If that were possible.
He decided to join her. In for a penny, in for a pound, he thought. He hoped like hell no one came looking for them, or they’d get an eyeful of his bare ass.
When he’d shucked off his jeans and boxer briefs, Wyoming ran one hand lightly over him, tracing the scars he’d earned in the explosion, including a long one over his right hip where shrapnel had sliced his skin. He was grateful it hadn’t gone deeper.
“Does it hurt?” she whispered.
“No. Only my ankle once in a while. It took the brunt of the damage.”
Wyoming threaded her arms around his shoulders and pulled him close. “I could have lost you before I ever found you.”
Emerson could hardly breathe. He knew exactly what she meant. He’d built a good life for himself in the Army, but the last few days had been sweeter than anything else he’d known.
“I’m right here, and I’m staying here, I promise,” he told her, encircling her with his arms. He didn’t ever want to let her go.
Wye pressed close against him, making it clear she wanted much more than kisses and hugs. “Emerson—”
He knew what she was asking for. Wanted it, too. His hands explored her curves, his erection hard between them.
“Protection?” he breathed in her ear as he edged her up against the stone again, the coat buffering her from its cold flank.
“We’re covered. The Pill,” she told him.
Good. Not that he’d be opposed to children when the time came, but first things first. He needed Wye to know how good things could be between them. He needed her to want forever.
“Oh,” Wye breathed as he lifted her up, braced her against the stone, positioned himself between her legs, nudged against her, then pushed inside.
His own groan mingled with hers. Hell, he’d be lucky if he lasted a minute. He’d waited for this for so long.
Well, for a month, anyway.
His chuckle was lost in the kiss she pressed against his mouth, and Emerson tangled his hands in her hair as he entered her fully, needing to feel all of her. Wyoming wrapped her legs around his waist. Emerson had a bad moment, wondering if his ankle would hold, but it seemed to be doing fine. If fact, he wasn’t sure when he’d last felt so strong.
Now he had full access to her, and it was everything he could do to hold back as they began to move together.
He wanted the moment to last forever. Wyoming in his arms was more than he’d ever hoped to deserve. Could they really make a life together here?
Could the universe be that kind to him?
He’d learned early the only safety lay in depending on yourself and yourself alone, but the General had chipped away at that stoicism, gradually letting him know he had a champion, at least. When he’d brought him here to Two Willows and encouraged him to woo Wyoming—and make his home here—Emerson hadn’t known whether to trust him entirely.
Still didn’t trust it would work out.
He hadn’t let himself imagine a scenario in which Wyoming fell for him, either. He’d been ready to work hard to get her to consider him as a partner, but he hadn’t suspected he’d succeed.
Here she was wrapped around him. He was inside her.
And she was—
Emerson lost the ability to think when Wye tilted her head back and her nipples brushed his chest. He wanted to spend hours exploring her breasts. Wanted to taste her. Bring her to completion again and again—
But it was late, and cold, and sooner or later someone would notice their vehicles behind the house and wonder where they’d got to.
He increased his pace until Wyoming’s soft moans had him on the brink. She felt so damn good he couldn’t stop.
“Wyoming?”
She opened her eyes. Gazed into his.
As her orgasm overtook her, Emerson lost control and rode the wave of her release with her, pulse after pulse thrumming through him until he thought it would never end. When it did, he gathered her up, breathing hard, and leaned with her against the stone.
“You all right?”
“I’m fabulous.” Her voice was rough, though, and Emerson pulled back when he saw the glint of tears in her eyes.
“You sure?”
“Yes.” She nodded with a little laugh. “I think—it’s the relief. Of finding this with someone. It’s been a while.”
“For me, too.” He might never have found “the one” before, but he was no saint, either.
He wanted to stay right there, but he knew they’d both be shivering in moments, so he pulled out of her, Wyoming’s small moan of disappointment a balm to his soul. She wanted more of him.
Well, he wanted a hell of a lot more of her, too.
They dressed quietly, helping each other balance until each of them was back in jeans and boots.
Emerson caught her in an embrace before they went back to the house and gave her the kind of kiss that should let her know exactly what he was thinking.
She breathed out when he was done. “I knew I liked you,” she said. “But I had no idea I’d like you like this when we met.”
He’d known he’d love her right from the first time he laid eyes on her, but he wouldn’t tell her that yet. Instead, he took her hand and led the way out of the maze.
It was far more fun to be a Reed than it was to be a Smith, Wyoming decided when she woke up the next morning. She’d dreamed of Emerson, of making love to him again in the maze.
That had been unexpectedly wonderful, she admitted. She needed to get naked with Emerson a lot more often.
He’d known exactly how to fire her up. When she thought about the way she’d shattered in his arms, she felt her cheeks warm but in a good way—in anticipation of doing it again rather than any sort of shame.
Emerson
