Slow Hand (Hot Cowboy Nights, #1)(61)

He didn’t know how long he’d been at it before he noticed her leaning against the pickup, watching. Judging by the four-foot-high wood pile, it must have been at least an hour. Although the temperature probably wasn’t much above fifty degrees, he’d long since shed his shirt. He paused to wipe the sweat from his brow. Their gazes met briefly, silently, before he focused back on the task. Slamming the ax down again with a crash, he threw two more logs onto the pile.

“I’m sorry,” she said.

“For what?” He paused again, leaning on the ax handle. “I should be the one to apologize for making demands you’re not ready for. I guess I’m just used to going after what I want.”

“And also accustomed to getting it?” she supplied.

“Yeah,” he confessed. “I’m ruthless when I want something, Nikki. And I want you. I don’t like being thwarted.” He took up the ax again.

“It wasn’t fair, Wade. I have so much to think about. I’m feeling very overwhelmed. Why does it have to be all or nothing with you? We don’t exactly live in the Stone Age, you know. There’s cell phones, texting…and airplanes.” He noticed she spoke the last word with a grimace.

“So what are you suggesting? Weekly Skype sex?” He drove the ax down again, planting the ax head solidly into the chopping block and then snatched up his shirt.

“That’s exactly my point, Wade. How can you expect me to give up my life when I don’t know if there’s anything more between us than just great chemistry? Can’t we just wait this out a bit and see?”

He went to her, pinning his arms on either side of her. “Do you intend for us to see other people?”

“No. Do you?”

“I’m not the one who’s ambivalent.”

“I just need some time to think.”

“How long?” he demanded. He knew he was being an *. Again. But he was damned if he’d make it easy on her.

“I don’t know.”

“You complain that I want all or nothing, but you seem to want it both ways. You can’t have your cake and eat it too, Nikki. I’m not interested in a protracted long-distance relationship.”

A hurt look flared in her eyes. “So you want to see other people?”

“No. Damn it! That’s not what I’m saying. I’m looking for your trust. I want you. Here.”

“I want you too,” she admitted softly. He recognized the flicker of lust. “Want isn’t a problem for me. That part isn’t an issue at all.” Her gaze met his, and then tracked lower, sweeping slowly over his torso. An unmistakable look of hunger flared in her eyes. Her hands followed her gaze, sliding down his sweat-slickened chest and abs to toy with his belt buckle.

“That isn’t how I meant it,” he said.

She licked her lips then traced his fly with her fingers. “But I did. We still have three days together, Wade…”

He knew what she wanted and was resentful as hell that she’d initiate sex when they hadn’t resolved anything. “Don’t play with me, Nikki,” he growled. “You’re running hot and cold and I don’t like it.”

Her gaze flickered up at him with uncertainty. “So you don’t want to?”

He was growing rock-hard despite himself, which only pissed him off even more. Yes, he wanted her. He didn’t think he’d ever stop wanting her. As if reading his thoughts, she pulled his head down to kiss him greedily, drawing his tongue into her mouth. The contact sent a jolt of molten lust through him. His frustration suddenly found a new outlet.

He lifted her, guiding her legs around his waist. She clung to him with feverish kisses as he walked around to the back of the truck, removing one hand from her ass only long enough to drop the tailgate. The minute he set her down, they went to work on buttons and zippers. He pulled off her boots, tossing them on the ground, then kissed and licked down her belly as she wriggled out of her jeans. His mouth wandered over her thighs, before stopping to suck her through the thin fabric of her panties.

“Now who’s playing?” She bucked her hips with a whimper. “I want you now, Wade.”

“Do you?” He retrieved a condom from his pocket and quickly sheathed himself. “Seems this is the only part of me you really want. If that’s the case…” He jerked her hips to the edge of the tailgate, then spread her wide, gritting his teeth as he thrust to the hilt. “Be careful what you wish for…” If she wanted a frenzied f*ck on the truck bed, he wasn’t about to deny her…or himself.

He drove into her, fast and punishing. She urged him on with whimpers and moans, squeezing his ass with both hands, meeting him with every grunting, panting, flesh-slapping thrust. Wade pounded into her, using raw sensation to dull his equally raw emotions. She squeezed harder, forcing him deeper. The moment her climax began, he pumped to his own, pulling out the moment he’d shot his load. Wordlessly, he disposed of the condom, helped her up, and then handed her the jeans and boots she’d discarded. No kisses, no tender touches, no endearments. It was manic, mindless, and ultimately empty and unfulfilling. For the first time he was left wanting more—and hoped she felt it too.

Her hurt expression as she wiggled back into her clothes told him she did. “You must know this isn’t how I wanted it to be.”