Can't Resist a Cowboy (11 page)

“God, Levi.” Determined, wanting, she traced his lower back with her hands, pushing the open waist of his jeans down farther, and raked her nails over the firm rise of his ass.

Carrie tipped her pelvis up and then moved her hips down, bringing the tip of him inside and making them both gasp. He was lost—he knew it; she could tell as he closed his eyes, the veins on the sides of his neck straining. He was long and full, and with each glide in, she didn’t think she could take any more of him. But she did, welcoming each thrust until her body adjusted and he was moving along that sweet spot deep inside. It was all-consuming, the licks and bursts of pleasure he rent out of her, bringing her closer to release with each thrust.

He groaned, a deep, riveting sound in her ear. “You always did come so easily, Sunshine.” Levi pounded into her, his hip bones biting into her thighs with the promise of bruises. Marks. He could mark her anywhere, however many times he wanted. She already belonged to him. Completely. Absolutely. “Give it to me, Carrie.” His hand moved between them, his fingers finding her clit with a firm stroke.

She cried out as a sudden, ecstatic wave of pleasure rolled through her, not caring if the whole ranch heard what Levi was doing to her. Instead of leaving her fulfilled, the orgasm had her aching for more.

“Harder…” Nearly frantic, Carrie urged him to thrust harder, digging her fingers into his ass, begging with little pants. And he did, ramming her into the wall, gliding against that spot deep inside her until she didn’t know what to do with her hands, or how to move to make the near-painful buildup stop. Until suddenly she found her tipping point and fell into another bursting spiral of release. Levi cursed, gripping her hips until his fingertips burned into her flesh as he pulsed inside her with his own completion.

It was a while before either of them moved. Levi sagged against her with his forearms braced on the wall. Slowly, she unwrapped her legs from around him and slid down until her feet were on the floor. She touched his cheek and smiled. He smiled back with the reassurance that this was enough. This quiet, comfortable bubble around them was enough.

She didn’t watch as he fixed his jeans, afraid the denim had fallen enough to display his thighs. She didn’t want to make him uncomfortable. When he was ready to show her, he would. And truthfully, she wasn’t sure she was ready to see that part of him yet. Maybe it was selfish, but she wanted a little more time in the happy delirium before reality had to come back.

“You know,” Levi said as he zipped his jeans. “I came in here for a reason.”

She smoothed her skirt with a wink. “You mean that wasn’t it?”

He took her hand and gently rubbed his thumb over the back. “This is more than physical for me, Carrie.”

The sincerity in his voice made her throat go tight. She reached up on tiptoe and kissed him, just once, softly. “Well then, what did you have in mind?”

“You’re going bull riding.”

Chapter Eighteen

Levi pushed his plate away and crossed his arms over the red-and-white-checkered tablecloth. One half a barbecue chicken, a baked potato—make that two, because he’d eaten Carrie’s, too—salad, and whatever else had been on his plate later, and he was done.

The Big Sky Roadhouse was known for its chicken, and man, had Levi missed it. The restaurant was double level, with a circular balcony above to show off the second dining area. Down here, there was sawdust on the floor, a huge bar with an even bigger jukebox, and in the corner, Willie, the mechanical bull.

It was old, the black leather covering torn with the metal body beneath showing through. There was only one reason patrons rode Willie, and that was to earn a big old slab of chocolate stout cake. Complete an eight-second ride and get a slice of heaven made from double dark chocolate with Guinness in both the batter and the frosting. Hell to the yes. He’d never be too full for that.

Leaning his chair back on two legs, he eyed Carrie’s plate. She’d hardly touched a thing. She put a hand to her stomach and frowned before taking a long drink of water.

“You okay?”

She waved a hand around her face. “Just heartburn.” Draining her glass, Carrie refilled it from the carafe. “I have chicken here, you know.” She pushed the plate toward him, but Levi stopped her with his hand. “Good Lord, no. Trying to kill me?”

Her eyelids went half closed in a sexy, amused kind of way that was more comical than seductive. He loved it. “No, just fueling you up for later.”

He snagged her hands with one of his and leaned over his elbows on the table. “In that case, you’d better eat up, girlie, or you won’t be able to keep up with me.” They shared an intimate look that he enjoyed—really enjoyed—but served as a reminder that he’d meant what he’d said earlier. This thing between them wasn’t just physical. Everything about her was important to him, and there was so much he didn’t know.

Levi searched her face, enjoying the beautiful lines and dips. Her eyes flickered down, her cheeks going pink. “You’re staring.”

He laughed before bringing her knuckles to his lips. “If you saw yourself from a male perspective, you’d be staring, too.” She opened her hands and entwined their fingers, the sensation of her palms fitting perfectly in his making him forget that they were in public. In that moment, they were alone and time was being kind…going slow so he could savor her.

