Due to the cool rain mixed with the chill of the spring weather, I’d been on the verge of shivering. But now with his skin against mine, my heart pounding with excitement, I feel like I could combust at any second.
His hands move to unbutton my jeans and mine do the same. This isn’t slow and controlled. This is fast and full of excitement and desire—both of us amped up on the high the other creates.
As the rain pounds against the tin roof of the barn with the sounds of thunder as it rolls over the top of us, he pushes into me, claiming me, owning me, controlling my heart and mind with only his body.
My wet hair clings to the both of us and our heavy breathing fills the barn. But I can’t hear anything other than my heart pounding in my ears…and him. Each gasp, whisper, and moan that escapes his lips pushes me further over the edge.
Even though neither of us seems to be in control of our bodies, this time it feels different. It’s fast, but it’s also gentle. It’s hard, but it’s also passionate. He’s not taking. He’s giving. He’s claiming. He’s loving.
His callused hands massage my hips, working their way higher up to my breasts. His mouth consumes mine, his tongue twisting with my own. I can taste rain and sweat on his skin. When he pulls his mouth away from mine and litters my neck with kisses and soft nibbles, I shatter around him, and my sounds of pleasure only make him thrust into me with more force than before. He grinds his hips against me, rubbing that perfect softness inside of me, and I can’t do anything but cling to him for dear life.
It feels like I’m on a merry-go-round. But instead of me being the one spinning, I’m completely still while the earth spins out of control around me. My ears ring, my lungs burn for oxygen, and my heart pounds crazily. When he jerks his hips against me one last time and lets out a deep moan, I’m finally allowed to breathe. I suck in a big breath as the barn around me stops spinning. He holds me close, resting his head in the crook of my neck while he regains his composure.
When he pulls back, he lets out a soft laugh and shakes his head. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to attack you.” He can’t hold back his boyish grin. His thick, dark hair is soaked with rain, and it hangs in his dark eyes. Seeing him this way, unable to control himself around me, being carefree, makes my heart race even harder.
I smile as I look at him through hooded eyes, unsure of what to say. “What do you say we go get cleaned up and find some dinner, huh?” I want to ask why this time felt different, but I don’t. I want to know if it felt different for him too, but I don’t want to push him. I’ll gladly take whatever he’s willing to give, and hope that I don’t end up hurt when things are over.
Tyler is it for me, and I know how stupid that sounds. Even though I know it, I still don’t quite believe it. I’ve never been the I’m going to marry this man type of girl. I was always the cool party girl who didn’t get attached. But there’s something addictive about Tyler, something that won’t let me just have a good time and walk away. But if he’s as closed off as he warned me he is, I don’t see how it could work out. I know I can’t change him or force him to be the one I need.
As I pull my wet clothes back on, a sadness settles over me from realizing this. I want to be happy and not fight my love for him, but I should listen to his warning…for my own good. I don’t want to be the girl who was warned and didn’t listen—the one who ends up with her heart broken in the end. When things end, I just want to be happy they happened to begin with.
“Hey, you okay?” Tyler asks as he picks up his wet t-shirt and wrings it out.
I force a smile. “Of course.” I fasten my jeans. “Come on. I’m pretty sure Vesper left out some ribs we can throw on the grill.”
Tyler follows me into the house, and as soon as we walk in the back door that leads into the kitchen, the cat jumps up onto the counter, meowing.
“Hey, buddy. Are you hungry?” I rub his head.
“I’ll feed him. You can go ahead and get some dry clothes on before you catch a cold.”
I look at him from over my shoulder and offer up a smile. “Thanks. I’ll be right back down in a sec.” I leave the kitchen and head upstairs to the guest room. As I towel off and dig around for some dry clothes, I grab my phone and call Vesper.
“Amy? What’s up?” She sounds groggy and it’s only then I remember the time difference.
“Tyler and I just had sex in the barn,” I admit.
She laughs. “Hey, Liam?”
