His brows dipped. “Why?”
She put her glass down on the driftwood coffee table and curled her legs beneath her, tipping her head to the side as she considered his question. “Because I feel vulnerable, yet full of some weird anticipation. It’s a strange cocktail.”
The corner of his lips lifted as he continued to look at her. She felt a shiver snake its way down her spine. God, he was masculine, probably the strongest man she’d ever met. It was like he could melt her with his gaze.
“Come here,” he said softly.
She swallowed, then inched across until her thigh brushed against his.
“I mean here,” he told her, pointing at the top of his legs. It was her turn to smile as she climbed over him, kneeling on either side of his substantial thighs.
“That’s better,” he murmured, reaching out to smooth her hair from her face. “We’re a little more equal like this.”
He leaned forward, his nose sliding against hers. She looked into his warm brown eyes. Being this close she could see little green specks in his irises, like emeralds glistening in stone.
Cupping his face in her hands, her fingertips grazed his cheekbones. The roughness of his beard scraped against her palms as he stared at her questioningly.
“You’re very beautiful,” he whispered as her thumbs traced the line of his jaw.
“You’re pretty hot yourself.” She leaned forward until her lips brushed against his cheek.
She could feel his breath against her, warm and fragrant with wine. She leaned closer still, and he ran his hands down her back, cupping her behind as she straddled him.
The first time they kissed she’d felt out of control. This time, she wanted to savor every moment. To experience it in hyper-definition, to remember every eye flicker and caught breath.
This connection between them was fleeting. Time limited. Eventually they’d have to part and the thought already made her heart ache.
He traced his fingertips along her spine and pressed his lips to the base of her throat.
“So damn pretty.”
“Thank you,” she breathed. He was holding her weight with one hand. It made her so damn delicate. Closing his eyes, he breathed her in, his lips sliding up her throat, her jaw, and to the corner of her mouth. Just one inch more and he’d be there.
Her body clenched at the thought.
“I want to remember this,” he murmured, brushing her hair from her face with his free hand. “The way you’re looking at me. The way your ass feels against my legs. I wish I could capture this moment.”
Her lips curled into a smile. Maybe he was feeling as wistful as she was.
With his hand at the base of her spine, he pulled her closer, her thighs sliding against his until the warmth of her center felt him. Right there. Thick and hard against her.
She let out an involuntary sigh. “Please…”
“Please what?”
“Kiss me already.”
Another chuckle. He raked his fingers through her hair, angling her head until it was lifted to his. “Patience…”
Her gaze met his, making her heart jump in her chest. The laughter faded as his eyes darkened and narrowed, as his mouth fell onto hers.
God, his lips were good. Just the right amount of pressure as they moved against hers, his fingers massaging her scalp as his other hand kept her steady. His mouth was warm and strong, his lips opening as his tongue slid between hers, and she rolled her hips, her toes curling at the pleasure.
He broke the kiss, his eyes hooded as he traced his finger down her throat to the tiny dip at the base. Then he skimmed the line of her bodice, swallowing hard, before pushing the spaghetti straps from her shoulders and leaning in to kiss her bare flesh.
“Do you know how much I want you?” he asked her, his lips brushing against her fevered skin. “How much I’ve wanted you since I first saw you on the pier with the wind in your hair and those damn inappropriate shoes?”
“I thought you liked my shoes?” She gasped as he sucked at the flesh between her shoulder and throat.