“You can take it.”
I pull out before slowly thrusting back into her, and she lets out a low moan. She meets my next thrust and cries out. Her sounds are all it takes for my control to snap. Gripping her hips, I slam her to me. I repeat the motion again and again, setting a steady pace. Every nerve in my body tingles as I feel my release getting close.
“You’re beautiful,” I breathe. “So, fucking perfect.”
“Tate!” she cries out. “Oh, shit.”
Leaning forward, I speak softly against her ear. “Yeah, baby? You ready to come for me?”
“I—I can’t,” she pants. “It’s too much, I can’t!”
“Yeah, you can,” I say gently, snaking my arm around her to tease her clit. “You can give me one more.”
Her cries grow louder, and her body stiffens around me. “Tate—I—I—"
“Fuck,Joy,” I growl as my balls tighten and my breathing grows even more shallow. “Fuck!”
I feel her squeeze around me as her entire body stiffens. My orgasm crashes through me and I swear I might black out. Her pussy continues to clamp around my pulsing cock as I fill her. She collapses and I follow, turning us both so I don’t land on top of her. We’re silent as we lay still trying to catch our breath.
She’s quiet when I drag myself out of the bed and head for the bathroom. Leaving the door open, I quickly get cleaned up and prepare a warm washcloth for her. She’s still quiet as I join her on the bed and gently wipe away our mess. After tossing the washcloth into the hamper, I finally get back in bed, covering us both with the blanket.
“You okay?” I rasp, placing a kiss on her bare shoulder after pulling her into my arms.
Her back is pressed to my front, so I can’t see her face, but I feel her tense in my arms at the question. My heart picks up speed as I force myself to give her a second to respond.
“Did I hurt you?”
“I’m okay,” she says after another long moment.
“Did I hurt you?” I repeat.
She shakes her head. “No. I’m okay.”
I’m not believing that for a second. Once again, I force myself to give her time to talk. Her arm is silky and warm beneath my touch as I stroke her in a soothing gesture. Another long silence stretches between us and it’s obvious she isn’t planning to elaborate.
“Sweetheart, listen—”
She cuts me off. “I meant what I said. I don’t want to talk tonight.”
Her tone is final. Hope begins to fade as I recall the ways I fucked up. I can beg her forgiveness all I want, but when it comes down to it, I’d be fucking pissed too if things were the other way around. But she’s here. She gave her body over to me in a way I’ve never experienced. She allowed herself to be vulnerable to me, even after I hurt her. And she’s still here. That means something. It has to.
I want to argue. To push for her to talk to me, but I know nothing good could possibly come from it. So, I pull her a bit closer and enjoy the fact that she’s here and allowing me to hold her. I brush her hair from her face and place a kiss on her cheek before returning my head to the pillow. Her comforting scent fills my nose, and when I feel her breaths growing slower and more even, I close my eyes.
Chapter 25
Tate
It’sbeenfivedays.Five fucking days since I woke up to find Joy gone from my bed; and she’s avoiding me like the plague. As busy as I’ve been with the transition at Boulder Ranch, I still can’t think of anything but her. I hate my empty house. I hate walking past her car in the parking lot and not being able to storm into the barn and demand she talk to me. Well, I guess I could, but that would only prove her point about this being a problem.
“Well, boss, what do you think so far?” Hayden’s gaze lingers on me for a moment before returning to the arena where a few of the guys are getting in some practice rides.
“I haven’t really done much yet, but running this place while I have my own working ranch is going to be a problem. I knew it when I agreed, but now I really need to find someone. I’d rather have someone help me out here than hire more staff for my place,” I say with a sigh.
I can’t complain about how much work it is because I know what I signed up for. What I don’t say is that my first thought when Gary first approached me, was that maybe Grayson would help me run it. Now, I’m not sure. He’ll be okay, but between his recovery and his new relationship, it might be asking too much.
“While you get it figured out, you know I’m good to help you out at your ranch here and there when you need it.”
“Thanks.” I pat him on the back once before returning my attention to the arena.
