Page 30 of Unbroken (Poplar Springs #2)

TWENTY-EIGHT

ELI

I could have cut the tension I felt all day with a knife. I assumed that Fiona felt it too because she wasn’t her usual wise-cracking self. While her knowledge of local history still caught me by surprise, she’d also been subdued today and I couldn’t attribute it to the eight hour trail ride.

Suddenly, here we were, and I was determined to go slow.

After all, she’d practically run away the first time we’d kissed outside the mountain cabin, and I didn’t want to scare her off this time.

But oh God , it felt amazing to kiss her again.

Even better than the first time. All I wanted to do was push her back onto the desk and explore every gorgeous, sweet inch of her.

The only thing stopping me was the fear that I might make her bolt again.

I forced myself to keep my kisses light and was about to ask if she was okay when Fiona linked her legs behind my ass and pulled me in even closer.

It was all the invitation I needed.

Our mouths nibbled, sucked, and explored in a way that made it clear we’d both been desperate to get our hands on each other. Fiona arched into me, linking her arms behind my neck, and I realized that despite our size difference, I was officially locked in her embrace.

Not that I minded, given that it was exactly where I wanted to be. Or rather, it was where I wanted to be once there were no longer clothes in the way. I pulled away then ducked under her arms, and she made a disappointed noise.

“Shhh,” I said, untucking her T-shirt from her jeans. “Just you wait.”

She bit her lip as I finished pulling it out, then gamely held her hands over her head so I could slip the shirt off her completely.

I dropped it to the desk behind her and looked her up and down in awe. I’d gotten glimpses of her cleavage but seeing her breasts nearly naked and cradled in a purple lace bra nearly made me explode like a teenager fumbling around with a girl for the first time.

Fiona giggled. “Are you okay?”

I shook my head slowly, still staring at her breasts with wide eyes.

“Now you,” she whispered, pulling my shirt loose from my jeans.

I started to unbutton my long-sleeved but it was taking too long, so I stripped it off over my head, taking the T-shirt under it too, then moved back so our bare skin was touching.

I nearly groaned aloud at the sensation of being skin to skin.

Fiona was satin beneath my fingertips, and everywhere I stroked seemed to make her tremble.

I finally let my hands move to her breasts, gently cupping them and letting my thumbs graze her nipples through the thin purple lace.

She inhaled sharply when they tightened to the point where they looked painful.

“Are you okay?” I asked, my lips resting against the soft skin of her neck where I was feathering kisses.

She nodded. “I’m … sensitive . ”

“In a good way or bad way?” I asked, gentling my touch against the lacy fabric, so that the pressure of my thumbs was almost imperceptible. I could tell she was having trouble forming a sentence as I explored her body.

“In the best way,” she sighed, her head falling back. “You’re killing me, Eli. Please don’t ever stop.”

I took advantage of the exposed column of her neck, tracing more kisses along it as I popped the button on her jeans. I pulled the zipper down slowly, relishing the tension of the moment.

Because I knew in a few minutes I’d have her unspooling beneath my hand.

I glided along her skin, my palm trailing down her low belly until my fingertips reached her heat. She sucked in her breath.

“Does this feel good?” I asked, my lips hot against her ear.

Fiona’s breathing was shallow, and she nodded as I explored the folds of her skin in gentle circles, slowly working my way to her warm nub.

I knew exactly what we both wanted and how to get there, but I was in no hurry.

I loved teasing her with my touches and taking my time.

Fiona writhed beneath my fingertips, and when I finally stroked her with just the right amount of pressure in just the right spot, she moaned.

My cock was threatening to punch a hole through my jeans, so I worked her faster, watching her beautiful face shift the closer she got to the edge.

Her eyes were pinched closed like she was in pain, but I knew it was pure pleasure, and that she was trying to shut out the world so she didn’t have to focus on anything other than what I was doing to her.

She pushed against my hand, slick and hot, and I picked up the speed, stroking her more insistently.

She was so soft and I was so hard, straining against my jeans as I brought her closer to release .

I dropped my mouth to her breast, first over the top of the lace, then pulling it aside with my teeth and tongue to get to bare skin.

When I closed my lips around her nipple and added suction, she let out a whimper that turned into a long moan that grew louder and louder until I worried that someone might hear her.

Fiona pulsed beneath my fingertips, and I waited until she stilled before pulling away from her, surprised that she’d orgasmed from nothing more than me playing with her nipple like that. It was information I filed away for another day. For now, I needed to see her come undone for me again.

“Eli …” she moaned, her eyelids still at half-mast. “I want you. I want all of you.”

I stepped back to kick off my boots and strip off my jeans while she fumbled with the rest of her clothes.

Everything ended up in a pile on the floor and when I saw her panties, I realized that she’d worn a matching purple set.

Yet another surprise about her, wearing fine lingerie to ride horses.

And yet, like every outrageous thing about Fiona, it seemed to suit her perfectly.

I’d always cursed how tiny my desk was, but when I saw Fiona perched at the edge of it, naked and waiting for me, I realized that it was the perfect height.

