We collapsed on our sides and he pulled out of me. He pressed his forehead against my back, his breathing heating my skin. Did he realize how hard his hand was gripping my hip? The wetness from my climax was sticky between his fingers and me. We’d come together hard and fast, but even in this, he was subdued. Quiet.
A few moments of silence passed before I wiggled out of his hold to the edge of the bed. I rose. The cooler air of the morning wafted over my heated legs. I yanked my nightshirt over my head and tossed it on my pillow.
His hot gaze dipped to my bare breasts, appreciation shining in his dark-blue gaze.
I stole one full-bodied glance at him. His big body was sprawled with his legs cocked apart. Dark hair scattered over his chest and trailed down before dusting over his legs. Heavy ball sack. His erection was growing again. Every inch of this man was desirable.
But I didn’t just want his body. Like it or not, I didn’t want to just be a sex object to him. We had a connection that couldn’t be defined as exes or friends, and lovers was too weak. There was more between us than our hormones.
I squared my shoulders, jutting my breasts up. Mynipples were peaked and the desire from earlier hadn’t completely gone away, like his erection. The move drew his gaze.
“I’m going to take a shower,” I announced. “Maybe when I come out, you’ll be ready to actually open up to me a little. I don’t like feeling used.”
His brows dropped down, his gaze growing troubled. I left the bedroom and went into the bathroom.
My heart was racing. I didn’t want this time between us to end. We had almost the full two weeks before the girls were back with him. Then what little he was willing to risk until I left after the fundraiser.
I don’t like feeling used?Where had that come from? Rhys would never use me, and it was up to him who he talked to and what he said. Instead, I’d guilted him into staying the night and then acted like I wouldn’t put out again if he didn’t bare his soul.
Dammit.
I flipped on the water and waited for it to warm up. When I stepped under it, I tipped my head back. The weight of my wet hair pulled at my scalp. I closed my eyes. I’d messed up. When I was done, I would request that he forget I’d said anything.
The bathroom door cracked open. I opened my eyes and tracked his shadow on the other side of the curtain. He stopped at the sink, riffled through his toiletry bag, and started brushing his teeth.
“I’m sorry,” I said, jerking my gaze off him. I smacked the bodywash bottle against my hand to squirt some out. “You are under no obligation to talk to me. I guess... it’s just hard, you know. I can tell when you’re in your head, and I want to be in there with you, but Idon’t have a claim to that space.” I quickly soaped up and rinsed off.
He clicked his toothbrush a few times on the sink.
My nerves crawled under my skin. “Even if we were, like, athing, I wouldn’t have a claim to your thoughts.” When had ceaseless chatter become a habit? “I’m not withholding sex or anything. That’d be a dick move. We talked about what we’re doing and you’ve been honest. I just wanted you to know that.”
The shower curtain flapped open. A naked and very aroused Rhys stood in the opening, his erection straining toward me.
I wrung my wet hair out despite the shower spray staying on me.
“If I talk to you, will you let me in to lick that pretty pink pussy of yours?”
A shot of lust spiked in my veins. “You can do that without opening up to me.”
He crowded into the tub and didn’t flinch when the shower spray hit the side of his body. My back hit the cool wall.
I traced the drops of water sliding down his face into his damp beard, then ran my finger down the scar cutting through his top lip.
“How about we both open up?” He nudged my legs apart before lowering himself to his knees.
I let my head thump against the wall as he spread me with his thumb and licked his tongue through my folds. “Deal.”
Rhys
The smell of eggs and sausage filled the air. June was at the sink, rinsing off fruit for breakfast. I was horribly late for the duties waiting for me at home, but I’d fed them all a little extra last night. The food had probably been gone fifteen minutes after I’d left, but this morning had been worth it.
“Everyone’s coming to work cattle next weekend,” June said. “My sisters and all their spouses are joining. You and the girls should come.”
I rolled up the sleeves of my flannel. “What would that make me?”
“A family friend who can call in a favor from any one of my siblings to help work his own cattle?”
“That’s a powerful deal.” I went to the skillet and moved around the fluffy eggs and sausage. My stomach rumbled.
