Too Hot to Handle (Jackson Hole 2)

“Oh, God,” she groaned, her voice breaking into a cry as she came. Her hips jerked against her own hand. Her cry crashed through the tiny space as she screamed.

“Oh, fuck,” Shane whispered. “Merry. That was…” His mouth closed over hers and he took her hand and closed it over his shaft. “Touch me. Please.”

Her fingers tightened around him as the last spasms rolled through her. He kept his grip over hers, getting himself off with her hand. Urging her faster. Faster. Merry couldn’t catch her breath. She was too caught up in watching him use her. Watching until—

“Ah, fuck yes,” he groaned, “Yes.” His hips flexed, pushing toward her, and then he was coming, his body a line of taut muscle as his cock pulsed in her hand. Come dripped hot down her hip.

She was shaking. From the shock. The pleasure. The weakness in her thighs. Merry closed her eyes and leaned her head against the wall.

She could feel everything. Water snaked down her side and over her thighs. Steam tickled the hair at her nape. And then Shane’s mouth touched her shoulder, pressing heat deep into her skin. Her grasp loosened. She set him free with a sigh that was half relief and half sorrow.

“I can’t believe we just did that,” she breathed.

“Hey, it was your fantasy.” His deep voice vibrated through her.

“I didn’t… God, I’d never have actually done it.”

“Well, then…” He kissed her mouth one last time. “I guess you should be glad I was around to help.”

Merry collapsed in laughter, finally giving in to her weakness and letting Shane support her weight. “You’re awful.”

“Am I?”

“Yes!”

“Naw. I’m pretty sure I deserve an award for lasting longer than you, Miss Kade. That was a goddamn miracle. I expect a plaque or something. Maybe a nice big commemorative belt buckle.”

She laughed harder, loving the way the water slid down his shoulder and over her lips, connecting the two of them. “Sexual rodeo?” she asked.

“Yeah. I held out longer than eight seconds.”

“Oh, God. You’re killing me.”

“No. Not even close. You’re killing me, Merry.”

Her heart swelled up so quickly, so sharply, that she had to swallow a gasp. That was alarming. She didn’t want to feel so much for Shane. He was just a lover. Just a man who lived across the hall and stopped by occasionally to bring her pleasure. That was it. She couldn’t feel this terrible density in her chest. Not for him.

“I think I have to clean up again,” he whispered.

“Ha. I never got clean in the first place.”

He handed her the body wash, and she couldn’t stop her laughter. There was nothing to laugh about, really. Nothing truly funny. But their chuckles filled the room as they washed. And she didn’t stop smiling once.

Until some small sound made her peek around the curtain.

And there was Grace, framed in the doorway, her face a blank of shock and surprise, her hand clutching the shirt Merry had dropped on the living room floor.

“Oh, no,” Merry breathed.

Grace closed the door.

“Grace is here,” Merry whispered to Shane, whose responding grimace of terror was probably only half feigned.

Merry didn’t exactly fear facing Grace. That wasn’t the feeling that sank over her. Mostly it was regret that she’d lost this secret. That it was known now, and therefore something much more complicated. It wasn’t just pure sex and honest desire anymore.

Shit.

Shane turned off the water, and Merry realized she had nothing to put on but a pair of jeans and her shoes. Grace had taken the shirt with her.