Wicked Sexy(15)
He scoffed. “You ever go see the aftermath of one of these storms you insure? What’s outside isn’t the
theoretical problem you’re trying to figure out.”
She looked irritated. Her fingers started tapping a steady rhythm on the edge of the box. “I know that.”
“Numbers can’t tell you what’s going to happen next.”
“What’s likely to happen,” she said stubbornly, precise as always.
“Really?” Her certainty was kind of cute, but she was still wrong. All the numbers in the world couldn’t tell you exactly what was going to happen next, or even what was likely. Statistically speaking, Lars
shouldn’t have died, nor should Dani have been out here in this storm. Those were both mistakes.
He leaned closer. “This is a rescue situation. That means we’re playing by my rules, Dani. I decide what happens next.”
Now that she was out of the rain, her hair was starting to dry in waves kinking up at the ends. He liked her natural look. Her eyes widened as he got within kissing distance, and Dani off-balance was even
sweeter. The heat building between them didn’t fit into her neat model of the universe, and she hadn’t
decided what to do about that.
So he might as well give her something else to think about.
“What’s the probability of my kissing you?” His mouth was close enough now to brush hers.
She opened her mouth to say something—of course she had an answer and a number for everything—
and he took ruthless advantage, covering her lips with his. Since she’d been getting ready to speak, the kiss started out on a whole different level. Their tongues touched. To hell with it, he decided, giving his instincts free rein as fiery heat exploded through him. He kissed her deep, his tongue tangling with hers.
His professional side was yelling at him to hold on tight. His gentlemanly side—which was just about
nonexistent—however, insisted he back off. Instead, she leaned into him. Her palms flattened on his chest.
Damp cotton and the heat of her fingers sliding over him shouldn’t be such an instant turn-on. But it was.
He wanted more, so he kissed her with everything he had, his mouth moving hungrily over hers.
When he finally came up for air and opened his eyes, damned if she wasn’t watching him. The pink
flush on her cheeks reddened when he caught her. Busted. For all he knew, she’d been watching him the whole time while he was lost in her incredible response to his kiss. He didn’t want her observing; no, he wanted her to feel.
“Close your eyes,” he said hoarsely.
She met his order with an impish smile of her own, her lashes drifting slowly down.
Leisurely, he explored her parted lips with his tongue, tasting her. She was warm, welcoming...amazing.
Maybe he wasn’t so bad himself, because she gasped and curled her fingers tightly into his shirt. She
pressed and pressed into him as if she was impatient. He had enough patience for both of them. This time, when he lifted his head and opened his eyes, hers were still shut. Or he simply hadn’t caught her peeking.
The giggle shaking her body had him shaking his head. Yeah, she’d outsmarted him there.
“You cheated,” he accused.
“Prove it.”
“Mmm,” he said. “Maybe I’ll just get even.”
Taking his time, he kissed her eyelids gently and then continued along the side of her jaw. He hoped she was enjoying this; he was certainly enjoying her.
“Uh-uh,” he said, when her eyelashes fluttered. “My way.”
She must like doing things his way, too, because a husky moan left her throat when he gave her more
kisses, his thumb stroking the soft curve of her face. She tugged hard on his T-shirt, pulling him where she wanted him, and took them both down to the floor.
Rolling onto his back, he positioned her on top of him. The heat exploding through him at the feel of
her was pushing him toward the edge. She stretched and rubbed her breasts over his chest as she straddled him. Yeah. This was what he needed.
He kissed her more passionately, giving in to their ravenous hunger for each other. Their raw need
seemed insatiable. And she met him kiss for kiss. She made him like this, and his only consolation was that he wasn’t alone. She was right there with him.
“See?” he whispered, pulling back from her mouth. Her lips were wet and swollen, demanding his
attention again. “My way isn’t so bad, is it?”
“Kiss me again and I’ll let you know,” she demanded. Her mouth met his, her teeth nipping at his lower
lip before her tongue swept inside. And as quick as that she’d fired up his arousal; the desire and pleasure of her kiss drowned out the storm outside and the insistent pain in his thigh.
