“Slick, if you don’t say something, I’m going to have to wrestle myself back into those wet jeans.”
He swallowed and took a step forward. “You’re beautiful, Tessa. I wish I could go slow, but I’m afraid the second I get my hands on you I’m going to snap.”
Feeling suddenly even more powerful, she propped her hands on her hips, proud of the way her chest jutted out. “I’m not glass, Slick. Let’s see what you’ve got.”
With a smirk, Grant started undressing at lightning speed, and it was Tessa’s turn to stare. Thunder and lightning continued outside, and she had never been more excited to be stranded in the middle of a thunderstorm.
Once he was completely naked, Tessa couldn’t keep from gaping. Of course she’d seen a naked man, but had never been with one.
“I’m not sure if I should feel self-conscious or if my ego just got boosted,” he told her. “But the way you’re looking at me isn’t helping my control.”
“Maybe I don’t want you controlled,” she whispered. “Maybe I want you not to hold back, but just take me.”
She was playing with fire, and she totally knew it. But she’d waited her whole life for this moment, and she didn’t want it to be perfect, to be slow and sensual. She didn’t want him to think or analyze. She wanted action, wanted him without worry or rules or restrictions.
Tessa had nothing to compare this moment to, but if she was letting her emotions guide her? Yeah, they were out of control, and there was nothing more she wanted than to be...taken.
Grant moved forward, like a stalker to his prey. Shivers raced one after another through her body. Anticipation and arousal consumed her.
“Last chance, Country. You sure you want me...reckless?”
Tessa couldn’t stand not having contact another second. She slid her hands up his damp, bare chest. “I wouldn’t have you any other way.”
Grant’s arms wrapped around her waist, pulled her flush against his taut body, until every single point from her knees to her chest was touching him.
And then his lips were on her. Not on her mouth, but on her neck, trailing down to her breasts. He arched her backward, causing her to grip tight to his bare shoulders.
His assault wasn’t unexpected; he’d warned her, after all. But what she hadn’t anticipated was how she’d feel, how her body would respond...how the thrill of being taken, consumed, would override any euphoria she’d ever experienced.
Grant cupped her bottom, lifting her against him. He walked toward the old, sheet-covered chaise in the corner of the room and laid her there, his body coming down to cover hers.
The weight of him, the strength of him was so new, yet so welcoming. Instinct had her spreading her legs, allowing him to settle between them.
Grant’s hands roamed down the dip in her waist and over her hips. “I want to touch you everywhere, Tessa. But right now, I can hardly wait to be inside you.”
Reaching up to stroke the wet hair falling across his forehead, she smiled. “We both want the same thing, then.”
“As much as I’m barely holding on here, I have to make sure you’re ready.”
Her skin tingled, her body ached and she was damn near quivering. If she was any more ready, she could finish this job alone.
Grant eased back, sliding a hand between them to find where she ached most for him. Just that one, simple touch had her hips lifting, her hands gripping his biceps.
“You’re so beautiful,” he murmured as he stroked her. “So responsive.”
Tessa closed her eyes, allowing him to take over, and relishing the moment. As much as she wanted to move faster, she didn’t want him to stop whatever his talented hands were doing.
* * *
Grant wanted to slide into her, but he couldn’t stop pleasuring her with his hand. He wanted this to be solely about her. Her head thrown back, her eyes closed and her panting all brought pleasure to him.
And that right there told him just how special she was. He’d never been a selfish lover, but he’d also never taken the time to pleasure a woman and just watch her, ignoring his own wants, needs.
“Grant, please...”
Yeah, he couldn’t deny her, not when she was already begging.
Grant eased back farther as realization dawned on him. “I don’t have protection, Tess.”
A sweet smile spread across her face. “You’re lucky I was coming to seduce you. I have a condom in my jeans.”
He shot off her and went in search of her wet jeans.
“Front pocket,” she said, laughing.
Grant searched there, pulled it out and ripped it open. Once he was covered, he settled back over her.
When he leaned down to take her lips, Tessa wrapped her legs around his waist. Thunder rumbled so hard, so loud, the windows in the cabin rattled.
As she opened her body, her mouth to him, Grant tried to ignore that tug on his heart. He couldn’t get too immersed in this, couldn’t invest his emotions. Tessa had come to him, so he wasn’t taking anything she wasn’t willing to give. They both knew where the other stood. But right now, he didn’t care about tomorrow, the film or what was going to happen after the project wrapped up.
All he cared about was Tessa.
With as much ease as he could manage, Grant slid into her, pausing when she gasped for breath.
He tore his mouth from hers. “You okay?”
She nodded, tilting her hips. “Don’t stop.”
Gritting his teeth, Grant complied. Never before had he been in this position, and he wasn’t sure what to do, how to make this perfect for her.
But when Tessa ran her hands over his shoulders, threaded her fingers through his damp hair and started moving those hips, he knew she was needing more than him fumbling his way through this. Who was the virgin here? He was so damn nervous, but Tessa’s sweet sighs and pants told him she was more than aroused.
Resting on his forearms, Grant leaned down, capturing her lips as their pace picked up a rhythm that was going to have him out of control in no time.
When her body quickened, he tore his mouth from hers, needing to watch her face. He wasn’t disappointed as her muscles clenched, her mouth dropped open, her eyes squeezed shut and she let out the sweetest moan he’d ever heard.
All that wild, red hair spread out around her as she came undone, bowing her back. And that’s all it took for Grant to follow her over the edge.
* * *
Tessa was...well...speechless.
How had she missed this experience all these years? She’d put her career, her horses and organized lifestyle all before her own needs. And now that those needs had been met, she would never let them go neglected again.
“I can practically hear you thinking,” Grant told her, stroking his hand over her bare arm.
He lay on the chaise, Tessa atop him, their arms and legs tangled, and she had zero desire for this storm to pass. This moment in time was one of the few she wanted to freeze. She wanted to lock this moment in her heart, to hold it tight, because right now, in Grant’s strong arms, she felt everything in the entire world was absolutely perfect.
“You’re not having regrets, are you?”
Tessa smiled against his chest. “Never. Just enjoying us.”
Those stroking fingertips