Every ounce of her self-control had dissolved until she was weak and spent. When he rejoined her on the bed, stretching out beside her, Maddie was smiling.
“I think I might have been wrong about foreplay.”
4
KIERAN GROANED SOFTLY as Maddie crawled on top of him. “We have to get up in two hours.”
She straddled his hips, rocking back until he had a perfect view of her naked body. He wasn’t sure he’d ever get enough of looking at her. There was still so much they didn’t know about each other, so many pleasures yet to enjoy. Missing the train again wouldn’t be the worst disaster in the world.
“I think we should just stay up. You know, remain active.”
“We’ve been active since you dragged me into bed,” he said, pulling her down into a long, lingering kiss. “I burned off that dessert I didn’t have for dinner.”
“Oh, I know how hard it is.” She giggled as she rubbed against him. “Or how hard it’s quickly becoming. But, don’t you think you could rise just once more to the occasion? We can always sleep on the train.”
“We’re not going to sleep on the train if we miss it. I couldn’t figure out how to switch our reservations, so I had to buy two new tickets. I’m not wasting any more of your money missing another train. Besides, anything we can do here we can do on the train.”
Maddie drew her finger along his bottom lip. “As much as public sex might be a personal fantasy of yours, I’m not going to do it on a train. I was brought up better than that.”
“I got us a room,” he said with a grin. “It’s really nice. It has a bed and a bathroom and lots of privacy. I figured, you wanting to remain incognito and all, we should probably spend the extra money.”
“Good idea. As my transportation coordinator, you’re doing a very good job. I think maybe I ought to be giving you a bonus.” She shifted against him. “A really … nice … bonus.”
“Whatever you say, boss.” His hands spanned her waist. “But I want you to promise me something.”
“What’s that?”
“You’re not going to hire any more employees. I’m not sure I’d like to share my bonuses.” With a growl, he pulled her down beside him and threw his leg over hers.
“Bossing you around is about all I can handle,” she murmured. “Now, are you going to take care of my needs, or will I have to take care of yours?”
“I’m the one getting the bonus, not you.”
Maddie reached for the box of condoms on the bedside, pulling one out and tearing it open. She smoothed the condom over his stiff shaft. Just the touch of her fingers was enough to push him closer to the edge. “I think this is much better than a few extra dollars in my paycheck,” he said, his voice low.
Maddie pulled him on top of her. “You don’t get a paycheck,” she replied.
Kieran nuzzled her neck as she drew her legs up alongside his hips. He already knew the incredible feeling of burying himself deep inside her and he’d come to crave it as much as the feel of her flesh beneath his fingers or the taste of her mouth.
What quirk of destiny or fate had put this woman in his path? When he’d stepped on the bus in Seattle, he was sure that nothing worthwhile was waiting for him in Bitney. He was sure that his grandfather’s plan was just an exercise in futility.
But then Maddie had just stumbled into his life and changed everything. Was this all part of some grand cosmic plan? Or was it just pure chance that had brought them together?
As he slowly buried himself inside of her, he couldn’t deny the power of their sexual attraction. But there was so much more between them. For the first time in his life, he’d found a woman who was completely open and honest with him.
In the past, he’d always sensed he wasn’t getting the whole story, that even in bed, women were just pretending to be who they thought he wanted them to be. But this was real. It felt right to be with Maddie.
Drawing a deep breath, he closed his eyes, enjoying the sensation of their bodies so intimately joined. And when he began to move, Kieran knew there would never be another woman like her.
She reached up and ran her fingers through his hair, drawing him into a passionate kiss. With every stroke, he felt the connection between them growing stronger.
Kieran grabbed her thighs, then gently pulled her on top of him, the weight of her body driving him more deeply inside her. He watched as she moved, her lithe body open to his touch.
At first, her pace was slow and languid. But when he reached between them, to tease at her need, her expression grew focused. She stared down at him, a tiny smile curving the corners of her mouth. The closer she came to her release, the more he found his own pleasure increase.
Kieran wanted to feel that moment when she lost control, but it was more and more difficult to deny his own body. Every cell seemed to be alive, vibrating together until there was no other choice but to surrender.
But then, as if she knew what he was waiting for, Maddie gasped, pressing her hands into his chest, her body tensing. A moment later, she gave him what he’d wanted all along, dissolving into breathless shudders. Kieran followed her, his orgasm deep and powerful, wringing the last bit of desire from his body.
Maddie collapsed on his chest, her hair tickling his face. Kieran closed his eyes and drew in the scent of her shampoo, smiling to himself. “We are never going to get out of this hotel room,” he murmured.
“Would that be so bad?”
“I guess not. But we’re going to run out of money sooner or later.”
“No, we won’t. We have plenty. I’ve still got a lot of cash left as well as my debit card. There’s lots of money in my account.”
“Aren’t you worried that your mother could trace the card?”
Maddie sat up, her hair tumbling around her face. “She doesn’t know about it. It’s my runaway money. I’ve been saving it for the past two or three years.”
“You’ve been planning to run away for that long?”
Maddie nodded. “I had to open a bank account. I couldn’t hide any more cash under the lining in my guitar case. I get a per diem when I’m on tour and I just saved it all. My mother never noticed that I wasn’t spending anything. I also get my royalty checks, but I send that money to my grandparents.”
“You said they lived near Bitney.”
Maddie nodded. “I haven’t seen them in such a long time. I’m glad we’re going there. They have a horse farm. You’ll like it. I used to spend summers there when I was a kid.”
“When I was young, I was fascinated with horses. My ma used to buy me little figurines and we’d play with them. I had palominos and pintos and dappled grays. And I had books and movies. My Friend Flicka was my favorite.”
“And you
