Gone Country (Rough Riders #14)(59)

Then Rory demanded Rielle’s help to find a specific knitting pattern. Sifting through pattern books and printouts lasted two hours.


Consequently, dinner was served later than she’d planned. When Gavin offered to help, Rory made a comment about him helping himself to another make out session with her mother while the food got cold.


Rielle and Gavin were seated across from one another. Too far away to even casually touch—obviously intentional. And Rory insisted they eat each course separately, reminding her mother that the goal was to enjoy the food it’d taken her so long to prepare.


The appetizer course—a caramelized apple and onion tart topped with brie—was followed by the chopped salad course and ended with chicken and noodles—Rory’s favorite.


Every time Rielle glanced at Gavin, that hungry look entered his eyes. A look that said he’d only be satisfied if she was his four-course meal. He’d barely touched his wine. She knew his gaze was on the clock as often as it was on her.


Rory and Sierra left them alone while they prepared the dessert course. As soon as the door swung shut, Gavin shot out of his chair.


Rielle’s heart rate spiked when he moved in behind her with deliberate leisure. He set his hands on her shoulders. His thumbs lazily stroked her collarbone. Shivers spread into gooseflesh, traveling down her belly and her spine.


He pressed his warm mouth to her ear. “I want to f*ck you.”


“Gavin.”


“I need to f*ck you.”


Yes, please.


“These girls can try and keep us apart, but they have to go to bed sometime. And as soon as that happens? You will be naked, underneath me.”


She turned her head, almost desperate to feel her lips on his skin.


But he stayed her movement, his hand sneaking up to cup her chin, holding her in place as he licked the shell of her ear. “Remember that every time you look at me. Imagine my mouth sucking on your nipples. Imagine my hands on your ass as I’m thrusting into your hot cunt.”


Rielle just about came right then.


Gavin was back in his seat by the time Rory and Sierra returned with the strawberry lemon shortcake. They chattered, seemingly oblivious to the increased sexual tension.


“So Sierra and I were talking about our after-dinner plans,” Rory said as she set a dessert plate in front of Rielle.


“We thought it’d be fun to have a game night,” Sierra added, sliding a slice of shortcake in front of her father.


“How about Scrabble?” Rory asked.


“I’d rather play Clue,” Sierra countered.


They argued the merits of various games. Rielle cut into her dessert but she couldn’t eat a bite. Her mouth was too damn dry from the heated gazes the wicked man across the table kept throwing her way.


“Mom? What do you think?”


Startled, Rielle looked over at Gavin. The lust in his eyes made her stutter, “I d-don’t know.” Breathe, idiot. “Gavin?”


“Am I up for playing a game? Absolutely.” He wrapped his lips around a strawberry on the end of his fork and sucked it into his mouth.


She was so flustered she dropped her knife.


Silence.


No mistaking that for anything but sexual tension now.


Then Rory tossed her napkin on the table. “That’s it. I’m done. You two wanna blow off our plans for family night, because you want to lock yourselves in the bedroom? Knock yourselves out. But I won’t stick around to hear the headboard banging.”


“Rory! What a rude thing to say.” Her cheeks burned as she glanced at Sierra—even her mouth was open in shock.


“I’m headed back to Laramie tomorrow. But tonight, I’m going to town.” A calculating look crossed Rory’s face. “Come on, Sierra, let’s go out.”


Sierra looked even more shocked. “Ah, sure.” She pushed back from the table.


“Just where do you think you’re going?” Gavin asked Sierra.


“Out. With Rory.”


“And where’s that?” Gavin demanded from Rory.


“The Golden Boot.”


“What makes you think I’ll let my sixteen-year-old daughter go to a bar with you?”


“It’s a restaurant. Do you think that’s worse for her than being in this house, listening to the two of you get it on?”


Silence.


“Sierra’s curfew is midnight. Have fun.”


Chapter Twenty


Rielle waited until the front door slammed before she looked across the table at Gavin.


His steely-eyed gaze was focused entirely on her.


“Did they really think we’d pitch a fit about them leaving when we haven’t been alone for four goddamn days? Did it even cross your mind to ask them to stay?”


“No.” The lustful glimmer in his eye served as a warning. He’d have her stripped, bucking beneath him, lost in the pleasure his body brought to hers if she didn’t snatch control right now.


Rielle pushed back from the table and moseyed over to him. Gavin watched her with the heavy-lidded gaze that caused her pulse to skip.