“Looks great,” he said, but she wasn’t sure if he was talking about the food, or her. Then he picked her up and set her on the bales before hoisting himself up on the other side. “Smells good, too.”
“My pasta salad’s good, but Nona’s porketta recipe is to die for.” She nodded toward the sandwich in his hands before she bit into the succulent, seasoned meat.
A second later, he echoed her groan.
“Damn, this is good.”
She nodded, and for the next few minutes, they ate their food and drank their bottled waters in companionable silence. It was nice to be away from the hustle and bustle of people at the resort and in town. Nice to spend quiet time with Lucas.
For the first time in a long time, she was excited about everything.
“Who’s manning the pizza shop? Nico?”
“No.” She shook her head. “Vera. She’s one of two managers who’ve been with the restaurant for over two decades. My dad hired her at Missy’s age.”
He finished his sandwich and nodded. “I was wondering how you and your brother were both going to be able to take time off for the party tomorrow.”
She wiped her hands on a napkin and tossed it in the bag. “We all alternate. I go in tonight at four.”
“Well, I’m glad you had time off now.” He jumped down to stand in front of her, grasping her legs to tug her closer to the edge. “Thanks for spending it with me. I know it’s tough trying to work time in around our schedules.”
Her heart raced at the feel of him through the thin material of her skirt, and the intimacy of him positioned between her legs. “So…” She ran her hands up his chest. “Are you officially on the clock right now?”
“No. I have the day off because it’s drill weekend but, it turns out, we only have drill tomorrow morning before the Christmas party.”
Nico had probably mentioned it to her, but her mind had been in the fog lately. At the moment, the fog was thick due to the warm hands slowly rubbing her legs.
“You came in on your day off to be with the horses?” Her voice came out a little breathless.
He laughed and tightened his hold. “Not exactly. I had to drop Missy off for her workshop, so I thought I’d spend the time here, with you. Thanks for bringing lunch.”
“I brought dessert, too,” she said, and deliberately rocked against him, so he caught her full meaning.
Air hissed between his teeth. “Damn, Evie.”
Then he initiated another glorious kiss, and by the time it ended, she was grateful to have the bales beneath her to keep from falling.
“Lucas?”
“Yeah?” Spurts of warm breath washed over her head.
“Do you have a condom with you?”
He groaned, “Evie,” then grasped her shoulders and drew back again. “I’d truly love to have you for dessert, but not here. I don’t want our first time to be in a stable. I want it to be memorable and perfect.”
“This is perfect. You’re a cowboy. My cowboy. What better place for our first time than right here?”
“It’s just…I want better for you.”
She cupped his face with both hands, shivering at the feel of stubble rasping her palm. “I don’t need better, Lucas. I just need you.”
Heat entered his eyes as he held her gaze. “You have me, Evie.”
“Can I have you here? Is there a security camera?”
“There’s no camera in here. Just the hall and stalls are monitored,” he replied, indecision clouding his gaze. “Maybe I can come by your place after the party tomorrow night.”
“Yes, I’d like that.” She nodded, running her finger down his chest and delicious abs that quivered under her touch. “I’d also like to have you here, too. Right now.”
“Why?” His gaze searched hers. “Why now?”
“It’s just. I’m…” Hotter than hell. And damn, she ached for the guy. She didn’t know how to answer him without sounding stupid. But she wanted to be truthful. “I’ve only been with two men before, but I’ve never…you know.”
God, now she was embarrassed, and would’ve ducked her head, but he reached out to cup her chin.
“What? Tell me, Evie? Are you a virgin?”
“No.” She shook her head, heat scalding her face. “I’ve had sex, but it…I never climaxed, and well, I’m so darn attracted to you, I don’t think that will be a problem.”
His gaze softened while a determined gleam appeared. “No, it won’t be a problem with us, Evie. Trust me. You are going to climax. Often.”
