She nodded. “You’re a nice guy, you know that?”

  He sighed. “Yeah, yeah. Come on.” He walked her to the poker room door. “Go on home, now. Take care of yourself.”

  When he got back to the table, Alexis’s posture was rigid. Dammit! She’s upset. He placed his hand on her shoulder, but she didn’t acknowledge him.

  He knew they were in trouble when she began to lose. She wasn’t focusing. She stayed in when she shouldn’t and lost money like she never had before.

  Finally, an hour later, she shoved her chair back and thanked the dealer. When she stood and picked up her rack, she wouldn’t look at him.

  As they walked away, he reached for her hand, but she drew it away. Shit. I have to explain. “Alexis, I—"

  They were in a crowded hallway now, and she spoke up to be heard. “You’re not stuck with me. I can play on my own. If you have somewhere else to be, feel free to go.”

  Huh? He shook his head. “Alexis, I don’t want to be anywhere but with you—”

  She interrupted him again. “I saw you talking to that blonde. If you want to meet up with her, go ahead. I just need to take a break, have a drink, and relax for a few minutes. You go on, now. Go have fun.”

  He took her arm and pulled her to a stop, turning her to face him. She wouldn’t meet his eyes. He tilted her chin up until their gazes met. “Listen, nothing happened.”

  She started to say something, and he said, “No, you’re going to hear me out, Alexis.” He took a deep breath and began again. “She’d had too much to drink. I’d seen her earlier and figured that out. When she approached me, I leaned in to whisper so that I wouldn’t disturb the table. I wanted to tell her that I was with you so that she’d leave me alone.”

  He sighed. “That’s when you turned around. By the look on your face, you must have thought something else was going on. Alexis, I’m so sorry. You’ve got to know that I’d never hurt you.”

  She stared at him for a moment and then threw her arms around his neck. “God, I’m such a jealous fool.”

  A man passing by chuckled quietly.

  “Come on, let’s get out of this hallway.” Dane took her hand. “Do you want to keep your rack or go to a cashier’s cage?”

  She leaned against his shoulder. “After I get my shit together, I’m going to play again. Hell, Dane, I was so hurt.”

  “Well, I know how I’d have felt if I thought something was going on with you and another guy, so I get it, honey.” He squeezed her fingers and led her into the coffee shop.

  They sat side by side and sipped their hot brews, silent and just enjoying being together.

  Finally, Alexis brushed a soft kiss across his lips. “Forgive me for doubting you, please?”

  His chest relaxed the last tiny bit. “Already forgotten.” He gave her a lopsided smile. “Just try to remember that I’m a one-woman man, okay?”

  She nodded.

  Thank goodness she was able to get her seat at the table again and, within minutes, she was right back at the top of her game. He stood patiently behind her, sipping an occasional drink and watching her slay player after player.

  After her rough start, she played until 3:30 a.m. and when she cashed out, she was up $36,000.

  Their lovemaking that night had a desperation to it that went straight to his heart. He reassured her with his body and his tender words, and she fell asleep cuddled in his arms.

  Alexis leaned into Dane as they walked to her chosen table at 3:30 the next afternoon. She was ready to win—and win big—this evening. It would happen. She could feel it in her bones. Lucky to have found a high stakes, no-limit table again this afternoon, she’d already said a silent prayer for an abundance of luck to go along with her skill.

  Dane whispered, “You’ve got this, honey,” before she took her seat. A flush of erotic pleasure swept through her as she remembered their lovemaking that morning. He’d been so tender and sweet, so incredibly loving, that she’d been completely lost in his arms for hours.

  The memory brought such sensual feelings that she felt her nipples instantly harden. She glanced over her shoulder and met his gaze, her mouth curving in a teasing smile that hinted where her thoughts were.

  He grinned and lifted his glass to her, mouthing, “Tonight.”

  She returned her attention to the table where the dealer was preparing to start the next hand. Tonight, she wore her emerald-green dress that brought out her eyes, and her thick blond hair was styled in long curls that cascaded over her shoulders.

