by Elle James
The water was starting to cool by the time she rose from the scented water. She stepped out of the tub, pulled the drain plug and dried her body. Pulling the T-shirt over her head, she laughed when it came down to her knees. A glance in the mirror confirmed. She looked like a little girl, her curves swallowed by the gray blob of a shirt.
Why did she care? It wasn’t as if she was going to seduce the man. Most definitely not while dressed in the T-shirt. Leaning over, she wrapped her wet hair in the towel and flipped it up, turban-style. She quickly rinsed her panties in the sink and hung them on the towel rod to dry. Her shirt and jeans would have to last another day until she could find a store to purchase additional clothing.
Satisfied she looked like a waif and as unsexy as she could possibly get, she stepped out of the bathroom wearing the baggy shirt and nothing else. That she wore no panties made her hyper-aware of every move. Jersey fabric brushed against her thighs and buttocks as a constant reminder of her nakedness beneath the long shirt.
Her breathing grew ragged, and her pulse raced out of control.
Trevor stood in the middle of the room with a cup of tea in his hand. “Feel better?” He handed her the tea and nodded toward the couch. “Have a sip. Then I want to talk about how we’re going to keep you safe.”
So nervous, she couldn’t think straight, she gulped the hot tea, burning her tongue. Lana sputtered and stuck her tongue out to cool.
“Sorry, I forgot to tell you it was really hot.” He patted her back, took the teacup from her hand and pressed a glass of ice water in its place.
She sipped on the icy cold liquid, letting it run across her scalded tongue. The hot tea really hadn’t burned that badly, but she was nervous and didn’t know what else to say, or what to do with her hands.
Trevor took the ice water from her hands and set it on the nightstand. “Now, I wanted to talk about your defense.”
“Defense?” she squeaked, cleared her throat and tried again. “Defense?”
“Yes. If I’m not always around—which I intend to be—you need to know a few basic moves to defend yourself.”
“I’ve taken a self-defense course, if that’s what you’re talking about.”
“Good. Then show me what you have.”
Her heart skipped several beats as thoughts of her panty-less bottom were conjured by his words. She loosened the towel on her head and flung it across the footboard of the bed. Her hair hung down her back in long damp tresses. She didn’t care. She had to prove to Trevor she wasn’t completely defenseless.
Trevor turned her to where her back faced him. “What would you do if someone came up behind you and grabbed you around the neck like this?” He hooked her neck with his elbow.
Lana grabbed where his hands connected, twisted her head to the side, while pulling down on his arms and ducked beneath his elbow. She spun to face him and lifted her foot to plant her heel in his groin.
He blocked her kick and chuckled. “Well done.” He advanced on her before she realized what he was doing and pinned her wrists to the wall. “Now, what are you going to do?” he said, his face so close to her she could feel the warmth of his breath on her cheeks.
Her muscles turned to mush, and her knees threatened to buckle. Her gaze met his, and for a long moment, she forgot how to breathe. Then she leaned forward and pressed her lips to his.
Chapter 10
Trevor never expected Lana’s reaction to being pinned to the wall. When her lips touched his, he couldn’t remember what point he was trying to make. All he could think about was how soft, warm and delicious her mouth felt against his.
He leaned into the kiss and skimmed his tongue across her lips.
Lana gasped, her teeth parting enough Trevor thrust past them to caress her tongue in a long, sensuous stroke. He released her wrists and cupped the back of her head, his fingers threaded into her damp hair, and he pulled her closer, until their bodies pressed chest to chest and hip to hip.
His groin swelled, his cock nudging her belly. God, he wanted more. When she wrapped her arms around his neck and deepened the kiss, he placed his hands around the backs of her thighs and scooped her up.
Lana wrapped her legs around his waist and locked her ankles behind him. The T-shirt rode up her thighs, exposing her bare bottom to his grasp.
