“Mmm-hmm.”
“I’m ready for the day to end and the night to begin.”
“Me, too.” After two nights of making love to him, the desperate, unbearable hunger had been replaced with a steady hum of awareness. After today, tonight would be good. Very good.
Jack had been right that word would spread about the unexpected live entertainment. Customers drifted in, either because a friend had alerted them or they’d heard music spilling into the street. Eventually the once-empty dance floor became crowded.
The four of them agreed it was time to leave. Jack won the fight over the bill by calling it a tax deduction for Josie, and they walked outside together.
“It’s been a pleasure.” Jack shook hands with Finn and hugged Chelsea.
“That’s an understatement.” Josie hugged them both. “We’ll be thinking of you this week.”
“And if that last little bit doesn’t show up,” Jack said, “you know who to call.”
“Thanks.” Finn smiled. “We’ve got this.”
“We do,” Chelsea said. “And thank you for all you’ve done.”
“Yes, thank you.” Finn wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
As they said their last goodbyes, Chelsea stood in the warm circle of Finn’s embrace with a cool evening breeze ruffling her hair. A week ago she’d been worried that Thunder Mountain Academy might not happen. A week ago she’d wondered if her crush on Finn was doomed. Now anything was possible.
They rode back to the Bunk and Grub in cozy silence. Nothing needed to be said. They both knew what lay ahead and anticipation vibrated between them.
The lobby was the same as before, with low lamplight and the scent of cinnamon in the air. The scene was familiar yet completely different because she and Finn were different. They climbed the stairs without rushing, yet she felt his solid presence behind her, knew he was as focused on her as she was on him.
She unlocked her door without trembling, but her heart thumped wildly as she walked inside. She’d never made love with someone when her heart was so full. The housekeeper had left a light on and folded back the covers. The door clicked shut and she turned to face him.
Slowly he took off his hat and laid it on the dresser. Then he dragged in a breath and spoke for the first time since they’d left the saloon. “You’re everything I’ve ever wanted, and I’m scared to death.”
Her heart ached for him. That couldn’t have been easy for him to admit. “I’m scared, too. I’ve never felt this way.”
“Neither have I, and I’m convinced I’ll mess it up.”
She was fully aware that he might, but she wasn’t going to let that keep her from loving him now. “We only get scared when we worry about the future. If we just think about what’s happening right now, then we won’t be afraid.”
He squeezed his eyes shut. “Yeah. We went over that.”
She couldn’t help smiling. “It’s not easy to remember. It should be, but it’s not.”
Opening his eyes, he moved toward her. “Right now I’m in the bedroom of a beautiful woman who is going to let me make love to her.”
“Right now I’m waiting for an outrageously sexy cowboy to kiss me.”
He smiled. “Damn. Should’ve kept on the hat.”
“No, it only gets in the way.”
“Can’t have that.” Gathering her close, he covered her mouth with his.
And then everything was okay. There was no past, no future. Only this—his lips moving against hers, his tongue seeking, his breath warm, his hands gently exploring, caressing, arousing her until she molded her body against the steady heat that was Finn.
As they slowly undressed each other, she thought of the effortless way they’d danced. Sliding out of their clothes had the same fluid motion. No rush, no awkwardness. She’d never been so in tune with a lover.
The clothes lay in a glorious heap on the floor. She threw back the covers and he lifted her into his arms so he could lay her in the exact center of the bed. Then he stepped back and gazed at her.
“Finn?” She stretched out her hand toward him.
“I need to look. Let me.”
“You’ve seen me this way before.”
“I have. But...I know you better now.”
Then she understood. She knew him better, too. She’d explored the many layers of Finn O’Roarke today, and he was more precious to her because of that. Even though they’d seen each other naked before, they’d never truly seen each other.
His intense blue gaze roamed over her, heating her in ways that even his touch did not. She squirmed against the sheets, wanting him to hold her, stroke her, love her. “Finn, please.”
With a soft groan he came to her. He kissed her forehead, her eyelids, her cheeks and her mouth. “I can’t wait,” he murmured. “I need you now.”
“Don’t wait.”
He pulled out the bedside table drawer where he’d stashed the condoms and wasted no time putting one on. Then he moved over her and held her gaze. “Right now I’m sinking deep inside you.” And he joined them together with one firm thrust.
She gasped with pleasure. “Right now I’m feeling great joy.”
“Is that right?” He pulled back and pushed home again. “This brings you joy?”
“Oh, Finn, you know it does.” She wrapped her arms around his muscled back.
“I want to bring you joy.”
Her smile trembled as she gazed up at him. “That’s very nice to know.”
“You deserve buckets of joy.” He settled into a steady rhythm.
She focused on those amazing blue eyes. “So do you.”
“Right now I’m finding it with you.”
Her heart swelled. “Same here, cowboy.”
“If only...” He paused to gulp in air. “If only we could stay like this forever.”
“But we’re here now.”
“Yes.” He slowed his pace. “We are.” His gaze locked with hers. “I’m with you, Chels.”
