Texas Tall - Janet Dailey Page 0,98

had become physical pain. For most of his life, he’d tried to be like his father—tough, closed-off, priding himself on always standing alone. But he wasn’t Bull Tyler. He needed the only woman he’d ever loved—needed to see her, touch her, hold her, just one more time.

He could call her. But no, it was late. By now, Tori would be asleep—and if she wasn’t alone, he didn’t want to know. He would see her tomorrow, in court, at a polite distance, when he put his life into her hands.

Will was about to go back inside when his cell phone rang. His pulse leapt.

“Did I wake you?” Tori’s voice washed through him like a soft spring rain.

“Not even close. Something tells me I won’t get much sleep tonight. What’s up?”

There was a beat of silence before she answered. “Nothing much. I just wanted to make sure you were all right.”

“No need to worry,” Will said. “I’m fine.”

“Are you? Are you really?” she asked.

“Hell no. I’m scared to death.”

“So am I.”

Will forced a chuckle. “Glad we got that out of the way. I might be scared, but I know you’ll give this trial everything you’ve got.”

“And if that isn’t enough?”

“We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it, sweetheart, like we always have.”

The endearment had slipped out, unbidden. On the other end of the call, there was silence—then, at last, a muffled whisper. “Oh, Will . . .”

“Don’t go anywhere,” he said, knowing that if there was one chance in a million for them, he had to take it now. Long strides carried him down the steps to where his pickup was parked. A moment later, the truck was rocketing down the road toward town.

* * *

Tori’s porch light was off when Will pulled into her driveway. The windows were dark except for the faint glow of a lamp in the living room. Pulse racing, he walked up to her front porch and, instead of ringing the bell, gave a light rap on the front door. If she’d gone to sleep, he wouldn’t wake her. But if she was inside, waiting . . .

His heart dropped as she opened the door. She was dressed in her baggy blue sweats, no shoes, her ponytail askew, her eyes set in weary shadows. The bridge of her nose was marked with a red spot where her glasses had rested. To Will, she had never looked more desirable.

Without a word she clasped his arm and drew him inside. He crushed her close, one hand reaching back to shut the door and lock it behind him. Their kisses were hungry, frantic. She moaned as his mouth devoured her, ravishing her lips, her tongue, her face, her throat. Lord, how he needed her—this stubborn, tender, maddeningly sexy woman who set him on fire every time he looked at her.

Her fingers tore at his shirtfront, buttons popping to the floor as she yanked it open. Will’s hand found the hem of her sweatshirt and slid upward against her warm skin. She flinched slightly. “You’re cold,” she whispered.

“Warm me.” The words rasped from a deep well of need. His seasoned fingers unhooked her bra, freeing one satin breast to fall against his work-roughened palm. Heaven in my hand. He stroked her, thumbed her taut nipple. Little whimpers rose in her throat. She arched against him, her body begging for what they both wanted so desperately.

His erection was rock hard, the jutting pressure threatening to push through his worn jeans. Tori’s hand tugged at his belt buckle, her fingers eager but awkward—too slow for what he needed now.

With a half-muttered growl, he swept her toward the stairs of the split-level house. Fumbling in their frantic haste, they left a trail of clothes along the upstairs hallway—his boots, jeans, and boxers; her sweats, bra, and lovely lace panties—all in a tangle. Naked, they tumbled into the bed, and then he was there, where he’d yearned to be—deep inside her, his swollen sex thrusting into that slick, honey-sweet warmth.

Her long legs wrapped his hips. Her hands clasped his shoulders as he lost himself in the silken feel of her, in the womanly smell and taste of her, and in the sound of her little love cries as he brought her to her climax, once, then again, until he shuddered and burst in a release that shook him like an earthquake.

Spent, he lingered above her, bracing on his arms. She lay with her hair fanned on the pillow, her lips swollen from his kisses.