‘No?’ He couldn’t hide his surprise. All those cities, all that success. Surely she’d been surrounded by talented chefs and wealthy suitors who deserved her far more than he did; someone who would sweep her off her feet with gifts and charm and talent, all things he decidedly lacked. ‘No culinary flings?’
She shook her head. ‘My experience was more likeHell’s Kitchen.’
His thumb traced careful circles into her hipbone. ‘We don’t have to do anything you don’t want to. Say the word and I’ll back off.’
She tilted her head, considering, then dragged her palm over his erection with leisurely intention. Teasing. His lids fluttered closed, stomach tightening to something unbearable. A huff rolled from him without permission.
‘I want to,’ she said. ‘I want you to touch me.’
And God, he wanted to. With more urgency, he tugged at the hem of her T-shirt, caressing the peak of her belly as he supped on her collarbone. Her head fell back, legs tightening. As good as it felt to have her wrapped around him, he wanted access, and eased her down to battle with the stiff button of her jeans.
‘Jesus, these weren’t made for impatient men like me,’ he cursed, fumbling over the zip. When he reunited with her simple underwear, he grinned. ‘Hello, again.’
Laughter rippled through her, face turning redder behind her hands. He almost loved that bashfulness as much as he did her moans. ‘Stop!’
Struan pried her hands away. ‘Don’t hide. I want to see you.’
So she didn’t, and for a long moment, he could only drink her in with quiet awe while tracing the outer seam of her thighs, her calves, right down to her ankles, watching every tiny reaction, listening for every catch in her throat, memorising every subtle twitch. He wanted to make sure he knew exactly how and where to touch her.
She squirmed, but he wasn’t done playing yet. From the basket, he crushed a berry between his fingers and lathered the pulp over the inside of her thigh.
Rae’s eyes widened as he dipped to chase the juice away with his tongue. His nose brushed her core, causing her to quiver against him.
‘Struan…’
He did it again, this time letting the berry drip over the elastic edge of her knickers, where dark hair crept out. It was the hottest thing he’d ever seen, and it took every drop of self-restraint not to tug that underwear down and ravish her immediately. He was used to adrenaline pulsing through him, but where it usually focused his mind, now it made him dizzy, like he’d walked into a kaleidoscope where the pink sky and green fields stretched on in shimmering mosaics as far as the eye could see and he couldn’t figure out which way was up.
When he nuzzled into the crease of her groin to lap at the juice,he was rewarded with a whimper. With the way his scalp tingled as she threaded her hands through his hair, he wasn’t sure he’d ever want to cut it again. Not if it meant more of this.
‘If it’s been a while,’ he murmured against her core, ‘I’ll have to make sure it’s good.’
‘Then get on with it,’ she urged.
He laughed, nudging the already damp cotton aside. ‘Look at this… Already so wet. Is it all for me?’
‘Do you provide a running commentary forallof the women you take to bed?’
All.Did she think she was just one of many?
Gently, he parted her folds, intoxicated by the sight of her pussy glistening and ready. ‘So many assumptions, Rae. It’s hard not to take offence.’
‘Are they wrong?’
He met her gaze and said, ‘Yes.’
And then he swirled his thumb over her clit with just enough pressure to make her hips buck. She braced herself on her elbows, panting as she watched. ‘Don’t stop. Fuck, don’t stop, Struan.’
‘Wouldn’t dream of it.’ He increased his pace, teasing her opening until she was arching off the picnic blanket. It was mesmerising, watching her lids close, body tremble, as she chased the pleasure, her pretty mouth shaped around a silent keen like the centre of a rose.
Tension creased her features moments later, fingers balling into her palms. ‘It sometimes… takes me a while. I don’t always get there.’
It awoke a new determination in him, a need to see her fall apart. ‘Then I’ll have to use a different tactic.’
He spread her legs, plunging a finger inside her while his thumb remained on her clit. With his free hand, he toyed with her breast, and then, when he saw her dark nipple pebble under her T-shirt, sucked it through the fabric.
‘Struan.’ She ground down onto him in a plea for more. He added another finger, her slippery walls clenching around him.
‘That’s it. I’ll get you there,’ he promised. ‘You’re so gorgeous, Rae. So fucking sweet.’