A moan rose up Trevor’s throat. Sweet heaven, she was naked beneath the shirt. All his good intentions of taking it slow with her flew out the window as her center rubbed against the fly of his jeans.
He dragged his mouth away from hers and kissed a path along her chin to suck at her earlobe. “Say the word, and I stop right here.”
“Please,” she said.
He held his breath, prepared to end it on her command.
“Don’t stop,” she whispered, her voice ragged, her hands guiding his head back to kiss her again.
“I couldn’t if I tried.” And he dove in to claim her mouth in a kiss that shattered him. When he came back to reality, he’d pick up the pieces and assemble a new person. But for now, he was all hers, and she was his.
Without taking his mouth from hers, he carried her to the bed and let her legs slide down the sides of his thighs until her feet touched the floor.
She stepped back and stared up into his eyes. Then, without blinking, she grabbed the hem of her shirt and pulled it up over her head, tossing it to the corner.
Trevor’s body lit like a flame to gasoline.
Lana was every bit as beautiful on the outside as she was on the inside. Her breasts were small but perfectly shaped and firm. The indentation of her tiny waist emphasized the swell of her hips. The soft ruff of blond hair at the apex of her thighs beckoned Trevor.
He groaned and reached for the buttons on his shirt, his fingers fumbling to release them. At the very moment he decided to rip the shirt off his back, she covered his hands and took over.
One at a time, she released the buttons, moving downward to where the shirt disappeared into the waistband of his jeans. Her fingers flicked open the button on his jeans and eased the zipper down.
Trevor’s cock sprang free, hard and straight, filling her palm.
He was going commando.
She wrapped her hand around his staff and ran it from the tip to the base then paused to fondle his balls. Then she pushed his jeans down his hips and dropped to her knees to ease the denim over his thighs and calves.
Trevor toed off his shoes and stepped free of them and his jeans. He released the last buttons on his shirt and shucked it over his shoulders, letting it drop to the floor.
Still on her knees, Lana touched her tongue to the tip of his cock and swirled around the tiny hole at the center. She widened her circles to lick around the rim of his head, again and again.
Trevor dug his fingers into her hair and held her there, his head flung back, his breath barely filling his lungs.
Lana took him into her mouth, gripped his ass and drove him all the way in until he bumped the back of her throat.
Trevor couldn’t breathe, couldn’t move. This woman was amazing. He hadn’t started the day thinking anything like this could happen but thank the heavens it had.
She guided him in and out, settling into a steady rhythm, moving faster and faster until it was all Trevor could do to keep from coming in her mouth. He gripped her head and pulled free, then drew her up into his arms where he kissed her. The taste of him on her lips nearly made him lose control.
After several deep, calming breaths, he scooped her up in his arms and laid her on the bed.
She parted her legs, and he climbed between them, stopping short when he remembered.
He climbed off the bed and dove for his jeans and the wallet in the back pocket.
“What?” Lana leaned up on one elbow. “What’s wrong?”
He fumbled in his wallet, praying he’d find what he was searching for. When his hand wrapped around the little foil packet, he held it up triumphantly. “Protection.”
She dropped back on the bed,
a chuckle rocking her body. “I’m glad one of us is thinking.”
He climbed onto the bed between her legs and brushed his lips across hers.
Taking the condom from his fingers, she tore it open and rolled it over his erection, her fingers lingering at the base.
Then she raised her knees and guided him to her center.
“Wait,” he said.
She let go of a long, slow breath. “What now?”
“You’re not there yet.”
“I’m so close I could die,” she whispered and brought his face down to hers for another kiss.
“But you’re not there.” He left her lips and trailed kisses down the side of her neck to the pulse pounding at the base of her throat. But he didn’t stop there. He continued downward, took a nipple between his teeth and rolled it until it hardened into a tight knot.
Her back arched off the bed and she moaned.
He switched to the other breast and treated it to the same pleasure, reveling in the way she writhed beneath him.