Hell, hadn’t be been savoring each moment with her as if it could be their last? She withdrew a hand to gingerly rub at her right eye, blinking fast as if she were trying to clear her vision. His heart lurched. Carrie was adept at hiding signs of her declining sight, except for small moments like this when an apparently normal action like rubbing her eye meant something besides simple irritation.

One day, she’d be blind. Maybe not completely, but enough that she needed someone with the stability, love, and heart to be her companion through it. Damn well no other man would have that role but him.

A waitress stopped at their table to clear their plates. When she was gone, he kept his voice low. “I don’t want you to go back to Wyoming.”

A blank look crossed her face before her forehead scrunched. “Levi… I—”

“Before you say anything, just answer me this. What are your biggest fears about staying?”

She shook her head, withdrawing her hand, leaving his fingers cool and his palm empty. “You can’t fix it, Levi. You can’t fix this.”

“I know you’re scared, Sunshine. I get it. If anyone understands your fear, it’s me. Don’t you…don’t you think that maybe, we were brought back together for a reason? Maybe because with my legs, and…and your eyes, we understand each other.
Perfectly
.”

Her face softened. “I was thinking that same thing this morning.” Another soft shake of her head and she dropped her eyes.

“You’ll never be alone, Carrie. I’m here, your dad is here. My family loves you. And when the time comes, we’ll work to keep as much of your independence as possible.” He moved to stand beside her and dropped to one knee. Threading their fingers, he licked his lower lip and took a breath. “Whatever you need, whatever you want,
I’ll be there
for you.”

She closed her eyes as a wave of conflict crossed her features. He’d never been a begging man, had never had the inclination to plead for anything, not even his life, but he was at that point now. “Sophie is a highly trained paramedic and keeps meds and things at the house. She’s usually around, but if she’s not, the new first responder crew in Greenbrook carries diabetic medication.”

Her hands squeezed his, and when she swallowed hard, Levi cupped her cheek. “And when, if, your sight gets to the point where you can’t drive or manage the same way, we’ll manage. Together. I let you go once. That was one time too many.”

Carrie leaned into his touch, moisture gleaming in her eyes.

“Can I get you guys anything else?” A soft voice beside them made Levi aware of the unusual scene they were making. He stood, smiling at the waitress.

“It’s Willie time.”

The server gave an agreeing nod. “Great! I’ll meet you over there.”

Disappointed that their moment was broken, Levi held out a hand to Carrie. She wiped at her eyes before taking it and walked easily into his arms for an embrace. “It
was
one time too many,” she whispered in his ear before pulling back and placing a sweet kiss on his lips. He was about to ask her if that meant she’d think about staying, but he hadn’t played all his cards yet. He was saving the best for last.

“Come on. I’m ready for my stout cake, woman.”

“No way.” She rolled her eyes good-naturedly.

With a light pull, he led her to the roped-off square in the corner where Willie sat. He gave a sweep of his arm and nodded his head as if she should go get on.

Hands on her slim hips, she feigned indignation. “I have to do the work so you can have cake?”

Levi shrugged and nudged her closer to the bull. Whispering low in her ear, he relished the little shiver that went through her. “I gave you two orgasms earlier. You owe me.”

Carrie whapped him on the chest with the back of her hand. The waitress came over with the key for the bull.

“Get on up, sweetheart.” The waitress indicated that Carrie should get on Willie, but she didn’t. Instead, she grabbed the front of Levi’s shirt and pulled him close. His pulse kicked up as his chest pressed into hers. With her left hand, she grabbed the small sign that contained the bull-riding rules and turned it away so he couldn’t read it.

“No,” he said. Riding a real horse was torture enough on his legs. He didn’t need a go-round on a piece of leather with protruding metal bits.

“Yes.”

“Sign says no doubling up.”

The waitress cleared her throat and looked up at the ceiling, pulling the sign behind her body. “What sign?” Carrie high-fived the waitress before slipping onto the bull. Levi glanced around, realizing no one was paying them any attention. He ran a hand over Carrie’s lower back, loving her body heat through the thin fabric, as he moved closer, swung his right leg over and hopped up. It was fluid, and easy and painless. Gripping Carrie’s hips, he pulled her roughly back until she settled between his thighs. She moaned-sighed, a sound she made just for him, and he relished it.

“Hit it.” The waitress turned the machine on. Levi let his body adjust to the sway and ran his arms under Carrie’s to put one hand against her middle. Holding her firmly against him, he barely recognized that the bull’s antics didn’t increase. They stayed at a slow, laughable bounce and swerve, barely enough to require that they squeeze their legs to hang on.

He braced himself to Carrie anyway, inhaling the sweetness of her hair and the feel of her body against his chest. This was ridiculous—him and her on this stupid bull. For what? Cake.

He brushed her hair aside and placed a single, simple kiss on the base of her neck. It might be ridiculous, but it was
fun
. She’d gotten him on this damn bull, and she was in his arms, anchoring him.

