She grabbed his hand and he hauled her higher. Once they reached the top, Daniel shimmied his window open, climbed inside, then helped her in.
When her flats hit the floor, she let out a breath. Feeling much more comfortable on solid footing, she shut the window behind her. Daniel flicked on his lamp, and as the warm light bathed the room, she took in the décor. A single bed was up against one wall, a navy blue comforter haphazardly thrown over it. On the other wall, there was an open laptop sitting on a small wooden student desk. Trophies and medals adorned the numerous shelves above the bed, and a football lamp sat on his nightstand.
“Nice room.”
He walked across the floor and locked his door. A fine tingle ran through her. Despite being all grown up, something about sneaking into his room felt so forbidden, and it shocked her how much that excited her.
“It’s a shrine,” he teased. “Mom left it the way it was, hoping I’d come back to it I guess.”
“Now her wish has come true. You’re staying here, aren’t you?”
He grinned. “Just temporarily.” Something strange passed over his eyes—it was the same look he’d given her earlier but one she didn’t recognize—when he went on to announce, “I bought the old Murphy house down by the lake. Now I’m just waiting for my goods to arrive. I never thought they’d sell it, but lucky for me, the Murphys recently retired and moved to Florida.”
“You bought the old Murphy place?” She widened her eyes in surprise. “I love that place.”
Again, there was that odd look. “I know you do.”
She pulled a face. “You suddenly seem to know an awful lot.”
He backed her up until her knees hit the bed, and something in his voice hitched. “I know a lot more about you than you think I do.”
Her heart raced, her body grew damp and needy, and her voice came out a little rough around the edges. “And I think you’re a sweet talker.”
He offered her a cocky grin, and she damn near wilted. “Is it working?”
“No.”
“Then why are your cheeks flushed?”
As his primal essence completely overwhelmed her, she responded, “Because it was cold out.”
“And your body, it’s trembling.”
“Like I said, it’s cold outside.”
In a move that took her by surprise, he pulled her close, anchoring her body to his and she could feel his arousal press against her midriff. His cock felt glorious, hard and primed to go, and it took all her willpower not to moan out loud and rub up against it. As her body burned with desire and pent-up passion, pleasure gathered between her legs. She placed her hands on his shoulders, and in a bold move that seemed to catch him off guard, she ran her fingers over his muscles and could feel strength radiating off him.
Daniel swallowed and his powerful hands shook like a juvenile on his first date as they slipped around her back. “And…what about…your nipples…?” His words came out a broken, choppy. “Are they hard because it’s cold out too?”
His cock pressed against her stomach. “I could be asking you the same question.”
“Is it my nipples you’re talking about, Anna? Or something else?” he teased, his voice a little rusty as he gave her a boyish grin that turned her inside out.
As she enjoyed the sexy banter, he dipped his head, the light from the lamp washing over his face and making him look so sweet and innocent. Angelic, even. When she parted her lips, he drew a deep, sharp breath. “Do you have any idea how long I’ve wanted to kiss you?”
She gave a needy sigh. “What are you waiting for?”
The muscles along his jaw tightened, and with the way his heart was crashing against his chest, she feared he might black out. He gave a tortured moan and stuttered when he tried to explain. “I don’t know. I guess I just want to get this right.” His confession immediately brought them to a deeper level of intimacy and everything inside her reached out to him.
Anna laughed lightly, sensing a new closeness between them. Clearly it was difficult to have divulged something that private. He brushed his thumb over her bottom lip, and seeing him flustered by their proximity bolstered her confidence. “No worries, Daniel. I have a feeling you’re going to get it right.”
His body quivered, and his gaze was dark, turbulent. His breath came in a low rush. “And if I don’t?”
Good God, he was nervous. Not only was it was written all over his face, it was in his body language and in his voice when he spoke. That same nervousness had always gotten to her, touched her deep and turned her to mush. But was it a ploy or was he sincere? Surely no man could fake distress like that.
The look on his face was so intense, it was both exhilarating and frightening and prompted her into action. She, in turn, gave him a look that conveyed her needs, still hardly able to believe she was here with him.
“Kiss me, Daniel,” she begged, her voice low and sultry. As desire clouded her thoughts, she opened herself up to him, giving herself to him the way she’d sworn she’d never do.
With that his lips closed over hers. At first touch her world tilted on its axis, making her feel heady and dizzy. His tongue moved into her mouth and tangled with hers, tasting, touching, teasing her, and fuelling her lust.
His kiss was deep and sensual, and had her aching to the core. She closed her eyes and pulled his tongue in deeper. As she pressed against him, he groaned and she writhed like a wanton woman in response, unable to assuage the need exploding inside her. From head to toe, her skin grew hot, and she was pretty certain if he didn’t soon throw her on that
