Chapter 12: Chapter Eleven

Ella was in trouble. Neon signs with bells and whistles flashed and blared in her mind, warning that once she started down this path, there was no return.

At this very minute, she didn’t care. All she wanted was Ty.

He dropped his head and kissed her, the contact warm and languid. The bells and warnings quieted to a buzz and then to nothing at all. Nothing except for the sound of the soft moans escaping her throat as Ty’s hands worked his crazy magic on her body.

Any mess in the aftermath would be dealt with later. At the moment, nothing else mattered expect for the feel of Ty against her body.

“Bedroom?” Ty asked.

When she nodded, he picked her up and followed her directions down the short hall and to her tiny bedroom. Her room was a collection of odds and ends furniture she had gathered over the years—from her childhood to now. The simple white nightstand she got in middle school, the wood desk from high school, the curtains she sewed herself. The bed was the newest addition when she decided it was time to upgrade her mattress to something soft and comfortable.

Ty eased her onto the blue plaid sheets, her floral comforter tossed onto one side of the bed. He leaned into her, bracing his arms on either side of her as the scent of pine and leather and Ty surrounded her. Just being in the cage of his arms made her body swell and ache.

Pushing onto her elbows, she placed her mouth on his neck, running her tongue over his pulse, kissing right at the sensitive spot by his jaw.

Ty groaned, and dropped to his knees, his large hands spreading her legs to fit his torso between her thighs.

Her fingers were desperate to get him naked again. All that effort earlier gone to waste, but it wasn’t going to waste this time. Never had she been so desperate to touch someone in her entire life. She needed to feel his bare skin against her own.

Her fingers worked the buttons through the holes of his shirt. How she managed to get his shirt off without ripping off the tiny buttons was beyond her. He pulled his mouth from hers and ran his warm lips along the column of her throat, as she pushed the shirt off his shoulders, giving her a full view of his upper body.

Pulling his hands free of his sleeves, he quickly hauled her close again, his hands just as desperate as hers.

She went for his jeans, undoing them and pulling them down in seconds flat.

“This hardly seems fair,” Ty muttered against her lips. “Here I am naked again, and you’re still dressed.”

“Keep up, cowboy,” she said, her voice low as she explored the ridges of his gorgeous body.

“Don’t fight fair, do we?” he whispered in her ear before taking the shell of her ear in his teeth and tracing the rim with his tongue. She gasped and arched into him.

Ty pulled the tank over her head, his hands skimming her waist and ribs as he did. The bralette quickly followed in the path of her shirt. Completely bare, she arched up, thrusting her nipples toward him, begging for attention.

He pressed his lips against the top of her breast before tracing his mouth along her skin until she was shaking with need and barely able to stand.

Ty eased her back onto the bed, keeping his wide chest between her legs, and tracing his hands along the length of her thighs. His thumbs slowly moved oh-so-teasingly close to her warm core. They were so close to where she wanted him yet still too far away.

Shifting between her legs, Ty ran his mouth along her inner thigh, then up her body, across her abdomen and to the underside of her breasts. She laced her fingers in his hair, holding him close. His movements were slow, easy, savoring. She didn’t want slow.

Reaching between them, she lightly circled the head of his cock with her fingertips before pressing her palm flat against the ridge.

Hissing with need, he ground against her palm. His eyes closed, clearly savoring the feel of her. The man was gorgeous. His face was flush and his lashes dark against his tan skin. She continued to move her hand gently up and down the length of him, circling his girth with her fingers, mesmerized by how Ty moved against her.

His hips arched toward her, completely out of his control.

“No way,” he muttered, before he shifted down her body, pulling his cock out of her grasp and then kneeling in front of her. Then his wet mouth descended on her folds, knocking the wind out of her. She nearly lost it right there.

While there hadn’t been a lot of men in her past, there were enough. Never had any of them made her feel like this. Not with this connection that made every touch, every movement amplified, until all she could think of was the two of them and how he made her feel. The sound, the touch, the feel of the man trapping her body against his was the only man in this world she needed.

Her orgasm was building, and she dug her nails into his back as he ran his tongue along the length of her slit. She was seconds from losing it.

“Wait.” Her voice sounded husky and foreign, even to her.

