His thighs brushed the back of hers as he began spooning her. “Beth, you don’t have to sleep alone tonight…”
She bolted upright and wiggled to the edge of the bed. But all her muddled brain could seem to wrap itself securely around was the mind-numbing, exquisite fact of sharing a bed with t
he one man in the world who could make her feel like a wanton. “Please tell me you’re wearing something more decent to bed,” she said, more like a plea. Why was he not odious? Why was he actually…likable? And sexy?
Sitting up, he glanced down at his mouthwatering chest and then frowned. “I don’t feel like wearing anything.” He met her gaze, then engulfed her shoulders in his hands and urged her closer. “Beth, I can feel how lonely you are, maybe that is why I want you. Will you understand what it’s been like for me?”
She couldn’t do this, open herself up like a present, then have his male expectations get a big bad whack of disappointment. She couldn’t tear off the bandage, open the scars left by her past, no matter how sexy her husband. Hector had said she was frigid, and she feared, because he’d had a lover and had loved another woman, that he was probably right. “Landon, thank you…for helping me, but I don’t think…”
He pulled a wad of his hair and groaned in frustration. “Bethany, I swear to God if you say thank you one more time…”
The dogs scratched the door.
“Aww, hell.”
He stormed across to let the dogs inside and Beth heard them plop down on the carpet while Landon swiftly locked the door.
An excited, head-tingling sensation swept through her at the thought of being “trapped” with him.
Beth feigned sleep so Landon would stay on his side of the bed, and lying still in her pajamas while tucked in his sweet-smelling bed, she cursed herself for being ten times a fool when the mattress creaked and he slid in behind her. Of course nothing would stop this man from getting what he wanted. He grasped her waist and dragged her to him, and it took all her effort not to whimper.
She should have demanded another room, she knew, but there were guests in the house, and all would be occupied except one that belonged to his memories.
“Beth,” he murmured, an erotic, decadent rasp in her eager little ear. He nibbled her earlobe, the full length of his granite-hard front pressing against her back. Her blood warmed like lava, melting her down to her bones. He was all flesh and muscle against her backside, except for those cotton trunks. Something hot and hard pressed between her buttocks, while his bare thighs grazed against hers as he slid his hand up her hip, under her shirt. She mewed softly.
A dog whined.
“Shut up, Mask.” His hand slid up her abdomen, and Beth felt something unfurl inside her like a ribbon. Longing. Wanting. “Bethany,” he roughly pleaded.
The sheet slid down her body as he slowly pried it down to her ankles. Beth had an urge to grab it back to her chest but then he’d know she was awake. She lay utterly still, felt his eyes caress her where his hand slid the T-shirt higher and higher. He cupped her buttock in his other hand, over her silken panties. She almost jolted when he groaned as though he were in terrible pain.
The dog whined again.
“Ah, hell.” He left her, flung the door open. “Out, guys.”
She heard them pad outside, then waited in anticipation, cold without the sheet and his body.
He came back to the bed and spooned her again, tighter this time. He devoured her shoulder with his hungry mouth, again cupped her buttocks in his hand. “I can hear you breathe, Bethany. You’re not asleep, you’re nowhere even near asleep.”
She fought to control her breathing but felt drunk with his scent, with the wanting spreading through her. This was such a bad idea…sleeping together…after days wondering and thinking about him and wanting to stay away….
He stroked the edge of her panties and tugged. “Can I take these off, hmm, can I take these off, Beth? I’ll kiss you and touch you…that’s all I’ll do tonight, only what you want me to.”
She closed her eyes tighter. His hunger made her feel so special, that she had to remind herself he had been in mourning, was known to be a solitary man, maybe felt lonely. He probably wanted to take something from Hector. It wasn’t her he wanted—he just wanted sex.
But tonight’s unexpected kiss came back vivid in her mind, and when he slid his hand to cup one aching breast, a sound escaped her.
“Ahaaaa—” he drew out the sound, lacing it with pleasure “—you want me?”
She made a sleepy sound, murmured, “Sooo tired,” and rolled onto her stomach. He came with her, his mouth a moist flame ravaging her nape. “It’s been a long time for me, Beth. I won’t pretend I don’t want this. You.”
He didn’t stop touching her. He seemed to be memorizing her curves, seemed to have gone wild, like an animal, a caveman, as his hands traced her sides up and down, his hips rocking seductively against hers. “Turn around and kiss me again, Beth.”
His body heat singed her back, and she could barely keep from moaning when he ground harder against her, tightening his hold on her hips, dragging his tongue up her neck. Her toes curled, and her sex rippled with wanting.
“Landon,” she breathed. She forced herself to lay stiff as a board, but what he was doing felt entirely too good. She went lax, grabbed the pillow in front of her and moaned as he burrowed a hand under her body and pinched one nipple. “Oh.” She arched back instinctively, and then nearly screamed in delight when he circled it with his thumb.
“Kiss me, Beth.”