by A. C. Wilson
“I think the house is trying to kill me, namely the stairs.” Garrett grouched as he walked into the room only to be speechless yet again. His mouth sagged in a gaping motion as he took in a very wet, very naked Rayne. She was lounging in the tub with the water up to her neck. No bubbles to obstruct his view, Garrett gazed at the beautiful peachy skin of her curvy body. Her breasts fairly floating on the surface and those pretty rose nipples begged for his attention. He swallowed hard, completely forgetting his toe and all those nagging feelings of caution.
“You’re staring, cowboy.” Rayne’s soft voice oozed sex and he responded in a primal manner. At heart he was a beast very willing to claim Rayne in the most basic way. She knew exactly what she was doing to him because she chuckled in that low, husky voice that sent shivers up his spine.
“You’re lucky my tongue isn’t hanging out too.” He almost didn’t recognize the heaviness of his own voice as he still stood rooted to the spot. That quick wit made her laugh and as she did her beautiful chest bobbed in the water. She was absolutely fascinating.
“Come on, cowboy. Help me get out of here since my ankle is killing me.” Her smoky voice gave way to the pain she really must be feeling. That made him move and he stepped forward to give her a hand out of the slippery bathtub. She reached for him and he wrapped an arm around her waist to support her.
“Careful now. You fall and we’re both likely to take a dip.” He grinned when she offered him a bit of censure with her narrowed eyes. The flash of gold edged in dark lashes warmed him. As long as he lived he knew he would never forget those eyes. They’d dance at night in his dreams and during the day, he hoped always to see pleasure in them if it was his to give.
“I thought I heard you talking to someone downstairs. Did someone get through the road?” Rayne stepped over the low edge of the bathtub onto the skimpy rug while Garrett supported her. He felt her shiver against his arm, but he wasn’t sure if it was the loss of warmth from the water or if his touch affected her that way. He hoped the latter was the cause. He tried to focus and beat his brain back into gear.
“Uh, yeah, my brother stopped by to tell me they got the road plowed and were going to bring my truck tonight.” Garrett wondered what can of worms he had opened by revealing all of that. If she thought that they were going to have company soon, Rayne would probably clam up. He didn’t know if he could fight the back slide if that happened.
“He didn’t stay?” Rayne’s careful question spoke volumes and he handed her one of the thread bare towels to dry her hair. The other he wrapped around her body himself and tucked the corner near her breast. He felt the touch like a base drum in his midsection. She stilled for a moment as she eyed him. Gauging his intentions, Rayne swiftly wrapped the towel around her hair in a turban fashion. She looked rather domestic to him at the moment and it felt so natural to be there with her.
“No, he went back to his wife. He’s going to keep my family at bay for as long as he can. I’d give that a couple of days at the most before they descend.” He winked at her before he surprised them both and swept her up into his arms to carry her downstairs. She squeaked and he chuckled. Surprises were starting to be his specialty.
~~~
Rayne felt the pressure of his chest against her side like a red hot brand. She couldn’t seem to find the breath to protest Garrett’s abrupt action of sweeping her into his arms. A part of her wanted him to put her down and the other part, a stronger part, a more dangerous part, wanted to pull him into herself. He was quickly becoming someone that she highly regarded in opinion, position, and future plans. At an early part of her life, she’d have gone anywhere Garrett Johnson asked her and she’d never thought to look the gift horse in the mouth, but now, well, now she was older.
Perhaps not wiser. A tiny voice echoed in her brain. Darn useless organ! What did you ever do for me? Or wait, that might have fit her heart too. Each time she had listened to one or the other she had never had any luck.
Had there ever been a time that both heart and mind said the same thing? No, never. Her heart thumped against her chest as Garrett walked out of the bathroom and descended down the stairs. He didn’t say anything. She wondered if he could hear her thoughts. Surely he could hear her heart beating like a scared rabbit! Her ears rang with the sound. Each careful step brought them closer to the living room and she tried to keep a small smile on her face. Her mind kept straying to the idea that she was naked underneath a very thin towel and from Garrett’s reaction when he had seen her in the tub, he still wanted her. A tightening in her core caused her to shift uncomfortably.
