Bending, he took the hardened peak into his mouth and suckled greedily. He’d warned her. Tory had had her chance to back away. Now that he’d had a taste of her, she was a fire in his blood. He wanted her and he meant to have his fill.
Hot, deep, lusty kisses followed, pushing the limits of his control. Determined to make it good for her, he forced himself to slow down, to coax instead of ravage, to stroke and tease until he had her squirming beneath him.
He was painfully hard, hanging on by a thread. “I want you,” he said. “I need you, baby.”
Her fingers dug into his shoulders. “Please, Josh.”
Kneeing her legs apart, he settled betweem them, then eased himself inside. Hot blood pulsed through him. When Tory arched up, taking him deeper, a low growl slipped from his throat.
Clamping down hard on his control, he tried to go slow, but his body wanted none of it. He tried not to hurt her, tried not to be greedy and take her too hard, but Tory wouldn’t let him back away.
She was an equal partner in this, and when he turned over on the mattress, taking her with him, lifted her on top of him and gave up control, she proved it.
She rode him until she reached her peak, her soft cries, and the sweet contractions of her body urging him to take what he’d wanted since the day she had driven her old blue Chevy up in front of his barn.
Holding on by a thread, Josh rolled her beneath him and surged deep, took her hard, took her and took her, driving her up all over again, and this time when she came, he joined her, spinning out the pleasure, the rapture, letting the need slide away.
They lay quiet for a time, lazily spiraling down. It felt good just having her beside him. With a last, soft kiss, he eased out of bed, took care of the condom and returned, drew her close and tucked her against his side.
Drowsiness settled over him. He should get up, sleep in his own room just in case, but she felt so good snuggled against him, he let himself drift for a while. He wasn’t sure how long what they had would last, but he planned to enjoy it until it ended.
One thing he knew, as long as Tory was with him, she was under his protection. She and her little girl.
It was a job Josh took seriously.
If Damon Bridger knew what was good for him, he would stay the hell away.
Chapter Seventeen
Another day passed. Lisa’s condition was upgraded to stable. Her parents were at the hospital with her, other friends, and family.
Lisa was in good hands, and Tory missed her little girl. Ivy was restless for her mother, and Josh had a ranch to run. It was time to go home.
“You’re going to be okay,” Tory said to Lisa as she sat in the chair next to the hospital bed, holding on to her best friend’s hand.
Lisa was swathed in bandages, still hooked up to a heart monitor. An IV dripped fluids into a tube taped in her arm. A bandage around her head covered a patch of shaved blond hair, but she still looked beautiful.
“You’re the strongest person I know,” Tory said. “You’ll make it through this.”
“I know . . . I will.” Lisa moistened her lips. “I just . . . wish I could remember. It’s like a big black . . . hole with . . . nothing in it.”
Tory poured some water into a paper cup and held it up for her friend to sip. “Maybe it’s better you don’t remember.”
Lisa swallowed, then lay back on the pillow. “I’ve thought about that. The doctors say it’s possible I might . . . never remember any of it. They don’t really . . . know.”
Tory squeezed her hand.
Lisa managed to smile. “I like your Josh. He’s really . . . hot.”
Tory smiled back. “Yeah, he is.”
Lisa’s expression changed. “Be careful, Tory. Make sure he’s . . . everything he seems.”
Tory glanced away. “I’ll be careful.” Lisa was thinking of the vicious, brutal abuser Damon had turned out to be. They hadn’t talked about him. Lisa didn’t remember who was responsible for her abduction, and the police had confirmed Damon’s alibi.
“I pray they catch whoever did this to you,” Tory said.
“So do I.”
