“Granny thinks you’re in love with me.”
The breath left her lungs in a rush. “Granny’s… very perceptive.” She gulped in air.
His eyes widened. “She’s right?”
“To be clear….” She still couldn’t breathe worth a damn. “I’ve tried… I’ve tried not to be.”
“Tried and failed?” A gleam in his dark eyes, he took a step into the kitchen.
“You haven’t been much help.”
“Oh?” He kept moving.
“Bringing me over here, letting me see how cute you and Granny are with each other, breaking out the expensive champagne?—”
“That wasn’t me.”
“She just took it upon herself to serve your?—”
“It was hers.” He was close now, very close. “Mom gave it to her as a welcome present back in October. She has no idea how much it costs. Please don’t tell her.”
“I won’t.” She held his gaze. “It was really good champagne. I can still taste it.”
His breath hitched. “Me, too.”
Her heart thumped so fast it made her ears buzz. “Please take me to bed.”
Heat flared in his eyes. “You’ve got it.” Reaching for her hand, he wove his fingers through hers and tightened his grip. “Come with me.” He led her out of the kitchen, flipping off the light as he passed by the switch.
Good thing he had a firm grip on her, because she wasn’t exactly steady on her feet. Definitely not the booze, either. She’d been fine clearing the table. “What about the dishes?”
“They’ll wait. This won’t.”
The urgency in his voice tightened the coil of need deep in her core. She ached as she never remembered aching before.
She fought to keep things in perspective. This didn’t change anything. Like he’d said before, they’d just have some fun, knowing it couldn’t be more than that.
But it already was. She’d admitted to being in love with him. Sort of. Was he in love with her? His actions made it highly likely. But he hadn’t said so.
The click of his door closing made her shiver. Drawing her close, he lowered his head, his breath warm against her lips. “Buckle up, Lani-lou.”
She opened her mouth to protest that stupid name and he cut her off with a kiss that fried her brain and drenched her panties. Didn’t take him long to divest her of those panties, along with every stitch she had on.
She tried to return the favor, but he was a moving target. She’d only managed a few buttons on his shirt before he’d picked her up and laid her on his bed, not bothering to turn back the covers. Not that she needed any.
His hot gaze swept over her, more effective than any blanket. “I imagined this so many times and you’re even… you’re more beautiful than I ever….” His chest heaved. “Thank you.”
“You need to?—”
“First things first.” Toeing off his boots, he climbed in and gave her a kiss that left her breathless. Then he moved on, exploring and tasting with a brush of his lips here or a swipe of his tongue there.
Each liquid caress suggested his ultimate destination. The warm cotton of his shirt and the soft denim of his jeans brushed her increasingly sensitive skin. When anticipation rose to a fever pitch, he slid down between her thighs and claimed the most intimate kiss of all.
She gulped and clutched handfuls of the comforter as her body began to hum, then tremble, then shake. She was there…there,blasting off into space, trailing smoke and fire. Was that her yelling, belting out a string of X-rated words?
Gradually the rocket ride slowed and she settled back to earth, limp and struggling to breathe. The mattress shifted and she opened her eyes.
Rance sat in a chair a few feet away, his gaze on her as he pulled off his socks. “Hey, there.”
