God help her, she actually peered around his broad shoulder, considering the size and possible comfort of the flat, sun warmed rock.
“No,” he laughed softly, pulling her head back to his. The kiss this time was softer but no less powerful. Thankfully, he lifted his head before it got out of control like the last one.
“Come on,” he took her hand, helping her climb down. “I think we’ve climbed high enough for today.”
“I thought we were going higher?”
He chuckled. “We will.”
It took only about half as long to climb down the mountain as it had to go up because of the steepness of the decline, however they still had to walk slowly or they could trip and slide. That wasn’t exactly how she wanted to get down off the mountain, so she listened carefully to Reid’s instructions on descending. When she spotted his Jeep across the meadow field, her heart fluttered wildly.
Before she could step into the Jeep though, he spun her around, pinning her against the hood. “You realize where we’re going now, right?” he asked, nuzzling her neck.
She gasped, shocked by the heat hitting her. “Where?” she asked, gasping when he nibbled a particularly sensitive spot.
“To my bed. Do you have any objections?” he asked.
“Fine. Just hurry up!” she gasped, shuddering when he found a spot that made her knees threaten to give out.
He deposited her in the passenger seat. As soon as he stepped into the driver’s seat, he took her hand and placed her palm on his thigh. “I need you touching me, Selena,” he groaned as he put the Jeep in reverse and pulled out of the parking lot.
It took less than forty minutes to get back to his house. Even so, it was still late afternoon when he pulled into the driveway.
By that point, she’d come to her senses, actually thinking about what they’d been doing on the mountain.
“Stop.” He stepped out and looked into her eyes. “Dinner first,” he announced. “You are probably starving after all that hiking, aren’t you?”
Selena was relieved that she wouldn’t immediately be rushed into his bedroom. “I am, but…”
“Don’t even suggest that you can make something yourself,” he warned her. “I’m sure my housekeeper has something ready to put into the oven. So come on,” he walked around the car, closing her door as she exited.
When he saw the nervous look in her eyes, he shook his head. “Selena, if you don’t want this, then say so. I won’t pressure you.” He moved closer. “But you should know that once I get you into bed, we’re going to light the sheets on fire.”
Seeing the earnestness in his eyes, she realized that he wasn’t kidding. He really did want her. He WANTED her! This wasn’t a fraternity dare. This wasn’t a college prank that would be broadcast to anyone who might want the ridiculous, salacious details. Reid was attracted to her. To who she was. He wasn’t going to push. Instinctively, she knew that if she wanted to go into the guesthouse and curl up under the covers alone for the rest of the night, he would let her.
That realization changed something. She didn’t fully understand it, but she knew she wanted to experience Reid’s touch. She wanted to feel him, to know him in ways she hadn’t wanted to explore in a long time.
“I want this,” she told him, feeling liberated.
This was Reid. He wasn’t just gorgeous, sexy and incredibly appealing. He was intelligent, secure in who he was as a man, and a brilliant businessman. She wanted him. She might even lo…like him. And she definitely respected him.
She opened her mouth to tell him how much she wanted to make love with him, but the words came out wrong. “I’m not on contraception,” she blurted, thinking back to that college night and her worries afterwards. Diseases had been the last thing on her mind at that point. A teenage pregnancy was her major worry. The possibility of a sexually transmitted disease had come later. Thankfully, the campus clinic had helped her through those traumatic tests and given her the reassurance of clean health.
His hand came up to her head, his rough fingers cupping her jaw gently. “I’ll take care of the protection. No worries there. I don’t want to rush you into anything.”