Chapter 4

“Smells like paint,” Penny said as soon as she walked into his house.

“I just moved in and had it painted. I still don’t have much furniture.”

“Wow, it’s beautiful, Travis.” She walked ahead of him, her hands fumbling with her pearls as she looked around. “So, that night that we…uh…you know, kissed…that lady, the show…you really are getting a lot of publicity?”

“I am. It’s been surreal. I never expected to be anything other than a pro fighter, and now I keep getting calls for interviews. And every now and again I’ll even see photographers outside the Academy.”

She stopped and looked around as if she expected paparazzi to come out of the woodwork.

“Not in here—relax.” He placed a hand on her shoulder. “I’m not exactly famous. But Francesca seems to think this is just the beginning of big publicity.”

“But outside? You think people saw us?”

“Nah. I don’t think anyone knows where I live just yet. Plus, I have that big gate out front.”

“Oh, okay.” She seemed to relax a little. “I don’t like being photographed.”

“Care to elaborate?” he said, reaching up to take off her headband and toss it aside.

“No. Not really.” Her voice trembled. “But you have to promise that you’ll respect that. I don’t want to be on the news or television or anything. Okay?”

“Sure. I promise,” he agreed with a shrug. “You have the best skin I’ve ever seen,” he went on, tracing a finger down her jawbone. “It gets pink when you’re nervous.”

“It’s embarrassing,” she said, looking down.

He pinched her chin gently and lifted her head. “I don’t want you to be shy tonight, okay? The night we kissed, you bit me.”

“I know. I don’t know what got into me. I’m sorry, I—”

“Don’t be sorry. It was the sexiest thing I’ve ever experienced. To the world, you wear your pearls and headband, but to me, at least tonight, I want you wild. You said you wanted wild, Penny.”

“I do. I just don’t think I—”

“Don’t think.” He wrapped his hand around her neck, softly so as not to scare her, and pulled her forward. “I think you secretly have a big wild side in you. Show it to me.”

He wasn’t sure what she was going to do, but he wanted her to take the lead. Not completely, but enough so that she felt comfortable—and also so that he could gauge how crazy she wanted to get, how rough she wanted it.

For some reason he expected her to kiss him again or maybe ask him to lead them to the bedroom; what he didn’t expect was for her to reach for the hem of her T-shirt, pull the shirt off, and toss it to the side. She swallowed, then toed off her shoes, unzipped her pants, and slid them down her body. It wasn’t sexy the way she did it. She wasn’t trying to be flirty. But because she was so shy and clearly inexperienced, watching her undress made him feel like a voyeur in an erotic fantasy. With her long chestnut-colored hair over her shoulders, almost covering her breasts, she stood there in a plain white bra and matching panties. Now it was his turn to swallow. He felt like it was his first time.

He felt nervous—that’s how she made him feel. As if she was too delicate, too special; like one wrong touch and he’d fuck it all up. He couldn’t stop staring. She was gorgeous. Right above the swell of her small breasts she had a spray of freckles. There were two small moles just under her right breast, almost like a vampire bite. And her legs went on forever.

“You’re staring.”

“Can’t help it. You’re breathtaking. I mean, I knew you were beautiful, but you’re even more than my wildest dreams.”

“Your turn, cowboy.” The way she fidgeted with her pearls and her voice shook slightly, it seemed like she was trying to be brave. Clearly she was fighting through her nerves. It made him that much more excited that she was willing to be brave with him.

“I like that, darlin’. That sass.” He winked.

He took off his hat and threw it on the couch, then unbuttoned his shirt and tossed it aside. Her eyes roamed his body.

He was unbuckling his belt when she said, “Wow. You have a lot of tattoos.”

He stopped and looked down at his chest. “Is that a problem?” He continued to undo his belt.

“No. I just haven’t seen so many tattoos before. Except your sister’s, of course.”

He pushed his jeans down and kicked them away, then reached for her forearm and pulled her toward him abruptly. “C’mere.” Her hands automatically went to his pecs so as to not fall. “I’m gonna kiss you now.”

He pulled her by the back of the neck toward his mouth and gently touched her lips with his tongue, tasting her slowly. But then the little minx bit his lip and he lost his self-control.