  When she’d walked out of the bathroom, Dane had called out, “Hello, gorgeous,” in a husky, sexy voice that had made her want to take him straight to bed again.

  Play began, and after checking twice, Alexis knew she had to fold. Her cards were terrible. She hoped they didn’t reflect how her evening would go.

  The next hand was better, and she squeaked by with a win. After that, she took off and never looked back.

  When she stood from the table and racked her chips at two in the morning, Dane’s strong hands settled on her shoulders. He whispered, “You were fabulous tonight.”

  She’d never lost track of him. Having him at her back had been like having a warm wave of encouragement flowing into her all evening.

  She thanked the dealer and stepped away from the table, then slipped her arm around his waist. “Thank you for being here. It made such a difference. I never would have been so successful if I’d been here alone.” She tilted her face to him and smiled. “Kiss me, honey. My hands are full.”

  “My pleasure.” He stopped in the middle of the walkway and drew her into his arms, kissing her thoroughly, heedless of the other people walking by.

  The touch of his lips sent sparks of sensation showering through her. She kissed him back and then stepped away, looking into his eyes. “Thanks, Cowboy. Now, let’s cash out and get something to eat. I’m starving.”

  They headed toward the cashiers’ cages again. She’d never felt so happy.

  Fifteen minutes later, they were walking toward the food court with a check for more than $58,000. Dane hugged her close. “You made it. You won enough to pay the bank off. How does it feel, honey?”

  She heaved a long sigh. “Like the weight of the world’s off my shoulders. I can’t wait until I put this check in the bank in the morning. Then it’ll all seem real.”

  They stopped at a place in the food court that served real New York pizza. Her stomach grumbled loudly while they waited on their order.

  When it came, her mouth watered as they walked to a table. She couldn’t remember when she’d last been this hungry.

  It was worth waiting for. Flavor burst into her mouth with the first bite. “Oh, this is delicious!”

  Dane had to swallow a big bite before he could talk. “You can say that again. Wow.”

  They ate quickly, and then Dane dumped their trash into a nearby can.

  He took her hand. “Ready?”

  “I think I ate too fast. I’m full, Rodeo.”

  He grinned. “Me too, but I don’t regret a bite.”

  “I don’t either. I’d been fantasizing about food for hours.”

  He slipped his arm around her shoulders. “Tired?”

  “Uh-huh. But not too tired...”

  He chuckled and kissed her behind the ear, whispering, “Me neither, sweetheart.”

  Dane stood on the balcony overlooking the lights of the city. It was beautiful in its own way. He preferred the view from his two-story bedroom window on his Texas ranch better, though. Give him wide-open spaces any time and he’d be happy.

  He’d showered first while Alexis had enjoyed her favorite scotch, and now she was inside cleaning up.

  A few minutes later, the tall glass doors opened and she joined him, her short robe, belted at the waist over her black teddy, doing nothing to hide her beautiful body. He put his arm around her, and her clean, perfumed scent wafted to him on the stiff breeze blowing across the balcony.

  It was chilly at this time of night, and she shivered. He kissed the top of her head. “Let’s go inside, honey. You’re cold.”

  “I hate it that this is our last night. It feels like all I’ve done is play poker.” She clung to him as they walked back inside.

  “Would you like to stay another day? I can call down and see if we can have the room again.” He threw back the covers on the bed, and she crawled in.

  She said, “Damn, it was cold out there. How did you stand it in just those shorts?” She took her robe off and tossed it at the foot of the bed.

  “I wasn’t out there long.” He slipped his shorts off and got in beside her.

  She leaned back against the pillows. “About staying? I really need to get back to the ranch. I know Colt was happy to lend his ranch hand while we were gone, but I’m sure the guy needs to get back where he belongs.”

  Dane drew her over onto his chest.

  She nestled her cheek against him and pulled back quickly. “Man, your skin is cold, Rodeo!”

