“You think so?” A lazy smile tilts her lips.
“I know so.”
“What makes you so sure?” There’s a vulnerability in her voice that I didn’t expect.
“Come on now. You know my wife wouldn’t be anything but kickass in everything she does.”
“Stop.” She giggles, swatting at my arm playfully.
I grab her hand and lace her fingers with mine. “Real talk, McKenna, you’re amazing.” From the way her eyes widen, we both know I’m no longer talking about her career choice.
She opens her mouth to speak, but no words fill the air between us. Our eyes are locked in this intense stare that has me feeling all kinds of things that I wasn’t prepared to feel. I’ve always had a thing for her, but this is on another level.
Want. Need. Desire. Longing.
Her hand breaks away from mine, and she reaches up to run her fingers through my hair. “It’s long.” She smiles.
“Yeah.”
“What made you grow it out?”
“It just kind of happened, really. I needed a haircut, but I was working on the house, and between that and running the farm during the day, I just didn’t have time. It started to grow, and I decided to just let it stay long.”
“Let me guess, chicks dig it?”
“Not sure. There’s only one I’m worried about.”
“Oh.” Her demeanor changes. “I didn’t realize you were seeing someone.”
“I’m not.” Reaching out, I place my hand on the small of her back and pull her closer. “There is someone,” I say, my voice sounding husky even to my own ears. I know I should stop now. I shouldn’t be touching her like this, but I can’t. Not when she’s here in my house. In my bed. In my arms. I know that she’s been drinking, and I’m not trying to take advantage of her, but damn, she feels good lying next to me.
“Rip.” My name rolling off her tongue is the sweetest sound I’ve ever heard. Her voice is filled with desire, and I have no choice but to assume that her desire is for me.
“How drunk are you, McKenna?” I ask.
“Buzzed.”
“Do you know where you are?”
“Yes.”
“Tell me.”
“I’m at your house.”
“Whose bed are you in?”
“Yours.”
Resting my palm against her cheek, I gently trace her bottom lip with my thumb. “Can I kiss you, McKenna?”
“You want to kiss me?”
I lean in a little closer. Our mouths are now barely a breath apart. “More than anything.”
“Am I dreaming?” she asks as her eyes flutter closed. Her tongue sneaks out and wets her lips.
“Open your eyes, beautiful.” I wait as her eyes slowly open. “This isn’t a dream, but you’re a damn dream come true.” Tired of wasting time, I close the breath’s distance and press my lips to hers.
Her lips are subtle and soft, just as they were earlier. I didn’t have the time to appreciate them then, but now I do, and I plan to do just that. I want to appreciate the hell out of her. I could kiss her for hours and be perfectly content. Her hand grips my arm as if she’s worried I’ll pull away. Not a chance. I need more.
Cautiously, I trace her lips with my tongue, asking for entrance. She gives me what I want when she opens for me, her taste exploding on my tongue.
I need her closer.
My hand returns to the small of her back. Applying light pressure, I mold our bodies together. There isn’t a part of her that’s not touching a part of me. I don’t know how many times I’ve imagined us in this very situation, in my bed. I’m fucking twenty-five years old, and this woman has me feeling like I’m a randy teenager all over again.
I deepen the kiss and realize McKenna is the only woman in the world that could have me feeling this way.
Out of control.
Fueled by lust.
It’s all McKenna, and I want to soak up every second of this experience with her. My hand slides under her shirt. My shirt. I allow my fingers to trace the silky-smooth skin of her back, and my tongue lazily explores her mouth. Neither of us is in a hurry. I’m not sure what she’s thinking, but for me, I want time to slow down. I want to stop it, right here at this moment, with the beautiful, intoxicating woman in my arms.
In my bed.
Her phone ringing from my nightstand has me ending the kiss and pulling back. “You need to get that?” I ask her.
She pulls in a deep breath as if she needs to work harder to breathe. I know the feeling. “Yeah, I should see who it is.”
Reluctantly, I pull away from her, reaching over to the nightstand and handing her the phone. I see my sister's face smiling at me, and I bite back a groan. If Laramie pulls her away from me right now, I’m going to be pissed.
“Hey,” McKenna answers, clearing her throat. “Yeah, I’m here. I’m… uh… in Rip’s room. We’re watching a movie.” She’s quiet as her face turns red. “I’ll see you in the morning, Lara.” She shakes her head, ending the call.
“Everything okay?”
“Yeah. She was just checking to see if I was here. I guess they went to the kitchen for food and didn’t see me on the couch.”
“I would never have you sleep on the couch. You’ll sleep here in my bed. I’ll take the couch in my office.”
“I can sleep on the couch, Rip. It’s fine.” Her eyes roam over my body and if I wasn’t already hard as stone, I would be now.
“My bed’s more comfortable.” I smirk.
“You want to share?” Her eyes widen. “I mean, I could have gone home.”
“With you? Absolutely. And you are exactly where you’re supposed to be.” My words cause a light blush to coat her cheeks. “Here, I’ll plug that in for you.” Holding my hand out for her phone, she gives it to me. Rolling over, I fumble with the cord to plug it in and turn off the lamp, bathing the room in darkness. Rolling back over, I reach for her, and she comes willingly into my arms.
“You good?”
“Yeah.” She settles into my chest, and I can’t help but think about how right this feels. This is where she belongs.
“How many women have had the opportunity to try out this more comfortable mattress?” she asks into the silence of the room. There’s a hesitancy in her voice as if she’s afraid of the answer. She shouldn’t be.
“Just you.”
I feel her lift her head from my chest. I wish I could see her big brown eyes. “Come on now. I’m a big girl. I can handle it.”
“Just you, McKenna. This is my home. I don’t bring women here.”
“Oh.” I feel her start to move away, but I hold tight, keeping my arms around her. “I should go….” Her voice trails off.
“You should lie back down.” I hold my breath, waiting to see what she’ll do. When she finally lies back down, I can feel the stiffness in her body, and that just won’t do. “They’re not you, McKenna.”
“I don’t understand.”
“This is my home. I’ve spent countless hours renovating this place. It’s special to me.”