She paused by the fireplace as Alex hustled to his bathroom, returning with a stack of fluffy towels. He wrapped one around his shoulders and gave her the others, then bent to the fireplace. While he made a fire, Brenne went to work with the towels.
When he’d gotten a fire going, he straightened and looked her over. “We’ve got to get out of these wet clothes. I’m sure you can find something to put on while we wait for these to dry.” He led her back to the bedroom area and opened the closet. “Help yourself to whatever you want,” he said, indicating the closet and the dresser beside it.
Brenne opened a drawer to find a stack of T-shirts. She grabbed a red one emblazoned with the Texas Tech logo, figuring that they’d come full circle. Alex motioned with his hand to the bathroom, and she went inside to pull off her wet things. When she returned in his oversized T-shirt that hit her just above the knee, he’d changed into a fluffy gray robe.
“I’ll put these in the dryer downstairs,” he said, taking her wet clothing. “Why don’t you make yourself comfortable in front of the fire?”
Brenne did as he suggested, settling onto the small sofa and watching the flames flicker. Alex was back quickly, and he took a seat next to her. The tension between them was back, the storm having interrupted them at a crucial moment. She sat with her hands folded together, feeling suddenly nervous.
Alex turned to her, his eyes full of emotion. He reached over and took her hand. “I’ve tried to say this to you more than once, and I’m tired of getting interrupted, so here goes. Brenne MacAllen, I love you.”
Her eyes widened, her heart pounding in her chest. Alex squeezed her hand, his expression earnest. “I don’t know how long I’ve felt it, probably from the beginning. Maybe from the day you ate that strawberry. But I do know when I discovered it was true.”
Alex leaned forward, and she could feel the intensity of his gaze on her skin, making her break out into goosepimples. “When?” she asked, holding her breath for his answer.
“It was when you tried to run from that tarantula.”
Brenne let out her breath in a huff. “Say what now?”
Alex laughed. “I didn’t think you were scared of anything. In that moment, I realized you were human after all.”
“Alex Parsons, you’re an insufferable—” She struck out at him, punching him playfully in the arm. He grabbed her, pulling her into his lap, and suddenly his mouth was on hers. Brenne committed to the kiss, pouring her passion into it. She wrapped her arms around his neck and melted into him.
“I’ve missed you,” he whispered against her lips. “Missed this.”
Her hands slid down to crawl under his robe, touching his muscular chest. He shivered when her thumb stroked his nipple, and Brenne smiled. She broke the kiss, moving her head to his neck to lick him there. His masculine scent surrounded her, and she felt safe and warm in his arms.
“Brenne,” he growled in a warning when her fingers danced lower, flirting with the waistband of his boxer briefs. “You touch me there and this will be over before it’s started.”
She giggled, then boldly grabbed his cock through his briefs. “But I’m having so much fun!”
“Wildcat,” he muttered, then pushed her hand away. Alex stood, folding her against his chest and carrying her the short distance to his bed. He set her down gently and she peeled his shirt off her and lay down on the thick quilt beneath her.
“You don’t know how long I’ve wanted to see you like this,” he said, his voice husky. His eyes, filled with molten heat, followed the line of her body. “Just like this. In my bed. Naked. Your golden hair spread out around you. You’re perfect, Brenne MacAllen.”
She held out her arms to him. “Then come and get me, cowboy.”
CHAPTER 39
ALEX
Alex was out of his robe in a flash. The woman he loved was in his bed, beckoning him to join her. He might be a fool, but he wasn’t stupid enough to keep her waiting.
He settled in beside her, rolling her on her side to kiss her again. Alex was discovering that he didn’t like it when his lips weren’t touching hers. He’d done his fair share of kissing in his life, but nothing had ever felt as good as Brenne’s lips on his.
Not to mention her out of this world taste. It was sublime, sweet like the strawberry soda she drank by the truck load. Strawberries and cream, he thought idly, dipping his tongue in her sweet nectar and letting out a groan of pleasure.
She shimmied against him, her hands driving him crazy as they worked their way over his body. When she gripped his shaft again, Alex knew he couldn’t hold back for much longer. She needs me. And I sure as hell need her.
He grabbed her by the waist and rolled over so that she was positioned on top of him. Taking a hold of her hips, he placed her where she needed to be, gently guiding himself into her warm and welcoming softness.
Nothing has ever felt this good. He’d made love to Brenne dozens of times, and each time was amazing. But this moment felt different. Everything felt different. He’d revealed his love for her, and she hadn’t pushed him away. Now they were here, together, in his bed, a place he’d once sworn never to bring her for fear of being caught. And he was about to show her exactly how much he wanted her.
She let out a moan and moved her hips, making his eyes roll to the back of his head. She laughed when she saw his expression, then did it again, that hip roll that had him on the verge of climax already. He didn’t want to stop her, however. He wanted all the pleasure she could give him. And he was greedy for her pleasure too.
Removing his hands from her hips, he bent them back under his head. “Go ahead, cowgirl,” he told her with a mischievous grin. “Go ahead and ride.”
Brenne leaned forward, putting her hands against his chest. She began to move on him, a leisurely move of her hips that had her sliding along the length of him with aching slowness. This woman might just kill me, but goddamn it, it will be worth it.
He groaned as she picked up her pace, gazing up to see an answering look of pleasure in her eyes. Alex couldn’t resist reaching up to cup her exquisite breasts, thumbing her nipples until she moaned. His stimulation caused her to quicken her movements, and soon she leaned back, putting her hands on his thighs and bucking against him.
This angle allowed him to penetrate her deeper than before, but he could tell that she wouldn’t be able to sustain the movements on her own. “It feels too good,” she cried out, and he moved his hands to her hips to take control.
He lifted his hips, plunging into her over and over, his thrusts claiming her with every inch. One hand came around to toy with her sensitive nub, and soon she was moaning nonstop. “That’s right, kitten,” he murmured, “purr for me.”
Alex was on the edge, but he refused to go over until he saw her face overwhelmed with pleasure. He pulled her close so her chest was pressed against his, his arms wrapped around her. They were the only two people in the world, and he never wanted to let her go.
“I love you,” he whispered in her ear, her lovely golden hair tumbling around them, curtaining them off from the world. “I love you, my wildcat. And I’m never going to let you go.”