“Your family is still known as the Angel Colemans around town. I’ve heard it.”

“Whatever. I’ll answer your question if you answer mine.” He smoothed his hand over her legs. “And this isn’t the question, but what are you wearing? Not that I mind that shirt—shows off your tits nicely. And yes, I’ve seen that particular pair a few times.”

“Hoping for more?” she teased.

“Always,” he whispered back. “Fooling around in your mama’s living room. I feel like I’m fourteen and hoping for a grope or two.”

They smiled at each other, and the ease and comfort between them was wonderful and frightening at the same time.

They’d been having sex, but always on the wild side. Raw and needy, physical release and physical comfort. This felt like there was something new in the room. An edgy, needy part, just not as frantic.

Her breathing picked up as he caressed her leg. “I had old clothes in a drawer. Most things were too small, like this T-shirt. The jeans were all a write-off. The skirt still fits—oh!”

Gabe had gathered the fabric in his fingers, a little more bunching up on each stroke. Now he touched smooth, warm skin, letting his hand sneak under the cotton material.

“So my real question is…did you put on those panties like I asked you to?”

Allison bit her lip, then nodded.

He had to suck in a breath of air to keep from shouting out hell, yeah or something. He snuck his hand higher, teasing the inside of her thigh.

The house was silent but for the moans of the wind and the floorboards settling. And the increased pants from Allison’s lips.

Gabe touched a scrap of lacy fabric a second before making contact with the warmth of her mound. The curls covering her were damp. He forced himself to continue past until the second section of elastic brushed his fingertips.

He’d been right.

It only took a second to lean in closer. He kept his hand cupping her heat, not wanting to let go. “What a nice surprise.”

She glanced toward the stairs. “Gabe, not here.”

He pressed his index finger between her folds and hit moisture. Heat. That urge to up and drive into her struck again. To lift her legs in the air and rest them over his shoulders so he could line up and thrust deep…

“You’re addictive.”

“Gabe.” She sucked in a gasp as he pressed into her core fully, burying his finger while running his thumb over her clit.

Just as suddenly he withdrew. Lifted his hand to his mouth and licked his finger clean. Her scent wrapped around them, filled his mouth, filled his head.

Her eyes were wide. Her hips had followed him as he’d pulled back, as if she was as reluctant to let him go as he was to leave off touching her.

Please, please let her want him as bad as he wanted her right then.

“Where can we go?” he whispered.

Not upstairs where the guest room sat next to the master bedroom. Not on this floor where he knew Elle slept. He didn’t give a damn who heard them, but Allison probably would.

She used his shoulders as a lever to rise, slipping off the couch and pulling him after her. When she opened the front door, he thought maybe they were going to leave, but instead she tugged him around to the side of the porch.

He peered through the darkness eagerly searching for deck chairs. Or a porch swing.

No such luck. One good thing, though, there were no windows on this side of the house. This section of the porch faced the fields and the small horse stable. It was as private as he could hope for.

Impatiently he scooped her up and manoeuvred her until he could claim her lips. Kissing her, wanting to experience her taste and the wild thrill of teeth and tongue, lips and needy gasps. Allison wrapped her legs around him, the layers of her skirt riding up and exposing her long smooth limbs.

He grabbed her by the ass and held on tight. Brought her warmth over his hard cock, rubbing her slickness over him. She was wet enough he felt it through his jeans. Gabe pressed her against the wall and pinned her there as he struggled to gain back control before he simply ripped open his pants and fucked her hard.

Allison caught him by the ears and pulled until their lips met again, just as hungry as he was.

He backed away. She clung to him as he walked the dozen steps to the corner of the porch. Inspiration struck as he lowered her to the top rail.

“Grab on to the upright post,” he ordered, “and spread your legs.”

She threw her arm around the column and squeezed. Gabe lifted her leg closest to the pillar and rested her foot on the railing that headed off at a ninety-degree angle to them.

He snuck his hand under her skirt again and found her pussy.

“Damn, you are wet. So fucking sexy.” He slid his fingers through her folds, loving the little noises that burst from her lips.

