Temptation Ridge (Virgin River #6)(45)

He wrapped his arms around her. “God,” he whispered against her lips. “I feel better already. How do you feel?”

“Crazy. Completely crazy,” she said.

“Yeah,” he agreed, laughing. “This is pretty crazy. But I like it so far.”

She molded herself against him, her arms going around his neck to hold him. She felt his hand glide down her back, over her butt to rest there and pull her closer still. His arms were strong, firm, but not confining. She could have wriggled out of his grasp without the slightest struggle. Instead of feeling frightened, she began to feel secure. Loved. Of course she knew it wasn’t love—it was nothing more than human contact. But while her life was spiraling out of control, this handsome stranger felt like an anchor.

The one thought that came to mind should have brought her to her senses, catapulting her out of these arms, this room. But the opposite happened. She remembered she had a husband. And a prenuptial agreement in which she promised fidelity. In the event of divorce, she would not receive alimony if she had been unfaithful during the marriage. Of course, he had made no such promises and had been living with another woman for six months. He’d asked for the divorce nine months ago, but she hadn’t signed the papers or told any of her friends.

She didn’t care about alimony; her heart was in shreds. No amount of money would put it back together again.

She pushed against Cam. “This is wrong,” she said.

“It’s a lot of things, honey, but it’s not wrong,” he said. “We’re single, consenting adults and we’re—”

“I’m not,” she said.

He was frozen for a second. “Okay, this sure feels consensual, so I’m guessing you mean you’re not single.”

She nodded and her eyes glistened.

“Oh, boy,” he said, backing up a little bit, though he couldn’t seem to let go of her completely. “I hope he’s not standing outside that door with a big gun…”

“He’s been living with another woman for six months. He served me nine months ago. I’ve been putting off the inevitable. Not because I want him back, but because…” She looked down. “I should have known better than to marry him in the first place. And I never saw myself as divorced after just months of marriage. Abandoned, after a few weeks of marriage…”

He looked down at her, sympathetic. “Aw, Jesus… No wonder you’re feeling all broken up inside. I’m sorry, honey. That’s a little worse than some lousy fix-ups, that shouldn’t happen to anyone. I noticed you’re not wearing a wedding ring.”

“I had it on at the wedding, in front of my friends. By the time I got to the bar, I had decided—enough is enough. I can’t stand this anymore, this pretending. It’s in my purse. I’m sorry I misled you. It’s not your problem. I should be going now—”

“Relax. Ordinarily I’d run like hell from a married woman, but I’m not exactly cuckolding the son of a bitch. Stay. Put the whole thing out of your mind for a while.” And then he pulled her to him and kissed her again, deeply.

She swayed in his embrace, letting her hands run over his back while losing herself in his mouth, in his deep kiss. His hands on her were large, tender and confident, his chest hard against her br**sts. She felt a tingling pull between her legs and knew she was going to cross the line, let it happen. She needed to feel something; she’d been in pain or numb for too long. And before morning, she’d be gone. She’d go home and sign the papers and get to work on putting her life back together. It was time to move on.

She met his kiss with hunger that was so real, so hot and bold, she almost forgot everything that had landed her in that bar, feeling sorry for herself. They consumed each other for a minute, then two, then four, completely lost in kisses so strong and penetrating her knees grew weak. She was beginning to feel again, feel something good.

Then she kicked off her shoes. She was staying.

Taking her hand, he led her to the bed where he sat on the edge, looking up at her. He gave her hand a gentle tug, bringing her down on his lap. His arms around her waist, hers around his neck, they were lost in deep, wet kisses that lasted forever. She felt his hand brush against her breast and it sent shivers rippling through her. He held her there, his hands on her waist while her hands moved behind her neck to the zipper of her dress, slowly inching it down. He lifted his hands to meet hers, pulling the zipper the rest of the way. She pulled the soft, gold silk forward, off her shoulders and down until it fell to her waist, leaving her only in her small, lacy bra. “God, you’re beautiful,” he whispered, burying his face in satin and lace, kissing her through the undergarment.

She held his face against her, resting her cheek against his soft hair. “I’ve lost my mind,” she said against his ear. She slipped her hands down and began to work the buttons on his shirt, opening it, sliding her hands across his hard, hairless chest. “I’ve completely lost my mind.”

“I can stop,” he said. “If this isn’t what you want, all you have to do is say so. As a courtesy, you might want to say so pretty soon.”

“Don’t stop,” she said. Beneath her, through the sheer fabric of a silk dress and small, thin panties, she could feel him growing hard against her, and pleasure shot through her as she moved against him.