Chapter 17
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
A fter Adam hung up Tracy’s coat and his, he switched on the small lamp on his desk and picked up two clipboards, each with a copy of the one-page document and a pen attached.
She took hers and smiled. “This isn’t your first contract rodeo.”
“No, but this contract isn’t like any I’ve ever dealt with.”
“I should hope so.” She backed several feet away and had to squint to read it.
“You can come closer to the light. I’m not going to?—”
“It’s not you. Well, it is, but it’s my reaction to you that’s the problem. You short-circuit my brain.”
“I see.” That happy news traveled straight to his—yeah, he’d have to exercise some control, here.
“Like that slightly wicked smile. One of those and I’m toast. I’d better not look at you.” She turned her back on him.
He itched to toss his clipboard and grab her, but he’d promised they’d sign and date the contracts. “Want a flashlight?”
“I’ll manage.”
“I changed the timing to one night like you wanted, but I thought that was a vague concept. So I added that the night ends at seven in the morning, since I’m due at the barn by around seven-thirty.” Much as he enjoyed that chore, he’d love to skip it. Couldn’t. Not if they were keeping this rendezvous on the downlow.
She nodded. “Interesting wording in that section. Final sexual activity will begin no later than six a.m. to provide time for an appropriate wrap-up. Are you planning to set an alarm?”
“Thought I’d set one for six, but you can chime in on that detail. Since the alarm isn’t in the contract, that’s up to us.”
“Let’s see how things go. Your description of the evening itself sounds like an orgy.”
“No, it doesn’t.”
“ Parties will engage in sexual activities as often as such activities continue to be mutually satisfactory for both parties. ”
“What’s wrong with that?”
“It implies non-stop sex.”
“Not at all. It simply makes it clear that we’ll do it more than once. Unless that’s what you had in mind.” He couldn’t believe she did, considering she couldn’t look at him for fear she’d jump his bones.
“I didn’t have a number in my head, if that’s what you’re asking.”
“Not really. Neither do I.” The longer he stood there with nothing to do, the tighter his jeans became. The clock was ticking. “That’s why I left it open-ended. But we both have to want?—”
“I get that.”
Yeah, staring at her backside wasn’t doing him any favors. Her jeans fit like a dream and her cream-colored sweater lovingly clung to her enticingly curved hips. She’d worn ankle boots, so much easier to take off than his. He was tempted to toe his off and get that out of the way.
No. Dorky move and she’d hear him do it. The image of her turning around and finding him in his sock feet wasn’t quite the presentation he was going for.
He glanced down at the bag he’d carried in. “Does anything in this bag have to go in the fridge?”
“It’s still thawing so it’s fine. Unless you want to eat soon, in which case take the lids off and stick them in the oven at three-hundred degrees.”
“Are you hungry?”
“Yes.”
The laughter in her voice gave him a clue. “For food?”
“No.”
“Then read faster.”
“I’m on the last part. Both parties agree that once they reach the end of the specified time, mutual sexual activities will end and any attempt to resume such activities will represent a violation of this agreement. Sounds serious. And final.”
“It’s supposed to. That’s the part that relieves both of us from becoming the bad guy, aka the dumper.”
“Then I guess I’m ready to sign.” She still had her back to him.
“So am I.”
The sound of her pen moving quickly blended with the quick scratch that had become his illegible signature over the last ten years. “Now we have to trade.”
She handed hers over her shoulder. He crossed the room, took it and gave her his. Then he stood his ground while they both signed again.
“Done.” She turned, her color high, her breathing shallow. “What next?”
“I have some ideas.” Heart pounding, he took the clipboard and set both his and hers on the desk. “Fair warning, I’ll try and convince you to extend this.”
“I know. But you’re wasting your time.”
He smiled. “That’s not how I see it.” He’d been blind for years. Tonight he couldn’t take his eyes off her. Every detail was precious — the soft glow of her hair, the gentle curve of her cheek, the rise and fall of her breasts.
He walked toward her, his whole body vibrating with anticipation. “How about going over by the fire?” He held out his hand.
“Are we gonna read a book?”
“We’ll do whatever you want.” He took her hand, felt the slight quiver as he wove his fingers through hers.
She tightened her grip. “I’m in charge?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Ah, the power.” Her breath hitched. “Let’s check out that fire.” She led him around the sofa and stopped in her tracks behind the easy chair. “Wow! And here I thought we’d make out on the sofa.”
“That’s an option.”
“Are you kidding? This took effort — sheets, comforter, pillows. Takes me back to those epic sleepovers at your mom’s when we were kids.”
The sleepovers had been his inspiration. He’d used the double mattress in his guest room, which made it easier to pull off the surprise.
But the mood had shifted ever so slightly. Maybe harkening back to their childhood adventures hadn’t been a great move. “I suppose it’s silly to?—”
“Nope.” Releasing his hand, she toed off her boots. “This is perfect. When I first got here I felt slightly disoriented, like you weren’t the Adam I’ve known all my life. But dragging a mattress out by the fire is so you.”
“It is?”
