by Leslie Kelly
"Maybe you should."
Nicole lowered her face to his and whispered, "Tell me where it hurts."
He slowly raised his hand and pointed an index finger toward the base of his neck. She followed his hand and pressed a moist kiss on the spot. Looking up at him, she suppressed a grin as he moved his finger and pointed to a spot on his chest. She silently followed where he led, kissing him again.
"I think I saw this in a movie once," she murmured when he moved his hand to point to his left shoulder.
"Was it R-rated?" he asked in a silky tone.
She shook her head no.
"Then I guess the guy didn't point much lower than here," he said with a sultry smile as he moved his hand.
Nicole laughed out loud and kissed her way down to the X rating.
It was late in the night when they finally dressed and got into the cab of the truck. Nicole ruefully eyed her pretty dress, noting the hopeless wrinkles and stains. There was no way on earth she could get her hair swept back up on her head, with the artful curls falling from it, and she hoped Maria had long since gone to bed. She looked a complete and utter mess. Or like a woman who'd been making love in the back of a pickup truck for hours.
"I hate to leave," she said quietly as Wyatt got in and started the truck.
“Me too.”
Taking a deep breath, she added, “I think there are some things we need to talk about.”
“Yeah. I guess there are,” he said. “But not tonight, okay? Let’s just have tonight the way it was.”
She scooted close to him on the bench seat and he draped an arm across her shoulder as he drove. “Okay. I understand.”
He squeezed her shoulders. “Soon. It's been too many years, and there are some things we need to straighten out. Some things need to be explained."
She nodded, hoping that meant he finally wanted to talk about their son. At least to concede the possibility that Justin was his and take it from there.
What might this night mean for her little boy? Nicole wasn't foolish enough to think that one night's passionate lovemaking might suddenly erase ten years of loneliness and anger. But she was fully aware that deep emotions still connected her to Justin's father. And tonight, if his tenderness, his passion, his complete desire for her were any gauge, she realized the feelings had to be mutual.
CHAPTER TEN
"Did you have a nice time at the dance last night?"
Nicole took a big sip of her coffee, wincing as it scalded her tongue, and tried to avoid her father's eye. She wondered if he could tell by the dark circles under her eyes how little sleep she'd had. She'd gotten home after three, but had awakened with the rising sun. Tossing and turning in bed didn't help. All she could think about were the delicious moments of the night before.
"It was a lovely evening," she finally replied.
Her father nodded with satisfaction. Nicole was amazed at how much healthier he looked compared to when she'd first seen him in the hospital. The gaunt look was gone from his face, and his smile was as bright as ever. His hair was perhaps a mite grayer at the temples, but a lot of brown was still visible. He'd shaved his beard, and Nicole ran her palm along his cheek in a gentle caress.
"I'm sorry I ran out on you last night."
He rolled his eyes. "As if I needed another female around to browbeat me into eating more carrots."
"Maria takes good care of you, Dad."
He grinned and shrugged. "She's worse than any nurse at the hospital."
"She loves you," Nicole replied.
Her father blushed. She saw the color rise in his cheeks and he tried to stammer a reply. "No, she doesn't..."
"Yes, Dad. She does. Now what are you going to do about it? You going to keep her on as a live-in housekeeper/secretary/assistant? Or am I finally going to get that stepmother I used to tell you I wanted."
"You stopped when I took you to see the Cinderella cartoon.”
Laughing, Nicole stood from the chair next to the bed and reached behind him to fluff his pillows.
"So, what are you going to do today? The carnival starts, right?" he asked.
"I'm going to stay right here and keep you company."
Her father shook his head. "I'm glad you're here, baby. But get lost, okay? If I've got a stepmother to rope in, I'll need some privacy. Especially since I can't get out of bed."
"That might work to your advantage," Nicole replied saucily.
Her father tossed a pillow at her as she sauntered out of the room. She went downstairs, refilled her coffee cup and stepped outside to drink it on the porch. The phone rang before she took even one sip. The front door opened and Maria said, "Nicole, you have a phone call. It's Wyatt."
