Chapter Ten
I n his room, Becket slowly put her down, skimming his hands down her arms. He couldn’t bear not touching her.
She was a short one, her head just reaching his shoulder.
For the first time in his life, he was tongue-tied.
For one who had a whole playbook filled with moves, he should know what to say, but none of the lines he’d used so far had worked on Ellie.
She was forcing him to dig deeper, to go beyond mere flattery. To think beyond words.
In the end, he didn’t have to say anything. She lifted her hands, unbuttoning his shirt. “As I’ve told you, I’m not very good at this, but I do know one basic thing.”
“Yeah?” he got out. “And what’s that?”
She flashed him a shy smile. “We have to be naked for this to work.” Pushing his shirt to the side, she put her hands on his body.
“Wow, cowboy, you have muscles.” Slowly, ever so slowly, her hands moved over his chest. “They’re rock hard,” she whispered before she bent forward and put her mouth against his hot flesh.
Cussing, he lifted her chin and kissed her.
“If you keep touching me, I’ll explode and I…
I have to kiss you.” The moment his lips met hers, he was lost. Sunday’s kiss had just whetted his appetite.
He’d wanted so much more, but they had been in someone else’s house.
The possibility that Annie and Craig could walk in at any time stopped him from doing what he really wanted.
Tonight, though, there was no rush, no other people around, and he had her permission.
He could enjoy the taste of her, the experience of caressing every gorgeous curve, every sexy line of her body. They could take it slow…
Just then her mouth opened, her tongue welcoming him home and need punched him in the gut. Gone was patience; urgency, anxiety took over. The need to be with her, to have her, be one with her as soon as humanly possible, was unbearable.
Eager to explore her softness again, his hands slipped underneath her frilled top only to confirm what had nearly brought him to his knees earlier—she wasn’t wearing a bra. Lush curves spilled into his hands.
Eager to see her, he lifted his head. “How do I…?” Before he could finish his question, she pulled the top over her head and tossed it away. Wearing only the pair of white pants, she looked at him, her eyes a deep shade of blue. In the depths he could see desire, but also uncertainty.
Nearly reverently, he cupped her gorgeous breasts. “These have kept me awake since the moment I caught a glimpse of them in your shop,” he got out before he captured her lips again.
Satin. Soft. So soft. Breaths mingled, sending his already hot blood to boiling point.
He had to calm down, give her time to catch up.
With superhuman effort, he moved his mouth away from hers, only to discover the exquisite line of her chin before his lips trailed down her neck to those satiny shoulders that’d had him just about salivating all night long.
As he nibbled his way over smooth skin, her head fell backwards. Intoxicated by her scent, her softness, his mouth fastened on her neck. He feasted. Finally.
He was never going to get enough of this woman.
*
Ellie had been transported to a different universe, one where there was only Becket, his hands, his mouth, his hot breath on her skin.
Low in her belly, the embers from last night had caught fire again and with each stroke of his hands, it burnt higher and brighter.
While his hands were fondling and teasing her breasts, his lips moved ever so slowly down her neck, over her collar bone, nibbling and caressing every inch until they finally reached an aching nipple.
She barely had time to catch her breath before his hot, wet mouth closed around it.
With a cry, she gathered him close to her, running her fingers through his hair, down over his wide shoulders, reveling in the heady feeling of his throbbing desire against her body. He really wanted her. She couldn’t have stopped the sob that slipped out, even if she tried.
As his attention turned to her other breast, her legs finally gave way. As she fell backwards, he followed her, but quickly turned so that he was on his back and she was lying on top of him.
Combing her hair from her face, he smiled. “You okay?”
“I don’t think so.”
Frowning, he lifted his hands. “We can stop any time.” And there in the depths of his blue eyes she saw the uncertainty. A player like Becket Weston, unsure of himself? She was probably imagining things.
“What I mean is, I don’t think I’ll ever be okay after this. I… I didn’t know it could be this way.”
With a grin, he pulled her up. “Am I glad to hear that. It would’ve killed me, but if you’d wanted to stop, I would’ve.”
Sitting up, she played with the button on his jeans. “I do have one problem though.”
“Yeah?”
“You’re still wearing way too much.”
He flashed her one of those killer smiles. “So are you.” He lifted his bum from the bed. “Let’s see who’s naked first.”
Before she even had time to unbutton her pants, Becket’s jeans were flying through the air. He wasn’t wearing anything underneath. Her breath left her body in one whoosh. Wow. She hadn’t been the only one without underwear.
Grinning, he touched her face. “Like what you see?”
Nodding, she put out a hand and touched him. Soft. Velvet. It grew. Pleased with herself, she looked at him. “It likes me.”
Barking out a laugh, he pulled her down so that she was lying next to him. Lifting himself on one elbow, he looked down at her. “It certainly does.” With a feather touch, his hand skimmed over her body until he reached the button of her pants. “You’re so, so beautiful.”
Slipping her arms around his neck, she smiled. “At this point I don’t even mind the corny line.”
Frowning, he undid the button of her pants. “As you can see and feel, it’s no corny line. I want you, Ellie Campbell, more than I’ve ever wanted anyone else. Hang on.”
As she clung to him, he got rid of her pants. When she fell back again, all she was left wearing was the white satin-and-lace triangle.
“Damn, Ellie,” he got out, as his hands cupped her breasts before they slid further down her body.
“I’m a dead man,” he murmured, lowering his head.
As his mouth closed around one hardened nipple, his hand drew small circles on her skin, heating her blood along the way as it slowly moved lower and lower.
