The Staying Kind (13 page)

Her gaze dropped away and she frowned, though she didn’t seem embarrassed. Instead, humor replaced the worry and she smiled slightly. “Silly, isn’t it? How much stock a person puts in virginity.”

“No, not really,” he replied gently.

She chuckled and kissed his jaw. “You should see the look on your face. I think you actually went pale.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Not something you’d expect a woman my age to say, is it?” she whispered. She traced the edge of his ear with her fingertip.

“Well, no.”

“It shouldn’t change things. Travis, I want this. I want you. Don’t let this stop us.”

Travis drew in a ragged breath and inhaled her scent, so enticing, so feminine. Everything about her drew him in, made him want to lose himself in her. But her confession was like a thin rope that kept him tied to reality.

“Maybe we should stop. Rio, we have no protection.”

She laughed lightly. “It’s okay, if you’re worried about babies. Not the right time of the month. That fact I’m sure of.”

“I don’t want to hurt you.” He touched her cheek. She was so beautiful, so vulnerable and innocent, lying there against his pillow, her soft, naked body beside his. Her admission hadn’t cooled his ardor. In fact, her boldness brought on another, stronger wave of need.

“I’m prepared. I don’t believe in all those horror stories anyway. Travis, I’ve waited for the right time, the right man. I would’ve been okay if it never happened, if the right man didn’t come along. From a young age I promised myself I’d never give my body for the sake of having sex.”

He smoothed her dark hair away from her forehead. “Do you want to wait?”

“I don’t want to wait.” She wrapped her arms around his neck. “Travis, let me tell you this. I’m dedicating myself to Sadie for the winter and probably for all of next year because I love riding. If it works for her and me over there, I won’t run off. What it means for you and me, we’ll have to find out. One thing I promise though, I’m no starry-eyed romantic.” She kissed him softly on the cheek. “I don’t believe in that kind of love and I’m not expecting to have my mind changed. No matter what happens from here on out, I’m not going to put any expectations on you.”

“So, this is just a physical thing?” Somehow her confession disappointed him greatly.

She kissed him again, on the lips this time, long and lingeringly before pulling back. “I already told you I wouldn’t have sex for the sake of having sex. No, I’ve become very, um, fond of you. Fonder than I’ve been of any other man, ever. I like you very much. I appreciate everything you’ve done for me when you could very well have run me out of town. You opened your home to me, and while I understand your original motives, you don’t know how much that means to me. And . . .”

This time her tongue traced his lower lip. She nipped it lightly. “And, I find you incredibly attractive. All this adds up to a man I want to—to sleep with. Please, Travis.”

Rio slid her hands down his shoulders, over his back until they rested on his hips. Gradually she applied pressure until his arousal was poised at the juncture of her thighs. How could he stop now? She was ready for him and he surely wanted her as much as any woman he’d known. He didn’t fill her yet, but kissed her nose.

“You give quite a speech.”

“I’ve been quiet for so many years. I guess a dam broke.” She stroked her hand up and down his buttocks.

“I’ll be gentle,” he whispered and kissed her eyelids, the tip of her nose again, and then her lips, feeding off the smoky, intoxicating passion.

He wanted to distract her from the pain that would come as soon as he slid into her. The moment was more emotional than he ever could’ve imagined. He had taken Laura’s virginity a million years ago, at the same time he’d lost his. He’d been too scared and excited and apprehensive to realize how important the moment should be.

Well, he wasn’t a horny teen anymore and this woman, no matter how briefly she’d been in his life, meant a lot to him. He wanted to make this as special as possible for her.

When he reached the barrier of her virginity, she moaned against his mouth. He paused for a moment, then pushed past it, quickly, smoothly. Her fingers dug into his shoulders, and he gladly let her transfer some of the pain to him.

Every muscle in her body tensed. He held himself still inside her, let her become accustomed to him, and when she started to relax, he began to move within her, slowly.

There wasn’t any way he could promise her fireworks, not this time, but he planned to at least try like hell to make it a good first experience. Since she put her trust, her body, into his hands, she deserved the best he had to give.

