The four of them grabbed an early dinner at Dolen’s, the place hopping with a bevy of take-out orders as people streamed past their table with casual greetings, but Willow sensed an underlying current of restlessness in the men, especially the ones at her table.
They were back at the cabins by sunset, Scott and Joe excusing themselves to walk the grounds. Willow thought they headed out to give her and Ben privacy and now she shifted nervously from one foot to the other as Ben closed and locked the front door behind them.
His gaze raked her figure, probably noticing her unease because he said, “Why don’t I start a fire while you change into something warm and dry?” A smile tickled the side of his mouth. “I wouldn’t want your cute little butt to freeze off.”
Willow tore off to the bedroom, replacing her almost-dry clothes with the sweats she’d had on earlier. Her jeans and coat had, for the most part, kept the wet snow at bay, but the denim was still damp and the cold had started to seep into her skin.
Gone no more than five minutes—okay, maybe ten, since she’d brushed her hair and teeth and slicked on some gloss—she returned to see Ben had indeed built a roaring fire. He’d also turned out the lights and laid a thick blanket and several pillows in front of it, which he lazily lounged against.
He patted the space next to him. “How about a massage?”
Willow warily settled next to him. “For you or me?”
He reached out and trailed a fingertip down the center of her forehead and over the gentle slope of her nose. “While I love the idea of your hands on my body, you took quite a few tumbles today.”
Willow blinked up at him. “I fell on my butt, Ben. You want to massage my butt?”
Dark blond brows wiggled with sensual delight over eyes gone dark with intent. “Consider it Phase Six of Pleasing Willow.”
Her own eyes narrowed in consideration. “Why do I get the feeling this is about pleasing you instead?”
“Ah.” He put a hand to the middle of her chest and pushed her gently onto her back. “Because everything about you pleases me. Turn over.”
After giving him a one-eyed stare, she did as he demanded. She was tense at first, but between the soothing heat of the fire and the sure strokes of his hands, she felt her eyes begin to flutter closed. Until his hands reached under the elastic of her waistband.
“Hey.”
“The pants are in my way.”
Yeah. Right. But she let him do it, knowing her panties still kept her secret, that she was already primed for him. She moved to press her legs together after he’d stripped her of her sweatpants, but his muscled thighs were already making a home between them.
She shot him a silent question over her shoulder.
“Better access.”
Better access, her butt. Oh wait. She let out a little moan when he replaced his hands on her body. Definitely better access to her butt.
He kneaded her flesh, tracing up and under her top to turn her back muscles into so much jelly. She didn’t even resist when he eased off her sweatshirt. The pop of her bra as he unhooked it only made her body tighten in anticipation.
He was seducing her. And she was lapping up the erotic attention like a thirsty dog. It took all she had left not to arch up into his touch.
She felt his lips at her ear, her cheek. “Kiss.” He demanded on a low growl, the command curling around her to make her center throb. “Kiss me.” She rose up on all fours, catching his passionate lips as he crouched over her. Her bra fell down her arms and she tossed it to the side. He braced one hand on the floor, the other busy at her breast, holding the swollen mound in a firm yet gentle grip, strumming his thumb over the pebbled nipple, his hold possessive, a rough brand that burned her skin. She hummed with pleasure and rocked her core against the thick bulge between her thighs. She felt his chest rumble against her back. It felt so good she did it again.
Ben let out a soft curse and reached down to tug at her panties. The sound of tearing fabric shocked her. It also notched the dark lust coursing through her veins to the boiling point.
He wedged his hand over her damp curls, teasing her clit with light strokes before easing a single finger inside her sex. His mouth at her shoulder, he nipped and licked at her salty skin as he worked her sex. Grinding the palm of his hand on the hard bundle of nerves hidden within her folds, he swirled his finger in an electrifying vortex of sensation.
Her breath came in ragged moans. Then abruptly his heat was gone. Catching the scream of denial before it pushed past her lips, she peered over her shoulder, mollified slightly to find him ripping off his clothes. His erection jutted out, proud and deliciously male. Her girl parts quivered with anticipation, sending out another surge of lust that almost made her embarrassed at how much she wanted him. Almost.