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Her smile brightened his whole world. “You make breakfast too?”
“I most certainly do. You’ve never had the chance to witness my culinary skills. Prepare to be amazed.”
“I can’t wait.” Tess wrapped her leg over his. “Thank you for taking care of all my chores. I honestly can’t remember the last time I slept in.”
And he couldn’t remember the last time he’d enjoyed a morning this much. Seriously. He could live to make this woman smile at him every morning exactly like she was now—sleepy and happy. Silas kissed her once more. “Keep resting and your breakfast will be done soon.”
But first, he needed to wash the scent of hay off his body. Tess was watching him walk away from the bed so he gave her a little show—losing his boxers on his way into her bathroom. He flicked on the water in the walk-in shower and waited for the steam before stepping in.
“Room for me in there?” Tess placed her hand up the wall on the outside of the shower, kicking out her hip and giving him a full view of her naked body. Did she really have to ask? Shaking the water off his head, he grabbed her hand and invited her inside. “I thought you were going to take advantage of lounging in bed.”
“You didn’t really think I was going to let you shower alone, did you?” She stepped into the line of spray, her body glistening in the water.
“I’m really glad you decided to get up.” Silas snuck his hands round her waist and held her warm, wet body against his. “Remember how you said you could use a week on a beach somewhere?” He swayed their hips, dancing with her while the water rained down on them. “I’d like to take you someday.” He could see it—the two of them walking hand in hand while the sun set over the water. Maybe it was only a fantasy that they’d be together in the future. Maybe this was all a fantasy. But he couldn’t wake himself up.
Tess moved with him, caressing his shoulders. “I thought you said beach vacations made you restless.”
“There’s no way I would be bored on a beach if I was with you.” Did the what-ifs about the future even matter? Not when he touched her. Not when she kissed him. Right now mattered. Silas let his hands and mouth wander, exploring her body, kissing and tasting her soft skin, touching her until she was moaning and restless. She took ahold of him then too, her hand moving in long strokes that brought him outside of himself.
“Yes… let’s… go to the… beach sometime,” she whispered, gasping between the words.
“Yes,” he repeated, fighting his body’s rush to give in. “I’d go anywhere with you, Tess.” He danced his fingers into her, needing to hear those sounds she made—the cries and the moaning sigh when she couldn’t hold on anymore. Tess slumped against him, her head on his shoulder and only then did he relent, letting her long, stroking caress set him free. He murmured her name, holding on to her while the release rocked his body. And then he kissed her neck and earlobe, his legs still trembling. “Sharing the shower is fun.”
Tess laughed, her arms coming around him. “Yes, it is.” She swayed them fully back into the spraying water. “Wait until you try my sugar scrub.”
He never dreamed he’d use sugar scrub, but the fruity scent did have a certain draw. They scrubbed up, kissing and laughing about how slippery the scrub made the floor.
“About that breakfast you promised me.” Tess shut off the water and then handed him a towel.
“Coming right up.” Silas got dressed and beat her out to the kitchen. He opened cabinets until he found the ingredients he’d need and then he whipped up the fluffiest cinnamon vanilla pancakes he’d ever seen, plating the last one when Tess walked into the kitchen with her hair dried and loosely pulled back. She’d put on a pair of dark form-hugging jeans and a thin mossy-green sweater.
“Hey, good-lookin’.” Instead of sitting at the table, she came for him. “What’s cookin’?”
He laughed at her cheesy line and then led her to the plate and coffee he’d set out. “Only the best pancakes you’ll ever taste.” He sat down with her and it felt like the most natural thing in the world to share breakfast together.
Tess sipped her coffee and oohed and aahed over his pancakes. “So how did Legacy seem this morning?” she asked after a couple of bites.
“She looks good.” He thought about changing the topic, but they needed to have this conversation. “I think it’s time to get her back up there. With the others.”
“I know it is.” She took another bite of her breakfast, chewing slowly while she seemed to think it over. “How about we make a plan to take her back up to the high meadow on Saturday? Aiden and Kyra are taking the girls to Jackson for a show over the weekend. We can bring Legacy up there and wait around to see if the herd makes an appearance.” A slow smile took over her face. “And then maybe you can spend the night.”
“I like that plan.” Silas found himself smiling too. He’d probably smiled more this morning than he had in his previous lifetime.
“Hey, I also wanted to tell you…” Her expression turned serious. “I talked to my brother. About you and me.”
Silas dropped his fork and it clattered onto the plate. “You did?” So this wasn’t some fantasy he’d have to wake up from later today?
“I told him I have feelings for you.” She covered his hand with hers. “He knows. And so do Kyra and Lyric.”
Silas laughed. “And Thatch.”
“That’s good.” She scooted out of her chair and came to sit on his lap. “So we don’t have to keep this a secret. But I still want to be careful with the girls.”
“Yes.” He brushed a kiss over her lips. “I want to be careful with them too. They miss their dad. We all do.”
“We do.” Tess rested her forehead against his, and her eyes were beautiful and open and bright. “I’d like to give us some time before we tell them anything. Or let them see us like this.”
“We’ll wait as long as you think we need to.” And in the meantime, he’d earn their love and their trust. He’d do everything he could to become the man those girls deserved.
