With a nod, he shucked his boxer-briefs and splayed himself against her so that their bodies touched from shoulders to toes, his leg entwined in hers, his arms braced around her waist.
She dug her face into the crook of his neck and inhaled a deep breath of that clean, spicy scent. Gripping her waist, he lowered his head, his lips tickling her breast. He sucked one pebbled nipple in his mouth, swirling a blizzard of pleasure through her veins. She wanted to return the pleasure. Kissing his shoulders, she attempted to reach between them.
“Ah.” He pulled her hand away. “Lie back and relax.”
He pressed his weight on her chest, his body warm, his lips soft. She wanted him to surround her like a cocoon, to fill her heart and soul, to act as a barrier between her and the outside world.
After slipping on a condom, he parted her legs and slid inside, slowly, calmly, stroking against her, massaging against her like he’d massaged her shoulders before. And, like before, she felt her body relax.
His deep brown eyes sank into hers, speaking words only the two of them could hear. She latched onto his back, wanting to pull him closer. She curved her back, wanting to draw him deeper. And still it wasn’t enough. She wanted every part of Travis to incorporate her soul.
Her eyelids went heavy as a ripple of sensation streaked up her spine. She was close, and his low groan told her he was too.
“Travis,” she whimpered.
“Let it go, sweetheart.” He thrust inside her again. “Let it all go.”
With his strong arms pulling her against him and his length stroking her most sensitive part, the rip of climax swept through her, arching her back and gripping her center around him.
Travis shot out a cry as her orgasm pulled him over the edge, sending him bucking against her, shuddering over her and draining inside her.
She grabbed his taut buttocks and pulled him deeper, wanting him to become a part of her and stay that way forever. His face buried in her hair, his chest panting over hers as his length pulsed inside her.
An unfamiliar emotion lodged in the back of her dry throat, but she closed her eyes, shutting out everything but the pleasure she felt right now. Tomorrow, she could figure out what that nagging little emotion meant. Tomorrow, she could gather the courage to ask Travis where he stood.
Tonight, she just wanted to fall asleep in his powerful arms and lose herself in him.
Chapter Nine
For the second day in a row, Rachel woke up entangled in Travis’s strong arms. With a smile, she wiggled her bottom against his groin and was rewarded with a sleepy moan. His arms tightened around her chest, pulling her close so that the hard ridge of his arousal pressed against her lower back.
“I could get used to waking up like this,” he said huskily, pressing a kiss to her bare shoulder.
She rolled over, pushed him onto his back and straddled his naked body. The bed sheets were strewn in a crumpled heap at the foot of the bed, a reminder of last night’s lovemaking. The comforter had been thrown off the side of the bed hours ago, and Rachel felt a rush of warmth as she thought of the naughty activities that had taken place in this room.
God, would she ever get enough of Travis? She didn’t think so. When she was with him, she always wanted more. And more. And more. For the first time in her life, she was being selfish, and she had to admit, it felt good.
“What do you want to do today?” she asked, running her fingers over the dark stubble on his chin.
He shot her a lazy grin. “Hmmm, let me think.”
“You’ve got a one-track mind, don’t you?” she teased.
“Says the woman who kept me up all night.”
Guilty pleasure warmed her body. “You’re right. I was bad last night. Wanna arrest me?”
A chuckle escaped his throat. “Let me find my handcuffs.”
She let out a laugh and wondered if she’d ever felt this happy in her entire life. No, she hadn’t. She’d never known happiness until Travis.
“Save that thought for later,” she said, jumping off him. “I’m hungry.”
He arched one brow. “Me too.”
“For food, Travis.”
“Right, food.”
She rose from the bed and walked over to her closet, where she pulled an emerald green silk robe off a hanger. She wrapped the robe around her body and tightened the sash, glancing back at the bed. “What do you like in your omelets?”
“Everything.”
He stood up and she nearly fainted at the sight of his glorious naked body. God, he really was a spectacular-looking man.
“Mind if I hop in the shower?” he asked.
“Go ahead. I’ll be in the kitchen.”
It was difficult to tear her gaze from him, but she forced herself to leave the bedroom. As she walked down the hall toward the kitchen, she suddenly froze.
Hattie was dead.
How on earth had she forgotten? Guilt washed over her like dirty bathwater, and she suddenly felt like the most despicable human being on the planet. Her mother had died yesterday, and it was the last thing on her mind. She was a terrible person.