Chapter 22 #2
Tanner’s muscles tightened as he thought about his family and Violet asleep at his house. His dad said the private security company had started their around the clock shifts last night, but he wasn’t sure of their exact locations. As far as he was concerned, they were out here on their own.
“Mr. Rhodes? Is that you?” A male voice called out.
Tanner didn’t recognize the voice. He held his weapon at the ready, and took a step forward just as a figure came out from behind some trees.
Tanner was ready to defend April to the death if it came to that, but then a familiar face emerged from the shadows, and Tanner lowered his weapon.
“Mason,” Tanner growled, recognizing him from the last time his dad had hired this security company.
They were a large firm with multiple branches throughout the Southwest. “It’d be nice if you identified yourself before sneaking up on us and nearly giving me a heart attack. ”
“Sorry about that, but if I went around calling out to everything that went bump in the night, I’d scare away all the perps.
” He closed the distance between them and glanced at April who was still wrapped in a blanket.
“Oh man, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt anything.
I was told to patrol the entire west side of the property. ”
“No worries,” Tanner said, relaxing a bit. “Appreciate you being out here. We were actually just leaving. Have a good night and stay safe out here.”
“You as well,” Mason said.
Tanner held April’s hand as they walked back to the barn, leading Zeus by the reins rather than riding him. It was a warm night and there was a thick scent of jasmine in the soft, cool breeze. “Tonight was so much fun,” April said.
“We’ll do it again. Every night for the rest of our lives if you want.” He was laying it on thick, but Tanner knew he’d found the woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with, and he wanted - no - needed her to know that.
She stopped and turned to him, searching his eyes, for what he didn’t know. “Tanner, are you sure that’s what you want? With me, I mean?”
Tanner could’ve kicked himself in the ass at that very moment.
Even in the dark, with only the moonlight and stars lighting her beautiful face, Tanner finally saw the insecurities plainly written all over her concerned expression.
It was becoming abundantly clear that she’d likely avoided the “L” word earlier, not because she didn’t feel the same way, but because she was afraid that he was signing himself up for something he wouldn’t be able to handle.
Like he’d ever bail on her or his daughter.
He’d sooner die than leave either one of them to fend for themselves ever again.
And if everything he’d said tonight hadn’t convinced her of that yet, then he’d just have to do a better job of it.
Tanner pulled her closer, keeping her between himself and Zeus, both to shield her from the cool breeze and from any possible threats.
“Am I sure that I want to go jumping into freezing cold water with you again? Yes. Am I sure that I’m already looking forward to our next midnight ride?
Hell yes. Am I sure that I’m madly in love with you and can’t imagine not seeing you every single day? Definitely.”
“I love you, too,” she said without hesitation, without missing a beat. Without needing even a moment to think about it. “I didn’t mean to fall in love with you but once I did-”
“There was no going back?” He supplied. “I know the feeling.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead, then lowered his head to catch her mouth with his.
Despite being cold from their swim, her lips were surprisingly warm, and just as soft and sweet as ever.
There would never be another woman or another mouth that he’d want more. This was it for him.
After another mind-blowing kiss, Tanner said, “let’s get Zeus back to the stables.” He hated pulling back from her, but the last thing he wanted was for them to encounter an actual intruder out here. “And we need to get you into some dry clothes.”
“And you,” she pointed out. “I don’t even want to think about you getting sick.”
He smiled, because of course her first thought would be about protecting him from a cold, and not herself from an intruder. Though he could admit to liking the feeling of her worrying about him. “And me.”
***
The walk back to the stables wasn’t long.
April hummed quietly to herself while Tanner settled Zeus in for the night.
He had a feeling it had been a long time since she could relax and let herself be happy.
He watched out of the corner of his eye as she walked around the barn, taking in her surroundings.
She slowly walked by the dozen stalls lining each side of the barn, and quickly peeked into the tack room in the back.
That was where Boo usually slept, but tonight he was sitting out on a bale of hay, watching his late-night visitors.
Tanner had a feeling the cat secretly hoped Violet would join them, but he’d have to wait until morning for that.
