Tears and pity would not help, so she sucked it up and headed back toward him. “Jace, can I get you something to eat?”
“Not hungry. Thanks,” he said, then opened his eyes. “It’s late. Why don’t you just go to bed. I’ll be all right here on the couch.”
“You’re right. It is late,” she said, reaching for his hands and tugging him to his feet. He was drunk, but still coherent. “Come on. Into bed with you.”
He didn’t object when she slid her arm around his waist and helped him into her bedroom.
“Are you leading me in here to have your way with me?”
She laughed. “No.” Then twisted them, before palming his chest and pushing him onto the bed.
He lifted up onto his elbows and stared at her. “You sure? Because it feels as if you are.”
Holly dropped to her knees and, ignoring his groan, began to remove his shoes, then socks.
“Still feels like it.”
A smile tugged her lips, but she remained quiet when he unhooked his jeans and pushed them to his knees. She grabbed the cuffs and yanked.
“This isn’t a good idea,” he said, when she leaned over him to remove his shirt.
But again, he didn’t protest. She shut off the lights.
“Definitely feels like it,” he said.
She laughed and quickly changed into her nightshirt, then crawled into bed with him. “Come here,” she said, tugging him up to the pillows, then under the covers.
“Aren’t you supposed to be naked?” he asked, curling her into his side.
Holly slid her hand up his chest. “Not tonight.”
“Headache?” he asked, his big hand gliding up her body to settle on her forehead. “You don’t have a fever.”
The way his palm just brushed over her nipples and the other cupped her ass, yeah, she most definitely had a fever. But the timing was wrong.
“This isn’t about me, Jace. It’s about you. Let me help you. Tell me what you need.”
He tried to move her, but she pushed back. “I need to go—”
“No, you need to let me take care of you.” She eased her grip and lightly trailed her fingers into his hair. “You don’t need to be alone tonight.”
“I don’t need to talk, either.”
“Might help if you did,” she said.
“No. What’s done is done. Once again, I wasn’t…” His voice trailed off, leaving his analogy unspoken, and her throat hot with unshed tears.
“This was not your fault, Jace.”
“Then whose was it, Holly? I was his doctor.”
“Yes, a doctor who did all he could for a seventy-eight-year-old man with a history of heart disease and heart attacks.”
He stiffened. “How’d you know?”
“Tanner,” she replied.
“Figures,” he mumbled, trying to get up again.
She held fast. “When you left before, I called around looking for you. Tanner told me Mr. Samuel’s history.”
A second later, she found herself under Jace, pinned by his hot, solid, body. “I’m thinking maybe we should stop talking now.”
“Okay,” she said, wiggling until he was half-on and half-off her body. “Let me hold you.”
His scotch-tainted breath was warm on her skin while she ran her fingers through his hair, and gently stroked up and down his arm with the other.
“Still feels like it,” he mumbled against her neck, just before he fell asleep.
Jace woke the next morning remembering only bits and pieces of the night before, and damn glad Holly wasn’t next to him in bed. He got out, then winced as the room spun, and a piercing pain shot through his head.
Good. Served him right for being so stupid.
When his eyes were able to refocus, he spied the note Holly left him on a pillow. A small grin twitched his lips as he lifted the peach paper which told him his keys were on the counter, truck was across the street at the Pub, and to be careful.
He fished his phone out of his pocket and called her.
She answered on the first ring. “Hey, you okay?”
“Fabulous,” he lied, smiling when her soft chuckle echoed in his ear.
“That good, huh? There’s pills in the medicine cabinet. Help yourself.”
He headed for the bathroom, rubbing his temple in an attempt to lessen the ache. “Thanks, Holly.” If he never saw another bottle of scotch, it would be too soon.
“Any time,” she said.
The woman was too sweet. He downed the pills before returning to the bedroom, biting back a curse when he noticed the time.
“Sorry I had to leave, but Donny ended up in the emergency room this morning.”
