Nora Roberts Land (28 page)

His humor couldn’t produce a laugh in her. She twisted her hands, not knowing what to do.

Twigs sparked and crackled as the fire came to life. He stepped toward her.

“God, you’re beautiful.” He touched a strand of her hair delicately. “I can’t look at a fire now without thinking of this. It’s so much better than the blond.”

She narrowed her eyes. “How did you know I was blond?”

His fingers released the lock. “I saw a picture.” He cleared his throat, looking away. “Let’s get you out of these recon clothes.”

When he tugged her shirt off, his eyes goggled. “Holy shit,” he muttered with reverence—exactly the reaction she’d prayed for. His hands cupped the black-and-white-striped bustier. “Of all the things to wear for our little breaking and entering…”

Her ice-breaker worked. She chuckled. “I figured that the prison theme would be fitting if we ended up in jail.”

He fingered the black lace edging. “I wouldn’t have let that happen.”

“Good to know.” She moved closer, hoping the connection would silence her mind.
Will I please him? Will I be enough?

He touched the swell of her breasts and ran his hands down the front eye clasps of her bustier. “Do you always wear this fancy stuff?”

She wanted to press his hands to her chest. Why did he have to talk so much? “No. It’s part of my new…persona.”

He rubbed the material. Her nipples tightened. Take it off, she wanted to demand.

“Should I ask why?” He nudged her backwards. Finally! The right direction.

“No.”

“Good, I don’t want to be distracted.” He framed her ribs in his big hands. “Christ, you look like one of those underwear models.”

She snorted.

He tipped her chin up again, making her meet his eyes, all dark and smoky with desire. “You calling me a liar?”

She fidgeted. “It’s…an overstatement.”

His face gentled as he caressed her cheek. “He really did a number on you, didn’t he? Meredith, your ex is an idiot and an asshole. He didn’t deserve you. And I’m glad he’s a prick.”

“Why?”

His smile warmed her heart. “Because you’re here with me, and you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. Now, let me show you.”

He lifted her mouth to his, and her heart swelled as he touched her. Yes, this was what she’d been waiting for.

He took his time, sipping at her lips until she grabbed his hair, pulled him closer, and opened her mouth. Then the kiss went crazy. His tongue met hers, lighting all the matches inside her. She tugged on his bottom lip and reached for his fleece, tugging it over his head. He helped her, and when she pulled at his shirt, he jerked that over his head too. The sight of his bare chest made her mouth go dry. She ran her fingers down the arrow of hair on his belly and reached for the zipper of his black pants. If he knew the fantasies she’d had…

“Oh, God, not yet.” He set her hands aside. “I lied earlier. I’m not made of stone.”

He cupped her breasts, his thumbs rubbing her nipples. Her head fell back. God, his touch made her body hum. She wanted to belt out an
alleluia.
She could still feel this way. When he put his mouth to her neck, she moaned from sheer desperation.

“You have no idea how much I want you.” He flicked his tongue against her ear lobe.

“I want you more.” She clutched his waist.

He kissed her again, guiding her deeper into the dark longings of her body. The intensity of their connection shocked her. She knew he could take her places she’d never been. The woman inside broke free of the last chains holding her in check. She undid her pants and kicked them free. When she sat back on the bed, she held out her hand. It was time to take back her womanhood and put the past in the past.

“Make love to me, Tanner.”

He peeled his pants off, stealing her breath away. The man’s body was star quality. He settled between her legs, kissing his way down her neck to her breasts. She fell back, her eyes closing as he took her breast into his mouth through her bustier. Her back arched, her hands tangling in his hair.

“Take it off,” she finally demanded.

He leaned back and tugged. “I’ve gone all thumbs, it seems.”

She was past the point of laughing. His hips pressed into her as she propped herself up, and she could feel his hard length against her. He wasn’t lying. He did want her. Feminine power coursed through her. She threw the bustier aside and pulled his head to her breast. The touch of his mouth had her body tightening, readying for him.

God, it had been so long since she’d felt anything like this. Hot, steamy, wet, and wanted. She couldn’t remember feeling more.

She turned into one long line of electrified sensation. Her body focused on the feel of his warm, wet mouth. When he kissed her belly and tugged off her underwear, she trailed her fingers down to his black briefs. He set her hand aside.