The sweet, God-fearing woman in front of him who didn’t curse had a naughty side to her. He picked her up, and she instinctively wrapped those long slender legs around him. With his hands underneath her ass and her face nuzzled in his neck, he walked them into his bedroom.

“God, you feel good.”

She was nibbling on his earlobe. “Don’t use the Lord’s name in vain.”

“You’re practically on my cock, sugar. I think using the Lord’s name in vain should be way down on your list of shit you’ve got to make right with God, no?” Hastily he laid her on his bed and followed. He didn’t want her to change her mind, but he had to ask one last time. “You sure you want to keep going? We can stop at any time.”

“I’m sure. I’m sure.” She lifted her hips and pulled her panties off and tossed them aside, making him laugh.

“Okay, guess you’re sure.” He reached behind her to undo her bra and helped her get that off as well. Then she reached for his briefs. “Slow down. What’s the hurry?”

“I just…I…”

Travis slid his hand down her body and smacked her ass—not hard. Her eyes widened. “Stop squirming,” he demanded. “I’m goin’ to touch you now, Penny, and I’m going to take my time, because you took your sweet ass time letting me take you out. So relax, because we’re goin’ to be a while.”

She bobbed her head.

His hand moved closer to her pussy; he could feel the heat. She liked it when he got rough and in charge—that much was obvious.

He slapped her ass again, this time a little harder. “Glad we’re on the same fuckin’ page for once,” he said, and then he was there. Her folds were slick with desire and he slid a finger up and down, making her even wetter. He pressed a little more firmly, and as soon as his finger touched her clit she almost jumped off the bed.

Ms. Prim and Proper was about to get fucked hard and dirty, just the way she’d never known she wanted it.

Her legs spread wide for him, her head dropped back, and then he was inside of her, first with one finger and then with a second. Her moan was the most erotic thing he’d ever heard. He ran his other hand up her body all the way to her neck. Her eyes were open now, and she was looking at him. “You like this, Penny? I want to see you lose control.”

She nodded, and he squeezed her throat a little, his thumb on one pulse point and his forefinger right by her windpipe. He wondered if she was going to push him away, but she didn’t take her eyes off his. A moment later she fell apart in his hands—her pussy squeezed, her back arched, and she screamed—but her eyes never once wavered from his.

She was pink and bare for him on his bed, her dark hair all over his pillow, his fingers still wet from her.

“I have to tell you that was the hottest thing I’ve ever felt, heard, or seen.” He reached into his nightstand, ripped open a condom, and had it on in record time. “I need to be inside of you right the fuck now. Look at me—I’ve never been this fuckin’ hard in my life.” He pushed her knees open with his own and guided his cock into her, pushing all the way in. She was so goddamn tight that it would take one, maybe two strokes to make him blow. So he didn’t move for a moment.

He pushed his thumb into her mouth and demanded, “Suck.”

She complied, and a moment later he pulled his thumb out of her mouth and used it to rub her clit.

“Oh! I…oh…Travis…” she moaned, and he continued to rub. “Please, move,” she begged.

“Can’t. Too tight. If I move, I’ll come.”

Her eyes rolled back, and she moaned again, sending vibrations all the way to his balls. “I thought that was the point,” she said, her eyes shut tightly in ecstasy.

“No. Want to come together.” He began to rub harder, his other hand holding her thighs open. He didn’t even try to be gentle. His fingers dug into her skin. “You want it rough, sugar?” He didn’t give her the opportunity to think about it, much less answer, because instead of rubbing, he pinched her clit hard. He let go of her thigh and reached down to her tits and cupped one roughly. “I’m going to bite that nipple.”

“Do it!” she goaded him, her eyes closed tight, her skin flushed and sticky from their sweat. Her uncharacteristic remark set him off; it was as if he had unleashed a beast in her.

Or was it the other way around? Because holding her open to him, doing whatever he wanted to her body, he felt like a goddamn madman. A lion ready to unleash everything on her.

He released a low, feral growl from deep within as he bent down, sucking her nipple into his mouth and then biting down, not enough to draw blood, but enough to cause her pussy to constrict hard around his cock.

He had to move. Fuck it. He had to.

“I’m going to come, Travis. Don’t stop,” she yelled. “Harder. Harder.”

He slammed hard; the bed moved and screeched with each thrust and her tits bounced up and down, his palm wrapped hard around one breast. Surely she’d be bruised tomorrow from his rough handling. He’d definitely marked her, and somehow that turned him on even more.

