She was in love with Keiffer.
No sense in denying it. But she wouldn’t say it out loud. She didn’t want to scare him away. Or make him feel suffocated. He’d surely leave and stop turning her bones to liquid. Her time with him was growing shorter. There was no room for anything but enjoyment.
Watching him fish a condom from his jeans, she bit her lip as he rolled it on. God he was gorgeous. Her insides quivered in anticipation.
“Caitlin, if you keep looking at me like that I’m going to bust.” He dragged in a breath. “And I’m not ready to do that. Not yet.”
“Well…I need you inside me so I can bust.” She smiled, heat rushing through her body at the wicked gleam entering his eyes.
Holding her gaze, he walked over to her and grinned down. “Patience, baby.”
He winked, and the endearment sent a flood of warmth through her chest. But then he began to kiss her all over, starting at her ankles, slowly making his way up her legs, lingering on her inner thighs and in between, seeming to delight in making her gasp, making her desperate for release. His rough stubble scraped her skin in delicious torture. It wasn’t exactly the same as his beard, but damn…it was great.
In what seemed like no time, he made her come again before he continued to worship her body, nipping at her hips, swirling his tongue around her belly button, licking her ribs then the underside of her breasts.
“Keiffer.” She arched, practically begging him to continue.
He did, shifting his attention to both breasts, lingering on her nipples with a thoroughness that had her panting. She shoved her hands in his hair and held on, pressing closer to him as the mounting pressure began to make her desperate for release again. Then he was kissing her collarbone, up her neck where, oh God, yeah, he nuzzled the hot spot behind her ear. She sucked in a breath and dug her fingernails into his shoulders.
“You’re so beautiful,” he murmured, dragging his lips down her jaw to kiss the corners of her mouth, before finally kissing her lips.
Slow and deep, with that mind-drugging precision of his, Keiffer took her apart, not only with his lips but his gaze. It was open and full of heat and warm emotion. Unexpected, but welcomed. She caught it all with her heart, and hoped to God he could feel her giving him exactly the same. All of her.
Caitlin held nothing back.
When they broke for air, he continued to stare at her, his gaze intently fierce and warm as he entwined their fingers near her head and slid inside her in one long, deep thrust. Twin murmurs of approval mingled in the air, bouncing of the beams above them as their bodies connected. Hearts connected.
Heaven.
Her eyes drifted shut but he bent down to nip at her chin. “Stay with me,” he urged, lowering himself on his forearms.
No…this was heaven.
Caitlin felt Keiffer’s heart beating. Felt him breathe. Somehow, she felt emotion in each slow, pulling movement of their rocking bodies. Never had she been so close, so linked, so bonded to anyone before. His lips gently brushed her eyes, her cheek, her mouth, as if she was his world.
He was certainly hers. Everything. All she’d dared to dream of. Hope for.
He lifted his head to hold her gaze, his nearly black with hunger and emotion, and as he drew nearly all the way out then pushed in to the hilt, she fought to keep her eyes open. “You feel so damn good, Caitlin.”
She wanted to hold his smoldering gaze, bask in all he revealed in his eyes, and reveal all she felt in hers, but everything began to fade as the need and hunger took over. She squeezed his hands, rocking her hips to meet his increased thrusts, their breath mingling, hard and ragged.
Nothing else mattered. Nothing. Not the world. Their past. His impending departure. None of it mattered. Only the here and now. Their bodies giving and taking, rocking as one.
“Keiffer…I…” Emotions clogged her throat.
“Right with you, Caitlin,” he whispered, dipping down to kiss her hot and wet and deep, his tongue mimicking their thrusting bodies, driving her wild.
She wrapped her legs around his hips, forcing him in deliciously deeper. He felt so good. So good her eyes filled with tears.
Releasing her mouth, he let out a low sexy sound and slid his hand beneath her bottom, grinding them together with every stroke. She quivered, already on the verge. She was so close. So deliciously close.
