“Probably not,” she whispered, “but—”
“But, what?” His lips brushed hers so lightly she wasn’t sure she hadn’t imagined it.
“Maybe we could make an exception.” She circled his neck with her hands and pulled his mouth to hers. “Just this once.”
He had to outweigh her by a good fifty or sixty pounds, but he didn’t seem heavy as his body settled over hers. His lips claimed hers, hot and insistent. Slowing, he took his time and explored very inch of her mouth with his tongue, promising something more. Much more.
His erection pressed against her stomach, and her body tightened.
She slid her hands up and down his powerful back, loving the way his muscles bunched and played under his skin. Her nipples pressed against the thin fabric of her tee, begging for his touch. With their mouths locked together, she reached for the hem of her t-shirt and tugged it up. Only when there was no choice but to break apart did they stop kissing long enough to tear the shirt over Ava’s head and throw it to the floor. Goosebumps rose on her skin and her nipples hardened in the cold air.
The fire had burned down to coals, but she couldn’t have cared less as Levi smoothed a strand of hair from the corner of her mouth. “You’re so beautiful.”
“Thank you.” She met his gaze. “I’m not very experienced—”
His kiss silenced her.
She forgot what she had been trying to say when he reached between them and gently squeezed her right breast before taking her nipple between his fingers and pinching it. She slid her hands into his short hair, loving the soft texture against her fingertips.
Removing his mouth from hers, he dropped kisses across her cheek, down her neck and across her collarbone. His mouth lingered on her throat, tasting, teasing.
Her breasts swelled under his hands as he played with her nipples, tugging and releasing. Deep inside, her belly constricted.
Her body heated.
All chill vanished.
He latched onto a nipple with his sinful mouth, and Ava couldn’t hold back her cry. Pulling it deep into his hot mouth, he scraped it with his teeth until she writhed under him. Her nails raked his skull. When he released it to change breasts, she moaned a protest.
She lightly nipped his shoulder and he responded by sliding his hands down the curve of her waist to her hips, then lower, to grasp her bottom.
Shivers raced across her skin.
He slid her thong from her and tossed it to the floor.
With trembling fingers, she reached for the waistband of his boxers. His palms left her behind and covered her hands as she slid the fabric from his hips. When it reached his knees, he used his foot to finish the job and kick them aside. With one hand he braced himself and with a gentle but firm grip he took her wrist and guided her.
“Touch me, Ava.”
Hesitantly, she obeyed.
Silky, yet hammer-hard.
She ran her thumb over the slick head and it jerked in her hand. She repeated the action until he moaned.
“Baby, you’re killing me.” He sounded as if might be dying and Ava froze, fearful she had been too forward.
“Don’t stop.” He put his large hand over hers. “Don’t ever stop.”
His mouth went back to her breast, sucking a nipple deep. Ava arched her back, giving him full access.
He changed breasts and the cold air drifting across her abandoned damp nipple was almost painful.
Placing her hand on his penis, she ran it up and down until his slim hips began to buck. She released him. He made a smothered sound when she explored his balls, cupping them. She squeezed gently and he took her hand from him. “Do that much more and I won’t make the buzzer.”
For an apology she kissed the hollow of his throat. His pulse beat a rapid rhythm that matched hers. His warm, woodsy leather-man scent filled her senses. She couldn’t get enough of him. He couldn’t be close enough.
She spread her legs for him.
Instead of entering her as she expected, he drifted a hand across her stomach and laid it below her bellybutton. With infuriating slowness, he teased, dropping one micro-inch at a time until he reached her bare mound. And stopped.
“I wasn’t expecting that,” he said against her ear. “Nice.”
She bit her lip, unsure whether to explain why all showgirls waxed everything. It was part of the job because their costumes were skimpy, leaving little to the imagination—especially during high kicks.
He slid his middle finger inside and she forgot everything else.
“You’re so wet,” he murmured. With agonizing slowness, he circled her clit with his thumb. “Hot.”
She dug her nails into his shoulders. “Levi, please.”
Another pass over her sensitive nub. “Please what?”
Her hips rose to meet his ministrations. “Please, I need—”
“Tell me.” His finger pressed deeper. His thumb rubbing over her core had her legs trembling. Wet heat flooded her. Her stomach clenched and her breasts ached.
“I have to have—”
His free hand wrapped in her hair, dragging her mouth to his. Just before his lips settled over hers, he said, “What do you want?”
“I want,” she gasped, “to break my rule.”
He chuckled against her mouth. “I’ve been waiting to hear you say that.”
Removing his hand from between her legs, he reached for his jeans. Taking a small packet from his wallet, he opened it and sheathed himself. “Ready to take a ride with me?”
Her toes curled. “Yes.”
Settling himself over her, he placed his palms on either side of her head and dipped his head. His tongue darted in and out of her mouth, teasing her to a new high. The hairs on his chest brushed the tips of her nipples until the sensation was almost too much to bear. But it was his erection prodding her slick opening that had her thighs shaking.
Would he be able to tell?
Should she say something?
Then it was too late as his body entered hers.
A soft cry slid out of her as he buried deep.