“Yeah?” I hear him say from somewhere in the background.
“When we get back, make you sure delete the video of the barn without watching it. Okay?”
He lets out a deep belly laugh. “Consider it done. I have a feeling there’s something I don’t want to see on that tape.”
“Okay, sorry, Amy. I’m not sure what to say. Is this a good thing or a bad thing?”
“Ugh, I don’t know, Vesper! That’s what I’m saying. I mean, I like Tyler. I mean, I really, really like Tyler, but I should listen to his warning, right?”
She waits, thinking it over. “I think you should forget everything and just have fun. See where things end up.”
“But what if he doesn’t change his mind and I end up with a broken heart?”
“Love doesn’t come easy, Amy. It’s a chance. Sometimes things work, and sometimes they don’t. But I do know that you won’t get anything you want by playing it safe.”
“So you’re saying I should ignore his warning?”
She lets out a soft laugh. “I’m saying just be yourself. He’ll never be able to turn you away if he’s allowed to fall in love with my best friend.”
A smile takes over. “Thanks, Vesper.”
“Love you. Now go have fun. But not in my bed!” she adds on.
I laugh. “Gross!” I pull the phone away from my ear and hang up. Tossing it down onto the bed, I head back downstairs to find Tyler moving about the kitchen.
“You cooking for me again?” I ask, leaning against the island in the center of the floor.
He shrugs as he pulls out the rack of ribs and places them on a cookie sheet. “I figured I’d man the grill and you could handle the inside stuff.” He pulls out a bunch of seasonings to prepare the ribs.
“Sounds good to me. How about some wine?” I take down two glasses and reach under the island for the wine fridge.
“Sure. I’m going to go out and start the grill. I think I’ll head home and change into some dry clothes while it’s heating up. I’ll see you in twenty?”
I nod with a weak smile, trying to keep myself closed off so I don’t get hurt, but also excited that I get to spend another evening with him.
He moves toward the door but stops briefly to press a soft kiss to my lips. His thumb lands on my chin with the rest of his hand underneath to direct my lips to his. This kiss is soft and slow and feels like unspoken promises—promises that could hurt me in the end.
He pulls away and quickly rushes out the door without a look back. I find myself dizzy, my head spinning, causing me to lean against the counter. A deep sigh leaves my lips. I hope Vesper is right.
I pull myself from my thoughts and set to work on finding things to add to our dinner. I wrap a couple potatoes in some aluminum foil to throw on the grill, and I grab everything I’ll need to make a salad.
While my hands are busy with chopping, my mind drifts off to everything going on in my life right now. That’s when I realize that I still haven’t spoken with my mom. With another deep sigh, I grab the home phone and dial her number. The phone rings once before being cut off by an error message.
I hang up. “That’s weird. Maybe I dialed the wrong number.” I try again, but I get the same message. Then it hits me: the phone is probably shut off since I’m not the one making sure everything is getting paid. I roll my eyes and shake my head as I place the phone in the stand and go back to my salad.
Chapter 8
Tyler returns just as I’m placing the salad in the fridge to stay cool. I turn around when I hear the doo
r open, and the sight of him stops me dead in my tracks. I fully take him in: backward baseball cap covering his rich chocolate brown hair, dark eyes shining with happiness, his tight black t-shirt that clings to his biceps, and a snug pair of faded jeans that can’t help but direct my attention right to his groin.
He laughs as he slowly stalks up to me. “What’s the matter, Amy? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.” He stops directly in front of me, his chest nearly touching mine as he lifts his hand and tucks a stray hair behind my ear. His strong scent washes over me. It’s clear that he showered, because he no longer smells like sunshine and wet earth. Now he smells of rich cologne and a deep woodsy scent that’s all his own.
“I…” I swallow down my passion. “You just scared me, is all. I wasn’t expecting you to be standing there when I turned around.”
He lets out a silent laugh as his lips get closer and closer to mine. “Is that all? I thought maybe you were ready for round two.” He stops moving toward me when his lips are only a millimeter away from mine.