After a minute he noticed her moans had changed. Now he heard pleasure and animal desire from low in her throat. Her hips started to move with his, a provocative, perfect rhythm. He pulled away and gazed at her. Her eyes were half closed, her lips parted.

He seized fierce possession of her mouth, before feathering kisses along her neck and shoulders. Taking one hard nipple into his mouth, he suckled it tenderly. As he swirled his tongue around the taut peak, her sighs became more urgent, more jagged, and she wrapped her legs around his waist.

“Travis,” she moaned, her voice faint and choppy.

He released his hold on her breast and moved to her lips again. “Shh.”

He struggled to slow down his tempo. His instinct was to go faster, delve as deeply inside her wonderful, welcoming, sexy body as he could, but not at the risk of hurting her.

“Travis,” she repeated, stronger, ragged. She clung to him, raised her hips high to meet and hold him. Then drew in a deep, shivering breath and cried out.

As her body tensed with her release, he felt it flood around him, hot and heady. He couldn’t hang on anymore. The look on her face, so swept away, sent him over the edge. He pushed deep within her, and buried his face against her neck, as his orgasm carried him away with wave after hot, silky wave.

When it had subsided, he remained inside her. He didn’t want to give up the feeling of her body enveloping his yet. He inhaled deeply, savoring her scent, then kissed her jaw before propping himself up on one elbow. Rio kept her eyes closed. Her heart still beat furiously under the palm of his hand. A smile crept over her face.

“Wow,” she said with a rough sigh. “My sister told me about her first time. I was only twelve and pretty much thought boys were gross. She told me it hurt like hell—her words—and it was slimy and messy. I’m sure it got better for her, but she didn’t talk about it after that. I said I’d tell our mother if she shared any more of her experiences with me. I decided sex wasn’t something I wanted to be a part of.”

“Hmm. And was it slimy and yucky?”

She laughed and wrapped her arms around him. “Well, it did hurt. Not like hell, anyway. At least I can only go through that once. The rest? No, not slimy or yucky at all.”

A silence fell over them. He caressed her shoulder and stared at the ceiling.

“Thank you,” she said huskily.

“For what?” He glanced over at her. She stared upward, too.

“For not making it slimy and yucky. It was better than I ever could’ve hoped for. I knew I could trust you.”

“You’re welcome, Rio.”

After a minute, Travis shoved away the covers and climbed out of bed, stepping into the bathroom. One of the luxuries he gave himself was a Jacuzzi tub to soak away a long day at work. He turned it on and filled it with hot water, then went back to the bed. Rio’s eyes were closed, her lips slightly parted, as if she’d fallen asleep. When he picked her up in his arms, her eyes opened and she inhaled sharply.

“Where’re you taking me?”

He didn’t reply. He kissed her lightly and carried her into the bathroom. She giggled when she saw the tub filled with water. “You’re crazy.”

He lowered her into the tub and climbed in behind her. With her resting against his chest, he loaded a cloth with body gel and tenderly washed away the signs of her lost virginity.

His simple act seemed to arouse her body again. As he moved the cloth against her inner thighs she arched against his hand, pursuing the pleasure he could give her.

He complied, careful not to hurt her any more, and discarded the cloth. With one hand, he cupped the soft, ripe swell of her breast, teasing one of the distended peaks, while the other sought out the slick bud hidden within her center. She bucked against the swirl of his fingers, whimpering as she pulsed under his touch.

Slowly he brought her down to earth with soothing whispers and kisses. Having her naked buttocks pressed so firmly against him did nothing to ease his own swelling desire. He wanted her again, especially now he could see her passion-filled eyes in the light from the bathroom. He had the impression he would want her a lot now.

Maybe she read his mind, or his erection got her attention. Rio nimbly spun around so she faced him. The tub was certainly big enough for two, and she was so petite that nothing kept her from straddling his lap. Without hesitation she lowered herself down onto his straining cock.

Oh, I’m definitely in trouble.

Chapter 12

“Rio, where’s your head this morning?”

Sadie’s sharp words drew her back into the here and now. Guiltily, Rio forced thoughts of Travis and their night together out of her mind and switched her concentration to Dante, ignoring how her body felt.

