Page 99 of The Ranger Gets His Girl

She nodded with a whimper as he pulled out, then plunged deep. She screamed and threw her head back, then he did it again. She lost herself in the feel of him thrusting, filling her, stretching her. The tension built between her legs again until she quivered.

When he slid his hands around and pinched a nipple, she bucked, losing the rhythm and opening her eyes to look at him. His blue eyes were heavily lidded, but he leaned forward on the next thrust and captured her mouth.

He ravaged her with a savage kiss, his lips soft but his tongue twirling with hers, drawing her in until he could nip her lower lip. Then he deepened the kiss and pistoned harder, each thrust firm and wringing pleasure from every cell of her body.

A hand slid down her stomach and a thumb strummed her core, curling her toes as her orgasm hit like a tsunami. Stronger than the last, every nerve ending quivered, robbing her of her senses. She saw white spots behind her eyes, and he pinched her nipple as he thrust up one more time.

He groaned as he swelled within her. He melted in her heat, pumping hot inside as he exploded, making her scream as her body milked him deeper.

His lips on her neck slowed to a tender dream as the aftershocks rippled through her body.

When she let her head fall to his shoulder, he wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her tight. The sun was long set, and her breathing was still ragged against his neck.

He took a deep breath and kissed her cheek, holding her until her body went slack. Even when he slipped from her, still he held her.

His breathing was still labored when he asked, "Was the hair pulling ok?"

She nodded and sighed contentedly. "Yeah, I thought it'd trigger memories of that CEO pulling my hair and throwing me on the couch, but it didn't. It was a little of pain and a lot of pleasure."

He kissed the side of her head. "Good. Kind of hard to master your body if I'm afraid of triggering you, so I'm glad it didn't."

She giggled softly. "I think it's safe to say you've mastered it."

He squeezed her tighter, making her feel safe and protected. "Never. It'll take a lifetime to master you, little bird."

The silence stretched between them, heavy with things left unsaid.

Lucy buried her head in his shoulder, ignoring it as she yawned. She was already trying not to worry about the fact that they only had two more nights together. Was he thinking about their impending separation too?

He kissed the side of her head and said, "Come on, little bird. Let's hop to bed before we turn into prunes."

She let him lead her out of the hot tub and stood as he toweled her dry, rubbing his hands up and down her body. She closed her eyes and stood naked on the balcony, not caring at all if anyone saw her, mostly because she was still thinking about only having two more nights together.

THE NEXT EVENING, LUCY put the finishing touches on her makeup and centered her face in the video chat window.

"How's it look now?"

Taylor squinted and then grinned. "I think that's perfect! The smokey eye looks great on you. Why did you never let me help with makeup before this?"

Lucy shrugged, backing away from where the phone was propped up and taking the robe off to get dressed. "There wasn't any reason to wear any before this."

"And you're wearing it for him? Damn, girl, you must really like him."

Lucy paused and frowned, letting the silence drag.

Taylor pounced and leaned closer into the video. "Lucy?" she asked slowly. Then she reared back and gasped. "Oh my God, you love him!"

Lucy spun around and patted her hair. "So what if I do? It doesn't matter anyway."

Taylor groaned. "Girl, what did I tell you? I knew this was going to happen. Luce, you have to protect yourself. Show him you don't need him."

Her heart lurched to hear her friend's words because she was afraid. She was afraid she did need him. Now that she'd had a taste of him, she wasn't sure how she'd survive going back to her lonely existence.

She pulled up the dress and reached awkwardly around to zip it.

"It doesn't matter if I need him or not. We've agreed to go our separate ways when we get home, and that's that. Just let me enjoy my last night with him, ok?"

Taylor sighed and rubbed her forehead. "Fine.

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