to try it that way.” She glanced over her shoulder. “Got any other brilliant ideas?”
“Oh, you bet.” His slow, wicked smile matched his lazy drawl. “I’ve been saving some of them up for years.”
“Don’t suppose you know any more good broken rib positions, do you?”
“There’s one that might work—we can try it next.”
“Next?” He made it sound as though he meant in the next five minutes. “Define next.”
“Later. You need to get some sleep, and so do I.” He twisted sideways, craning his neck to see the clock. “Let’s see…it’s a little past three now…six o’clock maybe?” Yawning, he added, “Gotta do another neuro check on you then.”
Miranda groaned. “Now I know how my patients feel when I wake them up every two hours.” Dropping onto her hands, she rose up on her knees, feeling suddenly bereft as he slipped from her body. She crawled over to her pillow and was about to lie down when she remembered the mess she’d left behind. Snatching a box of Kleenex from the nightstand, she pulled out several tissues and tossed them to Travis.
“Thanks.”
“Goodnight, Travis.” She eased down onto the bed with a contented sigh. “See you at six.”
A few moments later, he switched off the light and pulled the blankets up over both of them. This time, he didn’t bother trying to keep from touching her, but snuggled up beside her, resting his hand on her waist. Her last thought as she drifted off was that if he could make her feel this incredible now, what mind-boggling things would he do when her ribs healed up?
Chapter 19
Travis was up early, but Miranda was sleeping so peacefully, he didn’t have the heart to wake her. Easing from under the covers, he went out to the kitchen, figuring he’d wake her after he fed the animals. Thanks to the cat pawing at the door, he found the cupboard where she kept the cat and dog food.
“Thanks, Jade.”
The cat merely blinked at him, but Travis could’ve sworn she said you’re welcome.
He stared at her for a moment, then shook his head. “Miranda’s hallucinations must be rubbing off on me.” Having fed the cat, he got dressed and checked the weather before heading out. It was cold enough that the ground would be frozen, but, thankfully, there was no ice to contend with.
Scooping up a large portion of dog food, he carried it out to the porch. All three dogs were jumping up and down as though they were glad to see him—or starving to death, which he seriously doubted. Like all of Miranda’s pets, they appeared to be quite healthy. While they wolfed down their food, he filled up the bird feeder before heading up to the barn.
So far, he liked all her pets and he felt surprisingly at home on her farm, almost as though he belonged there. He didn’t, of course—at least, not yet—but he could easily see himself slipping into the pattern of Miranda’s life. He hadn’t forgotten his promise not to run her life, but that didn’t stop him from longing to be a permanent part of her world.
Still, there were obstacles to overcome—chief among them the fact that she’d avoided men for years in order to retain her independence. Allowing him into her life was difficult for her. He’d seen that in the way her attitude toward him shifted back and forth. She obviously liked him, and she was trying to accept his presence and his assistance, but he still had to watch his step.
Travis wasn’t a stubborn or a particularly high-handed man, and even though issuing demands, ultimatums, or commands went against his nature, he had his opinions the same as everyone else. Miranda, however, seemed more sensitive than other women in that respect and might see his opinions as more than they actually were. A few careless words could easily ruin everything.
Having finished their breakfast, the dogs raced on ahead, cavorting with each other as they went. The horses were waiting at the gate, and Travis patted the gray mare as she walked beside him up the hill to the barn.
“I’ve never felt like this about a woman before. I am not going to screw it up.”
Kira gave him a nudge in reply. He’d have liked to think it was encouragement of some kind, but what it truly meant was left to his imagination. Miranda’s hallucination led him to believe that Kira was fond of him, but somehow, he didn’t think he ought to put much stock in that source.
She’s probably just hungry.
Although they were as well-behaved as they’d been the day before, the horses had obviously spent a fair amount of time in the barn during the night. He was cleaning the last stall when his phone rang.
Alan was pissed. “Since I never heard from you again, I figured I ought to call your place first. Stuart told me you were still staying with Miranda. Are you out of your fuckin’ mind?”
Travis heaved a sigh. “Yes, I believe I am. That is, if falling head over heels in love qualifies as crazy.” Somehow, he thought it might—but it was a really nice kind of insanity.
“You didn’t do what I think you did. Please tell me you didn’t.”
“I did and I didn’t,” he replied, chuckling.
“What the fuck does that mean?”
“It means I slept with Miranda, but I’m not having an affair with a married woman.”
For once in his life, Travis had the satisfaction of rendering his loquacious cousin speechless—if only for a moment or two. “I don’t get it.”
“Miranda’s husband died fifteen years ago. She’s a widow.”
“Oh, really?”
“Yes, really. I’m glad I was here too. She slipped on the ice yesterday morning and hit her head when she fell—even broke a few ribs. Sorry I never called you back, but I’ve been kinda…busy.”
“I’ll just bet you have. You slept with her? As in had sex?”
“Oh, yeah. Awesome, incredible, mind-blowing sex.”
