Tyler

  Jess mistook him—she pulled the cloth away. “You all right? Did that hurt?”

  “No.” Tyler clasped her wrist, guiding the cloth back to his side.

  Her arm was small under his fingers, but strong, soft, all woman. Jess stilled, her eyes flicking up to meet his. Neither of them moved.

  She was breathtaking. Jess had waded into the bikers tonight to try to stop them from beating Tyler to death. She’d come after him to make sure he was all right, helped him up when he’d fallen.

  Tyler had thought her an angel, but now he realized she was one damned remarkable woman.

  He closed the brief space between them and kissed her.

  Jess didn’t pull away, smack him, curse at him, or call him names. Not that women did that when Tyler kissed them, but those women weren’t Jess.

  Just as she had when he’d kissed her behind the bar, Jess returned the pressure of his lips, her kiss shaky. The cut on his lip stung, but faded as the kiss went on.

  She was sweet, with a hint of spice that made Tyler want more. Her eyes were open, her gaze casting downward as Tyler eased back, as though she studied his lips.

  Tyler’s heart surged with need, the sensation wiping out every coherent thought in his head. He laced his fingers behind her neck and pulled her close for another kiss.

  Again, she responded by fitting her lips to his, her faint exhalation sending her cinnamon breath into his mouth. The slow flame in Tyler’s heart flared to spread through his blood, erasing any hesitation.

  He tugged her closer, thrilling to feel Jess respond. She didn’t touch him except for where her hand and the washcloth pressed his ribs, and with her mouth.

  Jess kissed tentatively, exploring, her lips moving with his as he coaxed them open. Her tongue flicked inside his mouth, the spark of it making him jump. She made a low noise in her throat, a faint sound of surrender.

  Perfect. She was delicious, full of heat and sexiness. Her answering kiss cut through Tyler’s pain and flared to life a need he hadn’t experienced before. Sure, the buckle bunnies chased him, and Tyler obliged to satisfy his libido, but he’d not felt this flash of yearning before, this awakening.

  It leapt tenfold when Jess brought her other hand up to touch his side—softly, being careful of his bruises. The press of her fingers sent the last of Tyler’s aches fleeing.

  His heart swelled and bumped. It was going to happen. He’d have this beautiful woman, his avenging angel, next to his skin, and he’d be able to trace the enticing tatt all the way to its end.

  Only if she wanted it too. Tyler liked women, but he wasn’t a dickhead. It had to be mutual, or else what was the point?

  He pulled out of the kiss, keeping his hand on her neck, his fingers soft—she could get away any time she wanted.

  Tyler asked the question in silence, his breath coming fast. Stay with me?

  The answering look in Jessica’s eyes stumped him. He saw hunger, need, emptiness, longing. Also interest for him. Not because Tyler was a stunt-riding cowboy, but because he was himself, a man who kept a horse and cared for him even after that horse had hurt him.

  Tyler touched her cheek. Jess started, as though she’d forgotten where she was for a moment. Then she closed her hand around his, guided herself back to his lips, and kissed him deeply.

  Her response electrified him. Tyler put his hands on her waist and drew her up and onto his lap.

  A glaring white bathroom wasn’t exactly conducive, but Tyler was past caring. Jess was light yet strong, her arms going around him to hang on. Her fingers bit into his shoulders as she pulled herself closer to him. Jess’s knees came around him, her body hugging his as she kissed him desperately.

  This had to go somewhere. Tyler braced his feet in the tiny space and rose, lifting Jess with him. The wonderful woman didn’t try to push from him—she wrapped herself more tightly around him and let him carry her, a step at a time to the bedroom.

  Tyler didn’t head for the bed right away. It was fun to kiss her standing up, her legs wrapped around his, her breasts against his chest. He spun slowly in place with her, leaning back on a blank space of wall to enjoy the kissing.

  He never actually got to kiss very much. The women who chased Tyler were more interested in him from the waist down, eager to see if his large cowboy boots meant he was as big as they wanted him to be. From the excited squeals, he was—or at least they weren’t going to admit any disappointment.