“Not yet,” he murmured darkly, kissing her thigh. “I want you as hot as I am.”

She thought she couldn’t get much hotter, but she was wrong. Before she’d rather dreaded this part, but with him, it was intense. Perfect. His mouth made her legs open wider. His tongue made her hips lift off the bed. He knew exactly where to touch, and how she needed it.

He was a sorcerer who trailed his magic across her body and sent her over the edge. She was panting when she opened her eyes. He kissed her belly.

“I want to be inside you,” he rasped.

Her feelings overwhelmed her. She couldn’t speak, so she raised her leg and rubbed it against his back, that gorgeous line of muscles that made her insides quake. He riffled in the bedside stand and drew out a condom. She reached to help him.

“I’m doing my best to make this last. If you touch me, that’ll be it.”

He pressed slowly inside, drawing up her legs. She was tight. He was gentle. Their groans mixed together as the fire crackled. He didn’t rush. Simply slid forward until he was firmly embedded, letting her adjust to his size.

“God,” he hissed, his breath warm on her face. “Open your eyes, Meredith.”

She struggled to surface, the desire raging so hot she was sure she’d turn to ash. His direct and heated gaze held a thousand promises. He would pleasure her, take care of her, protect her. Her heart shifted in her chest, and she cupped his neck, looking deep into his eyes.

“Take me. Now.”

His jaw clenched. He drew out and thrust back with long, powerful strokes. She met them with equal force. He watched her face, noting her every expression.

She’d never experienced anything so intimate. When she broke his gaze, he called her name, beckoning her back. He moved deeper, keeping those intense chocolate brown eyes fixed on her face, his lower body calling forth more passion from her than she’d ever imagined.

He kept the rhythm steady until he took her mouth in his. The kiss was deeper, wetter, and hotter than any they’d shared before. It snapped his control. He leaned back and thrust harder, faster. She wrapped her legs around his waist as he drove into her, groaning, sweat coating his back. His arms corded with effort as they rested beside her head.

She pressed against him, needing more, wanting him to fill up every space inside her.

“Now,” he cried, shifting his body against her core with a movement so primal her hands clenched his butt to hold him in place.

The pressure was perfect. She surged into him, falling like she was skiing off a mountain. She cried out, locking her legs harder around his waist as everything exploded.

He threw his head back, his whole frame clenching.

Her release raged on and on. Bright spots shone behind her eyes. Her skin burned. Her legs loosened from his waist and fell to the side.

Tanner pressed his face into her neck, his labored breath hot against her skin. Her hands slid off his back. She lay under him stunned, save for the continued pulses where their bodies were joined together. Even passed out against her, he didn’t crush her. He cherished her.

Like she mattered.

She’d never imagined she might have this again.

Her heart warmed, beating hard and fast, melting the blocks of ice she’d erected around it. Old hurt, relief, and a whole mix of messy emotions rushed up from her chest to her throat. She bit her lip at the sudden urge to cry.

He pressed a gentle kiss to her neck, his hot breath melting away more ice.

A horrible sound popped out of her mouth. A tear slid down. Then two. She tried to push her emotions away, but she was as vulnerable to them as she was to him.

A sob erupted. Her chest shook.

He stirred. His hair was mussed and slightly sweaty. “Hey.” He pushed hair back from her forehead.

Her face flushed with heat. “I’m…sorry. Oh, God. I can’t believe…I’m crying. It’s just… I never thought…”

“What, honey?” His gentle voice undid her.

“I never thought…I’d have
this
again.”

His throat moved as he swallowed. “Well, welcome back.”

He pulled her close and held her while she cried out all the fear, relief, and hurt she’d built up about not being wanted, not being fulfilled.

When she sniffed and wiped her tears with the sheet, she took his face in her hands. “Thank you, Tanner.”

Those intense eyes didn’t blink. “You’re a brave woman, Meredith Hale. I’m glad I could see how much.”

“I didn’t freak you out by crying?”

His mouth twisted. “First time I got back into a convoy after the guy sitting next to me died when we hit an IED was one of the hardest days of my life. The minute I got back to my room, my knees gave out. I could have cried like a baby. It’s not the same, but I get it.”