She’d been ready, more than ready. Levi was the one she’d been waiting for. She’d been close to climaxing without him even entering her. But this didn’t feel good at all. In fact, it hurt. A lot. He was too big and too intense.
A tear slipped down her cheek as he began plunging in and out. She lay stiff and unmoving. Unsure what to do.
Why hadn’t someone told her it was like this? The girls at work all made it seem like some kind of wondrous adventure. Like nothing else on earth.
Above her, he froze. “Ava?”
“Uh-huh.”
“I’m going to take a wild guess here and say you haven’t done this before.” Without ceremony, he pulled out and rolled to his back, taking her over on top of him. “The reason for your no-sex rule. Right?”
Heat raced up her neck and face. “Partly.”
“Damn, lady. You could have told me. I would have taken things a little slower.”
“Show me,” she countered softly. “Please?”
He bent his head and tasted her lips. This kiss was gentle, with none of the former hungry rush. He took his time, teasing until she gradually began to relax. To enjoy his kisses. She stretched out on top of him and their legs entangled. Her nipples poked into his hairy chest, the sensation one of the most erotic she’d ever experienced. His erection, wedged between them, pressed against her bare stomach.
A flame began low in her belly and licked outward, down her legs and up her chest. His kisses deepened, grew more urgent.
Her body dampened.
“Get on top this time. That way you can control how deep you want me to go.” Levi guided her so she straddled him. Placing his hands on her hips, he positioned her over his erection. Slowly, she slid onto him until she felt like she could take no more. His hands on her hips kept her from taking him all the way to the hilt.
His arms circled and tightened around her waist. “You good?”
At her nod, he reached between them and stroked her pleasure point until she gasped. Her hips began to rock and the friction increased. Dear God. This is what her friends had talked about when they said the earth moved with the right man.
He removed his hand from between them and splayed both palms across her belly. The sight of them there made something deep inside break loose. Tiny tingles raced every which way. Up. Down. Sideways.
He thrust up, filling her fully. He rocked his pelvis.
Tingles turned into waves. Crashing, howling winds of a desert sandstorm. Each one followed by another stronger than the last.
“Levi! God!” Her head fell forward, her long hair shrouding her face. She raked her nails across his chest, again and again.
His response was a final thrust upward, so deep she thought she might splinter into a million pieces. His breathing came in harsh pants that matched hers. A guttural, primal cry wrenched out of him as he found his own release.
They lay together, breathing hard.
He reached up and brushed her hair away from her face. “You okay?”
“Yes. Fine. Better than fine.”
“You’re amazing.” He wound his fingers through her hair and tugged her forward until their eyes met.
“I should get up.”
“No.” He shook his head. “Stay here. Forever.”
“If I don’t move I’m going to freeze, and then we will be here eternally. They’ll find us like this in the spring.” Aftershocks tightened her belly and she shivered.
“You’re cold.” His expression turned solicitous. “Let me up to bank the fire.”
She slid off his still semi-erect penis and stood near the dying flames. Slipping on her t-shirt and thong, she lay back on the sofa while he disappeared into what she assumed was a bathroom.
He returned and tossed more wood onto the fire and stepped into his boxers before joining her. The blankets had fallen unnoticed onto the floor and they each grabbed hold of the covers and pulled them up. He gathered her close and brushed a kiss across her forehead. The fire crackled in the silence, but she shivered again.
“You’re still shaking,” he said. “Did I hurt you?”
“You could never hurt me.” She placed her hand over his racing heart. It pounded under her palm. “You’re the kindest man I ever met.”
“If I’m so great, why didn’t you tell me you’d never been with a man before?” He sounded mad.
“Would you have believed me?” she asked quietly. “A virgin showgirl? We’re supposed to be every man’s fantasy come to life. Who would ever buy that I hadn’t been intimate with anyone before?”
“It’s different,” he finally admitted. “But I would have listened.”
“I didn’t want to talk about it beforehand.” She twisted the ends of her hair. “That would have ruined the magic.”
“Magic?” His chest rumbled with laughter. “Girl, I think you’re the one who put a spell on me.”
“I wish we could stay here like this forever.”
“Me too.” He sighed. “But dawn will be breaking soon and we need to get to the ranch before they send out a search party.”
Reality crashed over her like a wet heap of snow. She’d just made love to a man who wasn’t hers to keep.
In the cold morning light, would this be nothing but a memory?
Chapter Seventeen
Pre-dawn woke Levi. He’d always been an early riser, but worrying about Ava had made sleep especially elusive last night. His stomach grumbled, reminding him he hadn’t eaten dinner, and their late-night activities had left him extra ravenous.
Thinking about making love to Ava made his cock twitch.
Right now, he wanted her more than food. He’d love to roll Ava under him and love her senseless, but it was more important to get her to the ranch and safety. Slipping over her, he tucked the blankets around her shoulders. Goosebumps rose on his skin and he shivered. The stash of wood was almost gone. He’d have to come back and replenish it. Maybe Ava would come with him and they could make love all day long.
Why hadn’t she told him she was innocent?
He would have been careful with her, gentler. Made it memorable.