Boo was well into his teen years, and Tanner couldn’t remember a time when this old cat had ever sought out anyone’s attention. But he’d taken an uncanny liking to Violet. Tanner couldn’t blame Boo though. His daughter was incredible. Even the animals seemed to sense it.
April stopped and stared up at the large dormer window over the barn door that beautifully framed the night sky with the moon and endless stars. “I think this is one of my new favorite places,” she said, letting the blanket slip off one of her shoulders.
Tanner came out of Zeus’ stall, and his breath caught in his throat at the sight of her milky skin.
He moved to stand behind her, wrapping his arms around her as he placed a soft kiss on her shoulder.
He inhaled the scent of lake water and the leftovers of her sugar cookie lotion, and let his lips linger on her soft, creamy skin.
He wanted to take her right then and there.
His cock pressing painfully against the zipper of his jeans wasn’t helping matters.
She turned her head, giving him better access. He greedily accepted the invitation, trailing kisses up the column of her neck as his hands gently explored her body over the thick material of the blanket. Tanner was more turned on than he’d ever been, and they were both still fully covered.
“I think I’m warm enough.” She let go of the blanket, letting it fall to her feet, and revealing herself to Tanner wearing nothing but her black lacy bra and matching boy shorts.
A low growl made its way up his throat. He hadn’t forgotten that she hadn’t put her clothes back on, but having her in front of him like this, offering herself to him, was almost more than he could take.
“April,” he whispered, turning her in his arms to face him. “Be sure before you -”
She smashed her mouth to his, and that was all the answer he needed.
He hungrily tasted the sweetness of her lips, then surged into the warmth of her mouth when she eagerly opened for him.
Her hands went to the hem of his t-shirt and he separated from her long enough to allow her to pull it up over his head.
Shockwaves of pure need shot through him as her fingers grazed over his naked chest. When she stopped to play with his nipples, he nearly came on the spot.
“April,” he groaned, but she didn’t stop flicking, pinching, toying and pulling on his nipples, until he was mindless with want and need for the woman in his arms. He had no idea how sensitive he was there until just now, and he both wanted her to stop and to keep going at the same time.
He’d never been so turned on by a woman in his life, and he wanted more.
He brushed his mouth against her lips, taking what he so desperately wanted, feeding on her sweetness like he was a starving man.
When she gave him that little moan that he swore he’d always crave, he trailed his kisses down to her neck, and lower, making his way down to the valley between her breasts.
“If you don’t want me to keep going, just tell me to stop.
” It would kill him but he would. He’d do anything to make her happy.
“I don’t want you to stop,” she breathed, tossing her head back and arching her back, giving him full access and permission to keep doing what he was doing.
His hands went to the lacy material covering her breasts and she gave him a small nod of approval.
He brought the straps down, then unclasped the contraption in the back, letting the material fall away, exposing her beautiful mounds with perfectly pink pebbled nipples that made his mouth water.
She started to lift her arms in front of her, but he caught them gently and pulled them down. “Don’t ever hide from me. You’re so beautiful, April. So perfect.”
“I want you,” she said. “Here. Now.”
It was a declaration that had Tanner picking up the blanket at her feet and draping it over a nearby bale of hay. Boo gave them a mildly annoyed look, then jumped down and retreated to his usual sleeping spot in the tack room.
Tanner returned to April’s side, lifted her bridal style in his arms and set her down on the blanket.
She was a vision. Her creamy skin glowing in the moonbeam, her hair mussed from his fingers running through it during their kisses, and her breasts, perky and perfect, just waiting for his attention.
“Say it again,” he ordered, taking a step back to give them both room to process what was about to happen.
“Or tell me to stop. Your choice. Always.”
“I want you, Tanner. I want this. Right here. Right now.” She gifted him a sexy smile and it was all he could do not to devour her on the spot. “Have you ever done it here?” She asked.
“What?” Tanner asked, completely distracted by her beauty, his thoughts only on the woman in front of him.
“Have you ever been with anyone here?”