Page 22 of When It Reins (Three Rivers Trevors Ranch #5)

mitch

The energy between us was electric, and just the tiniest touch of her finger to my skin would set me on fire.

I was nearly ready to combust, anyway.

When I watched Juniper singing her heart out all night, I had felt that thing in my chest that always aches when I watch her grow and pulse with affection. So when she walked to me after her duet, when her eyes set on mine and locked in, I knew exactly what her intentions were going to be.

I was ready. Fuck. I’ve been ready, terrified, but hopeful. Hopeful that I could let go of that fear so that I could be selfish and finally have something that is all for me for once. To let myself fall for the woman who is now holding tightly to my own hand as we make our way back to our room.

The tension between the two of us pulls tight as we make our way down the carpeted hallway and to the door. I pull out my wallet, gripping the card in my hand, and pressing it against the door, hoping it will open seamlessly this time instead of the eighteen attempts I made this morning.

With mercy, the door clicks open, and I pull her in behind me, slamming the door and slipping the lock into place.

When I turn, she paces quickly in my direction, and I know without a doubt that we are finally both on the same page.

“Starling,” I breathe against her lips that are a breath away from mine, holding us in this suspension of air that held us back from devouring each other on sight. “I want to do this right.”

I feel more than see her lips curve up, our breaths rushing out as adrenaline courses through us both. We are still fully clothed, and even still I half expected the clothing to melt off of our bodies from the rising tension between us.

“I don’t think there’s a single thing you could do wrong.”

I know she is teasing me, making a sexual joke, but I truly feel like she means that when she’s talking about us. That she will accept me for who I am, no matter what.

Fuck. I was turning into a damn sap.

“You know what I mean, baby,” I say, my voice hoarse from the need that’s pulsing through my limbs.

Juniper pulls back and looks up at me, her expression growing tender as she stares at me. “I do. And everything is going to be perfect. I promise.”

She then takes my hand and pulls me further into the room, turning me until the back of my knees hit the bed, and I have to sit.

Her eyes hold mine, and I’m pulled into the deep green color they are, with the gold flecks that make them sparkle.

I was always struck by how different and gorgeous her eyes are.

With all my senses firing, I am even more mesmerized by them.

Her fingers reach forward, unbuttoning each button on my shirt before sliding it off.

I’m wearing a black undershirt, and she reaches down, unbuckling my belt, then the button and zipper on my jeans.

Her hair cascades forward, enveloping me with her scent that should have worn off hours ago, but is somehow still lingering on her skin.

With my pants loose now, she pulls my shirt up over my head, and I’m left there half-naked, staring at the most beautiful sight I’ve ever seen.

One that was about to get better.

I stand, pulling her into me and leaning my face toward her until my lips crash into hers, tasting and savoring every moment of this first time together. A time I never let myself hope or wish for.

I reach behind her, pulling her hair to the side and finding the zipper that’s at the nape of her neck. I slide the zipper down, the sound amplified in the room between every heavy breath that escapes each of us.

My fingers tenderly slide over her shoulders, pushing the dress off of her, and letting it fall to the ground. When it’s down, I reach my arms around her body, lifting her nearly naked form against my own and turning.

She giggles at the movement, and I smile at her, never having felt such peace in my life as this moment with her.

Laying her on the bed, I stare down at her, the vision something I have only dreamed of until this moment. Here we finally are. The door walked through and shut behind us.

There is no going back.

I lean forward, placing my lips on her pulse point and kissing down and around her chest, my hand sliding beneath her, unsnapping and slipping the bra off and throwing it over my shoulder.

She laughs at the movement until my mouth closes over her nipple, pulling a gasp from her lips. Her fingers slip into my hair, holding my head down to her chest. I play my fingers down over her sides, eliciting more giggles out of her mouth.

Every movement garners another reaction out of her, and if she doesn’t watch it, this is going to be what I live for.

I kiss my way back up to her mouth, taking her lips with my own and kissing her with every emotion that is pouring through my mind and body right now.

I feel her moving around my pants, trying to push them down. I stand, kicking off my boots and jeans, standing there in just boxers, and then something dawns on me.

“I don’t have protection.” The thought crossed my mind to actually pack something like that when I decided to come, but I didn’t let myself actually do it.

I’m regretting that decision now.

“I do.” Juniper hops up, nearly naked, and flaunting it without a care in the world. She digs around in one of her bags and pulls out a box. A new box.

“You’re a Girl Scout,” I tease, taking the box from her and chuckling at her when she bounces back onto the bed and grins at me.

“I’m on the pill too, but just in case.”

I nod, dragging my boxers down and getting myself situated before crawling back onto the bed with her. I run my hand over the side of her thigh until I reach her panties, and she lifts so I can strip them from her body, sliding them off until she is completely bared to me.

“Mitch.” Her whispered word pulls my attention back to her face, and she smiles softly at me, holding out her arms for me to fold myself into.

I lay down, letting myself be held by her. I hoist her leg up over my hip, angling myself until I’m at her entrance, and let our bodies become one.

She gasps at the feeling, and I wait for her to relax so that I can move. “Mitch.” She moans my name, which makes it hard for me to control myself.

Not that I am lacking control, but every pulse and squeeze from her body is making me wish I could lose it and slam into her.

I would never do that—unless she asked.

“Starling,” I whisper, waiting for her closed eyes to flutter back open and let me see her again. “You’re perfect. Just like I knew you would be.”

My words seem to help her relax, and she pulls me forward with her feet, letting me sink deeper and deeper into her until I nearly disappear in a state of pure bliss.

I move then, letting the scratches of her nails guide me and hold me to her, shifting my body back and forth, and leaning forward to press my lips to her mouth, swallowing her gasps from each thrust.

Watching her chest rise and fall with quicker and quicker breaths, I feel myself edging to the end of what I know will be a time that will be etched into my mind until I take my last and final breath.

“Mitch,” she moans, pulling on my shoulders and moving her hips against mine. I don’t want it to end. I don’t ever want this to end.

I stop and hold her thigh to my body, flipping us until I’m under her, and her beautiful body is above mine, her hair falling around her everywhere as she moves her hips.

It gives me a moment to regain control, and I grip her hips, moving her against me, and loving every gasp and breath out of her mouth.

I see the moment her body decides to give in, her eyes flutter shut, and her mouth opens involuntarily. I lean up, using every abdominal muscle I have to pull myself up while staying inside of her. My hand goes to her jaw, and I press my forehead against hers. “Look at me, Starling.”

Her hand goes to my wrist, and she opens her eyes, attaching them to me as she comes undone.

Not long after, my orgasm rips through me, stealing the breath from my lungs. My arms wrap around this woman, holding her to me as we collapse back onto the bed, rolling to the side.

We lay there in silence for long, peaceful moments, both reliving the last hour of our lives.

Her eyes open, and she smiles when she sees that I am already watching her, my gaze unable to look away from her.

“That was absolutely incredible,” she says, stretching her arms up and above her head with a big yawn.

“Barely covers it,” I reply, keeping my hand on her bare stomach. I am looking forward to wrapping her in my arms and keeping her there all night.

She turns slightly, letting herself lie there in peace, her gaze on the ceiling and a smile crossing her lips. “Mitch.” Her head turns to me, and I return her grin. “I think this may have been the best night of my life.”

I feel a stab of something—anticipation, excitement, pure fucking glee—pulse in my gut at her words.

“Mine too.”