Читать книгу Desire Collection: January Books 1 – 4 - Maisey Yates, Joss Wood - Страница 16

Seven

Given the fact Hayes had been a bastard, Alexa took it upon herself to explore the rest of the house. She’d texted to check on Mason again and got a picture back of him napping cuddled on the sofa with the infamous horse. At least one aspect of her life was normal.

Wandering around with her thoughts in a stranger’s house wasn’t helping her get over what happened on the porch.

If her body would stop tingling, that would be great. She was having a difficult time being so angry with Hayes when every part of her was still extremely revved up and ready to go. She didn’t even have to concentrate to be able to feel him against her.

Alexa stepped into what appeared to be an office, but the cover on the couch and the stale scent told her this room had been neglected for some time. She wondered how long he’d been in the military and how long this house had sat empty. A room like this would have a story to tell and be rich with history.

The wall of shelves drew her in even farther. She adored reading, though lately it was more books about the ABCs or colors and shapes than anything. Which was fine, she loved snuggling with Mason after he’d had a bath and just before bed. They would settle in his room in the corner rocker and read and sing. It was actually the most relaxing part of her day. She wanted traditions and routines for her son, so he always felt safe, protected, loved.

Alexa blew out a breath and tried not to get too upset about being stranded here, away from Mason. She would’ve been away this weekend anyway, but now there was a real threat she’d be away even longer than the weekend.

The far wall of windows reaffirmed her fears as the rain beat against the side of the house. Alexa chose to keep her eyes on the books and something that would take her mind off her current situation. Surely there was one title in all of those she would find interesting.

The dust on the shelves was thick enough she doodled a heart. Wait. What? No, no hearts. She swiped her fingertips over the juvenile design and focused on reading the spines.

“Hope you like history.”

Alexa cringed as Hayes’s voice washed over her, but she didn’t turn to face him. “Better than any other way to occupy my time,” she muttered.

“I deserve that.”

Alexa laughed, still staring at the titles as if some self-help book on dealing with cranky, sexy cowboys would jump out at her. “Oh, you deserve more, but I’m holding it in.”

“Why? You’ve been brutally honest up until now.”

True, but just because he’d been less than hospitable didn’t mean she needed to be rude. Besides, she truly didn’t know what to say. This situation was so far out of her comfort zone, she didn’t even know what zone she was in. She was well aware that anything that happened here was temporary because she wasn’t about to get involved with anyone and take them home to her son, but she’d never done temporary before.

“Are you going to look at me?”

Of all the times she’d wished for a snarky comment, now Alexa’s mind came up blank. She blamed the intense encounter on the back porch for her momentary lapse.

“You don’t use this room much,” she commented casually as she shifted to examine more titles. “This is every reader’s dream. A wall of books, a view out the window, a couch to curl up on. Not that I have downtime, but if I did, this place would be perfect.”

“This was my grandfather’s study. It hasn’t been used since he passed.”

Alexa turned now, crossing her arms over her chest. He’d changed his clothes, and thankfully put a shirt on. His hair was still damp, as was hers, but he looked...exhausted. Not merely tired, but absolutely worn down, almost beaten and defeated.

A piece of her softened because she truly had no idea what Hayes had gone through. If he’d open up just a little, maybe she could help. Then again, they’d just met and someone like Hayes wasn’t about to bare his soul. She’d bet her entire year’s salary that he’d been appointed a counselor through the military and had balked at talking to a professional. Someone like Hayes would think he could get through the difficult times on his own, or maybe he’d enlist the help of his brothers. But he was strong and determined, and not about to admit any type of weakness.

Hayes took a step inside the room. “What happened earlier—”

“Won’t happen again.”

He stopped a few feet from her and lifted one dark brow. “Is that right?”

“I’m pretty positive, considering the way you backed away from me.”

Not to mention the fact that she hadn’t missed how he’d closed up when she’d flashed images of Mason. Some men just weren’t interested in children. Which was fine, it wasn’t like she was about to take Hayes home or anything.

