He’d come to that realization at the Spring Fling, when he’d kissed her and all he’d been able to think was mine.
That being said, if Tripp wasn’t much mistaken—and he was pretty sure that he wasn’t—Beth looked more than a little bit disappointed when his hands fell away from her body.
“You ready?” he asked, taking another step back.
She nodded, and they headed across the lawn to his house. He’d never wanted to reach over and hold a woman’s hand more than in that moment. It took everything in him to resist. He was just going to have to be content with the close proximity.
Fat fucking chance.
When they walked in the front door, Duke was there to greet them. He headed straight for Beth, wagging his tale excitedly. Beth set her purse on the side table before she bent forward and scratched the dog’s head. Duke’s eyes closed dreamily and he sat on his back legs, more than thrilled with Beth’s ministrations.
“It’s like there was never a feud between our two houses,” Tripp said.
She looked up at him, her hands continuing to move through Duke’s fur. “A feud between our two houses?” She raised her eyebrows. “How very…Shakespearean of you.”
“Well, that’s as far as the Shakespeare is going to go. Because I’m sorry to tell you I won’t be standing outside the window and spouting sonnets to you.”
“Oh no? Well, that’s thoroughly disappointing. Should I just see myself out?” She asked, pointing back to the door.
“I’ve got wine.”
“Oh, well in that case.” Beth patted Duke’s head before she straightened, grabbing her purse and walking to Tripp.
“After you.” He waved his hand in front of him, letting her lead the way, mostly so he could get a glimpse of this dress of hers from behind.
Big mistake. Huge.
The material flowed down her back, and as she walked it swayed in the most tantalizing way around her hips and thighs…and her butt. He was absolutely checking out every single part of her that he could lay his eyes on.
“Dinner won’t be ready for another hour or so. I figured we could have a drink and a little conversation.”
When she got to the bar, she turned to look at him over her shoulder. “An hour. I feel like you led me over here under false pretenses.”
“False pretenses?” he asked as he walked past her and into the kitchen.
“You said dinner was at six.”
“I said no such thing.” He shook his head, rounding the counter so that he was in front of her. He didn’t take his gaze from her face as he reached to the side and pulled two wineglasses from the cupboard, setting them on the counter in front of him. “I said come over at six. A dinner time was never established.”
“And what are we eating for dinner?”
“Lasagna. Made from scratch.”
“Sauce too?” she asked in challenge.
“What kind of an amateur do you take me for? The only thing I didn’t make were the noodles. I know who I’m dealing with tonight, Ms. Break-and-Bake-Cookies Are A Sin.”
“They are.” She nodded. “The only thing more blasphemous is boxed cake.”
“I’ll remember that. How do you feel about red wine?” He held up the bottle for her to see. “It’s a Cabernet. Or is that on your list of no-no’s, too?”
She narrowed her eyes and shook her head, fighting a smile. “No, it is not on my list of no-no’s. Cabernet is on my list of all things good.”
“Perfect.” He reached for the drawer next to him, pulling out a corkscrew and aerator.
“So, speaking of cookies. You have a pretty good stock of them now. It was a rather expensive investment, though.”
Tripp fitted the sharp tip of the screw to the cork before he started to twist. “I would’ve paid more.”
“Is that so?”
“Without even batting an eye.”
“Why?” She shifted on her feet as she placed her elbows on the counter and leaned forward.
When the screw couldn’t go down any more, he pulled the cork out with an easy tug before looking up at Beth. “Why do you think? Because I didn’t want any other guy out there getting any ideas.”
“What sort of ideas are those?”
He reached for the aerator, glancing down as he fit it into the top of the bottle. He poured each glass about a third of the way full before he stopped, setting the bottle on the counter and lifting his gaze to Beth.
“The kind of ideas I’m currently having in regards to you.”
“Which are?”
Well, there was this new insane jealousy that he’d never had before. He didn’t like other men touching her, let alone talking to her. Another revelation he’d had at the Spring Fling. Then there was the fact that he couldn’t get her out of his head.
Good luck on ever achieving that last one.
He grabbed both glasses of wine as he rounded the counter and stopped in front of her. She reached for the glass he held out, her fingers brushing his as she took it. Such a simple thing, such a small light touch…but he felt it everywhere. Her warmth spread up his arm, setting him on fire. He took a deep breath to steady himself and immediately regretted it. Again, the scent of vanilla on her skin filled his lungs, clouding his brain.
“That’s two questions you’ve asked. It’s my turn to get some answers.”
“Okay, I counted more of an answer and a half from you, but you can go.” She shrugged. “What do you want to ask me?”
So, so many things.
“Do you want to sit outside?” He nodded to the back door. Maybe the fresh air would help him remember how to process coherent thoughts.
