I watched as he moved to the bed, shifting from my right to left foot as he got settled. Seeing him lying on the bed was quite a sight to take in. He’d positioned himself so that he was on his stomach, his head at the foot of the bed and his feet were touching the headboard. He had to be over six feet tall and he made my queen bed look a lot smaller than it had moments ago. Actually, the entire room felt smaller. More intimate.
A shirtless Travis was just larger. More dominating.
“Do you want a pillow?” I asked, my voice thin from arousal.
“I’m good.” His words were muffled because his head was resting on his forearms.
As I moved beside him I got my first up close and personal look at his back.
I’d been struck speechless when Travis had removed his shirt and I’d seen his bare torso and his flip side inspired the same response. His shoulders were broad and beneath his sun-kissed skin were planes of muscle that tapered down, narrowing at his waist. He was the epitome of alpha beauty.
After positioning myself beside him, I took a deep breath and got to work. As much as I wanted to allow myself to luxuriate in the silky smoothness of his heated skin or the way his muscles jumped and melted beneath my touch, I somehow managed to focus on the task at hand.
I barely let myself think about what it would be like to touch him in a less clinical way. It wasn’t easy, but I managed.
Chapter 10
Travis
“It was better than a poke in the eye with a stick.”
~ Walker Briggs
“So, how long were you and Tad together?” I was doing anything and everything I could not to think about how good Mia’s hands felt on me and I’d always found that bringing up an ex was an instant mood killer. And my mood needed to be murdered if I had any shot of getting through this without embarrassing myself.
Thankfully I was lying on my stomach, so any evidence of how I was affected wasn’t visible. But damn, I was having a hard time—literally. A few moans had slipped out and there wasn’t anything I could do about that. She really did have magic hands. Her touch was as healing as it was erotic. At least that’s how my brain was processing it.
“Three years.”
“Oh.” If I had bet an over/under I would have said six months to a year at the most.
“Does that surprise you?” Her fingers dug into the base of my spine, hitting a particularly sensitive area and I closed my eyes as another moan tried to escape.
“Yeah, it does.” My voice was thick and gravelly.
“Yeah.” She sighed, “Because he’s out of my league.”
I laughed, assuming she was kidding.
After a few moments she continued and I realized that she was serious. “To tell you the truth, I’m not even sure what he saw in me.”
Her words had me flipping on my back and sitting up with ninja-speed. This conversation just took an unexpected detour and I needed to address this face to face. If I was looking into her eyes there was nowhere to hide.
She jumped back slightly.
“Are you serious?” I asked.
The light that sat on the nightstand reflected in her baby blue eyes as they searched mine. “About what?”
“About you not knowing what Tad saw in you?”
“Yeah,” she said matter-of-factly.
“You don’t really think that Tad is out of your league, do you?”
“No,” she laughed. “I don’t think he’s ‘out of my league’ I just meant…” She shook her head as she tried to explain, “I just thought people might, that you might…wonder why he was with me because, you know, he’s wealthy, he’s successful and you met Alexandria, who was literally a supermodel.” She let out another laugh as she motioned to herself exhibit A, “and I am clearly not any of those things.”
I needed to clear up this misunderstanding ASAP.
“I couldn’t believe you were with him that long, yes. But not because he’s out of your league. The exact opposite. From what I can see, the most Tad has going for him is that he’s a good-looking guy. Other than that, he seems like a self-involved asshole. And Alexandria’s hot, yes, but just like Tad, I think that’s the extent of what she has to offer. She’s obnoxiously obsessed with a career that no one gives a shit about but her and maybe Tad. And she’s not the sharpest tool in the shed. If you look up trophy wife in the dictionary, there’s a picture of her.”
“She’s not that bad, if you get to know her, she’s actually sweet.” Mia defended her ex’s new, pregnant fiancée. It was obvious to me that she wasn’t hearing me.
