“Feels like forever all the same.” He tried a smile that hurt, he was so hard. “Kissing first, okay?” He took her mouth before she could say anything more. Kissing her was a unique pleasure. “Open up for me, Alice.”
On a gasp, she did as asked and Reese sank in, tasting her, stroking with his tongue. He angled in for a deeper kiss, both of them already panting...and Alice’s hands returned to his belt again.
He caught them, brought them up to his shoulders then went to work on the buttons to her blouse. Kissing her jaw, her throat, he murmured, “You need to catch up.”
She went very still, her fingers clenching, digging into his shoulders.
He loved it.
When the shirt was open enough, Reese slipped his hand inside and...over her left breast.
Her hands fell away from him, her breath hitching as he touched her.
Ah, God, she felt nice. Small, firm, her nipple drawn tight. “Perfect.”
Putting his other hand into her shirt, too, he cuddled both br**sts, brushed his thumbs over her ni**les. Watching her face, he lightly caught each one and tugged with the gentlest touch.
She moaned before shrugging the shirt off her shoulders.
It fell to the floor.
Cheeks flushed and her bright gaze locked on his face, Alice stood there.
Her bra was a surprise. Sheer beige edged by black lace. In a voice that sounded like gravel, Reese whispered, “You little tease.” Never had he suspected Alice would wear such sensual underwear.
Breasts shimmying with her fast breaths, she bit her lip in nervousness. “I like nice underwear,” she explained.
“Great. I like it, too.” He especially liked it on her.
Would her panties match? He couldn’t wait to find out.
“You’ve been walking around in front of me, wearing this sexy stuff without me knowing.” Nothing about Alice was ever expected, so he should have realized. She hid so much behind her straitlaced facade.
Knowing she hid this really turned him on—maybe because he’d be the only man aware of it.
Dragging the back of his knuckles down the silky skin of her rib cage, over her narrow waist and flat belly, Reese touched the closure to her capris.
Senses heightened, lust pounding through him, he opened the snap.
“Rowdy said you’d like my body,” she suddenly blurted.
Freezing, his brain going blank, Reese stared at her. His mouth opened, but nothing came out.
Alice just watched him, waiting for confirmation.
In a croak, Reese demanded, “Rowdy said what?”
Maybe because outraged disbelief filled his tone, Alice sucked in a breath and shook her head. “Never mind.” She nodded at his hands on her waistband. “Go on.”
Go on... She had to be kidding! “Not on your life.” A red haze filtered into his vision. He took a step back, thoughts of mangling Rowdy uppermost in his mind—
And Alice shoved down her zipper. “It’s not what you think!” Hastily, she worked the capris down over her narrow hips.
Even in a rage, he noted that the panties did indeed match. Minuscule, more lace than anything else, barely covering her...
“I was worried about you wanting me, and Rowdy assured me you would. That’s all I meant.”
His brain throbbed at the dual assault of raging jealousy and red-hot lust.
She kicked the pants aside and stood tall, stoic—insecure. “So...do you?”
God Almighty. Could a woman be more appealing?
He didn’t think so.
Unable to get his gaze off her body, Reese took in every delicate curve, each tempting swell. Her thighs were long, trim, her bone structure delicate. “You shouldn’t be discussing things like that with Rowdy.” He shook his head, amending that statement. “With any other man. If you have questions, come to me.”
“I had questions about you.” She shifted her feet, laced her fingers together. “Reese, I’m in an agony of suspense here. You’re just staring at me. Do something, please.”
“All right.” Later, he’d talk to her about inappropriate conversations and timing disclosures. Hauling her up to him, he took her mouth with all the hunger clawing inside him. She wilted against him—for about three seconds. Then she became a very active participant, her hands all over him, her body squirming against his.
She sucked at his tongue, teased him with her own and, this time, when she went after his belt, he helped her.
The second she got his slacks open, she slipped a small warm hand inside.
“Alice.” A weak protest at best.
Curling her fingers around him, she kissed his shoulder, his chest, lightly bit his right pectoral muscle. “I could just eat you up,” she whispered.
Reese tried to tune out the visual her words provoked. If he went there, he’d be a goner for sure. It was enough, more than enough, feeling her small hand holding him, squeezing, stroking—
“Alice...baby, stop. I’m a hair away from detonation.” Catching her wrists, Reese drew them behind her and held them captive with one hand. He searched her face for any signs of uneasiness. “Okay?”
Eyes heavy, lips moist, she nodded. “You really are big.”
Swallowing became difficult. “Yeah, but we’ll be a perfect fit.” He leaned down and drew her nipple into his mouth, dampening the material of her bra.
Her back arched on a soft cry.
Eyeing his handiwork, seeing the now wet material cling to her nipple, Reese said, “So pretty.” He moved to her other breast.