Cowboy Payback (22 page)

“Brett…I need…”

She writhed in front of him as he hooked his fingers in the pretty lace at her hips and followed it down her leg with his mouth. Slipping the panties over her heels, he looked up and groaned.

Warm, sexy, curvy, wet woman met his gaze. He grabbed her ankle and set her heel on the trunk, opening her up. “I’ve been aching to taste you all damn day,” he said, gently brushing her glistening folds with his thumb before leaning in to take over with his mouth.

Chapter Fifteen

Trisha gasped and lifted her hips, and Brett couldn’t get enough. “You taste good, Trisha.”

As he continued to taste and lick, her hands cupped his head and she rocked into him, the sound of her heels clicking off the trunk echoing her pleasure throughout the room.

Sampling different spots, he loved the sexy, needy sounds he ripped from her throat. She murmured and trembled and demanded.

God, he loved when she demanded.

The woman hardly ever commanded in life, always gave. Never took. It was time she received.

Loving how she looked spread out before him, damp and quivering and beautiful, he wanted to fulfill her every need. Give her the release she desired. Take her over the edge. Nuzzling and licking, he built her orgasm until she cried out and burst.

After a few moments, her long, sexy moan subsided and grip on his head loosened, so he brought her down gently, stroking her hips with his thumbs before he slowly drew back.

Breathing heavy, she lifted up onto her elbows and stared at him, eyes deliciously dark with heat. “Please tell me you have that condom handy. The nightstand is too far away.”

He dug his wallet from his back pocket and withdrew the foil wrapper a second before she slid off the trunk and pushed him so his butt hit the floor and back hit the couch.

“I’ve been aching to do this all damn day,” she said, undoing his pants and freeing his heavy erection. “Something tells me you have, too.”

He choked out a laugh. “Ya think?”

Then she ripped the packet open and sheathed him, making him pant and sweat and cross his eyes by the time she was done.

“No more waiting.” With her knees on either side of his hips, she positioned his tip at her center, then slowly lowered herself down, taking him all the way in.

“Ah, hell, Trisha. You feel good,” he said, gripping the curve of her hips in an attempt to hold onto his control as her cry of intense pleasure filled the room.

He wasn’t going to last long.

Using her hands to brush his opened shirt aside, she leaned in to nip at his neck. Desire exploded down his body, heating every pore. Yeah, he was done. He’d wanted her too long. Sported the damn hard-on most of the day.

Running his hands up her back, he wrapped his arms around her, loving the feel of her breasts pressed against him tight. Chest to chest, he held her heated gaze as they began to move.

Thrusting. Bucking. Her sexy little moans and mewls had him driving harder, faster. Giving her everything. Feeling everything. From her. From him. Broken. Needy. Lost. Alive…found. Whole.

Home.

There was no way. No way could he let this incredible woman walk out of his life when she started classes next week. He wanted to keep seeing her. He needed her in his life. These were the things he’d tried to tell her outside on the porch, but then she’d touched him and, once again, his brain had shut down and body had taken over.

Knowing now was the wrong time, he let go of the one brain cell in his grasp and gave himself back over to the sensations of her body engulfing his in sweet, liquid warmth.

When she leaned down and bit his neck, he hissed a breath, so close to losing it. So damn close. He watched her soft, glistening curves grinding on him, her sweet, sexy sighs and moans telling him he made her feel just as good. Just as close to the blissful edge.

“So good, Brett,” she murmured near his ear, licking his lobe. “I need you.”

“I need you, too.”

“I need you…there…”

Catching her meaning, he ran a hand down her thigh and brushed his thumb over her center, giving her the slight pressure she desired. An instant later, his name ripped from her lips in an erotic, sensual cry as she arched back and flew apart, taking him with her.

****

Brett woke a little while later. He’d carried Trisha to the bed and stripped them completely naked, loving the way she’d looked amongst the rose petals. Just as velvety. Just as beautiful. Just as soft. He’d lain down next to her, pulled her in close, and they’d dozed off.

She was warm and curvy, and he ran his hand down the arm she’d tossed over his chest. Now that they were somewhat satiated and he could think, it was time to have that talk. To broach the subject he’d never, ever broached. The subject he avoided like a swarm of bees his whole adult life.

