Page 35 of Gypsy's Lady
“Nuh-no.” She moved, pushing his pillow back into its normal position at the head of the bed, rolling to her stomach to do so. He made a sound deep in his chest,andshe looked up to see something like pain on his face before he turned his back to her and edged over to sit on the side of the bed. “Can I…can I ask you a question?”
“Sure. Course you can.” His voice was coarse, a raggedsound coming from his throat.
“Oh, no. Are you ill?” Worried, she pushed up to a hip, reached towards him, and pressed a palm to the side of his face. “You don’t feel like you have a fever.”
“I’m fine, Kels.” He leaned into her hand for a moment, then pulled back. “What’d you want to ask me?”
This close to him, it was impossible to resist the desire to touch him, and she didn’t try, creepingcloser so she could rest her cheek against his back. He never barred her from touching him, but he couldn’t know he’d become her personal addiction.Skinonskinwith Gypsy was the closest to heaven she’d ever been.I can only imagine—she cut her thoughts off quickly. It didn’t help anything to give voice to her longings, even a silent one in her head. Baxter had told her again and again how noone would ever want her when he was done, and it was easy enough to believe, especially when a man like Gypsy, obviously virile and with…needs, wanted nothing to do with her. Sleeping in his bed night after night with scarcely a touch between them that wasn’t about comfort.
“Kelsey?” He vibrated under her cheek,andshe smiled at the idea of experiencing her name like that. “Your question?”
“Ye-yes. Were you…did I make you…” She trailed off, for once not fighting her stutter but more the lack of words she was willing to voice. “Did I do anything wrong?” There, that was better than her first thoughts, because instead of making it about him, she pulled the blame for whatever had happened back in her lap. “Tonight, I mean.”
“No, darlin’. You didn’t do anything wrong. I wasn’t anythingexcept preoccupied with something Mason told me.”
That didn’t sound like a lie, not exactly. But it didn’t sound quite truthful, either.
“Are you sure?”
At her repeated question, he shifted,andshe lost her position against him, but his arm came around her shoulders and pulled her to his lap. The light touch of his rough fingertips against her chin lifted her face,andshe raised her eyesto meet his. Expression somber, he seemed to study her for a moment before he folded her in hisarmsand pulled her tight against his chest. “I’m sure, Kelsey. You were great.” Something pressed to the side of her head,andfor a moment, she imagined he’d kissed her there. “You were great.”
“Okay,” she murmured against the skin of his chest and enjoyed how his arms flexed around her. Neitherof them seemed in a hurry to move, and they stayed like that for several minutes.
“Do you like the old ladies who were there tonight?” His question seemed to come out of the blue,andshe shook her head a tiny bit to clear the cobwebby thoughts of how his skin felt under her cheek. “No?”
“Ya-yeah. I liketh-them fine.”Not a lie, she promised herself. As personalities went, Ruby especially waspatient and kind. Willa offered her own brand of sweet, and no one could compete with her there. DeeDee and Bexley were both nice, and she could see herself beingfriendswith them along the way.
“They were good to you while Mason was talking to me?” Kelsey noddedandhis chin bumped the top of her head. “Good, I’m glad. They’re good women.”
“Th-they seem close.” That was as near her fear asshe’d allow her words to get. Theywereclose, and it was hard to break in when a circle had no need to be any larger than it was.
“They are, but it doesn’t mean they don’t want you around.” He was near to what she’d been thinkingandKelsey held her breath, hoping he wouldn’t guess the rest. “I think Ruby’d like to be your friend.” She shrugged, feeling her bare arm glide along Gypsy’s skin,the graze leaving her feeling off-balance. Eager for more, but afraid at the same time. She wasn’t certain if that was just a fear of beingrejected,or stale memories of her time with Baxter’s men. “Ruby already counts youasone, you know?”
“I like them well enough.”Not a lie, she repeated in her mind.
“Would you like to see more of America?” Now she didreel, swaying slightly until his armstightened, steadying her. “I didn’t mean to surprise you, but it’s a real question. I thought it might be easier to travelnow,before you got to be close friends with them.” He winced at his own wordsandshe wondered why. “I mean, it might be better to travel a little bit now, and then we could come back and see if we can get comfortable.” Was he being told to leave because of her?
“Did I doanything wrong?” It didn’t matter what he said, because Kelsey knew he would soften whatever blow was coming for her. That was the kind of man he was. “Did they tell you to get rid of me?” Fear closed her throat, and she fought for the words. “Aa-arethey making ya-you leave because of me?”
“No, baby.”I might like baby better than darling. She tucked the thought away to consider later, listeningintently. “Mason’s got some work in California he needs someone to take on, and he’s asked me. It’s an honor, not a hardship. At least, not unless you don’t want to go with me. I told him I won’t leave you, and he understands. You don’t have to answer me tonight. Hell, it’s still sinking in with me.”
“Can-can I think about it?” They’d hardly been in Indiana any time at all, and now Gypsy wantedto pick up and move to some other place? She didn’t even know how far it was, and even if he’d spouted off the miles, she still wouldn’t have known. Standard to metric was hard in her head, andkilometersjust didn’t convert well. It wouldn’t have mattered if it were a hundredkilometers, or a thousand, if it were because of her, she didn’t want anything to do with it.
“Sure, honey.”Not as niceasbaby, but still sweet to my ears. “Let’s get some rest. I’ve got inventory tomorrow.” He put his hands on her waist and lifted as she pushed with her feet, her cheek sliding up his chest and into the notch of his neck, where it met his shoulder. She lifted her head and found herself face-to-face with Gypsy, mouth hovering over his. The same thought rushed through her mind as earlier, when they’dbeen close enough to share breaths.What if I kissed him?
Kelsey scrambled out of his lap, crawling to what he’d taken to calling her side of the bed, and burrowed under the covers. The maneuver effectively shut off her view of him, and she tried to put the feel of his body against hers out of her mind.I wish he wanted me.
Gypsy took his time getting into bed, drawing the covers up to his waistbefore he turned to face her. Even without looking around, she knew he was watching her. “Night,” she called in a singsong.
“Night, baby.” His voice came from inches away,andshe closed her eyes tightly as he fit himself all along her back. “Sweet dreams.” His arm slippedaroundher waist and curled down before flexing and pulling her across the small expanse that remained between them.
