CHAPTER FOUR #3
His eyes went down the front of her before he met her gaze again. He saw her growing discomfort. “I’m going to put you out of your misery before you faint. No. It wasn’t me. It was Mavis. I just carried you in.”
She breathed a sigh of relief.
“Although it was tempting as hell.”
Her eyes widened.
He took the bag of ice out of her hand and set it on the counter beside him without taking his eyes off of her. “Now back to your so called courage. I think you need some proper encouragement.”
She tilted her head again in confusion.
He gave her a sloppy smile, reached up and loosened his tie.
“What are you doing?” Her eyes went wide.
“Shh.” He finished untying it, slid it off his neck slowly and tossed it carelessly on the floor. His eyes never left hers.
Hers followed the movement with intense interest, then met his again. Okay, that was pretty darn sexy.
Next, he pulled his shirt out of his belted slacks.
Then his hands went to the buttons and one by one, he slowly undid them until it hung open and loose on him.
She could see the muscular contours of his pectorals to where they dipped in the center of his chest. Her eyes then slid down the opening and glimpsed the middle of his abdomen which was clearly the part of a beautiful muscular six-pack.
Her lips parted. Lance placed his hands on his thighs and waited.
Her eyes went back up his body slowly and met his gaze again.
She knew that’s all he was going to give her, and that she had to take it further.
God, though, could he present more provocative image?
He was a woman’s kryptonite and he knew exactly what he was doing to her.
His expression then grew salacious, but he still waited patiently for her to make the next move.
She bit her bottom lip and lifted a nervous hand.
Ever so slowly she moved the material of his shirt aside, then paused looking at him.
He smiled letting her know to continue. She took a deep breath and let it out slow while both her hands flattened against his chest, moved up his shoulders and pushed the material down his arms. He removed his hands off his thighs to allow the shirt to fall to the floor behind him.
Her eyes moved back down his torso. His body was immaculate. His skin was tanned, taught and brawny.
“What should I do now?”
“Anything you want.” His voice was huskier now.
“Anything?” She swallowed as her eyes went to his gorgeous chest. She felt her fingertips tingle. She really wanted to touch him.
“Yes,” he said softly.
She looked past him into the kitchen.
“Mavis will not disturb us,” he said answering her unspoken question. “She knows when to leave.”
She didn’t want to know that. It meant that he’d had women here before and his housekeeper had specific instructions regarding them. No, she will not let that bother her moment. He was an adult, and so was she. What he did before this meant nothing. She needed this to be her special time.
She looked down at her own clothing. It didn’t seem all that fair that he had a top off and she didn’t.
She smiled feeling a little daring, he did say, anything.
Slowly she crossed her arms in front of her and gripped the hem of her t-shirt pulling it over her head and tossing it, less gracefully than he did, on the floor.
“Well, I didn’t expect that.” he smiled allowing his eyes to go to her breasts. “I thought you didn’t like pastels.” He was referring to the light pink bra she wore.
Gosh, he really did remember things well. “They usually don’t sell them in the colors I like unless I want to pay more.” She fought against the embarrassment of being half naked in front of him. If he could do it, she could too. Yet he had nothing to be ashamed of.
“I still like it.”
She felt her skin get hot at sitting there in her bra. She’d never shown herself to a man before, well except Richard, but she didn’t do it willingly and didn’t like that experience.
She knew her awkwardness was obvious because Lance did his best to put her at ease.
“You’re beautiful Tammy. You have no reason to feel embarrassed. I’m being completely honest.” He reached for her hands and placed them on his own chest. “Remember, you have the advantage. I won’t do anything to you unless you ask, okay?”
God, she must’ve died and gone to heaven.
She nodded, knowing that she’d stutter if she spoke.
The last thing she wanted to do was ruin the mood.
Her hands moved over his chest, shoulders, and arms then back down to his abdomen.
She really had to see if that six pack was real.
It was. “My God Lance, I didn’t think people who looked like you were real. It’s like you’re airbrushed.”
“I work hard at it.” His eyes darkened while he pursued her face. Desire was clear in his expression now.
