Her eyes had become accustomed to the room’s dimness and she stared at the hard, lean muscles of his arms and broad chest. Her fingers traveled over scars that branded his skin, physical reminders of his years as a cowboy working the open range.
Unable to stop herself, she trailed her thumb over one mark that started just below his heart and snaked in a curve to his tapered waist. A sudden desire to follow that same path with her mouth had her tongue leaving a wet path over her top lip.
“Kels…” Restrained passion laced Cooper’s voice as he drew out her name. “I said it’s your turn.”
She finally looked up at his face, having no idea what he was talking about. “Huh?”
“My hands are too clumsy for those little buttons of yours.” He dipped his head toward her breasts. “So unless you want them to suffer the same fate as mine…”
His voice trailed off, and the promise of using the same method to free her from her clothing as he’d done to his own hung in the damp and muggy night air.
Another rumble of thunder from the still-raging storm crashed outside. She lifted her hands to the front of her sundress, praying he couldn’t see how they trembled in the flashes of lightning that followed.
There were seven buttons to go, the last just below her belly button. Working slowly, two more buttons came undone before the lace of her bra peeked out. Cooper placed one hand on the swell of her breast and the heat of his touch caused a moan to slip past her lips.
She bit down on her bottom lip as his thumb grazed her nipple through the material. He did it again and again, pressing harder each time until he cupped her whole breast in his hand, and when his thumb and forefinger met, he gave her distended nipple a gentle squeeze.
Her hands stilled as she dropped her head back and groaned. “Cooper…”
“Don’t stop,” he whispered. “It’s driving me crazy thinking of what you have on underneath this sexy dress.”
“This isn’t sexy. It’s just a simple—”
“On you, everything is sexy.”
She continued with the buttons, not stopping even when Cooper discovered the clasp to her bra between her breasts. He easily unsnapped it as the last button slipped free of its hold. He eased the dress and her bra from her, his palms brushing over her breasts before he pushed both items down her arms. They stuck to her and he had to tug them down over her hands. Her bra floated away, but it took a few quick yanks for the dress to make it past her hips and puddled at her feet on the floor.
He reached around her and cupped her bare bottom. He groaned again, louder this time, as one finger played with the tiny triangle of fabric at the waistband of her thong. “You were wearing nothing beneath that dress all night?”
“It’s not…” she tried to speak, but the feel of his hands stroking her backside made it impossible. “It’s not nothing.”
“It’s next to nothing.”
And he loved it.
This had to be a dream. He’d been so sure she would walk out his door when she’d taken his keys, leaving him hard and hurting in his desire for her.
But the earthy, feminine scent rising with the heat of her body, her light touch on his skin, and the way she met his kisses, demanding and greedy, told him she was as turned on as he was.
Urgency throbbed through him as she pressed her almost-naked body to his. He traced the tiny straps of her underwear from her lush backside to her flat stomach as he lowered his mouth to one breast. She moaned as he sucked, tongued and teased, loving the sweet and salty taste of her skin. Her hands cradled his head then burrowed into his hair. When she directed him to her other breast, he willingly went and repeated his attention there, drawing the stiff peak into his mouth.
His fingers curled around the straps of her thong and he pushed the garment down her legs the same moment she reached between their bodies, releasing his belt buckle and freeing the top button of his jeans. Then the air disappeared from his lungs completely as she traced the thick ridge pressing against his fly.
Cooper lifted his mouth to suckle her neck, leaving a love bite as her fingers fumbled to find the small metal tab and then slowly lowered his zipper.
“I, ah… I need to tell you…” Kelsey’s words came out in ragged breaths. “It’s been a while since I’ve done…this.”
He lifted his head and tried to concentrate on her statement, the effort was made only a bit easier when she slid her hands back up his chest. “Define a while.”
“My last relationship ended…badly…a year ago. Tonight was the first date I’ve had since moving back to Red Rock.”
He couldn’t hold back as the corner of his mouth rose in a half grin.
“But you already figured that out.”
“Yeah, I did.” He lowered his mouth to hers and dipped his tongue in her sweet, wet heat once again before pulling back to nip at her full bottom lip. “It’s been a while for me, too.”
Her hands moved again, pausing to trace the scars he’d lived with for so long they were like old friends. He closed his eyes as her touch burned and soothed at the same time. How was that even possible?
“How long?” she whispered against his mouth.
“Almost a year and a half.” A low chuckle broke free as a bright flash from the storm’s lightning allowed him to read the surprise in her eyes. “What? You don’t believe me?”
“No, I believe you.”
“Good, because this first time might be kind of quick.” His fingers moved through the damp curls between her thighs before he slid two fingers deep inside her. The rocking of her hips and the wet heat he found there told him she was ready.
“First time?”
“Oh, yeah.” He flexed his fingers, drawing a deep moan from her. She clung to him, her fingernails biting into his shoulders as she lifted one leg, pressing her knee hard against his thigh as her shoe fell away. “But I’ll make it up to you, I promise.”
He wrapped his free hand around her raised thigh and tugged it higher on his hip. As much as he hated to do it, he pulled away from her and put his hand at her waist. “Put your other leg around me, too.”
