Chapter Fourteen
“You know Jay’s an idiot, right?”
Sam glanced over at HW, who was driving them back to the ranch. They’d arrived back in Morgantown, said their good nights and thank-yous to Jay and Erin, and hadn’t lingered to chat.
“Jay? I wouldn’t say that.”
“In the sense that he doesn’t need to defend me.”
“He’s your friend. He’s just doing what he thinks is right.”
To Sam’s relief, HW didn’t sound at all offended by Jay’s behavior—and she had no doubt at all who had started the altercation in the restaurant. Her best friend hadn’t been a Navy SEAL for ten years without proactively deciding to go after what he deemed a threat. In fact, she would be having a few words with him herself when she got the chance.
“He’s a mite overprotective of me.”
“I get that.”
“But you’re okay with it.”
“Him insisting I treat you right? I’d do the same thing if our situations were reversed.”
“But you probably wouldn’t carry out your threats quite as efficiently as Jay would.”
“True.” HW chuckled. “Damn, he’s one scary dude when he’s on point.”
Relieved, Sam sat back in her seat. “What did you think about Erin’s idea for the ranch?”
“I like it. It’s a really worthwhile cause. I’ve met a lot of kids over the years who’ve changed their minds about horses once I’ve talked them through their fears.” HW turned onto the road leading up to the ranch and dealt with the gate. “And you sound like you know how to present the concept to Chase.”
“I’m really interested in the idea,” Sam said slowly. “It brings together a lot of things I care about.” It was the first time she’d been excited by anything in a long while, but she wasn’t going to tell HW that and freak him out just yet.
“Were you a physical therapist in the army?”
“Nope. I had that qualification before I joined up. I wanted to try something different, so I opted for the military police.”
“Why?”
Sam shrugged. “Because I wanted to be involved in upfront action—something a lot of women don’t get to do.”
“Do you regret that decision?”
She sighed, aware of the darkness closing in around them and the silence. Sitting next to HW in the truck encouraged her to confide in him. “Sometimes. But overall it was a positive experience.”
“A dangerous one.”
“Says the man who rides broncs for a living.”
“Yeah. I’ve lost a few friends over the years, but nothing compared to the sacrifices our military make on a daily basis.”
They’d reached the barn and HW turned off the engine. For a long while they just sat there listening to the engine wind down and the sounds of the nightlife increasing.
Sam took a deep breath and reached over to take HW’s hand. She’d done a lot of thinking at the restaurant and decided a few important things. It was a risk to open herself up to being hurt again, but maybe a controllable one, seeing as she was due to leave in three weeks.
“Will you come to bed with me, HW?”
His fingers curled around hers, his thumb stroking her palm. “If you want me.”
She squeezed his hand hard. “Yes, please. But there’s one small thing I’d like to know before we get horizontal.”
He tensed. “What’s that?”
“Your name.”
Silence greeted her question and she peered up at him. “HW isn’t a real name. I’d like to know who’s really making love to me.”
His sigh went on forever. “It’s stupid.”
“So?”
“When I was a kid, my dad loved to watch cowboy shows on TV. He named us after his heroes. We all got embarrassing names, but I think mine is the worst.”
“Okay; which is the least worst part of it—the H or the W?”
“The W. It’s William for my dad and grandpa, and all the way back in the family tree.”
“William’s a good, strong name,” Sam said cautiously. “So what’s the H?”
“Hoss.” He shifted in his seat.
“Hoss?” Sam blinked at him. “Like horse? Horse William?”
“Nope. Like Hoss Cartwright from Bonanza.”
Sam pressed her lips together so hard she almost bit her tongue and silently shook with laughter. She vaguely remembered the show because her grandpa had loved it.
“You think that’s funny, Sam?”
She still couldn’t speak and just sat there quivering with suppressed giggles.
HW got out of the truck and came around to the passenger side, wrenching open her door. With a growl, he picked her out of her seat and threw her over his shoulder.
“Put me down!”
Sam thumped his back, but HW set off down the slope toward her cabin, only stopping to open the door and duck down to let her through without clonking her head on anything. He went through to her bedroom and dropped her unceremoniously in the center of her bed.
“Stay there.”
“Oh, Hoss!” She clasped her hands to her bosom. “You’re just so gosh-darn manly.”
He followed her down and kissed her until she had to stop laughing and concentrate on the amazing feel of his mouth on hers and the hard press of his body.
“Still think I’m funny?” HW straddled her hips and pulled her T-shirt over her head to expose her best lace bra, which did amazing things for her cleavage. “Jeez, that’s pretty . . .”
“You’re hilarious.” She winked at him. “Take that shirt off right now.”
He started stripping and she just stayed put and enjoyed the show. The man was ripped with muscle in all the right places, with six-pack abs and a happy trail of fair hair that disappeared into his jeans. She brushed her fingers against his straining fly and he groaned.
“Sam . . .”
She scooted up the bed and attacked his belt buckle, undid his jeans, and shoved his zipper down. With a low humming sound of approval, she leaned in and licked the white cotton of his boxers.
