Chapter 29
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Dressed in his sweats, Monty paced from the living room to the bedroom as he waited for Zinnia. She’d be here. If she’d decided to bail she would have let him know by now.
On his trips into the bedroom he often paused to look at the family pictures on the desk. His dad was in all of them.
He hadn’t made the opportunity to talk with Adam today like his grandma had suggested. He had no excuse. Sunday would have been a perfect time to snag Adam for a private chat.
But he’d procrastinated until it was too late. He’d told himself he needed time to process this morning’s conversation. His grandma could be right about him. For one thing, he had a tendency to overwork.
He also liked Graham calling him Supervet. He always passed off the comment as a joke, but the farrier wasn’t joking. He admired that level of dedication to a career. Praise from him was special because it meant he measured up to the standards his dad had set.
His dad had been good at everything. He had a vivid picture of one Christmas when the living room had been a chaotic scene with all eight kids racing around through wads of wrapping paper, new toys and new clothes. His mom had been trying to restore order without much success.
His dad had let out a piercing whistle, the kind he made through his teeth. Monty and his siblings had frozen in place, sure they were in big trouble.
Then his dad had bellowed Get dressed! Touch football in the snow! You’ve got seven minutes!
Why he’d chosen seven minutes instead of five or ten was a mystery. Maybe just to focus their attention because it was an unusual time interval.
His mom had given his dad an adoring look and said You were born to be a father.
Born to be a father. Sure had seemed that way. He’d happily helped produce three, married a woman who had three more, and had been thrilled to add another two.
He’d taught them everything he knew about horses. Then he’d taught them everything he knew about construction. He’d been the town’s most popular mayor, although Adam might overtake him on that score. He’d been famous for saying any disagreement could be settled over a beer.
Hey, was that where he’d gone wrong with his grandma? Should he have served her a beer at four in the afternoon instead of coffee at ten in the morning? He snorted.
He didn’t need that strategy for Zinnia because he had no disagreements with her. They were in complete agreement that they should pour gallons of water on this fire they’d started.
He wanted to blame her for lighting the match, but he could have blown it out. Yeah, right. Never would have happened.
Sadly, if his grandma was right about him, he was rejecting fatherhood because he couldn’t live up to the example his father had set. Who could? Was that why Adam hadn’t—
Zinnia’s truck pulled up outside, the engine’s rumble muffled by the closed window. He’d shut them an hour ago so he wouldn’t forget.
Heart pumping, he hurried out to the porch. She’d parked to the left of his house. Technically it wasn’t a parking space, but she’d managed to squeeze her truck in so it was somewhat hidden by trees.
Now that his whole family knew they were involved, she didn’t have to do that. After yesterday nobody would be surprised to see it there. And she’d never park there again. His gut clenched.
She hopped out of the driver’s side and closed the door gently. No little cross-body bag tonight. No keys in her hand. She’d likely figured out that on Bridger property she could leave them in the truck.
He headed down to meet her, skin tingling with anticipation. He’d gone barefoot as a kid, but hardly ever as an adult. The smooth wood of the steps and the tickle of grass caressed the bottoms of his feet.
Wind sighing through the trees mingled with the rustle and pop of her sandals, the swish of her filmy nightgown, the sound of her quick, shallow breaths.
His nostrils flared, taking in the brisk fragrance of pines and crushed grass, the sweetness of wild roses and Zinnia’s citrus scent. Moonlight touched her pale hair and skin, giving her an other-worldly glow.
They came together with an ease that made his heart weep. He had the insane urge to strip off his sweats and make love to her on the soft grass.
Nestling against him, winding her arms around his neck, she lifted her face to his. “I’ve missed you.”
His throat tightened. “I’ve missed you, too.” He sounded gruff, almost angry. And maybe he was. At himself. He wasn’t the man she needed.
But he kissed her anyway. She’d granted him one more night and he’d make it a memorable one even if it killed him.
She kissed him back, and at first he tasted longing and regret. But soon enough, the mood shifted and the white-hot passion neither of them could snuff out roared to life.
