Page 34 of Canyon Killer
“He changed his mind about wanting to marry me. But he waited until one month before the wedding—after we had made all the reservations, hired the caterer and the photographer and the DJ. After we’d sent the invitations. We’d already had one wedding shower. I had wedding gifts at my house. It was humiliating.”
“That’s tough,” Ian said. “But maybe better to know that about him before you were legally tied.”
“Oh, yes. I’m sure it was. But I wasn’t thinking about that when I was calling people and canceling, and hearing we couldn’t get our deposits refunded. Or when I was returning gifts and being asked over and over ‘What happened?’ I couldn’t help translating that question as ‘What did you do wrong?’”
“I’m sure you didn’t do anything wrong.”
She blew out a breath. “Maybe not. But Justin was such a great guy. I mean, that’s what everyone said. Even after I told them he had called off the wedding, at least sixty percent of the people said, ‘But Justin is such a great guy.’”
“Justin sounds like a grade-A jerk.”
She laughed—at the words themselves and the fierceness with which he said them.
He pulled her close once more. “Where does this guy live? Next time I’m in the area I could stop by his house and punch him.”
“Thanks, but you don’t have to do that.”
“I think it would feel pretty good.”
“You feel good.” She snuggled closer. For maybe the first time since Justin had told her he didn’t love her enough to spend the rest of his life with her, she felt truly grateful for his decision. If he hadn’t dumped her, she wouldn’t be here now with Ian.
He took her hand in his and kissed her knuckles. One by one, brushing them with his tongue, like flames licking along her body.
Bethany tilted her mouth to meet his, his lips caressing, carrying a heat that flowed through her. She slipped her arms around his waist, reveling in the feel of his body, all taut muscle and masculine angles.
His fingers threaded through her hair, cradling her head as he deepened the kiss, his tongue tangling with hers, gentle and teasing. His other hand slid down her body, his palm tracing the fullness of her breast and the curve of her waist and hips. She gripped his hips and then his buttocks, bringing him closer still.
Ian moved his lips to kiss her neck and then her ear. “I want to make love to you,” he growled.
“I want to make love toyou,” she echoed.
“Let’s go into the bedroom.” He moved back enough to take her hand.
She was too focused on him to register more than an impression of the bedroom—dark colors, a big bed, the soft glow of the lamp he switched on beside the bed. He pulled his shirt off, revealing a sculpted chest and ridged abs.
Her heart pounded and she was hot all over. Yes, she was definitely wearing too many clothes.
He apparently had the same thought and moved in to slide his hands beneath the hem of her Eagle Mountain Search and Rescue T-shirt. She lifted her arms, and he tugged it over her head, then reached around to unhook her bra. “Nice,” he said as he tossed it to the floor, and she wasn’t sure if he meant her choice of undergarment or her naked breasts, the nipples taut with both arousal and the sudden draft.
They finished undressing, and Ian led her to the bed. Once there, he lay back and beckoned her. She didn’t move in close right away, preferring to sit back and admire him. How had she never appreciated the benefits of climbing before? “I’ve fantasized about you naked, but the real thing is even better,” she said.
“Mmmm.” He sat up and cupped her breasts. “Even better,” he murmured, then drew one taut peak into his mouth.
Arching her back, Bethany laughed. He looked up at her. “What’s so funny?”
“I’m just so happy.” She wrapped her arms around him, and they fell back together on the pillows.
“I love that I don’t have to guess how you’re feeling,” he said. “Because you always tell me.”
“Some people see that as a flaw.” She kissed her way along his jaw. “But right now I’m feeling like I don’t want to wait any longer.”
He leaned over her to reach into the drawer of the bedside table. She kissed his chest, then slid lower, kissing her way down his body. He groaned but stayed still on his hands and knees as she moved down…down.
“You keep that up, and this is going to be over before we’ve really started,” he said after a moment.
With feigned reluctance, she slid up to lie beside him and watched as he rolled on the condom. A flutter of nervousness passed through her. This man had dated actresses and models, athletes with perfect bodies like his own. What was he going to think of her?
He rolled over and took her in his arms. “Come here, beautiful,” he said.