Hayes’s lips quirked into a grin. Damn that man for being sexy and for making her want him. He’d touched her, kissed her, teased the hell out of her, and that orgasm hadn’t done a thing to rid her of this desire. Now she wasn’t just fighting attraction—she was trying to fend off the memories of how amazing he’d made her feel.

“Darlin’.” He took another step closer “I set out to seduce you.”

“Really? You have a terrible way of going about that.”

He stopped just beside the cloth-covered sofa and leaned a hip against the arm. “You threw me for a loop when I saw you down in the stables and then to have you stranded here didn’t help. But seeing you in my clothes, the way they plastered all over your curves, made me snap.”

“How is that a problem?” she asked, her heart revving up all over again at his bold declarations. “I thought we were both on the same page.”

He shook his head and glanced down to his hands. “We were until my mind started lying to me again and I went to war with myself.”

Alexa padded across the hardwood toward him. “Don’t be so cliché to say ‘it’s not you, it’s me.’”

“My entire life is a damn cliché,” he snorted. “You recall my fiancée and my CO, but I’ll save you the sob story. In this instance, though, it was me. Damn it, I still want you, but...”

He shook his head and glanced toward the windows, where the rain skewed the view.

“You can’t leave that sentence hanging.”

Those dark eyes came back to hold her. “You don’t seem like you’d be happy with a fling and I would honestly be using you to fill a void.”

He’d be using her? Did he know how long it had been since a man looked at her the way he did? Did he realize that in the past two years she hadn’t taken an interest in anyone at all and everything about him had her practically begging? She’d been turned on well before he made her come apart, and now that she knew what he was capable of...well...

“You don’t know what type of girl I am,” she countered. “No, I don’t do flings, which should tell you something, considering I want you, too. But standing around chatting about it isn’t helping either one of us. We’re stuck here, we’re attracted to each other and we’re adults with our eyes wide open.”

“What do you suggest?”

Alexa knew it was a risk, but she kept her eyes locked with his as she pulled her tank over her head and clutched it at her side.

“I suggest you finish what you started and quit worrying. Do you want me or not, cowboy?”

* * *

Holy—

Was she really doing this? After the way he’d treated her and acted like a complete jerk, Alexa stood before him wearing her lacy bra and hip-hugging jeans. With that midnight-black hair flowing around her shoulders, framing her mesmerizing face, she held all the power. His resolve had evaporated...if he’d truly ever had it to begin with where this vixen was concerned.

What was it about her? Her looks were definitely striking, but there was so much more. Her no-nonsense attitude, the vulnerability she tried to hide, her compassion he kept pushing away while she thrust it in his face anyway.

“Alexa.”

She raised a brow and propped her hands on her hips. “I’ve seen the way you look at me, Hayes. I know this isn’t some fairy tale or promise of commitment. We’re adults, we’re stranded, we’re attracted. It’s like the trifecta for a fling.”

He laughed. Damn if this woman wasn’t saying everything a man would want to hear. No-strings sex? What the hell was he waiting on? She’d already come apart in his arms, so he knew the desire was there.

Just because he was ready to rip the rest of their clothes off didn’t mean he could stop worrying. She wasn’t like other women who threw themselves into meaningless sex. He might have just met her, but that was one thing he knew for certain. So why him? Why now?

The Southern gentleman in him made him pause to assess the situation, but the Alpha male inside him was roaring to life and pumping with anticipation.

“Unless you’ve changed your mind—”

Hayes took one step to close the gap between them. Snaking his arms around her waist, he pulled her flush against him. “What do you think?”

“I think you better not go inside your head again and start thinking of all the reasons this isn’t a good idea.”

“It’s not a good idea.”

She trembled against him and threaded her fingers through his hair. “Do you really care?”

“Hell no.”

He crushed his lips to hers, his need growing even more when she moaned and arched herself against him. Just one touch and the woman damn near exploded. He’d never been a one-night stand type of guy; he left that to his brother Beau. But if Hayes was going to have one, Alexa was perfect. She knew full well going in exactly what this was...and what it wasn’t.