“I’m with you, Finn.” They moved together as if they were dancing, his hips keeping perfect time with hers. And because they were so closely attuned, they knew when the energy shifted, when their bodies needed more.
He increased the pace and she responded with a whimper of need. Together they reached for shared glory and found it. She held on tight as they shuddered in each other’s arms. Perfection. Was she crazy to want more?
* * *
THIS TIME FINN stayed and she woke to find him spooning her, her back tucked against his chest and his arms around her waist. She lay quietly and thought about what their future had in store. The Bunk and Grub had turned out to be a private hideaway, but tonight they’d be separated.
She wanted to visit Thunder Mountain Ranch, but if it meant severing this connection with Finn, that took some of the shine off the prospect. He’d promised they’d go on horseback rides into the boonies so they could have private time. She couldn’t imagine how that could be as cozy as snuggling in this bed.
“I can hear you thinking.” His breath was warm against the back of her neck.
“I’m getting used to sharing a bed with you.”
“I know.” He sighed. “I haven’t prepared Rosie and Herb for that and I don’t want to spring it on them.”
“And you shouldn’t. Don’t mind me. We’ll manage.”
“But it won’t be like this.” His arms tightened around her and he nuzzled behind her ear.
“No.” She surrendered to his sweet caresses, knowing that soon they’d have to sneak off to do this, and this, and, oh, yes, this. He gave her a climax first with his clever fingers and then he ripped open another condom so they could both enjoy the experience.
As they lay flopped on their backs, gasping and sated, she reached over and s
lipped her hand in his. “Whatever happens is fine,” she murmured. “I don’t want to be greedy.”
“I do.” He lifted her hand to his lips. “I’m spoiled rotten after this weekend. I’m not about to take a vow of celibacy.”
“Then I’ll follow your lead.”
“We’ll have private time. I promise you.” He nibbled on her fingers and then began to suck on them. Before long they’d made use of another condom. It was as if they both realized that the game was about to change.
They left the Bunk and Grub later than planned, but that was mostly because he couldn’t seem to stop making love to her. She wasn’t about to object. Her room had become a haven where they could explore these new feelings and she was as loath to give it up as he was.
Breakfast was over by the time they headed downstairs, but Yvonne gave them a thermos of coffee and some pastries in a bag. Pam was there to check them out and hug them both goodbye. On the way out to the SUV, Chelsea reminded Finn that he’d been looking forward to the trip to Thunder Mountain Ranch, but that didn’t seem to help either one of them. Reluctantly they loaded up and drove away.
Chelsea wasn’t in the mood to work, either. But if she expected to have something for her new client’s PR campaign by the time she arrived home, she should put in some hours on it now. Feeling less than inspired, she opened her laptop.
Finn glanced over at her. “How about a little music?”
“Sure, why not?”
He flipped on the radio and a country station came on. “Is that okay?”
“That’s fine.” But the country music reminded her of all the dancing they’d done this past weekend. Would that be the last time she’d get to dance with Finn?
“I feel as if I’ve been evicted from paradise.”
She blew out a breath. “So do I, and that’s crazy. We’ve been looking forward to visiting Thunder Mountain together. You said you wanted to show me all your old haunts.”
“Which I do. That’ll be fun.”
“Plus I’ll be able to meet everyone, finally, and see the birthplace of Thunder Mountain Academy. We can all celebrate, knowing the Kickstarter campaign is in the bag. Does it matter so much that we won’t be able to sleep in the same bed at night?”
“Yes. Yes, it does.”
“We’ve spent our whole lives not doing that. We’ve only shared a bed for three nights, and one of those wasn’t even the whole night because you left. We should be able to handle this.”
“I’ve been telling myself that ever since I woke up this morning, but the prospect of not having you close by is depressing the hell out of me.”
“So what are we going to do?”
“I don’t know yet. I’m working on it.”
She decided not to point out the obvious, that they’d made no commitment to each other. Once they returned to Seattle, they’d be sleeping miles apart. Had he thought of that?
She had. Because they’d have to separate eventually, worrying about their current situation made no sense. But she must be as bonkers as Finn, because she didn’t want to be apart from him, either.
14
WHILE CHELSEA WORKED on her laptop, Finn had plenty of time to think. He really didn’t want to be apart from her every night they stayed at Thunder Mountain Ranch. When he considered his strong negative reaction to that potential separation he finally admitted that he was falling for her. Or, more likely, had fallen.
If so, he wouldn’t magically get over her when they went back to Seattle. He’d want to be with her then, too. Maybe it wouldn’t work out because he’d return to his usual anal mode, but maybe he’d changed.
By the time they stopped for lunch in Thermopolis, he’d decided what to do. But he had to run it past Chelsea first. Come to think of it, this conversation could turn out to be pretty damned important. Depending on how she reacted, he’d get a better sense of how she felt about him.
They ordered a couple of burgers and some fries at a cozy little diner that she’d found using TripAdvisor on her phone. The diner would have been right at home in Shoshone, or in Sheridan, for that matter. He was glad she was charmed by small Western towns and downhome eateries, but he wasn’t surprised. Her enthusiasm for life in general had endeared her to him from the first day they’d met.
