hijack his senses.
While his fingertips roamed, he leaned forward, taking one plump nipple into his mouth, curling his tongue around the exquisite texture.
A deep sound burbled in Amber’s throat, and her hands went for his belt buckle, the snap of his jeans, his zipper, his boxers, and then he was in her hand, and he knew time was running out.
He hooked his thumbs over the sides of her panties, stripping them down, letting them drop to the floor. Then his body moved unerringly to hers.
Her legs wrapped around his waist, and he raised his head, gazing into her eyes as he flexed his hips, easing slowly as he could to her center and into her core. Her eyes widened with every inch, she clenched her hands on his hips, and her sweet mouth fell open in a pout of awe.
Unable to resist, he bent his head, her features blurred as he grew close. Then her mouth opened against his, and his tongue thrust in, mimicking the motions of his hips as nature took over and he let the primal rhythm throb free between them.
He cupped her face, caressed her hair, kissed her neck, her temple, her eyelids. His hands roamed free, stroking her thighs, her bottom, her belly and breasts. Her panting breaths were music to his ears, her nails crescenting into his back transmitted her fervor.
Then she cried his name, urging him on, playing havoc with his self-control. But she was with him, and the small tremors contracting her body catapulted him over the edge into oblivion.
Amber blinked open her eyes.
She was vaguely aware of hay strands tickling her bare back. But she was much more aware of Royce’s hard, hot body engulfing her own. Her lungs were struggling to get enough oxygen, and every fiber of her muscles danced with the aftershocks of lovemaking.
Royce’s palm stroked over her hair, and he kissed her eyelids. Despite her exhaustion, her lips curled into a smile. But she was a long way from being able to speak.
Her skirt was in a bunch around her waist, her other clothes scattered. Her hair was wild and disheveled, tangled with hay, while her lips tingled with the heat of his kisses.
“I don’t know what to say,” Royce whispered in her ear.
She struggled through a few more breaths. “Well, I’m definitely not sorry,” she managed, and she heard him chuckle.
“Definitely not sorry,” he echoed.
He eased back, taking in her appearance.
“Bad?” she asked.
He pulled some straw from her hair. “Telltale.”
She raked spread fingers through her hair in an attempt to tame it while he refastened his jeans.
He bent and picked up her bra from the floor, frowned at the dirt streaks on it and tucked it into his back pocket. He located her tank top, gave her breasts one last, lingering look, then pulled her top back over her head. The peach color was blotted with dust. And Royce’s attempts to brush it off made things worse.
“We’ll probably want to sneak you in the back way,” he joked as she tugged down her skirt. He watched her movements closely.
She slipped his wrinkled shirt from beneath her butt and held it out to him. “You’re not looking so sharp yourself, cowboy.”
“I’ve been working hard.” As he shrugged into his shirt, his gaze strayed from the top of her head to the tips of her toes, and his tone went soft and intimate. “What’s your excuse?”
“Someone stole my underwear.”
He reached for the wisp of silk caught on the side of a bale and tucked it into his pocket with her bra.
“That’s my only pair.”
“Yeah?” He gave her body another long look. “Lucky me.”
He fastened his buttons then helped her down, tucking her hand in his as they headed across the barn. “I hope you know you’re sleeping in my bed tonight.”
“Only if you give my underwear back.”
“Maybe.”
“Maybe?”
He turned to gaze at her. “Talk me into it.”
Her footsteps slowed, and so did his. With their joined hands, he reeled her in, then he smoothed her hair back once more, moving closer still, voice intimate. “You know, you are stunningly gorgeous.”
A smile tickled the corners of her mouth. “Is that why you’re sneaking me in the back way?”
“I’m keeping you all to myself,” he whispered, lips coming down on hers.
The kiss nearly exploded between them. For all that they’d just made love, Amber’s arousal was strong as ever. She wrapped her arms around his neck, came up on her toes, welcomed his tongue and reveled in the feel of his warm hands as they stroked over her back, across her buttocks, down her thighs, then back up beneath her skirt.
She pressed her body against his as the kiss went on and on. A groan slipped from her lips.
“Again?” he asked, voice husky.
She nodded.
“Here or in bed.”
“I don’t care.” She truly didn’t. Royce could make her body sing, and propriety didn’t appear to have a lot to do with it.
He backed off slightly on the kiss and smoothed her skirt back down. “In bed.”
“Really?”
He grinned at the disappointment in her tone. “I want to make love to you for a very, very long time.”
She cocked her head sideways. “And you need a bed for that?”
“I don’t plan to be able to move afterward.”
She breathed a mock, drawn-out sigh. “If you think I’ll wear you out…”
“Is that a challenge?”
She gave a teasing half smile and rapidly blinked her lashes.
In return, he planted a playful swat on her buttocks. “You’re on, sweetheart.”
Amber stifled a yawn in the bright, midday sunshine, stretching her taut thigh muscles as she leaned on the railing of the ranch house deck. The puppies were below, chasing each other and rolling around on the meadow that sloped toward the river. Off the end of the deck, Amber could see the ranch hands putting up five giant tents in preparation for Saturday’s barbecue and barn dance.
She was dividing her time between the Sagittarius Eclipse mystery and the barbecue. She’d never planned an event quite like this before. They’d hired a local band. Hamburgers and hot dogs were making up the main course, while salads, potato chips and condiments seemed to round out the rest. They had plans for a giant cake for dessert, with papers plates, soft drinks and canned beer all around.
Amber wasn’t sure how the Ryder International executives would react to the dinner, though she was sure their kids would love the wagon rides, horseshoes and baseball game Stephanie had planned. When she’d broached the possibility of steaks, wine and real china with Sasha, the woman looked at her as though she’d lost her mind.
Okay, so they did corporate entertaining a little differently here in Montana. Amber could conform. And at least the event wasn’t likely to damage the Ryder International bottom line.
Tucking her windblown hair behind one ear, she pressed the on button of her cell phone, and dialed Katie’s work number.
“Katie Merrick,” came the familiar voice.
“It’s Amber.”
“What? Finally! Have you gone stark raving mad?”
“You’ve been talking to my mom, haven’t you?”
“Of course I’ve been talking to your mom. And your dad. And Hargrove. You’ve got him completely