His hand slid into her hair. “Don’t—”
But she was already using her teeth to push the already damp cotton down to expose the glory within. She set her mouth over him and his fingers tightened against her scalp as she sucked him deep and held him there. With a stifled sound, his hips rocked forward, giving her even more, and she took it all, loving him with her mouth and her hands and the slight scrape of her teeth.
“If you keep that up, I’ll come.” His voice sounded ragged.
“Mmm . . .” Sam increased the pace, wrapping her arm around his lean hips to keep him exactly where she wanted him until he bucked one last time and gave it up to her.
“Nice.” She leaned back on the pillows and smiled up into his stunned face. “Very nice.”
With a growl, he climbed off the bed and shucked off the rest of his clothes, giving Sam possibly the best visual experience she’d ever had in her life. She pointed out the door.
“Condoms are in the bathroom.”
“Thanks.”
He turned around and she got to view the finest ass in the universe in motion. With a happy sigh, she waited for him to return. Whatever happened between them, she was determined to enjoy the moment. Life was too fragile and precious to avoid everything.
“My turn.”
HW got back on the bed and went straight for the button of her jeans. He eased them down her legs, leaving her panties in place, and hesitated.
“What about your boots?”
“Take them off carefully and then take my socks and jeans off.”
Sam tried not to sound apprehensive. He was the first man to see her naked since she’d lost her foot. She was so used to dealing with the prosthetic and so grateful to have the ability to walk that she was often surprised when people reacted so strongly to it. But if he screamed and ran away, she’d know he wasn’t the right man for her.
“Got it.”
He eased off her boots and socks and drew her jeans down her legs. She held her breath as he wrapped his hand around her left shin and studied the metallic structure of her prosthetic.
“It’s kind of amazing,” He bent his head and kissed her scarred skin just above the joint. “Do you want to keep it on or take it off ?”
His matter-of-fact tone made something wrapped around her heart relax.
“Off, or I might damage that first-class ass of yours.”
She reached down to show him how it attached, and then it was gone and she was beneath him, his hands wandering all over her, his face buried between her breasts. She arched her hips against his, offering more, but he had obviously decided she’d had enough of her own way and had his own agenda.
* * *
HW rubbed his cheek against Sam’s breast and captured her nipple in his mouth. Despite just having come, he was ready to go again, but Sam was going to have to wait. She deserved the best and he was more than willing to give it to her. And damn, she needed to be loved completely. She drove him nuts, she confused the hell out of him, but he couldn’t stop wanting her. He eased one hand behind her back and undid her bra, allowing her lush breasts to spill into his other hand and waiting mouth. Damn. He could die happy now with Sam’s unique scent all around him, her nails digging into his skin as he teased and tongued her.
“Hoss William?”
He raised his head from the delights of her bosom to scowl at her.
“Don’t call me that.”
Her smile was an invitation to sin.
“How exactly are you going to stop me?”
“I’m going to make you scream so hard that you forget how to speak real words.”
“Wow, you really are arrogant.”
He grinned. “Nope, just speaking the truth.”
He set off downward, kissing her rounded belly and running his tongue along the lace edge of her panties. Holding her gaze, he hooked one finger in the fabric and slid them down her legs until he could add them to the mound of clothes on the floor.
His breath caught in his throat as he leaned in close to touch the tip of his tongue to the most sensitive part of her. She bucked her hips in an encouraging manner, but he kissed her thigh and then slowly trailed his mouth back to where he most wanted to be, learning her, reading every sigh and shiver until she was writhing under him.
He slid one finger deep and she came almost immediately, sending a throb of anticipation to his groin as she surrendered to the pleasure, her face flushed, her eyes closed as she writhed against the sheets. Damn, he could look at her all day, sprawled beneath him, taking everything he wanted to give her and offering him so much more in return.
“I want you,” Sam said.
“I want you, too.” HW smiled at her as he pressed his finger deep and set up a steady rhythm.
“Then do something about it.”
“I am.” He rubbed his thumb over her most sensitive spot.
“Now!”
“My, who’s the impatient one?”
He bent his head and kissed her until she bit his lip.
“HW . . .”
“That’s better.”
He leaned over to find the box of condoms, covered himself, and slid deep inside her, catching his breath at the sheer delight as she tightened around him, offering him even more. He hadn’t lied when he’d teased her that he had plenty of experience, but this . . . this joining with Sam was something altogether different. He wanted to stay buried in her forever, to hold her and be with her and . . .
“Hey.”
He opened his eyes. “What now?”
She kicked him with her right heel. “Move.”
“Just savoring the moment.”
“Yeah, me, too, but move on to savoring me.” Her sensual smile made him want to come before he’d even started.
Easing his weight onto his elbows, he rocked into her, watching her face as pleasure and need blossomed and consumed her. But he couldn’t just participate. He was losing himself in her just as surely as she was in him. Even as the thought scared him, he went with it, trusted himself and her to see them safely through to the other side.
Whatever that might mean . . .
Even as he let go, he had a sense that he would never be the same again. That with Sam he became something else entirely. He groaned her name as she joined him in a climax that seemed to go on forever and wrenched everything out of him. He closed his eyes and let his head fall onto the pillow and just concentrated on breathing in some much-needed air.