“Oh God, Gabe. Oh yeah, right there…”

He focused on her clit. The hard little point demanded his attention. Even as he played with her, circling and teasing, he kissed her, their breaths mingling as she got closer to exploding.

Gabe took his time to learn more. When he changed pace, he listened to her response. Concentrated on making her squirm until she cried out and he swallowed the sound. Sucking the call into himself as she writhed on the railing and he held her firmly.

She relaxed a bit, sighing happily, and he straightened up.

“You got a condom?” she whispered.

“Hell, yeah.” He pulled it from his back pocket.

“Cocky. That sure you were going to get lucky?” Allison reached down and one-handed managed to pop open the button on his jeans.

He was never going to be around her without one handy ever again. Their time at the creek had taught him that. “That cocky, period. You’re in charge. Put this on.” He pressed the condom into her hand and took hold of her shoulders.

Watching her fingers move toward his dick was incredible. The actual heat of her taking him in hand was even better. Gabe gritted his teeth together for a second to make sure he didn’t lose it while she rolled the latex over his length.

Then he put her hand back on the support pillar, hooked his arm under her thigh. Stabbed forward, little aim, no finesse. Just damn good luck as he found her heat and buried himself in one persistent rush.

“Oh, yes. So good.” She had one arm around the pillar, elbow crooked like she was holding on for dear life. Her other hand fisted his shirtfront. He withdrew and thrust forward slowly. Evenly. At least at first.

Then she started whispering.

“You know how good that feels? With you touching all those places inside? I feel you all over. My lips, my pussy.”

Gabe’s balls were tight, the shiver of icy cold down his back rising in anticipation as he got closer to the final point. He wanted to be the one blowing her mind and making her crazy but he couldn’t speak, just fixated on the sensation of how good it felt to be surrounded by her. Warm moisture, flashes of heat.

He stared down at where they connected and watched his cock slip in again, and he shuddered.

All the while Allison spoke to him. Soft words, but dirty ones. Swear words occasionally, especially after a deep thrust where his groin meshed tight with hers.

He loved it. Loved having this woman be herself. Unique and perfect. The words became confirmation that fucking her outside her mom’s house was exactly what she wanted right here and right now. Because, yeah, it was twisted in a way, but sweet mercy, it was good.

Her final fuck me hard was too much to take, and he rocked against her again and again, grinding with his pelvis over her clit until she joined him in release. Sheath squeezing his cock, jerking his climax free. Lips fluttering breathlessly against his until they both caught their breaths.

“You’ve fucked me boneless,” Allison complained. Or boasted.

Gabe reluctantly withdrew and supported her as she found her balance on the porch. He dealt with the condom, not sure where to toss it, when Allison giggled faintly.

“Drop it over the railing and we’ll grab it in the morning.”

He did it, feeling a little stupid. “Make sure you remind me. I would hate for your mama to find that in the garden box.”

They laughed together, straightening and organizing their clothing. Gabe turned to allow her to walk ahead of him into the house. Instead she snuck her hand back in his. Painfully sharp hope smacked him, but he tried to ignore it.

It was too soon to say anything. But in terms of starting to let her know he wanted more than casual from her? It had been a positive day.

Chapter Eighteen

Day slipped into night. The next day followed, and the next. Allison was busier than she’d ever been. In spite of the sadness of watching her mom grow weaker, she daily found enjoyable moments.

More than enjoyable, they rocked.

She worked full out at the restaurant, filling the rest of her time at her mom’s or putting through calls to help arrange matters for Gabe and the ranch.

No matter what she was doing, though, the longing to be with Gabe remained. She didn’t want to avoid the other things, but spending time with the man?

Addictive. She’d stupidly fallen for her own deception.

Or had something changed?

He held her hand while they watched TV, Puss in Boots purring happily in Gabe’s lap. He sat with an arm around her shoulders as they talked with family or visited with Maisey. He hugged her at the drop of a hat, and it seemed he couldn’t get enough of kissing her, no matter what time of day it was.