Jodi gave one last gasp as Ty’s head lifted from between her legs. Her back arched as he slid up her body like a snake, his tongue and hands stroking and licking every inch of her along the way.

“I didn’t know it was possible to come that many times in an hour,” she said as he looked down at her, his smile a mile wide.

“I think you may have one more in you,” he countered, wiggling his eyebrows as his hips thrust lightly against her, bringing his once again hard cock into contact with her very wet core

“You can’t be serious,” she moaned. “How can you keep doing this? I thought guys ran out of juice at some point.”

“Common misconception started by men who just wanted a one and done. With the right woman, we can go a hell of a lot longer than science gives us credit for.”

She started to laugh, but it died on her lips as his expression grew serious. “Turn over,” he rasped, all heat and danger now.

She blinked at him, but then complied as he slid a hand under her hips and pulled her up onto her knees.

“The headboard,” he said in her ear, that same dangerous quality to his voice.

A thrill raced through her at the commands, and she grabbed the edge of the wooden headboard, arching her back so her ass slanted toward him. He murmured in satisfaction as his hands roamed up and down her hips and thighs. Then he pulled her ass closer and positioned himself. He entered her slowly, one excruciating inch at a time, making both of them weak with ecstasy.

“You feel like fucking heaven,” he whispered in her ear as her head fell back onto his shoulder.

With one hand, he skimmed up and down her torso, caressing her breasts gently, circling her belly button, dipping toward her clit but never actually meeting it. Meanwhile, his hips pumped leisurely, in and out in short thrusts until she thought she’d lose her mind.

“You’re killing me,” she gasped.

“But what a way to go,” he answered, wrapping an arm around her waist to pin her to him as he continued his slow assault.

“Really. I think I might…”

He ground into her and circled his hips once. “You might what?”

“Oh God!” Her whole body tensed with the orgasm that lingered on the edges of her reach.

“You need something, gorgeous?”

“You’re a bastard,” she said, half laughing, half crying.

“Aw, poor girl,” he conceded, chuckling. “Let me fix that for you.”

He reached down and circled her clit with his finger at the same time he circled his hips again, cock so far inside her, she had no idea where he ended and she began.

The orgasm was swift, sharp, and the sweetest thing she’d ever felt, but before it ended, he grasped her hips and began to thrust hard, fast, short, and ferocious. He grunted as she hung on to the headboard, arms locked to prevent her body from being slammed against the thick wood.

“Fuck, fuck, fuck!” Ty growled as he finally came, his teeth digging into the muscle that ran from her neck to her shoulder.

They collapsed in a heap, her head on his stomach, his fingers sifting strands of her hair across his abs.

“My God,” she murmured. “No wonder we have Katie. I guess I’d forgotten it was like that.”

“Sex in general or us?” he asked lightly, although she sensed the answer was important to him.

“Us. That was definitely more than standard sex.”

She felt his belly give under her head as he let out a breath.

“Like I said. We have some pretty amazing returns on our investment.”

They were silent for a few moments before he broke the quiet. “So, these last few years…you had other relationships, obviously. Anything serious?”

Her throat closed, and she squeezed her eyes shut for a moment, part of her wishing there’d never been five years she had to account for. But then she reminded herself that those five years had helped her become the woman she was now, the person who could contemplate being a true mother to a beautiful little girl. No regrets, she thought. It was all part of the process.

“There were a couple,” she answered. “They were…learning experiences.”

“Jodi?” Ty said as he sat up, forcing her to sit as well, and turn to look at him. She reached down to pull a sheet from the tangled bed in front of her, but he put his hand over hers. “Don’t,” he said, his eyes pleading. “Don’t hide from me. There’s nothing you can’t tell me. I won’t judge. You’re Katie’s mother. You gave me the most beautiful thing one human can give another. I want to be on your side. I want us to be here for each other.”

She nodded, but something inside her still fought telling Ty about her most humiliating moments.

“I made some mistakes. One in particular. A guy—he was a doctor at the hospital. We lived together.” She sat back against the headboard, pulling her knees up to her chest. Ty faced her, one knee propped under his elbow, looking like a Greek god in repose.

“You have to know, I wasn’t in a good place then. I hadn’t come to grips with my issues about Katie yet. I was still on the treadmill with my career, convinced if I worked enough, earned enough, I’d somehow escape being my mother. He was all about his career. I thought it would be a great match—the two of us spending all our time and energy on being successful.” She sighed, remembering all the warning signs she’d ignored.

“It was emotional at first. He’d criticize me, make me feel guilty for doing anything with other people. It deteriorated from there. We’d argue a lot, and it was always my fault. I always ended up having to beg him for forgiveness. He’d get angry over the tiniest things, a hair-trigger temper he made no effort to control.”

Ty made a low, rumbling sound in his throat and she looked up to find his eyes blazing with fury.

She swallowed. “Then one night, he came home late from a surgery. I was already in bed, but he was banging around the house, slamming doors, swearing. I got up to see what was wrong and found him in the kitchen on his second scotch. He started in on me the moment I walked in the room—I hadn’t left him any dinner, I didn’t understand the demands of his job, he was sick of how ungrateful I was.”

