I stay still, watching him carefully, taking in the handsome man who possesses my heart.
“I’m sorry too. I shouldn’t have handled it like that.”
“I need to know that you’re not going to run again. If you get scared, come to me, baby.”
“And I need to know that when we’re in a crisis again that I can depend on you to be the strong man that took care of me when the tree fell through my roof.”
“Who the fuck is Adam?” he suddenly asks.
“What?” I’m struck dumb, frowning at him. “I don’t know an Adam.”
He pulls his phone out of his pocket, wakes it up and brings up my text messages, and holds the phone out, showing them to me.
Cara: Meat me above.
Cara: Go Adam.
“Fucking autocorrect,” I mutter, and then start to giggle. I clap my hand over my mouth, my eyes wide and glued to his phone, and then I can’t stand it anymore, the dam bursts, and I begin laughing and laughing, holding my belly and falling back on the bed.
I let out a most unladylike snort, and that makes me laugh even harder.
“I don’t even remember,” I gasp, “what the fuck I was trying to say.”
The laughter begins to calm and I sit up and push my hair off my face, panting and wiping the tears from my eyes. When I glance at Josh, he’s grinning at me, his eyes soft and loving, and I think the storm is almost over.
He tosses the phone on the nearby dresser, pins me in his gaze, and sighs. “Come here, Cara.”
Staying where I am, I slowly shake my head back and forth and take a long, deep breath.
“No?” he asks quietly, and again I shake my head. He crosses his arms over his chest and narrows his eyes. “Come. Here.”
“Why?”
He raises his eyebrows and doesn’t answer, the dimple in his cheek still winking at me, waiting for me to do as he asks.
Finally, I stand, walk around the bed, and stop a few feet in front of him. “Now what?”
His eyes travel leisurely down my body and back up again, taking in my hair and eyes. No part of me goes untouched by his eyes.
“I can’t stay mad at you when you laugh like that,” he murmurs. “I love it when you laugh.”
“Josh?”
“Yes.”
“I love you.”
He doesn’t move.
“I really need . . .” I hate how my voice quivers as my emotions surge to the surface.
“What?”
“I really need you to hug me.”
He watches me for a long moment, then closes his eyes and exhales deeply and folds me into his arms, holding me hard and close, and I begin to cry in earnest, relieved that he’s here.
“I love you too, Cara,” he whispers in my ear.
“I’m so sorry,” I cry.
“Me too.” He kisses my head and runs his hands up and down my back.
“I thought you didn’t want me.”
“Cara, how could you think that?” His arms tighten more, as though he’s afraid I’ll run again. “After everything we’ve been though?”
“I know it’s stupid now, but it just sounded so horrible and I didn’t think to ask you who you were talking about.”
He swoops down and lifts my dress over my head and me into his arms, lays me gently against the soft sheets, and then stands up.
“You’re entirely overdressed,” I inform him with a shaky smile.
He yanks his shirt out of his jeans and strips out of it, giving me an awesome view of his muscular torso. He unfastens his belt buckle and jeans and hastily shoves them down his legs, along with his shorts, and comes back to me, completely naked.
“That’s better.”
I reach out to take his beautiful cock in my hand, but he pulls back and takes my hand in his, kissing my knuckles as he joins me on the bed.
“I’m gonna have to take a rain check on having your sweet hands on me, sweetheart. I want you too much right now.”
He covers me and pushes his forearms under my shoulders, cradles my head in his hands. His face is just inches from mine, his body flush against my own from our chests all the way down to our feet. His erection is pressed against my belly.
“Love the way you feel,” I murmur, and brush my fingertips up and down his back.
“Cara,” he whispers, and sweeps his lips over mine softly. “I love everything about you.” He nibbles the corners of my lips before kissing me again, just as softly. “You take my breath away.”
“Josh—”
“Let me finish,” he whispers, and drags his lips down my jawline to my ear. “I love everything about you.” He tugs my earlobe between his teeth, making me squirm beneath him. “I love your sexy curves.” He kisses down my neck to my collarbone. “I love how your eyes are amber when you’re pissed, hazel when you’re happy, and bright green when you’re turned on, like you are right now.”
