Part 23 (2/2)

”What do you think, Thunder? Should Dad and Kate have kids?”

Thunder nuzzled him, and Ashton would swear that the horse was all for the idea.

”Figures you'd take her side. You always did love her best.”

”'Scuse me,” Gordon said. ”Thought you might like some carrots.”

Embarra.s.sed to have been caught in a conversation with a horse, Ashton said, ”We'd love some.” Ashton took the proffered carrots and held them up for Thunder to see. ”Hungry?”

The horse snapped one of the carrots out of his hand before Ashton knew what hit him. ”That was crafty,” he said, laughing. ”I heard you were getting old. Not too old for hijinks, I see.”

Gordon laughed as he walked away. ”There ain't nothin' old about that fella.”

The same might be said about his dad, Ashton thought. Even though he was in his mid-fifties now, he looked and acted like a much younger man. While Ashton wasn't thrilled to hear that his dad and Kate were back together, he wanted his dad to be happy. And though the relations.h.i.+p had caused a lot of heartburn the first time around, standing before the horse they all loved, Ashton vowed to do his best to understand this time. He would try his hardest to be friendly to Kate and to welcome her into their lives.

Since he wanted his dad to do the same for him with Jill, how could he do any less for his dad? He fed the rest of the carrots to Thunder and ran a hand over the horse's silky muzzle. ”I'll be back to see you again soon.”

Ashton left the stables and took a long walk in the woods, circling back around to Jill's place more than an hour later. Not wanting to disturb her when she was working, he let himself in, took off his coat and was heading for the sofa when she appeared in the doorway to the kitchen.

”Oh hey, you're back. I thought you might've left.” She looked pale and tired, which made him mad. She'd been so relaxed in California.

He went to her, put his hands on her shoulders and ma.s.saged away some of the tension. ”I told you I'd wait for you.”

”Still... You must have something you'd rather be doing than waiting around for me.”

He shook his head.

”Oh.”

”You're cute when you're caught off guard.”

”Then I must be very cute, because you catch me off guard all the time.”

”You're very, very cute, and I like to keep you on your toes.” His hands moved from her shoulders to her face, and for the longest time, he just looked at her, drinking her in like the hungry, needy fool he became in her presence.

She licked her lips nervously, drawing his attention to her full bottom lip.

”Why are you staring at me?”

Still zeroed in on her enticing mouth, he said, ”Because I can.”

”What does that mean?”

He smiled and kissed her forehead, her nose and then her lips. ”It means that for so long I had to subsist between meetings, hoping to catch a glimpse of you here or there. Now I get to look to my heart's content.”

Her face heated, which pleased him no end. Knowing he got to her, that he affected her the way she affected him... His thought process was derailed by the feel of her soft hands slipping under his s.h.i.+rt to make contact with his back. He went from hungry and needy to desperate the second her skin brushed against his.

”Did you get everything done?” he forced himself to ask.

”Not everything, but I made some good progress. I got a couple of interviews booked for Kate that should help to put the story into her own words. Now if she would only return my calls.”

This was said with a hint of aggravation.

”She will. When she's ready.”

”I hope she's ready soon. I need her to get her a.s.s back here and deal with this.”

He nuzzled her fragrant, silky hair, captivated by her scent and the way she fit so perfectly in his arms.

”Ashton?”

”Hmm?”

”What're you doing?”

”Holding you.” Was it his imagination, or did she snuggle closer to him? ”Do you want to go out to dinner?”

He felt her shake her head against his chest.

”What do you want to do?” he asked, hoping with every fiber of his being that she wanted the same thing he did.

She ran her hand down his arm and curled her fingers around his. ”This,” she said, tugging him toward a hallway that he prayed led to her bedroom.

Thank you, Jesus.

Her room was practical yet feminine with frilly curtains and a patchwork quilt on the bed. Ashton didn't waste much time taking in the decor, especially after she tugged her s.h.i.+rt up and over her head. Standing before him in a peach silk bra over pale, creamy skin, and her dark hair loose around her shoulders she looked like a G.o.ddess. His hands curled into fists at his side as he held himself back from grabbing her and taking her with the force of the desire that pounded through him. She tugged at the b.u.t.ton to her jeans, and he was frozen, utterly unable to move as he watched her.

A small, s.e.xy smile curved her mouth. She knew exactly what she was doing to him, undressing slowly in front of him. She s.h.i.+mmied out of the jeans to reveal a peach silk thong that matched the bra. He'd been with her when she bought the set in California, but he hadn't appreciated then how glorious it would look on her. He certainly appreciated it now.

When she reached behind her to release the bra, he finally found his voice. ”Wait.” The single word came out much harsher than he'd intended.

Her hands fell to her sides, and a hint of uncertainty appeared in her expression.

”Let me.”

He started at her hips, his hands sliding over her ribs and up to cup her b.r.e.a.s.t.s through the bra. He watched, transfixed, as her nipples pebbled, and bent to suck one of them between his teeth, which made her gasp. Her fingers combed through his hair, pulling him closer.

Ashton didn't have to be asked twice. He tugged her in tight against him, releasing the bra with the snap of two fingers behind her. Nudging it off her shoulders, he kissed and licked and suckled her smooth skin. He was addicted to her scent, her taste, her smoothness.

He'd intended to take her slowly, to draw out the suspense for both of them, but the instant her b.r.e.a.s.t.s sprang free of the bra and pressed against his chest, all his finesse abandoned him, and the need took over. It had been hours and hours and hours since he'd last held her and kissed her. Thinking of the way she'd bent over him and taken his erection into her mouth on the plane sent a surge of desire to his already hard p.e.n.i.s as he devoured her in a series of kisses that left him dying for more.

From the first instant she walked into his office, he'd known she was going to change his life. He could admit that now that he had her pliant in his arms, straining against him, using her body to tell him what she wanted. Before he'd had the opportunity to be with her like this, he'd been afraid to own up to the effect she'd had on him that first day.

He used to wonder how he'd survive if he never got the chance to show her what she did to him just by walking into a conference room, full of purpose and intent, endlessly efficient. He'd suspected all along that underneath the cool veneer was a hot, s.e.xy woman. Now he held living proof of just how hot and s.e.xy she really was in his hands, and he was filled with relief and excitement-and overwhelming desire.