He kissed the rapidly beating pulse at her throat and lapped at her throat, feeling suddenly ravenous for her.
“Chris said you had news for me?”
“I have to go out of town Wednesday night.”
“You do?”
Her dark blonde eyebrows furrowed and his heart dropped at the emotion in her eyes. It was on the tip of his tongue to tell her the reason for his trip just to erase the hurt he saw there but he couldn’t do it. She’d already been jerked around enough by Roger, and Julián wasn’t about to make promises on an outcome he couldn’t predict.
“Love, I know I don’t have any right to ask it of you but is there any way you could stay a few extra days until I get home? You can stay with us at the house after Wilbur gets home if you’d like. Please?”
She bit her lip and fiddled with the buttons on his shirt. “I hadn’t set an official date to leave, in case Wilbur was delayed. I also need to know the outcome of the auctions before I get on the road. I don’t want to leave with Tutti if there’s a chance I can reconnect with Zephyr. It wouldn’t be fair to take Tutti on the road with me if she won’t get the exercise she needs every day.” Tears flooded her eyes suddenly and she let loose a little sob.
“Love, what is it?’
“It’s just looming so close. The decisions. The leaving. I love Tutti and want to be good to her. I know her and I know she’d feel neglected. I’d probably have trouble traveling with both of them.”
“Two pushy females in a small space?”
She hiccupped and gave him a halfhearted smile. “You know how women are.”
“I know how one woman is in particular. You’re a good trainer and horsewoman. So, it’s decided? You’ll wait until after I come back to leave?”
She nodded and then pressed an openmouthed kiss to his lips, sucking at his lower lip and licking at his tongue as he returned the favor. “I’ll miss you while you’re gone. How long will you be?”
“Probably three days. Less if I can manage it. Promise you won’t leave without saying good-bye to me.”
She turned to butter in his arms and sniffled as she whispered, “I promise.”
It was cruel to put it that way to her, almost like turning the knife, but he was playing for keeps now. There were things she needed to know but he just couldn’t tell her yet.
“I took the rest of the day off so we could spend it together. Chris is finishing my share of the work for me and letting us have tonight to ourselves.”
“He is?”
“Yes. It was his idea. He said it was only fair since he’d have you to himself for three whole days.”
“Wow. He’s willing to do that?”
Choose your words carefully, Alvarez. “If we were a permanent ménage, we’d make it a point to give you all the one-on-one time you needed.”
Gwen smiled at him as he began undoing the buttons on her shirt. “The ménage dynamic seems to come so naturally to you and Chris.”
Laughing, Julián said, “I’d love to take credit, but when Lily and Teresa found out that our interest in you was sincere, they both made a point of suggesting a few things to us for your benefit. Alone time was one of them.”
“You’ll make wonderful husbands some day.” She looked up at his hair and ran her fingers through it as she smiled, avoiding his gaze.
He pushed the shirt from her shoulders then unsnapped the button on her jeans. “No more talking that makes you sad, love. I think I want to eat lunch with you alfresco.”
“Outside?” She got up from his lap and he helped her get her boots off. Her cheeks grew rosy and she bit her lip as she pulled down the zipper, suddenly in a bigger hurry.
His dick went as hard as a fence post at the thought of her nude and at his mercy out in the shady welcome of the back deck. “I was referring to you uncovered but I can go for both if you’re up to it. I like the way your mind works, love.”
“We could use the back deck, but…”
“But what?”
“Well, this is Wilbur’s place. What if some relative or friend of his shows up having forgotten he’s out of town? It could happen.”
“I’ll have Chris lock the gate when he leaves. If we need a warning, he can always give a whistle.”
Gazing at him thoughtfully, she finally grinned as she stripped down to just her bra and panties. “You’re on, handsome.”
There came a knock at the living room entry and the sound of an appreciative growl. “Lunch is ready for y’all. I’m taking off before I’m unable to. You’re so damned beautiful, Gwen.”