She shivered at his words, and her heart rocked against her ribs when he let go to shut the door and lock it.
“Starting right now. Come here.” He helped her down, then surprised her by settling her back against his chest. “Close your eyes, and just relax.”
Then, oh yeah, he moved her hair aside and kissed her neck. His delicious stubble scraped her skin, sending goosebumps down her aroused body. She moaned and pressed back against him.
“Like that?” he asked, pressing open mouthed kisses on her skin, while his wicked hands slid around front to cup her breasts.
She moaned again. “Yeah…”
They needed to be naked. She wanted to feel him flesh on flesh. As if knowing, he ran his hands down to her waist and slid under her sweater to stroke his way back to her breasts.
“So soft,” he breathed, nipping at her ear.
He was magic. She turned her head to tell him, but he caught her opened mouth with his and kissed her, slow and deep, brushing his thumbs across her peaked breasts trapped behind the lace of her bra. Heat pooled low in her belly and parts south.
She broke the kiss, and threw her head back against his shoulder. “Lucas.”
“Mmm…right here.” He found the front closure of her bra and unhooked it, releasing her aching breasts in to his warm palms.
Yes…that’s what she wanted.
She cupped his cupping hands, completely eaten up with desire. And when he pinched her nipples between his thumbs and forefingers then tugged, she nearly lost it.
“Damn, Evie, you’re gorgeous.”
She was close. So close. An incredible tightness built inside her, and she was lost in the sensations caused by his hands and mouth. And tongue.
A second later, he twisted her around, lifted her up, and set her back on the bales, while his mouth captured hers. She wrapped her legs around his hips, enjoying his grunt when she rocked against the hard bulge in his jeans.
Santo cielo! He felt good.
“Killing me,” he rasped after breaking the kiss.
Then he yanked off her sweater and helped her out of the bra before bending to suck a nipple into his mouth.
She gasped, arching up, gripping his head. “Lucas…I need…”
Something, but she wasn’t sure what. He apparently knew, because his wicked hands hiked up her skirt and skimmed her quivering thighs, brushing delectably close to where she ached the most.
“Lift up,” he urged, and removed her skirt, and then stared at her. “Gorgeous.” Gaze smoldering, he pulled off her boots, before hooking her thong with his fingers and tugging the lace completely off. “So gorgeous.”
He dipped down again, brushing open mouthed kisses up her thigh. His breath warmed her skin, and when he slipped a finger inside her, she cried out and clutched his shoulders.
“So wet.” He kissed a path up her belly, breasts, then neck while he continued to drive her mad with his finger.
“Lucas…” she panted, sliding her hands down to grasp his biceps. “I’m…that feels good.”
“Yeah,” he said near her ear, then bit her neck, soothing the site with his tongue. “Come for me, Evie.”
The ache in his voice matched the one he was building with his long, sure strokes. He had one hand around her back, holding her close, while the other worked in and out of her, stealing her strength, building a tightness and blazing heat inside.
“Oh, God…Lucas…don’t stop.” She rocked into him, encou
raging his movements.
“Never.” He lifted his head to stare at her. “I’ve got you. Come for me.”
His thumb brushed across her center, and she burst so suddenly, the horses stirred in the stalls, their whinnies mixing with her low, needy cry of release.
When she finally came down to mother earth, Evie found he was still watching her with a very satisfied grin on his handsome face.
“Thank you,” he said, gently brushing a strand of hair back from her temple.
“For what? I should be thanking you,” she rasped, still trying to catch her breath.
“Hell, no.” He kissed her forehead, then nose. “That was the best gift I ever had.”
She reached up to cup his face. “Me, too. But we’re not done, are we? There’s still time.”
He nodded, stepping back to yank off his shirt with one hand.
Sexiest thing ever.
“Oh, there’s time, and we are far from done.” He kissed her then, dipping his tongue into her mouth, sending more heat to stir up the simmering in her belly.
