Staying Home (Roped by the Cowboy Duet Book 2) Read online

  “Just to sleep,” he clarified.

  “Just to sleep,” she agreed.

  But they both knew that the last thing either one of them would be doing tonight was sleeping. Vivian let her hands slide down from his shoulders, over his chest, and to his sides, falling into his waiting hands as if they’d practiced it a dozen times.

  Nash laced their fingers together and leaned down for one more, lingering kiss. Giving her fingers a gentle squeeze, he said, “Let me put out the fire and I’ll be right up.”

  “First door at the top of the stairs.”

  He nodded and watched as she turned and headed out of the room. As she reached the curved archway, she paused to turn back to him. “And don’t take too long, cowboy,” she purred seductively. With a wink, she set off again, and Nash felt his pants grow tight.

  Yeah, there definitely wouldn’t be any sleeping going on tonight. He just hoped that everything turned out okay.

  And that Gretta was fast asleep.

  FOURTEEN

  Was he doing the right thing? The question kept presenting itself in Nash’s mind, but he continued to push it away. For once, he was going to do what he wanted, not what he thought he should do, what was proper. He thought too much, that was his problem. He needed to get out of his own damn way and do something that brought him pleasure and happiness.

  A small voice, buried deep in the dark recesses of his mind, agreed. Typically, when he heard that whisper, he thought of Carlene, but there was no room for her here tonight. That admission was both jarring and freeing.

  As Nash sat on the edge of the bed and watched Vivian standing before him, a coy smile on her face as she slowly peeled each layer of clothing off, starting with the heavy and incredibly soft pink sweater, followed by the painted-on blue jeans, leaving her in a pair of oddly innocent-looking snow-white panties and bra. All he could think was that it was time he listened to what everyone had been telling him, whether directly or indirectly, and moved on.

  And no matter his reservations, he felt Vivian was the right person to move on with. He didn’t know how he knew that. Maybe it was all the pushing and hounding by Gretta that reinforced the idea. He just knew everything in that moment felt right. For the first time in years, he knew without a doubt, he was in the right place at the right time with the right person.

  Well, maybe that wasn’t entirely true. He would much prefer the privacy of his own home in moments like this, without Ms. Gretta downstairs, potentially listening in to their coupling. But Nash could be quiet. Hell, he was damn good at quiet. But could Vivian be quiet too?

  He was about to find out.

  Vivian paused in her strip tease and frowned, dropping hands that had been prepared to release her breasts from their confines to approach him.

  “Are you okay? If you’re changing your mind—”

  Nash pushed to his feet and pressed a single finger to her lips, stopping the words in their tracks. “Shh. I’m not changing anything. I want this,” he said as he allowed his gaze to drop to the soft, rounded mounds gently heaving with each breath. “I want you.”

  His finger left her lips to create a soft trail down her chin, tracing an invisible line down her chest and tracing the delicate flesh of each breast, teasing the thin line of decorative lace topping each cup. Her skin, a flawless pale peach, dotted with goose bumps under his touch, and her tiny nipple pebbled, raising the thin fabric.

  She was a tantalizing woman, so seductive in her surprising innocence that Nash questioned her level of experience and wondered if he’d miscalculated. Had her husband been the only man in her life? Had Nash completely misjudged her?

  He’d always considered himself a good judge of character, but maybe he’d been wrong about her the whole time and hadn’t given her a fair shake. Sure, she’d made a mistake, but was it possible that it had been her single worst mistake ever made? As Nash caressed her delicate flesh, his thoughts worked overtime, reconfiguring everything he’d thought was right and true and finding new answers to questions he’d thought he’d already answered.

  The world suddenly had a different appearance, especially the part of it that was standing right in front of him, staring up at him with amazing eyes that held so much warmth and caring.

  He understood then that Vivian was bearing herself to him in more ways than just her body. She was allowing him to see her, the real her, inside and out.

  “I’m sorry for being such a jackass,” Nash murmured, finding the words easily fell from his tongue.

