He stopped unpacking food and sent her a hard look. “You do. I want to get to know everything about you, but I feel my control over my life and our relationship slipping where you’re concerned.”
“So why ask me out?” She gestured vaguely to their surroundings.
He stared for a moment, then leaned over and kissed her lips tenderly. “Because I like you.”
And on that sexy, confusing note, they ate their steaks in relative silence. Partly because the food was so damn good. Partly because Ireland didn’t know what to say. And then Bran brought out homemade peach cobbler, and she really had no words, except a few pleasure moans that had Bran staring. But not at the cobbler.
Heat. Attraction. This was why they were here. On a mattress. Out in the open air. Who could argue with the forces of nature?
“I can’t move,” Ireland said. “You’re right. Prime has the best food.” She sank against the cushions, her stomach slightly rounded with a food baby. “You know, you might be onto something with this outdoor dining experience. Have you considered a Prime pop-up restaurant?”
Bran sat back with his arms folded behind his head. “I can’t see Prime food set out at a strip mall.”
Ireland shifted toward him. “No, I mean a separate outdoor restaurant in the summertime, but on Club Tahoe grounds, with heated lamps and ambiance. Your resort has one of the most beautiful locations in Lake Tahoe, highlighting the lake and surrounding mountains. Why not bring something like Prime outdoors? In the summertime. Winter would be too cold.”
He rolled to his side and faced her, inches away. He ran his finger down her temple lightly. “What else do you have rolling around in that brilliant mind of yours?”
Nothing good, she thought, and leaned forward, pressing her lips to his.
Chapter 18
Bran’s mouth was still. For all of a nanosecond, and then his lips moved beneath Ireland’s, his arm wrapping around her waist and sliding her closer, sending a thrill up her spine.
Ireland ran her fingers through his soft hair, controlling the kiss while his hand roamed along her side, around to her ass and down her leg.
He slowly leaned over her, pressing her into the mattress. “This okay?”
Dammit, he’d better not break the moment with words. “No talking, remember?”
“Right, less talking, more hands. Have I mentioned how intelligent you are?”
That wasn’t always a compliment in the case of past boyfriends. Some men didn’t like women with brains. “Does it make me more or less attractive?”
“Definitely more,” he said, and leaned up. Apparently to get a better hold, because he grabbed her waist and slid her down until she was flat on her back. “Tell me ifmy handsgo too far.”
She wiggled her hips. “I’m still waiting for them to do something.”
A deep rumble came from his chest, and he leaned over her and grabbed her leg, lifting it and fitting his waist between her thighs. “That close enough?”
She leaned up and kissed his neck, her tongue darting out with a quick swipe. God, he tasted good. “Getting there.”
The next thing she knew, Bran was kissing her, his tongue caressing and devouring her mouth. His lips slid down her neck, peppering sexy kisses along the way. He pushed her navy cardigan to the side and kissed the swells of her breasts, wrapping his lips around one of her nipples through the fabric of her dress.
“Now, you’re really getting there,” she said, her voice breathy.
Bran rose, breaking contact, and she almost lost it. Until he reached behind his neck and yanked his long-sleeved Henley over his head.
Ireland touched the muscles on his chest. “This is more like it. I fully approve.” She ran her hands down his muscular arms. “How do you stay so fit with all that delicious food around?”
“Gym. Cade metabolism,” he said, as he pushed her cardigan down her arms until she relented and took her hands off his body long enough for him to remove it.
Of course. Cade men were hot—had to be in the genes.
He seemed to study her dress, and apparently figured out it zipped in the back, because he had her back arched, and she felt cool evening air on her skin.
She helped him slide her dress off her shoulders until she wore only her bra and her dress from the waist down.
At least she thought she wore her bra, but in the moment she’d reached up for a kiss, her bra had been unhooked and tossed to the side.
