that flame of hair over a bed of hay while pushing slowly into her warmth.…
Groaning, he hung his head, rubbed a hand over his face, and gave up the fight. Unable to look up, he simply reached out his hand. After what seemed like an eternity, he felt her strong, slender fingers slide between his. Sighing deeply, he leaned against the tarp-covered car and pulled her between his thighs, his lips landing on hers like a perfectly executed pass, his finesse born of a natural talent that only she seemed able to inspire.
Running his free hand up along her hip, he dropped her arm around his waist, then continued higher to delve his fingers beneath the tumble of curls flowing around her shoulders. “Willa, I need—”
“I know, Nick.” Her voice was wine deep.
“I tried not to, but—”
“Shhhh … our ten minutes are up.” Willa gave herself to him freely. The dull ache she felt whenever she thought of her father and the dreams he’d left unfulfilled dimmed in comparison with the pain she felt as she’d watched the look of desire and longing in Nick’s face a moment ago turn slowly into a fierce scowl. That pain was intensified by the knowledge that he didn’t want to want her—and she still didn’t care. She knew how incredibly foolish it was even to think about anything resembling a future with this man—but God help her, she knew it was too late not to be devastated when he left. And she wanted what little bit fate saw fit to grant her and to hell with the aftermath. At least this time she knew what to expect.
With that one thought in mind, she gave herself up to the passion that had sparked between them.
Nick’s lips left hers and traveled across her cheek, stopping to nibble at the soft pink lobe and the soft skin underneath. “I’m sorry about your dad, Willa,” he said softly, his voice hoarse even as he made a last, desperate attempt to retain a hold on coherent thought.
He wanted to tell her he understood her pain,and how hard it was for her to trust. That he wouldn’t hurt her. That she could trust him. But in that instant she moved against him, pressing the full length of her body to his. “Good Lord, Willa, you’re turning me inside out.” He pulled her hand up to his chest and captured it between their bodies, then molded her hips to his, feeling an immediate all-consuming need to share with her the fiery heat that consumed him with a mere touch, a soft kiss.
Willa clenched a handful of his shirt, unable to prevent an answering moan to the hard ridge of desire that was pressed against her belly. She raised her face to his, reveling in the tempest she saw raging in his stormy eyes. “I’m sorry, too, Nick.” Her voice was all brandy and heat. “So sorry for everything.”
Nick pulled her back against his chest. “I know, baby. I know. Me too.” A tiny thread of rational thought pulled at his inner core with her fervently spoken apology. He fought to diminish his overwhelming need, more than a little afraid he’d be unequal to the task.
He freely admitted that what was happening between them scared the living daylights out of him. The instincts he’d relied on all of his life, the ones he’d honed to perfection over the last eight months, had gone completely haywire. Thewoman he’d only days ago been convinced had destroyed everything he’d held dear was fast becoming the only thing worth giving a damn about.
“Willa?” He felt her nod against his chest, her breathing still fast and hard. “I trust you. And, Lord knows, I want you. But I think we need to slow down a bit. This is …” He’d been about to say insanity, but instead finished with, “It’s happening too fast. Do you understand?”
Willa’s mind raced along with her pulse. She had been swept into another realm by his fierce kisses and gentle caresses. She heard what he was saying, and a part of her understood intimately the wisdom of his words. But deep inside, the very center of her being had
Groaning, he hung his head, rubbed a hand over his face, and gave up the fight. Unable to look up, he simply reached out his hand. After what seemed like an eternity, he felt her strong, slender fingers slide between his. Sighing deeply, he leaned against the tarp-covered car and pulled her between his thighs, his lips landing on hers like a perfectly executed pass, his finesse born of a natural talent that only she seemed able to inspire.
Running his free hand up along her hip, he dropped her arm around his waist, then continued higher to delve his fingers beneath the tumble of curls flowing around her shoulders. “Willa, I need—”
“I know, Nick.” Her voice was wine deep.
“I tried not to, but—”
“Shhhh … our ten minutes are up.” Willa gave herself to him freely. The dull ache she felt whenever she thought of her father and the dreams he’d left unfulfilled dimmed in comparison with the pain she felt as she’d watched the look of desire and longing in Nick’s face a moment ago turn slowly into a fierce scowl. That pain was intensified by the knowledge that he didn’t want to want her—and she still didn’t care. She knew how incredibly foolish it was even to think about anything resembling a future with this man—but God help her, she knew it was too late not to be devastated when he left. And she wanted what little bit fate saw fit to grant her and to hell with the aftermath. At least this time she knew what to expect.
With that one thought in mind, she gave herself up to the passion that had sparked between them.
Nick’s lips left hers and traveled across her cheek, stopping to nibble at the soft pink lobe and the soft skin underneath. “I’m sorry about your dad, Willa,” he said softly, his voice hoarse even as he made a last, desperate attempt to retain a hold on coherent thought.
He wanted to tell her he understood her pain,and how hard it was for her to trust. That he wouldn’t hurt her. That she could trust him. But in that instant she moved against him, pressing the full length of her body to his. “Good Lord, Willa, you’re turning me inside out.” He pulled her hand up to his chest and captured it between their bodies, then molded her hips to his, feeling an immediate all-consuming need to share with her the fiery heat that consumed him with a mere touch, a soft kiss.
Willa clenched a handful of his shirt, unable to prevent an answering moan to the hard ridge of desire that was pressed against her belly. She raised her face to his, reveling in the tempest she saw raging in his stormy eyes. “I’m sorry, too, Nick.” Her voice was all brandy and heat. “So sorry for everything.”
Nick pulled her back against his chest. “I know, baby. I know. Me too.” A tiny thread of rational thought pulled at his inner core with her fervently spoken apology. He fought to diminish his overwhelming need, more than a little afraid he’d be unequal to the task.
He freely admitted that what was happening between them scared the living daylights out of him. The instincts he’d relied on all of his life, the ones he’d honed to perfection over the last eight months, had gone completely haywire. Thewoman he’d only days ago been convinced had destroyed everything he’d held dear was fast becoming the only thing worth giving a damn about.
“Willa?” He felt her nod against his chest, her breathing still fast and hard. “I trust you. And, Lord knows, I want you. But I think we need to slow down a bit. This is …” He’d been about to say insanity, but instead finished with, “It’s happening too fast. Do you understand?”
Willa’s mind raced along with her pulse. She had been swept into another realm by his fierce kisses and gentle caresses. She heard what he was saying, and a part of her understood intimately the wisdom of his words. But deep inside, the very center of her being had
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