Eager to bring her the rest of the way there, he kissed and tongued a path down her torso to the tuft of hair guarding her sex. There he parted her folds and dragged a finger from her damp entrance up to that knot of nerve-packed flesh.
Lana tensed, her hips rising off the mattress. “Oh, Trevor. Please.”
“Please what?”
“More, please,” she whispered.
He replaced his finger with his tongue and licked that nubbin until she gripped his hair in her fingers and held him close, her hips rocking, her fingernails digging into his scalp.
He knew when she came by the way her body froze, and her back stiffened. Still, he didn’t let up, wanting her to ride that wave all the way to the end.
When she relaxed against the comforter, he climbed up her body and pressed the tip of his cock against her entrance. “Still with me?”
She shook her head. “I’m somewhere up there in the heavens.”
“Want me to stop?”
“Oh, hell no.” She clutched his ass in her palms and brought him home.
He glided into her slick channel, burying himself all the way to the hilt.
Lana wrapped her legs around him and dug her heels into his buttocks, forcing him even deeper.
Then he was pumping in and out of her, harder, faster until every nerve in his body burned with his desire, and he shot over the edge.
One final thrust brought him as close as he could get to Lana. He stayed deep inside her until the spasms of his release waned and he could breathe normally again.
He dropped down on top of her and rolled them to the side, retaining their intimate connection.
For a long time, they lay in each other’s arms until Trevor’s breathing returned to normal and sleep tugged at his eyelids.
Trevor pulled free and disposed of the condom. Then he drew her back into his embrace. “About that defensive move…” He pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Amazing.”
She smiled and kissed his chin. “Told you I could take care of myself.” Lana yawned and snuggled closer, her breasts pressed against his chest.
Trevor pulled the blanket over them and promptly fell asleep, basking in the glow of the best sex he’d ever had. He refused to believe they ended here. If it was the last thing he did, he’d make Lana fall in love with him. Then he’d marry her and get on with the happily-ever-after part of life with Lana.
Chapter 11
Lana woke to sunlight streaming through the window. Memories of the night before rushed back into her mind and warmed her all over.
Wow. Had she really made love with Trevor? She moved, touching herself down there. Oh, yes. Deliciously sore, she’d made love to the man and she had no regrets.
But the pillow beside her was empty. A sound in the bathroom made her turn her head in time to find Trevor shaved, dressed and smiling down at her. “Mrs. Kinner serves breakfast from seven until nine. It’s eight, and I’m starving.”
“So, you want me to get moving?” She stretched, letting the blanket slide down her body, exposing her breasts. “Are you sure you’re hungry for food?”
Trevor groaned and dropped down on the bed beside her to take one of her nipples into his mouth. He flicked the tip with his tongue and nipped lightly. “Ummm. You’re tempting. I’d say to hell with breakfast, but we’re supposed to meet with Swede at nine.”
Lana sighed. “Such a shame to waste a perfectly good morning working.”
“Can’t do much more without a resupply. I only had one condom in my wallet. Remind me to stop at the store on the way back.” He dropped a kiss on her forehead. “That is, of course, if you’re still interested in more lessons on self-defense.” He slapped her naked bottom and yanked the quilt off her. “Up, lady. This bear is hungry.”
“Pushy bastard, aren’t you?” she grumbled, but rolled to her feet and walked naked into the bathroom, making sure to use her runway walk, swinging her hips side to side enough to drive any man wild.
Before she crossed the threshold of the bathroom, big hands landed on her hips and pulled her back against a hard chest and an equally hard erection.
“Woman, you’re testing me.”
“And you’re passing with flying colors.” She turned in his arms and pressed her breasts to his chest and her lips to his in a brief kiss. Then she backed away quickly and shut the door. “I’ll be ready in two shakes,” she called out.
Trevor adjusted his jeans to ease the strain on his cock and marveled at how quickly they’d gone from friends to lovers. He’d worried there would be a lot of awkwardness between them when Lana woke. He’d second-guessed making love to her the night before. Not that he regretted it. He just didn’t want to ruin his chances of keeping Lana in his life. Of having and holding her until death do they part.
Yeah, he was head-over-heels for the woman. Just like he’d been before she’d married Mason. Nothing had changed, except he loved her even more.
Moments later, Lana appeared in the clothes she’d worn the day before, her hair neatly pulled back in a loose ponytail. Fresh-cheeked, she looked like a teenager, all sunshine and carefree.
“Will Mrs. Kinner be mad that you had a guest in your room last night?” she whispered as they exited the room and locked the door.
“She’s really nice. I’m sure she won’t mind.”
“Good. I don’t want to get you kicked out of your room. Eagle Rock can’t have too many options, as small as it is.”
“You’re right. There aren’t many options. I think they have a couple of rooms over the Blue Moose Tavern. Other than that, I’m not sure who else runs a bed and breakfast, and there aren’t any hotels.”
“I’ll be really nice to Mrs. Kinner,” Lana promised.
Mrs. Kinner was welcoming and happy to meet Lana. She offered to cook anything she wanted for breakfast.
Lana chose to have a piece of toast and a boiled egg.
Trevor ordered bacon, eggs, hash browns and toast.
Mrs. Kinner disappeared into the kitchen and reappeared fifteen minutes later with their food.
After breakfast, Trevor checked outside the B&B for trouble. When he was certain there weren’t any bad guys lurking in the shadows, he allowed Lana to leave the building and climb up into Hank’s truck.
For the first few minutes of the drive, Lana sat quietly in her seat, staring at the road ahead. Once they left town, she turned toward Trevor. “Do you think Mason would be mad about us?”
Trevor had wondered that himself. “Mason wouldn’t have asked me to take care of you, if he didn’t want me to be with you.”
“Do you feel guilty at all about what we did? I mean, when it comes to Mason.” Lana twisted her fingers together in her lap, her gaze on her hands.
“Mason would’ve wanted us to get on with our lives, Lana. I don’t feel guilty about what happened last night. I’m kind of thankful it did.”
“Thankful?” Lana finally turned toward him, a frown wrinkling her brow. “Why?”
“I sense that neither of us was surprised about what happened. Am I right?” he asked.
Lana opened her mouth, closed it and nodded. “Don’t get me wrong. I loved Mason with all my heart.”
“I know,” Trevor responded softly. “So did I. He was my best friend.”
“And mine. We were The Three Musketeers.”
“Until there were two,” Trevor added.
“And you backed away.” She looked out her window, her face turned away but reflected in the glass. “I missed you.”
“I missed you both,” Trevor admitted. “I felt like I’d lost my two best friends.”
“But we were still there.”
“Yeah, but everything had changed.”
“I don’t regret marrying Mason. He was an amazing man, and a caring husband. I regret that it ruined our friendship.”
“If nothing else comes of us,” Trevor said. “I hope we can always be friends.”
“You can count on it. Keep your friends close and your best friends closer.” She smiled across at him and held out her hand.
He took it and squeezed gently. Life had gotten so much better in the last twenty-four hours.
Lana was back in his life.
Trevor turned into the gate at the White Oak Ranch. He punched in the code, and the gate opened automatically.
The driveway wove between trees and around curves all the way up to the sprawling ranch house on a knoll looking out over a stunning stretch of the Crazy Mountains.
“I could learn to love this place,” Lana said. “The views are spectacular.”
Shifting into park, Trevor leaned across the cab and pressed a quick kiss to Lana’s lips. “We should talk this evening.”
“I’m all for some more self-defense lessons.” Lana winked. “Or we can talk.”
He gave her a quick smile. “Let’s go see what Swede can come up with.”
“I doubt he’ll get more than my dude on the dark web. But he might know some tricks neither of us has tried.”
Lana hefted her bag onto her shoulder and followed Trevor up the porch steps.