Alan made an inarticulate sound, somewhere between a sob and a whimper.
“Sorry,” Travis said with a grimace. “Forgot you were on the wagon.”
“You could’ve lied, you know,” Alan grumbled. “Or at least left out the adjectives.”
“Too late for that now.” He paused as it occurred to him that if anyone would know the best ways to have sex with an injured woman, it would be Alan. “It, um, hurts her to lie on her back. My first position worked pretty well, but I don’t want to bore her by doing it the same way all the time. I’ve got some other ideas, but you’re the Jedi master of sex. Any suggestions?”
Alan’s snarl was so loud Travis jerked the phone away from his ear. “You’re killing me, man. Absolutely killing me.”
“Yes, but do you?”
Heaving a sigh as though resigned to his fate, Alan relented. “Of course I do. Got a pen? You might want to take notes.”
* * * *
For once in her life, Miranda was awakened by the heavenly aroma of bacon frying rather than the incessant prodding she usually received from Jade. Opening one eye, she spotted the cat curled up beside her. Travis must’ve fed her already because she barely moved when Miranda sat up.
Sliding her feet off the edge of the bed, she dug her heels into the side of the mattress to pull herself upright, somehow managing to accomplish this task without using her upper body or causing much in the way of pain. She shuffle
d her feet into her slippers and stood, surprised to find that her knee felt almost normal. Walking wasn’t too difficult, and after quick stop in the bathroom, she followed her nose into the kitchen to find Travis standing in front of the stove. Naked.
Unless an apron could be considered clothing. She’d once imagined him shoeing a horse while wearing only his boots and chaps, but having witnessed this particular scene, she was convinced that her eyes had her imagination beat all to hell and back. His tight, rounded buns were on full display, along with that slight hollow she’d felt the night before—and another birthmark similar to the one on his neck.
“You didn’t feed the horses dressed like that, did you?”
Apparently unperturbed, he continued frying the bacon, turning it over with a pair of tongs. “The mares seemed to like it, but I don’t think Damar was very impressed.”
“He is bigger than you are.”
“Longer, maybe,” he conceded. “But I bet I’ve got him beat when it comes to circumference.”
“Give him a year or so and he’ll catch up.” Still staring at his perfect ass, she’d almost managed to tamp down the urge to squeeze it when she realized she didn’t have to fight it anymore.
He’s my boyfriend now. I can grab his butt whenever I like. Moving in behind him, she slid both hands down until the fullest part of his buttocks rested in her palms. Biting back a groan, she sank her fingertips into the firm muscle.
“I see you’ve got a good, strong grasp this morning.”
“Mmm hmm...” Letting go of his bottom, she slipped her arms around his waist, pressing her cheek against his back. “What’s for breakfast?”
“Bacon, eggs, and toast á lá Travis.”
Sounds interesting… “Does that refer to the way it’s cooked or the way it’s served?”
“Both.” He nodded toward the table. “Actually, I was hoping you’d still be in bed.”
Following his nod, she spotted a tray with a glass of orange juice and a plate sitting on it. She took a step back. “Is that a problem?”
He shrugged, pulling the skillet off the burner. “Not really—but as long as you’re here, how do you like your eggs?”
“Scrambled—or over easy if you prefer. I can go either way.” She couldn’t help wondering what it was he’d planned to do. There was only one way to find out. “Maybe I will go back to bed,” she said, stifling a yawn. “I’m curious to see this á lá Travis method of serving breakfast.”
“Waiters generally don’t wear aprons—although telling you that may have spoiled the surprise. I’ll have to think of something else.”
She gave him a quick hug from behind. “I don’t know…a naked waiter sounds pretty good to me.” Was he always this much fun in the morning? If so, she couldn’t understand why he’d never met another woman who didn’t like it. Was the obstetrician that stuffy? Or was Christina a total prude? Had he even gotten to the naked waiter stage with either of them? Christina certainly couldn’t have thought he was boring if he’d done it for her. Could she?
“Okay, then, you go on back to bed. I’ll be there in a minute.”
“I’ll be waiting.” She paused briefly as she turned to go. “Should I pretend to be asleep?”
“Sure.” He shot her a wink. “It’ll add to the drama.”
Giggling, she made her way to the bedroom and crawled carefully back into bed. She was still giggling when she heard him coming down the hall.
“You don’t sound like you’re asleep,” he drawled.
“Sorry,” she squeaked.
“No problem. It’s time to wake up anyway. Breakfast is served.”
Having lain down on her right side, she had her back to him when he entered, so it was with a significant amount of anticipation—and pain—that she turned over. “Hard to do with a rib fracture.”
“I’ll bet it is.”
He stood holding the tray, waiting patiently while she sat up and got her pillows arranged. That he’d taken off the apron was fairly obvious, but with the tray blocking her view, she couldn’t see much else.
Even when he set the tray in her lap, her big bolster pillow hid everything below his navel. Still giggling, she reached for a napkin only then realizing that there wasn’t one on the tray.
“Did you bring a napkin?”
