Cowboy Take Me Away (31 page)

“Ow!” she protested, even though he wasn't really hurting her.

“Come here,” he ordered, and she obeyed, sliding up his body a little so she could kiss his mouth instead.

Hope ran her fingers across the dark shadow of his jawline, the bristly hairs rough against her fingertips, the exact opposite of his warm, soft lips.

“How late do you think it is?” she murmured against his mouth.

“I think we slept through any chance of joining in with the nightlife. Or getting breakfast anywhere for that matter.” Chase pushed the sheets down, his hand stroking down her side and settling on her ass.

“As much as I don't want to ruin the moment,” Hope said, pushing back so she was looking down at Chase, “I think I'm going to pass out if I don't eat something.”

His laughter rumbled, his chest vibrating beneath her palm as she looked into his dark eyes. She'd wanted Chase for so long, and then she'd bolted when they'd finally spent the night together. But not this time. This time she wasn't going to feel guilty for having fun, even if it was only two nights of sex and nothing more.

“We can't exactly order room service here, can we?” He tugged her back down again for a final kiss before turning them both sideways and sitting up, his bare chest golden brown and chiseled. If she could have picked a fantasy body to explore for the night, Chase's would have been it, no exceptions.

“Maybe they do a mean grilled cheese?”

Chase reached for his jeans then stopped, turning back around to face her. “You wanna check in somewhere nicer for tonight? I'm starting to think my idea about being sentimental might have been stupid.”

“We're not moving to a flashy hotel,” she said, looking around at their dull surroundings and grinning anyway. “If it was good enough for us back then, it's good enough for us now.”

“You do know I'm paying, right?” Chase dodged sideways as she tried to hit him.

“This place is just fine,” she insisted, taking the sheet with her as she stood up, keeping it wrapped around her body. She shouldn't have been shy after all the wicked things Chase had done to her—he'd seen every damn inch of her body and then some—but old habits died hard.

“Want to come check out the shower with me? See if it lives up to our expectations?” Chase was stark naked, clearly not giving a damn about what he had on show. She dragged her eyes up and down his body. He had nothing to be ashamed of, not a goddamn thing.

Hope's stomach grumbled and they both laughed. “If I say yes, we'll have to make it a very, very quick shower.”

Chase stalked toward her, back in predator mode. She shivered even though the room was warm, shuddering as his hands closed over her shoulders. Chase's eyes fixed on hers.

“It just so happens that I'm partial to a fun quickie.”

“Oh really,” she managed, her voice all breathy and husky.

“Yes, really,” Chase growled, his body towering over hers.

He let her sweat it out; waiting, anticipating as she stared up at him, her hunger pangs no longer the dominant need surging through her body. Then Chase bent in one swift motion, yanking the sheet from her and swinging her over his shoulder. She giggled, dizzy as he carried her, stopping only when they reached the shower.

“Ouch!” He bumped her into the shower door when he leaned in to turn the faucet on.

“Shit! Sorry.” Chase put her on her feet and gently touched the side of her head. He pressed a kiss to her cheek. “You okay?”

Hope reached up and grabbed Chase by his hair so he had to stay partially bent forward. “Don't go all sweet on me now, King. I preferred the rough caveman act just before.”

She walked them back into the shower, thankful the water was already hot as it cascaded down her back and over her shoulders. Hope only stopped when they were completely under the water, not even noticing their surroundings, not caring about anything other than being with Chase under the hot stream of water.

“Oh you did, did you?” His voice was deep and dark, and if she hadn't known him so well maybe it would have been scary.

“Yeah,” she exhaled.

Faster than she could react, Chase's fingers closed around her wrist, yanking her hand away from his hair and rendering her powerless. He grabbed her ass with both hands, lifting her up and slamming her back against the shower enclosure, his mouth hot and wet over hers as he stared into her eyes, his body still only for seconds, giving her time to snap her legs around his waist before he pushed into her, fucking her fast and furiously, her breasts bouncing with each hard thrust.