The bull swerved to the left, the trickiest motion it had made yet, making them bounce and grab for purchase. And then it slowed, swaying softly until it finally stopped. Carrie was wedged perfectly between his legs, her hand covering his against her belly as she turned to look over her shoulder at him. Levi leaned in until his lips found her ear, and gave it a gentle tug.

“You know what I’m most afraid of?” Her voice wavered, the tone low, intimate.

“What?”

“Not being able to see your beautiful face.” Her arm looped behind his head, holding him to her. Levi clenched his eyes shut, absorbing the stab of bittersweet pleasure and pain that her words rent through his chest.

“You won’t need to see me to know how much I love you.” He held his breath as soon as the words were out, but there was no regret, no second-guessing. “I love you, Carrie Lynn.”

Carrie’s body stiffened and it gave him pause. Maybe he shouldn’t have—

“I love you, too.” She struggled to turn to fully face him. He slipped down instead, pulling her off the contraption and right into his arms, finding her lips as a cheer went up from the people around them. Damn. They’d had an audience after all.

Levi pulled back, never taking his eyes off her. “We’ll take the cake to go.”

…

“I’m not leaving tonight.” Levi shrugged out of his jacket, then reached for hers. Carrie set the cake box down on the kitchen table, going still as he walked behind her and removed her coat. His fingers made a slow descent over her shoulders, bringing her skin to life.

“Good. I don’t want you to go.”

“Mmm-hmm,” he replied in a gravelly tone. A tingly caress followed the length of her spine and back up again. “That’s good, because tonight, we’re stripping it down.” His body heat wrapped around her as he moved to her side, his gaze falling to her lips.

“Stripping it down?”

Taking a piece of her hair, he pulled, wrenching a pleasurable little sting over her scalp. “Baring it all.”

Carrie swallowed. “Haven’t we already done that?” Not that she was complaining. She’d do it again here, now. Anything he wanted. Levi let her hair slide through his fingers. “No. Not completely.” He took her hand, watching her expectantly as he led her toward her bedroom down the hall. He was right; they hadn’t bared it all. At least, he hadn’t. Sensing that this was something he needed, Carrie remained silent and pliable to his will as he unbuttoned her shirt and slowly peeled it away. Her skirt was next, followed by every other piece of clothing until she was nude in the soft light of the room.

Cool air raced over her skin, but she flushed warm despite it.

“Close your eyes.” He stroked her jaw, traced a line down her neck. Carrie complied, taking a small, quick breath as his touch feathered over her collarbone to her shoulder. And then he was stroking both of her arms, his hands touching and caressing the length of her torso, her back, following the dip of her spine to the rise of her ass, leaving no inch untouched and making every nerve come to life. Just as suddenly, the touches stopped, but she didn’t open her eyes. The sound of fabric rustling, the sound of his belt opening, and he was guiding her hands until they were palm-down on his chest.

His heart raced beneath her touch, her own answering in kind as he moved in until the soft hair on his chest tickled her breasts. With a soft kiss, he guided her back to the bed until her legs touched against it and he lowered her down, helped her slide back. Carrie opened her eyes to find him kneeling over her, the beautiful lines of his face like a punch in the heart. He moved back and stood, his fingers finding the button of his jeans.

Just like the day they’d gone to the Devil’s Kettle, he hesitated. His head tilted a little as if he was asking her if she was ready. She was afraid to respond, didn’t want him to interpret any slight movement as unwillingness on her part. She wanted this, needed this part of him. Levi unfastened the button, let the denim gape wide and fall, baring the deeply muscled vee that led down. A muscle in his jaw jumped as he halted the denim’s path, his lashes fluttering when he let go and the barrier fell.

She could only stare. Both thighs had been damaged, but the left was the worst. Deep lines gouged through muscle that looked as if it had been modeling dough in a child’s hands. Long scars crossed over areas of puckered flesh. Tears burned her eyes, a hot line streaming down her cheek. She couldn’t fathom the pain he’d been in, suffering this. An image of him lying in the sand in a pool of blood popped into her mind—how close he’d come to death.

Carrie held her arms out to him, and after a second of hesitation, he knelt on the bed and came to her. She tasted her own tears on his lips when their mouths met. Need flashed hot and demanding, prompting her to pull him closer so she could run her hands everywhere she could reach.

Levi relaxed when she began to explore the map of his injuries, as if her acceptance took a huge weight from him. She drew her fingers along each dip and scar. She hadn’t been there to love him through healing, but she was here now to show him that he was as perfect. Carrie wrapped her legs around his and tipped her hips up. She didn’t want sweet kisses or foreplay. Just the physical connection that made them whole. Levi found her sweet spot right before he thrust inside, hard, deep, and complete.

In the afterglow, Levi wrapped himself around her and held her close. Carrie settled against him feeling that the final door had closed on the obstacles between them. The path to a relationship was finally fresh, clean, and ready. Instead of a second chance being ready for her, she was ready for it.

Carrie turned in Levi’s arms, her heart full. “I’m going to stay.”