To take their temporary status a step further, one that could quite probably change the fake ring he toyed with on her hand splayed over his thundering heart to a real one.

Trisha’s breathing changed, and she snuggled closer. “Hey, you,” she said, voice sleepy and warm. “Whatcha thinking?” Her lips brushed his skin as she spoke.

Pulling her in tighter, he kissed her head. “That I should probably say the things I wanted to say before on the porch.”

She lifted up to stare at him and blinked, hope and anxiety mixing to no doubt reflect his own gaze. “Okay.”

“I’m very new at this and not good at all, but…well…with you starting classes next week, I think we need to talk.”

“Okay,” she repeated, looking as if maybe she wasn’t breathing.

He cleared his parched throat, joining her in the not breathing part. “I’m hoping we can still see each other on weekends or something. I don’t want to interfere with your studies, but I do want to keep seeing you, Trisha.” He drew in a deep breath, heart pounding and pounding. “That is…if you wanted to…too.”

God, this opening up part sucks.

His chest hurt and the invisible vice squeezing it increased with her silence, until a big smile crossed her face and lit the whole damn room.

“Oh, I want to, Brett. So much,” she said, stretching up to kiss his lips. “So very much.” Lifting up slightly, she stared into his eyes. “God, I thought you were about to say, thanks for the fun, when can you be out of here.” She shuddered against him, revealing just how much she had not wanted to hear those words.

“Christ, no. The last thing I want is not to see you,” he reassured with a squeeze, tracing the curve of her face as he pushed a strand of hair behind her ear. “I know you’ll need a week or two to get settled.”

“Yeah.”

She sighed and ran her hands over his body, teasing his skin, and, once again, he started to lose a grip on his thoughts.

“I have orientation this Friday and have to move in, so I wouldn’t be able to come back here until the following weekend.”

He rolled them over and leaned in to drag his mouth down her throat, swirling his tongue in the spot where her neck and shoulder met. “Want me to come get you?”

“No,” she murmured, squirming as he continued to kiss her neck. “I-I can drive. It’s l-less than an hour away.”

That was sixty minutes too long.

“Yeah,” he said against her skin as he began to kiss his way down her curves, loving how her breathing changed and her grip on his head tightened.

“So…we’re doing this?”

He chuckled, kissing the swell of her breast as he ran a hand down the curve of her hip. “Affirmative.”

“Not, this, you goof.” She choked out a laugh. “I mean…a relationship.”

Brett lifted his head and smiled at her. “Yes, but it’s all new, so please be gentle with me.”

Her smile widened. “Yes, sir.” Then her wicked hand caressed his abs and stroked farther south, until…
hello
, her fingers closed around his erection and eyes widened. “Ready, again?”

“Yes,” he needlessly replied, thrusting into her hand as he brought his mouth to hers. “I always seem to be ready around you.”

He just hoped, after their visitor tomorrow, Trisha still wanted him around.

****

Brett woke again later, much later, in the middle of the night, unsure what had stirred him. Then he heard it, a strangled sound coming from Trisha’s throat.

Damn nightmare again.

God, they had to stop. She needed to seek help because, otherwise, they wouldn’t. They’d get worse. She’d get worse.

And she was. The reception yesterday was living proof. He’d had to do what he did. Had to make the call. He just hoped to God Trisha accepted the help and didn’t hate him.

But he couldn’t stand back…
wouldn’t
stand by and watch her suffer.

Like now. Doing what he’d always done whenever she thrashed about, he drew her in close, and stroked a hand down her damp back, risking injury, because, yeah, she was one tough marine. Thrashing, elbowing him in the ribs a few times before his strokes and low spoken words managed to stop her struggles, she eventually settled down and relaxed in his arms.

“It’s okay, Trisha,” he reassured quietly against her temple. “I got you.”

He’d take the beating, the black and blues, the knee he sometimes took to the groin, in order to get her through.

Tomorrow, his heart would find out if it was going to suffer the same beating.

