Suddenly it all made sense.
“These buildings are all connected, aren’t they?” He’d noticed the old-fashioned setup while eating dinner at the excellent Korean restaurant across the street. “All the fake-fronted shops along the wooden boardwalk in the Heart Falls town centre are connected. And there’s housing above them—”
Rose shoved open a door and tugged him with her. An instant later, she fisted the front of his shirt in her hands and brought their bodies together. “Architectural discoveries later.”
Good point. Chance smiled down, eyeing her lips. He cupped her face with his hands and leaned closer. “Kisses now, yes?”
“Yes.” The word came out breathless. She opened her palms and smoothed his shirt, heat passing between them. “Very much, yes.”
He caught the final word against his mouth.
The urge to sweep in and possess was strong, but the lovely fantasy maiden the gods had gifted him deserved more. He jerked himself under control and slowed to seduce her.
Soft, gentle. The touch between them a barely there contact that echoed the way her skin felt against his hands. Mysterious and taunting. A silken caress that made his fingertips tingle and excitement slide down his spine.
Her mouth was molten velvet, giving and sweet as he angled her head to the side and teased his tongue past her lips. The rush of pleasure that swamped him at tasting her felt right. Felt as if he’d been waiting forever for this moment to arrive. For something—no, someone—he’d known was out there but had only dreamed he’d someday meet.
Slipping his left hand back, he stroked his thumb over the smooth heat of her cheek. A shiver took her as he eased his fingers through the silky strands of her hair to cradle the back of her head.
Keeping her close, his right hand drifted to her lower back, and he pressed their torsos flush. All the while he kissed her. Tasted her. Learned what it took to make her moan.
The point of contact between their lips was addictive. The sensation of her hands drifting over his torso upped the ante and made him tremble in return.
When she put her fingernails on his back and slowly clawed downward, branding him through his shirt, he broke the contact between their lips with a gasp. “Christ. I want more.”
“Good. Let’s go for more.”
The smile on her lips was slightly smug for some reason, but hell if he cared why.
Chance glanced around the room she’d pulled them into. Not a home but a storage facility of some kind. Shelves lined two walls, and tables rested here and there, all visible in the pale glow of the streetlight directly outside the window. The faintest hint of dust lay on the floor, which made him question the cleanliness of the overstuffed easy chairs in the corner.
Not the place he’d choose to make this woman sing with pleasure.
He stroked his fingers through her hair and met her gaze, speaking in a low rumble that exposed just how turned on he was. “Come to my room. I have a cabin for the night at the Red Boot ranch.”
He could have sworn interest flashed in her eyes when he first spoke, but mention of the ranch wiped it clean.
Rose lifted her hand, caressing her fingers over his lips. “Here is good. We can get creative.”
Creative he could do. Although at some point, once he was back in Heart Falls for good, Rose and a good long session in his bed were absolutely in the plan. Multiple times. Plus whatever else might be in the works for them in the future.
He leaned his shoulders on the wall behind him. “Creative it is.”
With Rose between his legs, he adjusted position until he was free to drop his fingers to the buttons of her blouse.
Her cheeks flushed, and as he slipped the second button free, her tongue flicked over her lower lip and her gaze fixed on his mouth. “I like how you kiss,” she confessed.
“I plan to kiss you a lot of other places before we’re done.”
He’d gotten the final button open and now took a deep, appreciative breath. So much glowing skin revealed as he peeled back the soft-blue blouse. The bra that lovingly cupped her pert breasts was also pale blue lace, and hints of her delectable skin peeked through with the loveliness of a mist-painted forest scene.
“Beautiful.” He glanced to the side, thankful to spot a straight-back chair within arm’s reach. He eased the blouse from her shoulders, leaning in to kiss her neck and lower as he draped the fabric over the chair without looking.
Rose moaned as he licked a slow line along the edge of the lace. “Don’t stop, but can I mention I appreciate you not dropping my clothes on the floor?”
“I live to serve.” He popped the clasp of her bra, groaning when the fabric fell away and her dark nipples came into view. “You’re an angel and temptress in one gorgeous package.”
Her bra joined the shirt on the chair, and he draped her over his arm, licking a slow, enviable path to the peak waiting taut and ready for his mouth.