"Thank you, Maria," Nicole said as walked back inside. She wondered if the woman could see her blush. "Good morning," she said softly as she picked up the phone.
"Still like spinny rides? The carnival starts today. And I seem to recall that you are especially fond of Ferris Wheels. And candy apples."
She didn’t hesitate. "Sounds great."
An hour later, Wyatt pulled up outside her father’s house and watched Nicole walk down the outside steps.
"No candy apples," she said as she got in the truck. "But I would adore some funnel cake."
He studied her, taking in her shining eyes, and her brightly-colored shirt and skirt. She'd pulled her hair up into a ponytail and he gave it a gentle yank as he pulled her close to press a quick kiss on her mouth. "Funnel cakes and Ferris Wheels it is."
Wyatt had wondered if she'd be shy around him this morning. But she wasn't. She laughed, teased and flirted with him all the way to the fairgrounds. As they parked, Wyatt grabbed Nicole's hand and carefully inspected her short fingernails. "Okay. They're not loaded today."
"Jerk," she said as she jumped out of the truck.
They went on the Ferris Wheel six times. After the third ride Wyatt realized he wasn't a teenager anymore, and after the fifth, he wondered if he was really only thirty. "No more. I give up," he said as they walked down the midway.
“Wimp,” she teased. Wyatt looked down into her brightly smiling face and felt a rush of pure, innocent pleasure. He'd forgotten. He simply hadn't remembered what it was like to be with someone whose company he so enjoyed that he just had to smile or bust. Nicole reminded him.
Taking her hand, he pulled her to her feet, slid his arm around her waist and walked through the fairgrounds. They were stopped every four or five steps by friends of his, or friends of hers who exclaimed over how wonderful it was to have her back in town. Nicole seemed to enjoy every moment of it. Her laughter and smiles were infectious.
After he won her a rather ugly hula-dancing doll, Nicole looked up at him, her eyes shining with warmth. She slid her arms around his neck and pulled him down for a knee melting kiss. Nearby, someone whistled. Someone else gave a catcall.
He didn't care. All he cared about was that Nicole was in his arms, kissing him like she was declaring he was hers.
It had taken eleven years, but she’d finally come clean to the whole town about how she felt.
“Let’s get out of here,” he said once they’d ended the kiss.
“Great idea. I’m so hot, I could use a cool dip in the pool.”
“Perfect.”
They headed for the parking lot, and once inside the truck, Wyatt immediately turned toward home. Simone was working at a booth at the carnival. Brady had been away every weekend for weeks, obviously spending time with the redhead they'd met the night before. None of the ranch hands would be up at the main house, and he and Nicole would have complete privacy.
"I didn't bring a bathing suit," she protested.
"I'll lend you one of mine," he said in all seriousness.
She giggled. "Somehow, I don't think that would cover everything."
"I know," he replied, giving her a wolfish grin.
Assuring her no one else would be around, he was glad to arrive home and be proved right. The house was empty. They didn'
t see any trucks near the stables, and he assumed all the workers were in town enjoying the carnival.
He led her through the house to the backyard pool.
"You've added a hot tub," she said as they stood outside.
"Yep. You'll have to come back and try it out at night. I also added those wrought iron stairs that lead right up to my bedroom."
Nicole glanced around, then caught her bottom lip between her teeth. Wyatt could read her easily and understood her sudden shyness. It was, after all, the middle of the afternoon. Anyone could come back, though he strongly suspected they wouldn't.
"Come get wet with me," he ordered in a sultry whisper.
He didn't wait for her answer. Lifting his hands to the front of her button-up shirt, he began slipping the buttons open, one by one. The light fabric felt smooth beneath his fingers, though not as smooth as her skin, and he longed to free her of it. He pushed it off her shoulders and stared at her body under the bright rays of the sun.
