Boone
While Gabs showered, I paced the room. What the hell had gone through her mind when she’d broken our kiss? She’d looked into my eyes like she’d been searching for the answer to the meaning of life. Had she seen how much I was falling for her? How I was already over half in love with the woman who I hadn’t even seen naked yet?
It was crazy. I’d never waited this long to take a woman to bed. It wasn’t like I was waiting on purpose now, life just kept getting in the way of us getting any alone time.
The big bed caught my gaze. Would today be the day we finally got to have sex?
I shook my head. That wasn’t what today was about. I needed to bank my desire to get inside her every way I could. The fact I wanted to own her body, mind, and heart wasn’t what I should be focused on. I needed to concentrate on taking care of her, getting her rested up and ready to deal with her folks again.
After scrubbing a hand over my face, I stared out the window at the cloudy sky as I listened to the shower running. I’d never had a woman tie me in knots the way Gabs had. I’d had my share of lovers, but never had a woman engage my heart the way Gabs did. Hell, this was the first time I’d been away from my ranch this long since I’d bought the place twelve years ago. I was glad I could trust Liam and my dad to keep things running, although I was sure I’d be hearing about it for a good long while from my father. He never did like calving season.
The water cut off, and I turned toward the table that held the phone and other crap. I hadn’t asked her what she wanted to eat, so I ordered a few different things that wouldn’t take them long to make. I’d eat whatever she didn’t want. I had thought about ordering earlier but hadn’t wanted the food to go cold so figured a short wait after her shower was the better option.
With a click, the bathroom door opened, and my breath caught at the sight she made stepping out into the room. She’d changed into form-fitting leggings and a loose, long sleeve top. She looked ready to climb into bed as far as I was concerned, and I wanted nothing more than to do just that alongside her.
“Feel better?”
She gave me a shy nod and I couldn’t resist her when she looked so damn adorable. With a few long strides, I was standing in front of her. I wrapped a hand around the back of her neck, pulling her in so I could take her mouth with mine again. I’d missed kissing her this week.
Seeing her every day but not getting any alone time with her had been damn hard, especially when she was stressed most of that time and I wanted nothing more than to pull her into my arms so I could kiss away all her worries.
Her fingers dug into my pecs, and I deepened the kiss, enjoying the hell out of how she moaned and wriggled against me. Not wanting the moment to end, I kept kissing her, running my hands down her sides to caress her hips and waist.
I couldn’t get enough of this woman. I wanted her naked and beneath me. Wanted to run my lips over every inch of her sweet skin.
A knock on the door had me jerking away from her with a curse.
“Dammit, I swore I wasn’t going to be all over you today. You need to rest. That’ll be our food.”
After pressing a soft kiss to her forehead, I forced myself to release her and headed over to the door, kicking my own ass the entire way.
After thanking and tipping the man who’d brought up our food, I shut the door and turned my attention back to Gabs. She was peeking under the lids of the various dishes.
“You ordered so much food!”
I shrugged. “Wasn’t sure what you wanted. I ordered whatever I thought they’d be able to make quickly when you finished your shower. Take what you want, and I’ll eat whatever’s left.”
She paused with her hand hovering near a steaming plate of creamy pasta and looked over at me.
“There’s nothing here you ordered just for you? Like your favorite thing in the world to eat.”
Of course, I’d ordered things that had appealed to me and that I thought she’d like, but I wouldn’t ever take food from her hand.
“I’m a country boy, darlin’. I’ll eat just about anything.” I nodded to the plates. “Take what you want, then while you nap, I’ll eat whatever you leave. Or order more if I have to. It’s all good, Gabs. I’m here to make sure you don’t have to worry about a damn thing today, okay?”
Her eyes glazed over with tears, but she didn’t let them fall. She cleared her throat and looked down as she took the pasta and a fork before moving to sit cross legged on the bed. Leaving her to it, I headed to the bathroom to give us both a break from me staring at her. I prayed when she woke from her nap later, she’d be willing to stay here a little longer to spend some time with me, although I doubted I’d be that lucky. Once she had a nap, I imagined she’d be hell bent on getting back to the hospital and her folks.
But a man could hope.
Gabs
After having a hot shower, an even hotter make out session with Boone, then eating my fill, I was more tired than I could ever remember being before. I hadn’t fought Boone when he scooped me up in his arms, pulled the blankets back, and tucked me in under them. His scruff tickled my skin as he pressed a kiss to my forehead and told me to sleep well. It was to the sound of him quietly finishing off the food that I drifted off into a blissful sleep on the soft, comfortable bed, secure in the knowledge he’d keep me safe while I did.
When I woke, it was to discover I was snuggled up against Boone. Blinking my vision clear, I was careful not to jostle him and wake him up. His Stetson sat on the nightstand and in his sleep, his hair had gotten mussed up. The blonde curls were due for a trim, but I rather liked the slightly shaggy look. The scruff along his jaw was bordering on being classed as a beard and had a little more ginger in it than his hair. I wanted to run my nails through it, then trace a fingertip down his straight nose. And those lips… those soft, talented, wonderful lips of his. I really wanted to kiss them.
But I shouldn’t. I should let him sleep. He’d been by my side all week. He’d gone home at night to sleep but had returned each morning and spent all day watching me flit around doing what I could for my folks. I could barely believe how great he’d been.
My bladder was letting me know it needed some attention, so I slipped off the bed, careful to not wake him.