  Her small hands reached up and framed his face, and Vivian rose up onto her toes, her intent clear. Eyes fixed on his, she whispered, “You’re forgiven, cowboy. Now make love to me.”

  How could a man resist that kind of request?

  Nash’s touch grew firm, and he slid them around her back, making quick work of her bra and freeing a pair of breasts so perky and round and perfect, Nash almost questioned their authenticity. But one touch proved them genuine, and he cupped one, flicking the taught nipple as he dipped down and kissed her mouth.

  Vivian’s kiss was sweet, tender, and lovely. He found himself melting into her touch as much as she was his. Nash hadn’t made love to a woman in ages, and his cock was punching at his zipper, demanding he sate the need that he’d so far ignored successfully but no less painfully. He had to force himself to take it slow, savor the sensations so he could enjoy every last nuance of their time together.

  In case it ends? the cynical part of his mind asked, but Nash tamped the naysayer down, refusing to listen to the self-doubt anymore tonight.

  Backing up slowly, Nash moved them to the bed, turning smoothly until it was the backs of her knees that took his place against the mattress.

  Breaking the kiss, Nash smiled slyly as he pressed closer until Vivian had nowhere else to go but back onto the bed. She eased her weight down and slid back until her feet left the floor and reclined onto her back. Nash followed.

  Crawling up her long, lean body, he soaked in every graceful curve, the slopes of her strongly muscled thighs that led to the tiny V between her legs, a mere shadow beneath the white of her panties, and then up to the swell of her hips before they tapered back in. Finally, his gaze reached the steady rise and fall of her chest, her breasts falling to the side slightly, flattening just a bit, but all the more beautiful and appealing in their natural form than any silicone enhanced breasts could ever hope to be.

  Hovering above her, Nash lowered his head and took his time feathering wet, lingering kisses up the length of her body, paying homage to the woman before him who’d shown more patience and understanding, not to mention care and a strong head to butt against his own when needed than he had come across since…well, he wouldn’t think her name here, in this sacred space reserved only for Vivian and him. All he knew was that, with every passing moment spent in her embrace, Nash felt the connection they shared deepen.

  Stopping at her breasts, Nash sucked Vivian’s nipples between his lips, laving each tiny bud with his warm, wet tongue, until she was arching beneath him, her little mewls of pleasure beseeching him for more.

  He was happy to oblige.

  Kissing higher, he allowed his mouth a brief detour up the graceful curve of Vivian’s throat, sucking and nibbling along the way, and finally, he lifted his head to look into her eyes.

  Vivian’s stared up at him from beneath her long lashes, eyes laden with desire so fierce, Nash could hardly fathom it was all for him. Her long fingers teased the hem of his T-shirt before delving beneath the thin cotton, her touch so light it nearly tickled. As she cinched the shirt up higher, Nash understood what she wanted.

  Rearing up, he tore the shirt over his head and tossed it to the floor, and as he revealed his bare chest to her eager gaze, she looked her fill, examining every muscle he knew to be honed, defined by all the time he spent outside working the land and tending the animals, not to mention the numerous other tasks required by country living.

  Nash was no slouch, he knew that, and
he allowed her to drink her fill before he dropped his hands to his belt and pulled the tongue free of the loops. He popped the button on his pants next and drew down the fly, his cock leaping beneath the thin fabric of the navy briefs he’d donned that morning and leaving no room for mistake how much he wanted her.

  Her hands were hesitant to explore him as he intended to and had already begun to do with her. To Nash, this only added weight to the question of whether or not she’d been with many men before him. He was even more certain now that she was fairly inexperienced, accustomed, perhaps, to a man who took charge, leaving her no room to explore her sexuality and develop confidence in herself to deliver the same pleasure that he intended to give to her. Tonight. Now.

  Right now.

  “Viv…” Nash breathed, letting her name hang in the air as his gaze roamed over her once more.

  Her hands moved to cover her breasts, cover herself from his inspection, but Nash would have none of it and caught them before they could reach their destination.