The dull ache between her thighs made it difficult to do what she needed to do in the saddle, but she would work through it. After all, she only had herself—and Travis—to blame for how she felt this morning. Still, she smiled, because she wouldn’t trade last night for anything.

If she had to pay for it this morning, then so be it. She’d been mounted up for half an hour and Sadie had her doing her drills, cantering a figure eight over and over again.

Then the sadistic instructor put down rails and told her to do her figure eights over them. As much as Rio hated figure eights, she knew why she had to practice them, and in time figured she’d appreciate the repetitive exercise. Even without her meager help, Dante could handle his lead changes. The exercise was more for her.

“There’ll come a time,” Sadie had told her, “when you’ll come across a horse who doesn’t change leads so beautifully as our Dante. You need to know how to make the horse do it.”

Once again there was Sadie, talking about the long term.

After about three thousand of the maneuvers, Sadie had Rio ride Dante over a pair of foot-tall cavalettis, her introduction to jumping. Rio had a feeling this kiddie stuff bored the heck out of the horse.

They’d been working with the small jumps for a week now. Lots of repetitive work, and Rio appreciated every moment of it. Sadie wanted her entered into a show by May, riding Fleur. Rio had begun working with the mare every day, too.

For the first time in her life, planning something that far in her future didn’t scare the crap out of her. Any other place and time she would’ve been thinking, “Oh hell no,” and moved on.

And now look at me. Who’d have thought?
She took a lover, a man who was grounded and stable and blessedly normal, not to mention handsome and caring, and now she actually trained to do something that felt
right.
Important.

“Okay, Rio. Drop your stirrups and do it all over again. Over the trot poles and the cavaletti. Do it at a trot, circle the ring and do it again. Then repeat at a canter. No stirrups.”

Rio pulled the stirrups over the saddle and moved Dante to the rail in a trot. Thank goodness the horse had a smooth trot. She was becoming more comfortable with posting at the trot, especially with Dante’s easy gait.

Sit deep in the saddle. Let your thighs and rear absorb the movement. Don’t yank on the reins or use them to help maintain balance. Sit up straight.
Sadie had told her pretty soon she’d have to post to a stirrup-less trot and Rio already grieved for her thigh muscles. Nevertheless, she refused to complain. She looked forward to it. She was a sponge, soaking up Sadie’s knowledge and encouragement.

“That’s good,” Sadie called from the center of the ring. “It’s amazing what some concentration will do for you.”

Sadie kept the lesson at an hour before letting Rio send Dante into the paddock for a little R and R. She’d be riding Fleur after lunch, and she had plenty to do before then. Sadie had a part-time stable hand come in, a boy named Tyler from down the road, to clean stalls and put horses out. Rio gave him a hand.

She could’ve returned to Shadow Oak. Travis was working and Jessa remained at her friend’s house. Rio didn’t want to go back to an empty house. Being alone would only make her think about the previous night, with a distinct possibility those thoughts would be much too giddy and girly for her comfort.

It was one thing to lust over Travis, but quite another to fantasize about things that could never be. Like falling in love. Being married. Those contemplations would bring her too close to the edge of emotions she had no use for.

No, best to keep it real. And real for her, at the moment, was using a bedding pitchfork to remove horse droppings from the dry wood shavings in the stalls, then rinsing out water buckets. Good, hard work would keep her mind focused on reality.

For her, right now, the horses in Sadie’s barn took precedence. She hadn’t realized how important they’d become, how much she really enjoyed working around them these past months.

Who’d have thought each one would have their own distinct personality, or how Dante knew he was the king of the stable? He walked proud, surveyed the place as if everything revolved around him. Despite all that he also had a playful nature and could be patient when need be.

She adored Barnaby, who was a big baby and liked to follow her around like a puppy dog. And when he could get away with it, he’d nearly knock her off her feet in an effort to make her scratch his head.