“Sure.” She dropped to her knees on the dark green comforter. “You were the one always wanting sleepovers by the fire, putting up tents in the yard, suggesting cookouts by the water hole.” She looked up at him, warmth and understanding in her blue eyes. “You’re a home and hearth kind of guy.”
That look was achingly familiar, the affectionate gaze of a friend. A treasured one. He couldn’t imagine his life without her in it. What if tonight changed everything? What if it destroyed their special connection?
“Hey.” Her low voice broke into his doomsday scenario. “Take off your boots, cowboy. That’s the first rule of horsing around on a mattress by the fire.”
He sucked in air. “I just?—”
“I could tell. Don’t chicken out on me now, Bridger.”
“But what if?—”
“We won’t let that happen. You even put it in the contract.”
So he had. The parties agree that notwithstanding the events that take place within the bounds of this contract, they promise to maintain their commitment to each other as friends and colleagues unless one of the parties turns into a complete jerk.
“You said we’d do whatever I want while we’re over here by the fire.” She gave him a long, slow once-over before locking her gaze with his. “And what I want requires you to strip down.”
The heat in her eyes torched his doubts and fired his blood. Clearly she’d found her moxie. “Yes, ma’am.” Toeing off his boots, he sank to his knees and unbuttoned the cuffs of his western shirt. “Gonna do the same?”
“Unless you want to take them off.”
He unbuttoned his shirt, his fingers clumsy, his heart racing. “It’ll go faster if you do it.”
“Alrighty.” Rising to her knees to face him, she crossed her arms, grabbed the hem of her sweater and yanked it over her head.
And he’d seriously miscalculated how that move would affect him. Or the next one, when she reached behind her back and unhooked her bra. When that went sailing, he abandoned his shirt buttons and sat back on his heels, stunned.
The fire crackled next to him and the dancing flames lovingly highlighted the bounty she’d revealed.
“Aren’t you in a hurry?”
Dazzled and shaking, he nodded. On New Year’s Eve, touching her had driven him insane but her apartment had been dark. He hadn’t been able to see… this.
She cupped her perfect, rose-tipped breasts. “Cat got your tongue?”
Her teasing words delivered in a sultry tone he’d never heard from her snapped what was left of his control. “Come here.” His husky command was so not him. He didn’t order women around.
She didn’t seem to mind. Crawling toward him, her gaze holding his, she straddled his knees. Then she finished unbuttoning his shirt, shoved it off his shoulders and pulled it down his arms.
A devilish gleam in her eyes, she slid her arms around his neck and brushed her tight nipples across his chest. “The next move’s yours.”
With a groan, he crushed her in his arms and claimed her mouth, thrusting his tongue deep. Her answering moan was all the encouragement he needed. In seconds he had her on her back. Another five seconds and her jeans were gone along with her panties.
He managed to get his jeans and briefs off and blessed his foresight as he pulled a condom from his pocket and suited up. No foreplay, no hesitation. His cock knew what to do.
She gasped as he sank into paradise. Blindsided by lust and breathing hard, he fought to keep from coming. By clenching his jaw and holding very still, he won the fight.
His vision cleared and he gulped for air. Close call. He’d almost made her earlier prediction of lousy sex come true.
She stared up at him, looking a little shell-shocked. Her fiery curls lay in disarray on the snowy pillowcase and her cheeks glowed pink.
He probably needed to apologize. “I…I didn’t mean to?—”
“Yes, you did. I taunted you! Don’t you dare be sorry for any of it.” Her eyes had never looked so blue. She raked her nails down his back. “I want more.”
He tightened his abs as her words threatened to undo him. Dragging in a breath, he started to pump. Could he slow it down, make it last? Hell, no.
Her eyes widened as he moved faster. Was she with him? She had to be! Ah, there…there! She cried out, arched into each stroke and came, her rhythmic contractions pulling him closer and closer to the edge.
With a roar of surrender, he let go, drove in one more time and stayed, shaking with the force of his release, wonder exploding around him.
As his breathing slowed, he listened to the crackle and pop of the fire. Had it surged out of control? Was that what he’d heard? He glanced over. Nope. Just a slow and steady blaze. The fireworks were all his and Tracy’s doing.
He stroked her flushed cheek and looked into her eyes. They were slightly unfocused, as if she might still be processing. “Well… what do you think?”
Her gaze cleared, no longer focused inward. She swallowed. Took a breath. “As you can probably guess, I had a great time.”
Sounded tamer than his experience. Did that mean she hadn’t felt the fireworks? “Good. Me, too.”
“I was kinda hoping it would be a dud.”
“Almost was.”
“I could tell. But you recovered nicely.”
He chuckled. “Thanks. Wasn’t easy. You’re hot stuff.”
A cute little smile tilted the corners of her mouth. “Surprised you, didn’t I?”
“A little bit, yeah. I wasn’t expecting you to be so….”
“Bold?”
“Uh-huh. Made me lose my cool.”
“Not for long, though.”
That was Tracy, always in his corner. “Fortunately not. Worked out well in the end.”
“Too well, I’m afraid.”
“No such thing.”
“In this case, there is. We might as well face facts. It was way better than I expected. Which means we’re in big trouble.”