Page 72 of Enforcing the Rules

Utah wrapped my hair around his fist, and my head tilted back at his tug, exposing my neck. He trailed his lips along the length of skin. Then he released my hair and gave a soft bite to my chin.

“Kiss me,” he rasped.

I tilted my head, and my gaze dropped to his mouth. I cupped his neck with my hands and put my lips on him, but not his mouth. I brushed soft, tender kisses on his jaw, his cheekbone, his brow, the scar on his temple. I brushed my thumb over it. “Where’d you get this?”

“When I was a boy, my father shoved me across the room. I hit the edge of a table.”

I frowned. “Why did he shove you?”

“I asked where my mother was. She’d left us. Or he’d driven her out, more likely. I wanted to find her. He didn’t want me to bring her up again. He told me she didn’t want us.”

Sorrow filled me at his story. “How old were you?”

“Seven.”

He dipped his head and kissed my mouth, and I got the feeling he didn’t want to talk about it, but I was glad he’d shared.

When he lifted his mouth and stared down at me, I pressed more light kisses over his face, eyelids, the bump along his nose.

“No woman’s ever done that—kissed me like this with tenderness and affection like you’re doing. I love the way you do that. I love those light touches.”

I felt like I was filling a deep need in him that had gone unfilled for decades, perhaps for his whole life.

He stared into my eyes as he continued to fuck me gently. My vision became blurry as my eyes glazed.

“Don’t you dare feel sorry for me,” he said.

I shook my head and brought my arms up to wrap around his neck. “I thank God you made it through all that. I thank God you rode down Main Street at the right moment. I thank God you cared enough about a girl you’d never met to pull over and stop her from being harassed by some truly scary guys. I thank God you were interested enough to look for me.”

He lifted his weight, his strong, corded biceps holding him, and his thrusts increased in pace and strength. A sheen of sweat broke out over his skin, and he was breathing hard.

Still, he held my eyes.

I couldn’t look away. Neither of us could.

He changed his angle slightly, and my breath hitched as I grew close to orgasm. “Oh, God. Yes, baby. Right there.”

He never broke stride, keeping his pace steady until I arched my back and groaned. The exquisite wash of ecstasy swamped over me, and I clung to him as he pounded to his own release. I was in love with this man. I almost whispered the words in his ear, but fear held me back, and I hated that. I didn’t want to be a coward. I’d tell him tomorrow, I decided. In the light of day. I’d be as brave as I’d ever been.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Utah—

I lay awake, staring at the ceiling and stroking Kate’s back. She was snuggled against me, and it felt good. It felt right.

My phone on the nightstand vibrated.

I picked it up and was surprised by the name that popped up.

I swiped my thumb and read the message.

STEPHANIE: CAN WE MEET AT MIDNIGHT? IT’S IMPORTANT.

My first thought was that perhaps she’d seen me parked up on the bluff. That violated our rules. I wasn’t supposed to come around Mia. That was the deal.

ME: SURE. PARKING LOT OF THE DAIRY BARN?

STEPHANIE: YES. SEE YOU THERE.

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