Her eyes flew wide. “What? Why?”
“Because I’m raging inside,” he admitted gruffly, noting the way her high color deepened. “I don’t know if I’ll be able to stop at two or three kisses.”
“Who said you have to?” Her voice was low and a little wicked. “I’m not going to count . . .” Her eyes had gone dark with desire. In her gaze, he clearly saw the same lust he was battling. She closed the distance between them, practically putting herself in his lap. Her warm breath fanned against his lips as she whispered, “Practice time. Kiss me.”
He didn’t need to be asked twice. He pressed his mouth to hers, taking slow, sumptuous sips from her lips as his hands gently cradled her head. She responded slowly at first, but he held her, kissing her until her muscles relaxed under his hands and she eased against him. Within a minute, their mutual attraction took over like wildfire. Her mouth opened to him and he deepened the kisses, his tongue sweeping inside, wanting to taste her, desperate for more. She arched against him, pressing herself close as her arms snaked around his neck. His fingers tangled in her hair, such a thick mass of curls, so soft . . .
“Just friends,” he whispered against her lips between kisses, assuring her as much as himself. “Friends with an agenda . . . that happens to include sexy time.”
She smiled, melting into his arms. “I like the sound of that.”
He kissed her again and again. “Me too.”
She tipped her head back to offer better access to her throat. He kissed, licked, nipped his way along her chin and down her neck. Her fingers twisted in his hair, her sighs of pleasure making his blood race. “Best deal I’ve ever made,” she said on a hitched breath. “Both sides, nothing but win.”
He chuckled lightly. “I don’t know how we got here.”
“I don’t either,” she said, arching against him as his hands ran up her sides. He kissed her neck as his hands covered her small, perfect breasts, bringing a sweet moan from her. “Friends with an agenda is going to be really fun, I think . . .”
He caressed her breasts with one hand while tangling the other in her hair, and looked into her eyes. “Hmm . . . this is more than kissing.” His thumb feathered over her nipple, which pebbled beneath his touch. Even as her breath caught, he asked, “Is this okay?”
She arched forward, pressing her breast harder against his hand. “Hell yes, that’s okay . . .” With a soft moan, her eyes slipped closed as she let him explore her. Watching her face, he fondled one breast, than the other, mesmerized by her. He was rock hard already, and his jeans felt way too tight. Her delicate features flushed with color as her willowy body undulated beneath him . . . she was breathtaking.
“God, you’re beautiful.” His hungry mouth consumed hers, taking her under with commanding kisses. He eased her down to lie back against the cushions, positioning himself over her as his demanding mouth took and gave. “I want you right now. So much.”
“I want you too,” she admitted in a whisper. Her fingertips ran along his beard as they drowned in each other. “But . . . I think . . .”
“If you can still think while I’m kissing you,” he said, “I’m not doing a very good job of it.”
She laughed. “Believe me, you’re doing a good job of it. Too good . . .” He ravaged her neck again and her head fell to the side to give him better access. “It’s been a while since I had sex too, you know.”
“How long?” he asked as his lips trailed down her throat.
“Labor Day weekend.”
“About as long as me.” He lifted his head and stared into her eyes. “Maybe we should fix that.”
“That’s kind of what I was thinking about,” she confessed in a whisper.
He crushed his mouth to hers, kissing her deep and hard and hot. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer as their tongues tangled, bringing a lusty groan from deep in his throat.
“Tess . . .” He aligned his body with hers. She fit him perfectly. “This is getting dangerous now.”
“I know.” Her hands moved over his broad shoulders, down his back. “But I can’t seem to stop.”