"We're almost there."
He swung the wheel and stepped on the accelerator. The truck roared down a long driveway, headlights bouncing off trees and grass before the glare picked out a long, ranch-style house with a wide veranda.
Joe brought the truck to an abrupt halt. They got out, and Joe grabbed her hand and led her into the house. As he flicked on a few lights, she saw a large sitting room with a stone fireplace and raked ceilings.
"So, this is where you live." The comfy armchairs, rugs, and rustic bric-a-brac gave the room a homely atmosphere. Joe's house looked like a cozy, unpretentious place where a person could relax. "Have you been here long?"
"About three years. I'll give you the guided tour later. Right now, there's only one room I want to show you."
Joe swung her into his arms and strode down the hallway. He kicked open a door, walked in, and set her slowly to her feet.
His bedroom. The lights were off, but through the window, faint moonlight spilled across the king-size bed that dominated the room. In the silence, Joe's breathing sounded deep and uneven.
"Joe." She pressed a hand to his chest. "This … this is just for fun, right?" Before they went any further, she needed to know they still agreed on this.
"Of course," he murmured. "No fuss, just pure fun."
He reached for her, and the night swelled and soared around her.
Chapter Six
Nina heard the little gasping noises escaping her lips. A small part of her marveled at how shameless she sounded, but most of her was too high on the pleasure of Joe's mouth on her to notice. He branded sizzling-hot kisses over her throat, ears, and cheeks before moving back to her lips. Lust unfurled in her as she twined her arms around his neck and returned his kisses, leaving nothing in reserve, showing him just how turned on she was.
As his tongue penetrated past her lips, the heat engulfing her arrowed straight for her center, and she wrapped one leg around him, eager to get closer to him. Pushing his hand under her skirt, Joe pulled her thigh tight around him and ground his hips against hers, the hard hump in his trousers fitting perfectly into the apex of her legs. Darkness swirled about her, heady with the scent of their musk. She ran her hands down his back and began to tug his shirt from his pants.
Joe's shoulders bunched up as his fingers got busy with her shirt. It had a tight fit and a long row of buttons.
"Don't want to tear your shirt," he said as he wrestled with the buttons.
Oh, that was sweet of him, trying to preserve her cheap shirt because he was under the impression she was poor. Her breasts ached for his touch, but she waited until he was done. Finally he pulled off her shirt along with her jacket and tossed them to the ground. The sight of her black bra made him pause.
"Oh, yeah. I like this." He ran a finger lightly over the lace trim, leaving her flesh burning.
Lava heat pounded in her breasts, gathered in a liquid pool between her legs. "Why are you waiting?" she breathed, legs trembling. "You've seen the goods before."
"I like seeing them wrapped up in a pretty package."
His eyes feasted on her as he drew his fingers over one bra cup and rested them against the peak. The way Joe ogled her breasts made her feel like a centerfold model. He curved his hands around her waist, found the zipper of her skirt, and made short work of it. The skirt fell around her feet with a soft whoosh.
Eek. Now he could see the plain beige panties she'd been forced to buy. She hadn't minded showing them when they'd jumped off the cliff, but now they were in his bedroom, and she wished she had her usual sexy silk thongs. Suddenly self-conscious, she crossed her hands over the bargain-basement panties.
"Hey, what're you trying to hide?" Joe tugged at her hands, grinning.
"Uh, the general store was fresh out of Victoria's Secret." She reluctantly allowed him to lift her hands away. "It was either this or great big granny panties."
Joe stared greedily at her panties, and then he brushed his palm over them, making her squirm. He chuckled low in his throat. "I can't believe you're embarrassed over this."
Shoot, she was in danger of giving herself away. Ordinary working-class people didn't get hung up because they weren't wearing expensive lingerie.
"I just want to look my best, Joe."
His eyes flared. "Sweet pea, you could make even granny panties look sexy."
"I'll have to test you out on that," she said, snickering.
