Page 61 of Trouble Walked In

His touch woke something inside her that she tried and failed to ignore. She could picture them making use of the daybed in a way they really shouldn’t. This wasn’t the backseat of an SUV with tinted windows. This was outside, in her own backyard, overlooking a lake surrounded by people who could possibly be looking back at them.

Renic reached under her shirt and continued to work on the muscles of her lower back. She swayed as a rush of desire traveled along her inner thighs.

“We can’t…”

“Why not?” He kissed the side of her neck.

“I have neighbors. There are people in my house. And boats. Out there.”

“I’ll cover you.” Renic gently pulled the binder out of her arms and set it on a side table. Then he took the blankets from her and set them down on the edge of the daybed. He took one, shook it out, and placed it around her shoulders.

“This is a bad idea,” she whispered.

She relished the warmth of the blanket, but she wanted his body closer. She leaned into him, her hands now free to explore his chest and shoulders.

He kissed her again, a long, slow, deep kiss that chased away the doubts and left her wondering what they’d been talking about. “You think too much.”

She wanted his touch so badly she ached. “I know.”

She grabbed his shirt and pushed it up so that she could feel his smooth skin, the flex of his muscles, the twitch of his stomach.

Renic groaned and crushed her so tight against him that it lifted her off the ground. The blanket fell off her shoulders, and the sudden rush of cold air made her shiver.

“You’re cold. I should warm you up.” Renic carried her backward until they tumbled onto the daybed. She scooted back from the edge until she was tucked up under the canopy out of the breeze.

Renic crawled in after her to lay stretched out alongside her with one leg thrown over both of hers. One hand supported his head while the other explored her breasts and stomach. “Better?”

She shivered again, but this time it wasn’t from the cold. “A little.”

“Only a little?” He kissed the slight hollow at the base of her neck.

“Oh, that’s…do that again.”

“What, this?” He undid the top button of her shirt and kissed her again, this time using his tongue to suck at the flesh. His breath caressed where his lips had been, and it was the most sensual thing she’d ever experienced. Her ex had never bothered much with foreplay, and she hadn’t really known enough to miss it. This was torture. Delicious, delectable torture.

Renic undid the second button and pushed her shirt further apart to reveal the center of her bra.

Her hands fluttered around his wrists in a futile effort to stop him. “Someone will see.”

“Nobody’s watching.” He kissed the valley between her breasts.

She buried her hands in his hair. Dear God, how did anyone keep this up without bursting? “You don’t know that. They could have telescopes. You know. For stars.”

He undid the next button. “The prettiest star is right here.”

His kiss teased the area around her navel while his hands dipped into her shirt and squeezed.

“We should—oh, Jesus—go inside.”

He lifted his head to smile at her. “We could do that if you want. Do you?”

She thought about it. Inside was safe. Expected. Out here was wild. Free. The chance that someone might see stoked the fire inside her even higher. Her answering smile felt wicked and conspiratorial. “No.”

His smile deepened. “Good. Because you look amazing under these twinkle lights. You’re like a goddess in her bower.”

She chuckled at that. “I’m a mess.”

“I like a mess.” He reached the last button and pushed her shirt aside. A look of pure satisfaction danced through his eyesand across his lips. He rubbed the tips of her breasts through the fabric of her bra. “Very nice. I like the lace.”

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