“Fuck baby, fuuuuck!” he grunted, and when her pussy gripped his cock hard, both of them exploded together in an orgy of sensations.

“Woman,” he groaned once he’d caught his breath and rolled over onto his back, “you destroyed my cock. Jesus Christ.”

She wrinkled her nose and sat up, covering herself with the sheet.

He was officially in trouble, he thought as he ran his hand down his face. Fuck that—she was officially in trouble, because he wanted her secret wild side to come out to play again and often. He wanted to test those limits and find out each and every way he could make her scream his name.

After dealing with the condom, he turned onto his side to see one long milky white leg exposed, while the navy blue sheet covered the rest of her body. She breathed in and out, still trying to catch her breath.

“So it was okay, right?” she asked shyly.

He brushed some of the hair off her face. “Was what okay, darlin’?”

“The…you know…the sex?”

He snorted at the absurd question. Then a realization hit him like a ton of bricks, and he sat up abruptly. He knew she was inexperienced—that part was obvious—but it had never occurred to him how inexperienced she really was. “Wait! You weren’t…I mean, I know you’re younger than I am, but are you—were you…Penny, you’re not a virgin, right?”

“Oh goodness, no,” she said, and he blew out a relieved breath and lay back down. “But before this, I’d only done it one other time.”

“What?” He didn’t mean to yell, but he couldn’t help it. “How is that even possible? How old are you, sugar? Twenty-three, twenty-four?”

“Last month I turned twenty-one.”

“Fuck.” He ran his hand through his hair.

“Is that a problem? How old are you?”

“Thirty-one.”

“Oh.” She tucked the sheet around her more tightly.

He had to ask her the same question she’d just asked him: “Is that a problem for you?”

“Um…” She shrugged, causing the sheet to fall a little. “No. I guess not.”

He pulled the sheet away from her and moved her naked body onto his. “Probably shoulda had this conversation before we slept together. But it’s cool, okay? Let’s not make this awkward. I like you. The sex was fantastic, sugar. Nothin’ to worry about. I am surprised someone as pretty as yourself has only had sex one other time, but I’m finding it a turn-on—and a privilege that you chose me to do it with.”

She smiled brightly at him and inched close to his neck. “You’re sweet, cowboy.”

“You know my nickname is Texas, right? My friends, and now the general viewing audience, all call me Texas,” he corrected her.

“I know. But when I first saw you, you reminded me so much of the cowboys back home. It felt kind of familiar. Something about you makes me feel like I’m back home on my big ranch with my horses. That’s why I call you cowboy. Do you remember the first time you met me?”

His hand stroked up and down her soft stomach. “Of course I do. It was your first day at the Pier. What, a year or so ago?”

“Almost thirteen months ago, and it was my first job ever.”

“Ever?”

“Yep. I’d never worked a day in my life, and I was scared out of my mind.”

“You had just broken a glass and were picking it up off the floor.”

“No, that’s not it, exactly. You walked in, and I got distracted and dropped the glass. You took the blame and helped me clean up.”

“So I distracted you, huh?”

She chuckled. “You certainly did. You walked in with that silly cowboy hat and it made me think of home, and then you smiled and I saw those dimples.”

“Well, if it makes you feel better, I was drawn to you from the moment I walked in. You looked so fresh-faced and sweet with that long brown hair and those big eyes.”

“Really?”

“Nah, it was mostly those long legs of yours. I couldn’t keep my eyes off.” He winked as he rolled out of bed. “Going to grab some food. Don’t move.”

She laughed. The man had just eaten. Where did he fit all that food? She flipped onto her stomach, tucked her hands under one of his pillows, and closed her eyes for just a second, basking in the way her body ached deliciously.

A dip on the bed startled her. “So where’s this home of yours that has all the cowboys?” he said with a plate of sandwiches on his lap. She yawned and sat up—evidently she had fallen asleep. It was clear that she badly needed a break. The fast pace of her life was exhausting. Luckily, things were changing, and soon she’d be home more with Belle.

“Oklahoma.”

“You’re a long way from home,” he said, offering her a bite of one of the sandwiches, which she declined.

“That I am. Does it bother you that I call you cowboy? I never meant to say it out loud—it just sort of came out.”

