I sit in the chair across from her and soak in the sight of her in my space. I didn’t think I’d get to have this again. “I was going to call you tonight once I got the girls tucked in.”
Gia’s eyes widen. “Really?”
“Beverly made me realize I never gave you the option to stay. I knew you wouldn’t, so I thought it would be pointless to tell you how I felt. Mostly, I wanted to avoid the heartbreak of telling you and you leaving anyway.”
She looks down at the glass in her lap. “And I would have. Left, I mean. It felt insane to stay in a place after only being here for a few weeks. I needed the space to know that what I was feeling wasn’t a product of being somewhere new.”
“Did you come back just for me?”
“No. That was something else I needed the distance to figure out. I really like this town. I feel like I’ve made friends, and it wasn’t hard to see a future here with or without you. Granted, it would’ve been hella awkward if you didn’t want me back.”
I breathe out a laugh. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but I’m glad you didn’t come back just to be with me. Talk about a shit ton of pressure to get everything right.”
Gia laughs. “Right? I’d really like this to work out, but if it doesn’t, I still want to see what else this town has to offer.I feel a connection to this place I’ve never felt before. Not even in my hometown. I stayed in Sonoma because my family and best friends were there, but my sister showed me that I didn’t really see it as my home anymore.”
“And you think Pine Creek Falls might be?”
She shrugs. “It could be. As much as I’d like to, I can’t see the future, so who knows, but there’s something here, and I want to find out what it is.”
“Where does that leave us?”
“What do you mean?”
“Are we dating? Are you my…girlfriend? Christ, I’m entirely too old to be using that word.” I run my palm down my face.
Gia drops her head back with a laugh. “You’re not too old to do anything, but I’d agree that girlfriend feels a little too much like teenage love to describe us. How about we just say we’re dating?”
“Exclusively?”
“Absolutely.” She gives me a dark look that promises retribution if I ever stray.
“Come here, Rainbow.”
Gia sets her wineglass on the table and moves to straddle my lap. I slide my hands up her thighs until they settle into the dip at her waist. She fits into my hands as if she were made to be there. I’m overwhelmed with all the things I want to do with her tonight. There are too many thoughts flashing through my head, things I fantasized about but never did because we ran out of time.
“I missed you, Cowboy,” Gia whispers against my mouth. Her lips tease mine in a barely there kiss until I get tired of waiting. I grip the hair at the nape of her neck and pull her head down. She moans, her hips rolling to find the friction she’s desperate for. I slide my other hand down her back to cup her ass. I encourage her to keep using me,reveling in the pleasurable torture of her grinding on my thick cock.
I want to throw her on the bed and fuck her until we’re both exhausted, yet at the same time, I want to take her slowly, show her exactly how I feel with her back in my arms.
But I can’t do any of that until she’s naked.
I stand with her still in my arms. Gia gasps at the sudden movement, scrambling to wrap her legs around my waist.
I carry her over to my bed and gently lay her on top. I grip the waistband of her sweatpants and underwear, pulling them off in one smooth movement. Gia whips off her T-shirt at the same time. She then flings her bra onto the floor, leaving her lying naked and gorgeous in my bed.
“Look at you, Rainbow. So fucking gorgeous.”
She gives me a show, running her palms down her chest to cup her breasts. It’s an offering I can’t refuse. I climb onto the bed, straddling her body to bend down and take one stiff nipple into my mouth.
Gia cries out as she spears her fingers into my hair. The little bite of pain sends a bolt of pleasure straight to my middle. I didn’t think I’d ever have her in my bed again. I was prepared to use my hand for the foreseeable future, knowing it would be a long while before I was ready to try this again.
Having her spread out on my bed, ready for whatever I want to do to her, is almost more than I can believe.
Gripping the back of my shirt, I yank it over my head and throw it somewhere. Then I unbutton my jeans to give myself some space before I lean back over Gia and kiss down her soft belly. I nip at her hips, leaving little marks I wish I could make permanent. I have no clue how she makes me this feral every time I get her naked, but I want to mark her flesh to prove she’s mine.
“Holt,” she moans. “Oh, fuck.” Her hands are back in my hair as I run my tongue through her wet slit.
She bucks her hips against my mouth, so I grip the back of her thighs, spreading her open and holding her down to keep her still.
