That was it. Just plain wanted him and needed him.
She dug through her bag. She hadn't brought one of those cute little clutches because that wasn't her style. Instead it was a big ol' leather bag she'd had for a long time. She found the bath salts and a small vial of lavender oil that she kept in there as well and turned to find Wyatt standing in the hallway watching her.
"I wasn't sure if you were coming back," he said.
His voice was quiet and assured. Just like the man but in his words she heard the same doubts she had been experiencing. "I said until sunrise, Wyatt and I'm a woman of my word."
He held his hand out to her and she walked to him. Very aware of the way his eyes lingered on her body. She hadn't had the best track record with men and sex but Wyatt had proven that it wasn't really her. Or maybe it was her with other guys. Because with Wyatt sex was addicting.
She wanted him again. Intended to make the most of every hour they had until sunrise. She knew she didn't want to leave but she was too afraid to stay.
There it was.
Fear once again raising its head and keeping her in the safety zone.
Brave enough to leave Paris because she wasn't getting what she wanted, but not strong enough to stay her and try to convince Wyatt she was worth more than one night of his time.
That spoke more to her state of mind than she wanted to face tonight.
She brushed past him, intentionally letting her breasts brush against his back as she entered his darkened bedroom and continued into the bathroom. She went to the tub and perched on the edge of it. The enamel was cold against her skin but the water when she tested it was perfect. She put the plug in the bottom of the tube and added her bath salts and some of the lavender oil and then stood up.
Wyatt was right behind her. He put his hands on her shoulders and wrapped his arms around her from behind. He didn't say anything just rested his chin on her shoulder as the tub filled. When the water was at the right level, he turned off the taps and got in first sitting against the back of the tub and then gestured for her to join him. She climbed into the tub between his legs, his bent knees were above the water line and she slowly crawled forward, sort of floating over his body.
He put his hands on her hips and she felt his erection nudging her, she shifted over him as he held her to him. She wanted him again. How was that possible?
But he turned her in his arms, drew her back against his body and slowly started washing her. He left no part of her untouched; she was drifting in a sensual haze created by Wyatt.
She washed his body and they were both aching for each other as he got out of the tub, dried himself off and then toweled her dry as well. He got a second condom. He put it on before lifting her out of the tub and carrying her into his bedroom. He laid her in the center of his bed and came over her, he thrust deep inside of her and she wrapped her legs around his hips, keeping her eyes open this time.
She looked at his face, memorized the expression on it as he moved inside of her body. Her orgasm surprised her and she closed her eyes as she shook underneath him and she felt him thrusting even harder and faster and a moment later he called her named before collapsing on the bed next to her. He rolled to his side and pulled her into the curve of his body, his hands moving up and down her back until she stopped thinking and just drifted off to sleep in his arms.
She dreamed she was in the lavender fields out at Lavender House. The sun was high and warm and she lay on a blanket totally naked and comfortable. The sun shone down on her and the scent of lavender surrounded her. A man stood above her, his face blocked out by the sun but she knew him.
Knew him in her heart.
Wyatt.
She woke with a start and glanced at the clock. Four-thirty. Dawn was still a few hours away. Wyatt slept next to her, his face soft in repose and she almost reached out to touch the stubble on his jaw but resisted the temptation.
As quietly as she could, she climbed from his bed and then left his bedroom. She got dressed in last night's clothing and carried her socks and boots in one hand and her purse in the other as she let herself out of his house. The elevator ride to the garage was quick. Too quick. She got in her car and drove away. Pretending that this made her stronger but it only made her sadder. She wished she'd stayed.
Wished she'd never agreed to being two strangers for one night. Wyatt wasn't the prince and she sure as hell wasn't Cinderella. He wasn't going to track her down and all that. This was the real world.
One where Wyatt would go back to his life and his women. And she'd just carrying on. She would, she promised herself. Even though right now she wasn't sure how she would do it.
Wyatt woke as Juliette left his bedroom. He heard her moving around in the other room and it didn't take a genius to figure out she was leaving.
He didn't blame her. But he had been raised by a woman who wanted to make damn sure her sons knew how to respect women. So he quickly pulled on a pair of jeans and a long-sleeved Longhorns tee shirt and entered his living room just as the elevator doors closed. He put his boots on and then went down to the garage, seeing the taillights of her car as she turned left out of the parking structure.
He got in his pick-up and followed her. He kept a safe distance and when she turned off on the road leading to Lavender House he parked at the end of the drive and waited in his truck until she got safely in her house. Even from this distance he could hear the sound of the dogs barking to welcome her home.
He saw a light come on upstairs and stared at the Victorian house for longer than he needed to.
She was safely home. There was no reason to stay so he put the truck in gear and drove on to the Kelly ranch house.
The were a few stragglers from the party still lingering in the ballroom and he noticed that Meggie was in there rounding them up and finding rooms for those who'd been too drunk to drive home.
"Do you need any help?" he asked.
"Nah, I got this. Where have you been?"
"Out."
"Don't take that tone with me," she said.
"Meggie, I don't want to talk about it," he said. He didn't understand what was going on inside of him. His body was sated and at the same time still buzzing from being in Juliette's arms. From having her long legs wrapped around him.
But he felt angry. Lost. Like he wanted to fight. And coming back here … maybe it wasn't his smartest decision.
But tonight had been a night for smart. Not that he could tell.
"Fair enough. If you're hungry I made a plate of tamales for Nicholas who's been romancing half the county. There's plenty for two in the kitchen," Meggie said.
"Thanks," he said, going over and giving her a hug. "Sorry."
"It's alright, honey," she said, shooing him toward the kitchen.
He wasn't hungry. Well not for food. Being awakened by Juliette leaving had hurt. He wanted to pretend it was only his pride that had taken a hit. He didn't know what he'd expected. That he'd be able to go back to the ranch house and she'd be sleeping in his bed.
He sat on one of the stools in the large country kitchen but didn't reach for the food. Just sat there going over things in his head. Was it just that she'd beat him to leaving that bothered him?
That would make life so much easier. But he had an ache in his gut that defied that logic.
"Man, what a night," Nicholas said as he entered. He held his tux jacket slung over one shoulder with a finger, his collar was open and there was a smudge of lipstick against his jaw.
"Guess it's not so bad being a Kelly, right?" Wyatt asked.
"Not tonight. Are those the Meggie's tamales?"
"Yeah."
"Want some?" Nicholas asked as he went to the cabinet and took down two Fiestaware plates. He got two forks and dished up food for both of them.
"Sure," Wyatt said.
"So who was the gal I saw you dancing with all night?"
"Juliette Rossi."
"Ariana's cousin?"
"Yeah. It's just-
"Don't say business. I thought we were the progeny of the biggest playboy this side of the Mississippi," Nicholas said as he passed a plate to Wyatt. "It'd be embarrassing if you didn't know what to do with a woman."
"Boy, you want to go a few rounds?" Wyatt asked.
"If you do. I'm just poking you to see what's going on. Like a crazy kid facing an injured bull … "
There was way more to Nicholas than Wyatt had guessed. He laughed and stood up, clapping his brother on the back. He grabbed two beers from the fridge and passed one to Nicholas before sitting down and drawing his plate closer to him.
"I don't kiss and tell," Wyatt said.
"I'm not asking you to. I don't need the details on your time with your lady. Just makin' conversation."
"Fair enough. Guess I was a little touchy."
"Just a bit. She get to you?" Nicholas asked. "I … I've had that happen once. Scared the piss out of me. Women should be fun, you know?"