“You don’t have to tell me,” Ty suddenly interjected, his jaw set like concrete.

“It’s okay,” she answered softly. “It’s part of me—of who I am now. I can’t pretend it didn’t happen.”

Ty’s hand found her leg, and he began a slow stroke up and down, soothing, gentle, the exact opposite of the man who’d tried to take everything from her.

“When it became clear he was just going to keep berating me no matter what I said or did, I decided to go back to bed—and while I didn’t tell him, I also intended to lock the door. But as I turned to leave the room, he grabbed me by the arm, swung me around, and backhanded me across the face.”

Ty was silent now, but when she glanced at his face, his eyes were screwed shut, his jaw muscles clenching and unclenching.

“It knocked me down, and disoriented me so much, I couldn’t move for a few moments. Luckily for me, though, his phone went off right then, and it was the hospital. He had to go to his home office while he was talking to them so he could log in and give the instructions for the patient. I grabbed my purse and ran. Got a hotel for the night and only went back for my things the next day when I knew he was at work and I had a friend with me.”

“Jesus,” Ty swore softly, his hands coming up to cradle her face. “I’m so sorry.”

She nodded lightly.

“Did you go to the police?”

“Yes, not right away, and not for me, but to save the next woman. Until then, I was so focused on how in the world I’d let things get that far, how I’d been so far in denial that I’d stayed with him—”

“You were the victim.” Ty’s voice was firm. “It wasn’t your fault.”

“No, it wasn’t, but I’m also an educated, intelligent woman. Trained in the medical field no less. I know the signs of an abusive relationship. I could see the escalation over several months.”

Ty slid up the bed until he was resting against the headboard too and pulled her into his arms, stroking her hair as he murmured comfort.

“I’m so glad you got out. You’re the strongest woman I’ve ever met, gorgeous.”

“There’s more,” she whispered, a tear slipping down her cheek. This part was almost harder than the rest for her to talk about. It made her so vulnerable, cast a shadow of doubt over who she was and whether she could be a fit parent.

“After it happened, I made a promise to myself—that I would take control of my life, figure out why I was so unhappy that I’d ended up with someone like him. So…” Ty’s hand never stopped its soft caresses, and she breathed in the smell of him for strength—grass, sunshine, saddle soap. He was like the foundation of everything, and she wanted to build her most beautiful world on that platform.

“I checked myself into the hospital—for psychiatric evaluation. The head of the department diagnosed exhaustion so it wouldn’t impact my medical records, but they put me on antidepressants.” She pulled away from him so she could look him in the eye. “I spent a year and a half in therapy. That’s how I came to terms with my feelings about Katie. That’s when I planned how I could come back here and try to salvage my relationship with her. I’ve done it all with the guidance of my therapist. I’ve worked to make sure I was as careful as I could be every step of the way.”

“And I can’t thank you enough for that,” he answered, his eyes tender. “It shows me how dedicated you are to her and to being the best mother you can.”

“You can use that against me now—my mental instability—”

“Stop,” he commanded. “Don’t talk that way about the mother of my child.”

Her heart did an actual backflip at that. Ty defending her even if it was just to herself.

“You’re not mentally unstable. Anyone who talks to you for five minutes can see that. You had a rough childhood. You’ve been recovering from it ever since. And now here you are. Whole, healthy…” His voice cracked as his lips touched hers in the briefest brush. “Perfect.”

Any other words she might have spoken were swallowed in desire as they melted back down onto the bed, heated skin, whispered words, sliding, thrusting, caressing until they both came and her soul was filled with the blinding white light of hope.

* * *

Jodi spent the next few weeks in a spin cycle of stolen moments with Ty, afternoons with him and Katie, and time at the ranch. They decided to keep the relationship between them, using Katie as the excuse for meetings, discussions, outings. She could tell Cade still hadn’t warmed up to her, but the rest of the family seemed to be on board, albeit cautiously, and Katie was as happy and well-adjusted as ever.

The decision to allow her time alone with Katie didn’t come in a monumental way. It was early on a Saturday morning when Ty called and asked if she could pick Katie up at dance class and take her to the dress rehearsal for the upcoming recital.

“We have a gas leak in a pipe that runs through the north acreage, and I need to supervise the guys fixing it, make sure nothing gets blown up,” he told her as she heard his truck door slamming over the phone connection. “Lynn can get her there, but then she’s going to Monterrey for the day right after drop-off.”

“It’s no problem at all. I was only doing some bookkeeping this morning, I’d much rather go to dance rehearsal. Trust me on that.”

Ty chuckled. “Well, she’ll be thrilled to have you there. I’m sending her costume to class with her so she can put it on before she goes to the dress rehearsal.”

“Of course. Any other instructions?”

“Mm,” he murmured, his voice early morning raspy. “Maybe send me a picture of you in bed? That’d make my day watching a bunch of guys covered in dirt a lot more bearable.”

“You’re terrible.” She grinned.

“I’m bewitched,” he answered. “I can’t get enough of this Viking princess I captured.”

