Page 38 of One Kind Soul

She followed him up a set of narrow stairs. They spilled into the barn loft, an open space with a small kitchen, living area, and a bed. In the far corner was a door that led to the bathroom.

“It’s not much,” Christian said, “but it’s temporary until I get the farmhouse finished.”

“It’s cozy.” Nicole leaned against him. “I like it.”

“I like you.” He teased her mouth with his, backing them up toward the bed. “I like these lips.” He kissed her again. “I like this hair.” He tugged on the end of it then slid her sweater off her shoulders and pressed his lips to the curve of her neck. “I like this space right here.”

She arched into him, her hands going to the bottom hem of his shirt. She slipped her hand under it, lifting the cotton to expose his stomach. When she had his shirt completely off and dropped to the floor, she ran her fingertips along his pecs and he wanted her to touch him everywhere.

“I thought I was remembering all this better than it actually is,” she said. “You know, when I was lying awake last night and reviewing our time together.” She pressed her lips to his shoulder, along his collarbone, to his jaw, and over his lips. “But nope. You, sir, are a hot cowboy farmer, and I’ve decided I’m very much into that.”

Without a word, Christian lifted her and she wrapped her legs around his waist, her dress hiking up in the process. He carried her over to the bed and as soon as he set her down, she went to work on the button and zipper of his jeans while he inched her dress up and over her head.

When he saw her black bra and panties, Christian positively devoured the sight. He wished they had all night together, but he’d have to make do with the little time they did have.

He shimmied out of his jeans and briefs, peeling off his socks after kicking off his boots. Then he kneeled before Nicole and pulled off her ankle boots, exposing her delicate, purple-toed feet.

“God, these are sexy.” He massaged her arches, loving how she flopped back on the bed and moaned. He crawled over her, kissing whatever he encountered along the way. Her shins, her knees, her thighs, her belly button, her hipbone. Higher and higher until his mouth reached hers.

She cupped his balls and he nearly collapsed on top of her. Her other hand gently pressed on his back until their chests met. Deepening the kiss as she traced along his erection, Nicole amped up his desire until being inside her or dying were his only two options.

He gave her breasts some much needed attention, his mouth closing around each of them in turn and pebbling her nipples with his tongue. Her hips ground against his and he could wait no more.

Christian reached to the bedside table and grabbed a condom which Nicole took from him and tore open. With a few more minutes of heated kissing, she rolled the condom along his length then widened her legs around him.

“Now. Please. I need you now.” She clawed at his back and he loved the bite of her nails.

While keeping her mouth busy with his, he guided himself into her wet heat, loving how she held her breath for a moment as if she didn’t want that involuntary function to interrupt her enjoyment. Christian took a second to relish being inside her tight channel, having her so thoroughly wrapped around him, before he pushed deeper then retreated. He repeated the rhythm, driving harder, going faster, and soon they were both shaking in each other’s arms with each undulation of their bodies.

Nicole cried out his name and one of the horses neighed in response from below them. She giggled a little, but Christian thrust in one more time and no one was laughing then. Instead they both let out a shout—causing a horse commentary again—and Christian rode an incredible orgasm as Nicole’s core pulsed around him.

Last night had been amazing. Having her here at his farm, however, and in his bed added another level of wow. A level of wow he hadn’t experienced before. This certainly didn’t feel as if he’d be banished to The Friend Group.

Of course he would be banished. When Nicole left. He could pretend that wasn’t true for now though.

Nicole ran her hands up his sides and wrapped them around him when he collapsed on top of her, his body spent. She squeezed him and dropped kisses to the top of his head.

“You’ve got some serious skills there, Chrissy,” she whispered.

“You’re a wonderful teammate.” He nipped at her neck then slid out of her, loving how her eyes closed and she hummed at his retreat. “I wish you could stay.” Because her getting dressed and leaving bummed him out significantly.

“We’ll get in more of this.” She patted his shoulder. “I promise.”

“Good.” But it wasn’t good enough. Not really.

Against all his instincts, he got up so he could dispose of the condom and she could get dressed. He pulled on his underwear, jeans, and boots so he could walk her out, though what he wanted to do instead was pull her into the small shower in the bathroom then tuck her in beside him in bed for the night.

Nicole gave Zip and Clover a few pats as they walked by then Christian got her to stay a few more minutes by giving her carrots to feed the horses. Hey, he wasn’t above using whatever he had to steal more time with her. Even the cats provided an opportunity when they were found circling Tessa’s SUV.

“Grab them all.” Nicole bent to pick up Nina and Leaf. “I can’t think about possibly squishing one of them when I back out.”

He collected Tibbs, Pebbles, and Roxie. “Let’s get them in the barn then.”

After closing them in, Christian walked her to the SUV. At eight-thirty, it was still early by traditional date standards, but he guessed there wasn’t anything traditional about being with Nicole. Their interest in one another had started with a near-death experience and now they were doing the whole sneaking around thing. He didn’t know what to expect from all this, but he was willing to stick around to see what happened next. So far, Nicole hadn’t called him a friend. That had to be good, right?

“I liked seeing your farm.” She leaned against the driver side door of the SUV, keys jingling in her hand and the single floodlight on the barn illuminating her face in the darkness.

“I liked seeing you see my farm.” He put his hands on either side of her, pressing his palms against the SUV. He worried about leaving handprints—evidence Nicole had come over—so he backed up to check.