by Vivian Arend
His physical body had matured into the man he’d always had the potential to become. But his words earlier had said it wasn’t only his body that had changed.
She’d faced dealing with Ben for a moment, and failed miserably. For Rafe to have come through the past years without choosing the bitter path said a lot about the strength of his convictions.
Even the way he touched her now was perfect. She’d shared things that could have upset him, but instead of taking revenge, he was being nothing but gentle. Stroking her, caressing her—pretty much petting her as if she was precious, and he wanted nothing more than to care for her.
The secrets she held buried inside moved closer to escaping. Could she trust him with all her fears and doubts? With everything she’d faced alone over the past three years?
Soon, but not this moment.
Not when he was touching her as if he craved her.
So when he stopped stroking and took a firm grip on her hips, she went willingly. Kneeling upright as he nudged her breasts through her borrowed shirt.
“Undo your buttons for me,” he ordered. “That’s it. Slowly. Let’s see you get bare one inch at a time.”
Laurel took her time slipping the buttons free, but she had no intention of making him wait too long. She had the shirt undone, the tails hanging loose as she enjoyed his gaze following her fingers, heat tracing over each newly exposed bit of skin.
When she would’ve shrugged the material from her shoulders, he told her to stop.
“Do that thing you girls all know how to do. Remember—you showed me in junior high. Leave the shirt on, but take off your bra.”
She bit her lower lip to stop from laughing, reaching into her sleeves and pulling the shoulder straps free while leaving the rest of the bra in place. “You thought this was the neatest magic trick.”
“I don’t know what impressed me more. That you could take off your bra, or that you wore one in the first place.”
Their fingers met at the back of her body under her shirt as she reached behind her. He stroked his fingertips down her spine, waiting for her to finish undoing the hooks
The bra fell to the ground.
“Oh…”
Rafe’d caught her by the hips and lifted her, bringing her to his mouth so he could lick her nipple. She expected him to tease for a while, but after that first slick motion, he closed his lips around her and sucked, tongue flicking hard as he applied enough pressure to make her squirm.
Laurel let her head fall back. The warmth of the sun shining on her bare skin sent a delicious sensation of mischief through her. They were outside where it was private, and yet not.
He only had eyes for her.
She tossed his cowboy hat on top of the basket before stroking her fingers through his hair. Rafe’s grip tightened on her butt, squeezing in rhythm with the pulses of his mouth.
He brought her down onto his lap, dragging her forward until the thick ridge of his erection was directly between her legs. He took her lips as he rubbed her over his length, heat and pressure building as he teased with his tongue and lips.
It was natural to rock with him. It was impossible not to, it felt so good, and yet nowhere near as good as the other day when they’d been skin on skin.
Laurel tugged on his shirt, but he pulled away her hands. “You keep trying to get us naked, woman.”
“I know a good thing when I see it,” she teased.
“You’re on fire,” he retorted.
“You’re not cooling me off any, just saying.” She accepted the next kiss without trying to deepen it. Soaked in the sensation of him touching her. The privilege of touching him. “I want to make you feel good.”
“You have no idea.” He’d returned to nibbling on the section of her neck under her ear that he seemed fascinated with. “You have no idea how hot you make me. Getting to be around you. Knowing I can touch you whenever I want—it doesn’t mean I have to keep pushing it harder. It’s too damn good to rush.”
Laurel let loose a sigh of pleasure mixed with frustration, and it kind of came out like a hiccupping moan.
Rafe jerked to attention. “Well, that was interesting.”
She giggled. “Shut up.”
He peered at her, laughter dancing in his eyes. “No, seriously, that was a cool noise. Let’s see if you can make it again.”
Like a signal to begin a free-for-all, they teased and touched and played for the next fifteen minutes. Rolling on the blanket as they tickled and kissed, pausing every now and then to stare at each other.
Laurel stroked the back of her hand over his cheek. “At some point I want to do more than just fool around.”
“We will,” he promised. “When the time is right.”
Huh. Yeah. The right time probably wasn’t after that weird conversation about Jeff and faith and life that she’d dragged them through not even half an hour ago. “How’d you get so perfect?” she asked.
“I had this amazing friend back in school,” he told her. “She taught me a lot about having fun.”
It was like a bell went off.
That’s what she kept forgetting. That’s what went missing whenever her brain got tangled up in the past. The idea that life was supposed to be fun kept slipping from her fingers.
“I’m so glad you’re you.” Laurel wrapped her arms around Rafe and gave him the most enormous bear hug she could. An intimate connection that wasn’t sexual, even though her shirttails hung open, her naked body pressed to his. His shirt was untucked and his hair was a mess, and the two of them ached with sexual tension, but this was—
Almost magical.
It took a while to find their feet, what with all the helping each other get dressed. Most of Rafe’s attempts seemed borderline groping instead of helping, which set her off laughing.
He strapped the picnic basket to the back of her ATV before glancing over and offering a cheeky grin. “You got plans for the rest of the day?”
She thought it over. “Not unless I want to redecorate my apartment. Which would take all of five minutes.”