  Jess didn’t seem to be interested in the measurement of his cock at all. She slanted her mouth over his, opening his lips, tasting him. She rolled her tongue across his with leisurely enjoyment, then darted it playfully to light the sparks.

  She responded to Tyler’s every nuance, as though she loved kissing, and especially kissing him. It was damned flattering and stoked a fire Tyler hadn’t let burn in eons. Jess had seen him get the crap kicked out of him, but she’d not looked at him in derision. She’d picked him up and brought him home out of pity.

  ’Lot to be said for pity, Tyler decided, as Jessica’s hands skimmed his bare flesh, taking all the hurt away.

  Chapter Four

  What am I doing? The question came knocking through Jess’s haze of pleasure and wanting. In a hotel room, alone with a perfect stranger, and no one in the world knew where she was.

  A gentle stranger whose touch was tender, something Jess had never experienced before. She had her arms and legs around Tyler’s body, clinging to him while he held her. His blue eyes were closed, his lashes resting against his tanned skin as he kissed her as though they could kiss all night.

  He’d thrown off his pain and showed a strength that astonished her when he’d stood and carried her from the bathroom. In spite of that, he held her lightly, and he’d sent her a look of inquiry—Yes? or no?

  Giving her a choice. Not, We’re doing this whether you like it or not.

  The novelty of a man asking Jess instead of demanding what he thought his due made her fling herself at Tyler and kiss him like a crazed woman.

  Then she settled down to enjoy him. Tyler smelled of male and the freshness of the night. He tasted like fire. That was the only way Jess could describe it—sparks and flame, warmth and need. Jess soaked him in to bolster herself against the nights to come.

  Tyler tilted away from her to break their kiss, his head bumping the wall. He looked at Jess with eyes that were half closed, glittering midnight blue.

  Those eyes held another question. We gonna do this?

  Jessica’s heart thumped. She should run, go home, hug Dominic, forget.

  But for the first time in a long time—years—a man wanted her. Looked at her and saw not defects but Jess as she was, as she used to be. Made her feel like a woman again, not a drudge, not an ass to pinch when she served a beer.

  A glance at the nightstand clock had showed her it was a little past midnight. Jess had been scheduled to work until two, closing time for extended-license bars, but Buddy had already shut the bar down. Which meant she had a sitter for Dominic for another couple of hours. Her meds weren’t on the schedule until Monday, so no need to rush home for that.

  This was stolen time, a moment in between, one she might never have again. A magical time that existed only here, outside her life.

  Tyler was nothing like the men in Jess’s world. His eyes were clear, his body hard, the tight curls on his chest black like the hair on his head. He showed no weakness, no haziness of the perpetually drunk or stoned. He was alert, quick. Resilient. He smelled of soap and his own spice—and he could kiss. As though he enjoyed every second of it. No rushing.

  They were alone in the night in this un-time. Jess might never have a chance at this kind of joy again.

  She gave him the faintest nod.

  Need flared in Tyler’s eyes before he pulled her to him and kissed her again.

  This kiss was different. Not questioning and exploring, but determined. Not demanding though. Giving.

  Tyler unwound her legs from him and set her on the floo
r, kissing her with more intensity. Jess slid her arms around his waist, finding his skin smooth and hot. His muscles were solid, curving under her fingers, firm and unyielding.

  He worked his hands beneath Jessica’s shirt and started to push it upward. He broke the kiss to lift it off over her head, the black T-shirt landing in the darkness of the floor.

  Tyler traced the tatt on her left shoulder, the one she’d started after Dominic was born, and she’d learned that motherhood meant her life would never be the same again. The sleeve on her right arm she’d gotten throughout high school, the bright colors and packed flower design defining who she’d been then. The flowing one on her left arm was about her life now. Tyler ran his fingers over every curlicue, spiraling down to her breast, ending where the ink disappeared under her bra.

  “It’s a work of art,” he said. “Special, like you.”

  Jess could let compliments like that melt her—make her feel special.

  For answer, Jess kissed him, silencing his honeyed words.

