He pumped faster. She came, her cries filling the small hotel room. He followed right after. His groans drowned out hers as his climax roared through him.

  Shuddering from the impact, he still managed to lower her to the mattress without falling forward and crushing her. Then he eased away from her quivering body without knocking off her glasses. At last, he flopped onto his back and lay there gulping for air. Molly at full power was a force to be reckoned with.

  She drew in a shaky breath. “We might have peaked with that one.”

  Rolling to his side, he propped his head on his hand and gazed at her. “Think so?”

  “It was pretty spectacular.” She turned her head to look at him. “Or I should say you were pretty spectacular. I just went along for the ride.”

  “You did your part.” He brushed his knuckles over her breasts and noticed with satisfaction that her nipples tightened. “Feeling you come is quite a rush for me.”

  “Feeling you come is amazing.” Her gaze was soft and open as if she’d let down all her barriers. “I had no idea making love could feel like that.”

  She could have said having sex and he liked that she hadn’t. He liked lying here talking with her about intimate details that only lovers shared. He’d never felt as emotionally connected to someone as he did at this moment.

  But the day wasn’t even half over yet, and he had more fantasies to fulfill. “Hold still.” He gently removed her glasses. “You won’t be needing these for a while.”

  She smiled. “Because we’ll be kissing?”

  “Showering.” Brushing his lips quickly over hers, he left the bed and put her glasses on the nightstand.

  “Good plan. You go first since you’re already up.”

  “I have a better idea.” He scooped her out of bed and she gave a little shriek. “Ever had shower sex?” He started toward the bathroom.

  “That depends on your definition.”

  He laughed. “Good answer.”

  “I wouldn’t be as likely to have shower sex with a guy wearing a condom, now would I?”

  “That’s why you’re about to have shower sex with a guy who doesn’t need one.”

  “Sounds exciting. I’ll bet you’re a pro by now.”

  He lowered her feet to the floor, gathered her close and tilted her chin up so he could look into her eyes. “I’m not a pro. I’ve never suggested this to anyone before, but with you I want… everything.”

  Her eyes widened in obvious shock.

  “Hey, I didn’t mean it like that.” Too late he realized that she might have interpreted that comment as a prelude to a proposal. “I was talking about sex. Don’t panic.”

  “I wasn’t panicking. I just wasn’t sure what you meant.”

  “I know. Sorry.” Then he kissed her, more to distract them both from a dicey topic than to arouse her. But kissing Molly always got him hot, and soon he had his tongue in her mouth and his hands all over her supple body.

  It wasn’t until he’d backed her against the bathroom counter and started to lift her up on it that he remembered where they were and why. Shower sex. He set her down with a smile of apology. “Got carried away.”

  Her eyes were heavy-lidded with desire. “I didn’t mind.”

  “We really are going to get in that shower.”

  She glanced at his jutting cock. “Better hurry.”

  “Um, yeah.” He had the shower running in no time. He settled the bathmat on the floor and glanced over his shoulder.

  She stood there smiling at him.

  He held out his hand. “Ready?”

  “You know it, cowboy.” Sashaying toward him, she put her hand in his.

  He helped her into the combination tub and shower and stepped in after her. With her back to him, she stood under the spray and combed her wet hair back from her face. Water cascaded over her curves and made her skin glisten.

  A primitive urge that he didn’t question took hold of him. Wrapping his arms around her, he drew her close, her back against his heaving chest. Her slippery body drove him wild as he fondled her breasts and slid his hand between her thighs.

  She moaned as he thrust his fingers deep. So hot. He made her come in mere seconds, and her cries echoed in the small room. His balls tightened and his cock strained as his body demanded release.

  Soon. Easing his fingers free, he turned her to face him. “Wrap your arms around my neck and hold on tight.”

  She was breathing fast. “Like… in the tractor barn?”

  “Exactly like that.” Under the shower’s liquid caress, he braced his feet apart and lifted her the same way he had in the barn. She wrapped her moisture-slicked legs around his hips as he lowered her onto his waiting cock. He almost came. It felt just that good.

  “Ohh.” Her low moan told him she completely agreed.

  He held still for a couple of seconds while he fought the climax that threatened to overwhelm him. Then he lifted her up and she pushed back down with another throaty moan of delight.

  Because they were both so slippery, he didn’t dare move too fast, but he didn’t have to. The combination of warm water sluicing over them and the gentle slide of his cock was more than enough to send her over the edge, and the minute she clenched around him, he was done for. He came hard with a triumphant cry wrenched from deep in his chest.

  Gasping, he held onto her and willed himself to stay steady as he set her gently back on her feet. He didn’t let go, because if she was as blindsided by her orgasm as he was by his, she might lose her balance. Or he might. He wasn’t absolutely clear on whether he was keeping her from falling or vice versa.

  The shower continued to pelt them. When she gazed up at him, her eyelashes were beaded with water. “Shower sex is better than tractor barn sex,” she murmured.

  He grinned. “Riskier, though.”

  “No, it’s not. You wouldn’t let me fall.”