“Is your ankle hurting that bad?” His concerned voice brushed against her cheek and she looked up into his face. For a few moments she had totally forgotten about the dull ache that never seemed to cease. Now it came back with a bit more bang.
“It does hurt, but it’s manageable. I’ve got some Tylenol in my bag. I’ll take a couple when I get dressed.” The words tumbled out and even to her ears she sounded breathless. Suddenly she was focused on the soft lips just inches from her reach. She was sure all she’d have to do was stretch a bit and he’d cross the rest of the space to press his against hers. Rayne slipped into that dreamy state of being lost in the world of pleasure and anticipation.
“You keep looking at me like that, darlin’, and I’m not going to be able to stop myself.” His voice was so low it sounded almost like a groan in his chest. It reverberated against her side. It sent tingles throughout her body. She still couldn’t quite grasp the words she was looking for.
“Looking at you like what?” Her whispered words clouded the space between them. He lifted one side of his mouth in a slight grin. Those half-lidded brown eyes drank her in.
“Like you wonder what it would be like for me to tear away your towel and kiss every inch of your sweet body.” His spot-on words made her pulse quicken and her core to throb. Even her breasts felt heavier. There was absolutely no denying now that she wasn’t attracted to him. With just words he could set her on fire or piss her off. Now seemed to be one of those times she was going up in smoke.
“Do you wonder what it would be like?” Her question was tentative at best and her mouth suddenly went dry. Would she have swallowed a tablespoon of sand might it have felt the same way?
“I’d very much like to know.” Those chocolate depths gazed into her golden ones with every promise of pleasure a sexy South Dakota cowboy could give. The ferocity was creating an ache in places she had thought long dead.
Once upon a time you hoped they were dead. A chiding voice floated over her thoughts and she tried not to hear them. She didn’t want to understand their meaning right now. Right now she wanted Garrett to make her feel again. Surely there was more to life than just existing.
“Please, Garrett.” Her voice was so soft she didn’t know if he had heard her. He seemed almost hesitant to re-enact the minding numbing, soul stealing passion that instantly bloomed when their bodies touched. He lifted his palm to cup her chin and slid it along her jaw. With a careful pressure, he pulled the towel from her hair and watched the dark mass fall to her shoulders. Unconsciously he ran the tip of his tongue over his bottom lip and she instantly melted.
“Let me see you, Rayne, every beautiful inch.” The warmth of his breath feathered over her ear as he set her on the mattress and colorful quilt. She instinctively untucked the towel from her breast and let it fall open. She shivered as she saw the raw hunger in his eyes. They had to mirror her own for she knew exactly how he felt.
Laying back against the pillows, Rayne watched as Garrett finished unwrapping her. A deep pride took hold as he perused every visible inch of her body. The fact that he desired her and found her infinitely appealing only amped her courage to be bold. A tiny smile hugged her lips as he dipped his head to nip at her stomach. She squirmed at the playful act and then nearly came off the mattress when his fingers sought the aching flesh at her entrance.
“Oh, dear God.” It came out in a rush of relie
f at his masterful touch. He continued to kiss and nip her stomach until he reached her breasts. He paid special attention to the soft skin of the curves before taking first one nipple into his mouth and then the other. His other hand brushed softly against the moist heat of her core, but never provoked further. A furious building of anticipation blossomed just below her stomach and Rayne wasn’t sure she could stand the teasing. Just as her mind was wandering to how she should voice her need, Garrett sucked hard on her nipple and she was brought roughly back under his spell. She cried out and he soothed the bud with careful circles of his tongue.
“No thinking, Rayne. Let me do that.” Garrett’s voice was just background noise compared to the hammering of her blood in her head. She tried to read more into meaning, but she couldn’t mistake the thought melting movements of his other hand. With a grin he left her breasts and traveled in leisurely fashion to the spot that ached the most. She squirmed when he positioned himself between her thighs. She fought to understand what he was about and she momentarily wondered why he was still dressed, but the second that his breath swept over the entrance to her body, Rayne’s thoughts disintegrated.