Hayes shifted his hands and gripped her backside, needing to feel her hips against his. She opened her mouth wider, taking more and giving just as much. Her fingertips trailed down and found the hem of his shirt. She tugged until he eased back just enough to be free of the unwanted garment.

When her hands went to the waistband of his jeans, Hayes gripped her wrists. “Protection.”

Her lids lowered, her shoulders sagged as she blew out a frustrated sigh. “Obviously that’s not something I carry with me, especially when I go out of town alone.”

Disappointment rolled off her, but Hayes nipped at her lips. “My bedroom.”

He might not have planned to be intimate since returning home, but that didn’t mean he was a fool, either. And right now, he was beyond thankful he’d grabbed a box of condoms when he’d gone out for other necessities at the drug store.

A naughty smile spread across her face. “Then it looks like we’re in the wrong room.”

Hayes lifted her against him, forcing her to wrap her arms around his neck and legs around his waist. “Don’t worry. I’ll make sure you get where you need to go.”

Those expressive eyes darkened at his veiled promise. Hayes flattened his palms against her backside as he left the study and turned down the hall to head toward the steps.

“You can’t possibly carry me up there.”

He nuzzled the side of her neck. The scent of something floral combined with fresh rain drove him out of his mind. Everything about this woman got under his skin.

“I can and I will.”

“What about your leg?”

He gritted his teeth, hating there was any flaw to consider. “It’s fine.”

Alexa jerked her face back. “I’m not a lightweight.”

“Neither am I,” he countered as he reached the base of the steps.

“Put me down.”

His firm hold on her tightened. “I’ll not only carry you up, my knee will hold, I won’t be winded and I’ll still have plenty of stamina for other activities. You’re welcome.”

“I’ve had a baby,” she continued to argue. “I’m seriously not as light as I used to be.”

Hayes started up the steps, his eyes never leaving hers. “I don’t know what you felt like before, but right now you feel pretty damn perfect.”

Alexa pursed her lips as if she were biting back another argument. There was no way he was going to let her think for one second that she was less than perfect. Alexa fascinated the hell out of him.

Once he reached the top landing, he smacked his lips to hers. “You’re still a lightweight,” he informed her.

“How did you climb those stairs that fast carrying me?”

She sure knew how to stroke his ego. “I’m a former paratrooper. We’re strong by default.”

“A paratrooper? What exactly—”

“Is this something you really want to get into now?” he asked, taking long strides toward those double doors leading to his massive bedroom.

“No.” She framed his face with her hands and slid her mouth over his. “I’m not really interested in talking at all.”

He kicked the doors open with his foot and crossed the space. Right now he didn’t care about the rising waters, the flickering electricity, the fact that they might be stranded for a while. He wouldn’t mind being holed up with Alexa. Being alone would give him the opportunity he’d been waiting for to finally get her in his bed and take advantage of her lush body.

Hayes had even managed to block out the thunder that coupled with his PTSD to threaten his sanity. All he cared about was Alexa, about seeing her come apart in his arms again, because the sampling he’d had was not near enough.

Maybe she was the drug that could help him...temporarily of course.

Hayes stood at the end of the king-size bed and eased her down. When she lay back, he took a good, long look at the woman spread out before him. He’d never had a woman in this bed, hadn’t given it much thought. He’d been so consumed with occupying his time and his thoughts with the ranch, but having her here was definitely helping him stay distracted. Who knew a perfect stranger would be the one to start healing his brokenness?

Alexa watched as he unfastened her jeans and tugged them down her legs. The plain white panties were more of a turn-on than any lingerie. The flare of her hips, the softness of her rounded belly and the fullness of her breasts straining against her lacy pink bra had Hayes rushing. He could do slow later...because there would be a later.

Alexa sat up and reached around to unfasten her bra. There was no way he would stop now. The sultry temptress displayed on his bed was more than enough motivation to ignore all the reasons why this was not his smartest idea.

All of this was temporary. The housing situation, the feelings...his lover.

