A husky growl escaped Drake’s lips when she tilted her chin to allow him better access to her neck. One look at the pulse throbbing in the creamy base and he was lost.
His hands encompassed her waist, pulling her hard against his hi
ps, as his tongue tasted the spot that teased him to distraction. The flesh on her throat was cool, kissed by the soft breeze.
Her urgency grew to a demanding ache that could not be denied. Her passion was fueled by the evidence of his desire straining fervently against her. A surge of eagerness tingled in her thighs, seeped up to curl in her quivering stomach.
His fingers slipped down the outside of her thigh, turned inward, and began a much more provocative assault. His calloused palm teased her until a whimper of insistence rushed from her lips. She buried her face in his warm, hard shoulder, insistently straining against his searching caress as her fingers dug into his sinewy flesh. She wasn’t sure how much more of this tantalizing torture she could take before surrendering to humiliation by begging openly for release.
Drake never let her reach that point. Sensing her frustration, he slipped one hand beneath her knees, the other beneath her arms, and lifted.
Hope curled into him willingly. Her arms coiled around his shoulders as her tongue darted out to taste the salty expanse of his neck. Every muscle in his body tightened in reaction, and she allowed herself a momentary surge of victory before continuing with the sensuous assault.
Long, sure strides carried them over to the bed—a real bed—but instead of placing her atop the downy softness, he paused. Hope raised her head and looked at him through heavy lids. He caught his breath when he saw the dark eyes burning with desire.
“Ah, hell. Why start now?” he murmured huskily. His gaze drifted longingly to the bed before settling on Hope’s kiss-swollen lips. He lowered her to the floor.
Suddenly the only thing in the world that mattered was the feel of this man atop her, his muscular body pinning her to the plush carpet.
This time when his hand stroked her thigh, it ascended without stopping. The linen chemise was dragged with it. Hope shivered as the cool air wafted her naked body, but made no protest when the covering was removed and tossed aside.
The sun outside was growing brighter, caressing her flesh as Drake’s hungry gaze raked her naked form.
“That’s not fair,” she said, her voice throaty with desire as her fingers plucked at the buttons on his waistcoat. “You can see me, but I can’t see a thing.”
His eyes were dark with undeniable passion—and a glint of challenge. “And what, exactly, do you intend to do about it?”
A wicked grin tugged at her lips. “Even up the pot, gunslinger.”
He rolled onto his back, allowing her to tug at his clothes. He helped only when necessary, enjoying the feel of her fingers against his flesh much too much to stop her.
As he had done with her chemise, Hope tossed aside each article of clothing she stripped away with a flick of her wrist. When he was naked, she stretched out beside him, pressing her body urgently into his side. Slowly, she let her fingers launch an investigation of their own. A smile of satisfaction spread over her lips when Drake groaned and caught her wrist.
In an instant she was tossed onto her back, her head pillowed by his large palm as his body covered hers fully. The coarse hairs coating his chest tickled her breasts. It was a sensation comparable to none. He pressed against her in suggestive, rhythmic motions, but otherwise refused to relieve her torment.
“Now, Drake,” she pleaded when she could bear no more. “Pleeease!”
When his knee parted her thighs, she felt a shiver of anticipation course up her spine. Her legs wrapped around his waist, her hips instinctively arching up to meet his powerful entry. He filled her completely, but it wasn’t enough. She dug her fingers into his back as she met each wonderful thrust with an urgency that quickly spiraled out of control.
Hope surrendered herself to the wave of sensations crashing over and within her trembling body. At last, she shuddered in blissful fulfillment. Wave after wave of satisfaction rippled through her, prolonged and increased to an almost agonizing pitch with each driving thrust.
His mouth crashed over hers and she clung to his sweat-dampened shoulders. She swallowed his ragged moan as his body tensed and released, tensed and released. Then, when every last ounce of energy had been tapped, he collapsed on top of her.
His lips teased the curl of her ear as she snuggled against him, awash with languid contentment.
“Has anyone ever told you you have beautiful ears?" His warm breath rustled the wisps of hair that caressed her cheek.
Hope giggled, intentionally wiggling beneath him. “Nope. You’re the first.”
“You keep moving like that and we may never leave this room,” he warned with a throaty growl.
His breath caught as he slipped from her warmth, rolled to the floor on his back, and scooped her compliant body against him. His warm palm covering the hand that splayed his chest. Glancing down, his eyelids thickened when his gaze lit on her lips, still swollen and pink from his kisses. His hand slipped up her arm, over her shoulder. Hope shivered with desire, and a husky groan rumbled in his throat as his fingers buried themselves deep in the silky softness of her hair.
“Why, ah do declare, Mistah Fraziah,” she whispered against his shoulder, “you’re insatiable!”
Drake pulled her hard against him, a devilish twinkle lighting his eyes. “The price you pay for keeping me waiting six weeks.”
“Ah, well, I don’t ever want it said I don’t pay what I owe,” she replied with mock seriousness. “Eventually.”