Page 37 of It's a Wonderful Knife

“That’s us,” Santiago said. “Me and Amelia are on that side.”

“Me too,” Gianna said softly. She’d been looking a bit demoralized as the evening wore on. She’d been flying high after her little rendezvous with Santiago earlier; now she seemed flattened. It was probably because Santiago had been paying a lot of attention to Amelia after dinner.

“Anyone who’s coming with me, grab your coats and let’s head out,” Leo said, holding up his flashlight.

River roused Lucas from his deep sleep, and the other man rubbed his eyes groggily. River patiently helped Lucas get his coat on, his smile affectionate. River could be so self-centered, it was nice to see him taking care of Lucas for once. I still couldn’t figure out what exactly their relationship was. Maybe I never would.

It was pouring buckets as we left the main house. Lightning flashed overhead, and the thunder was quick on its heels. Max and our little group slogged through the rain toward the cabins. Fortunately, Leo had handed out umbrellas. We’d have been soaked if not for them. I was a little surprised the farm still hadn’t gotten the golf carts running. I was beginning to wonder if maybe they were having financial troubles. That might explain why Ezra and Mona were bickering a lot. There was nothing like money problems to ruin a relationship.

By the time we got inside our cabin, Max and I were chilled to the bone. The temperature had definitely dropped once night set in. We changed into warm, dry pajamas and crawled onto the exceedingly soft bed. The sound of the rain pounding on the roof of the cabin was cozy. As tired as I was, when Max started kissing me, I was happy to go along with things.

His mouth was warm, eager, possessive. Gone was the drowsier Max from earlier this evening. Since he was initiating things, I wondered if he wanted to top me tonight, but then he rolled onto his back. I covered his body with mine, nudged his thighs wider, and then I was inside him. Neither one of us seemed in the mood to draw things out. All we really needed was a hot, lusty release of tension. The storm outside swirled around us as he trembled beneath my weight. Max’s needy groans spurred me on, and with a few hard thrusts, the sweet aching relief of my climax washed over me.

“Oh, God,” he whispered as his body shuddered.

Afterward, we held each other for a while, listening to the storm outside. Then we cleaned off and got back in the warm sheets.

“Did you enjoy today?” I asked softly.

He hesitated. “I enjoyed parts of today.”

“What parts?”

“Surprisingly, the horseback riding. I can’t walk now because my legs are permanently bowed, but it was fun. I’d never been on a horse before.”

“No, I don’t suppose you would have been. I love riding horses. I don’t do it much anymore, but I love it.”

“Of course you do. You’re a cowboy.”

“Not sure wearing boots and a cowboy hat makes me a cowboy.”

He sighed. “And this whole time I thought you were a cowboy. I feel so betrayed.”

I smiled and stroked his back. “Speaking of betrayed…”

“Yes?”

“Did you notice Gianna wasn’t very happy as the night wore on?”

He nodded, his cheek rubbing my chest. “I know why too.”

“Do you?” I frowned.

“Yes. I have the tea.”

I laughed. “Do spill.”

“Okay, well, at one point during the Monopoly game, Amelia went to the restroom. Gianna pounced on Santiago and asked him if he wanted to meet her in her cabin later.”

“Seriously?”

“Yes. She was very brazen. I think Mona heard her too.” He sounded disgusted. “She got what she deserved though because he turned her down.”

“Wow. I’d have thought he’d jump at a proposition like that.”

“Me too, but he didn’t.”

“Maybe he just didn’t like the idea of sneaking out in the rain.”