He came to her then, opening her legs with his knee and settling between them. She just had the most amazing orgasm of her life, yet she still ached to have him inside her. The head of his erection rested against her. One push and she’d have what she needed.
He paused, gazing into her eyes with such tenderness, tears started to well again. “You are so beautiful, Elizabeth.”
Worried he would see too much, she closed her eyes, tilting her hip to move him along. “Hurry, Dade. I need you.”
He didn’t have to be told twice. In one deep thrust, he was inside her. They groaned in unison, the pleasure almost overwhelming. It felt so good, so right. He was big, but they fit perfectly together.
He started to move then, plunging in and out, in that age-old rhythm. She met him stroke for stroke. Their bodies gathered sweat as they climbed higher and higher in bliss. Incredibly, she felt herself begin to tighten again. The rush of her orgasm was fast approaching. He quickened his pace, pushing deeper, harder. She screamed out as white-hot pleasure ripped through her entire being. Two hard thrusts later, Dade joined her. His body stiffened, and he let out a harsh groan. She could feel him pulsing inside her.
He collapsed, rolling to his side so he didn’t crush her. Such a sweet action, after such an earth shattering joining. She had to remind herself he only offered her his body. She would be an idiot to fall in love with this man who had closed off his heart.
He placed a gentle kiss to her temple, pulling her into his arms. She lay across his chest as their heartbeats returned to normal. It felt so right, like coming home. She could stay like this forever…
Idiot.
Chapter 18
Sun streamed in from the shack’s one small window. The fire had died out sometime in the night. He remembered waking up in the early dawn hours to nothing but glowing embers. Lizzy slept peacefully beside him. She looked like an angel with her strawberry-gold locks spread across his chest. Just as silky as he imagined. He had to have her again.
She didn’t complain to being woken by his soft kisses. When his hand wandered between her legs, her soft little moans encouraged him. They made love slowly this time.
No—had sex slowly.
He had to remember that. Love had died long ago for him. He would never love again, could never love again. There was no love in what they had done, only lust. Nothing wrong with a little, good, old fashioned lust.
Guilt nagged, but he ignored it. Lizzy knew the score. They’d discussed it. She knew his heart died with Rachel. She understood all he could offer her was his body, and she’d accepted that. Didn’t mean he felt good about it. She was an amazing woman, a bit sassy, but hell, her fiery spirit made her so damn appealing.
The spitfire from LA deserved more than a purely sexual relationship, but that was all he could offer her.
She shifted against him and, dammit, he rose to the occasion. He felt like an ass using her this way, but he hadn’t been able to say no to her offer last night. What man would have? Her eyelids fluttered open. A content smile lit her face until she focused on him.
“Uh oh, grumpopatomous is back,” she mocked.
He scowled at her description. “That’s not a word.”
Leaning over, she brushed her lips against his. It took everything in him to stay still when all he wanted to do was grab her and be inside her again.
“You’ve got your serious face on.” Her nose scrunched up. “Actually, all your faces are serious, but this one is more like a ‘morning after regret’ face. Having second thoughts? I might add, it’s a bit late.”
She was teasing him. He had used her to sate his lust after telling her he could never love her. Why wasn’t she pissed? Yelling? Trying to smack him upside the head? Would he ever understand this woman?
“We had sex, Dade.” Sitting up, she hugged her knees to her chest. “Great sex, but still, just sex. We both agreed it was nothing more. I’m not expecting romance and empty promises, so relax.”
She stood, tucking one of the quilts around her. Not that it mattered. He’d seen every single inch of her delectable body. Hiding it only made him want to peel off the blanket and see it all again, touch it all again…but he couldn’t. It wasn’t fair to her.
Completely unaware of his inner struggle, she walked past him toward the tiny bathroom. So, that was it? One of the most mind numbing, body awakening nights of his life and it was “just sex” to her? True, that was what they agreed on, all he said he could offer. So, why was he so offended she agreed with him?