He lifts up onto his elbows so he can smile down at me, his dimple winks at me, and I kiss it gently.
“I can’t get enough of your sweet smile.” He nibbles my lips again and grins at me. “You take me to a place that no one else can. You own me.”
I pull my fingers down his face, not noticing the tears falling down my temples, and frown up at him. “You said that before.”
“I don’t think you understand, baby. I’m yours. Always. You are it for me.” He rests his forehead against mine. “You destroy me.”
“You are everything I’ve ever wanted,” I whisper. “You make me a better woman.”
“Baby,” he whispers, and brushes his thumbs over my cheeks. He pulls his hips back and sinks completely inside me. He rests there and gazes lovingly down at me. “No more running.”
“No more.” I cup his ass in my hands as he begins to move, slowly and reverently, sending goose bumps all along my body. The head of his cock drags along my pussy. I clench around him, moving my hips with his.
“You always feel amazing.”
“Mmm.” I grin. “I was just telling Jill last night about how amazing it is to make love with you.”
He stills and stares down at me and then throws his head back and laughs. “How much did you guys have to drink?”
“Three bottles.” I shrug, then giggle again.
“Ah, baby, when you giggle, your pussy clenches on my dick in the most crazy way.”
“I don’t think we’re supposed to laugh when we make love,” I inform him haughtily.
“No?”
“Nuh-uh.”
“Okay.” He kisses me deeply and pulls his hands down my shoulders, my sides, and up to my breasts, brushing his thumbs over my nipples.
“Oh, God.”
“You like that?” He does it again.
“Yeah,” I gasp.
He leans in and kisses me deeply, his hips pick up speed, and he continues to worry my nipples, sending a straight line of electricity from my nipples to my core, and I feel myself begin to shudder around him. His hands glide down to cup my ass, and he tilts my hips up, sinking even farther into me.
“That’s it, my love. Come for me.”
“Oh, sweet Jesus,” I mutter, and fall apart in his arms, circling my hips and pulsing against him as he pushes as far inside me as he can go and cries out as he comes with me.
“I love you, Carolina,” he gasps.
“I love you too, Joshua.”
* * *
“Thank you.” I smile at Jill and give her a big hug as Josh pulls our bags out of her car.
“For what?” She hugs me tight.
“For always being here.” I grin at her and feel tears well up in my eyes.
“Stop! No crying. I’ll see you in, like, two weeks.” She strolls over to Josh, who pulls her in for a hug and whispers something in her ear, making her grin.
“Hurt her again and I’ll be your worst nightmare.”
“Right,” he smirks. “You’re a tiny little thing.”
She raises her eyebrows and mutters, “Toes for teeth.”
&nb
sp; “Point taken.” He laughs and nods. “Don’t worry, Jilly.”
“I always worry.” She shrugs and waves as she saunters back to the driver’s side of her car, ready to pull away from the departures lane at LAX.
“See you soon!” I wave and follow Josh into the airport.
“You know I hate to fly, right?”
“You do?” I ask, surprised, and join him in line.
“Yeah, I do.” He drapes his arm over my shoulders, pulling me against his chest.
“I miss Jill already.”
“So she’s moving home?” He kisses my hair.
“In a couple weeks, yeah.”
“It’ll be here before you know it.” He kisses my head again. “Your hair always smells so good.”
I smile softly, enjoying the feel of his hard chest against my cheek. “I’m glad you like it.”
We move quickly through the line, check our bags, and make our way through security. We finally make it to our gate and sit as we wait for boarding to begin.
“Are you ready to go home?” I ask.
“Very ready.” He pulls me against him again. He has barely stopped touching me since he showed up in my bedroom at Jill’s condo yesterday.
“How is Seth doing?” I trace my finger up and down his thigh, content to lie against his chest for as long as he’ll have me.