  Her trust humbled him. “I wouldn’t mean to, but—”

  “You wouldn’t, Ben.” Her expression was completely sincere. “Even if I started to go down, you’d block my fall with your body. That’s why I was determined not to fall. I didn’t want you getting hurt trying to protect me.”

  He bracketed her face with both hands. “And that’s the most romantic thing anyone’s ever said to me.”

  She frowned. “You think that’s romantic?”

  “You just said I’d do anything to keep you safe. No one’s…” His stupid emotions were making his throat close up. “No one’s ever said that before.”

  Warmth filled her gaze. “Then I’m glad someone finally did. Now what do you say we get out of the shower before we turn into prunes?”

  “Good idea.” But he thought about her comment as they dried each other off, as they started fooling around and as they went back to bed to fool around some more. She trusted him. That was huge.

  As the day continued, he ordered room service whenever they got hungry because he didn’t want to share even one minute of Molly with the outside world. He refused to think about the pain he’d feel the next morning when her plane lifted off.

  Except it didn’t. The second blizzard arrived before dawn, and when Molly called the airport, she learned that the planes were still grounded. If she was disappointed about that, she didn’t show it. Her phone call to her folks in Arizona sounded positive.

  Listening to her talk to them, he could tell how much she wanted to get home for Christmas. The snow continued to pile up, though, and he wondered if she’d make it back, after all. But he hid his doubts. Maybe the planes would fly the following morning, December twenty-fourth. Maybe not. She was running out of time.

  Now that they’d taken the edge off their sexual hunger, neither of them felt the need to have sex constantly. They watched a movie on TV and then played Candy Crush on her laptop. Whoever scored highest was allowed to choose their next sexual position.

  Late in the afternoon, during another game of Candy Crush, played while they sat naked on the bed, she adjusted her glasses and gazed at him. “You’re pretty good at being snowbound.”

  He smiled. “It’s easy when I’m snowbound with you.” The image of Molly sitting there playing a computer game wearing nothing but her glasses would stay with him a long time.

  “Maybe for the first few hours it was, when it was a novelty and we were wild for each other, but you’ve been stuck with me since yesterday. You’ve had to use my razor and my deodorant. You’ve faced the same boring room service choices for every meal. You haven’t complained once.”

  “Neither have you.”

  “Yeah, like I would. I’m in this fix because I insisted on traveling in December. I have only me to blame, but you’ve volunteered to keep me company and you’ve done an admirable job under trying circumstances.”

  That struck him as funny. He’d been allowed to stay in this cozy hotel room and spend time playing games, watching movies and having amazing sex with Molly Gallagher. The more he thought of her description of that as trying circumstances, the broader his grin. Finally he fell back against the pillows, unable to hold back the laughter.

  “What’s so funny?”

  He turned his head to look at her. “You.”

  “Why?”

  “Do you really think this has been a hardship for me?”

  “Well, most people would—”

  “It’s been a privilege, Molly. There’s nowhere I’d rather be than right here, keeping you company. The trying circumstances will come later.”

  Understanding shone in her green eyes and her expression grew tender. She took off her glasses and pushed aside the computer. “We’re not there, yet.” And she eased her warm body over his and began doing things that made him forget all about what would happen later, when she left Wyoming. And him.

  Chapter Eighteen

  By the next morning, the snow had stopped, and Ben was feeling selfish enough to wish it hadn’t. Molly propped herself up against the headboard with pillows, put on her glasses, and called the airport for an update. The news was inconclusive.

  She might be able to fly out and she might not, depending on how quickly the snowplows cleared the runways and how dangerous the wind-shear factor was estimated to be. She was advised to come to the terminal and wait it out like everyone else.

  “Then that’s what we’ll do.” Ben was willing to spend the day in the terminal if it meant she might eventually be able to fly home.

  “But it’s Christmas tomorrow. Drop me off there, Ben, and drive back to Sheridan. I insist.”

  “You can insist all you want, but I’m not going to leave you at the terminal when there’s a possibility you’ll end up spending Christmas Eve there. And Christmas Day, for that matter.”

  She pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose. “Much as I hate to admit it, that could happen.”

  “It certainly could, and after all this, I won’t have you spending Christmas alone in an airport terminal. I can’t substitute for your family, but at least you won’t be with a bunch of strangers.”

  She regarded him silently for a minute or two. “Even if I get a flight out, I’ll have to make the drive from Phoenix to Prescott, and they’ve had snow up in the mountains. I’ll probably arrive late, after most of the stuff is over. I’ll miss the big dinner and the Christmas carols and the kids hanging up their stockings.”

  The thought of her driving alone into the mountains on Christmas Eve in bad weather chilled his blood, but it wasn’t his decision.

  “And that’s assuming I get a flight out.”

  He waited for her to sort through this on her own.

  “I want to be home for Christmas, but looking at all the facts, I might not make it.” She sighed and glanced at him. “If my chances of going home are slim to none, I know what my second choice is. Would you be willing to drive us back to the Last Chance today?”

  “Of course, but don’t you want to go over to the airport and see if—”

  “If we intend to land on the Chance family’s doorstep the day of Christmas Eve, they deserve the courtesy of knowing it well in advance. I’ll call Sarah and ask if it’s okay.” She scrolled through her contacts.