“That’s it then?” It came out harder than he intended.
She turned, brows raised in surprise. “Well…yeah. Unless you want to do it again. I’m game. You know where to find me.”
Then she entered the bathroom, closing the door firmly behind her.
He stared at the closed door, not believing what he had just heard. His body roared to life while his mind was equal parts angered and intrigued.
Did Elizabeth Hayworth just agree to be my sex buddy?
The question lingered as they put on their clothes, which had thankfully dried overnight, and he and Lizzy headed back down the trail toward the ranch. They were on foot, so it took longer than if they’d been riding, but they made it back just before lunchtime.
The hike down was quiet. Neither spoke much, except when Lizzy would ask him about a certain plant or flower. He answered her as best he could, all the while wondering why the hell she yammered on about plants when he still couldn’t wrap his head around whatever the hell they had started back at the hunting shack.
As the ranch came in to sight, he noticed Maggie sitting on the porch swing. Worry etched into every line of her face. Once she spotted them, the expression transformed into relief.
“Lizzy. Dade,” she yelled out, hand cupped around her mouth. “Colt, they’re back.”
The barn door opened and his brother ran out. Once he spotted Dade, he started jogging toward the two. When he and Lizzy stepped onto the front porch, Maggie pulled her into a fierce embrace.
“Oh thank goodness. I was so worried!”
“I’m fine, Maggie, really. I need a shower and a fresh set of clothes, but other than that I’m okay.”
His little brother grasped his arm in a firm grip. “I got your message. Thunder ran straight home. Glad you two are okay.”
He returned the welcome. “All thanks to great-grandpa’s shack.”
Colton’s eyes widened. “I can’t believe that thing is still standing.”
“Me either.” Lizzy laughed with a shake of her head. “There were a few points in the night I was sure the whole place was going to fall down right on top of us.”
“We might want to think about doing some upkeep on it.” He hadn’t thought of the shack in years, but after this recent visit, it was clear the old girl needed work. “I know we don’t really hunt, but it’s a good haven to have out there for emergencies.”
Colt rubbed his chin in thought. “Maybe we could overhaul it completely. Turn it into a bunkhouse and offer some overnight trail riding.”
His brother was always coming up with new ideas for the ranch. They were usually profitable, so Dade let him run with them. Colton was the idea man, and Dade made sure those ideas came to light. A system that worked well for them.
“Sounds promising. Let’s discuss it more later.”
“I better get back home.” Lizzy stepped away from her best friend’s side. “I need to clean up before heading to the bakery. Did you call Jamie and tell her to open this morning?”
Maggie bit her lip. “Yes.”
Suspicious gray eyes narrowed. “So, everything is okay, right?”
Her friend’s hands twisted in her lap. What would she have to be nervous about? Her shop was being taken care of. Her best friend was safe and sound. What else was there?
“I called Jamie last night and told her to open with Tony this morning. I, um, also called—”
“Oh no! Maggie, please tell me you didn’t call them.”
Dade glanced between the two women. Them? Them who?
“You were missing.”
“I was fine. Dade found me.”
“But I didn’t know that! You could have been hurt, and they deserved to know.”
Who the hell are they talking about?
“They wouldn’t have cared.” Lizzy threw her hands out in exasperation.
If someone was in Lizzy’s life and wouldn’t care when she was missing or hurt, then they were idiots.
“Lizzy, they’re your parents, of course they care.”
Whoa. Her parents? He remembered Maggie mentioned her parents were kind of self-involved, but he couldn’t imagine any parent not caring when their child went missing. No matter how old their kid was.
Silky strawberry-blonde hair—that had been tickling his chest only hours ago—shook as her head swung side to side. A heavy sigh escaped as she asked, “And what did they say?”
Gaze averted, Maggie stared at her lap. “Your dad answered. He said when you turned up he wanted to talk to you. He’s producing a new show on wilderness survival stories and said maybe he could use your recent incident for the pilot.”
