Whirlwind (The Champions 1)

As the cab pulled to a stop, he eased her away from him. His face wore a mischievous smile. “To be continued,” he said. “Right now, I think we’ve arrived.”

She waited while he paid the driver and walked around the cab to open her door. He’d brought her to a rustic, western-style steak house. As they approached the entrance, the savory aromas wafting through the open door and the sound of a live country band promised an enjoyable experience.

“I guess I should’ve asked,” he said. “I hope you like good steak—really good steak, best I’ve ever had. If not, we can always go next door and get Chinese.”

“Are you kidding? I love good steak, and I’m starved.” Lexie let Shane guide her to their booth. It was surprising how comfortable she felt with him, now that Brock was out of the picture. But the issue of his being a bull rider was still a deal breaker. She would enjoy a pleasant date with him—if that’s what this was—and that would be the end of it.

The booths and tables were arranged around an open area with a band and space for dancing. The country band—a guitar, a bass, a fiddle, and a male singer who looked like Brad Paisley and sounded like Willie Nelson—was good enough to keep the ambience lively. After the server brought their beers and took their orders, Shane reached across the table and caught Lexie’s hand.

“How about a dance, pretty lady?” he asked playfully.

“I’m not much of a dancer,” Lexie demurred. “I’d probably step all over your toes.”

“My toes wouldn’t mind a bit, as long as my arms were around you.”

Lexie laughed. “Now that’s what I call a great line. Okay, I’ll try a dance, but don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

The band had begun a slow, mellow number. At least she could manage that, Lexie told herself as he led her onto the dance floor. Several other couples were already swaying to the music. More were leaving their seats, drawn by the ease and romantic spell of a slow tune.

Lexie had never been a confident dancer, but held close, in the circle of Shane’s arms, she felt herself moving with him to the music. She closed her eyes, feeling the velvety roughness of his stubble against her cheek, the light friction of his jeans against her hips, his hand cradling the small of her back. She could feel herself warming, feel the blood singing in her veins, feel her heart thudding with the beat of the music.

“You’re not stepping on my toes,” he murmured in her ear.

“I know,” she whispered. I’m floating, she thought. At least that’s how it felt.

The music was ending. “Don’t look now,” he said, “but I think that’s our waiter, headed for our table. We don’t want our steaks to get cold.”

They took their seats again. The steaks were tender and juicy, the baked potatoes crisp and fluffy, topped with cheese, sour cream, and bacon crumbles, the bread hot from the oven. Lexie was hungry, and so was Shane. They finished their meals and caught another ride back to the arena. Sitting quietly in the back of the cab, Lexie sensed that the moment of truth was at hand.

She’d mentioned to him earlier that she was planning to sleep in the truck cab. Shane hadn’t tried to talk her out of it, but she wasn’t naïve. In his world, any woman would be eager to share his bed, especially after an enjoyable evening and a great meal.

But was she ready to be part of that world? Could she spend the night with Shane, knowing that after the next rodeo, there would likely be another woman in her place?

Then again, if she turned away a man whose touch set her on fire, would she regret it for the rest of her life?

Shane had been quiet, too. As the cab let them out in the parking lot and drove away, he turned to Lexie and gathered her in his arms. His kiss, searching, seeking, even demanding, made everything clear.

“I’ll be damned if I’m going to let you sleep in that truck,” he growled.

And just like that, the decision was made. She wanted him. All of him. Even if it was only for one night.

Leaving the lights off inside the luxurious trailer, he locked the door behind them. Last night, he’d offered to sleep on the sofa bed. Tonight, Lexie knew that wasn’t going to happen. Two brief relationships since the night of that fateful, drunken college party had taught her what to expect. But when Shane took her in his arms, the rush of fierce desire that burned through her body left her breathless. Her arms caught his neck, fingers furrowing his hair as she pulled him down to her. Her mouth opened to his kiss, responding with tongue thrusts, tasting, and nibbling.

“I wanted you the first time I saw you,” he murmured between kisses. “Now all I can think of is having you.”

“Having me how?” she whispered, teasing.

“Like this, for starters.” Clasping her rump with his hands, he lifted her against the rock-hard bulge beneath his jeans. Her legs wrapped his hips. Her head fell back as he pushed against her, the pressure sending heat swirls through her body. She moaned, shuddering against him once, then again, but knowing it wasn’t enough. Her hands tugged at his clothes. “I think we’re in the wrong room,” she gasped.

“So do I. But I know how to fix that.”

They left a trail of clothes all the way down the hall. By the time they reached the bed, Lexie was down to her bra and panties. Shane’s jeans and the supportive bike shorts he wore for bull riding were down around his boots. He lowered her to the bed, then kicked them off before pausing to add protection.

Lying on her back, she looked up at him as he leaned over her. The outside security lights, filtered by the window curtains, cast his taught, muscular body into patterns of light and shadow. Here was a man with the physical strength and reckless courage to mount a nearly-2,000-pound bucking bull—a man who was about to make love to her.

He lowered himself to the bed. Lying beside her, he pulled down her bra straps and kissed her nipples, stroking and suckling as they hardened. The depths of her body pulsed with need, tightening and lightly throbbing. One hand slid down her belly to invade her lacy panties, stroking the moist, sensitive surfaces until she moaned and pushed against his fingers.

“What do you want, beautiful?” he whispered, nibbling at her ear. “Tell me.”