Page 47 of Ethan

He hooked his fingers in the elastic, tugged her panties down her legs, and tossed them across the room. She laughed, which was the best sound he’d heard all night, and then she stopped laughing when he toed off his boot, unsnapped his jeans, and lowered the zipper. He reached into his back pocket, pulled out his wallet, removed a condom, and tossed it to her. She caught it with a grin.

He held her gaze as he shoved his jeans and boxer briefs down.

Her eyes went wide.

He ran his hands up and down her legs, then wrapped them around her ankles and pulled her to the edge of the bed. He dropped to his knees and kissed his way from her ankle to the inside of her thigh, slow and deliberate, teasing her. But herscent was driving him out of his mind, and he couldn’t wait any longer to taste her.

He slid his tongue along her slit to her clitoris and sucked on it until her moans filled the room and her fingers tightened in his hair. He sucked her until she cried out, then moved up her body, keeping his weight off her on his elbows.

When she reached between them and wrapped her fingers around him he clenched his jaw hard. Then she rolled the condom down over him, guided him to her and he eased inside as slowly as he could manage, until he could go no further.

Naomi wrapped her legs around his waist and he began to move. When she matched his rhythm he had to clench his teeth to keep from coming.

“Fuck, you feel so good,” he said against her neck.

“You do too.” Her voice was breathless. “Please, Ethan.”

He gave her what she asked for, moving harder and faster, then he felt her clench around him right before she cried out again. He groaned low in his throat and followed her over.

****

Naomi lay there staring at the ceiling with a smile she couldn’t have stopped if she’d tried.

She heard the water run, then he came back and stood in the doorway for a moment, looking at her. His nudity not bothering him in the least.

She looked back.

“Are you staying?” she asked.

He crossed to the bed, sat on the edge, and reached out to push her hair back from her face.

“I want to,” he said quietly. “But I don’t think it’s a good idea. Not here on the ranch.”

She looked at him for a moment, then nodded. She understood. She appreciated it more than she knew how to say.

“The men,” she said.

“I don’t want them thinking less of you.”

She sat up and kissed him softly. “You’re a good man, Ethan Harrison.”

He rested his forehead against hers for a moment, then stood and found his clothes in the dark. She watched him dress, and when he was done he came back to bed, leaned down, and kissed her one more time, slow and unhurried, then straightened and walked out, pulling the door closed softly behind him.

“Goodnight, Naomi,” he said before the door latched.

“Goodnight.” She smiled.

She lay back and listened to his footsteps through the apartment until the door opened and closed. She pressed her fingers to her lips and stared at the ceiling in the dark.

Saturday morning, she woke early and decided to ride. She tossed back the covers, changed her clothes, and pulled her hair up into a ponytail.

She sat on the sofa, tugged her boots on, and headed downstairs.

The barn was quiet in the early morning light. She walked to Jewel’s stall.

“Good morning, pretty girl.”

“I could say the same thing.”