Walking toward him, she left her shirt open but made no move to undress further. He must have known her plans because his eyes fired. “Have mercy, woman,” he said in a deeply guttural voice.
She fell to her knees before him and looked up. “Don’t worry. You can take it, cowboy.”
And he did, both of them enjoying his pleasure. When he’d finally loosened his hold on her head, he lifted her swiftly to her feet. “Your turn.”
After giving her a white-hot kiss that had her clutching him to her, he swung her up in his arms. Carrying her to the bed, he stripped her clothes off with quick, economical movements. “Now, you’re going to take everything I give you.”
He was a thorough man, a man of his word. By the time his mouth had traveled from her lips to her core, she was a moaning mass of sensation, and when she came, she reared up, seeking more of the pleasure only he could give her.
When she finally opened her eyes, he was there, waiting for her. Opening her legs wider, she made room for his body and welcomed the first deep thrust. He paused, holding still as their hearts throbbed in time with each other.
“God, I love you,” he rasped, dropping his forehead onto her shoulder. “I hope you know how much.”
She drew him closer, knowing this was when he was the most vulnerable, racked with so much love and want that it sometimes made you fear you were breaking apart. “I love you too. Now move.”
That had him lifting his head and giving her a sexy grin. “Yes, ma’am.”
He surged into her, watching her reaction, increasing his pace until he made her moan. She wrapped her legs around his hips and urged him on. Rolling onto his back, he let her set the pace. Her head dropped back as he gripped her hips. She rode him with love, like she could never get enough of him, and then she took him home. His hoarse shout had her smiling as he came, and then she let the waves of his release free her to another level of ecstasy.
Slumping onto his chest, she felt him gather her to his hot skin, wrapping her up as they trembled and pulsed in the aftermath. Nothing needed to be said. The moment was enough. It always was. This deep and powerful call of man and woman coming together in love.
“You alive?” he finally asked, tickling the side of her neck.
She swatted at him, moaning a little when her body moved against his in a way that sent another wave of desire through her. “More than. Ready for another round.”
He snorted. “Food first. I need all the fuel I can get with you. Hannah, it’s never been hotter.”
She slapped his beautiful behind as he lifted her and rolled off the bed for the picnic basket. They ate quickly before tangling up again, this time with Ben behind her calling the shots. She reveled in every second.
“I wish we had longer,” he said quietly after, kissing her neck. “Stolen moments aren’t enough. I want to give you more?—”
“You do.” She turned in his arms and linked her arms around his neck. “Don’t you know? Every moment with you ismyslice of heaven.”
He kissed her slowly, cradling her face in his hands, filling her with all the love and tenderness in his heart as she did the same. When he edged back, he traced her cheek. “Think that will do for now?”
She knew when he needed a little lightness. Sometimes the journey of sharing body and soul took you outside your normal self. “I don’t know, cowboy. Ask me in an hour.”
A choked laugh was his reaction, and he kissed her swiftly in thanks. “I will. Now hustle on over to your corner and dress while I hustle over to mine.”
He packed up their leftovers and cleaned up before dressing swiftly as she did the same. “You peeking?” she teased.
“No, ma’am.” He smacked his lips. “Too much temptation. What about you?”
“I watched every inch of you.”
His groan had her sashaying across the small room. “All right, that’s all I can take right now. You keep your hands to yourself.”
She lifted a brow. “Me? Ben, I’m the soul of propriety.”
He muffled his laughter, although there was an amused gleam in his eyes. “Uh-huh. Come on. Let’s head back. Later, we’ll see about meeting up in the hayloft tonight.”
“Maybe the extra help can renovate the root cellar,” sheteased as he descended the ladder with the picnic basket in one hand.
She was aware of him below her, making sure she didn’t misplace a foot. Ben McAllister was always going to be protective. When she reached the ground, he put his arm around her waist as they walked to the horses.
“I’m glad we had this time.” He kissed the top of her head. “I felt a little guilty about being away with everyone over to help, but I told myself Cooper was having the time of his life and Will was in charge, not me. Sometimes I worry about casting too big a shadow.”
As she looked at him in the dappled sunlight, her heart swelled in her chest. That he understood how he had that power and wanted to make sure Will had his own place to be his own man… “You’re one of the good ones, Ben McAllister.”