Ty pulled back, his dark brows furrowing together.

“I’m going to come before I’m ready,” she panted.

A confident smirk crossed his face, sexy and sinful. “I’m good with that.” He moved toward her again, but not before she stopped him.

“No, I want you inside of me. Please.”

The lust in his eyes grew even hazier.

“And let’s take this thing off.” She motioned toward the brace.

“Your wish…” he said.

There was no way that taking a brace off should have made her wetter, but the way he moved along the length of her leg, his fingers and lips lingering on her skin, sucking and nipping as he undid each strap was driving her wild.

He was taking his sweet time, savoring the taste of her skin, driving her wild. Her body was quivering, her thighs pressing against his shoulders of their own accord.

Finally, the brace was off, and he set it gently on the ground.

“I’m going to kill you for that,” Ella moaned as Ty helped her fully onto the bed, his lips finding her as she laid back, her hair pooling behind her.

Her skin felt hot and flush as he traced his fingers over the multitude of tan lines along her shoulders.

“Condom,” she commanded.

“Right,” Ty said.

She dove for her nightstand and pulled a small strip of condoms out of the top drawer and passed one to Ty. His fingers were shaking as he quickly sheathed himself. Then before she knew it, he was straddling her hips, nudging at her opening.

Her nails dug into his shoulder, egging him on, encouraging him to take her. The stubborn man took his time, as though he were savoring every second with her.

“You’re beautiful.” The words seem to tear from him, and then he slowly seated himself inside her, joining them together.

Her heart pulsed full and hard, as Ty dropped his head until his forehead pressed against hers. She wrapped her legs around his waist, pulling him closer.

They started slowly as Ty rocked into her and she arched against him, finding their rhythm. Then their pace started to pick up, becoming more frenzied, more desperate. She was losing all sense of everything except for the two of them as they spiraled higher, reaching for the stars.

She didn’t dare look away, didn’t want to miss a moment with him. She wanted it all branded in her brain—the way he looked at her, the feel of his hands on her, the way she felt wrapped around him.

She was so close, her body tense and straining for release. As though sending her need, Ty grazed his hand along her body, now slick with sweat. Reaching between them, he circled her clit as her body bowed higher and higher.

Then the world burst around them, and his name spilled from her lips. A few seconds later, she heard him call her name as he followed closely behind.

Completely spent, she melted against the mattress as Ty collapsed on her, careful of her knee. Then he rolled to his side, gathering her close. She could feel his lips press against her hair, making her feel safe and cherished.

Her hand pressed against his chest, her palm white hot against his skin.

“Wow,” Ella murmured after a few minutes. “I—wow.”

“I think I could say the same thing.” Ty ran the tips of his fingers along her side, lazily tracing a path from her hip to her waist, like he couldn’t stop touching her. Up and down, up and down. “I’m not sure if I’m ready to go back to reality.”

Reality. She was going to have to face that soon enough. But all she wanted to do was to bask in the afterglow of their lovemaking and the quiet of this room.

Pressing her face against his chest, she breathed him in, memorizing all she could about him. Never had she experienced sex like this. Ty made her feel like she was the only woman in his world. Like she was special. She didn’t know if it would last, but at the same, she didn’t want to overthink or overanalyze anything. All she wanted was to bask in this moment with Ty and forget about the rest of the world.

The light filtering into the room was too bright for it to be early morning.

Groaning, Ty pressed his face into the pillow, not quite ready to wake up. The pillow was softer than the ones he normally slept with, and the bed smelled different. Like coconut and flowers.

Like Ella.

Opening his eyes, he looked around the room, taking in Ella’s possessions on display—the photos on the wall, the pictures of friends and family, the mismatch of furniture.

A soft white afghan was laid over him, covering his naked body, and he spotted his jeans and shirt in a pile on the floor.

The only thing off was there was no Ella in sight.

A sense of emptiness wove through him as he looked around the tiny room once more to be sure. Ella was definitely not there. At least she hadn’t kicked him out of the house, but part of him wondered if she just didn’t know how.

He pushed to the edge of the bed and pressed his palms against his eyes. The sex between them had been mind-blowing, and he’d love to do it again. Actually, he’d love to just spend more time with her.

He hoped Ella was on the same page. He wanted to see where they would go.

