“Ellie,” he breathed, slipping his hands into those soft curls.“I don’t ever want to be without you again,” he whispered against her lips.
Folding her arms around his neck, she smiled.“I like—”
But he didn’t want to talk anymore and broke off her words with a kiss.Within minutes his senses were steeped in her scent, her softness, the velvety texture of her skin, quiet sighs slipping from his throat.He was never going to get enough of her.Never.
Without taking his mouth from hers, he picked her up and gently laid her on his bed.He’d thought they’d take it slow—they had all night—but his blood had already reached boiling point and his body was craving a release only she could give him.
*
Drowning in asea of sensation after sensation crashing over her, Ellie just held on to Becket.He was her rock, the one she could hold on to, always.Deep down, she’d known it, but she’d been so afraid to be hurt again, so afraid to give love another chance.That was why it had been easier to believe all the wild stories about Becket; she’d been trying to protect herself.
Becket’s hands were everywhere, stroking her, caressing her until she was a shuddering, aching mess.Nearly desperate, she pulled her top over her head, kicked off her shorts.“You’re wearing too many clothes again, cowboy,” she got out as she tried to push his jeans out of the way.
With a grunt, he lifted his hips and helped her.His jeans were still flying through the air and she’d already taken him in her mouth.Groaning, he pulled her up.“If you do that, I’m not going to last.”
“That’s the idea,” she grinned as she tried to crawl back to where she’d been.
“I haven’t had my way with you yet.”He flipped her onto her back.Lifting himself on one elbow, he fondled her breasts.“These,” he whispered as he bent down, “keep me awake at night.”As his mouth closed around an aching nipple, one hand slipped down and he cupped her.
The sensation of his hot mouth and clever hands was too much for her already overstimulated senses.Within seconds she was trembling, crying out his name.
Before she could catch her breath, he’d put on a condom and was hoisting himself above her, his eyes feverish, his breath labored.“Look at me,” he pleaded as he moved forward.
With a cry she welcomed him home, slipping her arms around those muscled shoulders.She tried to keep her eyes on him, she didn’t want to miss a single expression on his face, but as they raced together up that mountain, her head fell backward and with her heart beating his name, they reached the peak simultaneously.
As they soared, he gathered her close and with his lips pressed against her ear, they tumbled down together.
Chapter Eighteen
As Becket parkedhis truck in front of Ellie’s Yarn Cove on Saturday just before lunch, he saw June in his rearview mirror, also on her way to the shop.She’d told him she wanted to spend more time in Marietta.He’d texted her earlier and asked her to meet him here.
After he’d dropped off Ellie in town for work earlier, he’d been to see the family attorney in Bozeman.Rick had no problem with the contract and urged Becket to sign it as soon as possible.This kind of deal didn’t happen so often in this day and age, he’d pointed out.This time, though, Becket wanted Ellie to be present.No more secrets, no more misunderstandings.
“Hi, Becket.”June smiled.“I was so happy to hear from you.You’ve seen your attorney?”
Nodding, he motioned for her to enter the shop before him.“Yes, I have.He’s happy with the contract.”
“So why are we meeting in a yarn shop?”June asked.
“I want you to meet the woman in my life, Ellie Campbell,” he said as he followed her into the shop.
Ellie was nowhere to be seen, but he heard her voice coming from the back.“I know Becket is not the marrying kind, Aurelia.I love him anyway and I’ll be with him for as long as he wants me.I would appreciate it, though, if you’d stop spreading rumors about him.Any yarn for you today?”
“I’m just doing my duty as a…”
“Not interested in yarn?”Ellie interrupted her.“In that case, goodbye.I want to lock up.”
The next moment, Aurelia Hill appeared from behind a cupboard, her cheeks a high color, her lips pressed firmly together.When she saw Becket and June, she sniffed.“I told her you’re going to break her heart…”
Without responding to her comment, Becket opened the door for her.“Good day, Aurelia.”
With another indignant sniff, she left the shop.
As he turned back, Ellie was approaching from the back of the shop.As always, she literally took his breath away.She looked gorgeous.He’d seen her earlier in the white button-down skirt and loose-fitting top she’d bought in Bozeman, but seeing her again nearly brought him to his knees.
Her gaze landed on June before she looked at him again.“Becket?”The expression on her face wasn’t hard to read.Aurelia Hill had upset her and she still didn’t trust him.
Becket frowned.Damn it, how could Ellie still doubt him after last night?His eyes never leaving her face, he strode toward her, pulled her into his arms and kissed her.Not a peck, but a long, wet one that left both of them gasping for air.“I want you to meet June, the publisher I told you about.”
