by Fox, Calista
* * * * *
Reese’s teeth clamped down on her lower lip to keep it from trembling.
What woman on the planet wouldn’t want to hear words as magical as Caleb’s, especially when delivered by such a gorgeous, dynamic and sensitive man? One who had more finesse, ambition and emotional depth in his pinky than Tommy had in his entire body. She’d spent eleven years with a husband who’d merely regarded her as a meal ticket because she’d had insurance money from her parents’ deaths. Had being the operative word, since he’d wasted little time spending the remainder of the settlement after she’d put a down payment on the B&B.
Caleb clearly wasn’t looking to take advantage of her in any way. In fact, she’d never experienced the sort of common ground she felt with him. As though they were both on the same page, both struggling with their own conflicts, yet still somehow open to new possibilities.
At least, she wanted to be open to new possibilities. Who had she become that she no longer believed in a genuine connection with a man? Or that she didn’t deserve a second chance at love?
Not that she wanted to get ahead of herself in the scenario. Yes, they had established an earnest bond from the get-go. Yet it was still wise to tread lightly.
At the same time… To simply close the door because he’d hinted at wanting to keep it open in case they really and truly did have potential beyond a one-night stand…? What kind of fool would that make her?
Ten kinds of one, she decided.
Despite her lingering reservations over the age difference, she stepped off the cliff with him.
“Get me out of this seatbelt,” she said, “and we’ll see what’s what.”
He worked the latch until it released. Then he came around to her side and opened her door. Reese’s stomach tightened at the prospect of following through on their unexpected interlude. But then he took her by the hand and it caused her pussy to pick up that insistent throbbing again, telling her it was time to let go of her devastation and experience passion once again.
She suspected Caleb would blow her mind in the bedroom. He’d already done it outside of those four walls, so how could he not rock her world between the sheets?
A wicked thrill chased down her spine, making her shiver.
“You’re nervous.”
“No,” she said without hesitation. “Not at all. I’m actually… I don’t know. I haven’t sorted all of this out in my mind yet.”
There was no denying her body was in desperate need of him. And vain as it was to admit, her ego could certainly use the boost—so maybe it wasn’t such a bad thing he was five years younger than her. Yet she wondered if Caleb would find her needy. In fact, now that she thought of it, she feared he might just be taking pity on her, since he knew her romantic woes. At the same time…he really seemed like a genuine man. It was difficult to doubt the merit behind his good intentions.
They rounded the side of the porch and took the steps up to the painted, white wood platform. She let them in the front door with her key and he closed it behind them. She’d left a light on in the foyer that created a soft golden glow. When he turned to face her, grinning sexily at her, her heart fluttered and she had a small epiphany.
“I like everything you’ve said so far. Which makes my earlier proposition seem tawdry.”
“I wasn’t thinking of it like that. But if you’ve changed your mind…”
“I’m withdrawing the suggestion for the evening, if that’s okay. Why don’t we have dinner here tomorrow night? I’ll cook.”
He shoved his hands into his front pockets, his smile widening. “I can’t complain about that. Do I still get to kiss you goodnight?”
“I’d be extremely disappointed if you didn’t.”
He groaned. “‘Extremely’, huh?”
“Devastated.”
His laugh filled the entryway. “Now you’re being a smartass.” He reached for her and his mouth sealed to hers.
Reese could have very easily died and gone to heaven at that moment. Every time he kissed her, actually. His tongue delved deep and tangled with hers. His arms tightened around her, their bodies pressed together. Her fingers twisted in his thick hair. Fire roared through her body.
When he eventually pulled away, he sounded as breathless as she felt. “Darlin’, that’ll lead us straight to the bedroom.”
Such a tempting thought! But he wasn’t looking for a one-night stand and she’d realized she wasn’t either. Which meant dialing down her desire a notch or two wasn’t such a bad idea so they could get a handle on what was transpiring between them.
Yet, despite her internal rationalization, she remained in his loose embrace. “Actually, I was just thinking…there’s no harm in kissing, right?” She was already addicted, what could she say?
He smirked. “Trying to test my willpower?”
“I have as much at stake.”
Unexpectedly, he scooped her up in his arms, causing a little eep to squeak out between her parted lips. But she liked how territorial, yet romantic the gesture seemed. He carried her across the hardwood floor to his suite.
Thinking of the poignant moment they reached when they passed over the threshold of his door, she said, “I can pretend to be a prude about this, but that would be false. You know my story and I believe wholeheartedly you’re telling me the truth—that you’re not a player.” She curled her fingers around the soft material at the opening of his shirt. “I didn’t think I’d want this ever again because it’s so dangerous. But you’re different.”
“Yes, I am,” he said, his gaze locked with hers. “I promise.”
A thrill chased down her spine at the notion. A flickering flame against her clit made her deliciously uncomfortable. And the tightening of her nipples added to her heightened arousal.
His mouth was on hers in the next instant. His tongue swept over hers and lightning bolts seemed to zap all of her erogenous zones. She felt the prickle of desire against her pulse points more acutely than ever before. Along with the insane urge to claw at the man holding her, shredding his shirt and stripping him bare.