She had to bite her lip again when more tears rose up in her eyes—this time from his story. She decided they needed some levity “Breaking and entering and making love again. It’s been a record night.”

He smiled, eyes crinkling. “I’m going to have stick you in a trunk more often. If this gets any better, I’m going to have a heart attack.”

“So you were…” She gestured with her hands.

Tanner tilted his head to the side. “You didn’t think your ex cheating on you meant you weren’t good in bed, did you?”

Her breath froze in her chest.

His mouth twisted. “Did he tell you that was the reason?”

“He said…I wasn’t as responsive or adventurous as he’d like.”

“He’s a prick, remember?”

“Right.” She smiled. “Prick. Asshole. Dickhead.”

“Exactly.” He laid his lips on hers, a mere brush, but resplendent with tenderness. “You were perfect. I’ll be right back.”

He shoved away and stumbled. Her mouth curved. Delight overtook the…whatever that other stuff was. He was walking like a drunk. Well, she felt a little drunk herself. She rubbed her raw throat. He walked back in naked with two water bottles in his hand.

“You read my mind.” She twisted the lid, wanting to settle her emotions. When she reached for the bedspread, he stopped her.

“No, I want to look at you.”

She gazed at the fire and drank her water, her skin tightening at his regard.

“You’re so beautiful.”

Her head turned. He drank heartily from the bottle. The action was so masculine that it made her body tingle.

“You’re not so bad yourself.”

He polished off the water and set it aside. “For a Lost Chippendale?”

The banter helped. “I can’t believe Jill put that on her Facebook page.”

When he pulled her onto his body, she nearly purred. Taking back her womanhood wasn’t a one-time thing. Her mind spun with all the ways she was going to enjoy this gorgeous, wonderful man. Whoa! She really was falling for him. She rested her hands on his ribs.

He smoothed his hand down her back, igniting fire like a trail of lit gunpowder. “What’s it going to say tomorrow? ‘Lost Chippendale Takes Local Mermaid to Bed’?”

She snorted. “Aren’t you funny?”

“Well, I feel pretty good right now,” he said, fitting her against his hard angles.

She settled her head on his chest, listening to his heart. “Do you want me to go?” she made herself ask.

Raising her chin, he stared into her eyes. “No. Do you want to go?”

Feathering back a stray lock on his forehead seemed like a good distraction. He was too observant as it was. He didn’t need to know how hard it had been for her to ask him that. She leaned forward until her mouth was inches away. “No.”

“Good, because I plan on making love to you in front of the fire, if you recall.” When he kissed her shoulder, she burrowed closer. “And then I’ll have to take you on a tour of my shower. It’s about the size of Jill’s living room. One of those new rainforest things. A far cry from Afghanistan.”

“I’m so glad you’re here and not there.”

“Me too.”

***

Tanner studied how the firelight brought out the orange and gold in Meredith’s hair. Her warm body lay supine against his. He wanted her again, but wouldn’t wake her now. He’d already made love to her twice.

As he’d told her, there was no turning back now.

He’d struggled with his conscience while he was walking the dog. Should he tell her the truth now? Perhaps it was rationalization, but he’d convinced himself to wait. Their…connection was too fragile. Her tears after they’d made love had shown him just how vulnerable she was. How could he ruin that trust so soon? Besides, he’d reasoned, he needed her help if he was going to solve Ray’s murder. If he told her about his involvement with Sommerville, she wouldn’t want anything to do with him, he suspected, and she’d try to pursue the case alone. He couldn’t protect her that way. Plus, he needed to focus on proving Jemma’s death wasn’t an accident.

But they were all lies.

He simply didn’t want to lose her. She mattered to him too goddamned much.

She thought she’d taken one step closer to writing her article tonight. Sommerville planned to blow her dreams to bits.

He had to find a way to stop him.

The thought stuck in his gut like a dagger. He’d have to tell her the truth and hope she’d forgive him. He wanted to keep her in his life. He gave up the fight, rolling her onto her back and sliding inside her.

She stretched in his arms and came awake slowly, rustling her legs against his. When he was pressed to the hilt, the liquid friction perfect, she opened her eyes.