Her dad said what? Red haze clouded his vision. What the hell kind of father thought of a goddamn TV show when his daughter was missing? If he had a missing kid halfway across the country you could bet your ass he’d be on the next plane out to find them. Right after he called in the National Guard.
Lizzy smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “See?”
Dade wanted to fly to LA and punch Mr. Hayworth right in the face. How the hell could he not be concerned about his only daughter lost in the woods? Were her parents really that selfish? He often wondered why people like that had children. If he ever had a child, he would spend every day letting his kid know how much he loved them.
Not that he would ever have children. Kids required marriage and love. Two things he vowed he would never do again.
“I’m sorry, Lizzy.”
Bending down, she hugged her friend once more, then pasted a bright smile on her face, but he could see her parent’s indifference hurt.
“Forget it. You were worried enough for a dozen parents, right?”
“I tried to tell her you’d be okay. I knew Dade would find you.” His little brother grinned in the know-it-all-way he had. “But I don’t think she slept more than ten minutes last night.”
Maggie swatted at him, but he was too far away for her to reach. “I knew Dade would find her, too, but I have a right to worry about my best friend.”
“Yes you do, Magpie.”
Maggie turned her focus to her once more. “Still, I’m sorry I called them.”
Lizzy brushed it off with a wave of her hand. “Eh, what’s done is done. I’ll call them tonight and let Dad know my story is not his next blockbuster ticket. I’ll also tell Mom I’m not starring in any movie based on my ‘mountain adventure’ because I’m sure if Dad told her, she’s already got someone writing up a script.”
Dade grimaced. Her parents sounded like horrible people. Grade A narcissistic pricks. It made him wonder how she had turned out so amazing.
“I should go, but I’ll call you later.” She spun to him. “Thanks for…everything.”
The way she said it, he knew she wasn’t only talking about him rescuing her. She didn’t make a move to touch him though…because she was ashamed? No, from what he knew of her, she did whatever she wanted and screw what anyone else thought. No, she was protecting him. She knew he didn’t want his brother or Maggie hurt by whatever went on between them, so she was keeping it private.
This woman who came from two people so self-absorbed they didn’t even care when their own child went missing, was selflessly giving Dade what he asked for. She was some kind of woman. And though she deserved more, he would take what she offered, because it was all he could give. It humbled and shamed him all at the same time.
Right then and there he made a decision. If all he could give Lizzy was sex, then he would make it the most amazing sex of her life. He would worship her body for as long as she wanted him. Make Elizabeth Hayworth a very, very satisfied woman.
“Anytime.”
Her eyes turned smoky with heat when she caught his meaning. A smile—a genuine one—curled up the corners of her full, luscious lips. So, they were really doing this. Sex buddies. He knew it was a bad idea, but as Lizzy said, sometimes the best ideas were bad ones.
Chapter 19
The shop was running perfectly when Lizzy came down from the apartment, freshly showered and clothed. Not surprising. For teenagers, Jamie and Tony were uncommonly responsible. Amazing how two kids—just out of high school—could instill more trust than her own parents.
She wouldn’t trust her mother and father with watering plants, let alone opening the shop by themselves.
Luckily, she didn’t have to rely on her parents. She had everything she needed right here. A great job, wonderful friends, and now, a red-hot lover who made her body quiver in anticipation.
No missing the subtext in Dade’s parting words. He was agreeing to continue their sexual relationship. A small part of her warned she was getting into something she couldn’t handle. Sex and emotions had always come hand in hand for Lizzy. It was why she only had a few lovers, despite living in casting couch city. When she took a man to her bed, she had to have feelings for him.
She had feelings for Dade, no doubt. What exactly those feelings were, she didn’t know yet. All she knew was she wanted him. So, when the opportunity presented itself, why would she say no?
Because I might get hurt down the road.
