“If all goes well, I should be back tomorrow night,” Curtis says.

I watch him through the bathroom mirror as he passes in front of the doorway. “Okay,” I say.

He walks back to the dresser and grabs yet another pure white shirt to stuff into his suitcase. I pick up my hairbrush and run it through my locks, actively pushing it back as I reach for a hair-tie.

“I’ll call you if anything changes,” he says behind me. “Dad has been priming this farm for months now, so—”

I let his voice fade away. Really, the last thing I care about is him and my father-in-law buying out yet another poor farmer’s family business. Sort of makes me feel proud of Nate and his mother. It takes some balls to look someone like Curtis VanHouten in the eye and say no.

He walks into the bathroom behind me and I realize I’m smiling. I force a neutral face as he reaches across me for his toothbrush. He tosses it into his travel bag and zips it closed.

“Well, I’ll be here,” I say, eying him as he refuses to even look at me. “I have a book to finish reading before book club tomorrow. Might start a new painting, too...”

“Make sure you open a window,” he says, head down as he checks his drawer. “You know I hate that smell.”

I bite down. “I will,” I say.

He starts for the door, his head finally rising to glance at me. He comes to a stop and looks at me again, his eyes creating a halo around my head.

“You’re wearing your hair up,” he says.

I stare at my reflection. Scars and all. “I like the way it looks.”

“You don’t leave the house like that, do you?”

I meet his eyes in the mirror. “No,” I answer.

Curtis exits the bathroom and stuffs his travel bag into his suitcase.

I follow him downstairs in silence. He pauses by the coat rack to grab his jacket. I walk halfway to the kitchen, pausing in the doorframe in case he wants to say something to me before leaving.

You know, anything at all a husband might tell his wife before leaving for almost two days.

Anything at all.

“Have a safe trip,” I say first, raising my voice the slightest bit.

“I’ll be back tomorrow,” he says, reaching into his pocket and jingling his keys.

“Good luck.”

Curtis turns the doorknob, steps one foot out, and stops. He turns back and looks at me, hesitating for a moment before stepping back inside and walking toward me.

He pauses in front of me and leans over, planting a kiss on my cheek.

I straighten up, surprised by the sudden show of affection.

“I like your hair up, too,” he says, his eyes rounding that halo again.

I blink. “Thank you.”

He nods and heads for the door again. “Bye, Kim.”

“Bye.”

I stare at the white door as it latches closed behind him. His truck roars to life outside in the driveway. It sits idle for a bit before he drives away.

The feel of his lips on my cheek fades quickly but I can’t shake off that sincere look in his eyes when he spoke to me.

The back door opens and closes.

I stay still, listening to the gentle tap of shoes slowly coming up behind me. They stop short of me and a hand touches my hip and crawls around my waist. I lay my hand on his as he closes in and kisses my neck.

“Hey,” Nate whispers in my ear.

“Hi,” I say.

“You okay?”

I turn, putting my back to the doorframe. I nod as I pinch the brim of his white hat and slide it off his head.

He smiles and I draw him in to kiss my lips.

* * *

I turn my head to one side and he kisses the other.

I let out a gasp and he does whatever he did again, but just a little slower.

I feel everything. He sees nothing but makes me feel everything.

I lay a hand on Nate’s cheek, sparking a smile on his face as I guide his mouth toward mine. We lock lips, bodies entwined on the bed. He thrusts slowly, making me feel every inch of him as he fills me over and over again.

He reaches down, hooking my knee and shifting it just a little higher on his naked waist and his cock enters me a little deeper as a result. I gasp, enjoying the thrill of him and his kiss drops to my jawline.

My body begs for more of him.

I feel up his flexing arms.

I draw a line up his thigh with my toes.

I tighten my core, squeezing him from the inside and he groans with pleasure.

But still, I need more of him.

I reach around his head and pull the knot free on the blindfold. It loosens along his eyes and Nate stops his slow, rhythmic movement between my legs. I drop the scarf to the floor and look into his wide-open eyes.

He looks into mine. “Are you sure?” he asks, catching his breath.

I touch his cheek, running my thumb to edge of his mouth. “Yes,” I say.

Nate takes a deep breath and he studies my face. His body trembles as he kisses me. I reach around him, touching his lower back and coaxing him to start again.

He begins that slow fuck, triggering the heat to ignite deep inside of me. I watch his eyes. He watches mine. Pleasure dances behind his smile and I lose myself completely in him all over again.

When his eyes roam, I don’t care. I don’t cower in shame or flinch away like I have before. When he kisses my scars with the same sweet tenderness as always, I know his affection is real. I know he sees me no differently than he did with closed eyes.

“Kimber,” he groans and slows his pace. “I’m gonna—”

I kiss him, lightly sucking on his lip. “Don’t stop. I want you to.”

I take his hand, entwining our fingers as he takes what he needs. He pumps faster, his breath warm and wild on my skin. I hold him as he comes, cradling his head and leaving soft kisses along his brow.

Nate catches his breath and raises his head to look me in the eye again. “You’re beautiful,” he says.

I smile.

The front door opens and closes downstairs.

We lock in place, our reflexes as tired as our senses.

“Shit,” I say.

Nate rolls off me and stands up on the floor. I get up and rush to grab my robe as Nate throws his briefs back on.

The stairs creak. He’s coming up.

“Window,” I say, panicking.

Nate blinks. “What?”

I pick up his jeans and shirt and throw them at him. “Window.”

I slide the window open and shove Nate toward it. He reluctantly obeys, carefully easing out onto the roof outside.

“Sorry,” I whisper as I block my view of him with thick curtains.

I turn back to the room, hearing feet reach the landing down the hall as Nate’s semen drips down my leg.

God, what do I do?

“Kimber?”

I cringe and run to the bathroom, tossing my robe to the floor and turning on the showerhead. I hop inside, cringing beneath the cold burst of water, but I force myself to endure it for another few seconds.

“Kimber?” I hear again.

“Curtis?” I say, acting normal. “Is that you?”

He pokes his head into the bathroom. “I got halfway to Topeka and realized I left my wallet.”

I laugh. “Oh, yeah?”

“I’ve got it now.”

“Okay.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow night.”

I nod as I stare at the drain beneath me. “See you then.”

He disappears from the doorway. I stand under the water, rinsing the sweat and fluids off my skin as my pulse tries to return to normal... if that’s at all possible.

That was too close.

I step out and wrap a towel around me on my way back into the bedroom. I scan the room for anything out of place, anything at all that might have given us away.

My eyes land on the chair in the corner. Nate’s white hat sits on the cushion.

I bite my lip. Maybe Curtis didn’t notice. He surely would have said something if he did.

“Nate?”

I walk to the window and open the curtains to look outside.

The roof is empty. He’s gone.