Her heavy quick breaths halted in the next minutes as she waited as every nerve ending reached out to feel more of what Garrett would give her. Her body trembled on a cliff. Turns out she didn’t have long to wait for what he had in mind. Pushing her legs up and being careful of her ankle, Garrett licked her in the most intimate way any man could kiss a woman. Shock waves rippled through her. She sucked a hissing breath through her teeth with the intensity. It played over and over like this. His tongue stroking and teasing before his finger would enter her. She flexed her inner muscles around his finger, silently begging for him to exchange a shallow penetration for a deeper one. He groaned so loudly that she felt the hot breath against the sensitive skin of her thigh.
“Come for me, baby.” He said as he shifted first one finger in and then another. In the next second his mouth created this wonderful suction that sent her skyrocketing out into orbit. The bright light welcomed her and Rayne basked in it. There was no thinking. All that remained was feeling and she loved how she felt. Garrett stayed with her until she slowly sank back to earth. She felt the mattress shift as he moved up beside her. Rayne opened up her eyes to see the Cheshire cat himself grinning most contentedly.
Almost contentedly. She was a bit surprised he hadn’t taken his pleasure as well. She was even more surprised that she found it incredibly sexy. No one had ever done that before.
“That was unexpected.” Rayne couldn’t find the right words to say, but she felt she had to say something to fill the silence. He read what was in her eyes and chuckled.
“You didn’t know what you were missing.” He grinned at her and brushed a thick wave of hair from her forehead. Her mouth dropped at his ability to read her so well.
Too close. Too close! Her brain screamed at her and she felt her body tensing in response. The moment was going to be ruined if she didn’t learn to slam the door on her past once in a while.
“I do now.” She mimicked his grin. “Better watch out. I’ll want that all the time.” He flopped onto his back and laughed, his stomach shaking with the force. She couldn’t help but feel the humor in it.
“Any time, darlin’, any time.” His words came out as a promise on a groan. She looked down to the bulge in his Wranglers. She reached a hand out to touch, but he grabbed it and tucked it under his larger hand on his chest.
“Don’t you want…,” She started, but he squeezed her hand in response. She lifted a brow.
“I do. Lord knows I do, but I can wait.” He rolled to the other side of the mattress and got up. He skirted the edge towards the kitchen before stopping and turning to her. “How does tomato soup and grilled cheese sound?” He tucked his fingers into his pockets of his jeans and maintained eye contact with her. She could see a fleeting glimpse of uncertainty, but found it gone before she could analyze it.
“My favorite.” She smiled as he nodded and went into the kitchen.
Chapter 12
Rayne woke up to the banging of a heavy fist against the front door. Garrett was already throwing on his jeans and charging toward the early morning intruder. She blinked quickly to dispel the grogginess of sleep and she pulled the quilt up to her chin. She was stuck between scrambling to get dressed and staying where she was when a brown and cream flash bounded from the kitchen. Jumping right in the middle of the mattress, Rayne let out a surprised shout and attempted to dodge the animal. It was a dog. A very large, furry dog.
“Ruger!” The voice that yelled at the dog brought Rayne to a halt. She pushed Ruger away from her face as a happy collie licked her in greeting. Her heart started to hum wondering just how she was going to explain this one to Garrett. Pressing her lips together, she looked up at the man with blonde hair and green eyes standing in the kitchen doorway. His build was average and he was shorter by a few inches than Garrett’s six foot plus. She shook her head as she calmed Ruger and the dog lay down beside her. Garrett pushed by the stranger with a hesitantly watchful air.
“I’m sorry. Who are you?” Garrett’s voice broke the silence of the room. He looked at Rayne when the man answered.
“Perhaps you should ask Rayne. I’m just here to bring some of her things and the dog.” The blonde man grinned in what could only be determined as cheeky.