She didn't protest as he reached one index finger toward the front clasp of her white lacy bra. He flicked it and it immediately came undone, falling away from her silky breasts. Nicole didn't even try to pretend shyness. She shrugged her shoulders, allowing the straps to fall free.
"The moonlight didn't do you justice," he managed to say, in spite of the sudden dryness of his mouth. He reached out one hand and slid it from the nape of her neck down across one lovely breast, pausing briefly to stroke at the rosy tip with the rough pad of his thumb. Moaning, she closed her eyes, obviously enjoying his touch.
Dying to do everything they’d done the night before all over again, Wyatt bent far enough to run his tongue down the high curve of her breast. He slid his mouth across the taut peak, hearing her emit a soft cry. Smiling, he sucked the tender skin into his mouth and lightly grazed his teeth on her pert nipple.
“Don’t stop.”
“As if.”
No way was he going to stop. He didn’t know if he would ever be able to stop.
He continued to taste her as he reached up to caress her with his other hand, plumping her breast, tweaking the nipple. She was writhing now, pressing her hips hard against his, groaning as her sex pressed against his rock-hard cock.
"I suddenly feel under-dressed," she said.
"We can't have that," he replied. Wyatt quickly stripped out of his clothes.
She ate him with her eyes, staring at him so intently he had to wonder what she was thinking.
Then she made it clear. “I can’t believe I forgot how beautiful you are.”
He didn’t shrug off the compliment, didn’t laugh. He merely replied, “Ditto.”
Sinking his hands into her hair, he kissed her again, loving the press of her pert, damp nipples against his chest hair.
When they finally broke apart, he asked, "Ready to get wet?"
"Already there."
He chuckled as he slid his palms down her waist and caught her panties. He pushed them down slowly, so slowly, knowing the brush of the fabric on her skin would heighten her anticipation. Until finally she was naked as well, wearing nothing but the afternoon sunshine and a sultry smile.
Reaching up, she scraped her fingernails—the natural ones, this time—across his chest. “You...look...like you need to cool off," she said.
Wyatt didn't know what she planned to do until she placed both palms against his chest and shoved him into the pool. He sunk beneath the surface, and came up with laughter on his lips.
“The water might be cold, but it sure as hell didn’t cool me off, Nick.”
Staring up at her, he raised one hand, beckoning for her to join him. She walked to the edge of the pool. Naked. Glorious. And dove right over his head into the deep end.
He swam after her, loving the glide of her wet body against his as she came to the surface. Taking her by the hand, he pulled her the few feet to the built-in seat in the deep end of the pool. He sat on the ledge and pulled her onto him, finding her heat in the coolness of the water. Wrapping his arms around her waist, he pulled her tightly against him. She wrapped her legs around him and he slid into her easily.
Wyatt couldn't say anything. Couldn't think anything. He could only feel. Her hips bucked hard, and her body jerked as she seemed to stroke him from deep within. He felt her tighten around him and his own reaction was overwhelming. He knew he could thrust twice and find complete satisfaction, but wouldn't until he was sure she'd be right there with him.
Sliding his hand between their bodies, he slid his fingers down her body. She hissed into his ear as he stroked her. They moved together. They thrust together. Eventually they came together. It was sheer perfection.
Wyatt woke up with Nicole in his arms. They had pulled themselves out of the pool, their bodies wrinkled and pruney and weak from their strenuous lovemaking. They'd left a trail of water through the house as they went seeking towels, and had made their way to his bedroom for a short afternoon nap.
He glanced at the clock, realizing they'd only slept for an hour, then looked down at Nicole's peaceful face. Her makeup was smeared. Her hair, which she hadn't brushed after they got out of the water, had dried in a mass of tangles and curls.
She was beyond beautiful. Wyatt suddenly felt a tightness in his throat, a weight on his chest. He slid out from under her arm and sat up on the side of the bed. Standing, he walked naked across the room and glanced out at the pool.
