by Susanna Carr
He rested his hand on the column, taking away any chance for her to escape. “Why do you want to stay on the sidelines?”
“The risks outweigh the rewards,” she said. Right now she felt as powerful as the storm that whipped around them, but she knew she was vulnerable and insignificant. “I need to look after myself. No one else will.”
“I can take care of you,” he said as he met her gaze.
She closed her eyes, wishing she could ignore his words. She knew he could protect her while making her feel wildly alive. Travis could make her want things she didn’t think were possible. “You don’t know me. You don’t know what I need.”
“I know you better than you think,” he said as he rested his forehead against hers. “You follow the rules, but you still don’t get what you want. It doesn’t matter how much research you do or how many baby steps you take. You’re not making your dreams come true. What you need to do is plunge headfirst into trouble. You’d be surprised how much fun the unknown can be.”
What he was suggesting sounded terrifying. “You don’t know how miserable it is to reach for the stars and fall flat on your face.”
“It’s not as painful as letting a dream go,” he continued. “You let a few dreams slip past your fingers because you couldn’t see the possibilities. Everyone told you that it couldn’t happen. I’m here to tell you that you need to take a leap of faith.”
Christine squeezed her eyes shut as the lightning lit up the night sky. Travis saw more than she realized. She didn’t like feeling this exposed.
“Forget the rules,” he said. “Forget your surroundings. Just follow your instincts.”
She tilted her head to the side and opened her eyes. Travis was standing a kiss away from her. “What do your instincts tell you?” she asked in a throaty voice.
“That you are trouble. I have no self-preservation when it comes to you,” he admitted. “I want you no matter what the consequences and that should scare the hell out of me.”
“I already know how this is going to end,” she declared as her heart raced.
“Liar,” he said with a hint of a smile. “You don’t know what I’m going to do. What I’m willing to risk. And that scares you because you don’t know what’s going to happen next. Well, I’ll give you a hint. It includes you and me naked on this porch.”
She gasped as the image flickered in her mind. It was daring, risky and forbidden. She knew better than to consider it, but the idea was unbearably exciting. “Let me be clear,” she said in a whisper. “We are not having sex on my front porch. Someone might see us.”
“I won’t let that happen,” he promised with a growl. “What happens tonight is for my eyes only.”
Travis reached out and threaded his hands in her long hair. She thought about twisting out of his hold—they might get caught, they might be exposed—but she welcomed the shadows, wanting to hide how she felt.
She didn’t understand it, couldn’t control it. Yet she also couldn’t see Travis’s expression. Was there a gleam of lust or triumph in his eyes? The porch was too dark, but she felt the tension in him. She grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him forward. Travis went willingly and their mouths collided.
The kiss was hot, hard and hungry. Excitement swirled inside her, wanting to break free. Christine slid her hands under his shirt, enjoying the warm skin and solid muscle beneath her fingertips.
Travis skimmed his hands under her thin blouse. Her stomach muscles clenched; his hands were large and she shivered as he tugged her blouse over her head.
The lightning forked across the night sky, illuminating them for a brief moment. She saw Travis’s face. His features were drawn, intense. He lowered his head and pressed his mouth against the curve of her neck as he slid her bra straps down her arms.
He unhooked her bra with ease and curved his fingers in the center between her breasts. Her pulse fluttered as he rubbed his knuckles against her sternum. With the flick of his wrist, the bra fell away.
Her breasts felt full and heavy under his gaze. Her nipples were tight and aching for his touch. She gasped when Travis covered her breast with his hand. Unease trickled down her spine. His touch was possessive. But she didn’t want to be claimed. If he claimed her, she would never let go. Christine didn’t want to think about the future. She only wanted to focus on this moment. For tonight, Travis was hers.
Pushing all thoughts away, Christine held Travis’s face and covered his mouth with hers, pouring everything into the kiss. She stopped only when she felt as though her lungs would burst.
Christine wrestled with his shirt until she dragged it off his arms. Her movements were urgent and eager, but she didn’t care. This was a second chance to be with Travis and she needed to capture a lifetime in one night. Christine pressed her chest against his, moaning with pleasure as skin met skin.
The thunder crashed over them, but she barely heard it as Travis gathered her in his arms and lowered her onto the padded bench behind them. The pillow was soft and cool against her flushed skin.
Lightning flashed as he teased her breasts with his mouth. The light and shadows danced along them as she rocked with Travis. It was as if this wasn’t real but part of a fantasy world.
Travis kissed and licked a trail down her stomach. His mouth was gentle and soft, but his hands were strong and demanding. She arched as he drew her jeans from her hips and pushed them aside.
She was naked, reaching for him, and he settled between her thighs. Travis bent his head, kissing her passionately, relentlessly. Christine groaned, frantic now as the pleasure rushed through her. She wanted to hold on, was determined to bring him closer. But Travis was in charge, bringing her to the edge with a devilish flick of his tongue before she climaxed.
She was still trembling with the aftershocks as he pulled away. Christine’s bliss knew no bounds and then she saw Travis unzip his jeans. She was mesmerized by his swift and elegant movements as he put on a condom before he settled again between her legs.