Fleur, the queen to Dante’s king, was a regular prima-donna, who, if she was inclined, would give anyone a chase just to attach a lead rope to her halter. Dusty was a grump, yet he’d do anything for Sadie, even let her give lessons to a bouncy five year-old. Angel loved Butter Rum Lifesavers and having her belly scratched. After every grooming, Angel would immediately go outside and roll in the biggest patch of dirt she could find, until her pale gold coat was filthy again.

Rio loved them all. Even sulky Dusty. In fact, she felt more for these five horses than she had for any person she’d met during her years on the road, with very few exceptions. To leave them would break her heart. If she quit Cobble Creek she didn’t think she’d ever find any work nearly as satisfying.

So, she’d stay. As long as she could. All she had to do was pray the traveling bug wouldn’t find her. Or find her relationship with Travis so awkward that she couldn’t bear to be in the same town with him.

She hoped it wouldn’t come to that. Ever. Still, these feelings couldn’t solve any of the questions lingering in the back of her mind. What next? Where did one go after a night of lovemaking with a man you barely knew? Unchartered territory for her, maybe for Travis too.

While she didn’t plan to start up a conversation about his love life, she didn’t think he was a player or promiscuous. He seemed too straight-laced, too responsible. He’d been a single dad for years now, and he’d been in the service, with over a year in Afghanistan. She didn’t suppose he led a rich love life, but no doubt there’d been a woman or two during those years.

And what if there was?
It was none of her business, and she had to remember that.

Still, tendrils of jealousy licked at her thoughts. If another woman did exist at one time, their relationship shouldn’t matter, as long as it remained in the past.

He certainly hadn’t gone on any dates since she’d lived there. And if some woman came along and enticed him, so be it. He was allowed to whatever happiness he could find after what he’d been through. Rio had made it pretty clear happily-ever-afters weren’t for her. She didn’t believe in them or the pretty words that accompanied them. If what she had wasn’t solid, something she could touch, then it wasn’t worth her time.

These thoughts weren’t worth her time either. She had far too much to do with the horses. Sadie wanted her to give Angel a bit of a stretch of the legs after her lesson with Fleur.
Maybe a ride down the road, away from the farm. Escape Cobble Creek for a little while.

By the time she hit the road with Angel, Rio’s body ached. She stretched her arms in the air, then rolled each shoulder. She was ready to quit for the day. Although not much past three-thirty, dusk had already begun to creep in. In an hour it would be nearly nightfall and she’d be finishing up with the feeding. Then home.

Interesting how quickly she’d started calling Shadow Oak ‘home.’ Yet it had become more of a home than any of the hovels her mother put her in, growing up. Cobble Creek was home too. Sadie was family.

Her mind inevitably turned to Storm. Why had he gone to their mother? Probably because he had no other place to go and no other options.
Where else would he have gone?

Could she pry him away from their mother? Out of a life he no doubt had become accustomed to? There might be hope for him yet.

One thing she knew, she couldn’t live with herself unless she tried.

At the stable, Rio helped Tyler feed the horses and settled in their stalls for the night. Outside a fine drizzle began to fall.

“Snow on the ground my morning,” Sadie predicted. She’d been doing paperwork in the office at the end of the barn. “May only be November, but mark my words, winter is ready to settle in.”

“First snow I’ll have seen in years.” Rio leaned against the doorjamb and stared out the window beyond Sadie’s desk.

Sadie glanced up at her and shot her a narrow gaze. “Not thinking of flying off, are you?”

“Couldn’t remove me from here with a crowbar. Don’t worry, I think I discovered my niche.”

The suspicion in the older woman’s regard disappeared, replaced with a sparkle. “That’s my girl. Knew you had it in you. Do me a favor before you head out. There’s a door outside the barn, a bit past the entrance at the end. It’ll lead you upstairs. There’s a box up there marked “photos.” Run up and grab it for me.”

Rio found the door easily enough, surprised she’d never noticed it before. The stairs on the other side were narrow and steep, and when she got to the top, she had to open another door. Expecting to find a storage area, she was shocked to find living quarters.

Although now it resembled more of a storage area filled with boxes, a few old saddles, and bridles, at one time it must have been a cute little apartment.

