Chapter Eleven
Hunter couldn’t quite make out Willow’s mood as they drove back to the ranch. She was quiet but had scooted right up to him and was lying with her head on his shoulder, her hand in his.
“You awake?” he asked as they left the town behind them.
“Mmm.” Just the sound she made was enough to light the embers that had been burning low in his belly all night.
“Did Cooper say anything that upset you while you danced with him?”
Lifting her head, she lifted a hand, slipped it his hair. “Why do you ask?”
“You’ve been quiet ever since.”
For a long time, she was quiet while her fingers kept stroking his neck. Finally, a soft sigh escaped. “He thinks I still feel guilty about Walker’s death.”
“I’ve heard the rumors about the night you brother was killed. Want to tell me about it?”
She put her head back against his shoulder. “I was the one who persuaded my brothers to go into town that evening. There was a cute cowboy who told me he’d be at Grey’s Saloon.”
“Yeah? Who?”
“I’ve forgotten his name. He never even showed up, but that was the silly reason why I was hell-bent on going into town in the first place.
On our way back to the ranch, an elk crossed the road.
Hayden tried to swerve, but …” She sighed.
“There was an accident. Now I only have three brothers instead of four.”
“So, do you?” he asked. “Still feel guilty?”
“I didn’t think so, but Cooper thinks I do. I could see why my brothers were struggling to follow their hearts, but somehow, I haven’t seen that I have the same problem.”
They reached her house, and he parked his truck. He quickly got out, walked around to her side and picked her up. Instead of putting her down, he continued with her in his arms to the front door. Only then, he dropped her gently to the ground.
With her hands resting on his arms, she chewed her lip. He waited.
“Do you want to come in?”
Exhaling slowly, he lifted her chin. “If I do, I’m not leaving until morning.”
Her brilliant smiled nearly had him slobbering all over the place. “I have to leave early, and I can’t promise breakfast …”
He didn’t let her finish but just about dragged her with him into the house. Dropping his hat and his coat on the nearest chair, he inhaled deeply. “You sure about this?”
With her eyes on his, she slowly took off her coat. “I want this. I want you. So badly.”
Scooping her up in his arms again, he strode in the direction of her room. “Good, because it’s all I’ve been thinking about for days.”
The soft bed light welcomed them into her room. Like the previous time he was here, her familiar scent of wildflowers with notes of citrus welcomed him. Next to her bed, he slowly slid her down his body, making sure she felt every aching inch.
He’d wanted to go slow, but the fire in his body was making it difficult. “I want you naked,” he growled as he anxiously pulled at the buttons of his shirt.
“Slowly,” she whispered, covering his hand with hers. “We have all night.” With a small smile, she unbuttoned his shirt. As it dropped to the ground, her eyes widened. With a deep contented sigh, she spread her hands over his chest. “Wow, cowboy, you’ve got some serious muscles.”
And damn, if her words didn’t make him feel ten feet tall.
Her eyes twinkled. “Rock hard gets a whole new meaning.”
“My turn,” he growled as he slipped the thin straps down her arms. “There’s another rock-hard part of me that is aching for you. I don’t know about going slow. I’ve wanted you desperately for more than a year now.”
“Aching, huh?” she teased, as he tried to pull down her dress.
“Easy, cowboy, this was a present from my mom,” she crooned, as she reached for the zipper at her side.
Biting her lip, she slowly slid the zipper down before she slipped her arms from the straps.
As the dress dropped from her body, it pooled at her feet, leaving her in a black satin and lace triangle and a matching bra.
“Damn, Willow, look at you.” Trying desperately to hold on to his self-control, he skimmed his hands over the black lace bra, but it wasn’t enough.
He wanted more. Nearly reverently, he watched as his hands covered her generous curves.
“Beautiful, I don’t think I’ll ever get enough of you.
” Bending his head to kiss her, his hands continued to knead and mold her softness.
“I don’t know what I’ve ever done to deserve to be here with you like this, but I thank my lucky stars.
I’ve dreamed about this moment since forever.
” As their lips met, his blood shot from zero to boiling point in a millisecond.
He’d never been one for much talk and sharing his feelings, but here, with her, the words simply came tumbling out. His heart sighed. This was what he’d been waiting for all day, this what he’d dreamed of, ached for.
