Page 1 of Chasing Liberty
Chapter One
“I think it’s time.” Liberty Rose shimmied out of bed, swiped the shirt off the floor and pulled the soft chambray on. The button down was extra-large to fit broad shoulders and wide chest so it hung on her like a dress.
She physically distanced herself as she prepared to tell her husband that she wanted a divorce.
With a quick glance over her shoulder at a heavy-eyed Wyler Ranks, he yawned and stretched. His bronzed skin looked stark against the white thousand thread-count sheets. He was too handsome for so early in the morning. His longish dark hair was tousled from her recent finger combing while in the throes of their lovemaking. He shifted and the sheet played peek-a-boo with the part of him she couldn’t seem to get enough of.
He had talent which most definitely made ending things much more difficult.
It was definitely time to break things off.
He snaked his arm around her pillow and dragged it under his head as his magnetic gaze roved from the tip of her highlighted roots to her manicured toenails. A familiar tingle traveled through her and settled in her thighs. Her body craved another cowboy “ride” while logic warned her that it was now or never to rip the bandage off.
She’d never been so indecisive before.
“What did you say?”
“It’s time,” she said in a tone above a whisper.
“Time?” His voice was a husky, broken tone produced from lack of sleep. They’d brought each other hours of pleasure and there wasn’t a spot on her body that he hadn’t explored.
Didn’t everyone have wild, passionate sex before they ended a relationship?
He flashed that grin—the grin that undid her like a ball of yarn.
Get it together, Liberty!
The “talk” had always been easier with her prior lovers. Of course, she’d never felt like this for anyone else.
The jar of hazelnut chocolate spread still sat with the lid off on the nightstand as a reminder how fun last night had been. She’d never think of dessert the same.
Focusing on the tiny white scar at center of his forehead, because that was the only spot on his body that she hadn’t licked, she refused to fall victim to his confused expression.
Spit it out!
“A separation.”Whew!There. The words were out.
He remained silent.
Sitting down at the vanity, she snuck a glance at him through the mirror. He’d repositioned himself on his elbows which decorated his large biceps with dips and valleys of muscles. His skin was covered in ink. She swallowed the tickle at the back of her throat—an itchy desire to revisit what they’d shared. She’d never wanted someone—something—so much. Last night when her inner thighs had become raw and sore, she still begged for his touch, and mouth, on her.
Get a grip.
She picked up the brush and pulled the bristles through her messy hair.
“A separation?” His thick brows creased.
“Well, more like a divorce. You and I should start the process.”
With an annoyed sigh, he pushed his body up and leaned against the headboard. Naked and erect, and not one bit self-conscious, he clasped his hands behind his head. He didn’t care and neither did she. She couldn’t imagine anyone ever telling Wyler to get dressed.
“Is this about last night?” he asked.
“Last night was great.” She laid the brush down. There was no taming the wavy mess that was both a blessing and a curse handed down from her Scottish mother. Liberty had forgotten a lot about her mother over the years, but her long, wild curls flowing in the wind during her sunset horse rides wasn’t one of them. She touched the infinity tattoo on her wrist, a tribute to her mother who had the same tattoo.
“Yeah, it was.” Wyler’s voice drew her out of her thoughts. “Amazing.”
Securing her feral hair into an elastic, she swiveled on the stool to face him. This conversation had been brewing inside of her for a few weeks. The second she started having feelings for him she knew she’d allowed the marriage to go on for far too long.