Our conversation had led my mind astray, so I hadn’t been paying any attention to the drive, but as he put the truck into park, I quickly realized he hadn’t taken me home.
Perched up on a hill was a tiny but perfectly placed A-frame. The house, which had sat empty for years, had just recently been renovated into a bed and breakfast, one I remembered Donna telling me Stetson was staying at.
“Come here,” he said, motioning me toward him.
I didn’t even hesitate before I propped myself up on the center console, leaning over until my face was greeted by his, the air from the vent dancing through my hair.
With one hand, he grabbed my chin between his thumb and pointer finger, using the other to gently push my brown curls out of my eye. “Thank you,” he said softly. His voice was like honey, thick and smooth.
“For what?” I asked.
“For listening. For saying you’re proud of me. For simply validating my feelings. And for always being a good sport when it comes to my smart-ass mouth.” His eyes never left mine. “In this world, my world, sometimes it feels like everyone wants the music, but no one wants to understand how hard it is to find the words.”
“I’d do anything to show you your worth.” I repeated his own words back to him with a grin. The air between us shiftedfrom serious to more light-hearted. “Even when it’s not my job anymore,” I said sarcastically, a tiny grin poking out from behind my lips. “Now…” I paused. “Where are you taking me?”
A low chuckle left his throat, and the groan-like sound mixed with his expression taunted me.
“Back to my place,” he said very matter-of-factly.
I didn’t know what it was about a man driving a truck in a baseball hat and cowboy boots that drove me absolutely fucking insane, but what I did know was that I was about to hijack the driver’s seat and hold him hostage.
A cocky smirk rolled out from under his mustache.
“Something funny?” I asked, my desperation becoming obvious.
“Not at all,” he responded. “I was just waiting for you to reject my comment, and you didn’t. Looks like I got my answer.”
This time his words strummed the want inside of me, but somehow, I composed myself. “I have been meaning to stop by and check out all the new renovations up here.” The corners of my mouth barely curved upward. “Guess that means I’m coming inside.”
His eyes flashed to mine as he cut the engine. He slid out of the car and strolled to my door, my heart pounding faster the closer he got. The nerves. The anticipation. The excitement. It filled me to the brim, my body on the verge of bursting into a million pieces.
He gracefully pulled me from my seat, cradling me like I wasn’t a whole grown-ass woman. My legs dangled over his strong biceps while my arms wrapped around his neck.
He stopped just before we got to the large wooden door, his mouth only centimeters away from mine. “If I only get you for one night, then you can bet your ass I’m about to give you the ride of your life, cowgirl.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
The door slammed shut from the force of his boot kicking it, rattling the walls of the room.
“Shh!” I giggled. “I’m confident the other guests don’t want to be a part of after-hours.”
“Other guests?” he questioned, gently placing my feet on the ground, encouraging my back to press up against the front door. “You are the only other guest.” His mouth was so close I could smell the familiar spearmint scent. “I rented out the whole place when I knew I was staying for a while, and now I’m patting my past self on the back for that.”
He pulled his hat off before tossing it onto the black leather couch next to us, turning back to me as his fingers combed through the thick chocolate brown hair that had been hidden beneath it.
“That makes sense. So, I guess that means we can be as loud as we want,” I said, knowing exactly what I was doing.
Hunger overcame his light blue eyes, turning them a shade darker.
Painstakingly aware of his every move, I watched his hand drop, the hair falling into a natural center part with pieces framing either side of his eyes.
He shuffled closer, his legs on either side of mine as he dipped his head into the soft curve of my neck. “You can be as loud as you need to be.” The heat of his words on my skin sent a rush of blood to my head, only stoking the fire that was already ablaze inside of me, roaring through every inch of my body.
“Giddy up,” I whispered, the words barely slipping through my teeth before his soft lips were stamping my neck. My head involuntarily dipped back onto the door, exposing even more of my skin for him. My hands found their way to his head, pulling him closer until my arms had basically wrapped him into a hug.
He was making a trail of kisses up my neck and to my mouth, but I was too impatient. I took his face in my hands and sucked in a breath before pushing our mouths together. His tongue was just as ravenous as mine, both of them desperately searching for the other before colliding in what felt like the most euphoric burst of energy I’d ever experienced.
We’d kissed before, but never like this. Never with the intention of more.