His slid a hand to the back of her thigh, opening her further as he upped their pace, thrusting long and hard and deep. Then his fingers were back, entwining with hers, holding her hands by her head. They touched in every way possible and the exquisite sliding friction set her off.
“Keiffer…God, Keiffer,” she moaned his name over and over again, and clenched tight around him as the orgasm ripped through her with startling intensity. Her name was a low rough groan on his lips as he came right along with her with one more hard deep thrust.
It was a long few moments before she could feel her limbs, find her brain—release the death grip she had on his hands. “Sorry.”
“What for? That was amazing.” He smiled and brushed a kiss across her damp temple. Lifting his head, he studied her. “You okay?”
“Perfect.” She squirmed happily beneath him.
“Mmm…yes, you are,” he said, before he slid out of her. As always happened when he left her, she made a helpless sound at the loss. He kissed her again. “Be right back.”
Then he vanished down the hall, and true to his word, he was returned in less than two minutes. She watched him blow out the candle, then walk over, and scoop her up before heading down the hall to his bedroom.
He set her on her feet, slid beneath the covers and held them open for her so she snuggled in close. It was early. They had the whole night ahead of them.
“Definitely better than tiramisu.” He hauled her in tight against him. “Best dessert I ever tasted.”
Smiling, she trailed her hand over his chest. Being in his arms was her favorite place in the whole world. He held her close, his cheek resting lightly on top of her head. She loved laying like this. Loved laying in his arms with her face plastered to his bare chest, listening to his steady heartbeat. She hated when he left or she had to leave. The best nights where when they woke up together.
***
Sun streaked through the blinds, casting a soft, warm glow around the room and Keiffer smiled. He awoke having had his first dreamless night’s sleep—without the help of alcohol—in the past two years. He was nearing the end of his three week takeover/watch-over role Kade handed him, and started to wonder why he hadn’t taken them up on the offer to visit sooner. He felt better. Slept better. Breathed better.
Granted, they were all mostly because of the beautiful woman snoring softly in his arms, but the bottom line was, maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to stick around when Kade returned.
Caitlin stirred, sighing softly against him, then he nearly swallowed his tongue when she stretched her generous, soft curves against him. “Mmm…you’re the best part of my morning.”
She was the best part of him. Period.
He glided his hand over the leg she tossed across his, lingering on the curve of her sweet ass, smacking it playfully before rubbing her soft cheek as she let out an exaggerated protest.
“Hey, I haven’t done anything bad…yet.”
Heat rushed through his veins at that promise—which he knew she was good for—then skimmed up over her side, so silky and smooth his heart rocked. He brush his thumb under her breast, loving the plumpness underneath, while her hand slid up his arm and her fingers started to stroke his tattoo in a light, circular motion.
“This really is beautiful.”
He stilled a moment then continued to caress her satin skin, watching her fingers trace the empty talon.
“Did he intentionally leave this side empty?”
Chapter Thirteen
Fighting the rising anxiety and tightness in his chest, Keiffer forced himself to answer. “Don’t know. It was the last one he ever drew,
so I don’t know if it was unfinished or if it was left open for the wearer to decide what to put there.”
Her cheek rubbed his chest in a nod. “I like that idea.”
So did he, but he could be wrong. Could just be that way because Greg died before completing it.
Her hand left his arm to skim across his chest, and he breathed easier, silently relieved she hadn’t pressed him for more details about his friend. Although he wanted to share things with her, he wasn’t ready to share Greg. Not yet.
Maybe never.
The light stroking of her hand in a crisscross motion regained his attention, and sent awareness skittering down his spine. She ventured south—slowly, purposefully—owning his every damn breath, until she…ah, yeah, there, baby…right there.
Now she owned him for sure. Stroking, tantalizing, teasing him with her hands, while her body rocked against his hip. Unwilling to be outdone, he let his hands play, tweaking her nipple, his body absorbing her resulting moan. Damn, he loved how responsive she was, and when he caressed her belly, then slid a finger between her legs finding her delectably wet and ready, he nearly lost it.