She was so ready for him, by the time he got rid of the last hindrance and cupped her, she exploded. With a cry, she grabbed hold of his shoulders while a wild current simply swept her away.
In that moment, her heart burst open, and she knew. In spite of her resolve, she’d gone and done the stupidest of things.
She’d fallen in love with Becket Weston.
*
In awe, Becket looked down at the beautiful creature in his arms. She was so responsive, so in tune with his movements, he’d nearly lost it while trying to pleasure her. To see her come undone in his arms was a sight to behold.
When she finally opened her eyes, he bent down, catching her lips with his. “I’ve never seen anything so beautiful,” he murmured before he deepened the kiss.
Within seconds, the fire roared higher than before, threatening to burn him alive. Desire was a living, breathing animal clawing at his insides. In vain he tried to rein in his libido. Her mouth opened, his tongue found its way to the warm, moist depths and he let go.
Gasping for air, he struggled with a condom before he hoisted himself above her. “Look at me?”
She opened her eyes. Liquid sapphire.
With his weight on his arms, his eyes on her, he slowly entered her. As her warmth closed around him, an emptiness he’d been unaware of until now was filled to the brim. For another moment he feasted his eyes on her luscious curves, but he was too eager to pleasure her to wait any longer.
He moved. This was for her, not for him; he should keep the pace slow and steady until she was ready again, but Ellie had other ideas. She wasn’t interested in taking it slow.
Rearing up, she linked her arms around his neck. “Kiss me, cowboy.”
The moment their lips met, he lost control. A wild wind simply picked them up and flung them up a high mountain. Everything else faded, all that he was aware of was Ellie egging him on with her hands, her body, her soft moans.
As they finally crested together, he gathered her close and with her name on his lips, they flew.
How was he ever going to let her go?
*
Floating in that safe space between sleep and being awake, Ellie didn’t want to open her eyes.
In this state she didn’t have to think or analyze or make decisions, she could just be.
Strange sounds eventually penetrated the perfect hazy condition she’d been enjoying.
A cow? Cow? As her eyes flew open, the events of the previous night came crashing down.
Slowly she turned her head. She was alone and… she lifted the sheet covering her body. Naked. Groaning, she slowly sat up, pulling up the sheet. It was just after six, her watch told her; the sun was already up. Oh, my goodness. She was sore in places she didn’t know she had. But last night…
Sighing, she closed her eyes, remembering every moment in Becket’s arms. He was a resourceful lover, patiently teaching her how to make him groan and in turn he’d given her more pleasure than she’d thought was possible.
Of course she’d be alone. Becket had probably left early for work and wouldn’t return until later.
Vivid images of the night before flashed in front of her. Oh, my goodness. She’d never thought of herself as a passionate creature, but in Becket’s arms she’d become someone completely different. Someone who knew how to tease, how to flirt, how to make love.
Make love. Swallowing against the lump in her throat, she willed back the tears. She’d fallen in love with him. Against her better judgment, against her resolve never to get involved again, she was so involved she wasn’t sure whether she’d survive being without Becket.
It hadn’t been just sex for her. Not with Becket.
Even though there was no way she could tell him how she felt about him, she’d tried to show him with every touch, every kiss, how deeply she cared about him, how beautiful he made her feel.
This was a one-way street, she knew that. He’d been very clear from the start.
She’d walked in here, eyes wide open. Granted, at the time she hadn’t realized she’d lost her heart to the cowboy, but she couldn’t blame anyone but herself for falling for Becket Weston.
Sighing, she sat up. It was time to get back to reality.
The bedroom door flew open and in walked Becket, the three dogs at his heels. He was shirtless, carrying two mugs and her mouth instantly watered. And not only because she smelled coffee.
“Good morning, sexy.” He grinned. “Coffee.”
The dogs jumped on the bed, barking happily, fortunately giving her time to try and gather her wayward thoughts. Harper moved right up to Ellie, panting happily. “Good morning,” Ellie crooned as she petted Harper’s head. Jack and Sadie immediately followed her lead, also wanting attention.
“Okay, guys, give Ellie some space,” Becket said.
The dogs jumped down and, barking, chased one another out of the room.
Becket handed her a mug. “Sorry about that, they’ve been so excited to see you again.”
She took a sip, her eyes on Becket’s very sexy chest.
Blue eyes found hers above the rim of the mug. “If you keep looking at me like that, I won’t be responsible for what happens next.”
Taking another sip, she looked her fill.
With a soft cussword, he put down his mug and took hers from her hand. “I was going to let you enjoy your coffee first, but I don’t have much time and I need…” Closing the bedroom door, he quickly got rid of his jeans. “I need to be with you.”
Her eyes widened when she saw him.
“I woke up ready for you.” He grinned as he got into the bed with her.
So did she. She had no idea how a one-night stand worked; she’d thought Becket would’ve left already by the time she woke up. But if this was the last time in his arms, she was going to enjoy every minute.
*
As he parked in front of the guesthouse to drop Ellie off, she turned to look at him. “I have one more question. Tell me about Walker?”
Swallowing, he looked away. It was always difficult for him to talk about his brother.
“We were all in the car. We’d been to town and were on our way back to the ranch.
Hayden swerved for an elk, the car skidded off the road and…
I could’ve grabbed Walker’s arm, but my mind was on my art and, well, he died. ”
“So you blame yourself?”
“If I’d been paying attention, I could’ve saved him.”
“And you feel guilty. Is that why you’re trying to do his work on the ranch as well?”
Startled, he looked at her. Is that what he was doing?
Bending forward, he pulled her close. “You’re asking way too many questions again. Kiss me.”