Every single moment. Every word. Every touch. Especially his touch.
She’d really thought he’d hold out after lecturing her on sex in a “proper” bed, even after she’d made the smart remark about his expectations of candlelight, flowers, chocolates and the release of beribboned doves at the moment of breaching her maidenhead—were not hers.
But it turned out he’d been as powerless against the passion that exploded between them as she.
So she hadn’t lost her virginity in any proper manner at all, rather one hot and bothered cowboy had pushed her up against her car and driven into her in the driving rain.
She sighed and closed her eyes. It’d been absolutely perfect. Water soaking their feverish skin. His hot mouth on her rain-cooled flesh. His hardness filling her softness, over and over. His rough-skinned hand clamped onto her behind. The sexy rumble of his voice in her ear when he wasn’t kissing her. Kissing her like her mouth alone could sustain him.
And when she feared her body would simply fly apart from the bliss that beckoned, Carson took her to paradise, joining her, and everything in her life changed.
Dramatic? Maybe. But that physical connection was way more than she’d ever expected.
Carolyn had just decided to quit lazing around and accomplish something, when she heard a vehicle turn up the drive. Probably just Harland or Darren coming to borrow tools or something, so she didn’t bother to move from her comfy spot in the sun. Maybe she wouldn’t do anything today but loaf.
Right. That’s not your nature.
A door slammed. “Sugar, is this really how you’re spendin’ all your days?”
She sat up so fast her sunglasses went flying. Then she scrambled to her feet. “Carson? What are you doing here?”
He paused at the bottom of the steps. His left eyebrow winged up. “That’s how you greet me after last night?”
Happiness nearly split her heart in two. She laughed and said, “Catch!” before she launched herself at him.
Carson caught her, his hands curling around her hips as his mouth found hers.
With the hungry way he kissed her and with her arms twined around his neck she felt like she was floating. The kiss went on for a blissfully long time. He broke the kiss slowly, treating her lips to little nibbles, a soft glide and then decisive smooches. “I probably oughtn’t maul you on the front porch in case your mama is peeking out the window.”
“She’s not here. My dad took her to the doctor and they’ll be gone all day.”
“That right?”
“My brothers are gone too.”
“So you’re all alone?”
She kissed his chin. “Not anymore. Have you had lunch?”
“Nope.”
“Come in.” She tugged his hand. “I’ll fix you something.”
“In a second. Lemme grab something outta my truck.”
Carolyn watched him amble to the driver’s side door, enjoying the view of his tight buns and long legs encased in denim. Although it was fairly warm out today, he wore a long-sleeved shirt—not that the extra fabric could hide the broad set of shoulders. Shoulders she’d been clinging to last night as his body had moved in and out of hers.
She was still lost in heated memories of hands and mouths and bodies in motion when he stopped in front of her.
“Whatcha thinkin’ about, Caro?”
Her eyes locked onto his. “Last night.”
He dipped his head and kissed the side of her throat. “You ain’t the only one.” Then he looked at her and smiled. A sweet, slightly devious smile and Lord have mercy she was just gone for this man. “I brought you something.”
That’s when she noticed his hands were behind his back. “What?”
Carson handed her a box of candy. “Since I didn’t give you the hearts and flowers romance you deserved last night, and since you were sarcastic about the doves at the moment of the official cherry popping, I thought I could at least bring you a sweet treat that’ll remind you of me.”
She laughed softly and studied the box of chocolate-covered cherries, hoping he didn’t notice her damp eyes. This man was so sweet and he had a good sense of humor. “I love chocolate. Thank you.”
“Hey.” His fingers were under her chin, lifting her face to meet his gaze. “You okay today?”
“Very okay. I know last night wasn’t…didn’t play out how you’d hoped. But for me, it was everything I’d ever wanted it to be and more.”
“Then that’s all that matters.”
“Was it okay for you?”
“No.”
Her heart stopped. “It wasn’t?”
“No,” he said again as he brushed soft, seductive kisses across her mouth. “It was f**kin’ amazing.”
She smiled against his lips. “Oh. Good.”
“Mmm-hmm.” He started nibbling her jaw. “Sugar, are we really alone?”
She loved how his breath felt fanning her skin. “Yes.”
“For how long?”
“For hours.”
“That’ll work.” He lifted her into his arms.
“Carson!”
“Open the door.”
She turned the handle and he strode inside the house and kicked the door shut behind them. “Which way?”
“To the kitchen for lunch?”
“No. To your bedroom. We can eat food after I’ve had a taste of you.”