And Then You Fall (Crested Butte Series) (19 page)

“I saw that.”

Liv mapped out the events she’d compete in for the rest of the season. There were a couple of events in Colorado in August, and one in Idaho. In September she’d be in Albuquerque and Salt Lake City.

“Is that it for September? Maybe you could come see me, if it is.”

“Well, there’s another event, in Kansas City, but it’s cards only.”

“You’re speakin’ a foreign language now.”

“I’ll be on what’s called a permit until I win a cumulative total of $1,000. Then I’ll get my membership card.”

“And you’re thinking maybe you’ll get it before Kansas City? I’m proud of you for thinkin’ that way.”

“It’s stupid,” she mumbled and turned her face toward the window.

Ben put his hand on top of hers. “Scoot over here, closer to me. That’s what bench seats are made for.”

She did and he put his hand on her thigh. “You can do it. I believe in you. You gotta believe in yourself if you wanna fill yourself up.”

“Okay, I hear you. In October I’ll be in Tulsa, and then the second half of the month there are two events in Texas. One is top thirty only, in Waco. And then Rock Springs is top twelve in the Mountain State Circuit.”

“There you go.”

“Do you know your schedule?”

Ben’s eyes got wide and he stared at her with his mouth open. “What? You haven’t been on our Facebook page? You don’t know our schedule?”

Wow, he was right, she hadn’t been. In fact she couldn’t remember the last time she looked at any of their pages.

“Pull it up on your phone. We’ll look at it now.”

Ben would be on the east coast until the middle of September, and he didn’t have more than one day off at a time between now and then. The second half of September he had three days off, before they went to Texas and back to Denver. After that he left right away for the west coast, where they’d be until the end of October. They didn’t have any tour dates scheduled in November, and he knew they wouldn’t until after Christmas at the earliest.

“I guess I’ll see you in November then.”

Was she kidding? “Maybe you could come meet me out on tour somewhere.”

“Maybe.” She was looking out the window again.

“Where are you?”

“Let’s not try to figure this out right now.”

Okay, what was this all about? He took a couple of deep breaths, trying not to let her see him do it. He needed to learn to let go, he didn’t need to know right this minute when the next time he’d see Liv would be. He could do this.

“I think I will go ahead and try to sleep for a little while, if you really don’t mind.”

“No, go ahead.” He needed time to think anyway.

***

They’d been lovers for almost five months, off and on. And when it was on, it was so intense, it threatened to rob him of his sanity. Ben wasn’t sure if his lust for her hadn’t cooled because they’d been off more than on, but it hadn’t diminished at all. Not even close. Today it seemed worse than ever. Every time Ben thought he had a handle on not wanting to pull the truck over and bend her over the tailgate, she’d make some soft sexy noise. Or she’d turn, trying to get more comfortable and the buttons on her shirt would strain just enough that he could get a glimpse of her skin. He was getting to the point where he thought he’d be better off if he just didn’t look at her. They were only an hour into this drive. Five more until they hit Walsenburg where he’d get in his truck and drive west, and she’d head north.

He couldn’t believe that last night, this morning too, was the last time he’d be with her for . . . he didn’t know how long. Skin on skin, that’s what he was thinking about now. Morning was the best time for it, in his book. Although with Liv, anytime he could get as much of her skin next to his was the best time.

Ben’s hands gripped the steering wheel tighter. He took off his hat and started fiddling with the air conditioner. Man it had gotten hot in here all of a sudden.

“Ben?” The way she said his name, the perfect little lilt in her voice, made him crazy.

“Need a break baby? Let’s stop at the next exit.”

“Okay.” There it was again, that melodic voice that made his jeans more and more uncomfortable with every word she spoke. How in the hell was he going to just say goodbye to her in a couple of hours? He needed to feel her underneath him. He needed it. He wondered what she’d think if he said so.

“What’re you thinkin’ about Ben?”

Oh God, his mouth just went dry. Bone dry. “That when you say my name like that . . . it burns me up baby.”

Liv knew exactly what Ben was talking about. She hadn’t slept, but instead imagined him pulling the truck over and taking her up against her pickup—fast, hard and dirty. Oh God, what was she doing?

She looked over at him and the expression on his face was, she didn’t know the right word. Dangerous.

“Tell me what you want baby.”

“I don’t think I can wait.” Her body was on fire.

“Lick your lips, like you did when I told you I loved you.”

Her tongue ran over her top lip, twice, just like she had then.

“Again.”

She did.

The sound that came from deep in his throat made her eyes close.

“Stay in the truck.” Ben had pulled into a service station. Bill was in Ben’s Tahoe behind them, and Paige and Mark were right behind it in their car.

Wait? What? Where was he going?

“I have to talk to Bill.”

“Why? Ben, what are you doing?”

Liv tried to see where he went, but the trailer blocked her view. She went to jump out and remembered that he’d told her to stay in the truck, and right at this minute, she would do whatever Ben told her to do. That was how badly she wanted him. If he came back and told her to take off her clothes in broad daylight, she doubted she’d be able to deny him.

Ben got back in the truck and slammed his door closed.

“What’s going on?”

“They’re goin’ on ahead.”

“Ben—”

“Not now Liv. Just listen to me. Please. And I’m begging you, please don’t fight me on this.” He looked at her as though he was waiting for her to agree. She nodded.

“We’ll meet them back at your place. I told them I wasn’t sure when we’d be there.”

Liv didn’t think she had ever seen Ben quite like this. His eyes were fiery. There was no sign of his sweet smile. In its place, he was almost scowling. She wouldn’t dream of arguing with him about anything when he looked like this. She also didn’t think she could possibly want him more.