“He’s good. They’re home now. He just has to take it easy.”
“Poor kid. I feel so bad.” I sigh deeply. “If I hadn’t let him talk me into going fishing . . .”
“Stop that.” Josh pulls me back to look him in the eye and grips my chin between his thumb and fingers. “It was an accident, Cara. I’m sorry if I ever gave you the impression that I thought otherwise.”
“I know it was an accident, but I still feel badly about it. Poor guy.” I frown as I recall the conversation Seth and I were having right before he fell.
“Josh, I need to tell you something.”
“What is it?”
“With everything that happened, it completely slipped my mind.” I recap my conversation with Seth and watch Josh’s eyes grow colder and harder with every word. “I wouldn’t normally betray a confidence, but as a teacher, it’s my job to tell you. I think you should talk to Zack about putting him in some sort of counseling. There are a few I can recommend.”
“I’ll tell him.” Josh sighs deeply and pulls me against him again. “That poor kid.”
“I know. My heart breaks for him. Thank God he’s not with her anymore.”
“Never again,” Josh agrees with conviction.
* * *
“Cara.” Josh’s soothing voice wakes me up. I fell asleep in his truck on the way home. “We’re home.”
I blink and frown as I realize that we’re at the ranch.
“But we didn’t stop at my house so I could get my things.”
“You have your suitcase. I’m sure you can make do for a little while.”
He grins happily and pulls himself out of his truck, strides around to open my door, and helps me down from the cab.
We grab our bags, and just as we get to the front door, he leans down and whispers in my ear, “Welcome home, baby.”
We move through the front door and I stop in my tracks. “You invited your family?” I whisper to him in shock.
“We wanted to welcome you home, sweet girl.” Nancy smiles from the kitchen as she mixes up what looks like a pasta salad. “Besides, you’ve got to be hungry.”
Zack and Jeff and even Ty are sitting on barstools at the kitchen island, grinning at me.
“We’re about to put some steaks on the grill,” Zack announces.
“Cara!” Seth calls from the couch. I abandon my suitcase and hurry over to him. His leg is propped up on pillows. He has soda and snacks, the remote, and comic books nearby on the coffee table and his dog lying on the floor by his side.
“Hey, buddy!” I hug him close and kiss his hair. “How are you feeling?”
“I’m okay. Did Uncle Josh apologize for being a jerk?”
“Yeah.” I laugh and ruffle Seth’s hair. “He did.”
“Good.” Seth smiles and then something on the TV catches his attention. “Holy crap, the Undertaker is gonna kill the Miz!”
I laugh as I leave him to watch television and join everyone else in the kitchen.
“Wrestling?” I ask dryly.
“The kid has good taste.” Ty laughs and steals a black olive out of the pasta salad, earning a slap on the hand from Nancy.
“Welcome home.” Zack stands and hugs me to him, rocking back and forth. “And thank you,” he whispers in my ear.
“Hey, get your own girl,” Josh growls, and pulls me out of Zack’s arms, making us all laugh.
“Hi,” Ty murmurs, and kisses my forehead.
“Hi.” I offer him a smile and pat his arm gently.
“Better?” he asks.
“Much.”
“Okay, he can live then.”
“Are you done?” Josh asks with a scowl. “You also need to get your own girl.”
“Hey, why didn’t you tell me that Jilly was planning to move home?” I ask Ty, and glare at him as Josh passes me a Diet Coke.
“Jilly’s moving home?” Ty asks, surprised.
“Yeah, in a few weeks.”
“Awesome.” He grins.
Josh and Zack exchange a look, and Ty notices.
“Are we going to have a problem?” Ty asks Zack.
“Only if you make it a problem,” Zack responds, his face perfectly serious.
“She’s gonna live with me for a while,” I inform them all, trying to lighten the mood, then take a long sip of my soda.
“So she’s gonna live—”
“At Cara’s house in town,” Josh cuts Seth off quickly.
The men and Nancy exchange small smiles.
I’m lost. “Am I missing something?”
