by Cathryn Fox
“Jesus,” he moaned.
She began rocking, moving against him. He gripped her hips and held her tight, unable to get enough of her as they joined together in a new and beautiful way.
His heart squeezed, and he closed his eyes in distress, his breathing changing, as she met and welcomed each and every push. He bit back a growl, knowing he wasn’t going to last long. She continued to move against him, and he dug his fingers into her hips, following the motion of her beautiful body.
When she began to tremble, he reached around her and stroked her clit. Once, twice, and then he felt a shudder move through her. Their moans of pleasure mingled, and blood flowed hot and heavy in his veins when she let go. As she gave herself over to him completely, the world around him seemed to disappear.
He drove deep and stilled, his own orgasm hitting so fast and hard it was all he could do to drag in air. Blinding pleasure swamped him, and he stayed deep inside her until he depleted himself completely.
He fell over her back, his cock still buried inside her as they both worked to get their breathing under control. After a moment, he eased out of her and rolled and cleaned them both off with some wipes he’d brought. Then he drew her close, every feeling he had for her so close to the surface.
“Are you okay, baby?”
She snuggled closer, tucking her head into the curve of his neck. “I’m fine. That was…I mean. Wow.”
“Yeah, ‘wow’ pretty much sums it up.” He tucked her in tighter and glanced at the girl he’d spent half his life in love with.
She smiled, a bevy of emotions in her eyes as she shifted closer. She ran her hands along his chest, and there was a peculiar hitch in her voice when she murmured, “I could really get used to this.”
Mac’s heart pounded in his chest, the uncertainly in her voice triggering alarm bells. Sure, they’d been having fun. This hedonistic week was about letting go and exploring each other. But when it was over, what if she no longer wanted him in her life? What if, to her, this sexual adventure was simply that…a sexual adventure?
That wouldn’t do. That wouldn’t do at all. He hadn’t lied. She was his. They hadn’t been together long, but she’d already wrapped herself around his heart.
Chapter Nine
For the next three days, Jess spent every waking hour with Mac, and every sleeping hour, too. He loved how she’d finally opened up to him, even telling him about her failing business. Mac wanted to help her revive her yoga studio the same way he helped everyone he cared about, but he knew she wasn’t asking for a handout from his company—which made him want to help her all the more.
Sitting in his room, he dialed his assistant and thought about all the things they’d done, from hiking, karaoke, and swimming, to making love every chance they had. Soon enough she’d be boarding a plane, and he hoped she was willing to give him a chance when they returned to the real world, hoped that she believed in him, believed that he was a one-woman kind of guy who was serious about playing for keeps. As he thought of the alternative, his heart tightened, because now that he had a taste of life with her in it, he couldn’t imagine his future without her.
He stole a glance at his watch. Damn, he was running late. He was supposed to meet Jess in her room after he finished up with his ranch chores—but he had one very important matter to take care of before he took her in his arms again.
After another glorious night with Mac, Jess stretched out on the mattress. Despite her best efforts, she couldn’t fight her growing attraction to him. Even though this was supposed to be a brief affair where her emotions weren’t involved, she genuinely liked everything about him, and she found herself opening up to him on all levels.
As she stirred awake, another thought hit. It was true that Mac had grown up, changed since their youth, which made her wonder if he really was interested in playing for keeps. But could he be the kind of guy who learned to unplug, like he said, or like her father, would he promise things and not deliver?
She reached for the man who’d come to mean so much to her. When her hand found air, she rolled over, only to find his side of the bed empty. Apprehension coiled in her stomach, because not only was the bed empty, the sheets were cold, a clear sign that he’d been gone for a long time.
Grabbing a sheet to cover herself, she climbed from the bed and checked the bathroom only to find that vacant, too. Wondering where he’d gone off to, she walked to her window. With the morning sun cresting the horizon, she pulled open her curtains, and her heart lodged somewhere in her throat when she caught a shirtless Mac coming out of the barn.
She narrowed her eyes, trying to figure out who was coming out behind him, but when she spotted Blake, also shirtless, a knot formed in her stomach. Were they both out there entertaining some woman, the same way they’d entertained her? When the two women she’d become so familiar with—the same two who’d taken over after her at the karaoke machine and had jumped at the opportunity for Mac to teach them roping skills—exited the barn, Jess drew in a breath and inched away from the window. Her mind reached, searching to make sense of what was happening. She dropped onto her bed, confusion morphing to anger. Hadn’t she warned herself not to get too close to a guy who was always on the quest for the next exciting adventure? God, she never should have let herself believe they could have more. That he’d changed his ways. But the truth was, she knew from the beginning what she was getting herself into.
Jess grabbed her suitcase off the bench and tossed it on her bed, her heart aching as the sight of him with those two women reminded her what this was, and more importantly, what it wasn’t. Her initial plan had been to have sex with Mac and walk away when it was over. She stole a glance at her clock and knew she couldn’t just leave without saying good-bye. Truthfully, she should be grateful for all he’d given her, and she wanted to be the bigger person here.