She launched herself at him, throwing herself across his lap. Her mouth crushed down on his as her hands fisted in his shirt.

“Want you right now. Now Liv.”

She couldn’t speak. She couldn’t move. She hoped he had a plan. Her need for him was almost primal. She wanted to be taken by this man—in every way he wanted to take her. She was ready to jump out of her skin.

“I’m thinking. God, I can’t even think.”

Liv pointed across the road, to what looked like a chain hotel.

“You make me crazy Liv. Only you. What I want to do to you.”

“Anything you want Ben, just . . . hurry.”

“Wait here.”

Ben walked up to the desk and tossed his credit card on the counter. “Need a room.” Jesus, he couldn’t even talk.

“Sure. Just one night for you?”

“Yep, that works.”

“Would you prefer a king-size bed or two queens?” What was that? What did she just do with her eyes? Oh no, was she flirting with him? No, he didn’t have time for this.

“Whichever one would be ready first.”

“Either one.” There it was again, the eye thing. He recognized it, but it was the last thing he wanted to see right now. He just wanted the damn key card for the room.

“I’ll take the king. Listen, I’m kind of in a hurry here.”

The girl all but jammed his credit card through the machine. Yep, he recognized that look too. He didn’t care how pissed off she was, as long as she hurried.

“Around the back, number one-twelve.”

The door had almost closed behind him before he remembered to say thanks.

He opened the door and let her go in before him. Once inside, he plastered his body to hers. One of his hands slipped into her hair, threading his fingers through it and pulling her head to one side, so he had full access to her throat. His lips followed the curve of it up to her ear. “Driving me crazy. All day.”

He stepped back, grabbed her hand and led her with him to the bed.

Liv fisted her hands in his shirt, ripped it open and ran her hands over his chest. He shuddered and crushed his mouth into hers.

“I can’t stop Liv. I can’t even slow down.”

“Don’t. God, don’t slow down.”

“Remember you said that.”

His hands pulled at her shirt until it was off. Then her bra. Jeans and panties, and then he was on her. “Need you.”

Before she knew it, she was underneath him and he was inside her. His lips moved to her neck and lit it on fire. The calloused fingers of his strong hands clamped down on her wrists and pinned them against the bed.

He went perfectly still, his eyes boring into hers. His look was so intense her eyes closed. “Don’t. Open them. Look at me.”

She did, and they filled with tears.

“Do you know what you do to me? Every time, it’s so damn good.”

“Oh Ben, please,” she arched against him, trying to get him to move.

“Tell me, tell me what I mean to you.”

A tear slid down her cheek, her heart was beating so hard it was almost all she could hear. She shook her head back and forth, hoping he’d relent. “Ben, I’m begging you. Please.”

“Tell me Liv.”

His fingers dug into her wrists. His powerful legs on top of hers kept her from going anywhere. She cried out and tried to move out from under him.

“Tell me,” he said again.

“I can’t.”

“You can. Tell me. Tell me now Liv.”

He moved lower, kissing across her shoulders, then her wrists, where his hands had dug in.

“Don’t let me go Ben. Don’t ever let me go. I need you so much.”

He started moving. Fast and hard, taking her with him as he exploded into her.

“I love you so much,” he said and rolled onto his back, taking her with him. She knew what he wanted, her stretched out on top of him, every bit of her that could, touching him. “Your skin, Liv, on mine. Where it’s meant to be.”

***

“How long will it take us to get home from here?”

It was so hard for him to answer her simply, when what he wanted to ask her was whose home she was talking about. But that would’ve ruined this perfect memory. It would carry him through the next days or weeks, or months, when she couldn’t be with him. The memory of today, when the need for each other overtook them to the point where they had no choice but to give in to it.

“About five, maybe six hours.”

“Think you can make it all the way there without stopping?” She was smirking at him.

“I don’t know,” he said as he kissed her neck. “Think you can?”

“Doubt it.”

Yeah, they wouldn’t be leaving this room for a while yet.

***

Ben’s Tahoe was sitting in her driveway when they pulled in.

“When do you have to leave?” Liv asked, beginning to hate the question.

“I’m not leaving until tomorrow morning. I’m trying to get in touch with my dad. I’m hoping he can fly over and pick me up. I can get the truck when we’re back for the show in Denver. If you don’t mind me leaving it here.”

“I don’t mind. You can park your car in my garage anytime you’d like.”

“You’ve been spending too much time with Mark. And by the way, you don’t have a garage baby.”

“Minor detail. By the way, if you’re hungry, I don’t think I have much food in the house.”

Ben knew Liv had enough food in her freezer to feed every one of the hands who worked the Patterson Ranch. He’d never seen so much food in one person’s house. “I think we’ll be able to find something.”

She was unlocking the back of the trailer, chattering to Micah all the while. “You must be so tired of being on the road, boy. Mama got a little distracted on the way home. I’m sorry for that. I mean, I’m sorry for you, not so much for me.”

Was she not just the purest thing that ever lived? He knew she was. Ben would miss her so much. Laughing with her. Talking with her. Just sitting in silence with her. Touching her. It hadn’t been six hours since he touched her, all of her, and he was craving her all over again.

“Hey, are you sure you aren’t gonna need your truck Ben? I mean, it’s sweet and all of you to stay with me tonight, but you won’t be back here until when? Six weeks from now?”

“I’ll be on tour baby, no need for the Tahoe.” Tour. God. How was he going to get through it without having her with him?