"I think you heard me."
"I thought we had more ‘talking' to do, Mr. Grainger."
"We do. But it's a very special kind of talking," he said, giving her a smile so charming she felt it all the way down to her toes.
She broke eye contact and hurried away, into the kitchen.
"Coffee will take only a few minutes. Make yourself comfortable." Jen was amazed at how calm and composed she sounded, when what she was feeling was confused and, yes, so turned on she could hardly breathe.
She spilled coffee grounds from the measuring spoon as her trembling fingers dumped them into the basket. She also spilled a few drops of water as she poured the water into the well.
Damn, she thought, what was it about Marsh that could rattle her so easily? Okay, he was handsome in a rough-hewn, chiseled way. But he was too arrogant and full of himself. His reputation with women was less than sterling, a living, breathing bad boy.
Except in his case he was most definitely a man.
She had read somewhere that every woman wanted to be the one to tame a bad boy. At the time, Jen had expelled a very unladylike snort of derision.
Yeah, she had thought at the time, that was what she lived for-being one of whatever number of eager females in line to tame a bad boy.
Why would any woman think that-after who knew how many a womanizer had been with before-she would be the one to bring him to heel and keep him there? More to the point, Jen mused, why would she want to?
If he's as hot as Marsh... said a little voice in her head.
Had Marsh Grainger managed to change her stance on bad boys?
"Coffee ready?"
Jen jumped but managed to swallow the yelp of surprise that sprang to her lips.
Marsh was standing behind her, close, too close. She gathered her composure as she drew a quick breath.
"Yes." Jen was satisfied with the even tone she had managed. "It only takes a few minutes for-" She stiffened, her voice cutting off completely. He had lifted her long hair away from her shoulder.
"What are you doing?"
Brilliant. She knew exactly what he was doing.
"Smelling you," he murmured, slowly inhaling her scent. "You smell good."
The tip of his tongue touched the sensitive skin near the back of her ear. She grew cold, and then hot. "M...Marsh?"
"You taste good, too." His tongue slid the length of her neck to the curve of her shoulder.
Jen gasped as suddenly he turned her around to face him. "Marsh...you... I..."
"I want you, Jennifer. I've wanted you since I set eyes on you and that kiss only made me want you more." Lowering his head he brushed her mouth with his, gliding his tongue along her bottom lip. "And I think you want me, too."
"I...I don't... Oh!" She trembled as he moved, pressing his body to hers. "You shouldn't..."
He did. Cradling her face with his hands, he again touched his mouth to hers. His kiss was gentle, sweet, soft.
Knowing she should resist, push him back, away from her overheating body, Jen instead surrendered to the neediness gnawing inside her. Curling her arms around his taut shoulders, she gave up her mouth to him.
Marsh took her mouth, owned it, claimed it with the thrust of his tongue, and in that instant she was his. Bad boy or not.
So much for her brave words about resisting a womanizer. Too late...she was lost.
Later, Jen would wonder how they had managed to leave a trail of clothing from the kitchen to her bedroom without once breaking that kiss.
When at last he lifted his mouth from hers, they were both naked, heaving in deep breaths of air. Shivering, tiny hitches of breath still catching in her throat, Jen stared into his eyes, fascinated by the blaze of desire she found in their depths.
Without a word, Marsh tossed back the top sheet and puffy white comforter she had bought for her bed. Then he reached for her, gently settling her on the smooth white sheet in the center of the mattress, stretching his long, hard body next to her.
"I was going to ask you to put on that pretty little red nightgown you bought for tonight, but I think I like you better like this," he growled.
Jen felt herself turning bright red at the image of Marsh looking in that bag while she'd been in the kitchen making coffee. She wanted to insist that she hadn't bought the nightgown for tonight, but she wasn't sure if that was true or not. And it certainly didn't matter now.
Marsh caressed her jawline, outlined her lips with his fingers. His touch was so very gentle yet so very arousing. Jen lifted her head, inviting his kiss.
"Yes," he murmured, lowering his head to glide his tongue over her lips, then fusing his mouth to hers.
Jen loved the taste of him. His long, deepening kiss made her ache for more. She slid her free arm around his neck and thrust her fingers into his hair.
A low sound of pleasure whispered from her mouth into his when his left hand slowly moved from the curve of her neck to the curve of her breast. Leaving her mouth, his lips followed the path of his hand.
Jen was on fire inside. She moaned and arched her back when his tongue gently lashed the now hard tip of her breast. A moment later she arched her hips as his hand moved down her body to cup her mound before inserting one finger inside her. In the next instant, a soft cry spilled from her throat as he brushed his thumb over the most sensitive spot there.
In her mind, Jen saw herself as a flame, burning higher and higher just for him. She arched again, harder against his hand, into his teasing fingers.
Straightening his arm resting against the bed, Marsh moved his long body to cover hers, cradling himself between her thighs.
She could feel him, the length of him, the hardness of him nudging the entrance to her body. She moved in silent invitation for him to enter.
With one swift, deep thrust he was inside her, tightly, uncomfortably filling her.
Jen expelled an involuntary cry of pain as her body tensed and stiffened.
He froze in place, shock in his silvery eyes.
"What is it? Have I hurt you?" His voice was strained.
Before she could respond, he said in a tone of near disbelief, "Are you...a virgin?"
Jen's harsh breaths were beginning to ease. "No...no, I'm not a virgin." She drew a deep, calm breath. He began to withdraw. She grasped his hips with her hands, holding him in place. "No," she repeated, the tension now easing from her body.
"If I'm too big for you..." Concern colored his voice, not quite hiding a hint of disappointment.
"It's okay." She offered him a small smile. "I'm adjusting. It'll be all right." She curled her legs around his waist, holding him to her. "Just give me a moment."
"Okay," he agreed, his expression puzzled, his voice a little breathless. "You want to tell me what happened there?"
"It's been a while since I've been with a man, that's all," she said, adding with a little laugh, "and you're big."
"And you're tight," he said, desire flaring in his eyes.
Jen maintained his gaze, watching it change as she started to move her hips slowly, seductively against him. The flame inside her was quickly flaring to life again as her body relaxed, adjusting to the new sensation of the fullness of him.
Fleetingly, she recalled her painful though limited experience while still in college. In comparison to Marsh... In truth, there was no comparison. Wanting more, Jen moved against him, letting him know she was ready.
Exhaling a long sigh, Marsh began to move with her, his expression still wary but his body eager for hers. He began slow and easy, but with the urgent feel of her fingernails digging into his hips, he increased his tempo.
Faster. Deeper. More, more, Jen demanded with her body, claiming him as he claimed her. Tension tightened inside her, driving her wild. "Faster. Deeper." She didn't even realize she had cried aloud.
Marsh was with her, every literal inch of the way. It was building inside his body. Jen could feel him keeping pace with her, getting closer and closer to the edge. Her strained breaths were keeping time with his.
Gazing up at him-at the tautness of his face, at the tendons standing out in his arched neck-excited her, gave her the will to wait for him.
The world exploded for both of them. They cried out as if with one voice. Never in her life had Jen experienced anything so all-consuming, so carnal and beautiful, so completely fulfilling.
Easing his body down to hers, Marsh buried his face in the curve of her neck. Jen circled her arms around his sweat-slicked shoulders. Ever since that fumbling, inept jock in college, she had been afraid she could never experience the sheer pleasure she had heard about, read about in books. Her fears were the main reason she had tried so hard to keep her distance from men-from Marsh.