10. Giana

CHAPTER 10

Giana

I t’s only been six weeks since we got the keys to the cabin, but it’s already shaping up to be something beautiful. Though if anyone asks me, it was beautiful to begin with.

I never expected anyone to love this place as much as I do. But it’s quite possible Leo does. Maybe even more so.

Our days are spent working alongside one another, getting sweaty and filthy. I have more bruises on my body and slivers in my hands than I can count. But I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

The marks and pain are earned. Seeing the progress this place is taking and knowing it’s ours, makes the work more rewarding. And doing it with Leo is even better than I could’ve imagined.

Our nights possibly trump our days, though. They’re spent curled in one another’s arms in the primary bedroom, exhausted from the day. Or making love outside beneath the stars and next to the fire. Sometimes Leo draws us a bath, and he worships my body from head to toe while we bathe together.

On the rare occasion that Nettie and Pete aren’t working, they come for the day and help us with projects. But I think it’s mostly an excuse to force us to take a break and go swimming in the creek. The four of us have so much fun together, so neither Leo nor I complain.

Leo never complains about anything.

Each day I’m introduced to new reasons to love him.

Today is painting day. After very little convincing, Leo allowed me to choose a pale-rose shade for the kitchen cabinets. I assure him that if we hate it in another year or so, we’ll paint over them.

Leo’s been distracted since he received word from his mother last week that his father had a stroke. She’s tried several attempts at guilting him into returning home, so he had himself almost convinced she was lying about the whole thing. Until he received a letter yesterday from his younger sister confessing her concern over their father. It’s not looking good.

Leo has dipped his brush into the can three times, letting the paint drip back inside, and has yet to paint anything. I study him, worry pinching in my gut. Part of me wants to beg him to stay, even though I don’t. Every day since we got the news, I’ve told him to go.

Country music streams from the old radio on the small table in the kitchen. I prefer music like the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and Aretha Franklin, but I can tell Leo needs a bit of home.

Even if he doesn’t want to admit it.

“Hey, Cowboy? You okay?” I ask softly, not wanting to interrupt his deep thoughts.

He lifts his gaze, and he shakes his head until his eyes focus on mine. “I’m fine, Sugar.” The smile he gives me is void of feelings, but his strength is still evident on his face. He’s someone who’s had to be strong too many times in his life already, I realize.

“Did you talk to your mama when you went into town yesterday?” I hedge.

The excess paint pours from his brush before he finally turns his back to me and drags the brush over the wood cabinet. “I did.”

“And? What’d she say?”

“Same thing she always says—come home. Your daddy needs you. You have family obligations.” He wipes the back of his hand across his sweaty brow.

I chew on my bottom lip, a heaviness settling in my stomach. “Leo,” is all I can say because I know he doesn’t want to hear it.

He spins around to face me, and his expression softens. “Ya know, I haven’t been this happy in, well…probably never. And that’s partly because of you.”

“Just partly,” I tease, smiling big at him.

He drops the brush back into the can, and the paint splatters out. “Okay, a big part.” He tugs the front of my coveralls, drawing me in close to him. “But it’s also partly this cabin. Pete and Nettie. Maple Ridge. I’ve grown to love it here.” His hands go to my hips, and I entwine my fingers at his neck.

“All that makes me happy too. You, the cabin, our friends. But?—”

“Nu-uh, no buts.” His finger presses firmly against my lips. “All my life, I’ve had to tend to the ranch. Tend to what’s expected of me. Of family obligations . But this time is my time. For once. Can you please, jus’ let me ignore everything else for a little bit longer?”

When he puts it like that, my heart nearly cracks down the middle. I may have parents who don’t really give a damn what I do, but at least they don’t expect anything from me. They don’t tell me what to do. Especially not now that I’m an adult and have moved out of their house.

Giving him what he wants is easy .

I lift my brows and can’t hide a smirk. “I can be pretty good at distracting you.” I twirl my fingers in the sweaty tendrils of hair at the nape of his neck.

A lazy smile draws at his lips. “Oh, I’d say you’re better than good at that.” He bends and kisses my lips gently.

But I’m feeling greedy. I need more than a kiss. More than gentle.