Swallowing a curse, he released her and extracted himself from her exquisite touch before he rolled out of bed to fish a condom out of the nightstand. He put it on, his gaze never leaving Caitlin. She was amazing. So beautiful, inside and out. He loved being with her and couldn’t stop looking at her. Touching her. Needing her. She was sweet and so giving, he could barely wrap his mind around the fact she liked being with him. Wanted him.
Needed him.
And God, if that wasn’t the most incredible damn feeling in the world.
“Keiffer, I can barely breathe when you look at me like that.” She stared up at him with her heart, and heat, and need smoldering in her eyes.
He could get lost in them. Lost in her, and that’s exactly what he wanted. What he needed. Bending over her, he slid his hands up her legs, then he spread them as he climbed on the bed. So damn hot. He positioned his tip at her center and slowly shoved inside her slick, silky warmth.
A cry of shared pleasure left her lips, and he closed his eyes, lost in the feel of her surrounding him. Hugging him. Accepting him.
God, yeah…
This is what he wanted. What he needed. Where he wanted to be. Needed to be.
Home.
She grounded him. Fulfilled him. Saved him.
“Keiffer,” she whispered, tears glistening in her eyes.
He leaned over her and gently kissed her lips. “I know.”
Then he shoved his arms underneath her and gripped her shoulders, bringing her body closer to his. “This is what I needed, Caitlin. You, me, together,” he said, sliding in and nearly all the way out. The slow, sure, pull of their bodies was all he’d ever need. Or want.
Her hands trailed down his spine, then back up while her lips brushed his. “You’ve got me, Keiffer. All of me. All of me,” she repeated, then kissed him, sweet and giving, her gaze holding his, open and full of the same strong emotions squeezing his chest.
And as he held her gaze, he increased the pace, upping their pleasure, watching her enjoy more than just his body. She enjoyed him, pleasing him, watching him enjoy her. That realization was powerful and warming. And when she burst, tightening around him, connecting with him on some incredible, new level, he followed her over, giving her everything as he emptied all he had, buried deep in the woman he loved.
When his brain cells returned and he could feel some of his bones, Keiffer waited for the panic to set in at the bomb his mind and heart saw fit to drop.
Nothing happened.
Well, damn.
He smiled against the curve of her neck where he kissed her soft skin before drawing back.
“Ah...don’t leave me.” She half smiled, half smirked, rocking her hips.
His body instantly jerked back to life. Damn.
How the hell did she do that?
He bent down to kiss her sweet lips one last time. “I’d love to stay in bed with you all day. Hell…” He thrust back. “I’d love to stay in you in bed all day, but I’m pretty sure there are some animals who’d suffer if we didn’t show our faces. And probably our sisters, who are expecting us for breakfast in twenty minutes.”
She blew out a breath and nodded. “True. I guess I can wait ‘til later.”
He laughed, a natural act he’d forgotten how to do the past few years. “I promise I’ll make it up to you.”
As a gesture of good faith, he kissed her quickly on the lips, one more one last time, then pulled out, and headed for the bathroom before the lure of her naked curves became too hard to resist. And when she joined him in the shower four minutes later, claiming to need to get ready too, he happily lent a hand—and his favorite other part—and they were only a few minutes late getting to breakfast.
Every damn day should start out like today. He couldn’t seem to wipe the grin off his face, as Kevin and Shayla were quick to comment.
“Seems like you woke up on the sunny side of the bed this morning, Keiffer.” Kevin cupped his shoulder and grinned. “That’s always the best side. Trust me.”
Caitlin’s side was the best side, but he kept that thought to himself and nodded. They suffered through a few curious glances, but the two of them had been the subject of those glances for the past three weeks. He had no trouble shrugging them off, and was pleased to see Caitlin didn’t appear to pay them any mind, either. The color rising into her cheeks was cute, though. He reached for her hand and squeezed. Her gaze met his, and her blush deepened.