****

When Trisha woke, Brett was gone. A pang of disappointment rushed through her, but she knew he always started Sundays early to catch up on paperwork.

She only had three left. Three more mornings before she headed back to Texas to grab the things she’d set aside for the college apartment she’d already leased until next May, spend a night with her parents, then leave for Colorado to start her new adventure.

An adventure that she now knew was going to include a relationship with Brett.

Her heart swelled, erasing the disappointment that had lingered from his absence. She was going to have to get used to not living and breathing the man day in and day out. Her life was going to change but in a good way. She’d adapt. She was a marine.

Her phone vibrated on the nightstand with a text.

Morning, beautiful. I left you a present on the table. Meet me in my office in thirty?

With a smile on her face, she texted him back.
Absolutely.

She rolled off the bed and stretched, her sore body protesting. A smile tugged her lips. She hadn’t been sore before she’d fallen asleep. The marathon of being made love to must’ve caught up to her this morning. Even her elbow was sore.

Snickering, she stumbled to the kitchen, then out and out laughed. On the table sat a tall glass of orange juice, a banana, and a chocolate chip muffin—her favorite—covered in what was left of the chocolate syrup and whipped cream.

Which wasn’t much.

They’d pretty much kicked the can and bottle around midnight last night, during round three.

After devouring the sustenance needed to recoup from their marathon, especially round three, she showered, decided cleaning the rose petals could wait, and rushed to the main ranch, eager to spend what little time she had left with Brett before the new guests arrived on Tuesday.

“Morning, Trisha,” Mrs. Laramie greeted warmly from behind the reception desk in the lobby. “I think Brett is waiting for you in his office.”

“Hi, thanks,” she replied as she continued down the hall, that eagerness still ruling her steps.

Today was the first full day of her official relationship with Brett, and she wanted to make the most of the day.

With a smile on her face, she knocked on his door and entered to find him standing in front of his desk…talking to an attractive woman about ten years her senior.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize you had company,” she said, halting just inside the door.

“It’s okay, we were waiting for you,” he said, rushing forward to close the door and draw her farther into the room, not quite meeting her gaze.

Trisha’s senses immediately went on alert, and heart lodged in her throat, she studied the guest closer.

Dressed in a casual chic, slate-gray pantsuit and white blouse, the woman had her light hair twisted into a knot at the back of her head, minimal makeup, rimless glasses on her face, and black, comfortable-looking flats on her feet.

“Trisha, this is Natalie Stevens,” he introduced. “
Doctor
Natalie Stevens.”

Chapter Sixteen

The heart lodged in Trisha’s throat dropped back into her chest and rocked. Hard.

Doctor?

Oh, for the love of stars.
She did
not
need a darn doctor.

“There’s been a mistake, Dr. Stevens,” she said, her voice sounding deceptively calm, even to her ears. “I’m sorry Brett caused you to waste your time.”

The woman smiled a friendly, open smile. “I don’t think he has, Trisha. May I call you Trisha?”

Oh God
…the weight on her chest was increasing, as was her anger.

How could he? She ignored the question, pulled away from him and inhaled, but no air seemed to fill her lungs. She’d never felt so betrayed in her life. He
knew
she hated to be bullied. Controlled. Ordered what to do. How the hell was this any different? She’d endured enough growing up with her father. It was the damn reason she’d proposed their fake engagement in the first place. To give her a chance to find her feet and stand her ground.

Now, he’d knocked her feet out from under her, and she’d just managed to get a damn foothold.

God
. Why was he backing her into a corner like this?

“Before you get upset, please hear me out,” he pleaded, stepping close, gaze dark with worry. “I know you said you were fine, but after what happened yesterday—”

“The reception again?” She threw her hands up. “It was no big deal.”

Okay, probably not true. She hadn’t realized she’d zoned out until she’d refocused and found herself in his arms on the dance floor. The last thing she’d remembered before that was talking to Cammie and Stacy, then Brett’s aunt had come over with her grandchildren. “Little Jonathan just…startled me…that’s all.”

“No, he didn’t,” he replied, tone as solemn as his gaze. “Children are your trigger, Trisha, and you need to recognize this before you or someone gets hurt.”