She actually believed that people thought she wasn’t good enough for Tad. It broke my heart seeing her misplaced vulnerability.
Reaching out, I wrapped my hands around hers and tugged her towards me. I waited until her eyes met mine before confessing, “Mia, the reason I was surprised was because I didn’t think there was any way that you’d stay with that ass-clown for more than a few months unless he brainwashed you. Which, if you think anyone in their right mind would meet the two of you and think he is the one that was out of your league, then maybe he did.”
A smile appeared on her pretty lips, but I could see that she still wasn’t completely convinced.
I wished she could see herself like I saw her, but since that wasn’t possible, I figured that I would tell her how I saw her. “Mia I may have only met you a couple of days ago but I already know that you’re smart, empathetic, generous and caring. You’re funny and passionate about your work. You have a heart as big as Texas and you are the prettiest girl in any room.”
She pulled her hands out of my grasp. “You don’t have to say that, but thanks.”
“I know I don’t have to say that. I don’t have to say anything.” Frustration propelled me and I stood. She took a small step back, her mouth falling open in a silent gasp. Lifting my hand, I brushed my knuckles along her jaw because I needed to touch her. “But I am saying it, because it’s the truth. When you walked into the reception hall, my whole world stopped. I wasn’t lying when I said that from the moment I laid eyes on you no one else existed. You aren’t just beautiful, you’re breathtaking. You’re stunning. You’re the kind of girl that drives men crazy.”
Her eyes softened as she tilted her head so that her cheek was pressing against my hand with her lips still parted and a flush on her cheeks. Every part of me wanted to wrap my arms around Mia and kiss her, but I held back even though she was showing every physical indication that that’s what she wanted too.
My entire life, I’d relied on my instincts and they’d never failed me. But with Mia I couldn’t act on my impulses. If I moved too fast, I was scared that she would back out of our arrangement. As much as she tried to pretend what happened with her and Tad didn’t bother her, it was clear, especially after this conversation, that she’d been hurt. I needed to take things slow if I had a shot of convincing her that she could trust me. That what we had was real. But, if I stayed in this room, I didn’t trust myself not to cross a line that might make it impossible for her to believe that. This was all about timing, and I had a feeling in this race, the tortoise would win.
“Are you busy tomorrow night?” I rasped.
“Um…” She blinked several times, then straightened so that she wasn’t leaning into my touch. I dropped my hand as she explained in an all-business tone, “Maybe. I’ll know more in the afternoon.”
I forced myself to reach around her to grab my shirt off the chair that I’d placed it on. She was standing directly in front of it and her hair brushed against the side of my face as I leaned down. It was so soft and smelled so fresh. I inhaled deeply and lingered a moment longer than was necessary. Being this close to her and not being able to touch her was killing me.
After snagging my T-shirt, I pulled it over my head and a realization struck me as I tugged it on. “That was the first time since I injured myself that I didn’t feel any pain or discomfort lifting my hand over my head.”
“Really?” Her face lit up. “That’s great.
”
“You’re title of magic fingers is well deserved.”
“Thanks.” She brushed her hair behind her ear.
The energy between us was crackling with awareness. I’d never been the boy that thought girls were gross or had cooties. I’d always liked girls. I mean, at two I was kissing flower girls. Attraction wasn’t a new feeling. But what I felt with Mia was more than just attraction. I was drawn to her. It was like she was a powerful magnet and I was made of steel. I was certainly hard as steel and that wasn’t doing me any favors in the moving slow department.
“It’s getting late.” My voice was strained and husky.
She nodded and we made our way to the door. She instructed, “Make sure you ice your shoulder when you get home.”
I nodded in agreement and as we reached the door she snapped her fingers and pivoted towards me. “Oh, I’ve been meaning to ask you how you got your injury.”
“I’m sorry, but that information is on a strictly need-to-know basis.” I juked the question and prayed that she wouldn’t call me out on it.