When he broke for air, he shucked the rest of his clothes, effectively knocking the breath out of her with the sight of his rippling muscles, and the light sprinkling of dark hair that crisscrossed down his taut abs to lead to his glorious erection.
He was big and thick, and her insides ached with need just looking at him.
Chapter Eight
“Damn, Lucas, you’re magnificent.”
Evie never wanted a man in her before, but damn, she wanted…needed him inside her.
Now.
Lucas rolled on a condom he’d fished from his jeans, and stepped close. “Only with you.” His hands slid down her throat to cup her breasts before he dipped to take a nipple in his mouth and suck.
An invisible pull tugged straight to her center, and when his hands dropped to her thighs, and he slipped a wicked finger inside, she moaned, completely at a loss at how close she was again to the blissful edge.
He released her nipple. “Ready?”
“Yes.” She nodded and scooted closer.
Positioning himself between her legs, he held her gaze and pushed inside with one sure thrust. Their shared cry of approval echoed around them.
He grasped her hips, his blue gaze nearly pitch black. “Damn, Evie. You feel so good. So, damn, good.”
She wanted to tell him she agreed, he felt incredible, but he’d taken her breath. She simply couldn’t form a word if her life had depended on it. So, she nodded, and ran her hands up his chest, then down his sides to grip his hips.
That’s when he began to move, and her voice returned. She moaned and called his name. He was bringing her so much pleasure. Was there such a thing as pleasure overload? Because she was there. He slid an arm around her back and pulled her closer, sliding even farther inside.
“Oh…yeah, Lucas…” she managed, between breaths, arching her back. “Don’t stop.”
“Never,” he muttered, again, gazing down at her like he was just as lost, just as found as her. “God, Evie, look at you.”
She’d rather look at him, bask in the sight of him enjoying her body, her curves. He made her feel perfect, and needed, and desired. His hair was messed where her hands had played, eyes smoldered with a heat that burned deep, sweat glistened off his face, neck, and body bunched tight with need.
Magnificent.
Empowerment rushed through her to know her curves brought him to this state.
He took her mouth in a frantic, demanding, devouring kiss that had her trembling and ready to burst again. And his tongue, santo cielo, the delectable movement matched the deep, consuming thrusts of the throbbing erection driving in and out, making her crazy.
She was close again, so very close.
And when he slid a hand between them and pressed a thumb to her center, she broke the kiss to cry out his name as an intense orgasm ripped through her body. Lucas let out the sexiest damn groan and gripped her hips as he thrust one last, single, deep thrust and followed with his own powerful release.
A few minutes later, or maybe a year, Evie opened her eyes, and the room, and their discarded clothes came back into view. And one sexy as sin cowboy.
“Hey.” He drew back slightly to trace her face with his finger. “You okay, darlin’?”
She smiled and kissed his hand. “Very. When can we do that again?”
He chuckled and returned the favor. “Not soon enough, trust me.”
She did. For some reason, she clicked with this man. Trusted this man. Felt at home with him.
“Unfortunately, it’s getting late. We need to get dressed.” His gaze was full of regret as he grabbed a handful of napkins by the remnants of lunch before he pulled out to take care of the condom, tossing it all in the bag. “I have to get Missy in five minutes.”
Missy?
Shoot. She’d forgotten about his sister. “That time went fast.” She went to scoot off the bale, but he caught her by the waist and helped her down.
“Too fast,” he said, brushing her lips with his. “Next time, we’re going to have the whole night.”
Mmm…she loved that he was already thinking about a next time. “Deal.” She kissed him again, her crazy body heating, rejoicing in the feel of his naked flesh brushing hers as he yanked her close and cupped her ass.
Several seconds later, he broke the kiss and stepped back “Damn, you’re much too intoxicating for my control.”
The erection jutting out between them confirmed his claim. Her insides quivered with a burst of heat.
“Ditto.” Turning her back on him, she bent to retrieve her clothes, and smiled at his intake of breath.