He stilled. “Jesus, is he okay?”
“Yeah, three stitches in his head. Said he had a fight with a vacuum cleaner and lost. And don’t worry, it wasn’t here. It happened at home.”
At least she didn’t have to deal with a workman’s comp claim.
“Why don’t you stop by? I’ll make you a banana smoothie.”
“Deal. Give me ten minutes.” he told her then hung up.
He was ready in five.
And when he walked inside her shop and found her alone, he strode straight to her, pulled her close, and kissed her.
She melted against him, slipping her arms around his neck and snuggling close. He’d planned to give her a simple thank you kiss, but it got a little out of control, and soon their hands were all over, sneaking under clothes, caressing hot skin.
When they broke for air, he set his forehead on hers and squeezed her shoulders. “Damn, you’re potent.”
“Ditto.”
He nodded, holding her a moment while he got his hunger under control. “Thanks for last night,” he said, drawing back to lightly trace her jaw. “I’m really sorry you had to deal with my drunk ass. And I’m sorry I fell asleep, it wasn’t my intention.”
“I know.” Her lips curved into a smile. “It was mine.”
He narrowed his gaze, pretending to be hurt. “What happened to discussing symptoms with me?”
She laughed, pushing out of his arms to grab a smoothie from the counter. “That is saved for another appointment.”
“What appointment?”
“I don’t know. I’ll have to pencil it in.”
He nodded. “Sorry, my schedule gets a bit crazy some weeks.”
“No worries. I can wait,” she said softly.
He groaned, wanting very much to put a closed sign on the door, lock it, and put an end to their waiting.
“Hey, Jace. Holly.” Connor strode into the shop. “How’s things?”
She stepped around him to greet her customer. “Good. How’s Kerri? She’s heading into her final trimester, right?”
“Yeah, thankfully. It’ll be nice when these cravings stop.”
Holly nodded, but he didn’t think she knew the man wasn’t just talking about his wife.
“I’ve got your order right here.” Pushing a white bag filled with who knows what, and a cup holder with two milkshakes at the tall cowboy, she smiled. “You’re all set.”
“Thanks.” Conner dropped some cash near the register, then turned and rushed out the door.
Seemed more like coffee and hot chocolate season than milkshakes to Jace, but he figured it had something to do with his friend’s unwanted cravings.
Hiding a smile, he came around in front of the display case, deliberately putting a very large, inanimate object between them. “Well, I better go. Need to run home to shower and change before work.” He pushed back from the counter. “Listen, I already know tonight and tomorrow are nuts, but how about Friday? Are you working Friday evening?”
“No.”
He leaned back toward her. “Want to come to my place for dinner?”
“Your place?”
“Yeah.”
Her gaze softened as she stared at him. “I’d like that.”
“Good.” He smiled, heart thudding hard in his chest. “I’ll see you around sev
en?”
She nodded, gaze warm and soft, nearly making him forget he was going to be late for work if he didn’t hurry. “See you then.”
And he would. He planned to see all of her then. See and touch and kiss and lick and take care of all her symptoms. Twice.
What she’d done last night blew his mind. He’d never known a woman who would put up with him like she had as he dealt with a loss. Most women shied away and left him to deal with things on his own. That’s how he thought it was supposed to be. Until Holly.
Last night, yeah, he was drunk, but he remembered everything, especially how she didn’t crowd him with pity, spouting useless niceties, or tell him to grow a pair. No. She’d wrapped her arms around him and shared her heart and her strength. And God, he’d needed them both.
Feared he’d always need them.
He didn’t know if that was in the cards, but he did know he wanted to browse the deck and find out.
Friday night, he planned to spread the cards and see.
Chapter Sixteen
When Friday evening rolled around, Holly was more than ready to see Jace again. It’d only been a day and a half, but it was strange; it’d felt like days. Years.