  “No, don’t hide from me.” He waited until he felt her balled fists relax beneath his hands before releasing them. Then he took another moment to look into her eyes, silently assuring her that he was more than happy with what he saw and making sure that she was ready for him to see it again.

  When he was sure she was ready, he let his hands lead the way before his eyes followed, starting with the flat plane of her breastbone, down the valley between her breasts, until he reached the apex of her thighs, where he met her eyes once again as his hand dipped between her thighs to that heavenly place he longed to be.

  She gasped as he found her heat, her folds slick and wet and ready, and he pushed two fingers inside.

  Nash’s body roared to life, his hips flexing as he withdrew those fingers and pushed them in again.

  “You’re absolutely delicious, darlin’.”

  Vivian’s eyes dilated at his praise, and her legs fell open even more, welcoming him.

  Nash set up a rhythm that had her moving beneath him, soft cries of pleasure and passion erupting from her kiss swollen lips, and when he was certain she’d reached that pinnacle, that place of no return where her muscles began to tighten and her channel swelled and gripped his fingers, Nash couldn’t wait a second longer.

  With his free hand, he released his cock from his briefs and leaned over her. Pulling his fingers free, he coated the shaft with her juices and lined the blunt head of his cock up with her entrance. Vivian was panting as she met his eyes, and Nash held them as he pushed inside of her in one long, slow stroke until he was fully seated in her warm embrace.

  They both gasped, her grip so tight around him he had to take a breath to calm himself so it wouldn’t be over before it began. But it was going to be fast. There was no helping that. She felt too good to keep it at bay for long.

  “Nash…” His name spoken softly was her plea for more, and Nash complied, slowly retreating before gliding back in.

  Her hands found his hips as his body covered hers completely, and then her nails dug in as Nash quickened his pace, their bodies moving together, their breaths and grunts and moans of pleasure combining until the climax slammed into them like a freight train, taking them both by surprise with its ferocity.

  Nash’s head spun as his heart pounded between his ears. When the last convulsion rippled through him, he slumped over, barely having the presence of mind to roll to the side to avoid crushing her.

  They lay there together, side by side, Nash’s eyes closed as sleep threatened to pull him under. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been so relaxed, so sated.

  “That was amazing,” Vivian said, her voice low and raspy, filled with awe and as relaxed as he felt. “How long before you’re ready to go again?”

  A small, tired laugh puffed through his lips. “Give me ten minutes, darlin’.”

  That was the last conscious thought Nash had. The next time he opened his eyes, the sun was shining and the distinct smell of buttermilk biscuits filled the air.

  FIFTEEN

  There was tension in the air, but not the bad kind. The kind that made Nash bashful in a way he couldn’t recall ever having been before. Ms. Gretta kept giving him that knowing smile and a few winks here and there, and when that was coupled with the stolen looks shared between Vivian and him, Nash was ready to jump out of his chair and run back to the safety and privacy of his home.

  But that would be a cowardly move, and he was no coward. He just didn’t relish having his private business on display.

  He guessed he should have expected it, though, going at it like a couple of rabbits in heat under a nosey old woman’s roof, and he had—expected it, that is. He just didn’t think it entirely through. Now that he was faced with those direct looks—because Ms. Gretta didn’t do sidelong or care to bother with social niceties—Nash was feeling a little…squirmy.

  “So what do you two kids have goin’ on today? More fornicatin’ or shall I assume you have more adult matters to tend to?”

  “Ms. Gretta!” Nash admonished. “Have a little decency, would ya.”

  “I’m decent.”

  “Not from where I’m sittin’.”

  Across the table, Vivian dipped her head to hide an embarrassed smile. At least she wasn’t the only one feeling like they were on display.

  “Well, nothin’ about what I heard last night was decent,” Ms. Gretta remarked as she poured herself another glass of iced tea from a pitcher and topped off their glasses in the process. Why the woman insisted on cold drinks in the dead of winter was beyond him. At least she wasn’t married to it, but she did insist on it far more often than he thought was advisable. “Just callin’ it like I see it.”