“Come help me do my chores?”
She grinned at the invitation. “You’re such a slacker, Coleman. Sure, I’ll come along. But you know this means you have to be a librarian someday.”
“Deal.” He waited for her to mount up before kissing her firmly then retreating to his bike. “I’ve always wanted to fool around in the stacks,” he teased.
Hmmm. The perfect thing to daydream about as they headed farther into Angel land. Overhead, the sun was shining, and the land seemed to stretch endlessly in front of them, and they were together.
Funny how much better the day had gotten.
Chapter Fifteen
While he’d thought life would get busier now that he was back at the ranch, he’d underestimated exactly how stinking busy. Not just Gabe, but the entire Coleman clan were determined to keep him going from before sunrise to well after dark.
They’d always shared tasks, but this year it seemed everyone had more work than workers, and every day he had to make a choice. When he got a few minutes free, he could use them to move into the house with Jesse, or he could steal away and spend time with Laurel.
It was a no-brainer.
They met in the strangest places, but Rafe didn’t mind. He’d text her a warning, and if she was free, they’d meet in the middle somewhere between the field or the barn he’d been working and wherever she was at. They fit in a couple of fast food restaurants, and another picnic, this time with a lot less fancy sandwiches—peanut butter that he’d tossed together before leaving his place.
If it had been up to him, he’d probably have been living above the garage at his folks when the snow flew. Laurel, it seemed, had other plans.
Rafe: you at work?
Laurel: you done? Coming up for air?
Rafe: not done. My tractor broke. Gabe is making me take a break while they fix it. Then I get to work until midnight.
Laurel: awesome. Come to the rent
al.
He wasn’t sure where she was talking about.
Rafe: your place?
Laurel: no, yours. Your new place, with Jesse. Which is your old place, I guess.
He had no idea what she was doing, but he hopped in his truck and made the short trip, pulling into the yard to discover his cousin Trevor’s overgrown beast of a truck backed up nearly to the door.
He peeked into the truck bed surprised to recognize the half dozen or so boxes in the back.
“Hey, you made good time.” Laurel slipped out the front door and into his arms, giving him a big squeeze as she pressed a quick kiss on his lips. “Only a couple more trips, then you have to do the rest of the work, because I’m not unpacking for you.”
Rafe looked around in confusion. “Where’s Trevor?”
“I don’t know. Your cousin and Becky must be out in her truck, because I stopped by and the house was empty.”
He caught himself chuckling. “You stole Trevor’s truck?”
“Can’t steal something he keeps giving away,” she pointed out, elbowing past him with an oversized box balanced precariously in her arms.
That was true. Trevor left the keys in his truck as if he were begging someone to steal it. Borrow it—since this was his girlfriend with the goods and all.
“I’ll put in a good word for you when my cousin the RCMP officer shows up to arrest you.” He lowered the box he’d carried to the living room floor. “How’d you get this stuff here?”
She shrugged, pushing him back toward the door so they could grab the final two boxes. “I had the afternoon off, and you were busy. It didn’t seem like you were going to get to do this anytime soon, so I figured I’d help.”
Which meant she’d been over at the homestead without him. It seemed kind of stupid to be scolding her after the fact, but he really didn’t like her going there.
She must have read his face. “Hey, it was okay. I barely even saw your parents.”
Shit. “My dad didn’t say anything to you, did he?”
Tension spiraled upward as he waited for her response.
She was far too relaxed about the whole thing. In fact, she seemed determined to not answer his question. “I grabbed the boxes, and got a great leg workout in at the same time. Those stairs are brutal.”
He followed her down the hall into the master bedroom where she put the last box beside his bed.
Bed.
Which meant his furniture, as limited as it was, had also been moved. “I didn’t realize Trevor’s truck was good at lifting.”
A bright grin broke free. “You can thank Jeff for your furniture being here.”
What the hell?
She didn’t make him wait for an explanation. “While he was in town candidating, he mentioned to my dad the ‘willing hands’ list he’d come up with at college. They popped up a new bulletin board at Jeff’s suggestion. I posted a couple of days ago that I’d need help for about half an hour at some point. A couple of the youth came out. It only took twenty minutes, and I gave them movie passes as a thank-you, so they were happy.”
“You’ve had this planned for a while,” he said with a smile.
“You’ve been working like crazy. I know you’ll be happier out of the yard, so, yeah.” She shrugged. “It’s just a little thing.”
“Means a lot to me. Thanks.” He caught her under the chin and gave her a kiss.
He meant it to be short and sweet, but the instant they made contact his plans went out the window.
He’d been busy, but that didn’t mean he hadn’t thought about her almost constantly. Driving a tractor required only so much concentration. The rest of it he’d spent thinking back to touching her. The sounds she made as he caressed her skin.
How she tasted…
Addictive. That’s how she tasted. He wrapped a hand around her, palm to her lower back. He pressed their bodies together and dipped in for another sip. Teasing his tongue over her lips until she opened to him.
Any moment he could get called back to the fields, but until then he had no deadlines. Nothing dire waving at him, or clanging, or demanding his attention.