My prayers went unanswered. Instead of laughing it off, she crossed her arms with challenge gleaming in her eyes. “Well, as your part time physical therapist and masseuse I think I qualify as need-to-know personnel.”
I took a deep breath as I turned the knob and pulled the door open. I had figured this question would come up sooner or later. I could lie and say that I hurt it on the farm. God knew there were plenty of ways that I could’ve done it. But I’d never been a liar and I sure as hell wasn’t going to start now, not with Mia.
But, just because I wasn’t going to lie didn’t mean that I had to reveal all of the dirty details.
I stepped out of the room and turned back around hoping that she would take my answer at face value and not push for more details. “It happened in the shower.”
Her face scrunched in confusion as she tilted her head and repeated, “In the shower?”
Hoping and praying was obviously not working.
This next part was tricky. It was one thing to be honest about the general facts, but I’d been raised not to kiss and tell, and definitely not to do what we were doing and tell. “I wasn’t alone.”
“You weren’t alone…?” Realization dawned over her beautiful face. “Ohhhhh. I see.”
“Yeah,” I confirmed.
Very few people knew about my injury and other than Sabrina—who was both the lone witness and cause—no one other than Mia knew any details.
“Wow.” I couldn’t tell if she was impressed or horrified. “I’m scared to ask how—”
“Good.” I interrupted. “It’s probably best if you don’t.”
She nodded as her lips pressed together and her eyes grew large and a blush rose up her smooth cheeks.
Narrowing my eyes, I grinned with a wink. “Your imagination is running wild, huh?”
Her arms lifted, palms up and her smile split wide open. “I can’t help it.”
“Then my plan worked.”
“Your plan?” she questioned skeptically.
“Yeah, now you’ll be thinking dirty thoughts about me all night.” I teased.
“Pfft, you didn’t need to have a plan for that,” she shot back then immediately slapped her hand over her mouth.
She was so damn cute it made my chest ache.
I casually rested my arm on the doorway next to her. “So, tell me about these dirty thoughts.”
As she lowered her hand, she slowly shook her head back and forth. “I’m sorry but that information is on a strictly need-to-know basis.”
The thought of her dirty thoughts had my imagination running wild.
“What if I need to know?” The question came out in a low growl.
Mia’s eyes grew even bigger as she leaned forward and lifted her hand, resting it on my chest as she whispered, “Travis—”
That was it. My green light. I cut her off by lowering down and finally doing the one thing I’d wanted to do from the first time I saw her. I cupped her jaw in my hands framing her face as I kissed her. The contact was light at first, as I brushed back and forth, lingering at each end. Then I captured her fully as my lips fused to hers in a slow, drugging kiss. The gentle massage sent currents of desire rolling through me, each one gaining intensity. But I didn’t let my urgency rush this moment. I took my time and pulled her bottom lip between mine. It was every bit as soft and sensual as I’d imagined.
Once I’d explored both her upper and bottom lip, I ran my tongue along the seam of her mouth, coaxing her lips apart with tantalizing persuasion. At her open invitation I slid my tongue inside the warmth of her mouth. Just as our tongues touched, shooting need in me to critical levels, I heard a sound behind me.
Someone clearing their throat.
Mia broke our kiss. Unable to lose all contact with her, I rested my forehead on hers for a brief second before she moved away from me and stepped to the side, smiling brightly. “Hey.”
I knew who was standing behind me. I turned and wrapped my arm around Mia, pulling her to my side as I did. She was stiff.
“Sorry to interrupt.” Tad looked anything but sorry.
“No problem,” Mia’s voice was about two octaves higher than normal.
“I just wanted to let you know that Alexandria and I are going to go pick up the camera package tomorrow. That way I can shoot some B-roll for you before I leave. I know you didn’t get the budget for a second unit.”
“Oh, okay great. Thanks.” She smiled and nodded. “That’s amazing. Thanks.”
“I’ll let you know when we get back.” Tad didn’t even look in my direction before turning and heading back across the parking lot to his room.
