Page 40 of The Texas Sterling Collection
“Take him and go,” Walt groused with a smile. “He’s driving me crazy.”
“You got it.”
Wyl tossed his duffel in the back seat, and we waved to Walt as we left the ranch. I steered onto the highway and grabbed Wyl’s hand. He threaded our fingers. The electricity from our touch flowed up my arm. “I could hardly wait for this day. I hate to admit it, but after I came to the ranch for steaks and saw your fireplace, I envisioned you being with me at my place. This weekend is a dream come true.”
“Same for me, babe.” Wyl grinned. “Although the military stationed me in San Antonio for a short time, I never ventured outside the city. As I mentioned, I’m not one to explore on my own.”
“I think you’ll enjoy it. I have an acre backing up to a small ranch. The house is private, so we can relax and be together. When we’re not kissing and snuggling,” I glanced at Wyl and winked, “we’ll spend time exploring the surrounding area.”
“As long as I’m with you, we can do anything you want, including the kissing and snuggling thing you mentioned.” Wyl dragged his tongue across his lower lip.
My heart pounded at the twinkle in Wyl’s seductive eyes.
We stopped for groceries in Kerrville four hours later, then drove to my place. As I turned into my peaceful rural subdivision, Wyl scanned the neighborhood. “Wow. You didn’t tell me you lived in an exclusive neighborhood. College professors must draw a handsome salary.”
I barked out a laugh. “Educators are among the most underpaid people in the country, but are expected to produce experts in the field. I make enough to pay the bills and have a little cash, but don't go into education if you want to accumulate wealth.”
“Well, you’re doing okay if you can afford a place in this neighborhood.”
“My realtor found a foreclosure, and I bought this place for much less than market value.”
The garage door opened as I eased down the long, curved driveway into the garage.
“Do you have good neighbors?” Wyl said.
“Yes. The neighbors to the south are Cindy and Tom. They have two elementary-age kids. To the north, maybe twenty yards between my house and my north property line. Hence, the neighbors to the north are further away. Kirt is a retired airline pilot, and Melody is a pharmacist. It’s a quiet neighborhood.”
After lugging the groceries into the kitchen, I grabbed Wyl around the waist and pulled him close. I loved having him in my arms, with an entire weekend stretching before us —a long weekend of being together. “Before we lose ourselves in each other, let me give you the grand tour.”
“Or we can stand here and do this.” Wyl’s mouth smothered mine in a passionate kiss.
Grasping Wyl’s chin, I separated from those luscious, kiss-swollen lips. “C’mon, Marine. After I show you around, we’ll have more of this.” I thumbed a bead of saliva from the corner of his mouth and licked my thumb. The look of carnal need in Wyl’s eyes almost made me forget the tour.
Wyl nuzzled my nose. “Lead the way, cowboy.”
I stroked Wyl’s cheek. “You’re the cowboy; I’m the professor.”
“No,” he shook his head. “You called me Marine, which makes you the cowboy, cowboy. You'll see I'm right after I put you on a horse.”
I threw him a cockeyed glance. “I’m about as far from cowboy as anyone can be.” I threaded Wyl’s braid through my fingers. “Of course, I do like to ride you.”
“Mmmmm…are you threatening or promising?” Wyl growled.
“You’ll have to wait and find out.” I grabbed Wyl’s hand and walked him through the house, the deck, and the atrium. We ended up in the bedroom. “And here is the most important room…the master bedroom. This is our bed.” I pulled Wyl toward the ensuite. “And here is our double shower.”
“Our bed?” Wyl raised an eyebrow.
I turned him to face me and put my arms around his neck. “We met two months ago. We've been about as intimate as two people can be in your bed. It’s about time we shared my king-size bed, don’t you think? This weekend, we can share our pasts and enjoy pleasuring each other. I don’t know about you, but being around you in the evening before going to bed alone with a hard-on is unacceptable.”
Wyl tugged at my arm. “Fuck the groceries, cowboy. I want to climb in this bed and ravage you until we’re both messy and ready for the double shower.” He gave me a look hot enough to melt the South Polar ice cap. “Naked. Now.”
Clothes flew to the room's corners before Wyl held me by the waist at arm’s length. “Our unexpected kiss was only the beginning. And I stupidly allowed it to keep me away from you for two weeks.”
Waves of desire fluttered in my stomach as I tugged Wyl’s chin into a brief kiss. “And I thought I lost the only man to make me happy in over a decade.”
Wyl closed the space between us, touching noses. “Weren’t we kissing or something?”
Chapter Twenty-Four