“Then let me.” I drag my hands down his chest and fist them in his paint-splattered T-shirt, yanking him closer to me.

His lips crash down on my mouth again, this time hungry and urgent. They must feel the desperation in my own because he takes the kiss deeper, his tongue vigorous when it finds mine. He undoes the buttons on the coveralls I’ve been wearing to protect my clothes. Only it’s been too hot, so I’ve only got my bra and panties on underneath. He gapes at me when he discovers this. His pupils suddenly dilated.

“Ya sure we shouldn’t wait until we’re finished paintin’ the second coat?” But he doesn’t wait for a reply. He shoves the coveralls over my shoulders, and it drapes at my waist once my arms are free.

“Are you sure we shouldn’t wait until after we’ve bathed? I’ve got paint all over me.”

“God, no. I love you like this. Sweaty and dirty. It’s fuckin’ hot.”

At his words, the craving for him swoops low in my belly. I’m aching between my thighs. All I want is him, there, satisfying my every need.

After weeks together, he knows my body well. What gets me swooning. What gets me wet. What it takes to turn me inside out.

“I was thinking the same thing about you,” I tease.

He smiles against my lips as he brushes his thumb across my cheek where I can only assume there’s dried paint .

He quirks one dark brow. “Are we ’bout to have kitchen sex?”

“I think we are,” I answer eagerly.

With that, he squeezes my hips and lifts me at the same time as I hoist myself into his arms. I tether my legs around his waist. Instantly I’m aware of how badly he wants me too. His erection presses against my belly, sending shockwaves of desire running through me.

With my arms helping to hold my weight on his shoulders, I allow myself to lower down his torso until I can feel his stiffness on my pussy. I suck in a breath, and he swallows my exhale with an intoxicating kiss.

“You want my cock, don’t ya, Sugar?”

“Mh-hmm,” is all I can manage. Because the vibrations thrumming through my body at our kissing and touching is too much all at once.

Leo stumbles a few feet until we reach the kitchen counter, and he sets me down. Instantly, my fingers fly to his suspenders, and I yank them down his shoulders. It’s as if his pants are on fire, and I can’t seem to get them undone fast enough. I unzip them, and they fall to the floor.

“Lift your ass for me, Darlin’,” and the twang in his voice sends goosebumps racing across my skin.

I do as I’m told. He tugs the coveralls down, and they bunch at my ankles. He presses his lips to my throat, and I shove my fingers in his hair, while he licks and sucks. My head falls back, my eyes fluttering closed, while he spreads languid kisses across my collarbone and the dip of my neck.

With his fingertips pressed into my back, I rock my hips into him. The feel of his stiff erection has me desperate for him. He tears my panties down, this time not bothering with asking me to assist him. They dangle at my ankles, along with the coveralls .

Sitting here propped on the edge of the counter half naked has him distracted as all get out. It’s as if he gets tunnel vision.

Leo drags the pad of his thumb over my clit, and I shudder.

“So wet for me,” he grunts.

“I need you,” I beg.

“And I’m gonna need ya to spread your legs a bit wider for me, Sugar.”

“Anything for you, Cowboy.” I bite my lip.

“Ya know, I never liked that nickname before now. Not until I heard it from those pretty little lips of yours.”

His thumb continues to stroke me with teasing circles, and I melt at his touch. No longer able to handle the torture, I shove his hand away and dig my fingernails into his back as I thrust against his rock-hard cock.

“So impatient,” he says, before his mouth dives to my neck again.

He rubs his erection against my pussy, taunting me once again. Tiny white spots flicker across my vision, the pleasure tormenting me. Until suddenly, something else flickers across my vision. No, not something else, someone else.

My insides turn cold, and I shriek, scooting backward on the countertop and smacking the back of my head on the cabinet. “Ack! Shit.”

“What is it?” Leo’s gaze searches my face as his hand goes to cup the back of my head.

I point with a shaky finger. “There. There. Someone’s in here.”

As he spins around, I hop off the counter to yank up my panties and pull the coveralls back up. I shove my arms in, clasping the front together and not bothering with the buttons.

“Mama,” the word garbles out of Leo’s throat.

Mama?