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Her hands skimmed every inch of his upper body. She took great pleasure in familiarizing herself with his six-pack, his solid pecs, and his muscular arms. His sharp intake of breath let her know she was on the right track. So far, he wasn't able to tell she hadn't done this before. She was sure of it.
His mouth returned to hers, and the kisses grew fervent. His lips possessed hers and silently demanded she meet his growing passion with her own. His tongue tasted and teased.
Without warning, his hands covered her breasts. The friction from her lacy bra moving against her sensitive nipples almost sent her over the edge. She wanted more. How could she tell him without saying the words? She leaned forward, pressing herself against his palms.
Instead of pinching the nipples the way she secretly desired, he reached around her and undid her bra. It fell loose around her arms. She quickly discarded the lacy scrap. His heated gaze caused her aroused flesh to tingle. No man had ever looked at her like that. After tonight, she wouldn't have to wonder if he found her attractive.
He cupped one of her breasts. His fingers brushed over the nipple, and she gasped. The sound she made seemed to spur him on. With one strong arm, he pulled her onto his lap so that she was straddling him. In an instant, his mouth replaced his fingers. He lavished the small nub with his tongue until it hardened to a pebble-like state.
“Are you sure about this?” he asked again.
“Shut up and make love to me.”
His fingers trailed along the waistband of her panties. She waited for him to dip below the material's edge, but he didn't do that. Instead, he laid her flat on the floor and kissed his way down her stomach. When he tugged on her panties, a wave of fear washed over her. It was now or never. She needed to tell him the truth before it was too late. She hoped it wouldn't change his mind about making love to her.
“I'm a virgin,” she blurted out.
He stiffened. “You're a WHAT?”
“Simon is the only guy I ever seriously dated, and we weren't in love, so we only kissed. Once.”
Jared launched to his feet. “I don't know how I feel about this.”
“Would you rather I was a slut that slept with every man I ever met?”
He sent her a glare. “Of course not. But I don't think I should be the one to take your virginity. You and I are only married on a temporary basis. We got married over a misunderstanding, and it was supposed to be in name only.”
She covered herself with the blanket, feeling humiliated. “If you don't want me, just say so.”
“I just don't want to take something precious from you. What if you meet someone in a few years and fall in love? Don't you think you might want him to be your first?”
Who was she going to meet on a Montana ranch over a hundred miles from the nearest town?
“I swear to you I will not regret giving myself to you.” She stood and allowed the blanket to drop. Fully nude except for lacy panties, she walked to him with a confidence she didn't totally feel. “Since I read my first romance novel and learned what it was to make love with a man, I dreamed it would be you. Even if you don't love me and even though this marriage is a sham, I want you to be my first.”
“What if reality can't live up to the fantasy you've had playing in your head because of those damn romance novels?”
Stunned, she hesitated. Once again, it was like he could see into her soul. She was also afraid it wouldn't live up to her fantasies, but she couldn't go on without knowing.
She pressed her naked body against his and kissed him with a possessive passion that surprised her. If it surprised him, he didn't show it. His arms went around her, and he kissed her breathless before sweeping her off her feet. She squeezed her eyes shut against a wave of dizziness.
Jared placed her on the carpet directly in front of the roaring fire and covered her body with his own. It didn't take long for her to realize the romance novels she'd read had been wrong. He was wrong, too. Reality was far sweeter than fantasy. Everything he did was perfect. He seemed to instinctively know where and how to touch her to bring her to the highest of heights. Making love with him was the most beautiful moment of her life.
If she could, she would live in this moment forever.
Chapter Eighteen
Beth woke to the knowledge something was wrong. Blissfully wrong. Strong arms had her wrapped in a cozy embrace, but she wasn't in her bed. The hard floor beneath her back and the cold air that hit her when the blanket fell away from her arm reminded her of last night's stunning event. Jared had made love to her in front of a roaring fire. She was in his arms.
And his nude body was still pressed against hers!
She froze—and not because of the weather.
Afraid to move a muscle and wake him because he might want to talk, she stayed still. She had no idea what to say to him. What did a girl say to a guy the day after she gave him her virginity? It would be so much better facing him in the light of day if she had her clothes on. Could she get up and dress without waking him?
Carefully, Beth eased up on her elbow.
His arms tightened and pulled her back down with him. It was too late. He was already awake. His lips pressed against the sensitive area behind her ear. “Morning,” he said.