“Sugar, as long as you’re naked and on top of me, you can call me whatever name you want.”

She shifted around so that the entire length of her body was now pressed against his side and her head was propped on her hand. “That’s a really big tattoo.” She caressed the area by his ribs where he had a big eagle. “And this one.” She touched the half-sleeve tattoo on his right arm, which began at his shoulder. “For someone who says he doesn’t believe in God, that is one big tattoo of the Virgin Mary.”

“I didn’t say I didn’t believe in God. And that tattoo isn’t something I’m proud of. Neither is this one,” he said, pointing to one that went right across his upper chest.

“La vida loca?”

“The crazy life,” he translated.

“Can you tell me why you regret those?”

“Some other time.”

She nodded and continued to inspect him, her palm soothingly caressing his skin. “JL has a tattoo just like this one, doesn’t she?” She touched the skin behind his neck.

“We got it together. She has one puzzle piece and I have the other. The eagle by my ribs was just because I loved it. No real meaning.”

“That’s kind of cool, the puzzle one. How is it, having a twin sister? Do you, like, know what she’s thinking and feeling?”

He turned his body so that he could look at her. “No. Most of the time I don’t know what the hell she’s thinking or doing. Her falling for Enzo was like a fucking bomb—I had no idea it was coming. Their pregnancy was even more of a surprise to me. I mean, I know when she’s sad, but that’s just ’cause I know her and I can read her face, not because we’re twins.”

“She’s nice. She’s my only friend here.”

“Why is that? I’m sure she’d take you out with the girls next time they go out.”

“Nah, I’m not really a partier. Plus, it’s hard to get time off of work.” She leaned down and kissed the tattoo on his thigh, which was his favorite. “My daddy once gave me a dream catcher that looked just like this one. He used to tell me, ‘Dream as if you’ll live forever; live as if you’ll die today.’ ”

“No offense, honey, but it doesn’t look like you’re living any big dream.”

She rolled onto her back and took a deep breath. “Daddy was a dreamer. I live in reality.”

“Where’s your daddy now, darlin’?”

“He died when I was young. My mom remarried. She always thought Daddy had stars in his eyes. She complained she needed a man whose feet were rooted firmly in place. And my stepfather is as conservative as it gets. But my mom passed away a few years ago too.”

Travis finished the food, put the plate on the nightstand, and in one fast move was on top of her, his weight held up by his forearms. “Seems to me your daddy was a helluva better person than your stepfather. I’m sorry to hear about your family, Penny.”

She shrugged. “Long time ago,” she said, and began to kiss his neck, making his dick stir immediately. He cupped the back of her neck and pulled her to him. For the next twenty minutes they just kissed. It was different, but nice. Intimate, more so than the actual sex. Then he rolled her onto him and wrapped his legs behind her knees, effectively pinning her body against his. “You’re so sweet, Penny. Never met someone so sweet before.” His fingers dug into her hair, and his arm went around her waist. He couldn’t seem to pull her close enough.

“You’re also so fuckin’ sexy,” he added, and when she looked at him through her long lashes, a heady combination of innocence and sublime ecstasy, he almost crumbled. That was what it was…the combination of her shy inexperience and sexy confidence. That was precisely the hold she had on him, and what made it even better was that she didn’t even know it.

“Can I ask you something?”

She opened her eyes, which had been closed in unadulterated bliss as he caressed her back, running his finger along her spine. “Mmm,” she responded dreamily.

“How long had it been?” He scooted back and sat up. “Since you’d had sex. How long?”

“You said it was okay. I thought it was—”

He placed his hand on her arm. “It was more than okay. I just mean that you were so tight, darlin’. And for a moment you even looked pained. Did I hurt you?”

She shook her head. “No. It didn’t hurt. And to answer your question, it’s been about two years. Twenty-two months, to be exact.”

“Shit, that’s a long time.” His voice was husky. “Gotta say, sugar, for me that was spectacular. As good as it gets.” And he wasn’t just trying to blow smoke up her ass. What she lacked in experience she more than made up in intensity and sincerity. He knew that every scream and moan and every time she bit that bottom lip was because she felt something. She wasn’t doing it for show. It was as genuine as sex could be. “Did you always know you liked it rough?”

