Temptation Ridge (Virgin River #6)(67)

Something happened to him. The tension was gone, the physical relief was welcome, but he wasn’t completely satisfied. He didn’t want to leave her body. He found himself thinking, I’m in a place no one has ever been, and it’s the sweetest place imaginable. The thing he usually did to prove he knew how to treat a woman right, holding her for a long, precious moment after the lovemaking, he was doing now because he simply couldn’t let her go. When he thought about her leaving his bed, it made him feel empty inside. Holding her, kissing her, touching her, felt right. Perfect and normal.

At long last she let out a deep, satisfied sigh.

Reluctantly, he let himself slip out of her body. He braced his head on a raised hand and looked down at her, idly toying with the hair at her temple. “Was that everything you thought it would be?” he asked.

“Oh, man,” she said, her voice quivering with a small laugh. “Now I know what the girls have been talking about. It’s even better than I imagined.”

“Okay, even if I can believe you haven’t had sex before, it’s going to be damn hard to convince me you’ve never had any kind of orgasm. I started having mine at twelve, all by myself.”

“Yeah, I’ve been there. But there’s a definite difference between that and this. Whew.”

His lips found her neck, shoulder, ear. “You’re going to have to help me understand this.”

“It’s not interesting, Luke. You already know, if you think about it. My mom. She got sick when I was eighteen. I never left her for long.” She shrugged. “I got out a little with friends, but I never got involved with any guys. I even had some dates, some very dull dates. The last couple of years were all about helping my mom to the end.” She touched the short hair over his ear. “I’m a late bloomer, huh?”

He looked down at her, shaking his head. “I don’t know how it’s possible. Is everyone in Bodega Bay blind? You just about sent me into a coma the first night I saw you. They should’ve been beating down the door…”

She stroked his face. “This is a whole new world for me, Luke. To have this kind of freedom. To think about myself. To flirt with a man.” She smiled. “A dangerous man.” Then her smile faded. “Something like this couldn’t have happened while I worried whether my mom was okay at home.”

“This is new territory for me, Shelby. I never would have planned this.”

She grinned. “Is that so? I suspected that, which is why I decided not to mention it. Until it was too late for you to turn back.”

“I don’t get into things like this. There are a hundred reasons why I shouldn’t be in bed, naked, with you right now.” He pressed a soft kiss to her temple. “A hundred and one, now that I know you’re a virgin.”

“Was,” she corrected. “No one had ever been inside me, and you’re… Shew.” She shook her head.

“I’m what?” he asked, running a hand along the hair over her ear.

She laughed softly. “I admit I don’t know much about men, but I suspect you’re a little more blessed than the average guy. Plus, you’re amazing. I’ve always heard the first time is uncomfortable.” She smiled. “That was great.”

“I think if I’d known, I would have moved away. Left town for good.”

“I’m really glad you didn’t. It was perfect.”

“It was pretty perfect. But damn, girl. I’ve never done that before.”

“What?”

“I’m thirty-eight. You’re the first virgin I’ve ever been with. Why did you cry?”

She dropped her lids. “It’s a little embarrassing, being this old and…”

“Aw, baby,” he said, kissing her closed eyes. “It was sweet. Sweeter than anything I’ve ever experienced.”

He rolled onto his back, looking at the ceiling. Crazy thoughts began filling his head, chief among them was that he couldn’t imagine there ever being another man in her life, in her body. He’d never had such possessive, proprietary feelings. He wasn’t sure if this was because it was Shelby, or because she’d never been touched inside until he claimed her. “I’ll be honest with you,” he said. “It shakes me up.”

“I noticed,” she said with a laugh.

“I’m serious, Shelby. I’m wanting you again. I don’t want you to leave this bed.”

She rolled over onto her stomach and raised herself up on her elbows. “I’m going to have to go home eventually. Before there’s a search party.”

“I will shoot anyone who touches that door,” he said. “Don’t move. I’ll be right back.” He slipped off the bed and headed for the bathroom to get rid of the condom.

As he walked back into the room, she got her first sight of a naked man in full form. She smiled. He was so beautiful. It was so awesome to have a gorgeous, lusty man walk toward her. He stretched out beside her, pulling her against him again, placing a gentle palm over her soft mound. “How does it feel? Down here?”

“Lush,” she said, snuggling closer.

“There’s a little blood.”

“Yeah. No surprise. Nothing to worry about,” she said.

“Are you sore?”

She shook her head. She felt him against her thigh. Growing. “Am I going to be able to walk out of here?” she asked, humor in her voice.