Cowboys & Angels (9 page)

With a tortured groan, he came, and she took all he gave her. When at last his shudders ceased, she released him, giving him one last intimate kiss.

“Oh, Elle.” He lifted her up and pulled her into his lap. “Elle.” His mouth found hers.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, and when he urged her thighs apart, she welcomed the firm thrust of his fingers. He caressed her with sure strokes, and the climax she’d resisted so fiercely surged forward with blinding speed. Her hips bucked, and she wrenched her mouth free as the impact of her orgasm left her gasping for air.

He stayed with her, pumping his fingers in and out as she moaned and shook in his arms. She didn’t know if it was the best climax ever, but it was pretty damned wonderful. This delayed gratification might be worth exploring some more.

At last she lay still. Slowly she opened her eyes to find him gazing down at her with raw emotion. The intensity of it should probably worry her. But she felt so good, so completely and utterly satisfied, that she couldn’t bring herself to be worried about anything.

She gave him a lazy smile. “I win.”

9

E
LLE
HAD
WON
, all right. Trey knew exactly what she’d won, too—his heart. She’d unknowingly wooed him with her most powerful weapon. Her voice had stayed with him for months, and now he’d never forget it.

Earlier tonight he’d been treated to her honeyed voice speaking in very explicit language that had driven him wild. But that had been child’s play compared to what she’d accomplished this time. Her sensual touch and seductive murmurs had woven a spell that had brought him to a fever pitch.

He hadn’t merely wanted to have her. He’d wanted to ravage her. Holding himself in check had taken all his strength, and when she’d used her tongue to tease him, his control had snapped. He wasn’t sure if she’d meant to finish what she’d started, but he would have given her no choice.

Whether she knew it or not, this level of intimacy had brought them to the soul-baring stage. But he didn’t dare tell her that. She seemed to think she was less inhibited with him because they knew so little about each other. Maybe she’d convinced herself that they were having stranger-sex, where the participants were largely anonymous. She couldn’t be more wrong.

Without realizing it, she’d already revealed so much. He knew she was both competitive and generous. She was more passionate than any woman he’d had sex with. She didn’t back down from a challenge and she used her sense of humor to stay balanced. On top of that, she was honest, at least with him. Maybe not so much with herself.

He’d learned all that from making love to her. Although he didn’t know everything about her, he knew enough to recognize someone with the potential to be a lifelong... He hesitated to admit how far his thoughts had taken him. Too far, probably, because she’d given every indication that she wasn’t looking for anyone permanent in her life.

He fervently hoped she’d change her mind about that. His strategy would be to love the dickens out of her until she got used to having him around. That would include some old-fashioned wooing, because great as the sex was, they couldn’t do it
all
the time.

Consequently, he’d come back to the room tonight prepared with a bottle of wine he’d bought at the bar and the leftover party munchies he’d asked the bartender to package up for him. He gazed into her flushed face. She did look happy. So far, so good. “What do you say to a picnic?”

She laughed and sat up. “I hope you’re not suggesting we haul a blanket out into the snow.”

“Nope.” He thought about the picture she’d painted of lying naked in a meadow. Wrong time of year for that, but he’d remind her of the concept sometime soon. To make that fantasy come true, she’d have to stick around, though. He wasn’t sure how well she’d respond to that idea.

“So where will we picnic?”

“Right here. In bed.”

“I think we just did that.”

“I mean with food and drink.”

“Are you going to smear me with cream cheese?”

His cock, which logically should stay at rest for a while, twitched with obvious interest. “Great idea, but I didn’t steal any cream cheese from the party. Hold that thought for next time.”

“So you’re suggesting an actual picnic.”

“I am. Are you hungry?”

She tilted her head as if to consider that. “Yes, I am! Must be all the great sex. Whatcha got?”

He climbed out of bed and unearthed his stash, which Fred had packed into a paper bag. Thank God screw-top wine wasn’t considered tacky anymore, because he had a bottle of red that wouldn’t require a corkscrew. He pulled it out. “You up for this?”

“You bet. I love me a good malbec. But I thought cowboys liked beer.”

“I happen to like both, but wine seemed to fit the occasion.”

“What occasion?”

Finding you.
“Having a chance to be alone and naked together.”

“I guess that deserves a toast, now that you mention it. Want me to get us water glasses from the bathroom?”

“I stole glasses, too.” He took two stemmed goblets from the bag. “Actually, that’s not true. Fred thought I needed them.”