Pulling on his jeans, he headed down the short hall, taking in the pictures on the walls and the rugs on the floor. Ella had certainly kept the tiny space warm and comfortable. It was clear she took good care of her home.

Ella was curled up on the couch in an oversized shirt, feet bare, staring out the bay window at her horse and pony. She held a cup of tea in her hand. Her pale green eyes glanced up at him and then back out the bay window.

“Hey,” he said softly. The couch cushion sank under his weight as he settled in next to her.

“Do you think the Millers will sell Maverick to me?” she asked, not bothering to look at him.

“I don’t see why not. They want him to go to a good home.” One bare foot was propped on the couch, and he put his hand on her arch and squeezed. She didn’t pull away from him, but she didn’t look at him either.

He could see the barrier sliding carefully into place.

“You okay?” he asked.

Ella pressed her lips together before taking a sip of her drink. “I’m fine.”

He wasn’t taking “fine.” “So, in the words of Aerosmith, you’re feeling f-ed up, insecure, neurotic, and emotional?”

She turned on him, brows furrowed, and smacked him on the chest. “Hey! That’s not fair.”

“Nor is brushing me off with ‘fine,’” he pointed out. “What’s up?”

At least she was making eye contact with him now. And her sassy personality was coming back in full force.

“Don’t push me away,” he added. “You have a habit of that.”

“Stop calling me out on my bull,” she grumbled, but he could hear the hint of humor in her voice and her shoulders were no longer tense. He squeezed her foot again before pulling her closer.

“Someone’s got to do it.” He kissed the top of her head. “You overthinking?”

Ella nodded against his chest. “A little hard to not freak out. You and Jeff were friends for so long.”

That made sense. And part of him didn’t blame her. The lesson she learned from Jeff sounded like a hard one, and as someone who barely spoke to his mom after she left, he hardly had room to judge.

“We fell out because I realized that he was a complete asshole,” he reminded her. “And we fell out before I knew what he did to you. That guy isn’t worth our time. Not now. Not ever again.”

“I don’t want to find myself in a position where I’m just a convenient person to keep a bed warm.”

“Ella, you’ve got to let your guard down at some point. You’re going to be alone if you constantly hold people at bay. Do you trust me?”

“I’ve had Red at your place. Of course I trust you,” she replied simply.

A wave of guilt washed over him. He still hadn’t told her the timeline for Red’s recovery had extended. She hadn’t been over the past week, and the subject just hadn’t come up.

Now didn’t feel like the right time. He had a feeling she was going to take the news hard, and he wanted to wait until she was with Red, so she could see for herself.

Right now, when she was only wearing a tee and looking completely vulnerable, he just wanted her to know that he was committed to whatever it was they were doing.

“Do you want to come over next Friday? You can see Red, and you can join my family for dinner.” His voice caught.

His family. The real reason why he didn’t want Jace to leave. He was family.

“You don’t think that’s too soon?” she asked, looking up at him, her green eyes brighter. A small smile played on her lips.

“You just came to trivia with everyone, right? Why not dinner?” It actually sounded like a great idea. A way to show her how committed he was to them.

Her smile grew. “Alright. I’m down. I’d love to spend more time with your family.”

Then he could break the news to her about Red. It had to come out eventually, and he couldn’t put it off much longer.

His phone rang in his pocket. Shifting on the couch, he pulled the device out, and read his mom’s name across the screen.

He hesitated, his thumb hovering as he decided whether or not to answer. If Ella could put herself out there, maybe he could finally answer his mom.

Only he didn’t feel ready yet. He just wanted to enjoy the last few moments with Ella before he headed back to his practice to relieve the other vet.

Clearing his throat, he silenced the ringing and set the phone on the arm of the couch.

Ella turned to look back out the bay window, but her fingers were combing through the back of his hair.

“You know what you just said about me letting my guard down?” Her voice was soft and soothing.

“Hmm?” he responded, ducking his head to kiss that delicious soft spot between her neck and jaw.

“The same could be said for you. Maybe you should hear your mom out.”

He nibbled on her collarbone until her body became liquid in his arms. “Some other time.”

When he didn’t have more important things to think about. Like the gorgeous, sexy woman right in front of him.