He pulled away and she opened her eyes. His steel-blue eyes were dark with desire. His breaths came in jagged pants. Reaching out, she put her hand behind his head and pulled him back to her for another kiss. This time she took control, probing and tasting, licking his tongue, his teeth…allowed her tongue to convey her message. She wanted him.
Apparently message received, Travis scooted across the blanket and lowered Caroline onto her back. He moved his hand to her waist and squeezed. The heat from his palm burned through her shirt as he slid it from her waist to the curve of her breast. He fondled her flesh as a shudder wracked her body. Caroline slid her tongue in and out of his mouth, trying to say without words what she wanted…needed.
She draped her leg over his hard-as-a-tree-trunk thigh and tried to press her aching center to his body…anywhere. But he took control, moving between her legs, pressing the hard erection behind his zipper against her center. She moved to press back, moaned deep in her throat.
He found the tail of her shirt, slipped his hand under and touched her skin, igniting flash fires with each stroke of his fingers. Surely she would burst into flames.
Then he was gone. Rolled away and onto his back.
Stunned and embarrassed at her own guttural reactions to his attentions, she stared up into the sky.
“Caroline…”
“Don’t,” she snapped. “Don’t you dare apologize.”
“Okay. I won’t. But that wasn’t what I was going to say.”
She rolled onto her side and propped up her head. “What then?”
He turned his head to look at her and then turned away. “I was going to say I was too old for sex on hard ground.” He looked at her and grinned. “I was going to suggest a soft bed instead.”
She smiled. “Hmm. Sounds interesting.”
“Ready to head home?”
“For a soft bed? You bet.”
They made quick work of stashing everything either in the cooler or the basket. When it came time to remount, Caroline forced a smile. Travis laughed at her expression.
“Trust me. This ride will be as bad for me as for you.”
She glanced down at the erection straining the zipper of his jeans. As she watched, the bulge got more pronounced.
“Stop looking at me,” he said. “You’re not helping.”
He brought Willard over. She put her left foot in the stirrup and then felt both his hands covering her ass cheeks. He pushed and she found herself in the saddle.
Looking down at him, she smiled. “Well, getting on Willard like that was fun.”
He gave her a cocky smirk. “That’s what all the girls say.”
She rolled her eyes but couldn’t keep the grin off her face.
The ride back to Halo M was quicker than the ride away as Travis didn’t need to kill any time, and frankly, he didn’t want to either. He wanted Caroline Graham naked and in bed as fast as possible. And he hadn’t been kidding about being too old for screwing outside. His knees weren’t the best. They preferred a bed. His biggest fear now was that she’d change her mind before he could toss her on her back.
When they rode into the barnyard, Amy Webster, the oldest of the Websters’ offspring was waiting.
“Have a good ride?” she asked, catching Willard’s bridle.
“Good ride and good lunch. You have anything to do with the food?” Travis said as he swung from the saddle. He looped Ransom’s reins over a rail.
Amy’s face pinked. “Maybe.”
“You want to take the Rhino and go pick up the leftovers?”
He’d hardly gotten the question finished before Amy took off at a run toward a large shed.
“I gather that whatever a Rhino is can be found in that shed?” Caroline asked, shading her eyes with her hand.
“It’s a large all-terrain vehicle. It can carry a couple of people and has a holding tray on the back.”
The shed doors flew open, and moments later, a green Rhino ATV roared out and across the field.
“So are you telling me that we could have taken a car-like thing rather than horses today?”
Travis walked over and began massaging her calf. “But then what excuse would I have to offer you a massage tonight?” Mentally, he crossed his fingers that she was still interested in massages, soft beds and sex. His heart raced as he waited for her response.
“In that case, as much as I love you, Willard,” she said, leaning over the horse’s neck, “I’ve got a better offer.” She smiled down at Travis. “Help me down, please.”
As before, she stood in the stirrup and this time was able to get her right leg swung over Willard’s rump before tumbling into Travis’s outstretched arms.
“You okay, Dr. Graham?”
Travis and Caroline’s heads whipped toward the voice. John Webster stood just outside the barn, his hands on his hips, apparently watching Travis and Caroline’s interaction.
“Fine, John. Just helping Caroline off. Did you know this was her first time to ride? She did great, I tell you, just great. Why, I bet we could make a first-rate rider out of her.”
Why was he running on like he’d been caught by his parents with his hands down a girl’s pants?
Webster cleared his throat. “Well, okay then. I’ll take those horses from you. Rocky’s here. Putting Ransom and Willard up for the night will give him something to do. Did I hear you ask Amy to take the Rhino over to Fitzgerald’s place?”
“Yep. You mind?”
“Naw. You’re just spoiling her. You know she loves the fast machines.”
“You can put me down now,” Caroline whispered into his ear.
Chills hiked down each vertebrae of his back. Her breathy voice also got the attention of his penis, which began to come alive. He turned away from John. “Oh, right. Sorry.” He lowered her legs to the ground but kept his hands at her waist until he was sure she would support herself. To his disappointment, she didn’t need him to hold her up.
