All Summer Long (Fool's Gold #9)(66)

She reached out and punched him in the arm. The blow was hard enough to get his attention.

“Stop it,” she told him. “You’re acting like an idiot.”

“You can’t take it when I treat you like a girl instead of one of the guys.”

“Maybe.”

Her admission surprised him.

“Leftovers from the rape?” he asked.

“No. I was having trouble being girlie back when I was fourteen.”

“There’s a difference between girlie and feminine.”

“Not much of one.”

“You’re strong, Charlie. You don’t need to always be protecting yourself. It’s okay to let the other sides of you show once in a while.”

She plucked a blade of grass and tossed it at him. “I’m not wearing a dress.”

“No one’s asking you to. I’d prefer you to wear nothing at all.” He grabbed her wrist and pulled her toward him.

He’d thought she might resist, but she shifted easily, leaning toward him. He tugged a little more until she was off balance, then eased back onto the grass, bringing her with him.

She was stretched out, half on top of him, her gaze locked with his. Everything about her tempted him, but he wasn’t going to be the one initiating this time. He was going to let her do all the work.

“You can kiss me,” he told her.

She raised her eyebrows. “Can I?”

“Sure.” He stretched out his arms, then tucked his hands behind his head. “I’ll be right here.”

“I could also beat the crap out of you.”

He smiled. “In your dreams. Or naked. Naked would work.”

“You’re a strange man.”

“No. Most guys think about women naked. Especially the woman they want to have sex with.” He needed to touch her, but held back. “At the fire?”

She glared at him. “You did not think about me naked.”

“Sure I did. You looked great, by the way.”

She muttered something he couldn’t hear, then sighed. “You make me crazy.”

“Good. Now shut up and kiss me.”

She surprised him by doing just that. Leaning in and pressing her mouth to his.

Her lips were warm and yielding. She moved slowly, as if finding her way. Until then, he’d always been the one to take charge, to make the moves. But he knew that being able to be the aggressor would chase away any lingering ghosts.

So he stayed as he was, even as his fingers itched for the feel of her body. He wanted to run his hands up and down her back, to find the more interesting places and linger. Instead he forced himself to relax, to let her lead the way.

She kept the kisses light, then drifted across his jaw to his neck. She unbuttoned the front of his shirt and explored his chest with her lips and tongue. The feel of her teeth on his nipple sent electric jolts through his body. The blood already heading for his groin quickened its pace.

She pulled his shirt free of his jeans, then sat back on her heels and studied him.

“You’re just going to lie there?” she asked.

“Uh-huh.”

She tilted her head and then rested her hand on his erection. “I can do anything I want?”

“Even if it kills me.”

She chuckled. “I don’t want you dead.”

“What do you want?”

Color stained her cheeks, but she didn’t look away. “Were you smart enough to bring condoms?”

“Oh, yeah. Front pocket.”

She reached into his pocket and pulled out two condoms. “You’re ambitious.”

“I’m a guy with a hopeful attitude.”

She glanced around. “We’re outside. Anyone could see.”

“No one’s around. Besides, you’ll like it.”

She returned her attention to him. “And you’re really not going to do anything?”

“I’m going to come inside of you, Charlie. With you on top.”

He figured his words could send the afternoon in one of two directions. If she was still fighting demons, his verbal image might scare her into backing off. But the woman he knew and liked was tough. She had a sexual side she’d kept locked away for a decade. He was counting on her body winning over her mind. If he was right, he was in for a hell of a ride.

She stared at him for several very long seconds, then shrugged. “Okay.”

With that, she pulled her shirt over her head and unfastened her bra. Before he could blink, she’d pulled off her boots. Jeans and panties quickly followed. She stood next to him, naked and beautiful, sunlight dappling her body. His dick throbbed out a drumbeat of need.

He swore but didn’t move. Rules were rules and this was all about her.

She knelt next to him and reached for his belt. When it was undone, she went to work on the button at his waistband. He watched her work, eager to feel her hands on his body. Then she shifted direction and pulled off his boots.

“You’re going to have to help a little,” she told him as she started tugging on the hem of his jeans.

Rules were meant to be broken, he told himself as he shoved down his jeans and briefs and kicked them away. Then he lay back on the grass and put his hands behind his head again.

She stared at his erection. “Nice. How does it work? Me being on top. Do I climb on or what?”