Open Invitation? by Karen Kendall Page B

could.” He grinned at her like the devil himself. “You can do it in a car. You can do it in a bar. You can do it anytime, or even with a twist of lime.”
    Lil began to laugh. “I didn’t know you were a poet.”
    â€œRobert Frost, eat your heart out.” He waggled his eyebrows evilly. “You can have sex on a plane, you canhave sex on a train. You can have it in the breeze, you can have it wearing skis!”
    She groaned, then thought about it. “Actually I don’t think that’s possible, Dan…”
    He ignored her. “You can have sex at a fair, you can have sex anywhere! You can do it with a clown, or even while you wear a crown…”
    â€œEnough. Here, put on your pants.”
    â€œSex will put a smile on you, so you should go and have some, too!”
    â€œAre you done, yet?”
    He mock-frowned at her. “I’m starting to get the feeling that you don’t appreciate my way with words.”
    Lil stepped into her skirt and zipped it up. She pursed her lips. “I appreciate your way with women a lot more.”
    He yawned and stretched his hands over his head to crack his back.
    Her mouth went dry at the sight of all that lovely muscle in motion, held taut for her viewing pleasure. Then she noticed how incongruous this naked cowboy looked standing in front of her grandmother’s sideboard, showcasing his penis next to Nana’s cut crystal punch bowl.
    â€œPants!” she said. “You’ve got to put your pants on.” Dear God, what if Nana had been looking down from above? The woman whose graciousness and reputation she’d always tried to live up to…
    â€œWhy are you in such a hurry, Miz Lil? The night is young. I have about as much use for my jeans right now as I have for that skirt you’re wearing. Did I say you could put that back on? I don’t believe I did.”
    She arched a brow and stuck her head through her camisole. “I didn’t realize that I had to ask your permission.”
    â€œHere in Uncivilization 101, you gotta do as the alpha dog says.”
    She forgot her manners even further and stuck her tongue out at him—as though he were a good friend like Shannon or Jane.
    â€œRule number two of Uncivilization 101. You are not allowed to stick your tongue out unless you plan to use it on the alpha dog’s bod.”
    â€œAnd what’s rule number three?”
    â€œRule number three is that once you invite the barbarian to ravage you—”
    â€œRavish,” she corrected.
    â€œâ€”you can’t put on your skirt again until he says so, though he does appreciate the fact that right now you have it on with no panties.” Dan took two long strides toward her and grasped the hem, pulling it upward and kissing her.
    She could smell herself on him, and it should have horrified her but it didn’t. She fell into the kiss for a moment, but then remembered—she couldn’t do this again in front of these photographs and knickknacks. It made her too uncomfortable.
    She engaged in a little tug-of-war with him over her skirt; pulling it down as he tried to raise it. “My bedroom,” she whispered. “I can’t—” She broke away from him and made for the stairs.
    He caught up with her at the foot of them. “Rule number four of Uncivilization 101. Bedrooms are hohum. Do it anywhere but in a bed.” His arm snaked around her and pulled her back against his chest. With the same hand, he cupped her breast almost roughly and rubbed her nipple with his thumb.
    His other hand went directly under her skirt, searing her flesh everywhere he touched, moving from her bare buttocks to her inner thighs and then upward into the very light sprinkling of hair at her core.
    Lil sagged against him, and then found herself grasping the newel post as he bent her forward to play with her from behind. He touched her so lightly, tantalizing her there with his