Page 65 of Downpour

I swallowed as the heady rush of endorphins swam through my body, feeling the tendons along my neck constrict under his palm. Ray licked his lips and slowly released the pressure on my throat. His inescapable grip turned to a tender finger lifting my chin.

“Come here,” he said softly as he drew my lips to his again. “I need one more taste.”

16

RAY

“Ray?” Brooke’s tired voice floated through my dreams.

“Hmm?”

Pressure shifted on my chest. “Were we out here all night?”

I rubbed my eyes, blinking and taking in the morning haze. Sunlight streamed through the tree branches, camouflaging us in waltzes of light and shadows.

Brooke and I were still on the picnic blanket, but we were lying down. I was stretched out and she was curled up into my side. Her chestnut curls were splayed across my chest. At some point during the night, she had slid her hand up my shirt, and it was resting on my stomach.

“I think so,” I murmured as I pressed a soft kiss to the top of her head.

Jesus Christ, my back hurt. But I didn’t say anything about it. She looked comfortable on my chest. I would deal with the repercussions later.

Reminders of last night filtered through my mind.

Her coming home. Showing her the swing. Eating a late dinner and watching the sunset. Talking.

Kissing her.

Brooke stretched like a cat, stiffening and curling her toes, then tucking back into my side. “Am I fired?” she yawned.

I chuckled. “Not today.”

We lay there, slowly waking with the sun. She traced little circles on my skin, and I grazed my fingers up and down her spine.

“How is it possible I missed someone this much?” she said softly. “The moment I left the ranch on Friday, I started counting down until I could come back.”

Something ate away at me like acid. “Sounds like you just missed the ranch.”

We had kissed last night, but I chalked it up to something that happened in the heat of the moment. Brooke had a shitty weekend with her roommates and was just glad to get away. That’s all this was, and I couldn’t let myself forget it.

I was a steady paycheck, and she was a distraction.

I had almost leapt off the edge and jumped down the rabbit hole of despair and self-loathing when Brooke’s eyelashes lifted, hitting me with a shock of blue. She gave a small shake of her head. “I missed you.”

Her words pulled me back from the crumbling cliff, but I couldn’t let myself dwell on them.

“How’s the sunburn?” I asked, pushing her hair away so I could get a look at her shoulders.

Freckles dotted her tanned skin. It was still a little rosy, but the worst of the burn had faded quickly.

“Almost gone.”

I traced a string of freckles, connecting them like a constellation. “I suppose the sun can’t burn itself.”

Brooke lifted her chin, bringing her lips in proximity to mine. I sifted my fingers through her hair, cupping her cheek.

The moment was shattered by the roar of a diesel engine.

“What are they doing up this early?” she murmured into my chest.

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