Not a Chance(37)

"Look at me, Kris."

She did, although clearly with great effort.

"Who are you with?" Travis asked.

"You," she said.

"Who are you with?"

"Travis," she gasped as he moved against her.

"What am I?" he asked.

"A sex god," she said, grinning and throwing her head back.

"That's right, baby." He was losing his breath now. She was so hot and hungry. "Who are you not with?"

"Brody," she answered.

"Why's that?"

"Because he doesn't deserve me," she whispered.

"That's right." He pressed her hips down and arched his up and she started moving again, slow at first but gradually faster. He nibbled on her ear and then, because he knew she needed to hear the words, he whispered, "You are so beautiful...and smart...and sexy...and kind..." and every adjective he could think of until he lost the ability of speech and she dug her nails into his back and cried out, "Travis!" and he came a split second after her.

They clung to each other for a few minutes afterward, until their bodies ceased trembling. He kissed her softly and stroked her hair. She did the same with him. Then she climbed off of him and started buttoning her shirt. She shimmied her skirt back down her hips and began the search for her panties.

They bundled up in their coats and stood outside, leaning against the front of his car and smoking cigarettes. The view from up there was amazing. The moonlight glimmered off the creek that wound in the valley down below.

"We should get married," Kristen said softly.

Travis looked at her and waited for her to meet his eyes. "I've thought about it," he said. He took one last puff off his cigarette, flicked it to the ground and then threaded his fingers through her hair and pulled her in for a kiss. A long, soft, quiet kiss. When it ended he turned again to face the view and lit up another cigarette. "You let go of this thing you have for Brody. I'd be honored to marry you."

Kristen laughed softly. "You're so damned sweet, you know that?"

He glanced at her, a half-grin on his lips.

"What about you?" she asked. "I've been hearing things about you and Arden Butler of all people."

It was his turn to laugh. "Yeah. Being with you like this I realize how ridiculous it is."

"Well, I met her today," Kristen said. "She's a lovely person." She was unable to disguise the sarcasm.

Travis glanced at her. "She grows on you."

Kristen laughed. "If you say so." She lifted her cigarette to her lips. "I guess the heart wants what it wants."

"Well, sometimes the heart can't have what it wants. So you tell it to be a big boy and find something better." He turned his gaze to her. She really was a beautiful woman. They'd have an amazing time together. It made perfect sense. But the timing wasn't quite right. They couldn't go into a relationship having such strong feelings for other people. They'd have to get past those feelings first. And the chances of that happening were slim. Kristen had been crying over Brody for three years now.

Besides, Travis had other responsibilities to settle first. He pushed thoughts of Tonya out of his head. He'd gone home at lunch earlier that day and she was still asleep. When she'd awakened, they'd fought for about an hour at which point Travis threw up his hands and went back to work. Now he was with Kristen and he didn't want to think about anything else.

She looked up at him and they kissed again. He pulled her up against him and broke off the kiss. He grinned. "We're liable to have to go back for another round."

She beamed up at him. "If we do, let's find a bed. I'm getting too old for this back seat business."

He sighed. "I'd love to go back to your place, but I hate to leave Dustin alone with Tonya."

Kristen shrugged. "You don't have to stay the night. You can just come over for a little while."

Travis looked at her for a few seconds. Then he burst out laughing. "What are we even talking about. Of course I'm going to come over. Like I'd ever say no to more sex."

Kristen laughed. She gave him a warm side-hug and then they got back in Travis's car and went to her apartment. Travis meant to go home later that night, but he fell asleep in Kristen's arms.





CHAPTER SEVENTEEN



The memorial service for June and Rory was set for the next morning. It had taken a while to gather family members from out of town. Arden had asked for a sub for the morning so she could attend. She didn't know the Raymers that well, but she felt somehow partly responsible for what happened to them. It had never before occurred to her to ask if there were people in her own town who were hungry and homeless. That was something that happened in third world countries. Not in little Splitlog, Missouri.