31. Chapter 31
Chapter 31
Joy
M y skin is heated, my breaths come in short gasps, and my body is coiled tight when my eyes flutter open. It takes me no time to figure out why. Tate’s tongue makes slow, leisurely swipes up and down my center. Sleep still lingers in the background as my body spirals toward release.
“Tate,” I breathe, curling my fingers into his hair.
His expression when he looks up to meet my gaze is nearly enough to send me over the edge. Slipping a finger inside me, he sucks on my clit and it’s enough to toss me completely over with a guttural cry as my muscles tighten. I release around his finger, waves of pleasure washing over me.
“Morning, darlin’. Fuck, you taste good.”
Catching my breath, I keep still as Tate kisses his way up my body until his eyes are level with mine when he smiles down at me. Eyes I could get lost in. I’m not sure how I managed to avoid him for as long as I did. Or what made me think I would be able to stay away. I’ve never had a man make me feel this way, and even with all the reasons I should stay away, it’s just not possible.
I part my lips to respond, but he covers them with a kiss, sliding his tongue into my mouth. Tasting myself on him causes a new spark of heat to spread through me. I’m still a bit sore from last night, but when he lines up at my entrance, I eagerly accept every inch as he slides into me.
“Holy—” I lose my words when he drives into me with a claiming thrust.
Chuckling, he buries his face in my neck, gently licking and sucking as he sets a steady pace. I’m barely awake, yet another orgasm is already barreling down on me. But it’s not enough. My hips meet every thrust, and my hands greedily caress the planes of his back.
“More,” I breathe. “Tate, I need more.”
Without breaking our connection, he shifts, gripping my hips and changing the angle so he can take me deeper. Goosebumps spread across my naked flesh, and I cry out when he hits that spot that’s so deep, and so sensitive, all I can do is hold on as waves of pleasure roll over me.
“Fuck, Joy. That’s right, baby. Let go for me.”
And I do. I surrender to the sensations, chanting his name as I feel him follow with his own release. He rolls off me and immediately pulls me to his chest, holding me close as we both come back down to earth. I breathe him in, enjoying his earthy scent.
“Good morning to you, too,” I say with a laugh once I’m finally able to speak. “It’s not even light out.”
Tilting his head, he presses a kiss to the top of my head. “I have to get started on chores but couldn’t go out there without tasting you.”
I shouldn’t have this reaction to his words after two orgasms that were so strong I nearly blacked out. “If you wanted me to help, you could have just asked.”
“No, sweetheart. You stay here and relax. I’m serious. Hayden will be here to help out today, so I won’t be long. Go back to sleep.”
I open my mouth to argue, but he presses a finger to my lips before replacing it with his mouth. The kiss quickly turns from chaste to heated, and I could almost cry from the loss when he pulls away. His expression is stern, leaving no room for argument.
“Fine,” I say with a resigned sigh.
Turning to my side, I watch in silence as he pulls on a pair of jeans. As much as I enjoy him naked, there’s something undeniably sexy about watching him get dressed to go out and do work on his ranch. His fingers deftly secure his belt after his T-shirt is pulled on along with a flannel button-down. As much as I want to help, it feels good to lie in bed for a bit. I’m not a morning person, so usually by the time I’m awake, I’m already running late.
With a kiss to my forehead, he leaves the bedroom and gets started with his day. As good as the bed feels, there’s no way I can go back to sleep. I give him a few minutes before making my way out of the bedroom and to the kitchen. He doesn’t need my help with farm chores? No problem.
“What’s all this?”
I turn away from the stove to find Tate watching from the doorway of the kitchen, his arms folded as he leans against the frame. My eyes make their way up and down his body, from the worn jeans that fit him just right to the rolled-up sleeves revealing his muscular forearms. I could never grow tired of looking at this man.
“I figured you’d be hungry once you finished out there, so I made breakfast.” I gesture to the breakfast bake sitting on the stove beside a plate piled high with bacon and sausage before glancing down at my bare legs. “I made plenty in case Hayden was still with you. But I thought you’d be a little longer.”
Slowly, his lips curve into a grin. “You cooked me breakfast?”
My smile matches his as I make my way over to him for a quick kiss. “You told me not to help with chores, you said nothing about cooking breakfast.”
“No one’s ever cooked me breakfast before. And no. You think I’d bring him in here when I left you naked in my bed?”
Swallowing hard, I fight the unexpected sting of tears when he gently brushes my cheek with the back of his fingers. The gesture is so gentle. Filled with reverence. It makes me sad to think he’s never had anyone do something as simple as cook him breakfast. I can’t say I’m surprised, since he seems to have spent all his time trying to care for everyone and everything else. Including Boulder Ranch.
Before I can come up with a response, he captures my lips in a kiss before pulling back to study my face once again. “Thank you.”
Walking into the kitchen, he heads for the sink, leaving me staring after him as he washes his hands and then takes two plates and two mugs from the cabinet. It’s like we do this every morning. I join him at the counter and pour coffee while he fixes his plate.
“You have a long day ahead of you. I just wanted it to start off right,” I say with a nervous shrug.
“I love you.”
Judging by the look on his face, his words took us both by surprise. Warmth spreads through my chest as his words sink in. I don’t have to think about it. I love him too. Once again, I find myself blinking back tears as I part my lips to respond.
“You don’t have to say anything,” he breathes. “I just needed to tell you.”
I must look like a deer caught in the headlights, but it isn’t because I don’t feel the same way. It’s because I do, and it’s fucking terrifying. I thought I loved my ex, and maybe I did. But it was nothing like this. Trying to stay away from Tate, no matter how noble I thought my reasons, was torture because I couldn’t continue to ignore my feelings.
“I love you too.”