by Sara Orwig
“You’ll live on the ranch, go out with local ladies, marry one and settle for ranch life forever,” she said, unable to resist combing stray locks of brown hair off his forehead simply because she wanted to touch him.
Gabe leaned close and picked her up, swiftly lifting her to place her in his lap. “Maddie, I want you in my future.”
Her protest died when she looked into Gabe’s eyes. They conveyed his desire. Her mouth opened, but words failed her. Then he covered her mouth with his.
Her heart thudded. Winding her arms around his neck, she kissed him while she tossed aside worries. She would take this night with Gabe. She would pour out her love. One night with the man she had always loved.
One night before she finally told him the truth.
Six
Maddie’s heart pounded while she kissed Gabe passionately. Just tonight, she had told herself while dancing. Only once to show him how much she loved him, to rediscover and store up a memory that she could hold forever.
It had only been since she’d returned to Texas that she had faced the fact that she didn’t think she could ever love anyone except Gabe. In the six years she’d been away from him, she hadn’t realized that she still loved him. She had always reassured herself she was over him, her memories had faded and she didn’t care. During that time, no other man had ever really appealed to her. With his first kiss, six long years of trying to forget Gabe crumbled into nonexistence. She had to face the truth.
He was the sole love of her life.
Tomorrow, she would tell him about his child. Gabe took family seriously. He was close to Jake and had been close to his sister, Brittany. He was close to his parents. When he learned he had a daughter born five years ago, he might not forgive her for keeping Rebecca’s birth a secret.
No matter her good intentions, fathers had rights, and she had violated Gabe’s. He might not understand why she’d done it. Gabe had an old-fashioned streak in him and it showed up in all aspects of his life. There was a chance he would be angry, bitter and unforgiving about Rebecca.
Tonight was the time to make love with him, if ever. To love and be loved again by the one man who truly owned her heart.
She kissed him passionately, wanting this night to be the most memorable of all.
Gabe cradled her against his shoulder while his kisses scalded her and made her want more.
“We’re outside. This balcony is public.”
“Not really,” he said, lifting her easily as he stood. “But we’ll go inside,” he said, and returned to kissing her. She paid no attention to where he carried her until he set her on her feet near a bed.
He never stopped kissing her, only now his hands were free. He caressed her. His hands roamed over her, down her back and over her bottom, his other hand on her hip, moving lower to her thigh.
He found the zipper to her dress and pulled it down enough to slip the top off. It fell to her waist, and she slipped her arms out of it while they continued to kiss.
Gabe’s kisses set her ablaze. How much she loved him!
He held her away from him so he could look at her. As soon as he flipped free the catch to the wisp of a bra she wore, he cupped her breasts with his hands, his thumbs drawing lazy circles on her nipples. “You are beautiful, Maddie. So beautiful. More than you used to be.” He pushed away the dress, letting it fall to the floor with a whisper of cool air on her ankles.
Holding his arms, she closed her eyes while sensations rocked her. She opened her eyes to finish unbuttoning his shirt and tug it out of his pants. In seconds, she pushed it away, letting it fall unheeded to the floor.
Holding his narrow waist, she ran one hand over his bare, muscled chest, tangling her fingers in his chest hair. She moaned with pleasure from his caresses and kisses.
“You’re gorgeous,” he whispered thickly. He leaned down to kiss her, taking one breast in his mouth, his tongue circling where his thumb had been. “Maddie, how I’ve dreamed about this. How I’ve wanted you! You can’t ever know how much I’ve wanted you. I want you here in my bed. In my arms. I don’t want you to leave. I want you to stay here with me.”
“That won’t happen,” she whispered, wondering if he even heard what she said to him.
“You don’t know what you do to me.” He showered kisses on her temple, down to her throat, then to her ear.
His deep breath made his chest expand. She stood in low cut, lace panties and no stockings, because of the summer weather.
He peeled down her panties, and she stepped out of them.
“You’re totally gorgeous. The most beautiful woman on earth. Maddie,” he said, longing in his expression as he enveloped her in his embrace and kissed her passionately.
She unfastened and pulled away his belt. Then her fingers went to his trousers, which soon fell around his feet. He kicked them away. She gasped for breath, taking in the sight of him. He was tall, strong, aroused. Ready for her. She ran her hands across his broad shoulders, feeling the taut muscles, relishing the hardness, the strength of him.
“You make me melt to look at you,” she whispered.
She clung to him, only his briefs between them. He was warm, hard, muscled. His body was perfection and she was on fire with wanting him to love her. She peeled away his briefs, freeing him, running her hands over his hips and along his thighs, then up again to wrap her arms around his neck.
“I’m the one on fire from looking. I’ve dreamed of this moment. Six years ago you were a beautiful girl. Now you’re a breathtaking woman, all grown up, perfection. It’s dazzling to look at you, Maddie.”
“It’s been so long,” she said.
“I told you I wanted to kiss you from head to toe,” he whispered in her ear. He picked her up, pausing to sweep back the covers before placing her on the bed. Then he knelt beside her, pushing her down gently and turning her onto her belly.