Pushing her nightgown up over her hips, he spread both hands over her tush and tugged her close. Gasping, he lifted his mouth from hers. “If I had a blanket I’d take you right here.”
She took a gulp of air. “If you had a blanket I’d let you.”
“No blanket.”
“Then let’s get inside.” Breaking away from him, she grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the steps.
He stumbled after her. He hadn’t meant to leave the door open when he’d hurried outside. Showed how distracted he’d been. With luck some critter hadn’t wandered in while he’d been totally occupied kissing Zinnia.
Nothing went scurrying away as they came in, so he’d assume all was well. “Door.” He pulled her to a halt so he could close it.
“See you in there.” She let go of his hand, kicked off her flip-flops and ran down the hall.
Running wasn’t an option in his current state. By the time he joined her in the bedroom, she’d tossed off her nightgown and opened the condom drawer.
“Catch.” She tossed him one.
By some miracle he plucked it out of the air before it hit the floor, saving himself the humiliation of hunting for it. Holding the packet in his teeth, he shucked his sweats and ripped open the foil.
“I almost didn’t come.”
He glanced up. “But you will, now.”
She smiled. “Haha. Looking forward to it.”
“So am I.” He finished rolling on the condom and took stock of the situation. Thank God he’d asked for one more night, one more chance to see her like this.
She lay stretched out in all her golden-girl glory, looking exactly the way he’d pictured her when he’d put on clean sheets this afternoon. He’d pulled the top sheet and blanket down, leaving them folded at the bottom. With Zinnia in his bed, he didn’t need covers.
She beckoned to him. “C’mere, you. Make the world go away.”
“Can I do that?” He climbed in, holding her gaze as he moved between her thighs.
“Sure can. You’re magic.”
He kept eye contact, loving how the emerald green darkened, her cheeks flushed and her lips parted. “So are you.” Her heat called to him, but he held off. This moment, anticipating the joy of sinking into her, was precious. “When I’m loving you, the world disappears.”
“I should hope so.” She rested her palms on his chest and fooled with his nipples, making his cock twitch. “I’d hate to think that while I’m blissed out, you’re worrying about a sick horse.”
He grimaced. “I’ve been known to.”
“Me, too.” She cupped his face in both hands, making him glad he’d shaved. “Not a sick horse, but other stuff. When I’m with you, I forget everything and everybody.” She smiled. “Or I will, once you get busy.”
His cock throbbed. “Yes, ma’am.” He rocked forward, closing his eyes and dragging in air as pleasure rolled through him. He almost missed her murmured I gots you.
Slowly he opened his eyes and gazed into hers. His brain stalled. She loved him.
And he loved her with a fierceness that burned in his chest. The words almost came out of his mouth. He swallowed them. Proclaiming it wouldn’t do either of them any favors.
“I gots you, too.” Leaning down, he kissed her rosy lips as he began to thrust. She joined in, hooking her legs around his, linking them together, synchronizing their movements.
His energy level spiked as he immersed himself in her heat and breathless cries. When he was loving Zinnia, he knew what to do. It came so easily, as if he’d been born knowing.
She was panting now. There. The first squeeze of her climax teased his cock and he stroked faster, the pressure in his groin increasing. If he tamed his response, he could make her come again. Didn’t feel right. He needed… no they needed to ride the rapids together, plunge over the edge together.
Her body quivered and her skin glowed in the lamplight. This would be good. Really good. She called his name, grabbed onto him and arched upward. One more vigorous push…. Ahhh. She came apart, loudly, joyfully.
Her orgasm triggered his, ripping a shout of triumph from his ecstatic, shaking body. She held him close, absorbing his tremors as he absorbed hers.
The room filled with the sound of their gasps and soft moans. And then it was quiet.
He stayed where he was, propped on his forearms, his head bowed. They were perfect together. Some men never experienced lovemaking they would treasure the rest of their lives.
He just had. It would have to be enough.