Tearing her mouth from his, she stared at him as her mind reeled. Her breath was ragged as she said, “Good Lord. That was one hell of a kiss.”
“I don’t think we’re capable of sweet ones.”
Her laugh sounded strained, likely because her body was on fire. “I’m not going to live that down, am I?”
“Just motivates me to make different adjectives pop into your mind.”
“With you, that’s not a problem, I assure you.”
He placed her in the middle of the bed. Thin rays of silver streamed in through the cracks in the blinds, providing just enough light so she could see the hard set of his jaw and the heat in his eyes.
“God, I want you,” he said in a gruff voice that caused her cunt to clench again.
He hovered over her and she gripped his biceps, pulling him down to her. He settled between her parted legs and his upper body pressed lightly to hers, because he used a forearm to keep himself partially propped up.
“And here I thought I’d never feel a man’s weight on me again,” she said on a happy sigh.
He brushed strands of hair from her face. “You’re much too beautiful and fascinating to be resigned to lonesomeness.”
“Seemed inevitable.”
Staring down at her, he said, “Guess this is a case of one man’s idiocy being another man’s good fortune.”
“Don’t count your four-leaf clovers yet. I could turn out to be a real disappointment.”
“Not a chance.” His mouth covered hers. He kissed her in that slow, sexy way that lit her insides and made her hot and restless in a heartbeat.
She wound her arms around his neck and returned the kiss with equal fervor. A moan lodged in her throat.
When his mouth slid away from hers, it trailed over her jaw and down her neck. Against her skin, he whispered, “I want you in ways I’ve never given much thought to before I had you in my arms o
n the dance floor.”
The moan escaped on a sharp breath. “You say all the right things.”
He let out a low grunt. “Reese,” he murmured. “You have no idea what you do to me.”
He kissed her and his hand slipped under her sweater and tank top. His warm skin on her quivering flesh was enough to make her squirm beneath him. The intensely erotic kiss he gave her evoked more fiery sensations within her. She arched her back in her quest to get closer to him, until she was clinging to him, bowing off the bed to meld their bodies together.
He finally gave up on the careful hovering and pressed her against the mattress, covering her with his hunky frame. She’d never been so overwhelmed with passion and relief, finding precisely what she’d been in need of for so long.
Him.
No ordinary man could bring her passion back to life. He engaged her on so many levels. Tugged at her heartstrings with his generous professional cause. Captivated her with his casual, personable nature. Excited her with his playful winks, scorching kisses and confident touches.
She wove her fingers through his thick hair as he drew her into another searing lip-lock. The hand under her sweater eased upward to palm her breast. He gave it a gentle squeeze that jolted her. The throbbing deep in her pussy became insistent and demanding.
His thumb swept over her nipple, the lacy cup of her bra adding a hint of friction that accompanied the warmth of his touch. A powerful craving gripped her. She raised her hips and rubbed her mound against his erection. His hand shifted from her breast to her ass. He cupped a cheek and pressed her more firmly against his cock. The denim covering them was barely noticeable. She felt his heat and his rigid shaft against the sensitive apex of her legs.
Finally breaking their kiss and releasing her, he unbuttoned her sweater and she wiggled out of it. He pulled the tank top over her head and tossed it aside. Wanting to feel his muscles and skin against hers, she deftly worked the buttons on his shirt and discarded the material. Her hands moved over his wide chest, then down the rigid grooves of his abdomen. He was magnificently built. And she wanted him.
So much for just kissing.
“You are quite the sight to behold,” she told him.
His head dipped and his tongue flicked over her hard nipple, dampening the lace and teasing the taut peak tighter.
Lust and exhilaration coursed through her, deeply intensified when he whisked away the cup of her bra and tucked it under her breast, exposing her flesh. His lips closed around her puckered nipple and he sucked softly, then tongued aggressively.
“Caleb.” She writhed beneath him.
His head lifted and he kissed her. His hand moved to her other breast and he toyed with the nipple, rolling and pinching it with the kind of finesse he seemed to apply to everything else in his life.
She responded innately, loving the feeling of his hands on her body. And his mouth on hers.
When they came up for air, he rolled onto his back, taking her with him. She straddled his lap. He pushed away her shoulder-length tresses, sweeping them from her face. He sat up and wrapped his arms around her waist.
“You do more than turn me on,” he said. “You turn me inside out.”
Trailing her fingers over his temple and across his cheek, she told him, “I’m totally hot for you.”
“Good to hear.” He kissed her again. Then he unhooked her bra. After he slid the straps down her arms, he said, “You really are gorgeous. And so easy to be with.”
A tinge of embarrassment crept up on her. “Even with all my inner turmoil? And let’s not forget the age difference.”
“It’s just a number, sweetheart. I’ve struggled my whole life with being too mature for the age listed on my birth certificate. It’s frustrating. Don’t think twice about it.”
She brushed a lock of dark brown hair from his forehead. “You really are a gem.”
“I just want to be me, Reese. Not someone’s idea of who I’m supposed to be.”
