Page 36 of The Rancher's Secret Son

He knew he was racing into disaster, but he didn’t want to stop kissing her. He felt as if he could kiss her all night. He wanted to hold her, love her, seduce her. He wanted to make love to her through the night. The realization shocked him. How had she reached him? He had shut out the world, kept his attention and life focused on only business. Suddenly Claire was in his life again, turning his world upside down and making him want love in his life once more, making him want to really live again. She was burning away his grief.

They had hurt each other long ago and this might be rushing into that same hurt again, only a lot worse this time. He should stop and walk away right now, but she was soft, hot, tempting, her scalding kisses stirring a storm of longing. Life was empty without love, and the thought startled him because his life was busy every waking moment. Since when had it become empty to him? The question left him as he tightened his arms around her and continued kissing her.

Their past couldn’t be undone, but they could pick up and go on with life. And it could be good again. So good.

Nick shifted her against him, wanting to carry her to a bedroom but afraid she would stop him. As he kissed her, he ran his hand lightly along her throat, caressing her, taking his time, and then his fingers drifted lower, following her luscious curves, over the softness of her breast. He twisted open a button and then another, sliding his hand beneath her blouse to touch her warm silken skin, to caress her breast, feeling the taut bud. He was aroused, ready and aching for her. He unfastened the clasp of her bra, slipping his hand below the lace to stroke her breasts with feathery touches.

She moaned, shifting her hips and moving against him, setting him on fire with wanting her.

“Nick,” she whispered, sitting up. He pushed open her blouse and leaned down to touch her breast with his tongue.

She gasped and for a moment didn’t stop him while he kissed and caressed her. He felt her fingers run through his hair as she moaned softly with pleasure.

“Nick, wait. A few more minutes and I won’t be able to stop,” she said, her words breathless. “This isn’t what I planned and I don’t think it’s what you intended.”

Reluctantly, he straightened. “Claire, I want you,” he whispered, caressing her nape. He didn’t want to stop touching her. “Do you remember our times together? They were better than anything. Remember?” he asked, framing her face with his hands and staring at her.

“Yes, I remember,” she replied, “but we’re not going there tonight. We have all the complications in our lives we need. We have to stop this.” She wiggled to stand and he helped her, doing what she wanted because he wanted her happy.

He stood, looking at her while she pulled her blouse together. “I want to make love to you all night long. Making love is good between us. I know you remember. One time wouldn’t hurt. We won’t fall in love.”

“One time wouldn’t hurt,” she repeated. “You’re saying that to convince yourself as well as me. We hurt each other terribly before and we can’t do that again.”

They stood staring at each other and he wanted her desperately. He wound his hands in the thick, black hair on either side of her head, turning her head up slightly so he could get to her mouth as he leaned down to kiss her.

The minute their lips and tongues met, he wrapped his arm around her waist, pulled her tightly against him and kissed her passionately, once again letting her feel the pent-up hunger he felt. “Claire, damn, I want you,” he whispered and kissed away any answer she might have had.

Moaning, she clung to him. How long they kissed, he didn’t know, but finally, she pushed against him, so he released her and she stepped away. Her blouse was still unbuttoned, revealing her tempting curves, and he ached to draw her back into his embrace.

Both of them were breathing deeply and she took another step back. “Nick, we need to call it a night now. That shouldn’t have even happened.”

“No one was harmed. No promises made, nothing changed,” he said. But his whole world had changed. He wanted her and he felt headed for more hurt than ever. He couldn’t survive a marriage of convenience, which she didn’t want anyway. “Claire, don’t have regrets. You’ve brought me out of grief. For the first time in far too long, I feel alive. Don’t have regrets about kissing me tonight.”

“I should go to my room. That will be better for both of us.”

“Sit and talk. I’ll sit across the room if it’ll make you happier,” he said, crossing to the other side of the room.

He looked at her, his eyes pleading with her not to walk away.

Shaking her head in surrender, she acquiesced. She sat a safe distance away and he took it as a good sign that she hadn’t run to her room.

For the next hour or so he forced his libido back into hiding and he gave her what she wanted—time together to talk. They talked about their families, their lives over the past few years, and Nick kept the conversation lively so he wouldn’t recall how much he wanted her. He was charming, personable, trying to please her. And he succeeded.

Time slipped away until she finally stood. “I have to get to bed. I’m exhausted. Good night.”

“I’ll go upstairs, too,” he said, crossing the room and walking with her to her door where he turned to face her.

“I’m glad you’re here,” he said, toying with a lock of her hair. “Both of you. Today has been really great.”

“Let’s hope things stay that way,” she said.

Stepping closer, Nick wrapped his arms around her to kiss again, another passionate kiss that she returned. Her response was instant, intense, and it made him think she wanted him almost as much as he wanted her.

She finally looked up at him. “We’re going to say good-night, Nick. I’ll see you in the morning.”

“This has been a very special day. Thanks for letting it happen. I’ll see you and Cody early in the morning.”

Nick went to his room. As he undressed, he wondered whether he would get any sleep at all this night. He lay in the dark and knew he wouldn’t. Every time he closed his eyes he remembered what it was like to kiss her.

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