Page 85 of Hot to Trot

As they, sped down the highway, Scarlet didn't speak because the moment felt too sacred, somehow tender, so no need to ruin it with nervous chatter. Adam handled the car as if it were an old friend, taking the curves smoothly, winding over the empty Texas backroads with ease. They came to a cattle gap, rattled over it, then proceeded down a bumpy dirt road around a thick stand of trees. The view opened up to reveal a small pond glittering in the soft moonlight.

“Oh,” she breathed, "how pretty."

"I bought it when I first moved to Oak Stand, thinking one day I'd build a house out here. It's only ten acres, but perfectsince I can't even pretend to be a farmer." He pulled onto a stretch of grass and killed the engine.

"I've never brought anyone here. It's my secret place, a place where I get away to think. l've been out here for the past few days." He faced her.

"I probably drove right past you. I spent most of my thinking time riding around in this car."

His face remained expressionless. "So what did you conclude?"

"Nothing. Other than this is not about just sex."

"No, it's not about sex." He kissed her gently. "It's about way more than sex. I didn't bring you here to ravish you. I'm tired of all the prying eyes around town. I love Oak Stand, but there isn't much privacy to be had."

She touched her tongue to her lips, savoring his taste. ''This would be easier if it was only a physical thing. And so you know, I’m not opposed to being ravished. I hear it’s all the rage these days.”

He folded her into his arms, brushing his lips against the hair at her temple. The were soft and the moment remained tender. She tilted her face to his and he met her lips with his. The caress said more than "I want you," and the pleasure of knowing that wrapped around her like a cashmere blanket. She brushed her fingers through the short hair at his nape and opened herself up to him, physically and emotionally.

He broke their kiss. "I have wine.''

'You don't have to get me drunk to score."

He shook his head. "I didn't bring you here to score."

"You don't want to score?"

He opened his eyes. "I'm not stupid. I'd never turn down the vampire queen."

"Smart man. Let's have some wine."

Adam climbed from the car, grabbing the blanket and basket, pulling her with him. Crickets and the occasional sound of a barn owl were their only companions. The grove of trees hid them from the road, and, for once, Scarlet thought she could dig being a country girl. Moonlight, summer grass, and a hot, willing man. What more could a woman want?

Adam chose a dry spot and spread out the quilt. Scarlet slipped off her flip-flops, then sank onto the cover as he busied himself with uncorking the wine and setting out strawberries, grapes, and chocolates. Feast laid out, he pulled her into his lap.

She took the plastic glass of wine from his hand. "You're pretty good at seduction."

He sobered. "It doesn't have to be seduction. Honestly, I was going for romance."

"Mission accomplished. I can't imagine anything more romantic than this." She took a sip, savoring the rich cabernet on her tongue. The surface of the pond sparkled in places as the katydids started a serenade. He kissed her. He tasted like spicy wine when she opened her mouth to him, and it caused an intense wave of desire to crash over her. He tasted like just what she needed.

“Mmm, Adam," she groaned as his hands moved over her, sliding from her hip to her shoulder, tipping her onto the quilt. He took her glass and tossed it onto the grass, following with his own glass. Adam covered her leg with his, still cradling her head. His mouth was soft, yet demanding. She met his passion with that of her own, running her hands over his shoulders, down his back, and back up to the scruffiness of his jaw. She allowed her fingers to move along his lean cheek, memorizing every detail.

“Would seduction be okay, too? I don’t really want you to stop.”

He worked his way from her mouth toward her ear. "I thought that's what I was doing.”

She smiled at the branches above her and pulled him even harder to her, shifting the mood from sweet to searing. Adam tugged her T-shirt up, cupping her breast through the lacy bra as his mouth began a journey down her neck.

She lifted her body and yanked her t-shirt over her head. But she didn't stop there. She wiggled out of the shorts and kicked them aside, too. Then she lay before him in the black lace bra and matching panties she'd tempted him with the night they’d played games in the inn's backyard.

“Holy shit,” he groaned, tracing one of her ribs with a single finger. “You’re better than I imagined.”

She inhaled the night air and watched as his gaze devoured her flesh. He stroked her as if she were a great treasure and he the fortunate man who'd discovered her.

“Beautiful." He breathed against her shoulder, dropping kisses and working his way to the lace that held back her breasts. "You smell like summer, like heat and flowers."

"That's my name," she breathed, reaching for him, drawing his mouth to hers. "My real name is Summer."

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