Jodi’s smile softened, and her heart raced. “You need to go to work now.”

“I’ll be waiting on that picture, gorgeous,” he chided.

She rolled her eyes, though he couldn’t see her. “I’ll consider your request.”

After they hung up, Jodi climbed out of bed and went to the bathroom. Her hair was a tangled mess, and the thin white tank top she’d slept in showed nipples and side boob. She looked at herself critically in the mirror and was about to bring a hairbrush to her head when her phone chimed on the counter. She looked down at the screen.

Ty: don’t brush your hair, don’t put on a speck of makeup. I want what I’d see if I could sleep in your bed every night.

Jodi felt her whole face grow warm, while other parts went tingly. She glanced once more at herself in the mirror, then shrugged and went back to bed. Lying down on her back, she held the phone up above her so it showed both her hair splayed across the pillow and the skimpy top she wore. Then she pursed her lips a touch and clicked the shutter.

She sent the photo with no words and waited. A reply came in seconds.

Ty: Fuck. I’m not sure if that made my morning better or worse. I’m going to be at the site with a hard-on all damn day now.

Jodie: Just being accommodating. You asked for it.

Ty: And trust me, I’m grateful. Really grateful. You have any close-ups of that top you’re wearing?

Jodi couldn’t control the way her lips turned up into a devious smile. She’d never done this before—the phone-sex thing—but she thought she might like it.

She slipped her free hand under the stretchy fabric, kneading her left breast while she also arched her back. She took the picture of her torso only, her nipples popping through the white cotton, her waist and belly button showing in the strip of exposed skin below the shirt’s hem.

When Ty’s return text came, it was a picture too—of his very obvious erection under the fly of his jeans.

Ty: That’s what you do to me.

Before she could respond, the phone rang and his name popped up on her screen.

“Hi,” she answered, already breathless.

“I’m dying here.” His voice was deeper than normal and coarse.

“You started it,” she reminded him.

“And you’re going to finish it.”

“I’m across town, cowboy. Not much I can do for you from here.”

She heard him grunt something, and then there was a pause.

“Okay. Let’s do this.”

“Do what?” she asked, her brow furrowing.

“I’m off the road. Tell me what you’re doing.”

“Um, I’m talking to you on the phone.”

“Gorgeous, you’re terrible at this. I guess I have to lead the way. Lie down and close your eyes.”

She did what he said.

“Now, squeeze that tit the way you were in the photo.”

Ah. Now she understood. They were really going to do this?

“What will you be doing?” she asked.

“Whatever you tell me to,” he said darkly.

Her mind nearly short-circuited at that.

“Are you going to pretend it’s me doing it to you?”

“It is you doing it to me, gorgeous. Just the memory of you in my head is enough to get me there.”

She smiled to herself as her hand slipped from her breast to the waistband of her underwear.

“Slide your hand over your abs,” she instructed. “Do you feel those ridges? They’re so damn sexy.”

“Mm,” he answered.

Her fingers drifted toward her core, and she knew she’d find it wet and waiting.

“You got those sweet fingers at your pussy?”

“Yes,” she gasped, her fingers sliding through the slickness there.

“Good girl.”

“Undo your jeans,” she commanded. “Take your cock out and fist it.”

“God, you’re dirty. My dirty Viking princess.”

“Ohh,” she moaned as she rubbed over her clit.

“That’s it,” he coached. “Feel my fingers there? My tongue? I’m licking you up and down, the perfect pressure on all the best places.”

“I have my lips wrapped around your cock” she answered, her voice strained with arousal.

“Yeah, gorgeous, you do, and fuck, that feels amazing.”

Words ceased, and all that could be heard was heavy breathing and soft moans. Jodi let the phone fall to the pillow beside her, speaker engaged.

She clutched her breast in one hand, the other sliding faster and faster over her clit, occasionally pausing to dip inside her core.

Her hips thrust in time with her fingers, and she was so close; then she heard Ty’s voice, demanding, taking charge, sending everything in her into overdrive.

“I’m close, gorgeous. Come for me.”

Her fingers circled and pressed harder, faster, and then she was crying out, the sharp, fast orgasm racing through her.

Ty heard her and groaned, “Fuck, yes,” as he came on the other end of the phone line.

“Oh my God,” she whispered as the last pulses rolled through her.

Ty chuckled in her ear. “You can say that again.”

“Who taught you to do that?” she asked as she picked the phone back up and held it to her ear.

“No one. I’m just so damn horny all the time with you, I’m having to get creative. I can’t spend all day every day in bed with you, so I need other outlets.”

She laughed. “Now you’re probably a mess.”

“But remember I’m the parent of a five-year-old. My truck is well stocked with wet wipes.”

“You’re an amazing guy, Ty Jenkins,” she told him softly.

“I’m amazingly nuts over you, Jodi Morgan.”

“I’ll get Katie at noon. And see you tonight?”

“Wouldn’t miss it for the world,” he said, tenderness in every word.

They ended the call, and Jodi closed her eyes, a smile crossing her face as she drifted back to sleep.