I wet my lips, waiting for the kiss that doesn’t come.
His thumb lands on my bottom lip, gently sweeping across it. “Don’t get all quiet on me now,” he jokes.
I roll my eyes and decide not to hold myself back. I leap into his arms and the minute I do, his lips are on mine. He presses my back against the fridge as his hands massage my thighs, which are already wrapped around his hips. His lips are soft yet firm and only allow me to take what he’s willing to give. He won’t let me deepen the kiss and his hands don’t tour my body like before. Now they’re locked on my ass, holding me to him.
He breaks the kiss. “That’s more like it.” He presses a kiss to my neck, right beneath my ear. “I’ve got to get this food on the grill or we’ll never eat.” He places me on my feet. “But don’t forget where we left off.”
I’m breathless, but I want to tease him as much as he’s teasing me. “You mean don’t forget that I was about to fall to my knees and suck your cock until you begged me to stop?”
He pauses by the door, jaw flexing and eyes becoming darker than I’ve ever seen them. “Careful what you wish for, baby. I’m not the kind of guy who loses at a game of chicken.” Without another word, he walks out, closing the door behind him.
I grab my glass of wine and finish it off before pouring another. With a grin, I start planning how I can win this game we’re playing.
I’m just finishing setting the table as Tyler walks in with the tray of food. We both make our plates of ribs, baked potatoes, salad, and rolls, and sit down at the kitchen table. I lower the lights, pour us both a big glass of wine, and even figure out how to get the house’s music system to work, so there’s soft music playing in every room. The game is coming together nicely.
“So, Tyler,” I say, moving my food around my plate.
He looks up at me. “Amy?”
“It’s just occurred to me that I don’t really know much about you. Where are you from originally?” Maybe if I can get him to open up about his past, I’ll learn why he’s so closed off when it comes to relationships.
He nods his head like he already knows where this is going. “Oklahoma. I was born and raised there.”
“Siblings?” I question.
He nods as he takes a bite of his dinner roll. “I have three brothers.”
“Wow! What are their names?”
“My oldest brother’s name is James. He was named after my dad. Then there’s Ryan and Mark, then me. I’m the baby.” He laughs.
“I have an older brother. His name is Ethan, but he isn’t around much. Because of our home life—growing up with an alcoholic mother and no father around—he enlisted in the army the moment he turned eighteen. He doesn’t come home very often.”
“I get it. I’m the youngest, but I’m the only one who moved away from home. James, he took after my dad. He stayed home and is running the cattle ranch there. He’s putting in his time so he can inherit it all when my parents pass. My other two brothers, they’re twins, and they don’t do anything but fuck up. They went to college after my dad practically had to buy their way in, but they flunked out. Now they just work the ranch and live with mommy and daddy. They drink their nights away at a local bar and bring home whatever girls they can find.”
“Sounds like you’re the only one who broke free in search of his own life.”
“Yeah, but it took a little push. I only left after I found my fiancée cheating on me with my best friend.”
Now it all makes sense. “I’m sorry. That had to be tough.”
“What made it worse was he skipped out of my bachelor party early to go hook up with her. I found them right in the middle of the new house I’d just bought for her.”
I think my eyes double in size. “Damn.”
“It’s whatever. I mean, at the time it sucked, but it gave me the push I needed.” He shrugs. “I’ve found better things.” He smiles and winks at me. “So, what’s your story?”
I press my lips together. “I guess I don’t really have a story.”
He cocks his head to the side and gives me a sidelong look. “Everyone has a story, Amy.”
I shake my head. “Not me. I mean, my life hasn’t really started yet. I went to college, came home, and started working for Vesper. I’ve never had a serious relationship.”
“I find that hard to believe. I mean, look at you.” He waves his hand toward me.
I giggle at the compliment. “I’m serious. I was more of a party girl. I went out and had fun, had random hookups. I never was the relationship type.” I don’t tell him that part of my life is now over.
