He didn’t stop, didn’t mess up by changing his pace, and didn’t do anything other than to send me flying into the abyss of the most spectacular orgasm of my life. I’d never made sounds like the ones being ripped out of me as I came, waves of pleasure that made my ears hot and my entire body tremble like a leaf.
After, as it subsided, he licked me clean, then crawled up the length of my body and kissed me again, slowly but deeply. I wound my fingers into his hair and kissed him back, not at all bothered by tasting myself on his lips.
All I wanted was to return the favor, but Trent shifted us up on the bed, pulled the covers over both of us, and tucked me into his side like it was the most natural thing in the world. Sweat dotted his forehead and I felt the massive bulge in his jeans, his pulse hammering under his jaw, but when I looked up at him, he shook his head.
“I’m a big boy, Charlotte. I’ll be fine. Just close your eyes and go to sleep now, okay? It’s been a really long day and I can’t guarantee that tomorrow will be any better.”
His arm was heavy and warm around my waist, his breath steady against the back of my shoulder. I didn’t know where to put my hands at first. I’d never shared a bed like this, not in anyway that felt so real, but when he tugged me closer, I let myself exhale and melt into him.
My last coherent thought before sleep dragged me under was that this, falling asleep in his arms, felt dangerously close to something I wanted to do for the rest of my life. And somehow, I might actually be able to.
I woke up the next morning alone. For a second, confusion swept over me, warm sheets, the faint scent of Trent still clinging to the pillow beside me, and sunlight spilling across the room I’d barely even seen the night before, but then I spotted a folded note on his side of the bed.
Out with the cows. Didn’t want to wake you. —T.
Of course he was. Married just over twenty-four hours and my husband was already out ranching like nothing had changed. A ridiculous little swell of affection rose in my chest before I shoved it down.
I dragged myself out of bed, wincing at how deliciously wrecked my body felt after last night, and I was halfway into a borrowed hoodie when I heard someone calling my name.
“Charlotte? Honey, are you here?” Claira called from downstairs. “Trent? Anyone?”
Oh God.I shoved the hoodie down and grabbed the same jeans I’d had on yesterday. I barely made it to the landing before she spotted me and swept me up into one of her full-body, spine-realigning hugs.
“Oh, I am so glad you’re here,” she said into my hair. “I told Trent I was going to give him one single day before barging in. One. But now you’re back and we can start planning holidays, and family dinners, and, good heavens, babies. You two will have the most beautiful child?—”
“Claira—”
“And Christmas! You must let me host this year. And Thanksgiving. And Easter. And?—”
She pulled back to look at me properly, and for a moment, her smile was so bright it felt like staring into the sun. But then her gaze dropped to my hand, specifically to the rings on it, and everything about her froze.
“Charlotte,” she breathed. “Oh, I’m so happy he gave it to you. It’s looks beautiful on you, darling.”
My fingers twitched, instinctively curling into a fist around the wedding band Trent had chosen yesterday. But it was the engagement ring that she was staring at.
A ring she clearly recognized. I frowned a little, wondering why it suddenly felt like I’d stolen it from her. “I didn’t realize it was, uh…”
“It was mine,” she whispered, her eyes shining. “That was my engagement ring. My mother’s before me and her mother’s before that. I gave it to Trent when he graduated college. Told him to give it to the woman he wanted to spend his life with.”
My stomach dropped so hard that I almost swayed. He’d never told me that. He’d never told me anything about its history, actually, but a brutal, sickening thought was already at full strength in my head.
Did he give Savannah this ring, too?
My mouth went dry. My heartbeat stuttered painfully behind my ribs. I stared down at the diamond right along with Claira. It was a stunning, vintage cut that suddenly felt too heavy for my hand. I tried to keep my face neutral, calm, sane, but I couldn’t help the suspicions drilling through my mind like nails.
What if I’m wearing a recycled promise? What if this wasn’t supposed to ever have been mine at all?
Claira touched my arm gently. “Charlotte, honey? Are you alright?”
I nodded, but she looked at me like she didn’t believe me and I didn’t blame her. I didn’t believe myself either. But the truth was that I honestly didn’t know. All I knew right now was that Iwas wearing another woman’s ring, and I didn’t think he’d ever meant to put it on my finger.
CHAPTER 30
TRENT
Ispent the whole morning out with the cows, trying to get my head screwed on straight. It didn’t work.
By the time I hit the highway into Dallas, I wasstillthinking about Charlotte’s bare skin under my hands and the way she’d melted against me. Hell, I’d never been that turned on. Not even close. It had been so intense I’d had to stop.
