Beth smiled. “She is.” She told him how Taryn always got straight A’s at school and loved to play basketball and soccer. The more Beth talked about Taryn, the more Conner got the feeling that there was something important that she wasn’t telling him, but for the life of him, he couldn’t figure out what it might be.

She handed Conner a beer and they stepped out onto the back deck.

They talked about Wyoming and all the beautiful places there were to visit besides just Yellowstone National Park. After a while, a comfortable silence surrounded them.

“It’s a beautiful night out,” she said.

“Yes, it is,” he replied. “Just like you are.”

She smiled at him. He moaned low in the back of his throat and touched her face. An overwhelming need exploded inside of him and he couldn’t stop himself. He closed his eyes when his lips pressed against hers. A flood of emotions exploded inside of him. His heart beat faster, and he trembled with a want that he had never felt before.

9

Beth

“Conner,” Beth breathed.

Her heart pounded in her chest and a million butterflies exploded in her stomach as Conner’s arms wrapped around her. It was the moment she had dreamed about for the last eleven years, and she could hardly believe this was real.

She wanted to pinch herself as he pressed his lips to hers. The kiss was so gentle at first – merely a light brush of wind. Then, she heard him moan, and the kiss became more intense. His mouth consumed hers. He pressed his tongue against her lips and she opened, letting him in, tasting the bittersweetness of the beer he had drunk.

Their breaths mingled as he held her tightly against him. Beth could feel their hearts beating as one. She breathed in his scent, which she could not name. It was just Conner’s scent.

The cool Wyoming night air wrapped itself around them as they held each other. Beth clung to him as though he was a lifeline thrown to her in the middle of an ocean.

He broke off the kiss and looked searchingly into her eyes, as though he was asking a question.

She grabbed his hand and led him to her bedroom, closing the door behind her. Conner pulled her close to him, and she melted against him. His tongue explored her mouth as an aching need built up inside of her.

“You are so incredibly beautiful,” he said, brushing a lock of red hair out of her face. “Not only physically, but there is something about you. It might sound crazy, but it’s almost like you have a pure white aura that glows around you.”

“It doesn’t sound crazy at all,” Beth whispered.

“I know we’ve just met, but I feel like we’ve known each other forever. I swear that’s not a crazy line.”

Beth smiled and gently touched his face, tracing his jawline with her fingertips. “I feel the same.”

She unbuttoned his shirt, almost shyly at first. He gasped when her fingers touched his bare skin. Emboldened, she pushed the shirt off of his shoulders and tossed it into the corner of her room.

With trembling fingers, she lightly touched his muscular chest. Beth pressed her hands against him, exploring him, exhilarating in the body she had come to know so well. She could feel the fast beats of his heart, letting her know that he was excited by her touch.

“I can’t be the only one standing half-naked here.” He grinned as he reached for the bottom of her blouse, pulling it over her head and tossing it in the corner. Her bra quickly followed.

His hands sat lightly on her shoulders and then slowly moved down, across her breasts, and to her flat belly. Conner squeezed her breasts, rubbing her nipples with his thumbs, sending bolts of electricity shooting through her body.

He lowered his head and sucked one of her nipples into his mouth. Conner flicked it with his tongue and nibbled on it gently. He lightly pinched her other nipple between his thumb and forefinger, rolling it and gently pulling on it.

Beth moaned. She closed her eyes and allowed herself to just feel the incredible sensations that exploded inside of her. Conner lifted his head and then took her other nipple into his mouth. His tongue traced circles around the hard rose bud, while his fingers tantalized her other nipple.

She ran her hands up and down his thick arms, remembering how good it felt to have them wrapped around her.

This has to be a dream. Conner, my Conner, can’t be back in my bedroom, touching me and loving me. I don’t want to ever wake up.

Her fingers found the top button of his pants and worked her way down to the bottom. She hooked her thumbs into the top of his jeans and pushed them and his underwear down to his knees. Conner impatiently stepped out of them, tossing them into the growing pile of clothes in the corner.

Beth gasped as she stared at his huge shaft. It was bigger than she remembered, and she wondered how on earth it ever fit inside of her.

Conner didn’t give her much time to think about it. He unfastened her pants. She quickly stepped out of them. He took a step back and stared at her for a minute. Beth started to get a little shy and moved to cross her arms over her chest, but he stopped her.