Chapter 10 #2
LILA PRESSED HERSELF against his broad chest, seeking his warmth and strength, craving the comfort she found in his arms. Obviously she knew it was impossible to actually melt into him, but she could pretend.
Nothing about how she felt around Clint made sense.
Maybe this was part of the overall grieving process over her old life.
She missed the relationship she used to have with Erin, and she missed her family.
And working on location for three months?
It wasn’t anything like she’d imagined. She didn’t mind the hard work, it wasn’t that at all. ..
Clint wrapped his arms around her, and she lifted her chin and smiled at him.
He brushed a kiss across her mouth. “I’m waiting.”
“For?”
“You were going to tell me what you wanted.” His gold-flecked eyes had darkened, mesmerizing her, pulling her deeper into the sensual mist.
He was turned on, no denying the bulge she felt under her backside. But his voice and actions were calm, controlled. If she said no, he would back up three feet. And then step back another two just to be sure she didn’t feel threatened.
Clint was a gentleman, and she didn’t use the word often or lightly. What made him interesting...he was also hot. Superhot. Or as Erin would say, hot as hell.
“Tell me the truth, Clint Landers. Women must fall for you all the time,” she said, watching his brows rise. “How long does it usually take? Five minutes? Ten?”
“Never that long.” His lopsided smile set off a flutter in her tummy.
Maybe Erin was right. There was just something about a cowboy.
He lowered his head until his breath danced along the line of her jaw. “You have something to tell me,” he murmured, his voice deep and raspy, tickling the skin at the side of her neck.
A minute ago all she’d wanted was a kiss. “You,” she whispered. “And me. Naked.” She took a small nip of his ear. “In that bed over there.”
She felt something stir under her butt, and a giggle slipped from her lips.
Clint looked at her with a half smile.
“Is that okay?” Lila asked, remembering the food was still warm but it wouldn’t be later. “Are you hungry? Would you rather eat first?”
His gaze fell to her mouth, lingered, before he claimed it with a searing kiss. Lifting her in his arms, he stood as she clung to him, tightening her hold around his neck without the slightest misgiving over what they were about to do.
He laid her down gently, keeping the kiss intact until the last possible second. Lila was already breathing hard as if she’d been the one doing all the lifting. After unzipping her, he tried to peel her jeans down her hips.
Lila smiled at his frustration. She should’ve warned him they wouldn’t be easy.
He narrowed his gaze. “What did you do? Spray paint this thing on?”
“They aren’t called skinny jeans for nothing.” She kicked off her leather ballet flats, intent on helping him. But he managed to get the job done just fine by himself.
Getting up on her elbows, she started to take off her sweater. At the rapt look on his face, she froze.
Clint’s gaze traveled the length of her bare legs, then he leaned down and fingered the red silk triangle of her thong. “If I were to turn you over, I believe I’d have a real nice surprise.”
“I believe you’re right.”
His sexy smile gave her goose bumps their own baby goose bumps. He sat on the edge of the bed and slipped a finger under the silk. Thank heavens she’d given herself a wax job last week. His exploration was getting a bit thorough...he grazed her clit and she let out a gasp.
His dark eyes glittered with satisfaction, and more. So much more. Lila didn’t think any man had ever wanted her as intensely as Clint did in this very moment. Desire blazed hot in his gaze. A muscle worked in his jaw.
He slid a hand under her sweater. His palm grazed the skin between her ribs until he found a nipple and thumbed it through the silk of her bra. “This is like Christmas morning. I don’t know which package to unwrap first.”
“Then let me decide.” She yanked his shirt from his jeans and heard a snap pop. It didn’t stop her from reaching for his belt. The buckle was too tricky for her to do one-handed.
Clint stood and pulled up her sweater. She lifted her arms so he could tug it off all the way. He tossed it on the other side of the bed, his gaze sweeping over her and coming to rest on her face.
She could feel her cheeks heat. Not from embarrassment or anything like that.
She was excited, happy, and so turned on her panties had already skipped the damp phase.
All day she’d been distracted knowing tonight she’d be able to see more than his bare chest. And hoping she’d be allowed to touch him all she wanted.
He unsnapped his cuff and then started on the other sleeve. “You mind taking that off for me,” he said, nodding at her bra.
“Since you asked so nicely.” She reached behind and found the hook quickly, then let the cups slide off slowly.
Watching her with hooded eyes, his lips parted. His nostrils flared. He’d unsnapped the front of his shirt but he just stood there, staring, barely moving.
Finally he leaned toward her, but she scooted over to the other side of the bed. “Take your shirt off.”
He could easily reach her if he wanted. But his slow smile told her he’d concede this round, and he shrugged out of the soft wool shirt.
When he sat on the edge of the bed to pull off his boots, Lila ditched the bra entirely and came up on her knees behind him.
She dragged her hard nipples across his back as she placed a kiss on his shoulder.
Clint shuddered.
His skin was hot, feverishly hot, making her breasts prickle as she pressed against him. He yanked off the second boot and twisted around. His mouth claimed hers, the fierceness of his kiss pushing her backward.
He covered her left breast with his hand and fingered the tight nipple. His tongue continued to stroke and tease, keeping her off balance. She couldn’t reach his buckle, but she wanted his jeans gone. Now.
The lofty thought blurred when he bowed his head and sucked a nipple into his mouth.
The slightly rough texture of his tongue did amazing things to her sensitive skin.
Firming his lips, he tugged hard at the rigid peak, and she arched upward.
His swift reflex was the only thing that kept her from toppling over.
His arm curled around her waist and held her tight.
It was too late. She was already falling, tumbling out of control into a bottomless pit of heat and longing with nothing to latch on to but Clint.