Desire gripped her body as the tip of his erection pressed against her heat. Thunder bellowed. Travis paused for a split second before he surged forward. She rolled her hips to meet his thrust. A crack of lightning blazed across the sky. This time she wanted the brightness. She wanted to see Travis at his most elemental.
“Hold on to me now, Christine,” he said through clenched teeth.
She clung to him in every sense. His thrusts were powerful and it wasn’t long before a climax erupted from deep inside her. She arched into Travis, her cries swallowed by the roar of the storm.
Christine held on tightly as Travis’s movements grew wilder. She didn’t want to let go. And she wouldn’t until tomorrow. Tomorrow she would return to her quiet life. Tonight she would make memories.
11
TRAVIS SLOWLY SAT UP in bed and looked around Christine’s room. The sun was just beginning to rise and light streamed through the window shades. He was reluctant to look for the emerald. This might be his only chance to search, but it felt wrong.
He looked at Christine as she slept next to him. He was beginning to believe she hadn’t taken the emerald. He thought she was the only one who had the opportunity, but he didn’t have hard proof. Did he immediately decide she was the one because it gave him a chance to follow her? Had he just been fooling himself so he could see her again?
No, he wouldn’t do that to Aaron. This emerald was important to his friend and it was worth a lot of money. Aaron wasn’t a millionaire, but he took care of his large and extended family. The winnings and that emerald made a big difference to his family’s future. Travis had failed Aaron and he had to make it up to him. He wouldn’t have pursued Christine unless he truly believed she had stolen the gem. He couldn’t afford to second-guess his instincts and he wasn’t going to be distracted by her again.
Travis rose from
the bed and looked at the shelf across the room. There were a few decorative boxes. She could have placed the gem in one of those.
“What time is it?” Christine asked sleepily.
He froze when he heard her voice. “It’s still early. Go back to sleep.”
Christine slowly sat up and pulled the sheet around her naked body. She yawned and flipped her long hair from her face. “Where are you going?”
“I was going to sneak back into the bed-and-breakfast,” he lied.
There was a beat of silence. “Oh, okay.”
Travis could tell from her tone that she didn’t believe his answer. “Where did you think I was going?” he asked as he walked back to the bed.
“I don’t know. The first thought that crossed my mind was that you were leaving. Leaving town.”
He was surprised that her mind had jumped to that conclusion. “Do you want me to leave?”
“No,” she admitted as she glanced out the window. “But I know that Cedar Valley is too small for you. Too quiet.”
It was the quiet that had woken him up before dawn. He had avoided silence for as long as he could remember. “I’ve been to smaller places.”
“I would love to hear all about it,” she said as she watched him crawl back into bed. “What do you think of Cedar Valley?”
“It reminds me a lot of you,” he said as he tugged the bedsheet from her hand.
“Really?” She tilted her head back as if she didn’t know if she should take it as a compliment. “How?”
“It has a natural beauty,” he said softly. “It’s caring and nurturing.”
“Sometimes too caring,” she whispered.
He didn’t know if Christine was talking about Cedar Valley or herself. “And after a while, you can’t imagine being anywhere else.”
Her lips twisted with bitterness. “Don’t worry, the feeling doesn’t last.”
Travis frowned as his slow, sweet seduction took an unexpected turn. “What do you mean?”
“My dad lived here all his life and when he was having financial problems, he just got up and left. Never heard from him again. I assume he found a more exciting life.” She turned her head away. “My mom left when she got remarried. She couldn’t wait to get out of here.”
“And you stayed behind.”
“More like got left behind. I hate feeling like that. I think I get a little too attached to people because of it.” She sighed and made a face. “Not to scare you or anything, but I had considered staying in Vegas for one more day. It didn’t feel right to leave.”
Travis stared at her. If she had stayed one more day she might not have gotten away with the emerald. “Why did you leave?”
“Because everything was perfect. I didn’t want to mess things up by staying. It was my first one-night stand, and I didn’t want to get it wrong.”
He smiled at her confession. “Your first, huh? Why wasn’t that on your bucket list? Or do you have a separate one for sex?”
“A bucket list for sex?” Christine laughed and shook her head. “I can barely get through the one I have now.”
“What would be on that bucket list?” His body hardened as he thought about Christine’s fantasies. Would they be sweet and romantic or would they shock him? “What is the one fantasy that you want to do more than anything else?”
The light in her eyes flared. Travis knew he was the star of that fantasy. He felt humbled and powerful at the same time.
“What is it?” he asked hoarsely.
“I want to let go. Lose control.” Her voice was barely a whisper. “I don’t want to think or worry. I just want to feel. Be swept away.”
“I have an idea,” he said quietly as a sense of urgency pulsed inside him. He could give her that. He could make her fantasy come true right now. “But I don’t know if we’re ready for it.”
She licked her lips. “Tell me.”
Travis leaned closer to Christine. This could change everything between them. She’d probably say no and he’d never be invited back into her bed. Yet he was compelled to suggest it. Travis knew this might be what she was looking for—and he wanted to be the one to do it for her.