“Nope.” Josh shakes his head, grabs a large platter of steaks, and takes my hand. “Let’s go throw these on the grill.”
“Oh, hell no!” Zack objects. “You always overcook the steaks.”
“I know how to cook a damn good steak,” Ty announces.
“Actually, I’m going to let you guys fight over the steaks and go freshen up a bit.” I tug on Josh’s hand, pulling him down so I can kiss him quickly, but he passes the steaks off to Ty and folds me into his arms, bending me back and kissing the living hell out of me in front of his entire family.
“Wow,” I mutter, breathless, when he lets me back up. “What was that for?”
“I just love you.” He winks and smacks my ass as I turn to walk back to his bedroom.
“Love you back. I’ll just be a minute.”
“No hurry,” he assures me happily as I saunter down the hallway, pulling my suitcase behind me.
I plop the heavy case on the bed and unzip it, pulling my toiletries out so I can brush my teeth and my hair and reapply deodorant.
Feeling marginally better, I grab a few things that need to be hung and move to the closet, coming to an abrupt halt at the open doorway.
There in the closet are all of my clothes from home, hanging side by side with Josh’s things.
I’m struck speechless. I can’t move. A dress falls from my hands to the floor and my hand covers my mouth.
“I called in a favor,” Josh says from behind me. I can’t make myself turn around to look at him.
“What does that mean?” I whisper.
“You already agreed to move in here,” he reminds me, and comes up behind me, wraps his arms around my waist, and kisses my cheek. “So while I was gone, I had Ty bring your clothes and personal things over. We can move the rest later.”
“Kind of presumptuous, aren’t you?” I ask dryly.
“Maybe.” He turns me in his arms and tilts my chin back to look me in the eye. “I need to wake up next to you every morning, Carolina, starting now. Tell me this is okay.”
“Are you gonna start wearing cowboy hats and
belt buckles?” I ask with a half smile.
“I hadn’t planned on it, no.” He chuckles and nuzzles my nose with his, tucking my hair behind my ear.
“Maybe I’ll start wearing cowboy hats,” I giggle, and kiss him playfully.
“You can wear anything you like, sweetheart, as long as you do it while living here with me.” He’s grinning, but his eyes are watching me closely.
I sigh and drag my fingertips down his cheek. “There’s nowhere else I’d rather be, my love.”
Epilogue
— TWO MONTHS LATER —
“Wake up, my love.”
“Hmph.” I bury my face in the pillow.
I hear Josh chuckle as he sweeps my hair off my back to plant a kiss between my shoulder blades. “Carolina.”
“I mope mom poo.”
“What?” He laughs and pulls me over onto my back. “English, please.”
“I don’t want to,” I pout. “Time is it?”
He brushes my hair off my face and cups my face in his hand, running his thumb over my bottom lip. “Just before five.”
“I’m going to kill you.” I don’t open my eyes. Instead, I stay still, enjoying Josh’s hands roaming over my naked body. “After you make love to me one last time.”
“God, you’re sexy,” he whispers, and kisses my cheek. “Open those gorgeous eyes.”
I comply and glare at him. “Why am I awake?”
“Why are your eyes so green?” He glides his hand from my face to my breast.
“Because you’re touching me and I’m naked.”
“Well, we can’t stay in bed.”
“We can do it in the shower.” I smile when he tosses his head back and lets out his big belly laugh.
“Later. We have something to do first.”
“You’re right.” I nod and settle down into the covers. “We need a couple more hours’ sleep.”
“No.” He stands and yanks the covers off me.
“It’s cold!” I squeal.
“So get up and get dressed.” He winks and crosses his arms over his chest and I notice for the first time that he’s already dressed.
“What’s in it for me?” I ask suspiciously.
“Just do it, Carolina.” He shakes his head and chuckles.
“Fine,” I grumble, and stalk to the bathroom to pee, then past him to the closet to pull on my underwear, jeans, and a T-shirt. “Is it cold out this morning?” I call out to him.
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