As his mouth left hers to taste and discover more, her hands were on his back, stoking the flames with every soft stroke until he was ready to explode.
Lifting his head, his eyes roamed over her face, taking in everything—her swollen lips, the desire in her eyes, her gorgeous hair falling down her back. This was how he’d always remember her.
Moving his hands to her back, he loosened her bra and let it drop before he looked his fill. “Beautiful,” he whispered as he cupped her breasts. “Thoughts of these have kept me awake for months now, you know?”
“Oh, yeah?”
“Since the first time I saw you naked, to be precise.”
“That was a year ago.”
“I know. Three hundred and sixty-five agonizing nights give or take a few.” Bending down, he took a hard nipple in his mouth.
Her moan sliced through the silence. “I can’t …” With her arms around him, she tumbled backward on the bed, taking him with her.
*
As they hit the bed, she rolled him over so that she could straddle him. “If I’m not mistaken …” she said as her mouth trailed down his body, “I have a favor to return.”
With her eyes on him, she let her hands slide down his body, soon followed by her mouth. She could never tell him how desperately she loved him, she only had hands and mouth to convey her overwhelming need for him.
As she moved lower over his body, her senses steeped in his scent, the texture of his skin, his ragged breathing, his taste on her tongue, she closed her eyes, focusing on giving him as much pleasure as he was giving her.
He was getting restless, but she hadn’t had her fill yet. Quickly unbuttoning his black jeans, she pushed it over his hips. “Help me,” she demanded.
“Yes, ma’am.” Chuckling, he helped her get rid of his jeans.
Her eyes widened as his obvious desire for her sprang free. “No briefs?”
“I don’t like to be … constrained.”
“I can see why.” She took him in her hand, “What do we have here, cowboy?”
For one glorious moment, she was in control, but with a grunt, he quickly turned them so that she was under him. Before she could catch her breath, his lips on hers in a searing kiss. For another moment, he allowed her to please him, but lifting himself above her, he moved her hands above her head.
Sitting back on his heels, his eyes smoldering, his hand slid slowly over her body, following the curve of her breasts before it moved lower and lower. “Beautiful, so, so beautiful.”
With their eyes locked, his hand moved lower still until it encountered the lace barrier.
As his eyes darkened, his hand moved over the lace to gently cup her.
Her keen moan sounded up in the quiet room as her body arched into his hand.
His light touch was like an electric shock to her overheated system.
“Hunter,” she moaned.
“What do you want?” One finger found its way underneath the lace edge into her folds.
Whimpering his name, she pulled down his head. While those clever fingers continued to torment her, their tongues met in a wild dance. Mindlessly, she clung to him as he took her higher and higher. As he plunged his fingers inside her, stars exploded behind her eyes and sobbing, she clung to him.
When she finally opened her eyes, he was lying on his elbow next to her, his desire rock hard against her body, his eyes on his hand as he was sliding the lace down her legs. Moving to sit up, he dropped it to the ground.
“These,” he said, lifting one of her legs, “drive me wild.” His mouth found the arch of her foot, she gasped as he continued his torturing journey up her leg. Just before he reached her core, he dropped the leg and picked up the other one.
This time his fingers weren’t as steady. His eyes burning feverishly, his mouth moved up her leg, stopping here to taste, there to caress. She was burning up.
“Hunter,” she cried out. “Please …”
“Tell me what you want,” he whispered as he slipped his fingers into her folds again.
“You, I need you!” she sobbed, grabbing the bedding in her hands.
As he hoisted himself above her, her hands slipped around his shoulders. “Now, please …”
“Look at me?” he said, his eyes nearly black. Slowly, painfully slowly he inched inside of her.
With an impatient cry, she wrapped her legs around him, bringing him home.
“Willow, babe, this … you …” Their eyes locked, his words dried up and he moved.
“I’ll never forget tonight,” she gasped.
“Told you when we made love, you wouldn’t forget it, remember?” His voice was raspy with emotion as he increased the pace.
Trembling with need, she quickly matched his rhythm, keeping up even when he moved faster and faster.
She tried to focus her eyes on his face, she didn’t want to miss anything, but this time the wind was merciless and way too strong.
Without any sympathy, she was flung far up a steep mountain and with a cry she broke free.
As she came apart, the last thing she heard was her name on his lips.
*