“You’re killing me,” he muttered.
Once she got her heart beats to settle down, she quickly donned her clothes, slipped back into her boots, then tugged the blanket off the bales. Yeah, this was a great place for a picnic.
“What’s the grin for?” Lucas smiled as he pulled on his boots.
“You,” she said, then shook out the blanket before folding it into a square.
He stepped close and lifted his hand to pull a piece of hay from her hair. “I think you should probably leave that here.”
She nodded. “Are there any more? When we had a good rhythm going, my head was brushing that back bale.”
Concern canceled the amusement in his eyes, and he lifted a hand to palm the back of her head. “Are you okay?”
“Yes. I’m great.”
Better than great. She’d never been so great. And that scared Evie.
Because this was the perfect time for something to go wrong.
Lucas walked into his house with Missy later that day, feeling lighter than he had in years. Being with Evie did that to him. Made him feel good. Great.
Magnificent.
He smiled, recalling the appreciative gleam in the beauty’s eyes when she’d called him that during their incredible lunch.
“You’ve been smiling a lot today,” Missy said, closing the door, regaining his attention.
As usual, she hadn’t been too talkative on their drive home, so it was a surprise to hear her initiate this conversation.
He removed his hat and coat and hung them on hooks by the door. “It’s been a good day. How about yours?”
She shrugged. Her way of saying yes. Then she turned to head for the stairs.
“Missy, wait.”
She stopped and turned to face him.
“I realize this is short notice, but tomorrow is the annual Christmas party at the armory, and I’d like you to go with me.”
Her head cocked slightly. “Why?”
She was going to make him work for this. “Because it’s for family, and you’re my sister.”
“That’s rich. Since when?” she scoffed.
His head reeled back. “What do you mean?”
“Nothing. Forget it.” She turned toward the stairs again.
“Hold on.” He reached out to grasp her arm. “You need to enlighten me. What’s goi
ng on?”
“Why do you care about me being your sister all of a sudden?”
Jesus, she wasn’t making any sense.
“Missy, I only just found out about you a few weeks ago, and as soon as I did, I packed up and moved here.”
“Bullshit.” She yanked free and stomped into the front room.
He didn’t know what shocked him more, the fact she’d cursed for the first time in front of him, or that she’d just implied he’d known about her before last month.
Forcing himself to remain calm, he followed her, and leaned against the doorway, watching the aggravated teen pace the room like a caged animal. “Talk to me, Missy. What’s going on? What’s bugging you?”
She halted her pacing, then rounded on him, blue eyes flashing, dark hair swishing with her erratic movements. “You want to know what’s bugging me? I’ll tell you what’s bugging me. You. Lying right to my face. Telling me you didn’t know about me, when I know I sent letters and birthday cards, and Christmas cards to you.”
“What?” He stiffened, his stomach rippling as if punched.
“Quit acting like you don’t know, Lucas,” she huffed. “I was ten when dad told me about you, and excited to have an older brother. And foolish enough to think you’d care about having a little sister. For a whole year, I sent letters and waited, but you never even sent me a thank you. Nothing. After a year and a half, I stopped sending them. I’d gotten the picture. You didn’t want me.”
Christ. He raked a hand through his hair and blew out a breath. “I never received any letters, Missy. Jesus, you think I wouldn’t respond after receiving something like that? I was alone. I had no one. It would’ve been…” He paused, clenching his fists and jaw tight to rein it in.
She frowned at him, and he frowned back.
“You really sent me letters?”
She blinked, then slowly nodded. “Yes. And cards.”
“You know my birthday?”
“July fifth.”
Shit. She was right. Which meant his dad had actually remembered his birthday. Lucas didn’t know what was more of a shock, that, or the fact his father had told Missy about him.
“Dad said you were too stubborn to come out on the fourth. That you didn’t want to share your day with the nation.”
Champagne and Cowboys Page 7