“I need to have a word with John. Can I meet you in the truck?”
“No problem,” she said, and headed off, her walk a little wobbly.
“Tell Henree I might have a guest for a couple of days. Caroline…er, Dr. Graham’s grandmother just passed away. Since she doesn’t have any family here, I’ve been trying to give her some support…help her work through her emotions.”
It felt like trying to explain to his dad why he needed to stay out all night after senior prom.
The foreman removed his cowboy hat, scratched his head and put it back on. “Now what you do with your time is your business, Travis. I’ll just say I think Dr. Graham is a fine woman, and if you can help her right now then that’s where you should be.”
“Thanks.” He turned to leave and then turned back. “And John, my family doesn’t need to know anything about how I spend my time.”
Travis climbed into his truck and glanced at Caroline, who was as far against the passenger door as she could be. He reached over and took her hand.
“Hey. We don’t have to do anything. No pressure.”
Her eyes were wide, her pupils dilated. Her breathing was loud and ragged. “Don’t you want to sleep with me?”
He laughed. “Are you kidding? Look at me.” He gestured to his crotch. His erection was straining against his zipper. “And why wouldn’t I want you? God, you’re beautiful. Funny. Smart. Sexy. Hell, Caroline. I’ve been wanting you for months.”
The smile that crossed her lips lit her face like a thousand-watt bulb. “Seriously?”
“Let me show you how seriously.”
He meant to take her to her house, but hells bells, that was a forty minute drive. His house was attached to his garage. He had a soft bed. He had condoms.
He jerked open the driver’s door and pulled Caroline across the seat and out.
“Where are we going?” she said as he pulled her along into his home.
“I have a bed. It’s closer.”
Her reply was a grin and an increase in her pace.
“Are you suggesting I need a bath?” she asked with a wicked grin.
“Before I toss you into my bed, I need to wash Ransom off me,” he said and stripped his shirt over his head. A set of developed pectoral muscles and a ribbed abdomen made her groan in pleasure. Light blond hair dusted his chest and down his abdomen, disappearing into the waistband of his jeans.
Her sex tingled with heat and need.
“You don’t have to join me,” he continued as he unfastened his belt and pulled it through the loops. “But you sure are welcome to.” He lowered his zipper and shoved his jeans and underwear to the floor in one motion.
His penis rose from a bed of dark, curly hair and stretched up, resting on his abdomen. She licked her lips. She couldn’t take her eyes off of him, which just made his cock grow thicker and longer.
“I’m feeling pretty dirty myself,” she said with a raspy voice. Quickly, she toed off her boots and kicked them back into the bedroom. He reached over to help her and jerked her shirt over her head. He cupped her breasts before leaning over to run his tongue along the top of each cup.
“Perfect,” he said. “I knew they’d be perfect.”
He sucked on her breast through her bra and then bit her nipple. Her knees grew weak. Liquid heat dampened her panties. The tingle between her legs had grown to an aching throb. Then her bra was gone, replaced by his hot mouth, sucking, licking, nibbling, biting then licking again. She felt for her jeans button, popped it and quickly lowered her zipper. He slid a large, work-roughened hand into her panties and between her thighs. Then he slipped a thick finger into her wet folds.
“You’re so wet,” he said. “So wet. I can smell your arousal.” He pulled his hands from her panties and licked his finger. He watched her, watched for her reaction.
Her breath caught for a moment as her insides turned to liquid. She reached out and took his penis in her hand. It was hard yet velvety soft. She stroked her thumb over the spongy head, collected his juices on her thumb, lifted it to her mouth and licked the salty fluid.
His growl was primal, animalistic. He roughly shoved her jeans and panties to the floor and then lifted her out of them and walked into the shower. Water poured down their bodies, making each touch, each stroke, slippery and more erotic.
He pushed her up against the wall and spread her legs with his knees. Sexual excitement strummed through her. He stroked large, work-toughened hands over the inside of her thighs and thick fingers up to her wet crease. He looked into her eyes, slipped a broad finger inside her. She moaned and arched toward him. He added another finger, moving both in and out, stretching her, getting her ready for him.
She stroked his cock in time with the movement of his fingers. He pulled his hips away and turned so that she couldn’t touch him.
“Can’t, darlin’. You’re driving me over the edge just being here. I can’t take your touch. It’ll be over before it begins.”
She bit his neck and then licked up his throat until she reached his mouth. “Next time, then,” she said against his lips.
He moved his fingers at a fast pace and her hips gyrated in time. Then he pulled his fingers from her and dropped to his knees. He broadened her stance when he pushed his wide shoulders between her thighs. He flicked his tongue out, licked her from front to back and then traced a circle around her sensitive nub. Her legs wobbled and she grabbed his shoulders to stay upright. He licked again and again from her vaginal opening to her clitoris and back until she began to shake.
The muscles in her abdomen clenched and shook. The pressure building inside was almost painful in its intensity. He jabbed his tongue into her sex at the same time he pushed a finger into her ass. She cried out as she exploded into a million pieces. White lights flashed behind her closed eyelids. Wave after wave of electrical force like none she’d ever experienced continued to wrack her body until she could no longer stand unsupported. She slumped against the shower wall.