  Tyler’s hands went to her back—no more questions. He skillfully opened the hooks of her bra and slid the straps from her shoulders, palms brushing her skin.

  His eyes softened as he studied her, the bra falling into the shadows. His thumb followed the curl of the tatt to where it encircled her nipple.

  “You are some sweet,” he said, his voice a low rumble.

  More flattery. Jess was already half naked with him—why did he continue to sweet-talk her? Not that she minded. Tyler was taking his time, appreciating her, a strange sensation. The men Jess had been with had taken it as read that she was supposed to please them. Why bother to compliment her?

  Hands at her waistband made her take a sharp breath. The experience of being undressed was new. Jess silenced her inner thoughts as Tyler unbuttoned her shorts—she kissed him slowly as he did so, enjoying every second.

  Tyler’s lips were smooth and skilled, powerful like the rest of him. He returned the kiss as he unzipped the shorts and eased them down her hips. His hands were callused, the rough touch on her backside as he loosened her underwear making her shiver.

  Jess’s undies weren’t sexy—practical cotton briefs were better for work, and who was going to see them? Tyler didn’t seem to mind, or care, as he slid them down after the shorts and tossed them away.

  Jess needed to catch up. She quickly popped his belt buckle apart and pulled on the button of his jeans.

  Tyler caught her fumbling hands. “Easy. We don’t have to rush.”

  Slow down and savor it, he meant. They’d have this time, then nothing more. Why hurry to put it behind them?

  Jess nodded and stepped back. Tyler finished unbuttoning and unzipping his jeans himself, and then her tall, dark, and sexy cowboy was in her arms.

  They remained silent, body to body, for some time, looking at each other while Jess trembled.

  When Tyler skimmed his hands down Jess’s sides, she thought she’d fall straight to the floor. Tyler bent to her, his lips going to her parted ones, the power of him easing from his mouth to fill her body.

  Jess found herself moving backward, only a few steps in the small space, to the bed. Jess lost her balance—walking backward was not high on her skills list—but Tyler caught her around the waist and guided her down.

  He came with her, no hesitation, no standing back to gloat or ogle her. Not that Jess would have minded a few minutes to ogle him. Tyler was tight and excellently made, her hands delighting in him.

  More hot kisses as they landed on the mattress together and went down into the soft—no, the lumpy and hard—bed.

  Tyler’s brows drew together as he kissed her. Backlit by the bathroom light, his silhouette was a fine shape, a whole man ready to love her.

  Jess was on her back, his warm weight coming over her, the firmness of his cock touching her.

  She felt no worry, no guilt, no fear. None of those things existed here. In this hour, Jess was a real woman with a fantasy man, one who looked upon her as a woman with no defects, nothing wrong with her. Jess wasn’t an object of pity to him or someone to be manipulated.

  In that moment, she was only Jess.

  Reality intruded slightly when Tyler rose from her, the bathroom light now outlining the long cock that stood straight out from his body. He retrieved a condom from the duffle bag near the closet door, ripped it from the package, and rolled it on. He did so without hurry, a man confident he had no need to hurry.

  The cool touch of the condom wasn’t as good as Tyler bare, but the gesture to protect her made Jess’s excitement and gratitude surge.

  She embraced her fantasy man as he came down to her, opening to him and drawing his fire inside her.

  * * *

  Fucking hell.

  Tyler’s aches fled as he slid into Jessica, her arms coming around him. She wasn’t a meek, reluctant woman—she pressed her fingers into his buttocks and pulled him deep inside. She wasn’t demanding or triumphant either. Jess welcomed him in, succumbing to pleasure.

  Her hot, tight, slick opening sent Tyler’s own pleasure skyrocketing. He wanted to stay in her forever, to hell with the world. Nothing was as good as this.

  Tyler knew how to give pleasure in return. He pulled almost all the way out and then thrust back into her, liking the little groan she let out as he slid home.

  She was smooth as silk, slippery but tight. Not someone who gave herself often. Tyler’s heart hammered—Jess had chosen him and he couldn’t help being very happy about that.

