Only Tyler (26 page)

The third night, as she began to undress, he growled at her. “If you so much as think of going to sleep now, I’m leaving.”

She sat on the bed in surprise. “What?”

“Katie, I’m only human. I have spent the last two nights with your almost-naked body plastered against mine, and I am going quietly mad.

If you do not intend to plant that sweet butt of yours on my lap in the next ten seconds, I’m going to stay at Steve’s.”

“But… but, Ty, you’re injured.” God, she itched to plant her butt on his lap, but she would not do one single thing to jeopardize his recovery.

No matter how much she wanted to.

“I’m injured,” he snapped, “not dead.”

No, he certainly was not dead. He was very much alive, breathing and talking to her in her bed. The same bed where they’d made love, repeatedly, a few weeks ago. “Your arm,” she reminded him. “You were told not to move it.” But then arms weren’t exactly necessary for what Tyler had in mind, were they?

Useful, gratifying, but not absolutely necessary.

Her skin tingled. Desire stirred in the pit of her belly and radiated outwards.

“I have another one,” he pointed out. “And although there is a rather large cut on it, the wound is stitched and bandaged, and I have almost full use of my hand.” To prove his point, he deftly clicked the clasp in the front of her bra and then pushed the lacy material aside, revealing her suddenly very-full breasts. She gasped as he ran his fingers over her nipples, making them tighten into hard beads of pleasure.

“Sit on my lap, Katie.” Tyler’s voice was gruff. His eyes had dilated, and his fingers continued to work their magic around her breasts.

“I don’t want to hurt you.” She didn’t. As arousing and delicious as his touch was, he’d been hurt enough in the accident. She didn’t want to inadvertently knock his arm in the throes of passion and reverse any progress he’d already made.

“Then sit on my lap before you cause permanent damage.”

Liquid heat pooled between her legs as she stared at his body. He was covered by a sheet from his waist down. His arm rested on his naked stomach, and she knew he wore nothing under the covers either.

Even through the soft cotton sheet his straining erection was clearly visible. The accident may have shattered his arm, but it in no way diminished his sexual prowess.

The man was smoking hot.

Her mouth began to water, and tiny shivers raced down her spine.

She pulled away from his touch and climbed off the bed.

“Christ, Katie, where are you going?”

“Relax, my love. I’m trying to save you from permanent injury.” Her eyes greedily devoured his form, taking in the six-pack peeking out from beneath the bandaged arm, the broad width of his solid shoulders, the tantalizing length of his hard dick. She made short work of her panties, rolling them over her hips and down her legs while Tyler’s gaze locked on her movements.

The air stuck in her lungs as he kicked the sheet off the bed. Any fears she may have had, any concerns about his health, dissipated. The man was in perfect working order.

She opened the drawer in her bedside table and pushed her oral contraceptive aside as she looked for a condom. Her hands shook from need, from lust, from pure, untainted desire.

“Katie,” he said. “My arm may be broken, but the rest of me is absolutely fine. I am not going to be developing any nasty diseases.

Please, trust me.”

Katie looked at him. For the last seven years there had been one thing or another preventing them from ever truly being together. First there was the Huntington’s, then there was her engagement and after that the accident.

Tonight there would be no barriers between them. Tonight there was just Katie and Tyler. No one else and nothing else. It was just them.

“I do trust you, Tyler. With my whole heart.” And with her whole body, she needed him. Needed to feel him moving inside of her, affirming his presence, his love. Affirming their relationship.

She closed the drawer, and climbed back on the bed, empty-handed.

“I love you, Katie.”

“I love you, Ty.” She straddled his lap, kneeling above him.

Anticipation made her shake. Tiny goose bumps broke out down her arms.

“No barriers tonight.” His eyes were black as night.

“No barriers ever again. From now on it’s just the two of us.” She lowered herself slightly, felt the satiny smooth skin of his cock against her damp lips and moaned at the sheer pleasure it sent spiraling through her.

“Katie…” His voice trailed off.

She rocked against his length, felt the tingling sensation all the way through to her bones, heard the low humming in his throat and rocked once more, coating him with her moisture.

“Katie,” he growled, “if you do not plant that sweet butt of yours on my lap in the next three seconds, I am leaving.”

“No, you’re not,” Katie said as a delicious commotion stirred between her legs, sending shivers up her spine. “You, Tyler Bonnard, are never leaving me again.”

With that, she granted him his wish and sat her sweet butt down on his lap.

Tyler didn’t go anywhere.

Now, as she floated through the sky, pressed against the body of the man she loved, she marveled once again at the euphoria of that night. Of that week, and that month. She didn’t need to jump out of airplanes to feel the rush.

Making love to Tyler was equally effective. Okay, making love to Tyler far surpassed any high she could get from skydiving.

Jumping out of a plane strapped to Tyler was another experience altogether.

For her it was the ultimate expression of her love and her faith in him. She trusted him enough to plummet fourteen thousand feet down to earth with him as her only safety net.

They’d discussed the risks in minute detail. As far as Katie was concerned, Tyler was banned from ever taking another risk again. As far as Tyler was concerned, it was all about compromise.

In the end, Tyler’s argument won the day. He ditched his bike for Katie’s peace of mind, and she agreed to jump one more time, this time strapped to him instead of some stranger.

Now, floating through air, the day as clear and dazzling as her future, she was glad they’d reached this compromise. Okay, so it was dangerous, and it was stupid, but she didn’t care. It was amazing. It was exhilarating. It was the most awesome experience of her life. The best part about it was that she was doing it with Tyler.

Or she thought that was the best part, until he nudged her and pointed downwards.

Below them, just coming into view, was the landing site. And covering the landing site was a massive piece of white something.

Cardboard? Material?

They drifted closer.

It was a sign. There was writing on it.

“What is it?” she called over her shoulder to Tyler.

“Take a closer look.”

He brought them in a little nearer, and she stared in astonishment for a few seconds, forgetting where she was.

“Oh my God.”

He veered off to the right in preparation for landing.

“Lift your legs, sweet Katie.”

“Oh my God,” she whispered again.

“You’ve got to lift your legs, my sweet,” Tyler urged.

“Yes,” she said.

Tyler laughed behind her. “Lift ‘em higher, Katie, we’re going to land.”

“Yes!” she screamed and laughed, and pulled her legs up. “Yes, yes, yes.”

Tyler steered them to the ground and set Katie down in a perfect landing, right between the R and the Y on the enormous sign.

He unclipped her and without shedding the parachute, spun her around. “Yes?” he asked, and laughed again.

“Yes,” she yelled. “Oh my God, yes!” And with that, oblivious to the circle of people standing around the edge of the field clapping and cheering, she jumped into his arms, wrapped her legs around his waist and kissed him solidly for the next five minutes. Right on top of the sign that said: