“Thanks, but I’m inspired by what you do, which seems a lot more complicated to me.”
“It’s not. I keep saying you could learn it.” He tried to keep from staring at her mouth, but it was so tempting. And so very close.
“I could learn the basics, but your talent can’t be taught. You work instinctively to capture the essence of your subjects. I can tell you operate by instinct—so do I with the animals.”
“I’m not always successful.”
She laughed. “Who is?”
“I know, but I get impatient.” He’d made a copy of the footage he’d taken of her at the station. He wasn’t satisfied with it. “Like with you, for example.”
“Me?”
“The camera work I did when you came to KFOR was okay, but you’re so much more...filled with light than what I managed to record. I need another chance.”
Her breath hitched and her eyes grew dreamy. “Filled with light?”
“Mmm.” He realized that he’d moved close enough that their shoulders touched. He risked a lot being this near to her and saying these things, but he couldn’t seem to help it. “You give off this subtle glow. I didn’t capture that in the footage I took.”
“That’s very flattering.” She spoke in hushed tones as she drifted toward him, closing the gap. “But I don’t think I glow.”
“Yes, you do. You’re glowing now.”
“I am?”
“Yes.” He breathed her in. “Here.” He touched his lips to her cheekbone. “And here.” He pressed his mouth against the space between her brows. “And here.” He feathered a kiss along her jawline.
He would have missed her soft gasp if he hadn’t been so close. But he didn’t miss it. “Tansy, if I don’t kiss you right now, I’m going to explode.”
Her lashes fluttered down, concealing those incredible eyes. “Ben, if you don’t kiss me right now, I’ll explode, too.”
“Can’t have people exploding, can we?” He cupped her cheek, his fingers sliding over the silky temptation of her skin. His heart threatened to pound right out of his chest as he hovered nearer. At last, when his breath mingled with hers, he closed his eyes and sought the velvet softness of her lips.
And when he settled his mouth over hers, his sense of homecoming nearly overwhelmed him. Risky or not, he needed to be with this woman, to absorb her warmth and bask in the light that surrounded her.
Then she moaned softly, and the surge of desire that roared through him left him trembling with the effort to keep his pressure light, his touch gentle. But he managed it. She’d yielded this much to him, but if she sensed that his control could snap any second, he might lose her trust.
With great effort, he lifted his head and gazed down at her. Her eyes opened slowly. He waited, breath held, for what they would reveal.
At last, with a quivering sigh, she let him see what he’d dreamed of, but never dared hope for. Passion blazed there...for him.
“I shouldn’t want you,” she murmured.
His voice was husky with need. “No, you shouldn’t.”
“But I do.”
He closed his eyes and took a long, shaky breath. He would do the noble thing. “I’ll go.”
“Don’t you dare.”
His eyes snapped open. “What?”
“Don’t you dare kiss me like that and walk out my door, Ben Rhodes.”
“But you said you shouldn’t want—”
“Some things defy logic.” Her hand cupped the back of his head, drawing him down. “And this is one of them.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
TO TANSY, THE POSITIVE view was always better. Maybe she was rationalizing asking him to stay—and the hotter Ben’s kisses became, the more that was likely—but she had to believe that Ben cherished animals the way she did and was capable of loving pets and people.
So when they stood and carefully navigated around the sleeping dogs on their way to her bedroom, she told herself that she didn’t have to worry. She wasn’t giving her heart and her body to the wrong man. Ben was moving closer to an epiphany every day.
She wanted him so desperately that when he mentioned that he wasn’t prepared, she pushed past her embarrassment and admitted she had condoms in her bedside table drawer. Fortunately he didn’t question their presence in her bedroom. Neither did she take the time to explain that Rose and Cindy had conspired to put them there, just in case.
After they turned on the bedside lamps and closed the bedroom door, he began to undress her with murmured words of praise and more kisses from his talented lips. Only a few minutes of that and she abandoned all debate. Something basic in him awakened something basic in her and she couldn’t fight it anymore.
Maybe they would forge a bond strong enough to withstand any challenge, and maybe they wouldn’t. When he stripped off his clothes and urged her back onto the cool sheets, she no longer cared to worry about it.
For now, there was only Ben, loving her with a tenderness that brought tears to her eyes. He was a man who knew the meaning of the word cherish. He didn’t rush.
She was the one who begged him to hurry. She’d imagined making love to him ever since they’d met, and she’d despaired of it ever happening. Now that it was about to, she couldn’t wait.
Covering her with his warm, muscled body, he rested his weight on his elbows and gazed into her eyes. “I don’t want to hurry,” he murmured. “I want to savor you, Tansy.”
“You could savor me later. During round two.” Now that he was in her bed, she wasn’t in any hurry to kick him out.
His beautiful mouth tilted in a smile. “I could, but we’ll only have a first time once.” He leaned down and feathered a kiss over her lips. “I want to make it memorable.”
She groaned and ran her hands up his sculpted back. “We have all night.”
“Do we?” He nuzzled her throat. “Are you inviting me to stay?”
“Yes.” She arched upward as he kissed his way to the swell of her breast. “Please stay. Please...” Her request became a whimper as he found her nipple and drew it into his mouth.
Stay. The word vibrated through her as he continued his unhurried exploration. Her heart beat a wild rhythm punctuated with that single word. Stay...
He seemed to know exactly how to touch her, where to touch her. Her skin flushed in response and moisture sluiced downward. She shifted restlessly as he dipped his tongue into her navel.
He held her hips still and shifted his weight until he lay between her quivering thighs. And then...sensation rocketed through her as his mouth made contact. His intimate kiss was bold, thorough, devastating.
Gasping, she surrendered to the assault. He brought her quickly to the brink, and when she tightened, ready for that exquisite release...he eased back.
“Ben.”
“Take your time.” His warm breath caressed her damp skin. “Pace yourself.”
“But I want—”
“Don’t run to meet it. Let it roll toward you.” He used his tongue to tease her.
“It’s a tsunami.”
“Not yet. It will be.” He settled his mouth over her and coaxed her to the edge...and paused. Again.
“You’re torturing me.” She moaned and tried to wriggle out of his grip.
He held her fast. “I want you to remember this, Tansy. Every second.”
“I will.” She was on fire, burning with frustration. “But please...”
“Yes. Now.” The fierce pressure of his lips and tongue catapulted her into a whirlpool of pleasure more intense than she’d ever known. She lost all control as her climax rocketed through her with a force that left her dazed and breathless in the aftermath.
Sinking back onto the damp sheets, she flung her arms out and closed her eyes. Rainbows danced behind her eyelids,
and a slow, lazy smile touched her lips. Oh, yeah.
“You look happy.” He slid up beside her and stroked wet tendrils of hair away from her temples.
“Ecstatic.”
“That’s what I was going for.”
She kept her eyes closed, still enjoying those rainbows. “What...about you?” Vaguely she realized he must be in a world of hurt right now.
“You, um, mentioned condoms?”
“Left-hand bedside table drawer.” She was amazed she remembered considering that she had a minimal number of brain cells operating.
The mattress undulated as he turned over, opened the drawer and found the box. Cardboard snapped and foil crinkled.
Her dazed mind began to recover, allowing her to imagine him tearing open a condom package and rolling the latex over his rock-hard penis. He’d kept her so busy with her own orgasm that she hadn’t been able to fully appreciate the special equipment he brought to the party. She was appreciating it now, however.
Moments ago she’d been sated, sure that another climax was impossible after the way he’d pleasured her. Maybe not. As he flattened a palm on either side of her shoulders, his expression focused and his eyes hot, her body clenched and moistened, wanting more, wanting him.
But on her terms. She placed a hand on his chest. He had a terrific chest—firm, warm and lightly sprinkled with dark hair. “Wait.”
He paused, his gaze locked with hers, a question lurking in the dark depths of his eyes.
“Lie down. I want to be on top.”
He hesitated a moment more. “All right.” His voice was gruff with the effort to control himself. But he stretched out on his back.
Scrambling up, she surveyed him from head to toe. He was magnificent, a virile male with strong calves, muscled thighs and impressive family jewels paired with a proud erection. She ached to have him deep inside her, but if he could insist on giving a memorable experience, so could she.
“Will I do?”
Heart pounding, she gauged his taut expression and judged that he was near the breaking point. “You’ll do very nicely.” She closed her fingers around the rigid evidence of his arousal.
His chest heaved. “Is this payback?”
“Maybe.” Caressing him lightly, she straddled his thighs.
He groaned and squeezed his eyes shut. “I’m really close.”
“Pace yourself.” She stopped touching him and eased onto his thighs.
He gave a choked laugh. “So my words come back to haunt me.”
“I want this to be memorable.”
Opening his eyes, he allowed her to see the fire blazing there. “It already is.”
Her breath caught. She’d never been with a man who brought such emotion to the act of making love. This man who’d seemed so reluctant to share, to trust, had opened himself completely here in the privacy of her bedroom. She’d meant to tease him some more, but suddenly that seemed like a waste of time, just to prove a point.
“Come to me, Tansy. Please.”
Holding his gaze, she rose over him. He bracketed her hips with his strong hands and guided her to that ultimate connection. As she eased down, her blood pounding through her veins, the heat in his eyes intensified.
His jaw clenched. “So good.”
“Yes.” Her breathless answer seemed inadequate. Her body hummed with joy at having him deep inside her. All her instincts about him were right. They were perfect together.
Bracing her hands on his powerful shoulders, she began to move.
He sucked in a breath and his grip tightened. “Even better.”
“Uh-huh.” She loved watching his eyes darken as she initiated a slow rhythm. He matched her movements, thrusting upward as she bore down. She reveled in the intense pleasure of that steady friction.
The room filled with their ragged breathing and the provocative sound of love being well and truly made. She pushed him to go faster, bringing a groan from deep in his chest and a flash of fire in his eyes.
“Tansy.”
She heard the desperation in his voice, knew he was losing control. But so was she. She gulped for air. “Let go, Ben.”
“But...I want...”
“I’m there...I’m...” She erupted, and her cry of release blended with his as they tumbled into the abyss together. With a soft moan, she sank down against his damp chest. Nestling there, she listened to the rapid beat of his heart.
He wrapped her in his arms and rested his cheek against her hair. “You’re perfect,” he murmured.
“No, we’re perfect.”
He hugged her close. “Mmm.”
It wasn’t quite a murmur of agreement, but it wasn’t exactly a denial, either. She smiled. He might think they were too different, but she knew those differences were evaporating like rain puddles on a sunny day. Eventually he’d figure that out, too. She could wait.
As she lay there pondering the wonder of their lovemaking, she gradually became aware of scratching at the bedroom door.
“Ewok?” Ben’s voice was lazy with satisfaction.
“Yes. Ordinarily they spend the night in here with me.” She decided to leave it at that and see how he reacted.
“In the bed?”
She detected no disapproval in the question, only curiosity. “Not Wookie. He’s way too big. His dog bed’s over in the corner. But I admit I’ve let Ewok get up here with me.”
“Hmm.” He stroked her hair, his breathing steady.
The scratching stopped. “See? He gave up. They’re fine out in the living room for tonight.”
“If you say so.”
“I do.”
He sighed with obvious contentment. “I hate to ask you to move, but it has to happen sooner or later. It’s a drawback of the system.”
“I know. I’ll let you up. Bathroom’s through that door on the right.” Easing away from him, she rolled sideways so he could get out of bed and deal with the condom. Without his warmth, she shivered and pulled up the covers. In the frenzy of their lovemaking, they’d kicked them to the bottom of the bed.
Closing her eyes, she listened to the creak of her house’s old floorboards as he walked into the bathroom. She was glad he liked this house. She might be getting way ahead of herself to imagine him living here, but she didn’t think so. It was only a matter of time.
The floorboards creaked again, and she expected him to climb back into bed with her. Instead she heard the unmistakable sound of her bedroom doorknob turning.
She sat up and blinked.
A gloriously naked Ben opened her bedroom door and called to the dogs.
“Ben, are you sure you want to do that? I warn you, Ewok will—” Before she could finish the sentence, Ewok tore through the open door and scrambled up beside her, tail wagging, button eyes bright with happiness.
Wookie ambled through the door, gave a low, guttural sound of pleasure and went straight to his bed in the corner.
Ben left the door open and turned back to her. He glanced with amusement at Ewok, who had taken his usual position on top of the covers, but smack in the middle of the bed.
“I warned you,” Tansy said. “I’ve indulged him, and when he’s in here, this is where he sleeps.”
“Then he should get to sleep there.” Ben walked back to the bed and climbed in on the other side of Ewok. “It’s his house, after all.”
“For now it is, but I’m only fostering.”
Ben propped his head on his hand and studied her. “No, you’re not.”
“What do you mean? Of course I am. That’s why I brought them to KFOR, in hopes someone would decide to take them.”
He smiled. “Someone has. You.”
“No, not me. I have to keep my house open so I can take in those who need extra care and attention for
a little while. These two were traumatized by being left, even more so than most dogs are, so I brought them over here.”
“I understand the concept, but you sure love having these two around. You would be sad to see them go.”
“Of course I would, but...” Ewok watched her with bright eyes full of devotion. She looked over at Wookie, sprawled contentedly on the giant bed she’d bought him. “I would,” she said softly. Her throat was tight.
“I know they’d be sad to leave you.”
Thinking of that, she blew out a breath to release some tension. “I took this job right after I’d lost a dog and a cat, a few months apart, to old age. Right away I was tempted to adopt at least one of the animals, but then I thought that was silly. I was surrounded by furry friends all day. Keeping my house available for special cases seemed reasonable.”
“I’ll bet by now you have plenty of backup for those special cases.”
“I do.” She grinned sheepishly. “I could have found Ewok and Wookie a foster home. And to be honest, they might have adapted to the Doggie Digs just fine. Instead I kept them here.”
“Where fewer visitors actually meet them.”
With a groan she flopped back on the bed. “At least I took them on TV!”
“Yes, and that was brilliant showmanship on your part, but you were secretly worried somebody would adopt them after that, weren’t you?”
Turning her head, she met his knowing gaze. “I’ve never admitted that, either to myself or someone else. But yeah, I was dreading that phone call and relieved when it didn’t come. How did you figure all this out?”
“Observation. It’s what I do for a living, after all. I get behind a camera and watch what happens in front of it.”
“So you do.” She reached a hand across the bed. “You’re awfully far away.”
He laced his fingers through hers. “Call me old-fashioned, but I don’t think I could get too friendly with you while there’s a dog in the bed.”
“And I wouldn’t let you, either, which is why I was so surprised when you let them in.”
“I’m the one intruding on their territory. Didn’t seem fair to keep them outside.”
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