Page 49 of Make Me Whole
The sun started to make way for the moon; orange and pink streaking the sky. We'd been at the creek for a good couple of hours and I was more than ready to have some alone time with Hailey.
Bending, I touched my hand to the back of her arm. "Wanna take a walk with me?"
Her head bobbed up and down, her voice soft, "Yes."
My palm slid down her arm until I could slide my fingers between hers. "It's been fun, but it's time for us to go."
Three sets of eyes simultaneously dropped to our linked hands. Talia was the first to look up; a wide smile on her face. There was a hint of mischief in her eyes warning me she was about to say something I wouldn't like. Before she could, Sawyer clamped his hand down on my shoulder. "Have a good night." Then he faced my sister and Jessie; the start to another one of his jokes spilling from his lips.
I'd never appreciated my friend more.
Hailey gave everyone a quick wave before we made our way down the path that would lead us to the main house.
"It's been a great day," Hailey announced, after a few silent seconds. "I can't even remember the last time I laughed so much."
"That's only because Sawyer's jokes are new to you." I winked at her. "Once you hear them for the third and fourth time, they lose their charm."
She peered at me through those thick lashes, her smile big and bright. "You shouldn't give him all the credit, especially not when you deserve most of it."
Stopping abruptly, I twisted and yanked her into my arms so I could claim her mouth. My movements were needy as my lips brushed over hers; back and forth, back and forth. Her lips parted to set a little moan free, and I took the opportunity to deepen the kiss. Plunging my tongue into her mouth; tasting and savoring her.
My hand slipped around her waist and pushed beneath the cotton. She was cold to the touch, tiny bumps peppering her skin. With strength I had no idea I possessed, I managed to pull back slightly. Both my hands came up to run up and down her arms.
"Are you cold?"
Her lids looked heavy as she gazed up at me. "A little, but you're doing a good job in warming me up."
As desperately as I wanted to dive back in for another kiss, I didn't want to do it out in the open…again. "Come on." Tugging her arm, I started walking and didn't stop until we were tucked away in the tack room.
I pulled a clean riding blanket from one of the top shelves and draped it over her shoulders. There was no mistaking the heat in her eyes when she leveled me with a stare. "You dragged me all the way here just to cover me up?"
An animalistic growl tore from my throat as I surged forward and took her mouth in a rough kiss. My fingers speared into her hair to cradle her head in my palm. The feel of her strands brushing over my knuckles silky and soft.
The blanket slipped off Hailey's shoulder; landing on the floor with a soft thud. My free hand came up to curl around the side of her neck while my thumb gently stroked along her jaw.
I almost lost it when her hands slipped beneath my shirt and her nails bit into my back. Abandoning her mouth, I kissed my way down her throat, pausing at the spot where her neck and shoulder joined.
Her needy whimper filled the air as I continued to nip and suck on that sensitive spot. "You taste so damn good," my voice hoarse with need. This standing up business wasn't working for me; I needed to feel every inch of her body pressed up against mine.
I moved backward until the back of my legs connected with one of the storage containers. My ass was barely seated before Hailey was on top of me; straddling my thighs. I dragged my lips along her collarbone before pressing a kiss to the hollow of her throat.
Hailey's fingers threaded through my hair and she pulled my head back. Her eyes were dark with unfiltered desire when our gazes locked. "Kiss me." There was absolutely zero doubt in my mind that this woman was going to be my undoing.
I cradled her face between my palms and pulled her toward me. Our mouths fused together once more; tongues tasting, teeth scraping. My sanity was already halfway out the door so when she flexed her hips and pushed down on me, the guttural sound that came from my lungs couldn't be helped.
This only seemed to spur her on because she did it again and again. I was so torn between continuing to savor her or pulling back so I could watch her. In the end, the decision was made for me when she broke the kiss by throwing her head back.
My hands dropped to her bare thighs before smoothing up her skin until I could hold on to her denim-covered hips still rocking in my lap. And then, without a single ounce of shame, I studied her. Took in every little detail. Eyes shut, lips parted, her breathing became ragged. Her movements urgent.
My hold on her tightened as her hip-rolling became even more frantic. Watching her take what she needed had to be the hottest thing I'd ever seen. It had my already aching body throbbing with nothing but need.
A moan filled the air and, I swear, it was so sexy I had to bite back a groan of my own. She opened her eyes and trained them on me. Those deep green depths pulling me in deeper and deeper. A second later, they widened to their max while my name left her lips in a breathless whisper. "Bradley…Ooooh."
So. Damn. Beautiful.
Wrapping my arms around her, I pulled her into my chest and held her tight until her breathing evened out. Because her head was resting on my shoulder, the warmth of her breath fanned my neck with every exhalation.
"You good?" My palms leisurely moved up and down her spine.
"Mmm." She snuggled deeper into the crook of my neck and I felt her smile against my skin. "So good."
A chuckle rumbled through my chest. I moved my hand to her shoulder and trailed my fingers down her arm. "Whenever you're ready, I'll walk you to your room."
Hailey shot up so fast, she almost toppled over. Brows furrowed; her eyes roamed over my face. "You mean you're not…we're not—"
I cut her off by touching my palm to her cheek and pressing my thumb against her lips. "Not tonight, no. And definitely not in here." When her face fell, I added, "Don't look so disappointed, sweetness. I'm not even close to being done with you yet." And then, just because I could, I slanted my mouth over hers.
Kissing her with fervor while doing my best not to give a name to the feelings blooming inside my chest.
