Rough Rider (Hot Cowboy Nights, #2)(70)

“Then I’d hate to disappoint you, Red.” The words were barely out of his mouth before he spun back toward the inn. “Wait here,” he tossed over his shoulder.

Dirk returned a few minutes later, room key in hand. “Last one,” he explained. “There’s a big wedding party.”

She stared at the key. “You got us a room?”

“I want us to do this right for a change. I don’t want a quick and dirty f*ck in the truck like a coupla horny teenagers. You deserve better than that.”

Janice swallowed hard, the significance of his act and his words nearly overwhelming her. It seemed a monumental step from him.

“I admit I’m nervous as hell right now,” he confessed, as if reading her mind. “I haven’t had a woman in a bed since before… Shit! I’ve never felt this anxious before.”

Although he was accustomed to taking charge, she could see he was facing a major crisis of confidence. She twined her arms around his neck. “There’s no reason,” she said. “All I want…all I need…is you inside me.”

He withdrew a few inches, searching her face. “I want that too, Red. So you wanna go inside now?”

“Yeah. I do,” she replied.

Moments later, Janice slinked through the lobby, acutely self-conscious about her lack of luggage and knowing she’d feel far more embarrassed when they left after a couple of hours. She hoped they’d be able to sneak out without anyone noticing. As if reading her thoughts, Dirk walked on the inside as they passed by the check-in desk, wrapping his arm protectively around her. He punched the button to call the old-fashioned elevator and pulled her inside the moment the doors opened.

Once they closed again, he hit a button for the second floor and then pinned her to the wall, his thigh wedged between hers. His mouth descended on her neck, licking, sucking, gently biting. Desire bloomed until she thought she’d melt into a puddle on the floor. Her legs were almost ready to give way when the elevator dinged and the doors opened.

*

The scent of vanilla had enveloped him the minute the elevator closed. She smelled so damn good that it made him light-headed. She tasted even better. When the bell dinged, he peeled her arms gently but firmly from around his neck, forcing himself to break the kiss before he lost himself in it…in her…completely. He guided her down the hall with his hand poised just above her ass, unlocking the door, his heart pounding erratically with a mix of fear and anticipation. It wasn’t their first time together, but this was different. By taking her to bed, he’d be letting his guard down. Completely. And it scared the shit out of him.

The room was dark, but he intentionally bypassed the light switch. He could barely stand to look at himself in the mirror. The thought of seeing revulsion reflected in her eyes terrified him.

Without breaking the kiss, they backed unevenly across the floor toward the bed. Her hands matched the eagerness of her mouth, unbuttoning his shirt and peeling it back to explore his torso. He experienced another instant of panic when she reached for the bedside lamp.

“No.” He stayed her hand. “One step at a time, Red. If this is gonna happen, you’ll need to grant me a few small concessions.”

As if reading his fears, Janice rose up on her toes and cupped her hands around his face. “This is about trust, Dirk. You told me you want to make this work between us. If that’s going to happen, you need to trust me.”

Holding him, she brushed her lips over his, then worked her way over the scar that marred his face. He stiffened beneath her touch, but tamped down the urge to wrench away.

“Please, Dirk,” she whispered, her brown eyes pleading. “Just let go. Let me prove to you that your injuries don’t matter to me. Show me we can do this…that we can have this.” She feathered more light kisses over the mangled flesh before pressing her warm, lush body against him and sealing her mouth to his.

He kissed her back, his mouth melding with hers, exploring, tasting, growing hungrier when her tongue darted out seeking his, spiking his desire another notch. Edgy as he was, she still had him hard as a post in no time.

She stripped off his shirt, but he knew it was too dark for her to see very much. Even with their eyes adjusted, the dim light wouldn’t reveal the worst of it. She tugged his jeans and boxers off his hips, but stopped shy of pushing them all the way down. He sprang free into her warm and eager hands. She caressed his length as she trailed hot and humid kisses down his torso. Lust had him swaying drunkenly on his feet by the time she was face level with his swollen dick. He had to clasp her shoulder for balance.

His lids fluttered shut on a low moan as she drew him into her mouth. She took him deep, gently rolling his balls between her fingers. They tightened beneath her touch. He rocked his hips. She gripped his flexing buttocks and he was gone, his mind blurred to all but sensation. He realized with annoyance that once more he’d let her take control. It wasn’t what he wanted, not how he’d planned for this to play out, but it still took a supreme force of will to withdraw from her mouth.

*

As she’d sucked, stroked, and caressed, his pleasure became hers. She was quickly caught up in his salty taste, his musky scent, and the guttural sounds emerging from his throat. He had to be close to coming. His eyes were shut, the muscles in his neck straining, his chest rising and falling erratically when he abruptly withdrew.