Slow Hand (Hot Cowboy Nights, #1)(36)

“Look on the bright side…” He chuckled. “It’s too cold for any snakes to bite you in the ass.”

“Snakes! You never said anything about snakes!”

“Don’t worry, darlin’. There’s only one venomous species up here and they’re all probably hibernating by now. Besides, you’re unlikely to get bit unless you step on one.”

“But it’s dark! How could I help stepping on one?”

“You want me to hold that light for you?”

“Yes! No! Can you at least check for snakes?”

He made a sweep of the entire area behind the cabin, and then handed her the flashlight with an obnoxious grin. “I’ll be close by.”

Although Nikki made quick business of it, her thin Southern blood was frosted by the time she finished. Once she got back inside, she wondered how much she should undress for bed. She pulled her arms out of her coat sleeves with chattering teeth. “Wade, I’m f-freezing my ass off.”

“Now that would be just plain criminal.”

He came behind her, cloaking her in his big, surprisingly warm body. His hands slid down to anchor at her hips. “It’s a damned fine ass, by the way. I’ve been studying it from all angles.” He dropped his mouth to the tender spot behind her ear. “Why don’t you just pull that cot up beside mine?”

He rocked his hips into her backside, ensuring that his interest, his arousal, was evident.

Her thighs tightened with the tremor of desire that snaked through her. Her body thrummed with want, but she swore she wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of knowing it—certainly not after what he’d done to her with the peaches. “What? Fend off the wolves outside just to offer myself up to the one inside?”

He chuckled, a low and husky rumble that reverberated through her back. “I’m only trying to ensure your comfort, sweetheart, and I can’t think of any better way than to warm you from the inside out.”

She was already feeling warmer. Part of her wanted to sink into him and take everything he offered, but her wiser half prevailed. “No thanks. I’ll pass on that.” Forcing herself to step away from his glorious heat, she spun out of his grasp. “You see how easy that was? Maybe you’re not quite as irresistible as you thought.”

His gaze narrowed. “You’re playing with fire, you know that?”

She licked her lips, prepared to spout off another rebuttal but he muffled her—with his mouth. His searing kiss was like a branding iron, melding his lips to hers. There was nothing tentative or exploratory about this kiss. It was possessive, commanding, and demanding a response she couldn’t deny. She stiffened for only a second before surrendering to the sinful sensation of his hot tongue. He grew hungrier, more demanding, stoking the embers had been smoldering deep in her belly for hours.

Nikki sank into him as if liquefied. Clutching his shoulders she lost herself in the wet and wild tangle of tongues that fired ripples through her with every slick stroke. Her nipples tingled and her thighs clamped together against the agonizing ache. It had been ages since she’d been kissed like this. Hell, she wondered if she’d ever been kissed like this.

Only minutes ago, she’d been quivering with cold, but now she burned with want. If this was playing with fire, she wanted nothing more than to throw herself into the flames.

Moaning into his mouth, she took his collar in a death grip and ground against him with wicked abandon. God, he felt so damn good—all hard aroused male. But it wasn’t enough. Feeling like a lit torch on a puddle of gasoline, she ripped at his shirt buttons and yanked at his clothes, desperate for the feel of flesh on flesh.

He broke from the kiss looking as lost in lust as she felt. “Holy shit, sweetheart. Just hang on one minute, OK?”

Shedding his jacket and shirt with amazing speed, he dragged the two sleeping bags off the cots and zipped them together on the floor. He settled his long frame on the floor, stretching his hand out to her in invitation. The whole process had only taken him seconds, but the brief lull was enough for her stalled brain to kick back into gear. What are you doing, Nikki? Are you crazy?

When she made no move toward him, he came to her, his breathing ragged and desire flaring in his hungry eyes. Cupping her face, he kissed her again, long and deep and seductive, releasing her slowly, reluctantly.

“You’re reading too much into it, sweetheart,” he murmured. “You’re freezing cold and I’m burning up. Why not let the ends justify the means?”

Once more, he’d left it to her. Sleeping with him would be like skydiving…without a parachute. The free fall would be intoxicating, exhilarating—but the landing? She didn’t even want to think about that! But as much as much as that thought terrified her, it would be nothing compared to the regret she’d suffer a month from now, wondering what might have been.

“Just let go, Nikki.” His tone was coaxing, his argument convincing…almost irresistible. He drew her against him, this time enticing the seam of her mouth with more tantalizing flicks and darts of his tongue that obliterated reason. Just let go.

Slanting his mouth over hers, he deepened the kiss. His hands mapped over her body with slow and deliberate caresses until coming to rest on her ass. His kiss grew more demanding, his thrusting and retreating tongue inciting a gush of liquid heat between her thighs.