The silent scolding seemed to bolster her thoughts. Then it hit her. Body heat. She’d seen it in the movies and hoped it worked. Changing her jersey, sweatpants, and underwear for a dry sleep shirt, she lifted the blankets and lowered herself gently over Reece’s body. She shoved aside thoughts of his hard to ignore nakedness, pulled the covers snug over their bodies, and settled her head in the crook of his neck. As though the new heat helped, Reece’s arms snaked across her lower back and held her tight.
Several minutes later, his trembling slowed to spasmodic jerks. Keenly aware of his body’s hardness, Aria sighed and relaxed as the heat of her body seeped into his. Her sleep shirt rode up; she ignored it. Modesty was the least of her problems. Finally, the jerking stopped. His even breathing, another few minutes later, told her he’d fallen asleep. With a soft sigh of glee, she closed her eyes.
****
ARIA OPENED HER EYESand blinked, unsure how long she’d slept. She still lay in her snug position over Reece’s body. Abruptly, her nostrils flared. So close to him, it was difficult not to inhale the musky scent of him or ignore the steady beat of his heart against her chest. The heat he radiated scorched her skin. Slowly, she slid off him. Only, his arms moved, holding her tightly in place.
“Don’t leave me.”
Words so soft, Aria wasn’t sure if she’d heard correctly and lifted her head. The shallow breathing, however, confirmed he slept. Glad he was all right, she studied his face. Thick lashes, long and dark, contrasted perfectly against the bronze skin of his cheeks. Full, seductive lips, pink and parted slightly hinted at perfect white teeth. Two stray locks of dark brown hair kissed his brow in a perfect, celebrity playboy image. God, the man was gorgeous. His hold on her loosened, and she sat up. Her gaze roamed the tantalizing view of his torso, the gentle rise and fall of his chest before dropping lower to his toned arms.
Sheer need immediately burned her insides. Any woman in her right mind would be insane to say no to him. Only, she’d turned him down flat—something he probably didn’t get often. The thought made her smile. For all his cockiness, she couldn’t fault his gallantry. He’d braved this unmerciful weather to save a cat, and that certainly deserved a little leniency. If she said anything, though, his cheeky response would demand repayment.
Brazen, Aria leaned forward and brushed her lips lightly over his but lingered long enough to create a swirl of warmth between her naked thighs. She dropped a kiss to one corner of his mouth then the next.Geez, what are you doing? Thank him when he’s awake, idiot.
Despite the scolding, she trailed soft, slow kisses down his neck and over his chest. Would it be so wrong to give in to her desire and make love to him? To touch and be touched by those powerful hands. She saw no harm. All this crazy defiance hurt no one but her. She ached for the man.Give in.As the thought emerged, she lifted her head. Reece’s gaze held hers steadfast. His glazed eyes showed he remained in a fever-induced state. The mildest shame washed over her heated body.
He didn’t protest as she slid off him and turned away. She didn’t resist when he turned and pulled her into the arch of his body. Her back snug against his solid chest, and his erection already semi-hard against her lower back did nothing for her embarrassment. In that heated moment, Aria discerned no words were needed. Aroused, she couldn’t object when he nuzzled her ear, his breath hot against her nape, or when his hand slid under her shirt and cupped her breast. He flicked a finger over her nipple. She gasped. Sheer torture evaded her body at the idea of his mouth teasing the hardened buds.
God, she wanted him, needed him. A minute ago, she was all set to make love to him. Now the desire was so potent; it threatened her control to remain gentle. When his massaging hand moved away, she almost cried out but rejoiced when it slid lower down to cup her bare mound.
“God, please don’t wake me from this dream,” his soft plea against her nape made her smile.
Half tempted to tell him it wasn’t so; she remained silent. She instinctively arched her back into his rigid hard-on. When he slid a finger into her slick passage, Aria whimpered and already on the verge of coming. She turned her head slightly to offer him her lips. Hot, determined, and possessive, his warm mouth singed her lips. Unsure whether the temperature radiated from desire or the fever, she greedily accepted the seductive heat. Aria tasted his hunger. The heated caress of his tongue incited her desperation.