Rio had to investigate. While not luxurious, it had a small kitchen with stove and refrigerator, a full bathroom, furnished living room, and a bedroom containing a bed and dresser. It was adorable.

Who’d have thought all this was hidden up here?

Rio grabbed the box Sadie wanted, and carried it downstairs. “Here you go.”

“Thanks.” Sadie accepted the box.

“Nice place up there,” Rio commented, hoping her voice sounded casual.

“Oh, that? Yes, had it done up about twenty years ago when I had a barn manager. Came with the job. I had a full schedule of shows and practically lived on the road. Needed someone I could count on here permanently. I guess that’s one thing about being banned from riding. I can get into the nitty gritty here. Why don’t you take off with yourself? And be careful coming over tomorrow. Could be a bit icy.”

“All right.” Rio grabbed her jacket from the wooden coat rack and slipped it on, wishing Sadie would have had more to say about the apartment. “Have a good night.”

“Same. And, Rio?”

Rio paused at the door.

“You did well today. Real well. Both those horses respond to you. I may work you ‘til you’re ready to drop, but you’ll appreciate it. Believe me, you’ll appreciate it.”

Boy, I hope so.
It had been a hell of a day. A fantastic day. Every muscle in her body ached. She recalled the Jacuzzi tub in Travis’s master bathroom. Oh, to soak in there for an hour or two. She decided to settle for a hot shower and a couple aspirin.

Travis was the only one home when she arrived, still in his uniform, and shuffling through the mail at his desk. She stopped dead at the sight of him. Last night’s memories flooded back. In an instant, fire raged through her entire body in reaction.

If she could, she would’ve melted into a puddle of lustful goo, picturing him out of his uniform. She had to admit, however, there was something about him
in
the uniform that left her knees weak too.

“Hey, you’re home.”

Rio had been too immersed in her craving for him to realize he’d put down the mail and now focused on her. No doubt he could feel the flames licking her entire body, because she sure as hell could feel the heat.

“Just got in.” She shoved her hands in her jacket pockets. Her fists closed tightly. She wanted him, yet was frightened to claim him.

Travis closed the distance between them, which was good, because her legs had turned to noodles and she couldn’t move, not even when he wrapped his arms around her and dipped his mouth to hers.

All the aches and pains that had gathered in her body all day were worth it to come home to this. His hand pushed through her hair as she pressed her lips to his, suckling, then opening her mouth so their tongues could meet and dance with silky abandon. She didn’t have an opportunity to feel awkward, facing him after a day of contemplation. For that she was grateful. She’d been dreading an uncomfortable moment. Thankfully Travis didn’t plan on giving her time for any discomfort.

When he pulled away, he didn’t let her go. Instead he kept his arms wrapped around her. “Jessa asked to stay another night over at Tina’s, so I want you to go grab a shower.” He pressed a kiss on her forehead. “And get dressed. I’m taking you to dinner.”

“Wow. Dinner out?”
Like a date?
“How should I dress?” She felt dumb for asking. She’d never gone on a real, honest-to-God date before and she didn’t want to wear jeans if something dressier was more appropriate. Or vice-versa.

“A dress, if you have one. If not, a pair of slacks and a sweater would be fine.”

“Fine. I’ll be ready in a jiff.”

“Okay.” Swiftly, he kissed her one more time.

Another night alone. Would that mean more of what they shared last night?

In the shower, Rio’s heart pounded harder than the hot stream of water beating against her lower back. Her body was alive with the memory of his hands on her again. How in the world would she make it through dinner when all she could think of was sex with him? Slow, hot—scathingly hot—sex.

At this rate, she’d explode before they made it through appetizers.

Not good.
She shut off the hot water and let the cold stream relieve her of those sumptuous thoughts. As soon as the fire fizzled, she climbed out and wrapped a towel around her hair, drying off.

From the medicine cabinet over the sink, Rio selected a bottle of cream Sadie had insisted on buying her, in case she should want to dress up and go out. She didn’t normally go for soft fragrances, but right now she was grateful for the woman’s foresight. Tonight she’d let herself become all girly. For Travis.