* * *
Sam opened her eyes and tentatively stroked HW’s shoulder. His face was buried in the crook of her neck as he gasped her name. He’d told her he was the best and had proved it beyond her wildest expectations. After making love with Hoss William Morgan, how would she ever find his equal? Of course she wasn’t going to mention that to him directly or he’d never let her forget it.
And it wasn’t just that he was super-fit. He seemed to understand her body and know what she wanted. They fitted together like two peas in a pod. And speaking of peas...
She pushed at his chest. “Let me up.”
“Sorry. Go ahead.” With a groan, he rolled away and sat on the edge of the bed to deal with the condom.
Sam managed to get to the bathroom and studied her reflection in the mirror. She looked like a very satisfied and happy woman; her skin was glowing and she had the most stupid grin on her face. In the privacy of the bathroom, she did a little celebration shimmy and took the quickest shower of her life.
When she went back into the bedroom, HW was prowling the small space, gathering his clothes. Sam halted in the doorway.
“You’re leaving ?”
He shoved a hand through his blond hair. “I thought you’d want me to go.”
“You don’t do snuggle time after sex?”
“What the hell is that?”
Sam blinked at him. “You know, sleeping together, kissing, cuddling, enjoying each other’s company, talking, stuff like that.”
“Not really.”
“Well, I do!” She pointed at the bed. “Go and shower if you want and then get back in there.”
“Bossy much?” He raised an eyebrow.
Some of her joy died and she half-turned away. She’d forgotten that he was a goddamn professional at this. Maybe his experience hadn’t mirrored hers. Maybe for him, this was business as usual. Wham, bam, thank you, ma’am, and get out. But wouldn’t that be better all around? Make parting much less painful?
“Fine.” She brushed past him and sat on the bed. “Go home, then. If that’s what you usually do.”
“Sam . . .”
“It’s really fine.” She dropped her towel and got under the covers. “Turn the light out when you leave, please.”
He went into the bathroom and shut the door, leaving her curled up in a ball, eyes wide open. This was fine, wasn’t it? Sex with no strings. The shower went on and she swallowed hard. He’d taken his clothes in with him, so she supposed he’d get dressed and leave.
Within seconds, the shower shut off and she tensed. He marched back into her bedroom buck naked, with water still streaming off him, and stood over her, his hands on his hips, his eyes stormy.
“You didn’t give me a chance to snuggle. You just got out of that damned bed as fast as you could and left me hanging!”
“I needed to pee!” Sam snarled right back at him. “We’ve been out to dinner. We drove all the way back from Bridgeport and then you went all caveman on me, threw me on the bed, and had your way with me!”
With a strangled sound, HW sank down onto his knees and rested his forehead on the side of the bed, his arms spread wide as if he was praying.
Sam pulled his hair. “I’m talking to you! Was I supposed to be specific about exactly what I needed to do in the bathroom when I left this bed?”
He slowly raised his head to stare into her eyes. “No, you’re right. I just . . . assumed—”
“And you know what that makes you?”
“An ass? Like the way you tried to throw me out?”
“Got it in one.” Sam threw back the covers. “Now get back in this damned bed and snuggle!”
He climbed in beside her and gathered her in his arms. His heart was beating way too fast. For the first time, Sam seriously considered whether he really had thought she’d want him to leave. From everything she’d heard about his life, he was way too used to being let down by the people he loved.
She kissed his throat. “I’m sorry.”
“What did you say?” In a flash, he rolled her onto her back and stared down at her. “You’re actually apologizing to me?”
“I said I’m sorry for giving you the impression that I wanted you to leave.”
“That’s mighty kind of you.”
“There’s no need to be sarcastic.”
“I wasn’t.” He kissed her nose. “I panicked, okay? I’ve only had a couple of long-term girlfriends. Usually, I’m on the road and it’s short and sweet and good-bye. I’m used to leaving or being left.”
She cupped his unshaven cheek, enjoying the rasp of incoming stubble against her palm.
“I panicked, too.” She took a quick breath. “I thought maybe this was like a normal day at the office and you were moving on to the next bed.”
“I don’t feel like that about you,” HW murmured. “Hell, I don’t know what to do about you, period.”
“Just stay a few hours and sleep with me?” Sam suggested.
“I don’t want to sleep.” His hand curved possessively over her hip.
“You’re being very contrary.”
“Tell me about it.” He kissed her, lingering over her mouth, sending fresh shivers up and down her spine. “You get me so rattled, I don’t know which way is up anymore.”
“I could probably help you with that.”
“Yeah?” He kissed her again, and his hands shaped her body, gathering her close so she worked out just how serious he was about wanting her again. She wanted to melt all over him like toffee.
“I have an excellent understanding of the human anatomy.” She smoothed a hand over his ass and reached around to grab the hardest part of him. “I’m pretty sure you’re the right way up.”
He groaned and rocked into her hand. “Sam Kelly, you might just be the death of me.”
“Might be?” Sam squeezed until his breath hitched. “Then I’d better try harder.”