Pure Temptation & Old Enough to Know Better: Pure Temptation / Old Enough To Know Better

His voice was hoarse. “It was a dream. You can’t put dreams up against the real thing.”

Disappointment shot through her. “Then it wasn’t nice.”

“No, it wasn’t nice. It was wild and primitive, no holds barred. I bit your neck and you dug your fingernails into my back. It was…fantastic.”

“Wow.” She wondered what he’d think if he knew how her body was throbbing this very minute. Being thrown to the ground and ravished sounded perfect. She loosened her grip when she realized she might already be digging her nails into his hand.

He released her hand and turned on his side to face her. “I don’t want you to be scared by that description, Tess. I would never be that rough in real life.”

She turned on her side, too, pillowing her head on her arm. But her casual posture belied her racing heart. “Too bad.”

He sucked in his breath. “You’d want that?”

“Would I want you to be so overcome with desire that you’d pull me from my horse and make love to me on the ground? Of course I would. But as you said, it was a dream. In real life—”

“In real life I want you even more than that.”

She gasped. “You do?”

He lifted a hand to her cheek, and as he caressed her, his hand trembled. “In real life, I want to rip that dress away and take you now, right now. But I won’t. It wouldn’t be fair to you.”

“It would so be fair!”

His laugh sounded strained. “No, it wouldn’t.”

She’d never heard that edgy tone in his voice, and it was more exciting than the tenderest of murmurs. She almost wished he would be that reckless, but of course he wouldn’t, which was why she was lying here with him now. She trusted him. “But taking it slow doesn’t seem fair to you,” she said.

He slid his hand to the nape of her neck, massaging gently. “Fair doesn’t even come into it. I never imagined I’d be lying here with you like this. It’s like getting a present I didn’t have sense enough to know I wanted.” He fingered the clasp of her necklace. “What made you decide to wear this tonight?”

“It seemed right.”

“It was,” he murmured. His lips found hers and his kiss soon brought her to a fever pitch.

She didn’t realize he’d begun unzipping her dress until the material loosened over her breasts and he drew back slightly, gently ending the kiss. She opened her eyes. His face was in shadow, but she could see the rapid rise and fall of his chest as he eased the zipper the rest of the way down.

“Stop me whenever you want,” he said in a husky voice.

“I don’t want to stop you.” Her heart pounded as the thin strap of her dress dropped from her shoulder.

“Just know that you can.” He took the strap carefully between his fingers and pulled it down, bringing the bodice of the dress with it, gradually exposing her breast. His breath caught. “Oh, Tess.” He eased her to her back and expertly drew the dress down to her waist. Then he groaned and shook his head.

“What are you thinking?”

“That you’re even more beautiful than in my dream. And that you’ve been right there, all along….”

Her mouth moistened with desire. “All covered up.”

“Yeah. Damn. All these years.”

“Aren’t you going to…touch me?”

“I’m still caught up in looking.” But at last he traced the aureole of one nipple, causing it to tighten even more. Then he cupped her so tenderly, so carefully, that she felt like precious china. She loved being cherished, but she wanted more. Perhaps she needed to show him. Arching her back, she pressed forward, filling his cupped palm.

“Ah, Tess.” Taking a shaky breath, he dipped his head and brought her tight, aching nipple into his mouth.

Yes. She cupped the back of his head and lifted into his caress. Oh, yes. His was the touch she’d been waiting for—the swirl of his tongue, the nip of his teeth, the sweet pressure as he sucked, nursing the flames that licked at the tender spot between her thighs. Shamelessly she offered her other breast, and he lavished the same loving attention there while continuing to give a sweet massage to the damp nipple he’d just left.

As she twisted on the soft blanket, her skirt rode up. Or maybe he pushed it up, in that subtle way he had of making her clothes disappear. He slipped his hand between her thighs, pressing against the damp silk of her panties. The heel of his hand found the spot that ached, and pushed down. She trembled.

He kissed his way back to her mouth, then lifted a fraction away from her lips. “Do you want me to stop?”

“No,” she said, panting. “But I don’t… I’ve never…”

He paused, breathing heavily, too. “No man has ever had his hand there?”

“They didn’t dare.”

He leaned his forehead against hers. “But you must have done this…yourself.”

“No, I—read about it.”

“Not the same.”

“I know but—promise not to laugh—I didn’t want to be alone when it happened.”

“Oh, sweetheart.” He didn’t laugh. Instead, he tenderly kissed her forehead, her nose, her cheeks, and finally her lips. “You’re not alone now,” he whispered between kisses.

And sometime in the midst of those bewitching kisses, he eased his hand beneath the waistband of her panties. When she felt his fingers slip through her damp curls, she gasped.

His hand stilled and he lifted his mouth away from hers. “Is that a no?”

She began to quiver and fought the urge to press her thighs together. His hand resting there felt wonderful, but frightening, too. “Just a…reaction.”

“Should I stop?”

“No. But Mac, this is so personal.”

“Yes, ma’am.” There was a definite smile in his voice. “About as personal as you can get.” He eased his hand down and began a slow massage.

Breathing became more difficult as her body responded to that easy stroke. “At least…it’s almost completely dark.”

“That can help. The first time.”

She felt as if he was transforming her into a liquid, flowing state. “What if I make a fool of myself?”

“I hope you do.”

“I hope I don’t. You’ll never let me forget it.” She gasped again as one of his very talented fingers sought out the sensitive nub that sent shivers zinging through her.