Nothing but her. And he had every intention of giving in to sweet temptation for as long as he had.
Laurel didn’t seem to mind. She crowded against him, slipping her thumbs into the belt loops at his side, her fingers draped over his butt. She held on tight as if afraid he would vanish.
Not a chance. Not going anywhere.
He tilted her head sharper so he could get at her lips, stroking their tongues together, heating them up. His cock lay trapped behind the thick material of his jeans, yet he felt the softness of her belly where he pressed against her.
Kissing was hot, but far less desperate than their previous encounters. Mostly because he knew they couldn’t take this past a certain point—not with him taking off at a moment’s notice.
It gave them the freedom to savour each other.
Laurel tightened her grip on his belt loops, using them to tug him as if to get his attention. He reluctantly broke the lock between their lips, smiling down at her, his breathing unsteady.
Her lashes fluttered for a moment. “I’m glad I can do something to make you happy. I’m pretty happy these days too.”
“Except I bet you’re jealous of my new digs,” Rafe teased. “There’s a spare room. You’re welcome to move in.”
A laugh burst free. “Don’t make offers you’re not serious about.”
Her living down the hall from him? That would be awesome, and dangerous, and…dangerous. “I didn’t say it was a smart move, but hell, you want it? It’s yours.”
She loosened her grasp so she could rearrange her hands, sliding her fingers under the edge of his waistline. Easing forward and brushing his abdomen. “I’ll take that offer into serious consideration, but right now? I have something else on my mind.”
“Want to grab a bite—?”
He sucked for air as she undid his belt and pulled it free.
“Don’t think you want me to bite.” The words came out rather breathlessly.
Her gaze dropped from his as she focused on her fingers, undoing his button, sliding his zipper down. Each click as the metal rasps released rang loudly in his ears.
“Laurel?”
“I’m happy,” Laurel said. “And I want this. You would not believe how often I catch myself…”
She lost concentration as the material opened and allowed his package more freedom. His cock strained against his cotton briefs, and he eased his jeans downward until they slipped from his hips to bunch around his ankles.
A happy sigh escaped her as she pulled his briefs down as well. His cock rejoiced the instant she set it free, snapping upward to the ready position.
Ready for anything.
He was so busy watching her face he missed the instant she planted a hand in the middle of his chest and pushed. Off balance, he fell backward onto the mattress.
“I’ve had the dirtiest daydreams about this.” Laurel looked at him as if he was on the menu and she was starving.
“About my cock?”
She crawled onto the bed. “About all of you. But yes, about your cock.”
He let her explore, folding his arms behind his head as she pushed his shirttails higher.
Laurel stroked her fingers over his abs, mesmerized. “Do me a favour. Pretend you’re going to do a sit-up. I mean, don’t pretend, just do little ones.”
Rafe did as ordered. “Don’t know what this has to do with my cock.”
She hummed happily as he curled partway up then relaxed a few times, her fingertips tickling his skin as she traced the edges of his six-pack. “Everything moves when you do that, including this.”
He swore, because the hand that had been drifting over his stomach was now decisively lower, her fingers wrapped around his rock-solid length.
“So soft,” Laurel murmured.
“Not the adjective a guy likes associ—fuck.”
She finishe
d running her tongue down his entire length, then up the other side before she answered. “It is soft, baby. And I want to rub it all over me. Hmmm…”
One tantalizing swipe of her tongue sent his muscles tightening. When she paused to spend time working the sweet spot under the head of his cock, her tongue moving in slow, never-ending circles, he moaned her name.
She laughed. “You really need to think of a pet name for me. Sitko isn’t really sexy.”
“It’s fucking sexy,” he insisted. “Put your mouth on me now, Sitko, and suck me hard.”
She shivered, moving to obey. Pumping with her hand before angling him higher and surrounding the tip with her lips. She sucked him in an inch at a time before retreating then doing it all over.
The wetter he got, the more of his length slipped into her mouth. Her grip tight around his base, her lips meeting her fist on every stroke. Rafe’s vision blurred every time she added a bit more powerful suction, or dragged her tongue just right over the sensitive spot under the head.
A soft caress passed over his sac as she cupped him, fingers brushing the area between his balls and ass, and a flash of white-hot heat set every nerve tingling.
“Damn it.”
She moved over him harder, deeper. Rafe was being dragged to the edge of the precipice where the slightest bump would send him over.
One movement went a little too far, and she gagged before pulling back, a moan rushing from her as if she was ready to explode as well.
That electrifying rush hit, but he tightened his grip on her hair. “You’re about to blow my mind. Don’t push it.”
Laurel panted as she looked at him with those icy-hot eyes. “What if I love your cock more than breathing?”
Fuck.
Rafe closed his eyes and fought for control.
The mattress bounced, and he twisted to find her lying next to him, her head by his hips. “Get up,” she ordered. “I want to try something.”
The few seconds it took to curl to standing and turn to face the bed were far too long. She’d stripped off her shirt and bra, and the sight of her naked tits nearly did him in. Perfect little mounds with erect nipples just calling his name.