“Did Fred know
why
you needed them?”

“Probably.” He couldn’t see any point in trying to disguise the fact that nearly everyone at the resort assumed he and Elle were getting it on tonight. “Do you care?”

“I’d better not care. The reason I was late involved meeting the Chance brothers and Emmett Sterling in the hallway. I think Jack knew exactly where I was going. Nothing much gets by him.”

“That’s a fact.” Trey took out assorted crackers, pretzels and some chunks of cheese. “Were they all leaving the bachelor party? Is that why you ran into them?”

“They were talking Emmett out of spending the night with his fiancée after she specifically requested that he not do so.”

Trey could picture that. He grinned. “Did they succeed?”

“I think so. They were headed up to Emmett’s bachelor quarters when I left them. Oh, and Emmett invited me to the wedding and reception.”

“He did? Excellent! I was afraid I wouldn’t get to see much of you tomorrow. Will you dance with me?” This weekend was improving minute by minute.

“Won’t you be playing the music?”

“Not constantly. Watkins and I can trade off, and we’ll use some recorded music so we can have a break. We can definitely dance.” And he could hardly wait to hold her in his arms on the dance floor. He had a feeling they’d be awesome together there, too.

“That would be fun. Gabe said it will be the wedding of the century.”

“A wedding that almost didn’t happen. Emmett wanted to fly to Vegas this afternoon and sabotage the entire effort.” Trey spread out napkins on the bed and dumped some of the goodies on them.

“You’re kidding!”

“Nope.” He accepted the glass of wine she gave him and leaned toward her. “Here’s to you, me and a king-size bed.”

“I’ll drink to that.” She touched her goblet to his. “But now tell me more about this Vegas thing. I can’t believe it.”

Trey carefully positioned himself on the bed so the picnic wouldn’t be disturbed. “He’s reconsidered that notion.”

“Well, I should hope so! Talk about crazy. How could he think of doing such a thing after the preparation and expense?”

“He’s not into all that. And Pam’s money is paying for it.”

“Oh.” She nibbled on some cheese. “I did wonder where the money was coming from. I thought maybe the Chance family was footing the bill.”

“No. If they were organizing things, they’d probably have suggested having it at the ranch instead. Pam was the one behind coming to the resort. She wanted everyone to get away from their place of work so they’d feel free to party.”

“Makes sense.” She picked up a cracker. “Great eats, Trey. Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.” He added a sense of gratitude to her list of good qualities.

“I looked up the Last Chance on the internet tonight.”

“You did?” He found that very encouraging. “What did you think?”

“It’s gorgeous.”

“The place is even prettier than it looks online. Dominique took some awesome pictures for the website, but nothing beats actually being there, working in that historic barn, training the registered paints they breed. I was really happy to get the job.” He drank some wine while he thought about whether he should say what was on his mind. Aw, hell, why not? “You should come out and see it for yourself.”

She studied him over the rim of her glass. “Why?”

Because I want you to fall in love with my world, and with me, that’s why.
He couldn’t say that, either. He was censoring himself a lot, and he wondered how long his tolerance for that would hold out. “It’s a landmark in Jackson Hole. Now that you’ve met the owners, you might as well take a look at the place, just to say you’ve been there.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.” She picked up a cracker, put some cheese on it and popped it in her mouth.

He had trouble not focusing all his attention on her, which she wouldn’t appreciate. But she looked so cute sitting on the bed with no clothes on, sipping her wine and eating her snack. He stored the image away. There was a chance this was all he’d ever have, and he needed to be realistic about that.

She finished her cracker and cheese. “Do you ever play guitar at the Spirits and Spurs?”

“I have, a time or two. Where did you hear about that place?”

“Jared mentioned it. He spends the summers here in Jackson Hole. God knows what he does to keep himself occupied and solvent all summer. He must pick up odd jobs. But apparently sometimes he drops in at the Spirits and Spurs in Shoshone.” She drank more wine. “Do you think it’s really haunted?”

He realized that she was intrigued by the ranch and the nearby town, but he didn’t want to overplay his hand. She’d been motivated to check out the area online, but that could have been idle curiosity. It didn’t mean she was ready to give up her summers in Argentina to be here. Or to be with him.

“I’ve never seen a ghost,” he said. “I’ve never even sensed a ghostly presence. But I know those who have. Some think that Archie Chance, the Chance brothers’ grandfather, shows up at the Spirits and Spurs from time to time. They say he used to hang out at the bar whenever his wife, Nelsie, went shopping in town.”

