1001 Dark Nights (12 page)

“Beautiful. Again.”

London did that four more times, bore down, then felt the heat of Sutton’s hand as she let go of her clenched inner muscles. Her body took over and she started to come wildly. The orgasm radiated out from her core, electrifying every inch of flesh. Every nerve ending flared to life.

That’s when Sutton moved, plunging into her in the same tempo as the blood throbbing in her sex. Once her peak waned, he ramped up his pace, holding her steady as he shouted his release. Such a rush, feeling his big body shuddering behind her and the hard jerk of his shaft against her swollen pussy walls.

Then he went completely still.

Once he’d caught his breath, he caged her body beneath his again, pressing his chest against her from shoulders to hips. He nuzzled the back of her head and expelled a sigh. “You okay?”

“Way, way, way better than okay, Sutton.”

“Me too. Lemme ditch the condom. Be right back.” He kissed her again and withdrew.

She withheld a hiss, but her arms gave out and she collapsed on the bed.

Gentle hands turned her over and two hundred plus pounds of hot, hunky cowboy loomed over her. His kiss was so sweet and packed with such gratitude that she couldn’t help but reach for him, twining her fingers in his thick hair. Running her palm down his spine and getting a handful of his muscled ass.

This man was full of surprises. Over the past week she’d learned to appreciate his quiet sense of humor, as well as his stillness. He was thoughtful and deliberate—such a welcome change from the rash and selfish assholes she’d dated in the past. He listened instead of jabbering on, but he could knock her down a peg if she needed it. He had a protective streak and yet he could soothe her with a simple touch. He loved animals. He was close to his family.

All those things would be more than enough to capture her interest. But add in his stunning good looks—although he tried to downplay them—his holy fuck body, and now learning he had a raunchy, bossy side behind the bedroom door, and she’d lost any hope of not falling madly in love with Sutton Grant.

Love. Jesus. What was wrong with her? No one falls in real true love in six days.

So this overwhelming sensation of satisfaction and excitement had to be a lust high, the happy discovery of sexual compatibility...not the kind of life-affirming love she wanted.

True to his intuitive nature, Sutton immediately sensed the change in her mood. He didn’t do anything by half-measures. She should’ve recognized that right away. While that trait usually had her running the opposite direction, now she clung to it and to him.

“London. Sweetheart. What’s wrong?”

Tell him.

Don’t be an idiot.

She squeezed him more tightly. “I like being with you like this. And I’m kicking myself we haven’t been doing this at every possible opportunity all week.”

Soft lips brushed her forehead. “I was thinking the exact same thing.”

“Oh yeah? What else were you thinking?”

He rolled them until she was on top, straddling his groin. His hand grabbed a fistful of hair and he tugged her head back, baring her throat. “I’m thinking I watched you riding my horse this week—and I’ve never been so jealous of a horse in my life. So after I get a chance to taste these sweet tits, I’ll wanna see how well you ride me.”

“That right?”

“Mmm-hmm. And baby, if you’re really good, next time you can be guaranteed I’ll wanna try out that riding crop on you.”

Chapter Ten

Sutton towel dried his hair and watched London sleeping. Not a graceful sleeper. She was a sprawler. And she hadn’t lied about being a snorer. She’d twisted the sheets into a knot, exposing her bare leg, allowing him to see the love bruises he’d sucked on the inside of her thighs. Damn if those red and purple marks didn’t look sexy against her pale skin. Before they’d called it a night, he’d checked her ass to see if he’d left marks there from the whacks he’d given her. But he’d just found a few reddened hot spots and thumb and finger shaped bruises on her hips, cheeks, and the backs of her thighs.

A wave of want rolled over him, staring at the beautiful siren he’d worn out last night and who’d wrung him out. He’d never been fully able to explore his kink with any woman, besides a few slaps on the ass here and there—rarely during sex—and some limited rope play, one hand tied to the bed sort of thing. But London wanted more.

And heaven help him he wanted more too, and couldn’t wait to see where the need for more would lead them.