He began at her feet and left slow, hot kisses up over her calves and the backs of her thighs, taking his time, a sweet torment that increased her tension and made her want him more than ever.
Digging her fingers into the bed, she relished his touches. It was reality and not a dream. She was with Gabe. Gabe kissing her. Gabe caressing her. Gabe making her melt. She couldn’t get enough, and she couldn’t stop feeling as if it were a dream she would wake from.
Looking over her shoulder at him, she saw that his blue eyes had darkened with desire and his gaze was hot, intense. Each kiss added to the storm that swept her. She already ached for him, wanting to be one with him if only for tonight.
His hands played over her bottom as he roamed higher. His hands and hot breath were at the juncture at the back of her thighs, and she opened her legs to give him access.
When she moaned softly and attempted to roll over, he pushed her against the bed and continued kissing her back and nape. She rolled over, looking up into his eyes, which held consuming desire.
Scooping her into his arms, he kissed her. She returned his kiss while rubbing her body lightly against his. Their kisses muffled his moan.
“This is the way it should be, Maddie. You belong in my arms. Your heart belongs to me and always has.”
“Shh. Take tonight. It’s what we have,” she said, trying to avoid giving credence to what he said, words that thrilled her even when she couldn’t believe them.
He caught one hand in her hair while his other arm banded her waist. “It doesn’t have to be just tonight. It doesn’t at all, Maddie. That’s your choice.”
She pulled him close, trying to win his heart with hot kisses that he couldn’t resist.
“You’ll miss me. I’m part of your life. Just as you’re part of mine now, and forever.”
As she kissed him and ended his words, he held her tightly. She could feel his pounding heart against her own. While she ran her hands over his chest, she continued kissing him.
“I’ve missed you, badly,” she whispered, knowing she shouldn’t admit her feelings to him but unable to hold back the words. Sh
e showered kisses over his face and throat, feeling his faint beard stubble. Her hands ran across his shoulders and down his smooth, muscled back. She couldn’t get enough of him. And then, as if he had the same thought about her, he pushed her down on the bed and started again at her feet. Working his way up with a tantalizing slowness, so deliberate, he watched her while she watched him in return, trying to resist grabbing him and kissing him.
His brown hair was a tangle now, locks falling over his forehead. He still looked powerful, sexy, appealing. His hands were a torment, caressing her as he moved up her inner thighs until she opened her legs to give him access.
Then she was lost in sensation. He trailed kisses over her breasts while his hands played between her legs and she spread them wider for him.
“Gabe, I want you,” she whispered, pulling him to her.
He kissed her, silencing her words.
She sat up to kiss and caress him as he had her. She stroked him, letting her tongue run freely over him to pleasure him in every way.
She relished rediscovery. She wanted to create a night he would remember. This was transient, a shared moment that would not happen again, and she wanted it to be all it could possibly be for him, because it already was for her.
“Gabe,” she breathed, suddenly, sitting up and framing his face with her hands to kiss him deeply, passionately.
He crushed her close in his embrace, and she could feel his heart racing as hers was.
She moved astride him, fondling him. As she ran her hands over him, she committed the feel of him to memory, pouring out her love for him.
With a growl deep in his throat, he swung her onto her back and moved between her legs to begin loving her all over again, his hands and mouth giving her pleasure.
Desire built with each touch and kiss until she was gasping, on fire with need.
His breath was as ragged as hers.
“Gabe,” she whispered. “I’m not protected.”
He stepped off the bed and crossed the room to pick up his trousers and get a packet from his billfold. He removed it and returned. She climbed out of bed to meet him, wrapping her arms around him when they kissed.
Lifting her to the bed, he knelt between her legs.
She watched while he put on the condom. He came down to kiss her, keeping his weight from settling fully on her.
He entered her slowly, teasing and making her arch against him. Her hips thrust and she ran her hands on his hard bottom and muscled thighs. He slowly filled her, withdrawing and entering again. Crying out with pleasure, she thrashed beneath him.
“I want you now.” She held him tightly, her long legs locked around him. He eased into her again and then moved slowly, building the tension. When sensations rocked her, he kept iron control. Sweat beaded his shoulders and chest. She moved wildly, clinging to him.
“Gabe, now,” she whispered.
The roaring of her own pulse drowned out any other noise. She tugged at him while he drew out the loving as long as possible.
Finally, he lost control, groaning deeply when he thrust hard and fast and she moved with him. They rocked together, pleasure soaring. As they burst over a brink, he shuddered with his release and rapture enveloped her.
She gasped for breath while waves of ecstasy rocked her. “Ah, Gabe.”
“Maddie, you’re perfection,” he whispered hoarsely. Even as his thrusts slowed, she clung to him.
“I’ve wanted that since you stood on the road and told me hello,” he gasped. “Can you stay in bed with me tomorrow?”
She laughed. “That’s a question I never expected to hear. We plan a whole day in bed—”
“Most definitely,” he replied. “The whole day and tomorrow night, too. Ranch or here, I don’t care, but if here, we don’t have to dress and go out at all.”
“That’s ridiculous,” she whispered, in euphoria, refusing to think about anything except enjoying how she felt and remembering the past few minutes.
