Page 26 of A Match Made in Montana

With a sigh from deep within her, she explored every one of the tight muscles before her hands glided upward and spread out over his torso. Lifting her head, she grinned. “I’m not the only one beading, it seems.”

His eyes were molten sapphire. “I have to see you… touch you.” Holding her gaze captive, he opened the top button of her blouse and waited.

Nearly fervent with need, she tried to open the rest, but her hands were shaking too badly and she struggled.

“Let me,” he whispered moving her hands aside. His eyes dropped and, one by one, he opened the small buttons. Pulling the two parts to the side, he cussed softly. “Damn, Annie, pink lace… you’re killing me.” With unsteady hands, he unfastened her bra. “Look at you… so, so beautiful.”

Bending down, he closed his mouth over her one breast while his hand fondled the other one. It was all it took for passion to fling her out to sea where wave after wave of pleasure crashed over her, hardly giving her a chance to catch her breath in between. Valiantly, she tried to keep her eyes on him, she wanted to remember this moment, but his onslaught was merciless. Dropping her head backward, she gave herself up to the pure bliss of being loved by someone who knew exactly how to go about doing it.

Nibbling and licking her breasts, Craig was driving her up and up a high mountain until she was just about sobbing out his name.

None of the romances she’d read had been able to describe what she was experiencing in this moment—her last rational thought before she tumbled over the top of the mountain.

*

His blood wasroaring through his body, urging him on to take what he needed so desperately—Annie. In awe, Craig stared at her. Her skin was hot, her body pliant. If he picked her up now, she wouldn’t protest.

But she’d asked for time. She had her conditions. This had to stop before he lost the last vestiges of his self-control and carried her to her bed.

Gulping in air, he kissed Annie’s face as she slowly opened her eyes. “Annie, baby…” he muttered, closing her blouse without looking at her gorgeous breasts again. “That was so, so beautiful. You’re so beautiful. I want to take you to your bed, but you said you need time…”

For a moment longer, she stared at him, her eyes glazed over with desire, her lips swollen with his kisses.

Frustrated, he dropped a searing kiss on her lips before he turned away. “I’ll email you the rest of my ideas. You take your time and read science fiction and keep sober, but I can tell you right now, what has just happened between us is not something you can forget by not thinking about it. Watching you, listening to you while you cry out my name? You have no idea what you do to me.” His voice was ragged.

And without looking back at her, he lengthened his strides. He had to get out of here before he did what both of them were desperate to do—make love.

*

Gasping, Annie saggeddown on the nearest chair.Oh. My. Goodness.As long as she lived, she would never forget what had just happened between her and Craig. Her body was on fire and literally aching for more.

Looking down at herself, she groaned and quickly fastened her bra and buttoned up her blouse. She wanted Craig with an intensity that frightened her. She didn’t need time to figure that out. But could she just jump into bed with him, make love with him, and blithely walk about days later? She had no intention of going the lets-get-married-route again. Tried that, got hurt, didn’t want the T-shirt. However, she had to make sure her heart would survive letting Craig go.

The way he touched her… Oh, my. It was as if he could read her mind, as if he knew exactly how to kiss her, how to touch her, how to lo—With a sigh, she got up and straightened her clothes. She couldn’t even think about the L-word. It wasn’t on the table—for either one of them.

Her phone rang. Craig? Her heart just about jumped out of her body, but it was an unknown number.Well, you never know, it could be potential client.

Rolling her eyes at her own silly thoughts, she answered the call.

Minutes later, she sat down again, dazed. She had guests. Actual guests who’d seen her webpage and wanted to be here for the Spring Arts and Crafts Festival next weekend. Whatever Craig had done to improve her website was obviously working.

She opened her phone. Could she text him after what had just happened? She was the one with the stupid conditions. Well, she had to thank him. Her fingers were flying over the small pad and she pressed send before she could think too much about what she was doing.

I have guests for the spring festival! Thank you.

She stared at the small screen. Her message was delivered, but he hadn’t seen it yet. Jumping up, she quickly cleaned the table. Neither she nor Craig had finished their tea or eaten a scone. They had better things to do—they’d been kissing.

Thinking about Craig’s lips on hers had her just about salivating. Muttering to herself, she stormed out of the kitchen. Just the mere thought of Craig kissing her, his hands kneading her breasts, had her body humming.

Help.Now she was reciting even more lines from romance novels!

She was going shopping. She had to get out of her house for a while. Besides, she had a good reason—after all the flops this morning she needed to buy flour and eggs.

*

It was nearlylunchtime when Craig jogged up to the front door of his aunt’s house. He’d heard his phone bleep earlier, but he’d ignored it. He’d been running.

After he’d returned home from Annie’s, the walls of Aunt Janice’s house were closing in on him. Maybe a run would clear his head, he’d argued. Something he needed desperately.

---