“Sure did.” His stripper-quality pelvic thrust aroused her curiosity, making her lean over the pillow for a closer look. Peering down at his groin, she discovered a napkin neatly folded and draped over his stiff penis. Howling with laughter, she would’ve knocked over the orange juice if Travis hadn’t caught it in time.
Snatching the napkin from its perch, she used it to wipe her streaming eyes. “That was definitely worth going back to bed for.”
“I’m glad you think so,” he said with a chuckle. “I had to think of something fast, and this was the best I could do.” He held the juice glass to her lips. “Here, better drink some of this before one of us spills it.”
After taking a sip, she reached for the glass, but he drew his hand back. “No, wait. I’ve got a better idea.”
“What’s that?”
“You’ll see.”
With an intriguing smile, he pushed the bolster pillow aside and sat down on the edge of the bed. Setting the juice on the nightstand, he picked up a piece of toast. “Here, have a bite.”
“You’re going to feed me?” Miranda had fed a lot of patients in her time, but no one had fed her since she was a baby.
He nodded, waggling his eyebrows. “But I’m not going to use a fork.”
Good thing he scrambled the eggs… “Sounds interesting. Tell me something, are you always this much fun in the morning?”
Laughing, he offered her a piece of bacon. “Probably not—at least, not unless I’m with you.”
“So…this isn’t normal behavior for you?” She took a bite of the bacon, chewing it slowly.
“I’ve never had this much fun with anyone before.” Shaking his head, he added, “I’m not sure why, but it’s the truth.”
“I’ll have to admit, except for broken ribs and a concussion, I’ve been having a lot more fun than usual myself.” She sighed, wondering how long what they shared would last. A month? A year? Forever would be nice, of course, but somehow she doubted it would last that long. Wonderful things so seldom did.
And he’s such a sweet guy. Those other women he’d dated were idiots—and the one he’d married even more so than the rest. Complete, utter, and total idiots. And that included Christina.
Travis, boring? Oh, hell, no.
Placing some eggs on the toast, he held it to her lips. She took a bite, chewing it thoughtfully. He was so adorable. What would he look like when he finally got fed up with her and left? Probably still adorable because even hurt or angry, he’d still be Travis...
“How come you’re not eating anything?”
He shrugged. “I ate some toast after I fed the horses.”
“You couldn’t be very full, then. There’s enough here for both of us. Why don’t you come over here and let me feed you, too. For once, feeding someone seems like fun.”
He crawled up beside her and she put her arm around him, kissing him before offering him some scrambled eggs-on-toast. “Wouldn’t it be nice if we never had to go to work and we could do this all the time?”
“I dunno…seems like more of a treat this way.”
She sighed. “You’re such a sensible fellow. What did I ever do without you?”
“Nothing like this, I presume.”
“No, nothing like this. Ever.” She’d never even dreamed about it. Travis was doing wonders for her imagination.
After they’d finished eating, he wiped her lips with the napkin. “Ready for dessert?”
“Dessert?” she echoed. “With breakfast?”
“Hey, if you don’t want it...”
“Another surprise?”
He nodded. “Yeah. Something big and long and tasty with cream filling—and a dash of secret sauce.�
�
“Secret sauce and cream filling?” She frowned. “Sounds like a cross between a Big Mac and a chocolate éclair.”
With a sly wink, he hopped up and collected the tray and dirty dishes. “Be right back.”
He returned moments later with a huge jar of peanut butter and a spoon. “Secret sauce.”
Miranda groaned. “Oh, God, not peanut butter! Once I get started, I can’t stop eating that stuff. It’s practically an addiction. That’s why I don’t keep it in the house.”
“Don’t worry,” he said, grinning. “I’ll ration it out for you. You can only have it as the topping on your dessert.”
“It better be a really big éclair,” she grumbled. “Although I never thought of putting peanut butter on one. I usually eat it right out of the jar.”
His lips curled into a slow, suggestive, heart-stopping smile. “It’s big enough. Not as long as Damar’s, but bigger around—remember?”
“Oh, my…”
“If you have to lick it off of me, a little will go a long way.” Scooping out a small spoonful, he dropped a dollop in the same spot her napkin had been hanging earlier.
Holy shit…
Travis and peanut butter? Two of the most addicting things in the entire world? Together? Her swift inhale yanked her broken ribs out of alignment, forcing her to cough in order to push them back into place. Feeding breakfast to each other had been fun, but this…
The mere thought of it would have been hot enough, but to actually watch him spreading peanut butter on his rock-hard cock went beyond erotic. Her core ignited with the power of a volcanic eruption, sending rivers of searing lava coursing through her veins.
Seemingly oblivious to the inferno he’d set off inside her, Travis kept right on smiling as he smeared that wonderfully addicting delight on his equally addicting self, making her very glad she’d shared her breakfast with him and saved room for dessert.
She cleared her throat, but her voice still sounded hoarse. “If that’s the secret sauce, where’s the cream filling?”
Unbridled (Unlikely Lovers) Page 16
