Cougar in Texas: 3 (Rugged and Risque) (5 page)

She did before he even leaned in. “I already know. Not sure how it’s gonna go, but… I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want one night with you. I swear I thought I’d never be attracted to anyone ever again. I don’t want to ignore it.”

His eyes narrowed on her. “One night?”

With another nod, she said, “You were right. Neither one of us is interested in emotional entanglements.”

Rubbing his thumb against his jaw helped to loosen it. “I’m not into that, Reese. If this spark between us is real, I’m not going to pretend it isn’t. And I’m sure as hell not going to use you to scratch an itch.”

She frowned. “But you said we both have issues to work through and—”

“I also said sometimes you have to jump off a cliff. It’s entirely possible there’s a reason we responded so quickly and easily to each other.”

Shaking her head, she said, “I can’t travel that path with you, Caleb. I know what it’s like to be emotionally devastated and I can’t take that chance again.”

Clearly, she had no idea that she’d already started down the path with him. She’d shared the humiliation of her divorce and he’d told her of his dream. He’d been introduced to her friends. They’d danced together, holding each other intimately. And their kisses… They hadn’t just been filled with passion. He’d read plenty into her wants and desires and he knew he’d conveyed his own needs.

But he understood her trepidation. She had valid concerns. So did he—because he was damn certain one night with her would not be enough. And juggling a new romance and a new business venture at the same time would not be a walk in the park.

Yet every grand plan had its hiccups. This was a very enticing one. He was up for the challenge both undertakings presented.

Finally he told her, “I’m not going to deny I want you. From about the moment I laid eyes on you. Maybe it was the flour on your face or how forthcoming you were from the start. Maybe it was the pie.” He winked at her and she laughed softly. “I don’t know. I’m not supposed to know. Chemistry is mystical and should stay that way. Whatever the catalyst, when I saw you at Pietro’s I kinda thought it was fate lending a hand. Would it really be so bad if there’s more between us than physical attraction?”

* * * * *

Reese’s teeth clamped down on her lower lip to keep it from trembling.

What woman on the planet wouldn’t want to hear words as magical as Caleb’s, especially when delivered by such a gorgeous, dynamic and sensitive man? One who had more finesse, ambition and emotional depth in his pinky than Tommy had in his entire body. She’d spent eleven years with a husband who’d merely regarded her as a meal ticket because she’d had insurance money from her parents’ deaths.
Had
being the operative word, since he’d wasted little time spending the remainder of the settlement after she’d put a down payment on the B&B.

Caleb clearly wasn’t looking to take advantage of her in any way. In fact, she’d never experienced the sort of common ground she felt with him. As though they were both on the same page, both struggling with their own conflicts, yet still somehow open to new possibilities.

At least, she
wanted
to be open to new possibilities. Who had she become that she no longer believed in a genuine connection with a man? Or that she didn’t deserve a second chance at love?

Not that she wanted to get ahead of herself in the scenario. Yes, they had established an earnest bond from the get-go. Yet it was still wise to tread lightly.

At the same time… To simply close the door because he’d hinted at wanting to keep it open in case they really and truly did have potential beyond a one-night stand…? What kind of fool would that make her?

Ten kinds of one, she decided.

Despite her lingering reservations over the age difference, she stepped off the cliff with him.

“Get me out of this seatbelt,” she said, “and we’ll see what’s what.”

He worked the latch until it released. Then he came around to her side and opened her door. Reese’s stomach tightened at the prospect of following through on their unexpected interlude. But then he took her by the hand and it caused her pussy to pick up that insistent throbbing again, telling her it was time to let go of her devastation and experience passion once again.

She suspected Caleb would blow her mind in the bedroom. He’d already done it outside of those four walls, so how could he not rock her world between the sheets?

A wicked thrill chased down her spine, making her shiver.

“You’re nervous.”

“No,” she said without hesitation. “Not at all. I’m actually… I don’t know. I haven’t sorted all of this out in my mind yet.”

There was no denying her body was in desperate need of him. And vain as it was to admit, her ego could certainly use the boost—so maybe it wasn’t such a bad thing he was five years younger than her. Yet she wondered if Caleb would find her needy. In fact, now that she thought of it, she feared he might just be taking pity on her, since he knew her romantic woes. At the same time…he really seemed like a genuine man. It was difficult to doubt the merit behind his good intentions.

They rounded the side of the porch and took the steps up to the painted, white wood platform. She let them in the front door with her key and he closed it behind them. She’d left a light on in the foyer that created a soft golden glow. When he turned to face her, grinning sexily at her, her heart fluttered and she had a small epiphany.

“I like everything you’ve said so far. Which makes my earlier proposition seem tawdry.”

“I wasn’t thinking of it like that. But if you’ve changed your mind…”

“I’m withdrawing the suggestion for the evening, if that’s okay. Why don’t we have dinner here tomorrow night? I’ll cook.”

He shoved his hands into his front pockets, his smile widening. “I can’t complain about that. Do I still get to kiss you goodnight?”

“I’d be extremely disappointed if you didn’t.”

He groaned. “‘Extremely’, huh?”

“
Devastated
.”

His laugh filled the entryway. “Now you’re being a smartass.” He reached for her and his mouth sealed to hers.

Reese could have very easily died and gone to heaven at that moment.
Every
time he kissed her, actually. His tongue delved deep and tangled with hers. His arms tightened around her, their bodies pressed together. Her fingers twisted in his thick hair. Fire roared through her body.

When he eventually pulled away, he sounded as breathless as she felt. “Darlin’, that’ll lead us straight to the bedroom.”