“Why?”
“So I can carry you to my bed.”
She pressed frantic kisses against his jaw. “Is there anything wrong with where we are right now?”
He leaned back to look at her. “Here?”
“Right here, right now.”
She let go of his shoulders and dropped her hands again, tugging on the open waistband of his jeans until they rode low on his hips and backside, his wide stance the only thing keeping them from going any farther. She reached past the smooth cotton of his briefs and freed him, cupping him in a firm grip before dragging her hand upward until her thumb danced over the wet tip.
“Make love to me, Cooper. Now.”
He pressed her against the wall with his body, holding her in place as he captured her mouth in another blistering kiss. Making love to Kelsey had haunted his thoughts from the first moment he’d seen her. He’d always pictured them in the queen-size bed in his room, but he wasn’t going to argue about location now.
He yanked his wallet from his back pocket, tore open the condom package and quickly sheathed himself. He lifted her off the floor, wrapping her legs around his waist as her other shoe joined the first on the floor.
She squealed in protest until he angled her hips and slowly entered her, the sweet sound turning into a moan as she broke free of his kiss. Her head dropped back against the wall in a soft thump as she rocked her body, pulling him in.
Denying the pulsating need to thrust deeply, Cooper fought for control as she tightened around him. Shudders racked his body as they surged together, over and over again, moving in perfect unison. Her breathing came in short, breaking gasps as he drove them higher and higher.
Damn, she felt too good, too perfect. He wasn’t going to last. He felt her release moments before his own and he toppled over the edge of an unknown world where only the two of them existed. Her mouth reached for hi
s and he took her joyous shout of pleasure into his soul. It was a long moment before he softened their kiss, lightly teasing, sipping at her lips. The power of their lovemaking drained the strength from him, but at the same time he felt like he could stay here forever.
The quivering of his leg muscles told another story, however, but he didn’t want to leave her, didn’t want to break this bond.
“Don’t fall, Cooper.”
Physically he was fine. Mentally? It might be too late as her soft words against his neck burrowed beneath his skin and moved downward until they branded his heart.
She started to lower her legs, but he tightened his hold, wrapping his arms around her before he took a step backward.
“Where do you think you’re going, honey?”
“Cooper, you’re shaking.” She curled her arms around his neck and tightened her thighs at his waist.
“So are you.”
Her husky laugh renewed his hunger and his body responded. He walked into the bedroom, stopping to turn on the window A/C unit against the far wall. The rush of cool air bathed their saturated skin and they sighed in unison.
Kelsey dropped her head back and her hair blew free in the breeze. “That feels wonderful.”
“Better than sex?” Cooper grinned at her, knowing the answering smile on her face was his doing.
“No, but at the moment it’s a close second.”
“Speaking of seconds…”
He lowered her to the bed, separating their bodies. She dropped her legs, her feet trailing along his jean-clad legs. He braced himself over her, willingly submitting as she tugged his head down to hers. Their mouths met in a lazy kiss that quickly surged from warm and content to bold and wanton.
Cooper pulled away, loving her soft whimper of disapproval at his retreat. “Get comfortable. I’ll be right back.”
He put himself back together, pulling his jeans back on, watching Kelsey as she scooted upward on the bed. She lifted her hips as her feet churned at the faded patchwork quilt and sheets beneath, dislodging them. “But not too comfortable, you hear? I plan to be naked when I crawl in beside you.”
She rolled to her stomach and snuggled into one of his pillows. “Hmm, that’s my plan, too.”
Taking a few moments to check on his son, Cooper was glad to find the baby’s skin cool to the touch. He then went out to lock the front door noticing the rain had slowed to a gentle shower and the thunder and lightning were gone.
He gathered their scattered clothes and cleaned up in the bathroom, shedding his jeans, underwear, socks and boots before heading back to the bedroom. Closing the door behind him, he placed Kelsey’s stuff on a nearby bench and tossed his into the corner. His last chore was clicking on the baby monitor next to his bed while his gaze roamed over Kelsey’s naked back.
The snow-white sheets, pulled up to just cover the curve of her hip, were cool against his skin as he slid in next to her. He was more than ready to make love to her again, but as he leaned over from behind her and placed a kiss on her shoulder, he decided not to wake her if she was already asleep.
She wasn’t, if the sexy arching that pressed her shoulder to his mouth and her backside against his hips meant anything.
“Hmm, whiskers…I like the way that feels.”
Her voice was low and husky, making her sound like a woman who’d just been made love to, and loved well. She arched her neck and he took that to mean she wanted another kiss. He happily obliged, gently scraping his chin over her skin before reaching back to his bedside table. He palmed a small square package and placed it within reach beneath his pillow.
Propped up on one elbow, he lifted her long hair away from her back. He spread the long strands to the side across the pillow, loving how the dark color contrasted against the white bedding.
“I think you have a fanatical attachment to my hair,” she mumbled, then sighed as he pressed his lips between her shoulder blades.
“I love your hair,” he said between kisses, making his way down her spine, “and how your skin tastes like strawberries.”