But that was hard when her heart felt as if it had been ripped in two.
Suck it up. You can do this.
Before heading to the lobby to arrange for the next flight, she made her way to his room. She knocked quietly on his door and unease moved through her, worried that she wouldn’t find him alone. He swung it open and a wide smile split Mac’s somber face when he saw her. “You’re awake,” he said quietly. He kicked off his boots and came toward her, then his steps slowed, his glance moving over her face. “What’s wrong?”
“I wanted to say good-bye.”
“Good-bye?” He ran a hand through his hair. “What the hell?”
“I know our time is up, Mac.”
“Like hell it is!”
She looked at his still-bare chest. “I saw you coming from the barn with Blake and those two girls.”
He scrubbed his hand through his hair, looking at her as though she’d sprouted a second head, then his brows shot up. “Oh, shit.” He pulled her into his room and shut the door. “Jess,” he began. “You’re the only girl I want in my life.”
“But I saw…”
“What did you really see?”
“I just saw you, Blake, those girls…no shirts.”
He pressed his fingers to hers. “Eleanor foaled last night. She went early. Blake came to get me. You were sleeping so soundly I didn’t want to wake you, and I thought I’d be back before you woke up.”
Taken aback, she said, “Oh.”
“She had complications last time, so I wanted to be there with her. Sweetheart, believe me, the only one I want to give an authentic cowboy experience to is you. I wasn’t in the loft with anyone. Neither was Blake. He sat up with me all night. And our shirts, well, they got dirty.”
“But I saw those girls, and I just…”
He smiled. “I’m not saying Blake hadn’t been with them earlier in the night. I’m certain he was, but while they slept, he helped me keep watch over Eleanor.”
Feeling suddenly horrible for second-guessing this man, a man who’d done so much for her over the week, a man who was protective, sweet, genuine, and caring, and would go to great le
ngths for those he cared about, she asked, “Is she okay?”
The warmth in his smile set her heart racing. “Yeah, so is her little filly.”
“She had a girl?”
“Yeah, she’s beautiful.”
She felt her whole world shift, the sensitive side of Mac filling her heart with love. God, there really was more to this man than met the eyes. She took a moment to think back to her first day on the ranch, when he’d asked for her submission, for her to put herself in his hands. Now she knew why. He wanted to push her so he could help her open up, inside the bedroom and out. She might never have done that if she wasn’t under his guidance, his care.
Swallowing the knot punching into her throat, she whispered, “You’re a good man, Mac.”
She detected a glimmer of vulnerability in the depth of his eyes when he said quietly, “I’d do anything for those I care about.”
“I know.”
“I’m sorry I wasn’t there when you woke. I thought I’d be back in time, which is why I didn’t leave a note. I had some business to take care of.”
Just then the sound of a fax coming in caught her attention.
“Right, business first,” she said, sadness invading her gut.
Mac moved to the fax and his body tensed. He shifted so she couldn’t see what he was looking at.
“Mac?” she asked.
“Never business first, Jess.”
Confused, she asked, “What’s going on?”
“I didn’t want you to know.”
She put her hand over her stomach. “Didn’t want me to know what?”
He held a sheet of paper out for her to see. “I didn’t want you to know this, but I can’t let you think I’d put business over you.”
She shook her head, hardly able to believe she was looking at a business campaign for her studio. “I told you I didn’t…I wasn’t looking…”
“I know that. Believe me I know that, but I wanted to do this. For you. Yoga is important to you so it’s important to me, too.”
Her heart soared, amazed that he’d do this for her, but of course, she couldn’t afford such a campaign. “You know I can’t allow you to do this, right?”
“Which is why I didn’t want you to know.”
Her throat tightened, and tears pooled in her eyes. “Mac, you didn’t have to do this for me.”
“I know I didn’t have to. I want to.”
“I can’t afford it, and I’m not about to take something for free.”
He grabbed her hand, dragged her closer. “Who said anything about free?”
She caught the playful look in his eyes. “What are you suggesting?”
“There are other ways to settle a debt.”
Her insides warmed with the love she felt for this man. “You’re a very naughty boy, you know.”
He scooped her up and tossed her on the bed. “Then I guess it’s a good thing I found a very naughty girl.”
“A very good thing, indeed,” she agreed.
“And just for the record, Jess, I told you before I would always be honest with you. So when I told you I’d never put business above those I love, I meant it.”
“You…you love me?”
“Of course I love you!”
He climbed over her, holding her captive beneath him, like he was afraid she might flee. As he kissed her with tenderness and passion, she knew the boy from her past had grown into an incredible man, one she couldn’t wait to spend the rest of her life with.
“And I love you, Tyler Mackenzie.” she said, letting him know she had no desire to run away from him again, and every intention of bedding down with him today, tomorrow, and forever. “I’m pretty sure I always have.”
