“You are so asking for trouble.”
“Nope,” she said, “I’m asking for loving. A good old-fashioned loving. Between two people who care about each other and maybe, just maybe, have something that they’re both prepared to work on.”
“God,” he whispered fervently, “I really like the sound of that.” Lowering his head, he kissed her for the first time.
Chapter 14
When Bonaparte finally lifted his head from their first kiss, Angela was starved for air. But, at the same time, so much heat rumbled through her, as she whispered, “That was very nice. Really very nice.”
“Nice?” he said in mock outrage. This time he delivered a passionate punch that had her gasping.
She shuddered in his arms. “It won’t be just you that’s in a rush,” she muttered. “No way you can kiss me like that and leave me hanging.”
Chuckling, he bent over and whispered, “I thought we had time though.”
“Nope,” she said. “I’m tired.” He looked at her in surprise and asked, “So, do you want to wait?”
“Hell no,” she said. “This is the best cure for sleeplessness ever.”
“And yet you just said you’re tired.”
“And you’ll make me supertired and relaxed,” she said, “and then I’ll sleep.” And she threw her arms around his neck and tugged him down to her. “But more than that,” she said, “we have something that I just don’t want to let go of.”
She pulled him to her, and this time she kissed him back with all the passion she could feel being restrained inside. As tired as she was, there was just no energy to even try to block any of it. She felt herself letting go, like she hadn’t ever remembered letting go. Before she even had a chance to take note of it, she was stretched out on the bed, and her clothes were on the floor, along with his boxers and jeans. She scooted over, so there was more room for him, but he held out his hand, to stop her from moving, his gaze wandering all over her long, lean pink-toned skin.
“Like what you see?” she asked, stretching her head up.
“Jesus,” he said, “you’re stunning.”
“No,” she said, “I’m not voluptuous. I’m long. I’m lean and a little sparse in spots,” she said.
“You’re perfect,” he said, holding out a halting hand again. “Absolutely gorgeous.”
Smiling, she dropped herself onto her back, opened up her arms, and said, “In that case, show me.” He lowered himself, and she was surprised at the gentleness of this giant, as he held her close in his arms. He just held her for a long moment, and, when she looked up and saw the emotions on his face, her heart was breaking. She reached up with a gentle finger. “You okay?”
“I am,” he whispered. He stopped and then shrugged and said, “Just a little overcome at the moment.”
“In that case,” she said, “I understand entirely.” He lowered his head once more, this time with a gentle tenderness, with a level of emotion she didn’t really understand. Almost as if she were being held, like a glass rose, and he was afraid she might break. But it wasn’t that physically he was holding back, more like he was handling the emotions rising in him. She wrapped her arms around him. “This is us,” she said. “This is what we make of it. So let’s make something good.”
He bent to kiss her, and this time it was a ride that neither one of them could stop. Passion flowed freely, as heat built and surrounded them in a glorious aftermath. When he finally lay trembling in her arms, her body flushed and with a sureness she hadn’t expected to feel, she held him close and whispered, “Now get some rest.”
“Only if you rest first.”
She smiled, curled up in his arms, and said, “Absolutely.” And the two of them soon dropped off to sleep. When she woke the next morning, she was still in his arms, the way they had been as they fell asleep.
He looked at her and asked, “You okay?”
“Never better,” she whispered. She slowly sat up, looked around at the room, and said, “That was one of the best nights I’ve ever had,” she whispered, then leaned over and kissed him tenderly.
He stroked a lazy hand up her back and asked, “Are you in a hurry?”
“Well, I’m sure there’s a million messages, half a million reports, and a whole pile of other things that need my attention,” she said.
“Maybe,” he said, “but something else does too.” He took her hand and slid it down across his body to the very large erection waiting for her.
She burst out laughing and said, “By the way, there’s another thing I like to do on my acreage.”
He looked at her and asked, “What?”
“Later,” she said, while the two made love again. When they finished, the two of them were completely sated, each exhausted and panting on the bed.
“That’s a hell of a way to wake up,” he said, groaning.
“It is. And since you made coffee last night,” she said, “I’ll make coffee now.” She bounded out of bed and headed to the doorway.
He called out, “Are you getting dressed?”
She looked at him, shrugged, and said, “Actually I was thinking about a dip in the pool.”
He sat up, smiled at her, and said, “I would absolutely love that.”
“You know what?” she said, as she leaned against the door, completely at home in her nudity. “I’m afraid I’m falling in love with you.”
“Is that a problem?” he asked, his dark gaze on her.
She wasn’t sure how to say it, but she decided to toss it out there anyway. “Did you know that Levi sent me your photo one year ago, around the same time he wanted to send you out here?”
His eyes widened. “What?”
“He did, and that’s something I’ve kept just in the back of my mind. For maybe one day.”
“Wow,” he said, “that is a complete shock.”
“Does it bother you?”
“Hell no,” he said. “I wasn’t nearly ready a year ago,” he said, “but I’m
