Instant Gratification (Wilder #2)(54)

She took one back and came up against the vee of the counter. Perfect. He put one hand on the tile. “Open up,” he said, gesturing to her shirt.

“You’ve gotten a good enough look already.”

He braced his other hand on the tile as well, trapping her between the counter and his body. “Honey, I have a good enough look right now.”

She looked down.

Standing as close as he was, the top of her head brushed his chest as she took in what he meant. Her blouse, still wet, still sheer, revealed her as perfectly as if she’d been nude; delicate collarbone, perfect breasts tipped with perfect rose colored nipples, and gently curved belly, moving in and out with her quickened breathing.

Rolling her eyes at herself, probably at him too, she grabbed the ice pack, set it across her collarbone, just above her breasts, and sucked in a breath.

He smiled.

“Are you enjoying this?”

His gaze dipped low again, watching as her nipples hardened even further, and let out a heartfelt sigh. “Most definitely.”

“I didn’t enjoy the sight of you when you were on the examination table.”

“Maybe not then, when I was muddy and bloody, but I bet you thought of me later.”

She pulled her lower lip in between her teeth, trying to maintain a somber attitude.

“Come on, admit it. You did.”

She rolled her eyes, as good an admission as he was going to get. They were standing close, eyes locked together, and she smiled, and then so did he. And then, just as suddenly, his amusement faded.

Zero to sixty…

Emma let the ice pack fall. Their thighs bumped. His hands went to her waist. Hers slid up his chest, and they were staring at each other.

Not smiling.

Not even breathing.

His hands tightened on her, then glided up her slim spine, one fisting in her wet blouse, the other sinking into her hair. She shivered, but he knew it wasn’t from the cold.

“Are we still playing doctor?” she murmured.

“I’m game. I think I should check you out much more thoroughly.”

“You’ve done that.”

“A second opinion never hurts.” When her breath caught audibly, he pulled her up against him, careful of her ribs. “I’ll start with your mouth.”

The mouth in question fell open and she licked her lips, that quick little gesture she sometimes did when she was nervous.

Oh yeah, he liked her that way. She let down her guard, and he definitely loved watching her with her guard down. She didn’t quite know what to do with herself when she stepped out of her element.

She fidgeted, shifted her weight, nibbled on that lower lip in a way that made him very, very hard. “Come closer,” he murmured.

“Any closer, and I’ll be breathing your air.”

“Exactly what the doctor ordered.” And with that, he made the move and kissed her.

Ah, yeah. That was what he’d been craving since she’d left his cabin the night before. Hell, since the first time he’d seen her.

Unlike her wit, her brain, her eyes, which were all sharp as a razor, her mouth was soft.

Warm.

Sweet.

Giving.

For one blissful moment she sank into him.

Just like that, the discomfort of being wet and cold vanished, since between them they were generating enough heat to supply a small third world country with electricity for a year.

Her fingers tightened in the material of his wet t-shirt, then slid up his chest, until her arms were wrapped around his neck, holding on as if maybe he was giving her something she hadn’t been able to get from anyone else, something she really needed.

Something he was so willing to give.

Then she pushed free, and walked out of the room.





Chapter 18




He followed her. Of course he followed, Emma thought. She could hear the squeak of his wet boots on the floor behind her as she moved into the small office and opened the closet door. The closet was almost larger than the office, and she blindly reached out for the set of sweats she kept there.

Because that was why she was covered in goose bumps. She was cold.

Yeah, and she was also the Tooth Fairy.

When the small single overhead light bulb flicked on, she turned.

Stone stood in the doorway of the closet, one hand still raised, holding the chain to the light. She’d intended to dress in the dark, but what the hell, he’d already seen everything she had to show. She tugged off her blouse, and met his gaze, surprised to see not just blazing heat, but also a baffled affection, one that really plowed into her, staggering her back a step until she came up against the wall and the large storage bin that held God knew what.

He came toward her, gently pushing a stack of boxes out of his way, making the rather large closet seem small with his presence.

And getting smaller.

He took the sweats from her hands and set them aside. “Hey,” she protested. “Changing here.”

He unhooked her bra, took in what he’d uncovered, and let out a breath of appreciation as he dipped his head.

“Stone—”

“You’re hurt. I wanted to kiss it better.” His mouth covered a breast, his fingers danced down her quivering belly as his tongue flicked a nipple. Without missing a beat in teasing her into an instant puddle of need and desire, he opened her pants and let them fall.