My erection had become painful. Bringing Fiona to climax had driven my own arousal up to the point that my brain was fuzzy as if I were surrounded by a tangible white noise.

The way she responded to my touch, quivering beneath my fingertips, had nearly made me come too.

I could barely wait to bury myself deep inside her, but I realized that I needed protection.

“Damn it …” I mumbled. Then I remembered the ancient condom in my wallet.

I’d put it there for good luck ages ago and hadn’t touched it.

I hoped it was still good as I fished it out and quickly put it on, all th e while kissing Fiona and letting my free hand roam up and down her body.

I cupped her ass and moved her closer to the edge of the desk, lining her up exactly where I wanted her.

I paused, letting the tip of my cock graze her.

It seemed to be more than she could take.

She let out a frustrated sigh and locked her legs behind me again, pulling me closer and tantalizing me with the wet warmth waiting for me until I couldn’t hold out any longer.

I pushed inside and we both moaned with relief.

I stilled for a moment, trying to get myself under control because after watching her get off, even the first stroke was enough to tip me over the edge.

“ Eli… ” She said my name on a moan that I knew I would never forget.

I moved against her, slowly at first and then with increasing speed and pressure.

She leaned back on her forearms and pressed her heels into the edge of my desk to spread her legs wider, giving me full access.

With each forward press, she lifted her hips, meeting each downward stroke with a thrust of her own.

The heat inside her channel was scorching as I felt my blood racing to the focal point where we were connected.

I reached down and stroked her swollen nub, wanting her to come one more time before I finished.

She gasped and I felt tremors shake her.

With a soft cry, she came again, clamping down tightly around me and making it difficult to move.

I shuddered against her. Gripping her hips, I tried to put enough space between us so I could continue to stroke her from the inside out.

“Eli, it’s too much. I can’t come again.”

I kissed her before saying, “You can and you will.” My voice sounded wrecked, full of gravel, and Fiona whimpered in response before nodding her head .

She came again first, and the sound of her cries was all I could take. I managed a few more thrusts and then let out a guttural moan that caught me off guard. I usually wasn’t loud, but Fiona brought out something animalistic in me.

Fiona collapsed against me, her head pressing against my chest as we panted in unison.

I kissed the top of her head before gently pulling away to remove the condom and toss it in the trash.

Fiona let out a breathless, infectious giggle, and soon we were both laughing.

At the shock over what had just happened, how good it had been, and the fact that we’d fucked in the tack room without locking the door.

“I’d really love to snuggle up against you, but my desk ain’t that comfy,” I said, rapping it with my knuckles.

She laughed. “Well, it wasn’t like either one of us expected that to happen, but I will say, I’m happy that you had an emergency condom in your wallet. Must be a guy thing,” she said with a wink.

I refrained from telling her that I’d dreamed about the two of us fucking in the tack room. The stalls. Up in the hay loft. Pretty much anywhere and everywhere there was a surface large enough to support us. Hell, after the kiss we shared outside the cabin, I’d thought about that place, too. A lot.

We dressed quickly and I took her by the shoulders, pulling her in for a hug.

“Hey, I’m happy to hear you’re staying.”

“Why?” There was a smile teasing around her lips.

“I feel like you belong here, with your family on this land. You really seem to have blossomed here. And everyone is happy to have you back.”

She nodded, staring at the ground. “I ran to Denver to escape losing my parents. I didn’t want to be here because everything reminded me of them.

” It came out in a pained whisper. “I mean, I loved my life in Denver—the hustle and the excitement of working on the latest, hottest trends, but you’re right.

I belong here. I just want to slow down and feel, you know? ”

The urge to tune into feelings again was a familiar one.

“I get it,” I said. “And I’m happy to help you with that.”

“While you’re here,” she shot back. “Because you’re leaving, right? Did you hear back yet?”

“How about we focus on the here and now,” I said softly, pulling her close and kissing the top of her head. “Speaking of now, what time is it?”

Fiona pulled her phone out of her back pocket. “Five forty-five.”

“Shit, I’m gonna be late to get Patrick. He’s with my dad because my mom was busy today with her quilting group. I’m sorry that I have to …” I gestured between us awkwardly.

“What? Fuck and run?”

I laughed. “Yeah, that.”

“Go get your monkey, I understand.”

I rested my pointer finger beneath Fiona’s chin and raised it up. I kissed her gently on the mouth, and it was so delicious that I could feel more stirring below my waist. I groaned and pulled away, not wanting to have to deal with blue balls during my drive.

After saying goodbye, I sped out the door still in a haze over what had just happened.

Obviously, something had changed between us when we’d made love, but it was more than that.

Fiona seemed different. More grounded, like her decision to stay had trickled over into every part of her.

Sure, she’d been over-the-top at the fundraiser, but that was an act.

When it was the two of us—when it was real—everything felt … perfect .

I hopped into my truck. There was no denying it, I had feelings for Fiona. But I’d mapped out my future with Patrick, and Poplar Springs wasn’t a part of it.

As I sped down the road toward my father’s house, I had to ask myself … was it the right decision?