The Bet (The Bet #1)(62)

“Absolutely.” Travis growled taking her mouth again and pinning her arms against the bed. His touch was dominant, possessive — something that should have scared her, instead it made her hot as hell. All she wanted was for him to claim her, to brand her as his and only his.

Every touch, every caress, was like a gift. Kacey wanted to stay there forever. She’d made her decision. She was going to stay. Even if it meant abandoning everything in Seattle. Even if it meant conquering old demons. For once in her life, a man she cared about, who she truly loved, was offering her everything. He wanted to fight for her, to rescue her, and for once in her life she truly believed that it was possible for a happy ending.

****

Travis closed his eyes, allowing his body to memorize the moment. Her skin against his, his hands ran up and down her arms as he settled himself on top of her. She was searing herself upon his soul and she didn’t even know how permanent this was — he would do anything to never let her go.

“Travis,” she whispered against his lips, wrapping her arms around his neck. Needing to go slow, he kissed the corner of her mouth and made his way to her ear. His teeth grazed the soft skin of her neck.

She gasped.

“You’re so damn sexy.” He pulled back and looked into her eyes. He was changing everything. This moment was changing everything and he never wanted to go back.

She moved beneath him making it so she was at her most vulnerable. Her eyes said take me, and he knew. He couldn’t stop. He didn’t want to. Because in that moment, she needed to know whose she was. His. He clenched his teeth.

With a soft sigh she pulled his head down and kissed him, and he was gone. Lost in a sea of passion and desire. A pull so strong that he couldn’t stop himself from entering her — from making her his.

Kacey moaned his name as he plunged greedily into her. She took him in, shaking as beads of sweat ran between their bodies.

He stopped, cursing his own enthusiasm. Damn, but the woman would be the death of him. He should have been gentler, but hell if he could stop now that he felt her around him, now that he knew they fit like a perfect puzzle piece.

“I’m fine, I’m fine.” She smiled seductively, reaching for his head and coaxing it towards hers.

Their foreheads touched as he pulled her even tighter against him, her legs naturally went around his waist. And they sat there, in an intimate embrace just looking at one another. And again, his heart slammed with the idea that he was finally home, finally exactly where he wanted to be. In her arms.

He closed his eyes and began a slow rhythm of love-making. She smiled faintly as he pulled her tightly against him and claimed her. The only thought that crossed his mind was that he would be happy to stay inside her forever.

The moment was gone too soon. His body was already wanting to take her again and again until they were both exhausted. He sagged against her and sighed, his body still humming with the aftermath of the life-shattering encounter.

“I love you,” Kacey whispered against his cheek as she gave him a kiss. It should have been expected. Hadn’t he thought the same thing over and over again? But for some reason he froze. Severe dehydration after sex did that to a man. So he stared at her, a blank stare, and then pushed away and sat up. Suddenly feeling like a nervous idiot.

“Travis?” She rubbed his back.

“Oh God, I’m such an idiot.” He needed to say those words but there was something so wrong about only admitting his true feelings after she’d just given her body to him. She was so much more than sex, so much more than one moment.

She jerked her hand back. “What?”

“I’m an idiot. I’m so sorry, Kace.” How could he explain to her the depth of his feelings? She needed to know it wasn’t about sex. It was about something so much more. Something he was unable to describe.

He turned and looked at her face, unable to meet her gaze. He should have been the one to say it first. He was better than that, and she deserved better than this. He nervously glanced away.

Suddenly insecure, he walked to the bathroom and shut the door quietly. He just needed time to think, time to decide the right words to say so he didn’t screw up the best thing that had ever happened to him.

****

Kacey was numb. For the second time in her life she experienced utter loss. A loss so huge that she couldn’t even cry.

Was she cursed to always have bad sexual experiences? Not that the experience itself was awful. It was the exact opposite, perfect, wonderful. Life-altering and then, nothing.

He’d stared into space.

He’d put his head in his hands.

And he’d walked away.

Just like Jake.

The knot in her throat made it hard for her to breathe. She grabbed her discarded clothes and ran out of the room.

She locked the door to the guest room and slid against it, the tears finally coming, and with them, pain she never knew possible.

The pain of a heart being broken, a girl being rejected by yet another man in the Titus family.

And suddenly she felt exactly like a stripper, like one of those girls Jake salivated after. Quickly, she packed up her things, changed her clothes, and peeked out into the hallway.

Travis was nowhere to be found. It was nearing midnight. She could see if any flights were going out and just hang out at the airport. Anything was better than facing Travis, than seeing the disgust on his face.