“Well, it looks like we’re the perfect pair then.”
I smile, but that statement brings out a bout of sadness. I want a relationship…with him. Yet he thinks we’re the perfect pair because he refuses to be hurt again, and I’ve never been in a relationship. He’s going to be completely blindsided when the truth comes out. He thinks he’s found the perfect person to be alone with.
Our conversation drifts off as we eat, and I find myself drinking more than eating, trying to bring my spirits back up since it’s once again been confirmed that what I want, I’ll never get.
After we clean up the kitchen, we both take our wine into the living room to sit by the fire. The soft music is still playing, and the crackling of the fire is soothing. The wine already has me relaxed, and I nearly jump when Tyler breaks the silence.
“Tell me what’s wrong, Amy.”
My head jerks in his direction. “What? Nothing’s wrong.”
He gives me a look that clearly says he’s not buying it. “Before dinner, you were practically ready to rip my clothes off. Now, since we’ve talked about our pasts, you seem sad and distant. Did I upset you somehow?”
“No.” I force a smile and wave my hand through the air, dismissing the thought. “It’s nothing.”
He places his wine glass on the table between us, sits up, and turns his body to face me. He reaches over, taking my hand in his as his eyes narrow on mine. “I don’t understand what’s going on. Just tell me. Please,” he nearly begs.
I let out a deep breath and place my glass next to his before standing and pacing back and forth in front of him. “It’s just that, everything I said about me was true. I was a party girl. I had more random hookups than anyone I know. I’ve never been a relationship type of girl…”
“But?”
“But that’s not me anymore.” I stop and turn to look directly at him. “I want my life to start, Tyler. I want to be happy. I want love. I want a relationship. I want what Vesper and Liam have. I want to know that there’s someone out there who loves me and would do anything to keep me and protect me. There’s not one person in my life who would do that. And before you say anything,” I hold up my hand to stop him when his mouth opens, “I know what you said. You’re not looking for a relationship. And I’m not trying to force you into one, but I’m just so confused.” I take a deep breath and run my hand th
rough my hair, away from my face. “I mean, we’re great together. And while we don’t know each another enough yet, I would, at least, like to know that there’s a possibility for us.”
He leans back in his seat, gazing at the fire instead of at me as he thinks over my words. “I don’t know what to say, Amy. I thought we were just having fun?”
“I know.” I nod. “And the first time, we were. But then when I woke and found you gone, it kind of put things into perspective. I’m tired of the hooking-up thing. I want to be normal. I don’t want to spend my life working as a receptionist. I don’t want to look at my future and see nothing but taking care of my alcoholic mother, barstools, and booty calls.” I fall to my knees before him, looking into his eyes and taking his callused hand in mine. “I want a life. A happy life. I want love. I want a career. I want a family.”
“Are you saying that if I can’t give you what you want, then this is over between us?” His face contorts in confusion, anger, and maybe even a little bit of pain.
I bite down on my bottom lip. “I want to know if this is all we’ll ever be, or if there is a possibility there could be more.”
He shakes his head. “I can’t give you that, Amy.” He pulls his hand away and leans back in his seat. “I don’t know what will happen with us.”
“I’m not asking you for the future, Tyler. I’m asking if, one of these days, there’s a possibility that you’ll finally let your guard down and let me in.”
“Amy, I…”
I nod my head and press my lips together. “I guess that’s my answer.” I stand and grab my glass of wine. “I’ll see you later, Tyler. Please lock up when you leave.” Without another word, I head for the stairs, alone.
When I get up to the guest room, I head straight for the bathroom. Placing my wine glass down on the edge of the tub, I begin filling it with hot water. When the temperature is right, I turn and dig through the drawers for some candles. Scattering them around the darkened room, I strip off and slide deeply into the tub. The music is still playing, and the warm water and scented candles help me to relax. I take a sip of my wine and think about what just happened.
Claimed By Him: (Contemporary Romance Box Set) Page 19
