It was everything, always. And she had not been prepared for that.
He reached up and unhooked her bra, flinging it down onto the floor. And she knew a moment of complete and total embarrassment. Because what would he see when he looked at her body? At what she thought was an entirely average rack. If not slightly below average.
“Remember when you asked me what a cute figure was?”
She nodded, feeling self-conscious.
“You asked me if it was small boobs.”
“I did,” she said, her throat scratchy.
“It’s not. You are perfect. And beautiful. I spent a hell of a long time ignoring that on purpose. Because why would I be looking at you?” But his eyes were filled with wonder now, and he was drawing his thumb down her cheek. “How could I ever look at you? You’re Elsie Garrett. You’re Sawyer and Wolf’s little sister. But you’re not. You’re Elsie. You are strong and fierce, mean, funny and brilliant. And you have a damned fine body.”
“I... Thank you.”
Then he kissed her again, and swallowed anything else she might have said, which was a relief because she didn’t think any worthy words could come out of her mouth at this point. Not when she was feeling quite so overwhelmed. She would probably just embarrass herself. She didn’t really want that.
He unsnapped her jeans, moving his hands down beneath the waistband, beneath her panties, and she cried out, bucking against his hand as he stroked her there, where she was embarrassingly wet and aching for more of his attention. But she didn’t have time to beg for more, because he kissed her again. His mouth hard and intense on hers. That kiss going deep as he carried her to heights she had never known existed.
He created a white heat between her legs that was almost uncomfortable, stroking and teasing her until she was panting, until her hips were moving in time with his stroke, until she was gasping, begging for release. Then he pushed one finger deep inside of her, and stars exploded behind her eyes.
It didn’t end, and she didn’t want it to. And it terrified her all at the same time. She’d never felt anything like this before. And it had come from him. Hunter was the only one who could do this. He was the master of her desire just now and if he stopped touching her, it would end. And if he didn’t, it might go on longer than she could bear it.
She opened her eyes, and looked into his and the wave peaked, a sharp sound exploding from her.
His mouth crashed down onto hers and he swallowed her cry of pleasure. Kissed her until it subsided. He kissed her and kissed her, and her desire wouldn’t bank. Wouldn’t stop. She started shaking, and turned her head to the side because she needed a reprieve.
He gathered her up against his bare chest and held her, her breasts pressed tightly against his chest, while she tried to find her normal breath. And she could hear his heart, pounding like hers was.
Hear his breathing, shattered like her own.
“Hunter...”
“Just rest for a second,” he ground out.
He maneuvered her so that her rear was pressed right up against the evidence of his desire, and she really wanted to see it. She really wanted to see him.
But he was shushing her like she was a wild horse, and her heart was beating so out of control she thought he might not be far off from the truth.
“Hunter...” she said again, her voice shaking.
“That’s enough for tonight,” he said. “But I’ll stay for a bit.”
“Why?” She suddenly felt bereft. “Why is that enough for the night?”
Even as she said that, she sounded hollow and afraid and she knew he was right. But she didn’t want him to be right.
“Because I think we’re both wrecked,” he said.
“So?” Why did she always have to push?
“Because I know that you’re a virgin,” he said. “And I know that you’ve never done any of that before. Believe me, Travis would have taken you up on the offer to do everything tonight. But he’s the kind of guy who doesn’t let grass grow underneath his feet. I’ve let a whole field grow underneath mine, and I don’t mind. I’ll be here. You’ll be here. There’s plenty of time. It’ll be worth it. To make sure that you’re ready.”
“I’m ready,” she said, even while she trembled.
“Maybe I’m not,” he said.
She was raw and shaky inside, and it felt so important just then to know if he was too. “How come you’re not?”
“Because this is different,” he said, his voice rough. “Because you’re you. That matters to me. I have to figure out—”
“You’re not going to talk to my brothers.”
“No,” he said, looking horrified. “I am not. This is between you and me, Elsie. Nobody else needs to know about it. Not because I’m ashamed of it. Or you. Just because...”
“No,” she said. “I get it. Because no one here can keep a secret worth a damn and we don’t need that kind of trouble.”
“No, we don’t.”
She felt like she’d been in a car speeding down a highway only to have the brakes put on too fast. An adrenaline high making her shake, and at the same time, she felt desperately tired.
And he was promising her that this wasn’t it.
“I’ve got to go to Vancouver. Again,” he said slowly, tracing a line up and down her arm with the tips of his fingers. Soothing and arousing all at once. “I have to go and pick up those horses. I think you should come with me.”
Her breath left her lungs in a rush. “So that we can...”
“It would be better, don’t you think? To be away.”
She imagined him coming to bed with her in that motel that they shared. Not across the room, but in her arms. Over her. Strong and masculine.
It made her shiver.
“I take that as a yes?”
She curled herself into his chest and nodded.
“Good.”
They lay like that for a moment, and finally, her shaking stopped. Finally, she felt like she could think, even just a little bit.
“You should get a Band-Aid for your hand.” She peeled herself away from him and stood, and her jeans started to slip down her hips, so she redid the button.
She left her shirt off as she went into the bathroom to grab some Band-Aids. A little bit of hydrogen peroxide. Which she knew hurt like a son of a bitch, but he had cut himself and he needed to be disinfected.
She went out to the couch, where he was laying still, no shirt, his jeans resting low on his hips. And she could see that bulge right there, letting her know that he did still want her.