He groaned. "You're testing me right now." Taking hold of both her hands, he eased them behind her back and lowered his head to her neck. "And I can't resist … " His lips worked their magic on her, and she became boneless with desire as his wide chest rubbed against hers.
Holding her wrists with one hand, he used his free hand to unfasten her bra and cast it aside. He cupped one breast and lowered his head to the other, his lips closing over her nipple. Taking his time, he sucked and stroked and played until she thought she might pass out with sheer pleasure. Moaning, she pushed her leg between his to get to his pulsing heat, and he responded by pressing his upper thigh hard against her mound. Sexual heat inundated her. Her flesh quivered, rippled, engorged, and before she knew it she was on the edge of a climax. But Joe, seeming to sense this, drew his leg away. She was so jellylike she would have collapsed if he hadn't been holding her.
"Joe," she whispered faintly. "You're testing my limits, too, you know."
His rich chuckle ruffled her hair. "But I haven't kissed you all over yet." He returned his attention to her breasts while his hands nudged inside her panties to knead her tight butt.
It wasn't fair that he still had his clothes on. She tried to tear off his shirt but the darn thing was too stubborn. Eventually Joe laughed at her impatience and pulled it off. Nina gulped in admiration as she ate up the sight of his muscled pectorals.
"You're gorgeous," she said as she coasted her hands across his chest, the dark hairs soft against her palm. She nuzzled his nipples and licked a path over his six-pack, breathing in the heady scent of Joe that was all vigorous, lusty male. As she gorged herself on him, she heard his sharp intake of air before he took charge again and lifted her face up to devour her mouth. Taking charge in the bedroom was his thing, she guessed, and she liked it. A whole lot. Somehow his autocratic behavior didn't rile her-instead, it turned her on. Right up to eleven.
While he was kissing her, he got rid of her panties. Now she was naked except for her cowboy boots. She went to pull them off, but Joe halted her.
"No, keep them on." He traced his hands over her thighs. "You look like a pinup for sexiest cowgirl of the year." His husky drawl had her reaching for him, but he held her off. "Stay there."
His eyes never left hers as he rid himself of his shoes, unbuckled his belt, and shucked off his pants. His boxer briefs stretched taut over an impressive-sized package, and she didn't even pretend to look elsewhere. He stripped them off, and heat saturated the folds between her thighs. My goodness, he's packing some serious equipment there.
Then he wrapped her in his arms, exploring and kissing every inch of her just like he'd promised, and soon she didn't know whether she was standing or floating upside down. The haze lifted a little when Joe knelt in front of her, skimming his palms down her legs while his thick black hair nestled against her belly. He nibbled his way down her stomach until he reached the patch of blonde curls covering her mound.
He breathed in deeply, hands cupping her ass, before his tongue snaked between her folds and flickered against her slit. Wet heat drenched her in an instant. She arched her back for more. His lick was measured, erotic, explosive. He controlled her, his lapping first greedy then delicate, always sure, extending her exquisite pleasure to the point of torture. His control grew as her restraint crumbled until she couldn't wait any longer, and she raked her fingers through his hair, urging him on as she sought release.
But he denied her the screaming orgasm she wanted so badly and rose to his feet, his face flushed, his lips wet from her moisture. He leisurely fondled her breast. "My hot little cowgirl."
"Joe, I swear … " She could barely speak.
He smiled, cocky, but damn, how she wanted him.
"Wait."
He turned to rummage in the drawer of his nightstand, leaving her to bite her lip as she stared at his taut backside. The urge to hurl herself at him rose, but, as much as she hated admitting it, she was hooked on his domineering lovemaking.
When he turned back, he had a condom on and a burning look in his eyes. He sat on the edge of the bed. "Come here," he ordered.
She moved toward him, lungs aching with anticipation. When she was within arm's length, he grasped her waist and pushed his knees between hers until she stood above him, her legs straddled over his thighs. She met his searing gaze, and when his hands pressed her down, she knew what he wanted. What she wanted so desperately.