While Hayes kept his eyes locked on Alexa, he stripped out of his clothes. In seconds, he retrieved protection from the nightstand and had it in place. The urgency spiraling around them had him rushing...but later, he vowed. Later he would explore that body because he already knew once would not be enough to exorcise her out of his system.

Alexa met his eyes with her heavy-lidded gaze as he came to stand between her spread thighs. Taking control, she reached up to grip his shoulders as she pulled him down on top of her.

“I think you need to take charge,” she whispered. “I don’t want any setbacks right now.”

Damn. His heart clenched and that was the dead last thing he wanted. She got him. She understood the beast he lived with in his own mind. But he wasn’t about to get too attached or emotionally wrapped up in how perfectly she understood his demons. There was no space for anything other than physical.

But taking the lead now that he’d finally gotten her where he wanted her was exactly what he’d been hoping for.

“That makes two of us, darlin’.”

Alexa shifted her knees up by his hips and wiggled to get closer. “Don’t make me wait.”

Bracing his hands on either side of her face, Hayes joined their bodies, earning him a low groan and the sexiest arch from that sweet, luscious body beneath his. He might be physically in control, but right now she was getting into his head, overriding all the ugly to give him something akin to hope.

This was just sex, he reminded himself as he closed his eyes. He was taking every bit of this opportunity to use her sweetness to drive out his pain. No matter how temporary, he would welcome it.

Alexa framed his face, forcing him to look at her. “Stay here,” she commanded. “Don’t look away.”

Yeah, she definitely held all the power here and he wasn’t going to complain. Not one bit.

Their hips moved in perfect sync and she never let her eyes waver from his. There was a level of comfort with her he’d never found before. Finding something so rare had him drawing from her, using her in this moment.

When Alexa’s knees clenched tighter against him, Hayes leaned down and covered her mouth with his. He wanted them joined in every way possible. There wasn’t enough—he needed more.

Hayes reached down, slapped a hand over her hip and surged forward harder, faster. Alexa cried out, breaking their kiss and squeezing her eyes shut.

“Look at me,” he demanded, echoing her words. He wanted to see and feel every bit of her release. They were both drawing from each other and he didn’t want that bond severed...at least not yet.

Swollen lips, heavy lids, Alexa came apart all around him, which was all it took for Hayes to follow. His body tightened, he clenched his teeth, gripped that hip and lifted her leg even higher. Alexa’s fingertips trailed up his arms and over his shoulders. She threaded her fingers through his hair as his body slowly started to come back down.

After his tremors ceased, Hayes started to shift to the side, but Alexa locked her ankles behind his back.

“Wait,” she murmured. “One more minute. I’m not ready for reality just yet.”

Reality was a bitter bitch. He wasn’t ready to face it, either. But getting too cozy with this lush, passionate woman wasn’t the smartest idea. Forget the fact that she matched him perfectly in bed, but she’d also honed in on his deepest fears and still managed to calm him with little effort.

Hayes ultimately gave in to her request to stay just a little longer. When he rolled to the side, he pulled her with him and cradled her head in the crook of his arm. He’d never admit that his knee hurt like hell. This was worth the pain. She was worth the pain.

He wasn’t getting comfortable all nestled here with her in his bed, his home. He wasn’t. He was simply coming down from great sex. That’s all. This wasn’t snuggling or cuddling or post-coital bonding. Their bond had come and gone during their intense intimacy.

But when her hand slid over his chest, Hayes had to close his eyes, because the warmth and tenderness from this woman was climbing over that wall he’d erected.

What happened to the quickie he’d set out to have? The seduction he’d wanted since he saw her in the stables had somehow turned into lying in bed together in each other’s arms. How had they gotten to this point?

The second he’d discovered she was a mother, he’d vowed to keep his distance emotionally. Unfortunately, his emotions were scraped raw, exposed and easily accessible. And Alexa knew exactly how to make him feel, how to make him think about all the things he didn’t want rolling over in his mind.

She felt too damn good.

Just another minute. He’d hold her one more minute and lie to himself about how he didn’t enjoy this precious moment with this precious woman... Because right now, he truly didn’t want to be anywhere else.