Instead, eyes wide, she smiled up at him. “I don’t know how you did that without toppling us out of the hammock, but I’m impressed.”
“You only just now figuring out I have skills?” he teased, waggling his brows and trying to remind himself to take things slow. Easier thought than done, with his body stretched out over Riley’s.
Daisy jumped down from the hammock.
“Hmm...” Her gaze lowered to his mouth. “I don’t think Daisy was nearly so impressed.”
Fighting the urge to flex his hips more fully against her, Justin replied, “Daisy needs to learn who’s boss.”
Riley’s gaze lingered on his mouth. She had to feel his reaction, had to know how she was affecting him.
“I suppose you think you’re an expert at teaching females you’re the boss?”
What he thought was that Riley was an expert at shooting his temperature through the roof.
“She’s a good dog...just needs the right encouragement.”
“What did you give my dog?”
He grinned down at her. “The right encouragement.”
“You’re good at that, aren’t you?”
“Giving the right encouragement?” he asked, knowing they were no longer discussing her dog.
“Getting females to do what you want them to do.”
Riley lay still beneath him on the hammock. Their bodies were pressed together and he was propped up on his elbows so he could see her face. Good thing, otherwise he’d have missed the swirling emotions in her eyes. Emotions that conveyed the way he affected her, making her want to draw nearer and back away at the same time. He’d been patient, given her space, but maybe she needed the right encouragement too.
“Maybe. Let’s see,” he told her, his voice low, husky.
His gaze went to her lips, then back to her beautiful eyes. He wanted her to kiss him. He waited, wondering if she’d hold out for him to make the first move, or perhaps push him away. She stared at him, clearly warring with the voices in her head, then seemed to come to a conclusion—a good conclusion.
She wrapped her arms around his neck to cradle his head and she arched up from the hammock to kiss him.
Her mouth was warm against his...soft. Sweet. Promising so much more than a quick peck. Making him want to forget patience and take control.
But he wouldn’t.
/>
Riley needed to do this—to be the one in control as her mouth explored his.
Her fingers curled into his hair, cradling him, holding him close as their kiss deepened.
When she lay back she stared up at him, with wide eyes and plump lips. He’d never seen anything more beautiful than the sight of her beneath him, staring up at him in awe.
“Thank you,” he whispered, bending to kiss the tip of her nose. He let out a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding, in the fear that she’d tell him to leave. “Thank you for kissing me, Riley.”
“You’re welcome.”
Her gaze met his, darkened with what he could only describe as passion.
“Do you want me to kiss you again?” she asked.
Was that a trick question?
“More than anything,” he said.