Epilogue
Six months later
As the plane came to a rolling stop, Jess turned to look at the man who’d stolen her heart, the man she’d recently married and just honeymooned with in Jamaica. A big smile split his handsome face as he unbuckled his seat belt and turned her way.
“Are you ready?” he asked, looking more excited than a small boy on Christmas morning.
She eyed him skeptically. “I’m not sure.” Honestly, she had no idea what he was up to, but was sure it had something to do with the words he whispered in her ear in bed last night as their honeymoon came to an end.
We’ve been fulfilling all your fantasies, now it’s time to fulfill one of mine.
He dropped a soft kiss onto her mouth, and her heart soared. God, she was so crazy in love with him that sometimes it was impossible to breathe. Life had been full of wonderful surprises with Mac, and he always kept her on her toes. Truthfully, she loved his energy as much as he loved her calmness. While they might be opposites, they complemented each other perfectly.
She looked past his shoulders to take in the skim of snow on the ranch. Her hand went to her chest. “Mac, it’s so gorgeous.” She hadn’t been back since last summer, and before they returned home to Nova Scotia, to her flourishing yoga studio thanks to Mac’s help, he said he wanted to take her to the ranch for a special surprise. Something that involved his fantasies, she assumed.
The plane door opened and she found ranch hand Blake coming on board, winter coats and boots for both of them in hand. As she thought about the way Mac had enlisted the man’s help to fulfill one of her many fantasies, her heart warmed. What warmed her even more was knowing Mac hadn’t wanted to share her. He only had because he wanted to give her everything she’d ever desired.
“Blake,” Mac said, as they exchanged handshakes. “Is everything in place?”
“All set,” Blake said, handing over the winter gear as he tossed a smile Jess’s way. “Hey Jess,” he greeted, and placed a soft kiss on her cheek. Mac cast him a warning glare and Blake laughed. He held his hands palms-up. “I know. I know. She’s all yours,” he said and Jess laughed along with him.
Grumbling and tugging Jess close to show possession, Mac helped her into her gear, pulled on his own, and ushered her off the plane. Eyes wide, she glanced around to take in the snow-dusted dude ranch. It was beautiful in the summer, but words couldn’t even begin to describe how cozy and romantic it felt in the winter.
A cool breeze moved over her face and she shivered.
Mac rubbed her arms. “Come on. Let’s get you out of the cold.”
They started toward the lodge, Blake by their side, but then Mac said, “Thanks for everything Blake. We’ll catch up with you at dinner.”
Blake nodded and disappeared inside the lodge while Mac turned her toward the mountain.
“Where are we going?”
Instead of answering, he pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and placed it over her eyes. Her pulse leaped, but she wasn’t about to protest because she trusted Mac with her body, heart, and soul.
“I told you I have a surprise for you.”
He held her tightly as he led her up the mountain, and a short while later, he stopped and whispered in her ear. “Ready?”
“I’m ready,” she said, excitement building in her.
He pulled the kerchief off and she stood at the top of the mountain, the same spot she’d said she never wanted to leave. A spot where Mac had made sweet love to her. Before her stood a quaint cottage, puffs of smoke coming from the chimney.
“Mac?” she asked.
“Six months ago you stood on that exact spot and told me you never wanted to leave here, remember?”
“I remember.”
“I built this for you. So you can come here in the summer or the winter, to the exact spot where we fell in love.”
“I think I was in love with you long before that, Mac.”
He grinned. “Yeah, me, too.”
“It’s beautiful.” She put her arms around him and gave him a long, loving kiss. “Thank you.”
“Now, about my fantasy…”
She laughed. “I knew there had to be a catch.”
He grabbed her hand, pushed the door open and scooped her up to carry her over the threshold.
Embers sparked in the hearth and the warmth of the fireplace washed over her. As she took in the sofa facing the fire, and the bedroom loft overhead, she shed her coat, her heart soaring with the love she felt for Mac.
“Here’s the catch,” he began. “No electricity. We’ve both been working so hard, and are so busy back home, we need time away. Now, when we come here, we can really unplug.”
“I love it so much.”
“That’s my fantasy, sweetheart. Having you here, all to myself, the outside world unable to get in as I put all your needs first.”
She cupped his cheeks. “You are the sweetest man in the world.”
He touched her shirt. “And you, my darlin’, are completely overdressed.”
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Acknowledgments
Huge thank you to the FOXY gals who had a piece in shaping this book. Rhonda Brant, Crystal Yawn, Danita Montes, Franci Neill, Chrissy Dryer and Debbie Watson.
About the Author
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Cathryn Fox is a wife, mom, sister, daughter, and friend. She loves dogs, sunny weather, anything chocolate (she never says no to a brownie) pizza and red wine. Cathryn has two teenagers who keep her busy and a husband who is convinced he can turn her into a mixed martial arts fan. When not writing, Cathryn can be found laughing over lunch with friends, hanging out with her kids, or watching a big action flick with her husband.
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