  Her tatts didn’t mar her, they decorated her. The one on her left shoulder flowed like flowering vines down to her nipple. Tyler wasn’t in a good position to kiss and suckle her, but he’d be sure to savor her later.

  For now, being buried inside her was the best thing he’d experienced in a long time. Years. Condom notwithstanding. Not that Tyler had abstained for that long—his reputation was well known. But this was different.

  This was Jess.

  Jess’s dark eyes glittered in the half light, her face relaxing from the rigidity it had worn in the bar. There, she’d been on her own against a bunch of bikers. She hadn’t been afraid, just careful.

  Now she abandoned her cares. Surrendered.

  Tyler thrust slowly into her, pausing only to kiss her. “You’re beautiful,” he said softly. He didn’t know if she liked being talked to in bed, but he couldn’t help it. “You’re like sunshine.”

  Sounded stupid, but again, Tyler couldn’t help it. “Sweet as honey.” He licked across her lips.

  Jess’s smile turned his heart inside out. She was laughing at him, but who cared?

  Tyler drew out and thrust in again, the rhythm taking over and erasing any more dumb-ass words. Jess held on to him, lifting to him as he slid in and out, her hips moving with his.

  Tyler had wanted to be here the minute she’d given him her assessing look in the bar. Jess had asked what she could get him, and he’d wanted to say, You. He would have regretted it forever if he hadn’t done everything he could to be with her tonight.

  She was still the angel who’d picked him up when he’d fallen. Only now she was lying beneath him, her dark hair spread across his pillow, her eyes languid as she loved him. Jess’s hips rocked in time with his, her body locked to him, the pull of her wiping out every thought in his head.

  He only knew her beauty, and her squeezing tightness around his cock, her eyes on his, the welcoming glory of her body.

  It hadn’t been like this in forever. Never would again. Tyler knew that with all his heart even as his body flushed, his heart pounded, and he let out a yell as his seed sprang from him.

  Jess cried out with him, the sound loosening something deep inside Tyler, a part of him he’d buried in a place he’d never wanted to open again. Jess was going crazy beneath him, her legs rising to lock around him, dragging him farther into her as she unashamedly shouted her coming.

  Then nothing mattered but her lips, her touch, and this amazing bliss.

  * * * br />
  Tyler couldn’t stop touching her. He lay on his side next to Jess, her body fitting into the curve of his arm. He’d gotten rid of the condom but brought another to the nightstand, just in case. He wasn’t sated by a long way, already hard again.

  For now, he traced her tatts and did what he’d dreamed of—closed his mouth over the velvet of her nipple and suckled.

  Jess ran unhurried hands through his hair as he tasted her, relaxed and unconcerned. Her little smile when he raised his head did something wild to his heart.

  He wanted to see her again. This night wouldn’t be enough. No way in hell.

  Tyler would drive her home. He felt well enough to do that now. Find out where she lived and get her phone number, travel up here as often as he could to see her.

  “Tyler,” Jess whispered.

  Her brows had drawn together, her face tensing again. Damn it, she was going to tell him it was time to go. That this wonderful night was over.

  Tyler touched her lips to silence her, and then slid his hand between her legs, connecting with the place that made her body go slack. He watched with satisfaction as he moved his fingers, and Jess’s chest rose in a sharp breath of pleasure.

  He knew exactly how to make her feel good. Tyler let his fingers work their magic, coaxing her to give in to desire. Jess groaned as she lay back and let him.

  Tyler continued to touch her, taking his time, stroking the glorious heat of her until she cried out and half sat up. Her head went back, hair trailing across her shoulders, as she rose to his hand, jerking against his palm as though she could never get enough.

  When she collapsed to the bed and reached for him, her eyes wide with desperation, Tyler was ready, the condom conveniently near. He rolled onto her and slid inside, wanting her warmth, the two of them holding each other as they came together once more.

  It was a long time before they fell to the bed, panting, laughing. Tyler drew Jess close and kissed her parted lips, clinging to the precious moments before oblivion took them both.