Since the temperature had dropped, she’d nixed her plans to wear a dress. Opting for jeans, boots, and a sweater. And if she played her cards right, she wouldn’t be wearing them most of the night, anyway.
She turned into the long drive, and continued past trees and pastures and fields, then pulled into the driveway in front of Jace’s brick house. Her heart beats elevated, and her hand shook as she knocked on his red door, made more vibrant by the setting sun.
She couldn’t believe she was there. That he’d invited her to his house. She knew this was not only big in their relationship, it was a big step for Jace.
The door opened, and her greeting dissipated at the sight of him in a pair of jeans and charcoal gray Henley, his hair still damp from a recent shower.
“Hi. Come on in. It’s getting cold out,” he said and tugged her inside.
The place was inviting and warm with the living room wide-open to the modern kitchen with high cabinets, granite counters, and matching backsplash. The stools at the breakfast bar matched the loveseat and couch facing the fireplace. But the best part was the gorgeous wood trim and floors, and spectacular, high wood-beamed ceilings. It reminded her a little of Colorado, and felt like…home.
“Wow. This place is…wow,” she repeated, allowing him to help her out of her black leather jacket.
Walking into the kitchen, he set it on the back of one of the chairs and pointed to the set table. “Would you like a glass of wine?”
She nodded, and because watching the man made her insides smolder, she turned around to take in the view of his living room. Tastefully done in masculine colors, but with just the right amount of warmth, the room had a pleasant, relaxing feel. Exactly what the busy doctor would need when he got home from his hectic days. The stone fireplace, complete with roaring fire, caught and held her attention, until she spied an undecorated, live Christmas tree in a stand in front of his large window.
“You have a tree,” she said inanely.
He nodded, stepping near to hand her a glass. “I was kind of hoping you’d help me decorate it this weekend.”
Of all the things he could’ve said, that was not at all what she’d expected. A sharp thrill shot through Holly, adding to the warmth his friendly gaze had started the instant he’d answered her knock.
“I’d love to.” She sipped her wine for something to do to keep her hands and mouth occupied.
“Dinner is ready. We can move it here if you’d like.” He motioned to the coffee table near the fireplace. The setting was damn near perfect, but also in plain view of the kitchen table.
“Since the table is already set, I’m okay with having it there,” she told him. “It smells wonderful, by the way.”
A sheepish grin curved his lips as he set a hand at the small of her back and ushered her toward the food. “It should. Kerri cooked it. She left about ten minutes ago.”
She chuckled. “No wonder it smells so great.”
Taking the seat he pulled out for her, she nodded her thanks, and talked her body into dealing with one hunger at a time. And damn, the man looked good enough to eat, sitting across from her, gaze all open and warm.
“Thanks for coming,” he said.
She must’ve had a few too many sips of wine on her empty stomach, because she nearly blurted out, Not yet.
“Thanks for inviting me.”
They smiled at each other a few seconds, and when the air began to change between them, he cleared his throat and motioned for her to eat. Happy for the distraction, she loaded her plate with a little of each dish Kerri had made, knowing she’d enjoy every bite of chicken cordon bleu, green beans almandine, rice pilaf and tomato aspic with shrimp salad.
Thirty-minutes later, she sat next to him on the floor, on a lush, area rug in front of the fire with the rest of the wine, one hunger satisfied and the other burning out of control.
“I’ve thought about bringing you here. A lot, Holly,” he said, taking her half-empty glass and setting it by his on the coffee table behind them. “I thought about you naked, and me buried deep inside you.”
“Oh,” she whispered, anticipation trembling inside her.
He lifted a hand to cup her face and lean close. “My phone is off and in the back room. We’re not going to be interrupted again.”
She smiled her approval.
“Where’s your phone?”
“I left it home.”
“Clever girl,” he said against her lips, nibbling softly, then leaning forward, pressing her down onto the carpet.