As he moved slightly and parted her legs with his knee, she forgot all sense of right and wrong. She stopped thinking altogether. And when the tip of his erection replaced his finger at the heated entrance of her wet pussy, she yanked her head away from his kiss. She gasped in pleasure, then pushed her bottom back. The action allowed him to enter her completely. His guttural growl told her he’d experienced the same intensity that shot up from her toes to her neck.
A tiny sound, something between a moan and a purr, escaped her lips as he began moving. His strokes, deep, even, and strong while his finger wreaked havoc on her clit. All too soon, she tensed. Overcome with the power of her orgasm, she dug her fingers into his thigh and urged him deeper. “God, Reece.”
In response, he gave her no chance to revel in her release. He shifted slightly, cupped her breast, and increased the pressure of his strokes. As he thrust hard and fast into her, Aria gasped. The steady growth of heat from her core shocked her, and she quickly teetered on the brink again. Without warning, her body surrendered. Her attempt to resist the pull of the raw, dark passion that surrounded her, failed. It took over with a thunderous force. Aria wasn’t sure, but in the echo of her cries, Reece’s husky words tumbled over her ears as he succumbed to his release.
“I love you, Aria.”
The throaty exclamation mesmerized her, equally potent as her second orgasm, and she drifted momentarily. While her body trembled in a slow burn, the reality of Reece’s words stumped her. Had she really heard it or was her imagination playing tricks on her.
****
ALOUD CRACK WOKE ARIAfrom a deep sleep. The best she’d had in a long time. She sat up and rubbed her eyes, taking a moment to adjust her vision. Her gaze fell on the bedside clock. She let out a muffled gasp.After one?God, she’d slept through the morning. The darkness outside an apparent ploy to the time of day. Reece stirred next to her, his naked body warm against hers, but he didn’t wake. Somewhere between sleep and the lust-filled oblivion of her confused mind, she tried to sift her thoughts into some semblance of order. The ‘I love you’ he muttered in the throes of passion still confused her.
She shook her head, slid out of bed, careful not to wake him, and walked into the bathroom. While storms could take down the power lines, the propane facility Uncle Buck installed guaranteed there’d always be power. She quickly showered.
Back in the bedroom, Aria dressed then stilled her movements when Reece turned on his side. He still slept. Either the toll of trudging through the storm, the fever, or the resulting sex escapade had the desired effect and kept him in a deep sleep. She grinned then spread out his damp jeans and sweater on a mini clothes rack to dry.
In the living room, she tossed a few logs into the fire and stared as the heat from the embers ignited the bark. A few minutes later, bright orange flames lapped at the wood. Warmth spread slowly through the room. In the hopes the cold temperature might help her rattled nerves and analyze what happened the night before, she opened a window.
A blast of cold air hit her face and provoked a shudder. Another crack resonated through the air. Sleet and wind from the previous night had indeed given way to an ice storm. Icy smoothness coated the porch, the driveway in front, and the trees bordering the property. Branches broke under the weight of it and resulted in the cracking sounds.
Aria closed the window. She stepped in front of the fire and warmed up. A drive in this weather was suicidal. Her daughter had to spend one more night at Kelly’s place and Reece another in her cabin. Thank goodness Prisha was in safe hands. Aria trusted Kelly with her daughter’s wellbeing. The knowledge alleviated one worry from her baffled mind. She walked toward her office and switched on the radio.
Despite the static, Kelly’s voice came through loud and clear. “Hey, girlfriend, you owe me money for the bet. I warned you to stock up on brandy, coffee, and a hot man ’cause the storm’s coming.”
Aria laughed. Trust Kelly to brighten the cold weather with natural humor. “Yeah, want me to bring it over now.”
Kelly chuckled. “I’d be a sorry-ass friend if I said yes. So, about that hot man? Anything you wanna share?”
“He’s here.” The minute the words left her mouth, Aria regretted them as Kelly’s unconcealed smugness filtered through her laughter.
“At least someone’s getting some body heat.”