No. Dade had been upfront about the situation. They were strictly sexual. She could deal with that. As an adult woman living in modern times, why couldn’t she have her cupcake and eat it, too? She just had to put her emotions on the back burner and enjoy the ride.
Now, she really understood the phrase, Save a horse ride a cowboy.
“Ms. Hay—Lizzy,” Tony corrected himself. He put down the bowl he had been stirring and hurried to her side. The sweet young man’s brows were pinched with worry. “My uncle said you got lost on the trail. Are you all right?”
He’d worried about her? How sweet. “I’m fine, Tony. Thank you. My horse got spooked by a snake and ran home, but Dade found me.”
Boy did he.
“Your trail guide should not have left you.” He shook his head. “My uncle said Jesse was foolish to do so.”
“It wasn’t Jesse’s fault. I told him to go.” Guilt prodded at her. “I hope he doesn’t get into trouble.”
Tony shrugged. “The Dennings are fair men, but Jesse did break an important rule, so he must face the proper punishment.”
The way he said that, with such sadness, she wondered what “proper punishment” he saw in his home country. She was very happy the boy was in America now and working toward becoming a citizen. He was smart, kind, and hard working. An American ideal. Tony would be an asset to the country.
“Lizzy,” Jamie’s loud shout pulled her attention up front. “You and Maggie have to stop scaring me like this! What do you guys have, a who-can-freak-out-Jamie-the-most bet going on or something?”
She smiled at the girl’s melodramatics, but opened her arms for an embrace. Jamie rushed into them, squeezing tight. Though she had only known the enthusiastic teenager a little over a month, she was coming to think of the young girl as a little sister.
“I’m sorry I frightened you. But as you can see, I’m fine.”
“I told you she would be fine, bonita,” Tony said softly.
Jamie pulled away and took a step back, her face mulish. “Yeah, well, saying it and seeing it are two different things.”
“Looks like you two did okay opening up without me.”
They really did. The shop was open and running smoothly. Maggie was lucky to find such great employees, and teens no less. There were scores of servers Lizzy had to fire over the years for arriving late, no-shows, and all ot
her manner of shoddy work ethic. And those were adults.
There was definitely something in the waters of Podunk Town. This place was just not normal.
Jamie waved a hand in the air. “I’ve opened by myself a few times for Maggie over the past year. It’s no problem.” She blushed, glancing sideways. “Makes it even easier with Tony helping.”
Oh really? She wondered just what exactly Tony had helped with. They might be responsible teenagers, but they were still teenagers, with raging hormones and low impulse control. She was very glad the bakery had no video surveillance. She wasn’t sure she wanted to know what went on here this morning. Guess her and Dade weren’t the only ones with a case of lust fever.
“Well, I have a lot of paperwork to do today, but I’ll try to get out front later to help with the afternoon rush.”
“You got it, boss!”
Jamie gave her a bright smile and headed back to the front of the shop. Tony followed with lovesick, puppy dog eyes. Man, those kids had it bad. She really hoped they didn’t end badly when Jamie went off to college. It really wasn’t any of her business, but they were both so sweet it was hard not to worry. She shouldn’t waste time fretting over two teenagers’ puppy love, though. She had her own complicated relationship to worry about.
Gathering the order forms from her desk, she got down to work. Busy work helped to keep her mind from things like young love, crappy parents, and a certain sexy cowboy whose bed she’d like to be in again.
Real soon.
The afternoon passed by in a blur of numbers and cupcakes. All too soon, Lizzy found herself back in her apartment staring at the phone in her hand. She had to call them. No matter how much she didn’t want to, they were her parents, and some deep down part of her knew they worried. Just a little. Or maybe she just wished they did.
Her stomach grumbled, but dinner would have to wait. Taking a fortifying breath, she hit the call screen, ringing the home phone instead of one of their cells. Hopefully, she’d get the machine and could leave a message.
“Hello?” a familiar masculine voice answered.
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