“No. Never thought about it, really. But I thought it was amazing. Best ever.” He chuckled, and she added. “Well, okay, there was only the one other time, but still…” She moved so that her pussy was rubbing against his shaft, which was ready to go again. He grabbed her by the hips and stopped her movement. “What are you doing?” she asked, looking like she was going to smack him.

“I still can’t believe it. How is that even possible? You’re gorgeous. You’re twenty-one. I don’t understand. I thought you were in a long-term relationship or something.”

“I told you, I grew up in a very strict household. Very strict. I was taught that you didn’t have sex before marriage. I truly believed that the man I slept with would be the man I was going to spend my whole life with.”

He nearly bolted to his feet. “You’re married?”

“No!” She reached for him, but he pulled back. “I’m not married. I was never married.”

He heard the sincerity in her voice and relaxed. “Need more info, Penny.”

“He was just a guy I thought I was in love with. He worked with my stepdad. It was nothing, just a stupid girl crush. The same wake of crushed hearts you leave behind…well, that’s what happened with me and Lawrence.”

“He broke your heart?” He kissed her gently on the forehead. “Can’t see how anyone who had you would let you go, ’cause darlin’, I’m telling you right now, straight up, I have to see you again. Feel you again. I ain’t takin’ no for an answer again. But my life is crazy right now. There’s a television crew in the Academy most days, and I train all the time. I have this big bout in Vegas coming up, and I have this media shit I’ve gotta do. Are you still up for wild and fun? Because that is something I can certainly deliver.”

She kissed him back and nodded. “Fun sounds perfect. Easy breezy fun. That’s about all I can handle right now.”

“I won’t share you, though.”

A smile spread over her face.

“You feelin’ me, sugar?” he asked. And he wasn’t referring to the bulge pressing against her thigh.

“Yes, I feel you, Travis. Monogamous temporary fun,” she agreed as she rubbed against him.

He snorted. “I want you so bad, but we did a lot and I was rough. I think if we do it again tonight, you’re goin’ to be hurtin’ tomorrow.” He flipped her to her back and ran his fingers down her torso, playing with the scarce trail of hair on her pubic bone. “Close your eyes.” He continued to caress the area and the lips of her pussy. It was driving her crazy. Meanwhile, his mouth hovered over her breasts and stomach. “I’m going to make you feel so good,” he whispered into the skin by her belly button, and gently began to play with her clit.

He never penetrated her and he certainly didn’t do anything rough, but it didn’t take much to make her come. She screamed his name and trembled underneath him. His new favorite pastime could easily become just touching her to see how fast she could come, and he’d never grow tired.

He kissed her cheek and yawned.

“You’re tired?”

“Pleasing you is hard work, baby.” He winked. “I rarely sleep. All the training must be catching up with me or something.”

She played with the pearl necklace that was still around her neck. “How about you? You must be kind of uncomfortable.” Her eyes drifted to the hard-on he was sporting.

“I’m good.” He winked. “We’ll have time for that soon enough.”

“May I use your bathroom?”

“Of course. Right through that door.” He pointed. She scrambled out of the bed, picking up her clothes along the way to the bathroom. “Travis! Wow! Your bathroom is huge,” she called from inside the big room.

“It’s the reason I fell in love with the house,” he called back.

It had a huge tub on one side, and on the other side was a shower that easily fit two people. There was a large area with a couch and a vanity, and the entire bathroom was white and gray marble. He loved his bathroom. How far he’d come, he thought. There’d been a time in his life when he’d had no home at all. He shook those thoughts out of his mind when she emerged a few moments later fully dressed.

“You’re not going to stay? I want you to stay.”

“I bet this is a first for you, cowboy,” she teased, sitting on the edge of the bed.

“Ha ha.” He stood up and began to look for his clothes. “No headband?” he asked, noticing that she wasn’t wearing one.

“Maybe I’ll stop wearing it. It makes me stick out.”

“I like it.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, makes me live out the schoolgirl fantasy I’ve had. You think you can wear a plaid skirt and pigtails too? I’ll pretend to be the teacher you’re secretly in love with.” He waggled his eyebrows. She didn’t laugh at first, just looked at him. Then she bent over in a fit of laughter. “I take it that’s a no on the fantasy, then?” he asked wryly.

“Yeah, definitely no,” she said with a laugh as they walked out of his house.