She nodded. “He said—”
He put a finger over her mouth, stopping her. “Fuck what Danny said.” For a strong woman, a woman owning her job as the sheriff, she sure was insecure about her worth. That couldn’t stand. “If you judge every man by Pretty Boy, you’re going to miss what’s right in front of you.” That would be him. Hopefully, she would see the light and soon. “Don’t you get it, Skye? You’re a beautiful, amazing woman. Pretty Boy is less than the scum on the bottom of your shoes.”
“Danny can go to the devil.”
“There she is, the woman who takes no prisoners.” He brushed his thumb over her bottom lip. “Nothing sexier than a strong, smart woman. Can we get back now to why we’re in my bedroom almost naked? I really, really want to get back to that.”
A beautiful smile appeared on her face. “Great idea.” She hooked her fingers around the elastic of her panties, then pushed them down over her hips. “You said you’d take your boxers off when my panties are off. So, off with them.”
That worked for him. Especially since it hadn’t been easy keeping his attention on her face when they got sidetracked while she stood in front of him in nothing but her panties. It was okay to look now, thank you God, and he let his gaze roam over her, starting with those breasts that made his mouth water.
Had another man touched her breasts, slid his hands over her skin, held her close as their bodies joined together? Tristan had told her there had been no one else for him since his night with her, and he wanted to ask if it had been the same for her. Since she’d arrived, he hadn’t seen her with another man, hadn’t heard any rumors that she was seeing someone. He wanted to think that like him, there had been no one. That he was in her blood the way she was in his. He wanted to ask, but he wouldn’t. If there had been someone else, he didn’t want to know.
Instead, he wrapped his hand around her hair, still damp from her shower. Her eyes were warm and liquid as she looked up at him, and he could get lost forever in those eyes. His gaze slipped down to her lips, and he couldn’t wait another second to have his mouth on hers.
She hummed when their tongues touched, and he remembered that about her, the little noises she made and how she made him think of a cat purring its pleasure. It was music he wanted to hear all night long. When she pressed her body against his, he lowered them to the bed.
“I’ve waited so long for this, so I’m apologizing ahead of time.” He nipped her earlobe, and she rewarded him with a whimper. “I need you now, Skye, and I’m probably going to embarrass myself. I promise the next time will be all about you.”
“We have all night. We’ll take turns being selfish.”
“It’s a deal.” He reached into the drawer of his nightstand and grabbed a condom. How long had they been there? Were they still good? He blew out a breath of relief after checking the expiration date.
He spoke true when he said he needed her now, but he wasn’t an animal that would rut on her if she wasn’t ready for him. “I’ve dreamed of you so many times since our night together. I’d almost given up hope we’d be together again.” He trailed his hand over her stomach, down to her sex, slipping a finger inside her. She was slick and wet, ready to welcome him inside her. He smiled when she moaned at his touch.
“I’ve dreamed of you, too.” She circled a finger over his chest. “So many times.”
A year wasted when they could have been together. It made him a little sad and a little angry that she’d pushed him away because of her misguided belief that the people of his town would turn on her. If he’d known her reason, had known she wanted him, he would have pushed harder. But he couldn’t go back in time, so he couldn’t change that. They had the here and now and the future. He was in her life now to stay.
“Then let’s make our dreams true.” They were on their sides, facing each other. He hooked a leg over hers, pulled her to him, and slid inside her. Home, he was home. It was the oddest thought, but that was how he felt. As if with her was where he belonged. It wasn’t the sex...well, not completely. It was the sense deep in his bones that he belonged to her. That they were fated to be together. It was a feeling he’d never had with another woman. It was as unsettling as it was... What was the opposite of unsettling?
She made one of her sexy noises as he moved inside her, and he forgot about words and opposite words. He’d warned her he was going to embarrass himself, and he did. Maybe that was what happened when one finally found his home.
He trailed his hand down her side to her hip. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. My turn is coming up.”
“It is. I’m going to taste every inch of you, starting now.”
“Yes, please.”
He worshiped her body until they were both sated, and when she fell asleep, he held her close. Would she wake up in the morning with a smile on her face or with regrets for tonight?
“Where’s Skylar?” Parker asked after pouring half of the coffee in his cup down his throat. Guzzling coffee that way first thing in the morning meant he had stayed up half the night painting.
“Asleep.” When Tristan had slipped out of bed, she hadn’t moved and he’d stood for minutes, unable to take his eyes off her. They’d made love, slept some, made love again, slept some more, and then all of it again. His male ego had hummed with satisfaction as he’d stared down at her. He had her in his bed, he’d listened to her call out his name—a name she’d refused to say for a year—each time she came apart in his arms.
“By that smile on your face, brother, I’m guessing you had a good night.”
Was he smiling? “A fantastic night, actually.” Four times over.
“So, this thing with Skylar is serious?”
He met Parker’s gaze. “As serious as it gets. For me, anyway.”
“Not for her?” Parker gathered ingredients for one of his smoothies.
“I don’t know. She has some issues to work through.” Patience and baby steps were going to be the key. Patience wasn’t one of his strengths, but for Skye, he’d manage.