Hope moaned loud into his ear, his actions unrelenting as he pushed even deeper, his mouth closing over her nipple, sucking hard, until he swore softly against her skin. She smiled and dug her nails into his shoulders, not letting him slow down even for a moment, taking pleasure in pushing him to the edge so fast.

“Stop!” Chase commanded.

But she refused, her thighs holding him in a viselike grip. When his body finally went slack, she kissed his ear and whispered, “Now how about we get clean and go get that food.”

Chase walked them back under the water again, finally letting her go. “You're a bad, bad girl. You know that?”

She just laughed and reached for the soap, rubbing it over his chest so he was covered in suds.

“Why thank you
.
”

*   *   *

“I can't believe we slept for so long.”

Hope almost choked on her burger. “Are you kidding me? I don't think I've ever had a workout like that. I probably could have slept for two days if you'd let me.”

Chase had been drinking his soda through a straw, but he quickly pushed it away, his attention back on Hope. “You saying it's the best you've had?”

Hope laughed. “Easy, cowboy. I was just saying it was the most exhausting.”

“That's what your insatiable appetite gets you.”

“On that note, I think I need another burger.”

Chase reached for the fries on the table between them, not believing her for a second. “You're serious?”

“Deadly.”

He nodded and got up, pulling his wallet out of his back pocket. By the time they'd left the motel, it had been almost five. They'd slept the day away and then some, but he still hadn't been expecting her to be able to eat as much as he could. Chase ordered another couple of burgers and joined Hope at the table again, reaching for her hand and turning it over so he could stroke his fingertips in circles around her palm.

“You were never like this,” she muttered.

He stopped, looking up at her instead of at her palm like he was about to read her future. “What do you mean?”

“With the girls I saw you with.”

“I was always like this with you.” He frowned. “Wasn't I?”

She shook her head. “No. I mean, yeah, we kicked around like this, but you never just, I don't know. Forget I ever said anything.”

He closed his fingers around hers now, linking them together. “No way. You don't get to say something like that and not finish.”

She looked uncomfortable, but he still wanted to hear what she'd been about to say.

“I don't know, just touching like this. Once you got them into bed you weren't…”

Chase grinned. “That was because I never had a girlfriend,” he told her. “Once I got a woman into bed, the game was over. So was the fun.”

“So what's happening here?” Hope asked.

Neither of them looked up as their second round of burgers was placed on the table. Chase kept hold of her hand, staring into her eyes and not giving her a moment to pull away. There was so much he knew he should be saying to her, but his words didn't come as easy as his actions.

“It was never about just getting you into bed, Hope. You know that, right?”

“And when we did…” she started, her voice trailing off.

“I was a lazy asshole, that's what,” he admitted. “I should have made more of an effort, but you didn't return my texts, and the one time we spoke it seemed awkward, so I just guessed you'd moved on.”

She sighed, her shoulders going from bunched up to low and relaxed. Chase watched as she unwrapped her next burger, her painted pink fingernails almost comical against the greasy bun. He laughed and it made her look up.

“I'm such a fuckup where we're concerned,” he said, reaching for his soda and draining the rest of the takeout cup. “I can run the biggest ranch in Texas, deal with any shit thrown my way in life, but when it came to you, I just dropped the ball.”

“I think we're both to blame,” Hope said, putting her burger back down without taking a bite. “We're all about coulda, shoulda, woulda, right?”

Chase shrugged. “Maybe. But I'm not gonna fuck things up between us again. And that's a promise.”

He started eating his burger, wolfing it down as she took a few delicate bites of hers, clearly not ravenous any longer. When he finished he wiped his mouth with a napkin and bent over to plant a kiss on her lips.

“What was that for?” she asked, sounding surprised.

“That,” he said, “is because I think I'm falling in love with you all over again, Hope.”

She looked stunned, her mouth forming a perfect O. “You are?”

