13. X Marks The Spot

Chapter 13

X Marks The Spot

E very single part of Knox’s body sprang to attention at Thea’s words. He’d known they were moving toward having sex. It was inevitable and right. Hell, he’d been holding onto his control for weeks.

He’d needed her to take the first move. Needed her to tell him she was ready, she was sure. Now, she had.

Still, he released her hands and ran them up her arms to frame her face. “Are you sure? We don’t have to rush. We’ve got all the time in the world.”

“I’m sure. But I don’t have any condoms.”

He couldn’t resist kissing her again. “I bought some that day in Phail.”

She laughed. “I’m glad one of us was planning ahead. I’ve got them on my next shopping list.”

God, she made him smile. “I like a woman who knows her mind.”

Their mouths crashed together again. She tasted like the coffee he’d made after their dinner together. A touch of caramel from the creamer. And a whole lot of Thea.

Bright. Beautiful. Caring.

The kiss went to rocket-launcher power in only moments. Her body softened, and she leaned into him. He tightened his arms around her waist, wishing for a bed to pop up in the middle of the trees. “Don’t imagine this tree is hiding a handy-dandy tree house with a soft mattress?”

Her laugh was pure delight. “Afraid not, but the cover crop is here.”

He laughed in return. “We can wait until we get back to your cabin. I’m pretty sure we can make it.” His voice was about an octave lower than normal, but it couldn’t be helped.

Thea grinned and slipped off her flannel shirt, then draped it on the ground.

No wonder this woman was stealing his heart. “Always prepared. You were a Girl Scout?”

“Not a chance, but I do like to be prepared. Kiss me, Knox.”

Not being a fool, Knox captured her lips again, captured that intoxicating taste. He could spend days exploring her mouth and be satisfied. Well, maybe not completely satisfied but he would be content.

Thea slipped her arms around his neck, and he boosted her up. Her legs wrapped around his waist, and he couldn’t contain the groan.

She sighed happily into his mouth, and he leaned her back against the nearest tree. Her t-shirt would protect her skin from the bark, and he’d make sure not a single part of her skin was hurt.

Thea’s head dropped back, and he moved his lips to her neck. He kissed and nipped his way down. When he licked the pulse point in her neck, she purred out his name.

Feeling as powerful as Superman, he held her steady while he found the spots that had her body reacting.

The sensitive spot behind her ear. Under her jaw. Her collarbone.

So many places to explore.

To love.

His hands kneaded her ass, and she arched her body, pressing her core against him. Nearly had him exploding in his pants like a teenager.

He’d never been this turned on, even as that randy teen. Something about Thea reached right into him and sent all of his reactions into high gear. And they still wore all their clothing.

He needed to ensure she had no regrets, that she wanted this as much as he did. That she was ready.

Angling his body to keep her in place against the tree, he drifted his hands over that glorious ass and up to her waist, to the strip of bare skin between her jeans and her t-shirt.

If she wore a dress, he’d be able to dip his hand right inside and have her orgasming against the tree. Another time.

Because Thea was right. Making love to her for the first time in their orchard was exactly right. He returned his lips to her ear. “I want to be doing this in fifty years with you. Right here.”

Her laugh shook. “I like that plan. You feel so good, Knox.”

“You too, Thea. You’re even more gorgeous here in the moonlight.”

Her hand lifted to press against his nape, pulling him down for another kiss. The woman could kiss.

While she played with his hair, he slipped his hands under her t-shirt and brushed his fingers over her bra. Her nipples tightened under his touch, and he growled into her mouth.

The bra didn’t have a front closure, so he played with her breasts through the material, enjoying her varied reactions to his touch. Her sighs, purrs, moans. “Intoxicating.” He hadn’t meant to say it aloud, but it was true.

Thea pressed her core into him again, and he sucked in deep breaths to maintain his control. He wasn’t rushing this, wasn’t rushing her.

Even if he lost his damn mind first.

Thea’s hand drifted over his sweatshirt and then beneath. Her touch was like fire, forcing him to hiss in a gulp of air.

She smiled into their kiss and ran her fingers over his chest and stomach, the delicate touch making him nuts. She thumped her head back against the tree. “I want to see you.”

Hell, yeah.

Keeping his lips on hers, he lowered her slowly to the ground. When her feet were steady, he ran his fingers along that strip of skin and then dipped below the denim.

Thea’s hands switched to grab his biceps as if she needed to hang onto him. He slipped the button free on her jeans and dipped his fingers lower.

He slid the zipper down and traced his fingers over her panties. Soft cotton that he wanted to rip away. Instead, he dropped to a squat.