“Bee roll?” I asked as we both watched his retreating back.
Mia stepped away from me, out of my arm, her voice was still high as she explained, “Tad started out as a DP…or, um director of photography…he’s going to go get the equipment early so he can shoot exteriors of buildings, the town, the country, anything we would use as establishing or transitioning shots.”
“Oh, that makes more sense than filming bees rolling.”
She chuckled, “Yeah. And he’s trying to play it off like he’s doing me some big favor, but I think he really misses being behind the camera. I think his ambition got in the way of what really makes him happy.”
“Well, that makes more sense than him being altruistic.”
“Yeah.” She grinned as her posture straightened. She looked uncertain as she said, “Hey, thanks for the… you know…kiss.”
“You don’t have to thank me. It was my pleasure.”
That kiss had taken me by surprise. I’d always maintained that you didn’t really know if you had chemistry with someone until you kissed them. There were times I’d be with a girl I wasn’t that interested in but once we locked lips I was all in, and the opposite had happened too. I’d been all about a girl and then kissed her and there was nothing there. That wasn’t the case with Mia. Kissing Mia had been like lighting a firecracker in my soul. I was on fire, burning for her even more than I had been.
“I didn’t mean for you to…I was only telling you that Tad was coming so you wouldn’t say anything that would give us away. I didn’t expect you to…you know…but thank you.”
Wait. What?
I replayed what she’d said and realized that I’d read the situation all wrong. She hadn’t been giving me the “green light.” If anything, she’d been giving me the red light of warning.
Shit.
“No problem. It’s what I’m here for.” I added with a wink before pressing a kiss to her forehead. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
As I headed to my truck, I tried to make some sense out of what happened. That kiss was real. It wasn’t because I’d known her ex was behind me. But now I wondered if the only reason she’d kissed me back was so Tad could see.
If that was the case, I wasn’t sure I’d win this race, even at a tortoise speed.
Chapt
er 11
Mia
“More confused than a goat on AstroTurf.”
~ Walker Briggs
“It was just a kiss. No big deal,” I repeated to myself for probably the hundredth time since last night as I drove down a long country road.
A kiss. That sounded so innocent. So benign. So harmless.
But what I’d felt wasn’t any of those things.
Travis had rocked my world with the most mind-blowing, earth-shaking, life-altering kiss that there had ever been in the history of mankind. He branded my soul and I had no idea how I was supposed to face the rest of my life knowing that something like that existed and I was never going to experience it again.
Drama queen much? I heard my sister’s voice in my head.
The great thing about being so close to Libby was I didn’t even need to call her and tell her what I was going through to know what she would say. She’d tell me that it was just a kiss and that I was blowing it out of proportion. And she would probably add that if it was that good, I should demand a repeat performance.
As much as I’d love to do that, I couldn’t. Travis kissed me to help me out, he’d gone the extra mile to really sell our relationship to Tad and the last thing he deserved was for me to read too much into that gesture.
Everything that I’d heard over the past two days about Travis Briggs’s love life led me to believe that girls fell at his feet and they didn’t stop there. After Travis had to leave our lunch early the other day, Tami Lynn filled us in on several “funny” stories about girls that had, in my opinion, been borderline stalkers. They left notes on his trucks. Showed up everywhere he went, from his parent’s farm, to the movies, to the bar. One girl even broke into his house and he came home to find her in his kitchen. Cooking dinner for him. Naked.
When Tami Lynn was regaling us with these tales of unrequited love, Tad had made an offhanded comment that that’s what you get when you lead people on.
Tami Lynn assured us that Travis never did that. He never promised those girls anything. They just built things up in their own heads. She said that she felt sorry for girls that got so obsessed with him. They were sweet girls, if not a little delusional. I’d left The Spoon thinking that I could never be one of those girls. That I’d never read too much into anything.
Taming Travis (Wishing Well, Texas Book 4) Page 8