One Week with the Best Man: Reclaimed by the Rancher

Gretchen snorted and moved past him to set the box on the edge of the stage where the band would set up in the morning. She was still wearing the flirty purple dress she’d worn to the rehearsal dinner, only now she was barefoot, having cast aside her heels for the sake of comfort. “You’re very kind, but it’s a table setting, not a Picasso.”

Julian followed her path, slowly coming up behind her as she unpacked tiny attendee gifts to place on the tables. When she stood, he snaked his arms around her waist and pulled her back tight against him. The soft curve of her backside pressed into his desire, suppressing all the reasons why he couldn’t be with Gretchen. What if he could give her something without taking anything away? It might take every ounce of restraint he had, but he wanted this so badly. “I’ve thought a lot about our discussion at dinner.”

Gretchen gasped softly, although he wasn’t certain if it was his words or his obvious need for her. “And?” she asked in almost a hushed whisper.

“And it made me wonder.” Julian nestled into her neck, planting warm kisses under her earlobe between phrases. “You said you’re a virgin, but have you ever had an orgasm before?”

Gretchen chuckled. “Yes, I have. I might be a virgin, but I’m also a grown woman perfectly capable of managing my needs when necessary.”

Now Julian had to laugh. She always surprised him, especially with her bold honesty, even in the face of potentially embarrassing questions. “Has someone else ever given you one?” he pressed.

“No.”

“I’d like to.”

She shivered as he pressed another kiss along the soft skin of her neck. “Um...right now?”

Not the ideal location, but why the hell not? “Yes, right now.” His palm slid across her torso, venturing to her low belly, then to the side of her hip and down. He moved until he reached her smooth bare thigh, shifting the hem of her dress a few inches higher to stroke it. Then he stopped. “Unless you’d rather wait,” he said.

After a slight hesitation, Gretchen arched her back, pressing the curve of her rear firmly against his erection. “I think twenty-nine years is long enough to wait, don’t you?”

“I do.”

Julian turned her in his arms so she was facing him. Despite her bold declaration, he could still sense anxiety in her. She bit at her bottom lip, her dark eyes both challenging him and nervously flickering toward the door and back. He could imagine that the mix of emotions was confusing, but he wouldn’t let her psych herself out about this. It was happening.

Dipping his head down, he kissed her. She started to relax with the familiar activity, wrapping her arms around his neck. She let her tongue slide boldly along his own, eliciting a low groan deep in his throat. Keeping this all about her pleasure would be hard when she touched him like this, but he could do it. He was determined.

Julian encircled her waist, pulling her toward him and guiding her backward toward the stage. Once her calves met with the wooden platform, he eased her back until she was sitting on the edge. He tore his lips away from hers, lowering himself to his knees in front of her. Gretchen’s eyes grew wide as she watched him put his palms on each bare knee.

With his eyes trained on hers, he pressed gently, parting her legs little by little until he could move between them. He slid his hands up her thighs, pushing the purple fabric of her dress up and out of his way, stopping just short of exposing her. He could feel her muscles tense beneath his touch, so he changed his tactic. Julian wanted her fully relaxed for this.

He kissed her again, distracting her with his lips and tongue as he slipped the straps of her dress off her shoulders. It didn’t take much for the fabric to slide down, exposing the bra beneath it. He cupped one breast, slowly stroking and teasing at the nipple through the sheer black fabric. Gretchen groaned against his mouth, her reaction encouraging him to break away from the kiss and draw her nipple into his mouth.

Gretchen’s head went back, a cry of pleasure escaping her lips. It echoed in the large ballroom like music to his ears. He continued to tease her through the moist fabric, the distraction it provided allowing him to move his hand beneath her skirt. He found that the panties were made of the same sheer material. When his fingers brushed across her most sensitive spot, Gretchen gasped, her hips rising up off the stage.

Julian eased Gretchen back until she was lying on the stage. She protested at first, but he didn’t want her nervously watching everything he did. “Just lie back, close your eyes and enjoy it,” he said soothingly until the tension eased from her body.