Eye-level with heaven that was hidden by that denim. Not for long.

Knox kissed her belly as he eased the jeans over her hips and down to her knees. It took more than a moment to undo her work boots and he cursed making her laugh again. “Hurry, Knox. Hurry.”

He could do that.

I n exact opposition to her demands to hurry, Knox undid her work boots and slid down her jeans, stopping to kiss and caress every inch of skin he exposed.

She didn’t have a single complaint. Not when the sexiest man she’d ever met was treating her like a precious gift. She’d never felt precious before, and it was heady.

Knox tapped her foot. “Lift.”

The word rumbled across her skin, and she barely managed to comply. He repeated the order for her other leg and soon she was free of the boots and the jeans.

Knox kissed his way back up her legs. When he reached her panties, he groaned and kissed her right through them, making her knees weaken.

He tightened his hold on her hips. “Steady, Thea.”

Then his mouth was on her, and his hands were on her breasts. Too many layers between them. She shoved at his t-shirt and sweatshirt, trying to get to skin.

With another of those growls that she loved, he leaned back far enough to yank both pieces of clothing off in one move.

His chest was a glorious expanse of muscles. The man was fit, probably from his army training. He was gorgeous, and she needed to taste.

He hissed out another curse when her lips brushed over his chest. She explored his body while he played with her hair and teased her breasts.

“Your turn.” He helped her ease off her t-shirt and then unsnapped her bra and slipped it off as well.

With another growly curse, he cupped her breasts and then leaned down to suck one nipple into his mouth. She thumped back into the tree as the sensations rolled through her. This. This was what her life had been missing. The joy, these sensations. The connection.

Knox moved his mouth back to hers, and she reached down to undo his jeans.

While he kissed the breath out of her, she opened his jeans and lowered them and the boxer briefs he wore. When she put her hand on his erection, he broke off the kiss and dropped his head back. His breathing was harsh and choppy.

Power rushed through her, and she ran her fingers softly up and down his length, enjoying his reactions.

“You’re going to kill me, Thea. Kill me dead before I even get inside you.”

“I certainly hope not. I’m looking forward to that part.”

And suddenly, she was on her back, soft material protecting her from the ground.

Knox nearly tore off his own boots. His clothing followed suit, and then he stood before her. Naked. Glorious. Strong and beautiful.

Hungry for her.

His eyes tracked over her body, slowly igniting fires in the wake of his gaze.

She reached up one hand, unable to bear not having his touch.

He took her hand as he knelt. He kissed her fingers, one at a time and then straddled her, keeping his weight off of her.

Before she could protest the lack of contact, he dropped kisses to her breasts. Her belly. Down to her panties. He slipped them off slowly, kissing his way down her body until she was writhing with anticipation.

She heard him rip open a condom and opened her eyes to watch him slip it on. “Next time, I get to do that.”

His eyes gleamed in the moonlight. “I like the sound of that. This time, I’d embarrass myself.”

She smiled. “Not a chance. You’re magnificent.” It was a weird word to use, but it was true. He was magnificent in so many ways.

His gaze roved her again. She couldn’t dig up even a shred of embarrassment. His gaze proved he saw her as beautiful, and because of that, she felt that way.

Even better, she felt wanted.

Knox took her hands and tugged lightly until she sat before him. In another quick move, he reversed their positions so he lay on the ground while she straddled him.

Ever the gentleman, protecting her.

Keeping her gaze locked on his, she lifted and positioned herself. The first sensation of his erection sliding into her had them both moaning.

After a few breaths, she slid down. Slowly. Knox’s fingers tightened on her hips, but he didn’t try to take over the pace.

When she lowered so that he was fully seated inside, she had to pause and suck in air. “You feel so good.” Her voice was barely a whisper.

His lightning-quick grin had her smiling back. “Better than I imagined was possible.”

It wasn’t long before her body demanded more. A slow hip circle had them both groaning again.

She kept the pace slow, enjoying the tortuous anticipation that built with every movement.

Knox lifted one hand to play with her nipple, and she cried aloud at the pleasure zipping right to her core. In only moments, the universe tightened inside her, and then exploded outward in waves of joy.

Her body spasmed through wave after wave of pleasure.

Impossibly later, she opened her eyes to find Knox’s gaze locked on hers. Intense. Focused. And delighted. His hands were the only things keeping her upright.

His body remained hard inside her. He moved his hips, and she gasped as her greedy body demanded more.

He grinned. “You’re the most gorgeous creature in the universe. Watching you fly apart is my new favorite pastime. Let’s see you fly again.”

And she did.

Twice.

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