  He chuckled. “Maybe I was out there longer than I thought. Sorry about that.”

  Her body shivered involuntarily, and he drew the covers up over her shoulders. “Better?”

  She snuggled down again. “Much better.”

  He sighed, suddenly feeling the coming loss of her acutely. “I’ve had a great time, Alexis.”

  She nodded against his chest. “I have too, Dane. I don’t want it to be over.”

  He thought about what she really meant, and his heart beat harder, sadness spreading through him like a dark wave.

  For a few seconds, he couldn’t speak past the lump in his throat. How could he give her up? The incident with the blonde had shown him just how insecure she was. He was sure that she’d never be able to tolerate him going back on the road.

  And he was caught between a rock and a hard place. If he went on the road, he risked losing her for good. If he didn’t, he risked not being able to take care of her and their family the way he should. That is, if she would ever consider a future with him.

  He tightened his arms around her as he had a sudden thought. Would she be better off with a regular cowboy? A stay-at-home rancher? He’d never let himself consider that possibility, but now he had to. He had to realize that if she found a man like that while he was on the circuit for the next year, then he had to let her go. He had to let her find happiness with someone who would always be home for her.

  He choked back a moan of pure misery.

  “Dane? You okay?” Alexis rose to peer into his eyes. “What’s wrong, honey?”

  Oh God, she’d called him honey. She was breaking his heart.

  He cleared his throat. “Love me woman, like there’s no tomorrow.” He kicked off his boxers in one swift movement.

  She smiled that sweet, sensual smile of hers. “My pleasure, Rodeo.” After switching off the light, she settled on top of him. The lights of the city gave the room an ethereal glow.

  He realized that she had no panties on and smiled. Her silky-soft black teddy slid under his hands as he drew it over her head. Her dusky nipples made his mouth water, and he tugged her down to him. She moaned as he took one into his mouth and rolled his tongue over it. Taking more of her breast into his mouth, he suckled, cupping the rounded fullness in his hand, loving the full, sweet weight of it.

  She’d straddled his shaft, and she was suddenly wet, heat from her depths making him harder than hell.

  Suddenly, he remembered the condom and swiftly put it on. Then he clasped her hips and pressed her down, grinding her forward and then back. She moaned and whispered, “God, yes. Do it again.”

  He swallowed a small, choked laugh. Lord, he was already so close to losing control. How did she do it to him? Gritting his teeth, he moved her forward and back, then forward and back again. She whimpered, her long hair falling forward, tickling his chest in sensuous waves of pleasure.

  Leaning down, she kissed his mouth, long and slow, tasting his lips with her tongue and sending shivers racing through him. He felt drugged by her clean, feminine scent.

  Her cheek against the pillow, she whispered in his ear, “I’m going to love you all night long, Rodeo. We’ll remember this night forever.”

  A knot rose in his throat. “Sweetheart, I’ll remember every minute I’ve spent with you.” He took her face and held it gently. Her beautiful eyes were dark in the dim light from the city below. “You’re burned into my heart, my love.”

  A low cry escaped her, and she buried her face in his neck. “Oh, Dane. I feel so lost. What can we do?”

  He cupped her face in his hands. “Love each other.” He caressed her long moments with his loving gaze.

  She brushed a gentle kiss across his forehead. “You’re the most amazing man I’ve ever known. I don’t deserve you.”

  He rolled her onto her back and rose above her. His broken arm felt strong now, and he rested some of his weight on it. “Honey, we deserve each other. If you don’t know anything else, believe that.”

  After a few seconds, the corners of her mouth lifted. “You forgot something, Rodeo. I’m making love to you tonight.” She pushed him back and, as he rose to his knees, she climbed out of bed. “Come here, you,” she said forcefully.

  “Yes, ma’am.” God, he loved it when she ordered him around. What in the heck was she up to? He slid off the bed and stood before her. Then his heart began to pound as she knelt in front of him. “Honey?”

