Page 55 of Wanted by the Lawman

CHAPTER 17

WYNN QUIVERED. ALTHOUGH she was completely naked and her skin damp, those weren’t the reasons why she felt weak. The touch of his lips were shocks of electrical jolts. His mouth moved along the line of her neck, pausing to dip his tongue in the well between her collarbones and lower to wrap his warm lips around one torrid nipple. Logic told her she should push him away. Could she give in to the desire knowing what tomorrow would bring? And yet, how could she walk away without experiencing what he had to offer? In twenty years she wouldn’t regret what she did, but rather what she didn’t do, and she didn’t want to live with any regret.

Everything within her screamed to give in to this whirlwind. Allow her body to feel again.

He brought his head up, seizing her in his warm, blue gaze. “Tell me, sweetheart. Do you want this?”

She couldn’t find the word ‘no’. Instead “Yes,” fell off her lips easily.

With a growl, he picked her up into his arms, holding her against his steely frame and he quickly carried her out of the pool room, up the back stairs off the kitchen. With each step he took, she could feel the strong, powerful muscles of his arms, shoulders, and chest clenching with each movement.

They stopped in the darkened hallway and he kicked open the door. Five steps took them to the bed and he deposited her gently on the center. “Where are we?” she asked.

“My childhood room. That bedspread has never been in contact with such a sweet, lovely body.” He flicked on the lamp and the golden light washed over them.

“Come here.” She raised her arms and he slipped into them. “Thank you.”

“For?” He brought his head up, meeting her gaze.

“Being here with me.” She cupped his cheek, enjoying the rasp of his whiskers against her sensitive palm. “Will you make love to me?”

“I’d like that very much.” He gently pressed her back into the mattress. He was a large man and he easily devoured her body, but she felt safe and secure. Zander kissed her neck, her chest, and the tops of her breasts. He brought his head up and she almost giggled at his warrior-like ferocious look. “Oh, sweetheart, am I going to make love to you. I just don’t know if I have the time to do what I wish to do to you.”

“Oh, is that so? Maybe we should put this off—” She started to roll off the bed, but he caught her, dragging her back into his arms.

He rubbed the tip of his nose along her cheek, inhaling deeply as if he wanted to fill his lungs with her scent. All she could do was surrender to him and let his warmth ease over her. But before she could relax completely, she needed to tell him something. “Zander?”

“Hmm?” He didn’t lift his head, but kissed her breast, rolling his tongue over her engorged nipple.

“I don’t have anything to offer,” as she said the words her chest ached.

He chuckled, and his breath caressed her skin. “No worries, honey. I don’t need money. I have enough of my own.”

“That’s not what I’m saying.” He nibbled her nipple and she squealed, lifting her hips off the mattress only to settle back into the blanket. “I meant promises. I don’t know what tomorrow—or next week—will bring.”

He then lifted his head. “Darlin’, neither one of us know what the future will bring. Each day is a gift. It’s okay sometimes to allow fate to work and just go along with it.”

She wanted to blurt out what happened with Rory, but Zander was right. No one knew what lie ahead for them. She’d allowed Rory to ruin the last three years of her life and she refused to give him one more night. “It’s just…well…my future is uncertain, and any form of commitment is out of the question right now.” How could she explain without revealing too much? She couldn’t bear the thought of Zander’s life being in danger because of her.

“Are you saying you just want…”

Wynn cut his words off by pressing her mouth against his for a quick kiss. “Listen, what I’m saying is let’s just do this—you and me—without worrying about anything but the connection. Okay?”

“Just respect me in the morning, that’s all I ask.” He winked.

She laughed. “Of course, silly.” She kissed the tip of his nose and draped one leg around his hip and scooted her inner thighs across his bulging zipper. “How about we forget small talk and kiss more?”

“I think we’re on the same page.” He nuzzled her chin. “But just so we’re clear, when the time comes that once just isn’t enough for you, I’ll be happy to discuss a long-term plan.” His smile bamboozled its way straight to her heart.

This was exactly what she feared. How could she be in his arms once and not want more and more?

She’d worry about that later. Tonight, she wanted him, wanted to be wanted by him…and she didn’t think that was a problem. Fisting her hand in his hair, she pulled him in for a kiss.

~~~**~~~

This woman mesmerized him. He couldn’t quite come up with a word to describe her, but some of the descriptions that raced through his mind were amazing. Seductive. Beautiful. Scintillating. He could go on, but right now, he closed his eyes and enjoyed how she teased him with the tip of her tongue, sweeping around his mouth. She used her teeth to nibble his lips, gently scraping.

Bringing her hips upward, she pressed her center against his acing cock contained in the denim and he thought he’d go mad. She grinded harder, more determined, and he was so close to exploding he wasn’t quite sure he wouldn’t squirt some in his boxers before this was all said and done. He thrust his tongue into her honeyed cave and kissed her lavishly. He pressed her into the mattress, taking her tiny wrists between his fingers and bringing her arms high above her head. The motion brought her back arching, breast forward, and his mouth salivated. There was no chance in hell he could not sample the puckered nipples.

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