Walker Pride (16 page)

“That’s horrible. Who would do something like that?”

“I have my ideas, but I’m told I’m wrong. Anyway, I met family I didn’t know about. Specifically my cousin.”

“That’s good, right?”

“Sure. I met him when he punched me in the gut, which obviously was the beginning of the fight I got into.”

Susan moved in closer to him. “I think you’re right. You had a crappy day.”

“It started nice though,” he said softly.

Susan pulled back and looked down at his swollen eye, and cut lip. “I was thinking that before you arrived.”

“You know what would make my lip better?”

“What?” she said breathlessly.

“If you kissed me—softly,” he added.

His hands were on her hips again and she steadied herself by placing her hands on his shoulders. “Are you sure about that? I don’t want to hurt you.”

“At this moment, I think it would hurt more if you didn’t kiss me.”

Susan gently cupped his face in her hands and tipped her head to press a soft kiss to his lip. “How is that?”

“Feels better already.”

She kissed him again, this time lingering a moment longer. When she pulled back, she gazed down into his eyes.

Eric nodded. “Yeah, that’s doing the trick,” he said smiling. He maneuvered himself so that now she was straddling both of his legs and he eased her down onto his lap so that their chests pressed against the other’s and their mouths were exactly even so they could deepen the kiss.

Susan wrapped her arms around his neck and he wrapped his arms around her waist. It was so much more intimate than ever before and she found herself sinking into him, wanting more.

Eric’s hands slid up her back and she let the moan that stirred in her ease out.

Cupping her hands over his face she deepened the already heated kiss only to have him jerk away.

“Oh, God! I hurt you. I’m so sorry.” Susan pulled her hands back.

“I guess it’s sorer than I thought.”

“We should really put those peas back on your eye.”

Eric groaned. “Is that really where we’re going? My day was getting better.”

“You’re hurt. You should rest.”

Eric pressed his forehead to hers. “Sleep in my arms. Let me wake to you beside me and for a few moments in the morning I’ll have forgotten what transpired today.”

“You want to sleep here?”

The corner of his mouth curled upward. “I do.”

Susan nodded. If she wanted to take hold of her life, right now was the moment. She’d known him nearly a week and now she was contemplating him sleeping in her bed. Oh, who was she kidding? There was no contemplation of sleeping going on in her head and she was damn sure it wasn’t the only thought going through his either.

Was this what she wanted? After ten years of monogamous matrimonial sex, was she ready to move onto another man whom she’d only just met?

Eric skimmed his hand up her back again and she gazed into his wanting eyes. She didn’t know much about him. He was a bit standoffish and perhaps a little crabby. And look at him. His face was a mess because he’d gotten into a fight. All signs pointed to her needing to get off his lap and let him out the front door.

But she couldn’t do that. There was so much more here. Was this just letting go of her past? Would he be a fleeting moment in her life? No. She didn’t actually believe that. Eric Walker was something more—something she wanted to still discover.

Eric’s hands moved to her arms. “You’re shaking. Susan, we don’t have to do this. I can go home. I wouldn’t be walking out. I don’t want to pressure…”

“I want this,” she said and meant it. “I do.”

The smile now lit in his eyes. “I’ll take care of you.”

Nervously, Susan stood, and taking his hand, she pulled him to his feet. A million words filled her head, but none of them would string into the perfect sentence to explain how she felt. It would be better if she simply walked him up to her bedroom, shut the door, and let them figure out what they were feeling without the use of any of those words. Words were suddenly overrated. All Susan wanted to do was feel.

His fingers intertwined with hers as she led him up the stairs. With each
step,
she took a quick breath and willed her rapid heart to slow down, but it was no use.

Only
moonlight glowed under Bethany’s door a she tiptoed by to her room. When she
pushed
open the door her own room was filled with brilliant light from the window.

It cast a silver shimmer over the room and she heard the door close and lock behind her.

Susan turned to see Eric leaned up against the door. His bruises and cuts were darker in the shadows.

“You’re beautiful in the moonlight,” he said, his voice in a
low,
sensual growl.

“Thank you.” She watched him grip the doorknob with his hands behind his back. “Aren’t you going to come in?”

She watched as the white of his smile gleamed in the dark. “I’m afraid that if I let go of this door I’ll want to touch you. I know you said you’d sleep in my arms, but…”

Susan controlled her breathing and calmed her mind. Then she walked
too
him and rested her hands on his chest. With slow, deliberate movements, she began to unsnap his shirt. When it hung
open,
she pushed it back. He moved from the door and his shirt slid off his arms and down to the floor.

“I guess you shouldn’t worry too much about it. I’m thinking maybe we should work on making ourselves tired,” she said as she slid her hands over his firm chest.”

She felt the rise of his breath as it caught in his lungs. “Are you sure that’s what you want?”

Susan nodded, perhaps a
little to
eagerly. “Yes.”

Without another word, Eric hoisted her to his hips. Her legs wrapped around him and his mouth took possession of hers.

Every part of her heated in response to him as he carried her to the bed and gently laid her down. “If you change your mind…”

She reached behind his neck and inched her face to his. “I won’t,” she promised as she pulled him back atop of her and let the course of the night lead them
into
passion, pleasure as they took their time undressing each other and learning every curve and every muscle of the other.

Eric pleased her with kisses in places she had never thought to be sensual. And when he took her under him and their bodies came together, Susan knew the night had become more than comfort for each of them. They had tumbled into bed and into something so much bigger.