Her arms moved overhead in a long morning stretch. She sighed softly and opened her eyes, zeroing in on him first thing. She smiled. “Hey, handsome.”

“Hey yourself, gorgeous.”

“How long have you been standing there watching me sleep? Because if I’m drooling, I swear it’s a new thing since I finally had a drool-worthy man in my bed last night.”

Sutton returned her smile. “I’ve been up fifteen minutes. Took a quick shower. I’ve been watching you because it’s so fucking hot how you just give yourself over in bed whether you’re asleep or awake.”

London glanced away.

“Did I say something wrong?”

“No. You said something exactly right.” Her hazel eyes were alight with happiness when she looked at him. “Last night was amazing. Beyond anything I ever imagined. But what I always wanted. I wasn’t sure how you’d react this morning. Make sense?”

“Perfect sense. It’s that way for me too. That’s why I’ve been standing here watching you.”

“Seriously?”

“Yeah.”

She brushed her hair from her face but didn’t attempt to cover up her breasts as she waited for further explanation.

But Sutton was done talking. For now. “I imagine you want coffee?”

“Mmm. A man who will spank me during sex, make me coffee the next morning, and looks that damn good in a floral towel?” She sighed gustily. “Score one for team Gradsky.”

He laughed. “Coffee will be done by the time you get cleaned up.”

While London took a quick shower, Sutton called Ramsey at the gun range and asked the sample tests be e-mailed to him right away so he could study for the range master test. If he failed, he was out nothing. After he hung up, he really wanted to share the possible change in his life with someone, but his excitement dimmed when he realized he couldn’t tell anyone. Especially not London. Things were on an uphill swing with them—not just because they were burning up the sheets. And besides, she’d been working with Dial less than a week. Doubtful the horse had made great strides in such a short amount of time.

As soon as London stepped out of the back room, fully dressed, Sutton wrapped his arms around her. She melted into him, sharing the sweet type of morning kisses he craved. “You smell great and I know firsthand that you taste even better.”

“Stop blocking my access to coffee.”

They sat at the small table in the front, which he noticed for the first time had been completely cleared. “Where’s all your jewelry stuff?”

London blinked at him as she gulped coffee.

“London?”

“It’s around.”

“Not around here. Where is it?”

“Don’t get mad.”

He fucking
hated
when women said that because it was guaranteed to blow his top. “Where is it?”

“You had way more room at your place and I knew you’d be staying here this weekend, and we needed the space, so I hoped it wouldn’t be that big of a deal if I moved it into your house. Temporarily.”

“Why would I be mad about that? You’ve already brought some of it in.”

“I don’t know. Most guys get weird about their latest squeeze infringing on their space.”

“I’m not most guys, sweetheart.” His gaze hooked hers, silently asking,
calling yourself my latest squeeze is insulting to both of us, doncha think?

She turned away to pour herself another cup of coffee.

He let it go. “What’s on the agenda today?”

London snagged a clipboard before she sat. “I’m booked solid but I did leave myself two hours for lunch.”

“What did you and Stitch used to do during breaks?”

That surprised her—almost as if she’d forgotten about him. “We didn’t get breaks at the same time very often. But he always wanted to wander through the crowds. See and be seen.” She shrugged. “As long as I get fed, I don’t care what we do.”

“Need me to hang around the corral and help you out today?”

Another look of surprise. “Why would you wanna do that?”

“It’s gotta beat sitting alone in the camper.”

“Don’t you want to go...?”

“To watch the rodeo contestants and stock contractors? Nope. To the midway? Nope. Go chat up all my great buddies still running the blacktop? Oh, right. Hanging with them guys never was my scene.” Sutton leaned over and tugged on her ponytail. “Looks like you’re stuck with me.”

She smiled and stole a kiss. “Looks like. Let’s hit it.”

* * * *

It should’ve been boring, watching London working horses, conferring with young riders and their parents. But there was such enthusiasm surrounding her, as well as strength and confidence that he couldn’t focus on anything else except her. Wanting her, needing her, taking her.

The instant her break started, he herded her toward the camper. She fumbled with the keys again, but in her defense he did have her body pressed up against the door leaving her little space to maneuver.