“Probably no ghosts make an appearance in winter, though.”

“Sure they do. Remember the story of Scrooge?”

“Oh, yeah.” She looked thoughtful. “I admit to being fascinated by the idea of ghosts. I don’t really believe in them, but still...”

He set his wineglass on the nightstand. “Elle, if you have the slightest interest in going to the Spirits and Spurs, I’ll take you. I can’t promise ghosts, but Josie decorates it real nice for the holidays. Not like Serenity, of course. But nice.”

“Serenity’s a little over the top, but I like it.”

“Spirits and Spurs decorations are a lot simpler. There’s a tree, and pine boughs and twinkling lights. Well, and Josie always hangs up mistletoe. She claims the customers expect it, but I think she’s the one who likes it, personally.”

“Maybe the mistletoe attracts ghosts.”

“Maybe.”

Elle looked eager for a moment, as if she might be considering his invitation. But then her expression changed and she shrugged. “I usually stick around here during the holidays so Jared and Annalise can have time off. I’ll need to work.”

“Even at night? Every night?”

“We have night skiing for the more experienced guests. Don’t worry about it. Christmas is no big deal for me, really.”

“You’re not into Christmas?”

“There’s not much point, in my case. I buy gifts for my parents and send them to wherever they’re currently stationed, and a cousin and I exchange presents every year, but that’s the extent of my involvement.”

He didn’t know what to say to that without prying into her personal business. Obviously seeing her folks during the holidays wasn’t important to her. Mentioning that his folks weren’t alive anymore so he had nowhere special to go during the holidays would be an unnecessary downer.

His special place was quickly becoming the Last Chance. He’d heard from Watkins all about how the family celebrated. Watkins loved holidays at the ranch. Consequently, Trey was really looking forward to Christmas Eve, when the Chances invited all the hands to the house for a big party. Christmas Day was nice, too, according to Watkins, because anyone was welcome to drop in from noon on, after the family members had opened presents and finished their Christmas breakfast.

Elle drained her glass. “More wine?”

“Sure, why not?” He finished his wine and held out his glass.

“It’s good stuff.”

“Not bad.” He took a long swallow. “You know what? We should toast Emmett and Pam. Without them, we wouldn’t be here.”

“Good point. And I’m even going to the wedding tomorrow.” She leaned over and clicked the rim of her glass against his. “To Emmett and Pam.” She glanced at his arm as he raised his glass to his lips. “Trey, I promised myself I wouldn’t ask you about your tattoo, but it’s late, and we’ve had sex and wine, and I keep staring at it whenever you flex your arm.”

He tried to ignore the sense of foreboding. Things were going so well, but this wasn’t a topic he wanted to discuss yet. “Why do you suppose I have a tattoo? It’s so ladies will fixate on my manly muscles.”

“I’ve heard that’s why guys get tattoos there.”

“You’ve heard right.”

“But why an angel wing?”

His pulse rate spiked. How to answer? “I needed a tattoo and I liked it better than the hula girl.”

“I don’t believe that’s the reason. You’re not the type to pick some random thing and have it inked on your body, not even to get women.”

“How do you know I’m not?”

“Because... Well, I just know, that’s all.”

So she wasn’t going to admit that she’d learned important things about him, too. Of course she had. They couldn’t have been so intimate without her picking up on facets of his personality.

He thought about lying and saying that it was a generic symbol of his guardian angel. He wasn’t in the habit of lying, but he didn’t think she’d like hearing the truth. They had a fragile understanding, one that could be easily shattered.

But he had hopes for this relationship, fragile though it might be. Lying about his tattoo would be something he couldn’t fix if they ended up together. Eventually he’d have to tell her why he had it, and then he’d be exposed as a liar.

So he chose to tell her the truth and accept the consequences. “As I mentioned before, I tried to find you after you saved me last spring.”

Her expression turned wary. “Right.”

“When I couldn’t find you, I needed...
wanted...
to commemorate that lifesaving moment. I thought of you as my angel. Well,
an
angel, not necessarily
my
angel. So I got the tattoo.”

Wariness had turned to shock. “So the tattoo is for
me?
”

“I needed something, Elle, something to express my gratitude for being alive, and your part in it. I chose this. It represents a twist of fate as much as anything.”

She didn’t seem to be buying that. “I’m not an angel, Trey. I’m so far from being an angel it’s hysterically funny. I spew four-letter words when I have sex with you!”