Before she could blink, he was on her, spark ignited at the McCalls’ party blazing back to life. “It’s been too long, Holly. I’m not going to be able to go slow this first time. Sorry.”
With his mouth on hers, he slid his hands beneath her shirt, grazing her skin, sending shivers down her body. The fact he’d said the first time wasn’t lost on her, despite the desire fogging her brain. She was thrilled to hear there’d be more than one time.
His thumbs brushed over her nipples, and she gasped. He was taking her apart. Between his touch and his hunger, she was on board with anything he wanted.
“We need to lose the clothes.” He pulled back and slowly peeled her sweater over her head, before yanking off his Henley.
She couldn’t take her gaze off him. Muscles rippled as he bent to kiss her breast that spilled from her bra, and then suddenly that lace barrier was gone.
“Been thinking of this,” he murmured against her peak, flicking the nipple with his tongue before sucking it hard into his mouth.
Her gasped echoed through the room as she writhed beneath him.
“You’re so damn soft.”
His voice was deliciously low and sexy, and she nearly came from the sound of him alone. Then he slid the tips of his fingers into her jeans, upping the tension to insane.
“Jace,” she whispered.
“I know.” His blue gaze was dark and very, very hot. He grasped her hand and placed it over his erection. “No more talking. I have plans for our mouths.” To prove it, he sat back and tugged her jeans off before he removed his.
Perfect, sinewy, and hot, his body gleamed in the firelight, and her breath caught at the sight of every inch of his mouthwatering form. And he had a lot of mouthwatering inches.
He crawled up her body and bent to kiss her, low on her quivering stomach as he snagged her panties with his fingers and slowly tugged them down. “You’re so beautiful, Holly.” He settled between her thighs, taking so long to look his fill, she squirmed.
“Jace.”
“So damn beautiful.”
He nudged her legs open with his broad shoulders and bent to kiss an inner thigh. Her pulse raced, her body wanting…needing him to give her more. Then he gently stroked her with his thumb before he groaned and ran his tongue
over her. Holly’s mind blanked. She bit her lip and cupped his head, unable to stop from bucking.
“Damn, you taste good,” he murmured, and when her hips rocked again, he slid his hands beneath her, holding her still for his care and attention. “I’m going to make you scream.”
Surprised by her body’s quick reaction, she trembled, hovering on the very edge of an orgasm. Already.
He laved his tongue where her leg met her body, taking his time while she shifted, trying to get him where she wanted him most.
“Good?”
“Y—yes.”
He brushed his lips over her center, then did it again. This time, he slid one finger into her, and then another, with long, slow, sure strokes.
Her breath hitched, and when he gently closed his teeth on her, she lifted up. “Jace…please…”
“Whatever you need,” he promised before he sucked her into his mouth.
She screamed, in a low, lengthy moan as she came. He’d warned her he was going to make her scream, and he did. Still holding onto his head, she tangled her fingers in his hair, shuddering endlessly beneath him. He stayed with her all the way through, and when she finally went limp, he kissed a slow path up her still-quivering body. His lips were hot and hungry when they finally met hers, and she tightened her hold, feeling him hard and throbbing near her hip.
“Please, Jace. I need you inside me.”
He sat back, and fished a condom from his jeans, his arousal proud and thick. Watching him roll the condom down his length made her insides clench. He entwined their fingers and brought their joined hands to rest on either side of her face. She held his gaze, watching the deep blue darken to near black as he nudged the tip between her thighs before sliding into her. Another deep moan ripped up her throat. He felt so good filling her. Giving her everything.
The man always gave her everything.
“Damn, Holly.”
She wanted to give him everything, too. Wrapping her legs around his hips, she arched up and felt him slip farther inside.
“So perfect,” he whispered hoarsely, squeezing their entwined fingers.
When she was with him like this, open, vulnerable, trusting, she felt wanted and beautiful, and completely connected on much more than a physical level.
Her Healing Cowboy (Harland County Series Book 5) Page 16