A heavy sigh wrenched out of him. What was done was done. All he could do was move on. When they made love again, he’d do things differently.
When?
This was likely the only time they’d be together. She had a life back in Vegas, and in spite of what she feared it was likely she could pick up her career again. He had a whole slew of rodeos to get to in the New Year.
Settling down and raising kids wasn’t what either of them wanted right now.
Why did the thought of separating make his ribs ache?
He dressed and grabbed his still-damp boots. The leather had half dried, making them hard to pull on and uncomfortable to wear. Damn. One of his best pairs. Oh, well. He had more back home. Or he’d buy another pair down the road.
Thinking of home made his stomach grumble. As much as he didn’t want to disturb Ava’s rest, he touched her shoulder. “Wake up, sleepyhead. Daylight’s wasting.”
She moaned and opened her beautiful, honey-colored eyes. “Hi.”
“Hi, yourself.” He resisted leaning over and kissing her. If he did, they might be here all day, making love. “We better get moving before Mom panics and sends out a search party. I’m thinking a shower and a big breakfast sounds pretty good.” Her face colored prettily, and when she didn’t jump up, and it occurred to him she was shy to get up in front of him after last night. “I’m going to check outside. See how things look.”
“Okay.”
He went to the back door, glancing over his shoulder.
Ava rose and dressed hurriedly.
Hiding a grin, he pulled back the curtain. The snow had stopped falling, but the clouds were low, dark and gray. More snow would be coming before the day was up. Probably in the next hour or so.
If there was food and if his family had a clue where he was, being snowed in here wouldn’t be all bad. But there wasn’t even a cracker in the cupboards and no one had any idea where he’d disappeared to.
He rejoined Ava, who was tying her shoes. “Ready to go?”
“I guess.”
Taking one of the parkas from the chair near the fire, he handed it to her. “Wear this. Leave my jacket. I’ll pick it up some other time.”
She pulled it on, the hood nearly hiding her face. “I feel like an Eskimo.”
He handed her gloves and a scarf. “These, too.”
After making sure the fire was out and she was bundled up, he took her hand. “Let’s go.”
When they stepped into the bitter pre-dawn air, Ava’s indrawn breath told him she was cold. “You okay?”
“Yeah. Which way do we go?” Her breath was a frosty plume.
He pointed toward the ridgeline barely visible in the snow. “That way is shortest, but I think back the way we came is better. We’ll see if my truck will start. If not, someone is likely to come along and pick us up. Follow me. Try and step in my footsteps. That way you won’t fill your shoes with snow as much.”
She nodded. “Okay.”
With an encouraging smile, he set out.
They reached the edge of the meadow when the snow let loose. Big, heavy flakes surrounded them in a silent shroud.
~*~
Ava’s tennis shoes had dried in front of the fireplace, but it took only moments for them to be soaked through once again. Her toes felt like a bunch of frozen little soldiers: marching, but unfeeling. The rest of her stayed toasty thanks to the knee-length parka Levi insisted she wear.
Keeping up with Levi’s long stride took its toll on her aching body. She hadn’t danced in days, or even stretched properly. Her muscles were out of practice. That wasn’t the reason, she admitted to herself. It had been making love. What she and Levi did last night that made her sore and achy. She longed for a hot bath and a massage.
And to do it again.
/> Did Levi regret their intimacy? He hadn’t said so, but he hadn’t said he didn’t either. He’d been kind and solicitous, but he always was. His actions hadn’t been any different today. But she sensed him withdrawing from her. He probably thought gifting him with her virginity meant she expected a big diamond ring.
Her emotions felt as raw as her body.
Just what she’d always feared had happened—getting close would only get her hurt.
But she’d do it again. Making love to Levi had been something she’d keep forever—a memory to cherish when they went their separate ways.
“You doing okay back there?” he called over his shoulder.
“Uh-huh.” No sense telling him it felt like her feet might fall off.
The wind howled around them, creating a creepy atmosphere. Were there wolves out there watching them? Hoping for a meal? She longed for the city. Vegas got snow sometimes, but nothing like this.
Overnight, mounds of the white stuff piled up over a foot, and more continued to fall. How did Levi know where to go? To her untrained eye, the world looked like the inside of an upside-down snow globe.
She stumbled over a buried log. She grabbed hold of Levi’s coat and he stopped and turned around. “It’s not much farther. The road’s on the other side of this hill. Can you make it?”
“I have to, don’t I?”
He smiled and she forgot her cold feet. “That’s my girl.”
His girl?
Was he implying something more than a fling, then?
Levi’s girl. Her heart picked up speed. She liked the sound of that. Even if he didn’t mean it.
They topped the ridge and Levi stopped, taking her gloved hand and squeezing it. “Down this hill and my pickup’s just down the road.”
She nodded. “Let’s go.”
He released her hand and angled his way down the steep slope. Ava followed right behind, using trees to keep her upright. Unlike the previous evening, she didn’t slide on her bottom.
He hit the road first and turned to her. “This is Haunted Mesa Road. My pickup is on the main line, just a few hundred yards ahead.”
“Lead off.” This time, she walked beside him, her hand in his.
Ride A Falling Star (The Callahans) Page 13