Page 73 of Wild and Wanted

But it hadn’t just been the sex – it had been the intimacy of their husky laughter and their low voices in the night as they’d swapped stories and shown each other pictures from their lives on their camera rolls. And it had been the deeper talking. The stuff about her mom, the awful details of what had happened with Yolanda.

He felt he knew a side to her now that she rarely confided in anyone. She’d trusted him with her most devastating memories, she’d shared her wounds. It had probably been too much for something that didn’t have time to amount into anything of consequence, but it had felt right at the time.

He just wished he didn’t have to leave now. But he’d already overslept – thanks to a night of scant sleep – and the guys would be waiting for him to start the day. There were also several texts from his mother about the breakfast he’d missed. Which meant there was some fires he’d probably have to put out and he’d work on that between his cabin and the ranch house but whatever excuse he came up with would be less believable the longer he dallied.

His phone buzzed and he looked at it to see another text notification from his mother. Reluctantly, he pushed off the window and strode to the bed. He should just leave her a note and go but it felt wrong after all they had shared last night.

She stirred the second he sat on the mattress, her eyes blinking open slowly against the light, Clay watching as her sleepiness cleared and a pinkness crept into her cheeks.

‘Morning, sleepyhead,’ he said with a smile.

‘Morning,’ she murmured, returning his smile.

‘You feeling okay today?’

Her smile turned sexy. ‘I feel ah-mazing.’

‘I feel amazing too,’ he admitted with a laugh.

Clay doubted he’d ever said those words to a woman the morning after. That was great. I had so much fun. Stand out night. Blah, blah, blah. All of which he’d meant.

But never how he felt.

Maybe because he’d never felt like this. Like every kink he’d ever had in any muscle – and in his line of work that was an occupational hazard – had been ironed out.

‘What time is it?’

‘Six thirty.’

‘Ugh.’ She grimaced. ‘You barely had three hours’ sleep. Come back to bed.’

She peeled the sheet back in invitation and Clay almost groaned at the sight – long, lithe body, pink nipples and soft curls at the apex of her thighs. His cock perked instantly to life but he couldn’t stay without rousing suspicion.

‘Witch,’ he muttered, leaning in, her arms winding around his neck as his mouth took hers in a lingering kiss that was not helping the situation in his jeans.

Reluctantly he pulled back, but her arms stayed locked around him. ‘I have to go,’ he said with a grin. ‘I’m already late and questions will be asked. But you stay. Stay all day if you want.’ He waggled his eyebrows. ‘Coffee in the pot, food in the fridge, hot water in the shower and a TV with every streaming station you could want. I’ll get back as early as I can.’

She sighed as her hand slid from his shoulders. ‘While that does sound lovely, I’ve got the group trail ride this morning and some business stuff to deal with. If you give me two minutes to throw my clothes on, could you give me a lift to my cabin on your way?’

‘Sure.’ Clay had never seen any woman be ready in two minutes but if it meant he got to watch her try, he was prepared to keep ignoring his mother’s texts.

Much to his surprise, she was ready in two minutes, stomping into her boots as she scraped her hair back into a haphazard high bun, half of which wisped down immediately, which seemed to not concern her in the slightest.

‘Ready,’ she said, grabbing her phone off the bedside table.

She smiled at him, her lips full and lush, her eyeshadow from last night almost worn off, her eyeliner smudged beneath her eyes, her clothes rumpled to shit. She looked like she’d been thoroughly bedded, and his erection surged to full strength knowing he was the one responsible for her state.

He chuckled. ‘Okay then.’

Sliding an arm around her shoulders, she snuggled into his side as they walked to the door. ‘So this is what your place looks like in the daylight,’ she said, looking around the open space, her gaze drifting over the high wooden beams, the wide floorboards, the large stone fireplace.

‘Yeah.’ He smiled apologetically. ‘Sorry I didn’t stop last night to give you the tour.’

Her lips twitched. ‘I would have been most disappointed if you had.’

Clay grinned. ‘How about I pick you up this afternoon and you come back here for dinner. There’s a grill out on the back porch, and a great view. I can give you the proper tour then.’

He didn’t stop to think this was not only the first time a woman had stayed in his cabin but the first time he’d ever engineered a second night with one; he just knew he wanted to see her again.