  Without a word, she took him in her mouth. She was hot and wet, and when she sucked him, he thought he’d die. He clutched her hair as she moved up and down slowly, teasing him, running her tongue around the head. His knees were suddenly weak, and he stood straight, bracing himself against the deluge of incredible pleasure washing through him. God, he’d never imagined that this would be happening.

  She sucked harder, moving faster, and he squeezed his eyes shut, fighting for control as sheer pleasure swept through him in violent waves. Then she clasped his balls and found his sensitive spot, massaging it until he thought he’d lose it.

  God, if she didn’t stop, he’d ruin everything. He reached for her hand, but she shrugged him off, sucking harder and continuing to stimulate him.

  Suddenly he was there. His knees buckled, and he could barely stand as a crescendo of pleasure took him. Cum spurted into her mouth, and he was powerless to stop it. He stood, head thrown back, as wave after wave of ecstasy shook his body.

  She clasped his butt, still sucking as he pulsed in her mouth.

  He’d never experienced anything like this. He leaned back onto the bed and took her hands. “Honey... Sweetheart—”

  “Dane, honey, you’re the most wonderful man I’ve ever known. Thank you for caring about me. For everything you’ve done for me.”

  He took her face in his hands and looked into her eyes. “Everything I’ve done, I’ve done because I care about you, Alexis.”

  She turned and kissed his palm. “I know that.”

  He drew her to her feet and took her into his arms. She was firm and strong. He picked her up and laid her at the foot of the bed, then tossed a condom onto the sheet. Kneeling in front of her, he put her legs over his shoulders. She raised her head and met his gaze. He smiled and then spread her open. God, she was perfect. The most beautiful woman in the world.

  He stroked her with his tongue and heard her suck in a breath. He slid a single finger inside her and stroked her again. She sighed, running her fingers through his hair. With the tip of his tongue, he found her sensitive spot and stroked it round and round. She breathed, “Dane,” her voice throaty with passion.

  He smiled and took it into his mouth, sucking gently, and she cried out, her legs tensing. He added another finger, pumping in and out, and she whimpered her pleasure. God, he loved making her feel this way. He felt himself getting hard again. He quickly put the condom on.

  His tongue stroked her again, and again, his fingers moving faster now. A high-pitched whine escaped her, and she clung to him. Suddenly her body squeezed his fingers in rhythmic spasms.

  She cried, “Honey!”

  He pulled her to her feet and turned her away from him, bending her over the bed. She arched her perfect butt up to him and cried, “Hurry!”

  Clasping her hips, he slid slowly inside her, throwing his head back and clenching his teeth to gain control. God, he was going to come, and it was too fast. He bit down hard on his lip, letting the pain bring him back to himself. Then he began his rhythm, thrusting in and out, faster and faster. Alexis stood on her tiptoes, guiding him where she wanted him. Little cries escaped her each time he sank into her. The sound nearly made him lose it, but he forced himself to hold on. This loving was for her.

  When her clasping body slowed, he let himself go as an agony of pleasure pulsed through him, sending his senses spinning out of control. Oh God, he’d been waiting for this woman all his life.

  As his pleasure waned, he drew her to his chest. She turned her head and kissed his cheek. He couldn’t speak yet. He had no words to describe how he felt, and maybe she didn’t either. She reached back and ran her fingers through his hair in an absent, languid motion. She, too, must still be under the spell of their lovemaking.

  At last, she turned to face him, slipping her arms around his neck. “That was lovely, sweetheart.”

  He closed his eyes at that tender word and rested his forehead against hers. His heart was breaking because she was beginning to say goodbye.

  “Yes, honey, it was.” He didn’t want to open his eyes, because then time would start ticking away again. Morning would arrive and they’d catch a plane to Texas and then they’d turn the page on this fairy tale, and it would be the end.

  She took his face in her hand and looked into his eyes. How he wanted to see their emerald color now. “Rodeo, I’m going to give you a massage tonight. Crawl up in that bed.”

  Her forceful voice was back, and he couldn’t help but smile. “Yes, ma’am.”

 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17