Page 62 of Country Music Cowboy
He’d take what he could get. He pulled her close, the feeling of her pressed tight against him tearing a groan from his throat and sending a shock wave down his spine. “Whatever you want,” he murmured against her mouth. She might have jumped, he might have lifted her—the end result was the same. He carried her, his lips clinging to hers, to his room and kicked the door closed behind him.
Chapter 11
Loretta woke to the stroke of Travis’s hands on her body. She’d never been this tired in her entire life. Then again, she’d never been this satisfied, either. He was relentless. Almost like he was racing against the clock. Like he knew their time was ticking away and every second had to count.
At the moment, his fingers were doing deliciously wicked things between her legs. And, sore or not, she arched into his touch.
His mouth latched onto her neck. “Good morning.”
Already?“Is it?” She gasped—his fingers continuing to move. “Travis…”
“I’ve got you.” His lips were featherlight against her jaw and chin but once his lips met hers, he was anything but light. Hot and deep and hungry. His lips took while his fingers gave, and Loretta let go and enjoyed it. It didn’t take long for her to tip over the edge. Free falling toward bliss, she cried out—broken and raw—against his shoulder.
Her eyes fluttered open. “It’s not fair,” she whispered. She was probably all swollen eyelids and blotchy skin, with rats-nest hair. He was all golden and triumphant and gorgeous.
He smoothed her hair from her face. “What’s not fair?”
“Nothing.” She sighed. “What time is it?”
“Five.” He kissed her forehead. “Time enough for one more go around.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “Or two.”
She laughed. “There is no way twice is physically possible.”
“That sounds like a challenge.” He pulled her under him.
“No.” She pressed her hands against his chest. “It’s not. I promise.” She loved the feeling of him. His strength. How incredibly powerful his body was. In his arms, she felt safe—protected. Almost cherished.That’s the sort of thinking that will bring you nothing but trouble.She didn’t need to be cherished. Or protected.
Travis flopped onto the bed at her side, resting his head on the pillow. “But, you’re right. I might need a quick nap to reenergize myself.” His eyes closed.
“Or ten to twelve hours.” She shook her head, watching as his breathing grew deep and steady.
What did I do?She stared up at the ceiling.It’s not fair.There was something about him that rendered her incapable of coherent decision-making. Her pathetic add-on condition that this be the last time was just that—a way to justify doing something sheknewwas wrong.
Travis was, what, a year sober? It had been a long time since she’d gone to an alcoholic’s family and friends support group, but she remembered how important that first year was. Avoiding romantic relationships was advised. While she could argue that this was sex and not a relationship, it wasn’t that simple. She lived with him. She was singing with him. She was connecting with his family. Soon, they’d be on the road together. Whatever happened in the bedroom, those commitments wouldn’t change. They were tangled up in each other for the foreseeable future.
And now that she’d had time to overanalyze every second they’d spent together, and she’d overheard CiCi’s phone conversation, she’d begun to question everything. Travis knew her story. He knew Johnny. He knew her career had been on the line. Was that what had prompted all of this?
She pressed her hands to her face.And this was exactly why all of this was a bad idea.The sex, the singing, the talking, the spending time, the smiling and laughing. Neither of them needed this sort of complication.
His hand encircled her wrist and pulled her hand away. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” Her voice said otherwise.
“Loretta.” He turned her head. “Talk.” He’d been honest with her; he expected her to be honest with him.
She wasn’t sure where to start or what, exactly, to say but the first words that came out of her mouth were, “This is just sex.”
Travis blue-green gaze held hers.
“That’s all.” It had to be. “I don’t want anything to complicate…anything. We both have jobs to do and people that rely on us.” He had people—she had Margot. And Margot’s cancer treatment… Too much on the line for there to be any confusion. “This is all I have to give.”
He propped himself up on his elbow. “Where’s this coming from?”
“I want things clear between us.” She should stop there. That was all he needed to know. But the words kept coming. “I’m not reliant on you. I don’t need you to fix my career or take me in or sleep with me because you think I’m lonely—”
“Hold on. I’d be a fool to think you were reliant onme.” He paused, his gaze sweeping over her face. “You staying here was practical for business.” He shook his head. “I’m sleeping with you because I want you. I hear you and I’ll play by whatever rules you set. Okay?”
She nodded, wishing she was hardwired to be defensive. Wishing she could enjoy this—enjoy Travis—without worrying about the consequences or expecting the worst.