He cannot wait for me to explain this. Rayne opened her mouth, but nothing much came out. She had a feeling she looked like a fish. Her heart beat faster as Garrett’s suspicion grew.
“Well, is no one going to tell me what is going on?” Garrett fairly snapped in the living room and Rayne didn’t want him getting the wrong idea. Obviously it was going from bad to worse.
“I’m her husband.” The man touched the brim of his hat and Garrett looked like he was going to murder someone. Rayne’s trance broke and she started to get out of bed, stopping just short of dropping the quilt as she remembered she was without clothes.
“Ex-husband or have you forgotten, Royal?” Rayne snapped as she garnered a knowing grin from Royal and she shook him off to look at Garrett. Brown eyes had turned almost black with thunderclouds. “We’ve been divorced just a few months. Garrett Johnson, this is Royal Bentley and Royal, this is Garrett.” She took a deep breath wondering just what was going to happen now. The tension was too thick to last. Garrett looked Royal up and down in a not so subtle way. Royal remained the arrogant jackass he was.
“I know what I am doing here, but what are you doing here, Mr. Johnson?” Royal let the question play as his green eyes swept the other man and then over Rayne. The drumming of her heart had somehow moved to her stomach. Garrett wasn’t intimidated or ashamed of being found so early in the morning, sharing a bed with the other man’s ex-wife.
“There was a rather decent snowstorm a couple of days ago, if you hadn’t noticed. We’ve been snowed in here.” Garrett’s voice was all fire and brimstone. Rayne wondered where the cool and collected man had disappeared too.
“The road has been plowed and your truck is here. I am assuming it is your truck.” Royal wandered over to a straight backed chair and took a seat. Rayne just wished he would wait outside while she could cool Garrett down and explain the situation. Royal liked to cause waves and having been his wife for a couple of years, he was rather possessive of her.
“The black Dodge is mine, but that hardly matters. Why are you here at seven in the morning? I would think as Rayne’s ex, you aren’t needed until a more decent hour.” Garrett was simmering, but the growl still spoke expressly of his own territory. She might have been flattered at having two roosters fighting over her, but being naked didn’t make it so.
“I was concerned that she was alone.” Royal turned his gaze to Rayne and she noted the sincerity of that answer. He was concerned for her. As much of a self-serving jerk as he was, Royal still cared about her and she appreciated that concern. Still it didn’t make it right to flaunt that prior claim before a ma
n who weighed a good fifty pounds heavier than you and was about six inches taller.
“I’m fine, Royal. Thank you for the concern, but Garrett has kept me company. Perhaps you should check into a hotel in town.” She gestured towards the door. “I’ll hang onto Ruger. I find it doubtful that any hotel would welcome him.” Rayne patted Ruger’s head as he nuzzled her arm. She had gotten him as a puppy and he had always gravitated more to her than Royal.
“Perhaps I’d better get moving. I’ll call you later to see when we can meet up.” Royal got up slowly from the rickety chair and gave a look about the room. He lifted a brow pointedly at Rayne before going through the kitchen and firmly shutting the front door. This time they heard the truck start up and leave the driveway.
Rayne wished that the silence would break and she’d know just how to explain Royal’s appearance. In all honesty, she had forgotten he was even coming and she certainly wouldn’t have expected him this early. She looked up at Garrett only to find him watching her. She didn’t like seeing the anxiety in those dark depths. Taking a breath, she thought the best way to approach this was the truth, or at least, as much as she could give him.
“Garrett, please, let me explain him.” She didn’t know what she was waiting for, but he gradually nodded and came to sit on the mattress. Rayne sighed. She brushed Ruger’s fur with her palm. “I married Royal my last couple of years of college. He was working with his dad at the veterinary service in Harpersburg. We planned on taking over the clinic when his dad retired. In our work, we are very much the same, but outside of that, our personal lives suffered. We were just too different to stay married. I filed for divorce and he totally agreed that it was the right thing to do.” Rayne continued to pet Ruger, but the slow, painful beating in her heart made her only conscious of the seconds ticking by.