“Holy hell,” she muttered.
When she opened her eyes, Travis wore a very self-satisfied smile. “Like that?” he asked.
She licked her lips and forced a shrug. “It was okay.”
“I’ll see if I can make it better than just okay.”
Chapter Ten
Sunday morning, Caroline awoke in a strange bed with a naked man draped across her. Her heart slammed into panic mode until she remembered the preceding night and the rounds of sex. Damnation. The man had an incredible body and knew how to use it…and how to use hers too.
She stretched and muscles that hadn’t been exercised in a while complained. She was sore…in such a good way.
Even though she knew last night didn’t change anything, that they were still only friends, maybe she could claim some friends-with-benefits time.
A moan from the naked man in question made her laugh.
“Don’t laugh,” he said in a gravelly voice. “I’m too old to have sex that many times in one night.”
“Please,” she said. “No wonder Elsie Belle Lambert is after you.”
He rolled over to face her. “Elsie Belle has never, and will never, be in my bed.” He burrowed his head into his pillow. “Must be my sex-god reputation.”
She couldn’t restrain her hearty laugh. “Really? I can’t believe I’ve been here for over eighteen months and nobody has ever mentioned your sex-god status.”
“Closely guarded secret.”
“I see. Well, does sleeping with a sex god get me breakfast?”
“Depends,” he said, rising up on one elbow. “What are you cooking?”
After hitting him with a pillow, she climbed from the bed. Her thighs protested. First the horseback ride and then the Travis ride. It was more activity than they’d had in years, and they were letting her know it.
Heading back to the bathroom, she washed her face and found her clothes. Travis was still in bed when she got back to the bedroom, but he was sitting up against the headboard. Flesh, tanned from days of sun, pulled taut over firm, corded muscles formed from years of riding and hard labor. The sight of his chest—all naked and muscular and totally luscious—made her mouth water.
“Feeling better?” he asked, an expression of concern on his face.
“I am. Thank you. Yesterday was what I needed.”
He patted the bed and she sat on the edge.
“I want you to stay here for a few days. Let the world go by without you.”
“I wish I could, Travis, but I feel so guilty about leaving all the work to Lydia.”
“But you’ll be leaving soon anyway, right? You’ll be leaving Lydia with the patient load then.”
His words made her flinch. He was right, but that would be different. Her contract would be up. Her commitment fulfilled.
“I wish I could stay, Travis, but—”
“No buts. If you want to stay a few days, then do. If you feel you have to go back to work, then go. But come back here at night. Henree will leave us something wonderful to eat. You won’t have to do anything at night but relax.”
She wanted to snort. Relax? Around him? Mr. Sex God?
“As a friend, I want to be there for you right now. Stay, okay?”
As a friend. The words hurt, but at least she knew where they stood. She forced a smile she didn’t feel. “Okay.”
His face lit up with a grin she was sure had always made girls do what he wanted. “Great. I’ll let Henree know I have a guest for a few days. They’ll keep your presence to themselves. I promise.”
She started
from the room and stopped. “Damn.”
“What?”
She turned. “My car. I need a phonebook. I’ll have to rent one until I hear from your car guy.”
“Maybe not.” He got up from the bed, seemingly not at all concerned that he wore nothing but his skin…which did fit him quite well. And she should know. She was a doctor who’d spent the better part of the night exploring it up close.
She glanced away. Honestly. Was he so dense he had no idea what he did to her? Just looking at that body made her mouth water.
“I’ll meet you in the kitchen,” she said and made a dash down the hall before she unzipped the zipper she’d heard him close.
The heavenly aroma of coffee scented the air as Caroline hit the kitchen door. Apparently set on a timer, her morning choice of caffeine was hot and waiting. She pulled a couple of mugs down from the cabinet and was filling them when Travis entered.
“Here,” he said, handing her a set of keys.
“What are those?”
“Keys.”
She rolled her eyes. “Yes, I got that part. To what?”
He grinned. “Look, I’ve got a car I never drive. Take it until we know about yours.”
“I don’t know, Travis.”
“Don’t argue, and don’t make more out of this than it is. Your car died. We’re friends. I’m loaning you my old car until you get yours back.” He made his way over the coffee. “No big deal.”
Friend. There was that word again. Funny how much it hurt to hear that word this morning.
Screw it. She needed wheels.
“Thanks. I’ll take care of it. What am I driving? Old truck?”
“2012 Porsche 911.”
She handed him the keys back. “Uh-Uh. No.”
He pressed the keys back into her hand. “It needs to be driven. You’d be doing me a favor. Really.”
He closed his fingers around hers. The emotional jolt had her shaking. She pulled her hand away, taking the keys with her. “Insured?”
“Of course.”
“Convertible?”
“Yes.”
“Ever want it back?”
He grinned. Her knees softened. Her toes curled. Damn. The man was dangerous.
Texas Tango: Texas Montgomery Mavericks, Book 2 Page 13