“Carter,” she murmured against his lips, lost in the rippling sensations of his magic fingers.

“Yeah. Now where was I earlier before that monster reared its ugly head?”

He dropped to his knees, and she took in a deep breath, watching as he spread her legs and put his mouth on her sex.

Delicious sensations rippled through her as his tongue glided over her. She was swollen with need and desire, and he mastered her body until all she could do was tremble and moan.

She was so close to the edge, so primed for his touch, the passionate glide of his lips and tongue over her body, that her climax hit hard, making her entire body shudder in response.

He gripped her hips as she rode out her orgasm, then pressed gentle kisses to her thighs as she settled.

He stood, his mouth taking hers in a deep, passionate kiss that primed her passion all over again. Then she looked into his eyes, smiled at him, and dropped to her knees, wanting to give him the same mind-blowing pleasure he’d just given her.

Carter palmed the walls of the shower, unable to believe this dark-haired goddess was on her knees in front of him. He hadn’t expected this from Molly—that she’d be so responsive to his touch, so sexy, so eager to be with him. He wasn’t about to question why, he was just damn happy to be with her.

As she took his length between her lips, he thought he might have died and gone to heaven. Or maybe it was hell, because her lips and tongue were torture. He gritted his teeth and held on while she engulfed him, sucking him deep until he knew for certain he wouldn’t last long—not when all he’d thought about all night was being alone with her, getting her naked and making love to her.

“Molly,” he said, “You’re going to make me come.”

She hummed, a low, throaty sound along the length of his cock, and he lost it, erupting in deep waves as his orgasm catapulted from him, leaving him shaken. When he could function again, he lifted her off the floor and took her mouth, his fingers diving into her scalp to hold her as he kissed her deeply.

She raked her nails down his shoulders and arms, her passion getting him hard again.

He turned off the shower and stepped out, grabbing a towel for her. She dried off her hair in a hurry, then cast the towel aside, grasping his hands and pulling him toward the bedroom.

Yeah, he wanted that, too, more than he could put into words.

She fell onto the bed, and he grabbed a condom from the nightstand, put it on, then rolled next to her.

She pushed him onto his back and climbed on top of him, her hair loose, wet waves falling over her shoulders and breasts as she slid down over his cock.

He’d never seen anything more beautiful—or hotter. Molly, riding him, her breasts thrust out, her nails digging into his chest, her top teeth biting down on her bottom lip, lost in her own pleasure.

He gripped her hips and thrust into her, and she looked down at him, glassy-eyed, lost in her own desire.

“Take us there,” he said, giving her control.

She cast a deep dark smile down at him, then rode right into orgasm. When she tightened around him and moaned with her release, he went with her, driving deep and shuddering as he let go.

She fell against his chest, her heart pumping fast and hard against his. He stroked her back, content to hear the sound of her breathing for a few minutes as they both settled. He wanted to hold her here like this, both of them suspended in that moment of contentment, where there was no conflict, no issues, no past or no future. Nothing to do but just . . . be.

When she finally sat up again, she smiled at him, then slid off.

Yeah. Reality.

He left to attend to the condom, then came back, turned off the light, and pulled the covers over them.

“Can you stay tonight?” he asked.

She hesitated for a few seconds, and he wondered if she wanted to leave.

“Yes. I’d like that.”

Now it was his turn to smile. “Me, too.”

He closed his eyes and wrapped his arms around Molly. Maybe this was just a “right now” relationship for them. Maybe they had no future together other than just the moments they could carve out together, but dammit, when they did, they were great moments.

And tonight, she was here, in his bed, wrapped around him.

For now, that was good enough.

Chapter 22

AFTER A VISIT to the doctor this morning, Molly’s mother was comfortably set up in the living room on the sofa, her leg propped on the recliner.

Molly made them quesadillas for lunch, then did puzzles with her until she said she was tired and wanted to nap. She brought her a blanket and pillow and Pokey settled in next to Mom on the sofa, the two of them snoozing comfortably together while Molly did dishes and worked on some of the paperwork for tonight’s committee meeting.

She wasn’t sure if she was more excited about getting an update on the progress of the town square, or hanging out with Carter, who she hadn’t seen in several days. She’d been busy with a slate of doctor visits for her mom, and he’d been in Tulsa at several of his shops dealing with some personnel and inventory issues. He’d called and texted her every day though, giving her a rundown of his day, asking about hers, and always making sure to inquire about her mom.

After she finished the dishes, Molly peeked in on her mom, who was still napping. That gave Molly time to finish perusing the paperwork, making sure to note some items she wanted to bring up on the agenda tonight. Then she started chopping vegetables for the stew she intended to cook for dinner. By the time her dad came home from work, her mom was awake, so he helped her into the shower and then her pajamas.

Molly served dinner, and they visited about the morning’s doctor’s visit.

“The doctor thinks I’m healing very well,” her mom said.

Her dad looked over at Molly. “It’s true. He went over reports from the therapists and the nurses. She’s a model patient, recovery wise, even though she’s cranky about having to stay home.”

“You would be, too, if you had to stare at the living room walls every day.”

Her dad squeezed her hand. “It’s not forever, Georgia.”

“No, it’s not. The doctor promised he’d do an X ray next week. If the bones in my leg look good, he said he’d fit me with a walking cast, and we can start walking therapy.”

“That’s very good news,” her dad said. “I know how much you want to get up and move around.”