“Make love
to me, Bull,” she murmured.
“Now?” He gave a low chuckle. “I smell like I’ve rolled in a corral. I could use a shower first.”
Willing herself to be bold, she gripped his belt buckle and pulled him against her. “Now,” she said.
With a raw laugh, he bent and kissed her again. This time his lips were rough and seeking. She felt the scrape of the stubble on his jaw and tasted the beer he’d drunk and the tobacco he’d gone back to using for the rodeo. The smells of the arena swam in her senses, strangely arousing. He was all man—her man.
He winced as she wrapped her arms around him. Her fingers felt his taped ribs through his shirt. “Oh—” She stepped back with a gasp. “Will you be all right to—?”
“We’ll manage fine.” He grinned. “But you’ll need to do the riding.”
He got out of his clothes. Lamplight sculpted a muscular body that was battered and scarred like a gladiator’s. He lowered himself to the bed, easing onto his back and stretching out full length. Susan had looked away briefly to toss her clothes on a chair. When she turned toward the bed, she saw that he was fully erect and had managed to add protection. A shiver of anticipation passed through her. He was stunning, and she wanted him. But the next move would be up to her. What if she didn’t know what to do?
“Just let me look at you,” he said. “Do you have any idea how beautiful you are, Susan—and how much I’ve wanted you?”
Susan felt her skin warm as he filled his gaze with her. He was holding back, giving her time, she realized. And she knew why. He was letting her take control, giving her a chance to set the pace and back off if she became uncomfortable. He wanted this, their first time together, to be the furthest possible thing from the awful rape that was locked in her memory.
She loved him for that.
Leaning over the bed, she kissed him—letting her lips feather over his, then deepening the contact. As her tongue brushed along the sensitive inner surface of his lower lip, she felt his breath quicken. She could sense the strain as he willed himself to lie still.
She nibbled a trail down his throat, tasting the salt on his skin. Her heart was racing. She knew she could stop anytime and he would understand. But she didn’t want to. All she wanted was Bull, loving her.
Reaching down, her hand closed around his big, hard shaft. He gave a low moan as she stroked him. She loved the baby softness of his skin there, but the sharp catch of his breath told her she was pushing him to his limit.
She could feel the pulsing of her own need, the slickness of moisture between her thighs. She’d expected to be fearful, or at least hesitant, but all she could think of was how much she wanted to be his.
Straddling his hips, she found the center of her slickness and lowered herself down the length of his jutting sex. As he filled her, it was as if she could feel his heat all the way upward through her body. Heaven.
Instinctively, she began to move. He responded with a groan. His hands came into play, clasping her hips as he drove into her, thrusting deeper and deeper. Shimmering bursts ignited inside her as she came, clenching around him in a climax that left her gasping.
“Don’t stop,” he urged, thrusting again. She matched her motion to his. This time she rode a rocket into the stars, reeling as his release mounted. He came with her, exploding with a groan, followed by a long outward breath and a low chuckle of satisfaction.
Susan sagged over him. Tears of relief and gratitude welled as she leaned forward and brushed a kiss across his smiling lips.
Ferg’s rape had left her broken. Bull’s loving had made her whole again.
* * *
As dawn crept through the curtains, Bull woke to find Susan curled against him, still asleep. He lay still, savoring her sweet warmth and the memory of last night—how they’d made love, showered together, made love again, and then lay talking and snuggling until they drifted into slumber.
Now their night was ending. They would wake up, get ready for the day, and go their separate ways. Susan would go home and prepare to start college. Bull would go back to the Rimrock and build it into a place where his lady would be proud to live. They would keep their relationship a secret for now. But they’d keep in touch and manage to see each other when they could. In a year, or however long it took them to be ready, they would marry and start their lives together.
It was a sensible plan, Bull told himself. Maybe too damned sensible. But whatever it took, he wanted to do right by his woman.
Thinking of the long day ahead, he leaned over and kissed the tip of her nose. “Wake up, sunshine,” he said. “Time to get moving.”
“Mmm?” She made a little muzzy sound. “Get moving where?”
“You back to Savannah to become a college girl. Me to pick up a few bucks’ worth of rodeo money and head for Texas, to turn the Rimrock into a showplace for you.”
“Not yet,” she murmured, her arms sliding around his neck. “It’s early. We’ve got a little time, haven’t we?”
He kissed her and felt the warm pulse of early morning desire. Yes, they had a little time. Just enough.
* * *