Chapter 10
W ater pounded down on Brigit in the shower, but she hardly noticed. She was pushed up against the wall of the shower, Caleb was inside of her, and she was so close to coming she had no idea how many times she’d shouted yes.
Waking up next to Caleb made the best morning ever, and sex in the shower was the red-hot cherry on top.
This man made her feel dainty, almost fragile, as his strong body thrust into hers.
She was anchored to him with her legs wrapped around his waist, but his hands dug into her as he held on.
If he went down, she’d go with him, but to be honest, there wasn’t enough room in the stall to even sit.
He widened his stance and funneled more power into his thrusts. She was done. Her orgasm hit and the way her voice ricocheted off every surface in the bathroom, anyone outside would know she was done too.
Caleb grunted her name and joined her with his own climax.
This was their third time together since she’d arrived. He’d made a condom run sometime in the middle of the night, then once he’d climbed between the sheets, they’d been all over each other.
He slipped out of her but held her close, and not because there was no other way to stand together without touching in the small space.
Gingerly, she lowered her legs with Caleb’s help.
His sexy smile went straight to her heart.
His hair was plastered over his forehead, giving him that edgy look she’d always associated with him.
He gave her a long, lazy kiss before leaving her to finish cleaning up. A few minutes later, she stepped out to a towel waiting for her on the sink—closer to her than the hook on the wall.
This night had been like a mini vacation.
Stress had sluiced off her and she’d let herself enjoy being with Caleb.
They’d talked about his ranch, his fears of keeping it profitable, and how worried he was the house wouldn’t come to fruition.
She’d asked him more about his childhood.
The way he could openly discuss the hazards of living with his grandparents while technically being in the custody of his mom was humbling.
She hadn’t known what his youth was like, only that he’d accepted his lot and rolled with it.
Because there was nothing else he could have done.
She’d had a safe and stable home and responsible parents. Her brothers might have been pains in the butt growing up, but they’d all gotten along. As adults, they’d grown apart, even her and Justin, but they were there if she ever needed them.
Caleb’s grandparents had left him with so much, but they were still gone.
He’d made his way through life with very little support.
She’d had all the support in the world and still did really, but she lacked what Caleb had made for himself.
A place to call her own. She still had to find her own place in so many ways.
By the time she left the bathroom, holding the towel in front of herself, Caleb was already dressed. He’d stacked her clothing neatly on the bed and was perched next to it, his elbows propped on his knees and his chin in his hands.
“Are you here for the whole weekend?” she asked, her gaze dropping to her clothing.
Dressing in front of Caleb seemed so intimate.
It went a level beyond what they’d experienced together so far.
Though she’d had long-term relationships—that maybe someday she’d quit regretting—she’d been in this place before, getting ready to walk out after a night of simple fun.
But then, it had been different… She had done her makeup before leaving the bathroom.
Yet since coming home, she doubted she could find her mascara, most of her wardrobe no longer fit, and now her hair hung damp over her shoulders. Had Caleb ever been this close to someone?
Did he have any regrets about how he’d acted?
No, he had no reason to be.
“I work tomorrow morning,” Caleb answered. “So only one more night in Chez Moore-tel. But it’s really not bad, as long as we leave a window cracked and you’re here.”
Her heart warmed so much she almost forgot she was soggy and naked. Almost.
He looked from her to her clothing. “Are you shy? After what we’ve done?” His lopsided grin wasn’t just incredulous. There was a hint of hurt.
“I just feel so exposed.”
He cocked a brow and his dark gaze swept her body. “I exposed you all night long.”
“But you’re dressed.” She clutched the towel tighter and spilled what she’d been thinking. “I’ve never been like this. I always made sure I was…” Stupid. She couldn’t come out and say it. Would it be insulting to him to mention her past, one she could’ve had with him? “Presentable.”
“How?”
She couldn’t get frustrated with him. The guy rolled out of bed ready to go.
“I put my face on.” The rest poured out of her like a fence had been knocked down and the cows had found greener pasture.
“And do more than finger-comb my hair. I always wear the good underwear, which usually means uncomfortable. And I’m not so…
corn-fed.” She huffed out a breath. “I’ve been hungry for years. ” Had she really admitted all that?