With a slight shake of her head, she said, “I can’t imagine anyone wanting to change you.”
His laugh was a hollow one. His brow furrowed and she instantly smoothed her thumb over the crease above his nose.
He stared deep into her eyes and told her, “I swear I’ve never met another woman like you.”
“One woman’s idiocy and all that…” She loosely quoted his earlier sentiment.
“Yeah.” He grinned at her, every sign of dismay that had come with his previous comments about people wanting to change him vanishing. “God, you are such a treat.”
Words couldn’t describe how wonderful it felt to finally be appreciated. Cherished, even. Whoever screwed him over deserved a swift kick in the butt.
Reese kissed him, wanting to convey not only how grateful she was to have met a stand-up guy, but how willing she was to be a stand-up girl for him. She’d more than changed her mind about her one-night proposition. Admittedly, it felt as though there was something significant enough between them—from the onset of their meeting—to give this budding romance a chance.
He massaged her breasts, amping up her excitement. He fell back against the pile of pillows, bringing her with him. Sliding his hands around to her backside, he held her in an embrace that kept her pressed tightly to him.
“I want to make you come again and again,” he told her.
She sighed. “How lucky am I?”
His bare skin against hers felt heavenly. Finally, she was drowning in the sexual bliss that had eluded her for so long.
She whispered in the dark, “I’d given up. I really and truly had given up on ever feeling like thi—”
A harsh rap on the door made her jerk upright. Caleb’s arms fell away. Her head whipped in the direction of the private entrance as an ominous sensation slithered down her spine.
Climbing off the hunky cowboy, she grabbed her sweater and slipped into it, pulling it tight around her body.
Caleb said, “Don’t answer it. Let me.” He swung his long legs over the edge of the bed.
“No worries.” She held a hand up to stop him. “Could just be a neighbor checking on me. I haven’t had a guest in a while.” Though the prickle at the nape of her neck told her otherwise.
She pulled open the door and her stomach dropped to her knees.
“Tommy.”
Chapter Four
Panic mixed with her tension as Reese stared at her ex-husband, a pissed-off expression on his face. She stepped outside and closed the door behind her.
“I’ve been ringing the bell out front for five minutes. What the fuck?” he demanded. Reese caught the hint of alcohol on his breath and cringed inwardly.
“What do you want?”
“I need to talk to you.” He glanced past her shoulder and then speared her with a hard look. “What the hell’s going on in there?”
“Nothing. Go away. You don’t live here anymore.”
“Reese, baby.” His dark eyes pleaded with her. “I need a place to crash.”
“You’re supposed to be with Amy in Corpus Christi.” Her teeth ground together. “If you fucked that up and have come back here to grovel, sell your story walking. I’m not buying.”
The door behind her opened and Reese rolled her eyes. Jesus, of all things… She hardly needed Caleb to witness this exchange.
“Who are you?” Tommy asked in the sort of tone that suggested he had the right to know. He didn’t.
“None of your business,” she said. “Now leave my guest alone and stay away from this door and the front one, or I’ll call Deputy Bain to personally escort you off my property.”
“Your property?” One of his black brows lifted.
“You heard me correctly. And you read the divorce papers. If you’d like me to add a restraining order to the stack, I’ll happily file one first thing Monday morning.”
“Whoa, babe, come on.” He held his hands up as though in surrender. “Let’s not get testy. I just need someplace to spend the night.”
Of
all the nerve!
Reese’s anger kicked into high gear. “Amy dumped you, did she? Too bad, you deserved each other.”
“Just let me take one of the spare bedrooms.”
“Not a chance in hell,” she said in a slow, measured tone. “Off my property. Now.”
“You know, Reese,” he told her as he crossed his arms over his chest, clearly agitated anew. “People are already talking about you. And you.” He jerked his chin up, indicating Caleb.
Her heart sank. “There’s nothing for them to talk about, Tommy.”
“Really?” His gaze slid over her likely disheveled appearance as she shivered from the cold air and the more frigid look he gave her. “’Cause I can see there’s something going on here. And I gotta say, babe, you screwing a paying guest… That just makes you a whore, doesn’t it?”
Fury rose within her. With one hand holding her sweater together, she raised the other and slapped him. Hard. Unfortunately he recovered quickly and grabbed her wrist, nearly crushing it in his death grip. She let out a small cry of agony.
“Let her go.” Caleb swooped in, his fingertips digging into Tommy’s forearm. Apparently so deep, she felt her ex’s hand shake before he released her. “And don’t ever touch her again.”
“You’d be wise to stay out of this,” Tommy said.
Caleb didn’t back down. He stood a good three inches taller than Reese’s ex and was much broader and stronger from head to toe. “You’re clearly not welcomed here. And I’m not going anywhere, so I suggest you do as the lady asked and get the hell off her property.”
Tommy narrowed his eyes on Caleb, who’d thankfully put his shirt on before coming outside. Caleb didn’t budge. He didn’t even flinch.
Reese said, “Do it, Tommy. You don’t want the sheriff and his deputies breathing down your neck any more than you want the trouble you’re about to invite into your life.”