Just a few days before, he'd stood in this exact spot and figured that if he just got Nicole back into his bed, he'd be able to get her out of his mind. And his heart.
"Wrong," he whispered. He was falling in love with her all over again.
This was not the way it was supposed to happen. Exorcising demons was supposed to be about moving forward, not getting sucked into the past. Making the same mistakes all over again.
Wyatt glanced over his shoulder as Nicole made a noise and rolled over in her sleep. The sheet slipped down over one exquisite breast and his heart skipped a beat as he admired her.
“Stop it,” he told himself. This wasn't the way it was supposed to happen. What he needed was to get over Nicole, not love her. Loving her had practically ruined his life. So what kind of fool would he be to give her so much power over him again?
A fool who’d never gotten over her, perhaps.
He shook his head slowly, torn between walking back over to that bed and taking her into his arms or leaving the room and letting her wake up alone. If she did, she’d get the message that something had changed. It would make things easier.
But oh, God, did he love watching her sleep in his arms. It was almost as good as watching her wake up in his arms and give him that soft, sexy smile.
He didn’t know what would happen tomorrow, or what she’d do about this mystery boyfriend of hers. All he knew was that he might not ever have this chance again. So, like an addict who simply couldn’t stay away from his addiction, he went back to the bed and pulled her onto his chest.
Reality would return soon enough, whether he wanted it to or not. For now…well, for this moment, he’d take the fantasy that everything would be all right between them.
Nicole woke up warm and comfortable. She snuggled against Wyatt’s body, twining her fingers in the spiky hair on his chest, sliding her leg between his.
“Are you awake?” she murmured.
He looked down at her and smiled. But the smile looked forced, as if something was on his mind. Nicole suddenly felt ill at ease. "Is something wrong?"
He squeezed her tighter. “No. Everything’s fine.”
She swallowed hard and licked her lips. They were in a vulnerable position—about as intimate as two people could be. They were happy, they were comfortable, they both seemed to want to keep moving forward.
So maybe it was time to at least broach the subject they’d been avoiding for so long.
“Wyatt, about Justin…”
“Don’t,” he snapped, immediately pulling away from her.
She felt tears sti
ng her eyes, but was determined to see this through. “We have to talk about this…he’s going to be here next weekend and I want us to straighten this out before he gets here. We have to figure out what to say to him.”
"We?" Wyatt sneered. "I don't think so. That's your responsibility?"
"Hasn't it been my responsibility long enough?" she asked.
"I don't know, has it?" he asked, glancing at her out of the corner of his eye. He rolled to the edge of the bed and stood up. "I mean, how the hell am I supposed to know. Is this the first time you've cheated on him? How long have you been seeing him, anyway?"
Nicole sat up straight, not understanding what he was talking about. She watched as Wyatt pulled some clothes out of a drawer and began to dress. Her clothes were still outside by the pool, so she clutched the sheet tighter.
"I'm sorry,” he continued. “I know it's none of my business. Obviously you and I have both been free to live our own lives. But I can't help it, Nicole. I can't help this anger I get in the pit of my stomach when I think about this guy. I've pictured him, you know? I mean, from the day you came back to town and I first heard about him, I've had this picture in my head of this perfect, rich, snob ‘lawyer type’...just like your mother predicted all those years ago."
Something hard formed in the pit of her stomach. "My mother?"
"Yeah. Your mother," he said, disgust evident in his voice. "In our one and only conversation she predicted the kind of man you would end up with, and he sure as hell wasn't like me."
Wyatt had spoken with her mother? He thought Justin was some kind of boyfriend? "I don't understand," she murmured, her head spinning. The whole world seemed out of balance suddenly and she couldn’t make any sense of it.
"I know. I guess she never told you, since it was too late anyway. The truth is, Nick, my grandfather messed things up all those years ago. When he found out you were pregnant, he assumed Brady was the father, and he contacted him, not me.”
Tears gathered in the corners of her eyes and began to fall freely down her cheeks. That was why he hadn't come right away. He hadn't known.