She devoured him, and he gave back as good as he got. His lips were locked on hers in a primitive
battle. This needed to be what she wanted. She shouldn’t feel pressured or uncomfortable because they
were alone in her cabin in the middle of this chaos.
This time, when he lifted his head, she let go of him.
“Dani—” he said.
The power flickered and went out.
9
THE CABIN WAS plunged into darkness.
Dani scrambled off Daeg, not sure what to do or say. More came to mind. He raised himself up onto his elbows and she wished she could read his mind. Desire was twisting her up in knots. Never had she burned like this for a would-be lover. Never imagined she could. She needed to be alone, to think. And yet here he was, clearly going nowhere. As her eyes adjusted to the lack of light, she could make him out as he lay there on the floor next to her. He was staring at the ceiling as if he hadn’t a care in the world. That was what made Daeg Ross so dangerous. She’d known he was a really, really good kisser, but she hadn’t expected
he’d be such good company. Or that he’d have a playful sense of humor.
She wanted to touch him, tease him, because this handful of minutes they’d had wasn’t possibly enough
to satisfy her. Or probably him. She needed more. Much, much more. And here she’d sworn she wouldn’t
rush headlong into a new relationship, that she would play things cautiously. It was probably preferable that Mother Nature had thrown a bucket of cold water on her libido. Her wet clothes and dirty skin were hardly romantic.
She pointed a finger at the overhead light, even though he probably couldn’t see what she was doing.
She knew and that was what counted. “See? Exhibit A.”
“Power outages are common during a storm,” he told her calmly, reaching for a flashlight. “There’s no
need to panic.”
“I’m not panicking.” She wasn’t. She just believed in being prepared.
For everything.
She jiggled the light switch, hoping against hope that the power outage was a temporary glitch, but no
such luck. With the storm shutters up, the dark cabin suddenly seemed far too small.
“There are candles in the bathroom.”
“No candles until the storm’s passed overhead. Fire hazard.”
Great. She was stuck in a cabin with a wannabe firefighter. Which was fine, since she didn’t want him
thinking that she was thinking about bed. With him. Which she was, if she was being honest.
He handed her a flashlight. “Here.”
“You shouldn’t have,” she deadpanned, flicking the beam on and off.
“Don’t waste the batteries.”
“You want me to just sit here in the dark?”
He eyed her. “No. Strip.”
Her breath caught in her throat—well, she was glad he didn’t know about the heat pooling in her belly.
It had definitely been too long since she’d had a generous lover—and that had been one heck of a kiss.
A smile curled his lips. “Your clothes are wet, Dani.”
Suddenly, the four-poster bed behind them seemed to take up the entire cabin. That bed was total
romance—nine feet by eight, with a thick white duvet and an intimate canopy.
He rolled onto his side, toward her. In the beam of light, his expression seemed serious.
“How long have you known me, Dani?”
“Are we counting consecutive days or just subtracting an end date from a start date?” she asked lightly.
Where was he going with this?
“Either. In all that time,” he continued, “have I ever done something you didn’t want?”
She swallowed. “No.”
“So tonight’s not any different.” He watched her steadily.
She wanted to laugh. He thought she was nervous about being alone with him when the opposite was
true. She was dying to get her hands all over him—but she didn’t know how to tell him. Who would have
thought that a simple proposition would be so difficult to get out?
“Got it?” He waited for her response, not moving.
“Absolutely.”
She was suddenly conscious of how she must look.
“I guess with this outfit and hairdo, I wouldn’t win any beauty contests,” she joked.
He eyed her up and down, and something about that dark gaze made her pause. No one had ever stared
at her quite that intently. No man had stared at her and made her feel like he was seeing a real woman. Daeg did.
“You did go for a swim,” he allowed, a grin tugging at his mouth.
“A really big one. I’ll stick to pools from here on out.”
She closed the collar of his jacket, which she was still wearing. She wasn’t cold. She was reveling in the fact that it was his, so much so that it seemed a shame to give it back.