Such a tempting thought! But he wasn’t looking for a one-night stand and she’d realized she wasn’t either. Which meant dialing down her desire a notch or two wasn’t such a bad idea so they could get a handle on what was transpiring between them.

Yet, despite her internal rationalization, she remained in his loose embrace. “Actually, I was just thinking…there’s no harm in kissing, right?” She was already addicted, what could she say?

He smirked. “Trying to test my willpower?”

“I have as much at stake.”

Unexpectedly, he scooped her up in his arms, causing a little
eep
to squeak out between her parted lips. But she liked how territorial, yet romantic the gesture seemed. He carried her across the hardwood floor to his suite.

Thinking of the poignant moment they reached when they passed over the threshold of his door, she said, “I can pretend to be a prude about this, but that would be false. You know my story and I believe wholeheartedly you’re telling me the truth—that you’re not a player.” She curled her fingers around the soft material at the opening of his shirt. “I didn’t think I’d want this ever again because it’s so dangerous. But you’re different.”

“Yes, I am,” he said, his gaze locked with hers. “I promise.”

A thrill chased down her spine at the notion. A flickering flame against her clit made her deliciously uncomfortable. And the tightening of her nipples added to her heightened arousal.

His mouth was on hers in the next instant. His tongue swept over hers and lightning bolts seemed to zap all of her erogenous zones. She felt the prickle of desire against her pulse points more acutely than ever before. Along with the insane urge to claw at the man holding her, shredding his shirt and stripping him bare.

Tearing her mouth from his, she stared at him as her mind reeled. Her breath was ragged as she said, “Good Lord. That was one hell of a kiss.”

“I don’t think we’re capable of
sweet
ones.”

Her laugh sounded strained, likely because her body was on fire. “I’m not going to live that down, am I?”

“Just motivates me to make different adjectives pop into your mind.”

“With you, that’s not a problem, I assure you.”

He placed her in the middle of the bed. Thin rays of silver streamed in through the cracks in the blinds, providing just enough light so she could see the hard set of his jaw and the heat in his eyes.

“God, I want you,” he said in a gruff voice that caused her cunt to clench again.

He hovered over her and she gripped his biceps, pulling him down to her. He settled between her parted legs and his upper body pressed lightly to hers, because he used a forearm to keep himself partially propped up.

“And here I thought I’d never feel a man’s weight on me again,” she said on a happy sigh.

He brushed strands of hair from her face. “You’re much too beautiful and fascinating to be resigned to lonesomeness.”

“Seemed inevitable.”

Staring down at her, he said, “Guess this is a case of one man’s idiocy being another man’s good fortune.”

“Don’t count your four-leaf clovers yet. I could turn out to be a real disappointment.”

“Not a chance.” His mouth covered hers. He kissed her in that slow, sexy way that lit her insides and made her hot and restless in a heartbeat.

She wound her arms around his neck and returned the kiss with equal fervor. A moan lodged in her throat.

When his mouth slid away from hers, it trailed over her jaw and down her neck. Against her skin, he whispered, “I want you in ways I’ve never given much thought to before I had you in my arms on the dance floor.”

The moan escaped on a sharp breath. “You say all the right things.”

He let out a low grunt. “Reese,” he murmured. “You have no idea what you do to me.”

He kissed her and his hand slipped under her sweater and tank top. His warm skin on her quivering flesh was enough to make her squirm beneath him. The intensely erotic kiss he gave her evoked more fiery sensations within her. She arched her back in her quest to get closer to him, until she was clinging to him, bowing off the bed to meld their bodies together.

He finally gave up on the careful hovering and pressed her against the mattress, covering her with his hunky frame. She’d never been so overwhelmed with passion and relief, finding precisely what she’d been in need of for so long.

Him.

No ordinary man could bring her passion back to life. He engaged her on so many levels. Tugged at her heartstrings with his generous professional cause. Captivated her with his casual, personable nature. Excited her with his playful winks, scorching kisses and confident touches.

She wove her fingers through his thick hair as he drew her into another searing lip-lock. The hand under her sweater eased upward to palm her breast. He gave it a gentle squeeze that jolted her. The throbbing deep in her pussy became insistent and demanding.

His thumb swept over her nipple, the lacy cup of her bra adding a hint of friction that accompanied the warmth of his touch. A powerful craving gripped her. She raised her hips and rubbed her mound against his erection. His hand shifted from her breast to her ass. He cupped a cheek and pressed her more firmly against his cock. The denim covering them was barely noticeable. She felt his heat and his rigid shaft against the sensitive apex of her legs.

Finally breaking their kiss and releasing her, he unbuttoned her sweater and she wiggled out of it. He pulled the tank top over her head and tossed it aside. Wanting to feel his muscles and skin against hers, she deftly worked the buttons on his shirt and discarded the material. Her hands moved over his wide chest, then down the rigid grooves of his abdomen. He was magnificently built. And she wanted him.

So much for just kissing.

“You are quite the sight to behold,” she told him.

His head dipped and his tongue flicked over her hard nipple, dampening the lace and teasing the taut peak tighter.

Lust and exhilaration coursed through her, deeply intensified when he whisked away the cup of her bra and tucked it under her breast, exposing her flesh. His lips closed around her puckered nipple and he sucked softly, then tongued aggressively.

“Caleb.” She writhed beneath him.

His head lifted and he kissed her. His hand moved to her other breast and he toyed with the nipple, rolling and pinching it with the kind of finesse he seemed to apply to everything else in his life.

She responded innately, loving the feeling of his hands on her body. And his mouth on hers.

When they came up for air, he rolled onto his back, taking her with him. She straddled his lap. He pushed away her shoulder-length tresses, sweeping them from her face. He sat up and wrapped his arms around her waist.