“Let me blindfold you.”
* * *
CHRISTINE HESITATED. SHE’D never been blindfolded. Had never been able to relinquish control. The idea of making herself vulnerable excited and scared her.
“Why?” she asked. She trusted Travis. Had shared her bed, her body, but this was different. She wished she wasn’t hesitating. Travis was strong but tender. He would take care of her and her needs. Only he would be able to watch her and she wouldn’t get to see the lust in his eyes or watch him become overwhelmed with pleasure.
“I won’t do anything you don’t want to do,” he promised softly as he grabbed the pillow he slept on and removed the pillowcase. “But you’ll experience total freedom.”
She wanted to know what that felt like. But to receive freedom, she had to give Travis freedom over her. Was she ready for that?
Yes. Christine wanted to explore this with Travis. She couldn’t imagine doing it with anyone else. “Okay,” she finally agreed.
Excitement shone in Travis’s eyes as he folded the white pillowcase. Christine’s heart beat against her chest as he covered her eyes with the cotton. The sudden darkness surprised her. She automatically put a hand on the blindfold and stopped. She didn’t need to test it. She could pull it off at any time.
Christine cautiously reached out to touch Travis. Her fingertips clawed at the air. Where was he? She knew he was still on the bed; the mattress hadn’t dipped. Christine tilted her head and listened. She heard his uneven breath.
“Travis?” she whispered.
Christine jumped when she felt his mouth brush against the curve of her throat. The sensation was gentle and yet she felt exposed.
Maybe she wasn’t ready for this. She liked to know what was going to happen. She needed to predict, to plan. It was what she did best.
Travis pressed on her shoulders and lowered her onto the bed. Christine tried to slow her pounding heart. She lay before Travis naked but she didn’t feel the need to flaunt her body or pose seductively. She was tempted to drag the bedsheet to her chin, but what she really wanted was to see the desire in his eyes. Watch him moan in appreciation.
He held her face with his large hands before slipping his tongue past her parted lips. She felt the stubble on his chin rasp her skin. His fingers shook as he contained the wild energy that whipped through him.
Christine skimmed her hands through his hair. It was softer than she remembered. She touched his face, memorizing the lines, as Travis explored her. He was both demanding and lovingly tender. His kisses would shift from playful to daring. She could no longer assume what he would do next.
She gave up trying and the freedom she felt was shocking. All she had to do was feel. Enjoy. Travis showed her how much he desired her, how much she aroused him. Christine wanted to savor the pleasure that rushed through her veins. The excitement swelled inside her.
“Travis,” she whispered as she squeezed her eyes shut. She arched back as he covered her nipple with his lips and drew her into his mouth. She moaned as the fierce tug went straight to her core.
Travis cupped her sex and she bucked against his hand. She stretched against the bed as the lust scorched her from head to toe. Christine murmured with approval, rocking her hips as he teased her.
Suddenly, he withdrew. Christine frowned and bit her lip. She felt alone. Cold. She swayed her hips but he wasn’t there. She didn’t feel him or hear him. The mattress moved as he left.
But he wouldn’t leave her. Christine’s stomach twisted. Travis wouldn’t play games. He wouldn’t abuse her trust. She didn’t know why she believed that. He made no promises but it didn’t need to be said. She
knew.
Her curiosity was too much. She squeezed the bedsheet when she really wanted to push the blindfold from her eyes. “Travis?”
“I’m here,” he said, his voice thick and husky. The relief seeped through her when she heard the rip of foil and realized he had paused only to put on protection.
Christine waited impatiently for his return. She needed his touch. She wanted to be surrounded by him. She wanted to think of nothing but Travis.
The dip of the bed warned her. She felt Travis’s hands on her knees as he settled between her thighs. She wrapped her legs around his hips tightly and put her hands on his lean, muscular body. She adored the feel of his power and strength when her fingers trailed down his back.
Christine’s fingertips dug into his skin when she felt Travis against her entrance. She barely realized Travis’s hands were under her hips before he entered her with one stroke.
Her gasp echoed in her ears as Travis remained still. Now, more than ever, Christine wanted to see him. She needed to see the straining tendons in his neck as he struggled to make this moment last. She wanted to see him surrender before she heard his hoarse cry of release.
Travis’s even thrusts drove her wild, and she didn’t want to hide her primal responses. The pleasure built higher and higher. Their mingled breaths. The musky scent. She was intensely aware of the tension and subtle changes in his body.
She couldn’t fight it any longer. Christine surrendered to the sensations. To Travis. The climax flashed hot and bright. Travis groaned as her pulsating body triggered his release. With one final thrust, Travis tumbled on top of her.
Christine wrapped her arms around him. He was heavy and warm against her. She didn’t want to move. Christine was panting as she pushed the blindfold away with a shaky hand. “Travis?” she murmured.
“Mmm?” He didn’t lift his head but instead nestled his face against her throat.
“The next item on my sex bucket list is for you to wear the blindfold.”
His chuckle vibrated against the crook of her neck. “Now I really want to see this bucket list.”