“Sounds exhausting.”
“It is.” It sounded pathetic too.
“Well.” Caleb settled back on his elbows and crossed one leg over his knee. “It’s up to you. I’ll give you privacy, or you can dress while I watch everything and get uncomfortably hard.”
Her pulse jumped. She liked the idea of him watching too much. “Think you can get hard again so soon?”
“Watching you? Yes.” Complete confidence. “I’m already halfway there.”
A flush crept up her body. She had to know if she really had that affect on him.
She dropped the towel and grabbed her underwear first. It wasn’t plain white, but it was pretty close.
These were one of the oldest pairs she owned.
One of the pairs that she’d kept at the house in her old dresser, just in case.
Caleb tracked her like a hawk circling its prey.
Next was her bra. There was no enticing way to get a bra on, but she might change her opinion based on how Caleb adjusted himself.
She stepped into her jeans, her jiggling breasts and wiggling hips catching his attention.
He groaned. “This is the best thing I’ve ever seen.”
She nearly rolled her eyes but couldn’t stop her grin. “It’ll be my turn for a show next time.”
“Next time?”
She stopped, her shirt hanging from her hands. “Yes?”
He sat forward and pulled her between his knees. “So what is this? Us?”
“I think…” What did she think? She was torn in two.
There was the girl who loved her home and hadn’t regretted a moment with Caleb.
There was also the woman who’d worked hard for her education and wanted to use it.
She wanted to carve out her own niche in the world.
“I think we’re still going in different directions in life, but as long as we’re traveling together for a while, there’s no reason we can’t be together. If…you want to?”
“I’ve wanted you my whole life, Brigit. I’ll take what I can get.”
Her phone buzzed and they both froze.
“This is ridiculous.” She reached for it in the nightstand.
Huh, she wasn’t so self-conscious about being shirtless around Caleb.
She chuckled when she read the message from Justin out loud.
“‘Are you bringing my main mode of escape back? I’m one more sigh away from riding horse to the hardware store.’”
“I’d better let you go rescue him.” He pressed his lips against her stomach.
She tossed the phone on the bed and hugged him to her. She had a day full of nothing ahead of her. More job searching. Trying not to act awkward around her parents. Begging Justin to do some of the chores to escape any tension.
Sounded awesome. “What are your plans for the day?”
He let her go. “You made such a good case about switching minerals and supplements to decrease my open rate, I thought I’d wander through town and see what there is.”
He could call her beautiful again and it wouldn’t make her glow so much. He was taking her advice to switch minerals and see if that helped improve his calving numbers.
“What if I caught a ride to town with Justin and met up with you?” She shrugged into her shirt to cover a sudden case of nerves. It was like she’d asked him out. She’d never asked a guy out.
“Seriously? I’d love having your expertise at my disposal.”
“It’s only book knowledge, so…”
“So it’s more than I have. And it might be more than the person on shift at the farm supply store has.” He handed her the keys. “I would’ve started the pickup but since it’s the only set of keys, I figured today would be the one day a car thief drives by.”
“After the sauna in here, a cold truck sounds nice.”
“I’ll warm you up later.”
She grinned. “Deal.”
He walked her out and she pulled away first. When Mom had busted them together as teenagers, Mom had hauled her away like a felon off to prison. Brigit had glimpsed Caleb in the rearview mirror, his head hanging low, his hands shoved in the pants he’d hastily put back on.
She glanced at Caleb in the mirror. Caleb waved before he swung his lithe form into his truck. Heat blasted across her body. What a man. And she was seeing him again. She bit her bottom lip and sighed.
How times changed.
If I sit here any longer, they’re going to call the cops on me.
Caleb glanced around the half-full parking lot. The major Black Friday run was over, and he’d been buried deep inside Brigit’s willing body for most of it.
Best Black Friday ever.
But she hadn’t shown yet. She’d surprised him and messaged him to ask where he’d be and when.
Without her own vehicle, she was dependent on Justin.
And if Justin up and left her, she’d have to ask her mom.
An image flashed through his mind of prim Joan Walker sneaking out of the house to puncture a tire or remove the battery cables so she could blame a vehicle breakdown for not being able to deliver her precious daughter into his dirty arms.