She remained silent for so long, Cooper started to wonder if he’d said something—
“More like salty strawberries by now.”
He smiled, his grin widening when her hips lifted from the bed the moment he reached the curve of her backside. Gently sucking the tender skin into his mouth, he moved over her, sliding between her legs and bracketing his hands on either side of her body. She moaned as his mouth left his mark on her, an enticing sound that grew as he gently nudged her legs farther apart before he stretched out atop the length of her.
“Damn, you feel good beneath me.”
Her response was to wiggle her backside against the hard length of him. Fighting for control, he kept his weight off her by using his elbows, then sliding his hands over hers, directing them upward until he wrapped her fingers around the wooden spindles that made up the bed’s headboard.
“Don’t let go, okay?” he whispered into her ear.
Her eyes remained closed as she nodded.
He drew his hands back, trailing his fingers along her arms to the soft sides of her breasts. Determined to take things slow, he rode the fine edge of control as he stroked, caressed and made love again to the beautiful woman in his bed, holding off his own powerful release until they shattered together.
Cooper woke the next morning facing the bedside table where the baby monitor sat. He’d found he was more receptive to Anthony’s babbling or cries in that position. Then again, this was the first time he’d awakened in this bed with the press of soft curves against his back.
Not to mention fingertips making lazy circles over his stomach and a smooth leg lying over his. He laid a hand on her thigh and wondered for a moment if the two of them were going to experience any morning-after awkwardness.
“Good morning,” he said softly.
A soft hum was her only response. He started to roll over, but she didn’t move except to withdraw her hand until it lay flat against his back, her breathing low and even on his skin.
Was she still asleep?
They’d both drifted off after making love for the second time last night, but turned to each other once again just as the sun’s rays broke over the horizon.
His mind wandered back to what had happened after that last time together. He’d held her in his arms until she’d drifted off. Restless, he’d gotten up and checked on Anthony, then found himself sinking into the rocker in the corner of the baby’s room instead of heading back to bed.
Being with Kelsey last night—both at the Spring Fling and at his place—felt so right. For someone who’d always worked hard not to become attached, he found himself, and his heart, falling hard for the pretty horse trainer.
She was sexy, smart, fun, hard-working, close to her family and wonderful with his son. Wonderful with him.
So why the hell had he sat there for over an hour and thought about the past? Not just his history with women, but his childhood, too.
Growing up with a charming but self-centered mother had taught him all he didn’t want in a relationship or in life. Hell, maybe he’d inherited those same traits. He’d been called both by past lovers, usually delivered with a slap to the face or a door slamming behind him on his way out.
Unable to come up with any answers other than a desire to be lying next to Kelsey again, he’d rejoined her, figuring the baby would be awake soon. Instead, he’d fallen into a deep, dreamless sleep.
Kelsey mumbled something he couldn’t make out because at the same time a hushed cry echoed through the monitor and his stomach rumbled. Time for breakfast. Cooper eased from beneath the covers, blinking in the bright sunlight that streamed in the windows.
He looked at the clock, surprised to see it was almost nine. Kelsey burrowed into the pillows, so he pulled the blankets up to her shoulders. He’d feed Anthony first then fix breakfast for the two of them.
Pulling on clean briefs and a fresh pair of jeans, he scrubbed his hand through h
is bed-head hair and headed for the bathroom then the kitchen. He’d learned it was better to greet his son with a fresh bottle of moo juice than go into his room empty-handed.
Moments later, he found his five-month-old on his tummy doing the baby version of push-ups with a big grin on his face. Cooper laughed as he lifted him from the crib and soon had him in a clean diaper and undershirt. Nestling his son into the crook of his arm, he settled into the rocker as Anthony chugged on his bottle. Gently rocking, he enjoyed the quiet of the morning.
He didn’t have to figure out everything right at this moment. It was enough that Kelsey was the first woman who made him want more. Want it all.
Anthony drained the bottle and popped the nipple from his mouth with a happy gurgle. Cooper lifted him to his shoulder, and patted his back until the little guy gave a hearty burp right in Cooper’s ear.
A sound so loud it almost drowned the click of the front door being opened, and then seconds later, closed.
Chapter Ten
“Going somewhere?”
Kelsey froze. Her hand still on the handle after she’d closed the front door instead of walking out like she planned. In her other hand were her purse and shoes while her arms held the beautiful blanket Cooper had given her last night—right before an amazing night of lovemaking that left her seduced, sore and serenely blissful.
She turned around. Her hair, done up in a loose braid she’d hastily crafted after Cooper left the bed—the second time—flew over one shoulder.
She zoomed in on his hair, mussed from sleep and finger combed, his naked-from-the-waist-up killer body, jeans faded in all the right places riding low on his hips and those sexy bare feet. Add the adorable baby cooing contently in his strong arms, much like she’d done last night, and she was seconds away from melting into a mess of feminine goo.
The only thing keeping her upright was the incredulity in his brown eyes. Eyes that had blazed with a passionate fire that all but consumed her, body and soul, last night.
“I know what this looks like,” she said.
“And what is that?”
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