Page 66 of Catch Me, Cowboy
“Come to the house. I’ll zap something for dinner.”
“Zapped food is my favorite.”
She smiled a little and started back the way she came. Ty caught up with her, slipped his thumb under the top of her belt as he brought an arm around her, making her jeans ride lower on one side.
“You know I hate that.”
“Uh huh.”
She didn’t hate it. She loved the familiarity of it. Loved this fragile bubble around them. Was he staying or going? They had to talk. For real. But she wasn’t ready yet. She understood so much more than she had before. She’d accused him of not talking, but now he had.
The ball was firmly in her court.
Once they reached the house, Ty pulled dishes out of the cupboard as she microwaved a tray of frozen lasagna. She was not hungry, but Ty had to be, and she’d eat with him.
Once the food was on the table, though, she discovered she was ravenous. Her grandfather was okay and the guy she totally loved was here with her.
“Do you want to talk?” Ty asked after they’d finished the dishes. Shelby shook her head.
She snapped off the kitchen light and reached out to take his hand in hers, loving the feel of his work-roughened skin against hers. “Don’t want to talk.” She led him down the hall to her room, pausing outside the door to say, “But I wouldn’t mind another kind of communication.”
He leaned down to touch her forehead with his, his breath warm on her face as he said, “I’m your guy.”
A tingle went up Shelby’s spine. He was her guy.
She opened the door and led him inside. Shadows stretched across the room, but Shelby didn’t bother with the lights. She reached out for her guy, smoothed her hands over his hard chest, then undid the buttons of his shirt one by one, focusing on how much she loved touching him, running her hands over his skin, feeling his response. She pulled the shirt tails out and then pushed the shirt off his shoulders. Leaning in she traced the muscles of his chest with her lips. He tasted of salt and dust and man. She loved it.
His hands fisted in her hair and he tilted her face up. “I need a shower.”
“So do I.”
Shelby slowly washed every inch of Ty’s muscled body, memorizing it yet again. He returned the favor, and then they kissed as they rinsed off, Shelby’s hand firmly gripping his erection which was pressed between their bellies.
After toweling off, she went to her knees, taking him in her mouth as he stroked the damp hair away from the sides of her face. She brought him close, then pulled back and he helped her to her feet, then swung her up into his arms and carried her to the dark bedroom where their clothing lay in tangles on the floor. He laid her down, and then, after a melting kiss, moved his lips down her neck to her breasts, making her arch and gasp. He smiled against her belly, his stubble rough against her delicate skin, then continued his sensual journey south. As he touched his tongue to her sex, she jerked, then relaxed and let her eyes drift shut as he did that thing he did so well, teasing her clit with his fingers and his tongue. She gave another gasp, then pulled her hips back, breaking the delicious contact as she came too, too close to going over the edge. Ty looked up at her and she reached down to take hold of his shoulders, pull him up to where he belonged—on her, in her. As he eased his way inside of her, Shelby pressed her face against the hollow of his shoulder, closed her eyes, breathed in his scent. He was part of her.
They made love slowly, savoring the closeness, the familiarity and the uncertainty. Shelby had no idea what the future held, but she had Ty with hernow. It was the now that mattered. She’d deal with the future later, when she could think, because her thoughts were tangling as her need for release grew. And then she was hanging on, taking everything Ty had to give and giving back all she could.
The orgasm rocked her and she gave a sobbing gasp before biting down on his shoulder. Ty came the instant her teeth hit flesh, shoving into her one last time before holding and then finally, as if drained of every ounce of strength, collapsing onto his side, pulling her with him so that they were still joined.
Shelby hugged him close, pressing her face against his damp chest.
She loved this man so damned much.
*
Ty awoke atsunrise like usual, only he didn’t get out of bed. Instead he rolled over and woke Shelby in the best way he knew how. She seemed appreciative.
“If you make the coffee, I’ll see about breakfast,” she said when she finally eased herself out of his embrace and slid out of bed, pausing long enough to kiss his bruised shoulder.
“I’m good with coffee.” He swung his legs over the edge of the bed and stretched. He was sore. Yesterday’s ride had been killer, but he was grateful to his dad and Buck for making it possible, because it could well be his last ride.
Fifteen minutes later they were sitting on the weathered porch, watching the sun top the trees. Sitting in the morning silence, feeling this woman next to him… things were as perfect as it could get, given the circumstances. They still had to get Les home and strong arm him into taking care of himself, and Ty had to settle issues with his dad. But he was on the right track there, reclaiming his life. He leaned into Shelby, who pressed back against him. Another old game they used to play. It was so damned easy to fall back into things with her. He knew now that when he’d come back, he hadn’t needed closure. He’d needed to acknowledge all the shit he’d kept buried inside. As had she. Who knew?
He gave his head a small shake.
“What?” Shelby asked.
“We’re so damned lucky.”