She knew he worked hard. She’d seen him laboring with the men; slinging hay bales in the field, pounding posts, fixing fences, and working with the cattle and the horses.
His self-confidence was certainly warranted.
She was grateful though. If it weren’t for that characteristic, she wouldn’t be able to do this without his coaching.
She saw a change in his expression and knew that her touch was doing something to him, but she really wasn’t sure how to proceed and she really wanted to.
She was feeling very insecure, but the control he’d given her took away a lot of angst she had over intimacy.
He was right. Richard did ruin her to a point.
“I just don’t know what to do now.” She looked at him with a mixture of desire, confusion and insecurity.
“It depends on what you want.”
She took a deep breath and looked at him. She looked at him for a long time building courage for what she said next. “I want you.” Obviously he didn’t expect that. She heard his breath hitch, but when he spoke it was even, and controlled. Everything about this man elicited complete control.
“Are you sure about this?’
She nodded. “At this very moment, I am.”
“Then, I suggest that we go to my room.”
“Okay,” she agreed. She was really beginning to feel exposed in the enormous room.
Despite the desire registering in his expression now, he still looked as comfortable as an old shoe. Didn’t anything make him off balance?
He slid off the stool and took her hand to coax her off hers. Then he turned and led her down the stairs and the long hall to his room.
He only released her to shut the door and lock it. “Just in case any more of your friends decide to pop by.”
“God I hope not.”
He chuckled and turned back to her. “Some rules.”
“Rules?”
“Yes, to ease your nervousness. I need you to understand that you can initiate anything you want. However, if you feel the need to let me take over, I will. You just have to tell me.”
“I can do that.” she nodded apprehensively.
“And, if you tell me to stop, I will, no matter how far along we are.”
That’s what did it for her. That wall of fear crumbled around her. She steeled her courage and stepped up to him. “Kiss me.”
There was no humor in his expression now.
He cupped her face in his hands and did as she commanded.
Slowly, and seductively his tongue parted her full lips and invaded the hot recesses of her mouth.
Her fingers tangled in his hair and pulled him closer.
Led by that direction, he crushed hard against her mouth.
Just when she thought that she’d tasted the best of his him, he surprised her.
Oh, there was so much more there! This man’s mouth could cause changes within her body she never knew were possible.
She felt a groan of pleasure coming from deep in her throat.
Her skin felt hot, needy. “God, just touch me. Please Lance, touch me.”
Without breaking his mouth off of hers, he did exactly as she asked and circled his arms around her pulling her tight against him.
Once again his hand cupped her bottom and surged her upward and against his hips as he slowly walked toward his bed.
Then, he let her down slowly, so she slid down his body; bare skin moving over bares skin.
“Oh,” she gasped.
Then he moved his hands behind her and undid her bra. She’d barely noticed until her breasts were suddenly loose. He slipped the straps off her shoulders and tossed it aside. Then he gathered her in his arms again, kissing her.
She could have cried at the feeling of his hot skin against hers it was so delicious. Instinctively she went for the belt around his slacks, but she fumbled and felt foolish. “Lance I—"
His hands stilled hers. She moved back and looked at him. “It’s okay. I’ll do that. Sit down. Watch.”
The command was soft and urging and sent a static pulse through her the likes she’d never known.
She was way too nervous and scared to manage his belt and because her hands were shaking, he instantly noticed, and again, was easing her discomfort.
She couldn’t possibly resist even if she wanted to.
She sat on the side of the bed feeling vulnerable at her nakedness and excited of what was to come.
Soon her embarrassment that was forgotten as Lance undid the belt and slipped out of his pants, kicking them aside.
Watch. His legs were just as muscular as the rest of him.
It was no wonder he filled out jeans so well.
Her eyes moved over him slowly, soaking up every beautiful inch of him.
Yes, she was a nurse, but she’d not seen anything as desirable as the man standing in front of her.
“I can take it from here. Tell me to stop if you wish.”
Are you kidding me? “I don’t want to,” she breathed, taking in the sight of him.
He seemed pleased with her answer. Then he stepped up to her sticking his thumb in the waistband of his underwear. “Take them off.”