For now, she was in Gabe’s arms, one with him, in paradise. This was perfection, and she didn’t want to think beyond this moment with him.
She brushed damp locks of hair back from his forehead while he did the same for her.
“You’re beautiful. You take my breath away,” he said.
“You definitely take mine, you handsome man,” she said lightly.
He rolled on his side, taking her with him and holding her close. He smiled at her. “This is the best. This is the way it was meant to be and more. So much more.” He showered kisses on her temple, down to her ear and then on her throat. “Ah, Maddie, I can’t tell you how great it is to make love, to hold you in my arms, to have you here close to my heart.”
Wonderful words, but not the ones she had always wished he would say, although now she didn’t feel so strongly about wanting to hear them because it wouldn’t matter whether they loved each other or not. Their lifestyles were set and neither wanted to change. She could no more give up her life than Gabe could give up his precious ranch.
He raised up on an elbow. “Will you?”
She laughed as she caressed his jaw, sliding her hand down to his chest to tangle her fingers in the mat of curls. “Will I what?”
“Stay here tomorrow with me?”
She sighed. “Don’t intrude with talk about tomorrow just yet. We’ll talk in the morning.”
“Deal,” he said, smiling. “I want to make you want to come back to Texas. Your roots are here. I’m here.”
She placed her finger on his lips. “If you want me to stay tomorrow, you’ll stop right now with the arguments.”
“What arguments? I’ve spent the most fantastic— Hour? Two hours? I have no idea how much time, but it was fabulous. I want to hold you close and kiss you a little and touch you a lot.”
She laughed as he wrapped an arm around her, smiling at her with satisfaction.
“I’ll never forget this night, Maddie. It was magic.”
“I quite agree and I don’t want the world to intrude in any way.” She paused, suddenly overwhelmed by emotion. “Gabe, forgive me when I disappoint you.”
He smiled. “You won’t disappoint me and I’ll always—”
“Just remember I asked you to forgive me,” she whispered, placing her fingers on his lips and stopping his words. “We go way back, and we’ve been through a lot together.”
“True. Remember when I taught you to ride your new bicycle?”
“My dad was involved with the ranch and kept putting off teaching me.”
“You were cute and bright and did what I told you. I felt sorry for you after catching you crying when you crashed on your new bike, smashing a bed of your mom’s flowers. I thought you’d kill your bike before you learned to ride it.”
She smiled. “You got me out of a lot of scrapes.”
“Show me your gratitude,” he said in a husky voice.
She smiled and pulled his head down to kiss him.
They spent the night making love and it was dawn when they finally slept, wrapped in each other’s arms. Maddie stirred, opening her eyes to look at Gabe. His dark lashes were on his cheeks. He was too handsome. She took in the sight of him, feeling so full of love for him that she ached. They had no future. Worse, he might be forever unhappy with her. She suspected he would never see that she had acted to save them both.
Today, he wanted her to stay in bed with him—too tempting to pass up. This was an idyll she intended to take, knowing it wouldn’t happen again. Today, she had to confess the truth. Their worlds would turn topsy-turvy, and she couldn’t guess what would happen to their relationship. Next week she would be home, the ranch sold, the house and contents with their new owners. She would leave Texas, but now she knew it would not be forever.
She ran her fingers over Gabe’s shoulder, feeling the bulge of solid muscle, and thinking again that she loved him with all her heart.
His eyes opened, gazing into hers. He was instantly awake. “That’s the best way to wake up. You in my arms
, and your hands on me,” he said, pulling her close to kiss her. It was a sweet good-morning kiss that swiftly changed into steamy passion. They made love for the next two hours.
The room was filled with sunshine when she lay in his arms, catching her breath. “I think it is time to get out of bed. I’ll shower.”
“Stop right there. I have a much better idea.”
“I might as well give up on my plans.”
After a half hour, she was in a huge tub of hot water, in his arms, as they sponged each other and talked.
“Shortly, we will get out of here and call the restaurant next door and have breakfast delivered. And then I will carry you back to bed.”
“I would love to eat on the balcony. The view is grand and the early morning should be nice before the heat sets in.”
He chuckled. “I’ve got news for you,” he said. “It is definitely not ‘early morning.’ Also, you didn’t want to discuss it last night and I probably should go with the flow, but I have to know… Will you spend today here with me?”
“Yes, I will,” she replied.
“I’m a happy man. My wish has come true.”
“You’re easy to please.”
“I’ll show you how easy,” he whispered, caressing her. “See, your reaction is enough to give me all kinds of pleasure.”
“I can tell,” she said, aware he was becoming aroused again. “Before I lose my train of thought completely, don’t you have to be at the ranch or let someone know where you are?”
“I’ll send another text shortly. I told them yesterday that I wouldn’t be in this morning.”
She twisted around to look at him. “You knew how easy I would be, didn’t you?”
“Of course not. But I had high hopes.”
They both smiled at each other, and he leaned down to brush a kiss on her mouth.
“Maddie, this is where you belong.”
He stood, pulling her up with him. They dried each other and before they’d finished, he had pulled her into his arms to make love again.