  “Molly, wait. If we arrive together, and they know I’ve been with you since Monday, they’ll make assumptions. Are you sure that’s what you want?”

  She lifted her chin. “I’m proud to know you, Ben. They can make assumptions all they want. It won’t bother me.” Then she hesitated. “Would it bother you? I don’t want to come between you and them, either.”

  “No.” He’d already considered whether this would affect his dealings with Jack and had decided that giving Molly a decent Christmas was more important to him. “I’m honored that you’ve chosen to spend this time with me.” He gestured toward her phone. “Make your call.”

  She did, and of course Sarah told them to come back immediately. In less than an hour they’d checked out of the hotel and were driving back toward the Last Chance. If he’d worried about intruding on Sarah’s birthday celebration, that was nothing compared to crashing a Last Chance Christmas. But for Molly he’d risk anything.

  Listening to her talk to her folks on the phone was heartbreaking, though. She’d called them as soon as he’d pulled away from the hotel, and the catch in her voice told him how much she’d miss being with them. That was another good reason why she was wrong for him. She’d naturally want to live in Arizona surrounded by her family.

  He, on the other hand, had a growing business in Sheridan, and for the first time in his life, a place that felt like home — the Last Chance Ranch. If his business continued to grow, he might rent a storefront in Jackson and hire somebody to run it.

  He could even take on an apprentice saddle maker and teach someone else the skills he’d learned from his mentor. He smiled at the thought that someday Sarah Bianca might go into business with him. Probably not. Kids changed their minds all the time as they grew up, but it was fun to think about.

  Molly gazed at the freshly ploughed highway stretching in front of them. Very few vehicles navigated the road. Her pitiful little sigh tore at his heart. “I’m sorry it didn’t work out.”

  “Me, too.”

  She gave him a quick smile and returned her attention to the road.

  When she didn’t say anything more, he wondered if she was battling tears. He probably ought to let her work through that by herself.

  “My mother said something that surprised me.”

  “Oh?”

  “She thinks this might be a good thing. She doesn’t want me to feel tied to the tradition of always being there for Christmas. She pointed out that my brothers have missed a few times.”

  He proceeded with caution because this sounded like a loaded topic. “What do you think?”

  “I don’t know. I’ve always assumed she’d be crushed if I didn’t make it home for the holidays. Of course she’ll miss me. She said that. But knowing it won’t ruin Christmas for her is… liberating, in a way.”

  “Your mom sounds great.”

  Molly smiled. “She is great. You would love — well, anyway. Yes, my mom’s terrific.”

  She’d been about to say he’d love her mother. He probably would, but that was beside the point. He would never meet her.

  Perversely, now he wanted to. People said you could tell what a woman would be like in twenty-five years by looking at her mother. Despite having no future with Molly, he couldn’t help fantasizing about what one would be like.

  “I’ll bet Jack’s out plowing the ranch road so we can get through.” Molly chuckled. “I could be wrong, but I think he likes doing that.”

  “I can guarantee he does. Most little boys never outgrow their obsession with tractors.”

  “So I guess you’ll be getting one of those, too.”

  Ben hadn’t thought of that. “Guess I will. If I have horse property, I’ll need a tractor for raking the corral. And I’ll need a blade attachment so I can get in and out in winter.”

  “You’ll also need a name for the place.”

  “I suppose so. Got any ideas?”

  “Oh, tons!” She rummaged in her purse. “This will be fun. Let’s make a list.”

  He smiled at her burst of enthusiasm. God, how he loved… her. He loved her. The thought hit him with stunning force. His pulse raced and he lost track of what she was saying. “Hold onto that thought. Let me get past this icy stretch.” If he pretended that the road had suddenly become more of a challenge, she might not notice his distracted behavior.

  Taking a deep breath, he refocused on the conversation. “Okay, run those past me one more time.”

  She rattled off several potential ranch names, some decent and some hysterically funny. They debated the merits of those names and came up with more. The subject occupied them for the rest of the drive, but all the while, in the back of his mind, lurked his newfound knowledge. He was in love with Molly Gallagher. And she would never know.

  Ben pulled into the circular drive in front of the ranch house behind two vehicles he didn’t recognize.

  “Oh, I just remembered!” Molly practically bounced on the seat. “Jack’s half-brothers, Wyatt and Rafe Locke are supposed to arrive today with their wives. I’ll bet that’s who’s here. Yay! I’ve been in touch with them for my project, and now we’ll meet face-to-face!”

  “Then you’re okay with not making it home?”

  She glanced at him. “I feel like a traitor for saying this, but I’m pretty excited about being here for Christmas now that it’s a done deal, especially if I get to meet more family members.” She unbuckled her seatbelt and reached for the door handle.

  “Molly, hang on a second.” He wouldn’t bare his soul to her, never that, but he could take advantage of the last few moments of their time alone. “Once we go in there, we won’t have any privacy.”

  She turned to him, her expression contrite. “That’s true. Sorry. I didn’t mean to rush out of here.”

  “You’re eager to meet them all. I understand.”