Eric watched her in the moonlight. Silently, Susan slept in his arms, just as he’d asked her to do.

Sleep eluded him. There was too much to think about to sleep, but she’d eased his worry and for that he was grateful. She didn’t even know what she’d done for him by agreeing to just let him in the house last night. Actually making love to her hadn’t even been in his plans when he’d driven to her house, but he was grateful for it.

He needed someone who could just make the pain go away for a while. Any woman could have done that—caused a distraction. Susan, on the other hand, seemed invested in him.

They hadn’t said one word to each other from the moment she took his hand and led him to her bedroom. It had become pure emotion that had fueled them and guided them.

The pain, which riddled his body, had faded with her kisses—her touches. Even thinking about it had his breath coming quicker. She’d guided him—not the other way around. Susan had initiated their lovemaking, which only made him want her even more. It went far past sexual—he was feeling things for her he’d never felt for any other woman.

She stirred and nuzzled her head closer to his chest. He fought to not wake her and take her again. He needed to feel that connection that making love to her had brought him.

It wasn’t fair to her. None of this was fair to her. The urge to tell her his deepest feelings was suppressed by the darkness that seemed to loom over him.

He had nothing.

His business was a loss. It was only a matter of time before he lost his home. There was family drama where he was concerned and why would any woman want to take that on? No, something told him this was a fleeting moment of passion—though that wasn’t what he wanted.

Eric pressed a kiss to the top of her head, which woke her. With her eyes still closed she smiled. “Why are you awake?” she whispered.

“Just can’t sleep.”

“You should be exhausted,” she said on a small laugh.

She was precious he thought, as he brushed a strand of hair from her forehead.

“Go back to sleep,” he said softly.

Susan slowly opened her eyes. They were still dark and filled with need, he thought. She pressed her hands to his chest and rolled him onto his back. A moment later she was straddling him. Her hair curtained her face, but as his eyes closed by the very pleasure of feeling her again, it didn’t matter. He had her face memorized.

His hands came to her hips as she rocked atop of him. The words he was thinking teetered on the tip of his tongue as she worked him over the edge and he only allowed quiet whimpers to escape his throat. A few minutes later Susan collapsed against him, her breath ragged, her skin moist.

“I’m enjoying having you right here,” she said breathlessly.

“I didn’t come over tonight, for this reason,” he said to assure her.

“Oh, but I’m so glad you did.”

Eric had rested, briefly. As the sun barely crested the horizon, he found himself restless.

He wiggled out of the bed without distrubing her, pulled on his pants, and quietly walked down to the kitchen.

Coffee. He needed coffee before he could even think about making the long drive back to his place. He still had responsibilities, even if they didn’t include Whiskey River or any of the other horses.

The very thought caught in his chest and he had to suck in a breath to fill his lungs. What would he do without his horse and his business? He’d never given up before, but he was sure thinking about doing that now.

The kitchen light turned on and Eric spun to see his cousin leaned up against the doorjamb. Her long hair was pulled back and she was sporting running shoes and matching attire.

“I thought I’d heard your voice last night,” she said grinning. But her face then went serious. “What the hell happened to your face?”

“Nothing.”

“Bull!” She moved in toward him. “Did you get kicked too? Dane was a mess.”

“It would have been better to have been kicked by a horse. This was kin caused.”

“One of your brothers?” He shook his head and she inched in closer. “One of mine?”

“A cousin I had the pleasure of meeting yesterday when I accused our grandfather of poisoning our horses and cattle.”

Bethany reached for him. “Eric, I didn’t know.”

He shook his head. “Your dad really did a job on this family,” he said before realizing how horrible it sounded. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t…”

“It’s okay. I’m not him, Eric. I’ll never hurt you or your family.”

“I know that.” He looked at her again. “Are you going running?”

“Every morning.”

“Can you find me coffee before you head out?”

She crossed her arms in front of her and grinned. “Tell me why you’re here first.”

“Do I really need to?”

“I really like her. You’re not just using her for sex are you? I mean, I know it’s not my business, but…”

“I’d never do that to anyone,” he said firmly. “After the day I had yesterday I couldn’t think of anywhere else I wanted to be. I needed her. Not just sexually.”

“Are you in love with her?”

Eric cleared his throat. “Let’s talk about where the coffee is.”

She nodded, but the grin said she understood him better than he probably understood himself.

As Bethany gathered the items for his coffee, he inventoried what he was feeling. Yes, he was very sure he did indeed love Susan. But until he knew what he could offer her he’d keep that to himself. He still wasn’t sure she’d want to stick around when she learned of all the troubles he’d bring to the relationship.

Susan woke with a start and sat up in bed. She pulled the sheet up over her naked body and looked around the empty bedroom. She was alone.

Quickly she picked up her cell phone and looked at the time. It was only six-fifteen. Had he run out that quickly?

She took a deep breath. He had obligations on his land. She’d surely be disappointed if she thought he’d stick around all day. Just because they’d made love she couldn’t expect…

She heard heavy footsteps in the hallway and a moment later he pushed open the bedroom door with his elbow and carried in two cups of coffee.

He only wore his jeans and she thought perhaps she’d never seen a sexier specimen in her life.

“I thought maybe you had second thoughts and left,” she admitted as he handed her a cup. “Thank you.”