They sipped coffee while they waited for their food. Now that the moment was here, he had a slight case of nerves. He decided not to leap right into the heart of the matter. “How’s the project coming along?”
“Good.” She nodded. “I wasn’t sure whether I’d be focused enough to get anything done, but I made some progress. I think he’ll like what I’ve come up with.”
“Why wouldn’t you be focused?”
“Oh, you know. Wondering how things will work out at Thunder Mountain.”
Perfect opening. “I have a solution for how to handle our sleeping arrangements, but before I call Rosie, I need your okay.”
She blinked. “Call Rosie?”
“I don’t like the thought of sneaking around to have sex.”
“Neither do I, but I thought we had no choice.”
He thumbed back his hat and sighed. “That’s because I was thinking like a seventeen-year-old boy instead of a man. I’d like to call Rosie and explain that we’re used to sleeping in the same room and we both think it would be fun to stay in the cabin. But there’s no bathroom in it. The bathhouse is a short walk away. And it has four bunks, not one bed.”
She grinned. “Sounds just like summer camp.”
“I know it’s a little primitive, but my plan is to push the mattresses together on the floor. I won’t kid you, though. It won’t be nearly as comfy as the guest bed in the house.”
“But you’ll be there, which more than makes up for the lack of an innerspring.”
“Thank you, ma’am.” He reached across the table and took her hand. “So you’d be okay with me announcing that to Rosie?”
“There’s a lot to like about your plan, but I thought you said Rosie was a matchmaker. Won’t she expect us to have made some kind of commitment? We don’t want to mislead her.”
His chest tightened. “I don’t plan to mislead her.”
“So you’ll explain that this is temporary? You said she might not like that, either.”
“Look, I don’t know where this thing with us will end up.” He captured her hand between both of his. “But I don’t want to stop seeing you when we get back to Seattle.”
She went very still and her eyes widened. “You don’t?”
“No.” He took a shaky breath. “But I might still be the anal control freak I was when I left. I think I might be changing, learning, but it’s hard to know when we’re in a completely different environment.”
“You want...” She swallowed. “You want to do a test run when we get back? Is that what you’re suggesting?”
“Yes, ma’am.” He stroked her palm with his thumb. “But if you’re not willing to try that, I completely understand. You’ve seen me at my worst and if you—”
“I’m willing to try that.” Her voice was breathy and her eyes still reflected shock. “I just never expected you to say this. What...how would we...?”
“I thought maybe...this is just an idea, now, but I thought that you’d let me stay with you for a little while. See how it goes. I’d keep my place just in case, but I’d pay my share of the food and help with utilities. And you could throw me out anytime you wanted to.”
“Oh, Finn.” She trembled. “It’s a big step.”
“You don’t want to.” His heart ached. “I don’t blame you. It was just a possibility. We can forget I mentioned it. We could just date. I could live with that. I just don’t want everything to go back to the way it was. I want to be with you. Dating would be better than nothing.”
“It would be
stupid. I don’t want to date you. I want to be with you every night. That’s what this whole thing with Rosie is about. I hate the thought of sleeping in the house while you’re in the cabin.”
“So...” He was confused. “What are you saying?”
“I’m saying that it’s a big step, but if you’re game, I’m game.”
His stomach bottomed out. “Chels, are you sure?”
“I’m sure that I want to try. You’re right that it might not work, but if we just assume that, then we have nothing. I’d rather try and go through hell if it doesn’t work than miss out on a chance at heaven if it does.”
“I feel like dragging you out of that chair and kissing you until your toes curl.”
Fire flashed in her brown eyes. “Better not start something you can’t finish.”
He groaned. “I didn’t figure this out very well. I need to call Rosie and we should eat. Then we have to make tracks if we’re going to get there by dinnertime. That’s when she’s expecting us and I’m sure she’ll cook something special.”
“So we postpone our make-out session. Think about this. By calling Rosie, you’re setting us up to spend the night together. Short-term sacrifice for long-term gain. You’re a business owner. I’m sure you know all about that.”
“I’ve never had to sacrifice kissing you.”
She gazed at him. “Yes, you have. You’ve been sacrificing that for five years.”
“Good point. That’s why I have so much catching up to do.”
“Go make your phone call. I’ll be here when you get back.”
“Okay.” He squeezed her hand and released it. “If the order comes, start eating. Don’t wait for me.”
“Should we ask them to fix it to go? Then we could leave that much sooner.”
He glanced at the time on his phone. “No, we should be fine. Let’s stay and enjoy the meal.” He smiled at her. “Be right back.”
* * *
CHELSEA WATCHED HIM head through the door and then she was able to see him through the restaurant’s front window as he paced back and forth while he made his call. He still had that cowboy saunter going on, and she noticed more than one woman take a second look as they passed by. Too late, ladies! He just said he wants to move in with me.
Rolling Like Thunder Page 14