So blue…
“Well, we’re heading out,” Kevin announced, helping his youngest put on her coat while Shayla attended to their other girl. “Brock, Jen, and Cody are getting the car. We promised the kids we’d take them to the aquarium during the holidays and today’s the day.”
This met with a chorus of cheers.
“Where’s your hat, Sarah? It’s too windy out there.” Shayla frowned, digging in the little girl’s pockets and coming up empty.
“No know,” the cutie replied with a lift of her hands.
“I’ll get her another,” Amelia called, racing out of the room to return a half a minute later with a replacement. “Now we can go.”
Caitlin’s smiled matched his sister’s as they sat back and watched the show. Damn, it seemed like eight hands were required to handle getting two kids ready for the outdoors. Three minutes later, the two families were loaded into a large SUV and on their way to the aquarium.
Keiffer sat back in his chair and exhaled. “Wow. I’m ready for a nap after that.”
Brandi chuckled. “They are exuberant. Sure hope I can keep up,” she exclaimed, rubbing her rounded belly.
“You’ll be a great mother,” Caitlin reassured. “You’re so organized and on top of things. And I’m positive your baby is going to be the best dressed with kickass accessories, too.”
“Not if it’s a boy,” he felt obligated to point out.
Amusement filled those baby blues. “Boys come with accessories, too, you know.”
He snickered. “We just need pockets and dirt.”
“Hah. True.” Brandi chuckled and rose to her feet. “Let me get you both some breakfast. We ate a little earlier today. And before you tell me to sit, shush. I need to move around. It’s good for my circulation.”
“I can get it.” Caitlin made to get up.
“Yeah,” he said. “You sit down.”
His sister raised a brow and snickered. “Too late. I’m pregnant, not impaired.”
A second later she slipped on something and reached wildly for the hutch to steady herself. The impact rocked the large cupboard and knocked over a picture of his family from her wedding. Keiffer shot to his feet, but was too far away to stop the metal frame from striking her on the head.
“Brandi!”
“Are you okay?”
He rushed forward with Caitlin at his side.
“Yeah.” His sister laughed.
Why was she laughing?
“Found Sarah’s hat.” She held her head with one hand and pointed to the brown hat knitted in the shape of a bear with the other.
Then the blood started. Trickling down the front of her face, dripping off her nose, and down the side of her face onto her shirt, rapidly turning it crimson.
Keiffer went cold. Ice cold. Memories of a different place. A different person he cared about.
A different head wound.
It all crashed through his mind with excessive force. He stumbled backward, vaguely aware of Caitlin rushing to his sister. His mind shut down. He couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t think. Pain shot through his chest, crippling him in a tight fist.
He was suffocating.
Pulling at his collar, Keiffer tried to blink away the flashes of blood and bristles.
Blood dripping off bristles.
Bristles in a pool of blood from where Greg’s body landed on the damn artificial Christmas tree. Blood from his buddy’s head. Always blood. It haunted. Wouldn’t leave. Wouldn’t go away.
God, would the images ever fucking go away?
“Keiffer?” Caitlin’s voice sounded muffled and far away. “Keiffer! I need you to get me a towel.”
He opened his mouth to pull in air. Nothing.
“Keiffer?”
“Help him.”
He heard Brandi that time.
Fuck… “No,” he croaked. “Help…my…sis...”
Stumbling backward as images of Greg’s bloody face continued to pummel him, he reached blindly for the table, chair, any goddamn thing to hold, but fell on all fours and sucked small spurts of air into his crushed chest. His head was pounding. His vision was black around the edges with the middle getting smaller and smaller. Through it, the damn bloody face of his buddy remained. He thought he heard Caitlin again, thought he felt her hand on his back and face, but he couldn’t be certain.
He needed something solid to ground him to the damn present.
A warm, soft, steady hand grasped his arm.
Caitlin.
“I’m here, Keiffer. Let me get you outside.”
Her Troubled Cowboy (Harland County Series Book 9) Page 13