“Sutton. What are you doing?”

“I’m about to fuck you right here against your camper door in broad daylight if you don’t get us inside.”

“This door is flimsy. If you wanna fuck me hard, I’d suggest we hit the floor.”

The door flew open. Somehow they managed to get it shut and locked before they were on each other.

And the floor held up just fine.

* * * *

Afterward, they strolled hand in hand through the exhibitors’ hall. If Sutton would’ve had his way they would’ve spent the last hour of her break alone inside the camper. It bothered him that even after their intimate connection, which London admitted she’d never had with another lover, that she was still on the
look-at-my-new-man
kick with Stitch.

That’s what you signed on for. Showing her you are the better man is the best way to combat any feelings she might still have for him.

London stopped at a jewelry stand. She chatted with the owner, asking about square footage rental charges, revenue, venue commission percentage kickbacks. All the while Sutton stayed so close behind her he could feel the rumble of her laughter vibrating against his chest.

Finally she said, “Thank you so much for your time.”

As soon as they were out of earshot, Sutton said, “Do you know her?”

“No. But I’m interested in whether running a seasonal jewelry storefront is profitable.”

“You thinking about starting one for the jewelry you’ve been making?”

London stopped and faced him. “Do you think it’s a frivolous venture? A waste of my time and energy?”

He framed her face in his hands. “No. If you love making the jewelry you’ll keep doin’ it regardless if it’s profitable. You’re savvy enough to talk to the people in the trenches before you make any decisions. Sweetheart, that is just smart business. Anyone who tells you otherwise needs their head examined before getting their ass kicked.”

“You are so...”

“What? Don’t leave me hanging here.”

“Surprising. You’re smart, with the perfect mix of raunchy and sweet.”

Sutton leaned forward to graze her lips, tasting her and breathing her in. “Will it scare you off if I admit I’m really crazy about you?”

“No. Will it scare you off if I say I really need you to kiss me right now like you are that crazy about me?”

“C’mere and gimme that mouth.” He deepened the kiss, keeping the passion simmering below the surface.

She kissed him back with the single-minded absorption in the moment he’d come to expect from her. Everything but her faded away.

He had no idea how long they’d been lost in the kiss until he heard a throat clearing behind them.

Reluctantly releasing her lips, he let his hands fall way.

London opened her eyes and stared at him, equally dazed.

“No offense, but you two are kinda blocking the aisle.”

Sutton looked over his shoulder and saw Stitch standing there, his hands in the front pockets of his jeans, his gaze on London.

His suspicions kicked in. Had London asked him to kiss her like that only because she’d seen Stitch?

Dammit. None of what’d been happening between them was playacting on his side. Was it on hers?

London wrapped her arm around Sutton’s waist and they faced Stitch. “Oh, hey, sorry. We’ll get out of the way.”

“No, no that’s okay. I had a few questions for Sutton anyway, if he’s got time.”

“Gosh, that’d be swell, but we were headed to the midway so I can win my lady a prize.” Sutton leaned forward and confided, “London has this theory that faithful men are as mythical creatures as unicorns, so I’m gonna prove her wrong. And win her the biggest stuffed unicorn I can find as a daily reminder that I am the man she can count on.”

Poor kid looked confused as hell.

Over the course of the weekend, Stitch wore that expression a lot.

Chapter Eleven

The second week that London shared Sutton’s living space was markedly different than the first week.

They spent a large portion of their time naked—in every room in the house. London never knew what to expect from Sutton either in bed or out of it. The first afternoon back from the Henry County Fair, he’d borrowed one of his brother’s horses so they could ride together. Which had been fun, even when she kept an eye on Sutton to make sure he didn’t show off, act all macho and hurt himself—not that the man seemed injured at all. He was in better physical condition than any man she knew. It also meant that she’d met his brothers, who’d been equally shocked to meet her.

Then the following night he’d grilled steaks and they’d sat outside beneath the starry sky and had fallen asleep entwined together on his puffy outdoor chaise lounge.