“Yeah,” he said, smug as hell. “And for once, I'm not afraid to just come out and say it.”

He was sick of playing his cards so close to his chest, of not letting anyone too close except for family. One woman had burned him, and he'd let it hold him back for too long. Sure, Hope had fucked up, but he'd told her he'd give her a second chance, and he'd meant it.

“Now what do you say we head to our old hangout?” he asked, holding out a hand and swinging her up to her feet.

Hope looked unconvinced. “You sure you don't want to act our age?”

“Not a chance.” Chase grinned. “I promised the lady Jell-O shots, and that's exactly what she's gonna get.”

“Hey, I'm not complaining. I just…”

“Forgot that they have a band playing live on Saturday nights?” Chase interrupted, hugging her body close to his as they headed back in the same direction they'd come from. “You want to head there now or go get changed?”

“I'm good. Besides, if we go back we might never make it out again,” Hope said.

He glanced down at his jeans and worn tee. “Let's go.”

“You sure about the live band?” she asked. “For all we know, the bar could have closed down by now.”

Chase kissed the top of her head, inhaling her sweet shampoo smell. He'd always liked the fragrance, but now that he'd actually been the one to massage the stuff through her hair and see the suds wash down over her gorgeous body? He grinned as a strand blew up and across his face. Hell, he'd never smell it without thinking about her wet and covered in suds again.

“I asked at the burger joint, and it's still a crowd favorite.” Plus he had plans to do more than just drink with her there.

*   *   *

Hope surveyed the bar. She'd never really felt old before, but surrounded by a bunch of college kids? She felt ancient.

“These girls are making me feel like I have crows'-feet and should have a walker or something.”

“These girls? They're not even close to looking as good as you.” Chase looked around like she was crazy. In reality, she knew he was lying. There was no way he didn't find any of the gorgeous young women, some wearing a whole lot of nothing, insanely attractive.

“Liar, liar, pants on fire,” she said, bumping her hip into his. “You're not going to offend me by admitting how cute these girls are.”

Chase shrugged. “So they're cute. So what? You're fucking gorgeous.”

Hope reached for the drinks that arrived in front of them. Two Jell-O shots, four tequilas, and two beers. She wasn't convinced that mixing alcohol was their best move, but she wasn't going to be a party pooper, not with Chase.

“Jell-O first?” she asked, brow raised.

“Your choice.”

She nodded and reached for hers, choosing orange and leaving Chase with the green one. He followed her lead and took his, grinning before sucking it down.

“Oh man, I forgot how good they were.” Hope licked her lips.

“And I forgot how damn good you looked when you licked your lips like that.” Chase moved up into her space, leaning forward and kissing her lower lip only, plucking at it, before kissing her mouth properly. “That's the reason I always bought you shots.”

“Bullshit,” she muttered, eyes on his mouth still, wanting more kisses.

“No shit,” he shot straight back. “I fucking hate Jell-O.”

Hope started laughing and found it almost impossible to stop. She dropped her head onto Chase's shoulder, leaning into him. “Seriously, Chase,” she said, shaking off the stupid feeling that she didn't deserve to be standing beside him after everything that had happened. “How did we end up here, at our age, in a damn college bar?”

“Sweetheart, look around. We're the hottest things in this place.”

Chase slapped her ass and she squealed, only no one heard her over the music, the as-promised band so loud she had to stay pressed against Chase to hear him speak. Not that she minded.

“So, tequila?” she asked, shouting over the sudden screaming of a group of girls behind them.

Chase nudged her glass toward her, and then grinned and slid the salt closer, too. Hope took a deep breath, wishing they were just sticking to Jell-O. She kept her eyes on Chase as she raised her hand and sucked the soft skin between her thumb and index finger, making it nice and moist and loving the fact that Chase was groaning. Even without hearing him she could see the strain on his face.

Hope poured the salt over her hand as Chase bent closer.

“You're killing me here.” His voice was as slick and sexy as liquor pouring over ice.