  “Nothin’ new there,” Nash grumbled. He lifted his glass and downed half, then stood. “I need to get movin’. Lot’s ta do today.”

  “I hope ya aren’t runnin’ outta here on account of my commentin’ on your escapades,” Ms. Gretta said, looking up at him with those shrewd eyes. “I ain’t no fuddy-duddy. I know what adults get up to when no one’s lookin’, and I’m the one who’s been pushin’ y’all to do it.”

  Nash pinched the bridge of his nose and breathed deep. “I ain’t mad at ya. Just askin’ for a bit of privacy ‘s all.”

  “Well I ain’t goin’ down to the Piggly Wiggly to shout the details,” she said defensively. “Just givin’ ya two a hard time. If I an old woman can’t do that, then what else does she gotta live for?”

  Nash and Vivian shared a look of exasperation but didn’t risk further commentary in order to avoid compounding an already impossible situation.

  Gretta rose from her seat as well, but before she made it to her full but miniscule height, she wobbled, suddenly unsteady on her feet, and caught herself on the table’s edge. Nash and Vivian both lunged for her, each grabbing an arm to hold her up.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Are you okay?” they asked in unison.

  Gretta took a moment to collect herself, closing her eyes and breathing deeply long enough to drive Nash crazy with worry.

  Then she opened her eyes and shrugged off their hold. “I’m fine,” she groused. “Just stood up too fast.”

  “Your blood pressure is low,” Nash guessed.

  “Have you taken your meds today?” Vivian asked, her expression carved deep with concern.

  Gretta’s eyes filled with irritation. “I said I’m fine. And no, I didn’t take my medication yet ‘cause I don’t like how they make me feel. ‘Sides, this ain’t nothin’ other than a dizzy spell. Everyone gets ‘em sometimes. You remember,” she told Nash. “When you were just a boy.”

  Nash scoffed. “All teenagers get that. It’s part of growin’ up. You can’t blame youth on this one, Ms. Gretta. Not after what the doctor said and sure as hell not after just gettin’ out of the hospital.”

  He wished she’d stop playing it off as just another day, no big thing. It ticked him off something fierce, made him feel like she wasn’t taking her heal
th seriously.

  “Pah! Y’all worry too damn much.” Gretta turned and stomped her way over to the kitchen sink, clearly upset, but hell, so were they.

  “We’re concerned because we care,” Vivian told her in an attempt to smooth ruffled feathers. “You’ve been living with this for a while, but we only just learned of it.” She cast a pained look to Nash before addressing Gretta again. “We’re just worried about you.”

  Nash was biting his tongue. He knew Vivian’s softer approach was appropriate now, when all he wanted to do was rail at her over her stupidity and blasé attitude over something that was literally stealing her life. Stealing her. How did she expect him to pretend that it was just another day when her time left on this earth was ticking away?

  “Well, worry a little less. Live in the moment and make each one count,” Gretta said from the sink where she kept her back to them. “I refuse to live each day like I’m dyin’. If that’s how y’all plan to treat me, then you know where the door is.”

  Nash stood there, stunned by her response. She’d really kick him out of her life? Just like that? It was shocking to think it could be that easy for her, after she’d practically raised him as if he were her son.

  Vivian must have seen something in his expression that disturbed her, because hell, he was disturbed. She turned fully toward him and reached out, saying, “Nash—”

  That was all he let her get out before he lifted his hand to silence her. He stared holes through the back of Gretta’s head and said angrily, “If you’re gonna stand there and stick your head in the ground and expect me to do the same, then fine, have it your way. I’m not gonna stand around here and watch ya act a fool and dig your own grave. You call me stubborn?” He tsked, shaming what he deemed to be childish behavior. Casting a quick glance to Vivian, he hoped she understood that he wasn’t angry with her, but that he had to go. “You know where I’ll be.”

  With that, it was his turn to turn tail and storm out. And he didn’t bother looking back either. If Ms. Gretta was determined to self-destruct, then she could go right on ahead and do it, but he didn’t have to stand around and watch.