“Sure.” She nodded as she turned and headed for the door. “Does that count as a question?” she asked as she looked over her shoulder at him, her blue eyes sparkling.
There was something mischievous going on with her tonight, and he couldn’t wait to find out what was going on in that beautiful brain of hers.
“No,” he shook his head. “It does not.”
“Shame.” She faced forward again as she made her way through the living room. “That was such an easy one to answer.”
“Are you nervous or something?” he asked as he moved to her side, getting to the door before her to open it.
“About what you could possibly ask me?” Her eyes met his as she passed him and walked out onto the deck. “No.”
Tripp waited for Duke to follow Beth out before shutting the door. “Why not?”
She pointed to the far end of the deck, where an all-weather wicker sofa and glass coffee table sat just beneath the extended roof. He nodded, following her as she headed for it. When she sat down, she crossed her legs, and the hem of her dress rose higher on her thigh, showing just a little more of her flawless skin.
He took a seat next to her, sinking into the cushion, leaving just enough space between them to avoid the temptation of accidentally brushing up against her.
Though really, there was no such thing as avoiding temptation when it came to Beth. He could be on the other side of the county…scratch that, he could be on the other side of the country and it still wouldn’t be enough space.
Beth took a sip of wine before she settled back in her seat. “This is good.” She held up her glass.
“Glad you like it.” He nodded before taking a sip of wine himself.
“So to answer your question, I’m not nervous because I don’t think you’d ask me anything that I really didn’t want to answer. And if for some reason you did, you wouldn’t push it if I told you no.”
“So you trust me?”
“Yes, I do.”
“And what led to that revelation?”
“Nope,” she shook her head and held three fingers up in the air. “By my tally I just answered three questions. It’s my turn now.”
“Okay.” He waved his hand in the air in a please proceed gesture.
“What are these ideas you have when it comes to me? These ideas you don’t want anyone el
se to have?”
Tripp settled into his seat, stretching his legs out in front of him as he rested his wineglass-free arm on the back of the sofa, right behind Beth, close but not touching. But damn did he want to reach forward and wrap one of her blond curls around his finger.
He couldn’t do that, though. He needed to focus on answering. Not that he had a problem with answering, either. He was pretty sure he’d tell Beth anything she wanted to know.
“Well, one idea is that your mouth tastes better than any baked good I’ve ever had, and I don’t want anyone else to figure that out.”
Heat flared in her eyes and she shifted, the tips of her hair brushing across his forearm and tickling his skin. “Is that so?”
“Yes, and it stands to reason that if your mouth tastes that good, then the rest of you will, too.”
“You think so?” Her eyebrows rose as she lifted her glass to her mouth. If he kissed her now he’d be able to taste that wine on her lips.
“I do. And I don’t want anyone else testing that theory out.”
She lowered the glass, revealing a pleased smile. “And do you think you’re going to get to test this theory out?”
“God, I hope so.”
Beth reached over, grabbing the glass of wine from his hands before she uncrossed her legs and leaned forward. She set both glasses on the table before she pulled herself up from the sofa, turning to stand in front of him. “I hope so, too.”
Those words distracted him beyond all reason. How could they not? She wanted him to taste her all over. He wasn’t going to survive this night. That stupid promise of his was going to kill him, a fact that was proven just seconds later. Because what happened next almost had Tripp swallowing his tongue.
Beth reached for the hem of her dress with one hand, pulling the blue fabric up and exposing more of her thighs. And then? Well, and then she was leaning forward, her hand landing on his shoulder as she slid her knees to either side of his thighs and straddled him.
“Beth,” he whispered her name as she settled herself on his lap. “What are you doing?” The last word came out on a groan as she pressed the very heat of her onto his rapidly growing erection.
“You wanted to know why I trust you?” she asked as her hands moved down to his chest, palms flat, fingers circling.
“I do.” Heat and desire flooded through every part of him at her touch and he had to grab the sofa to prevent himself from moving his hands to her body.
“I trust you because you went out on that lake to get Grant without a second thought. I trust you because you told Grant he could come over here and play with Duke, and I know you did it solely for him and not because you were trying to impress me. I trust you because I have no doubt what an effort it’s costing you right now not to touch me.”
“I promised you.” His words came out hoarse and strained, probably because he was having trouble breathing…and his throat had gone dry.
“Scout’s honor,” she repeated his pledge. “But the thing is, Tripp, I was never a girl scout.” Both of her hands were on his shoulders again and she slid them to the back of his neck, her fingers spearing through his hair as she leaned down and covered his mouth with hers.
Resisting her wasn’t an option. Stopping a bullet with his bare hands sounded like a more possible task than stopping a kiss from Beth. Her tongue pushed passed his lips and he welcomed her into his mouth.
He was right, she did taste like wine.
It took a force of will he had no idea he possessed to keep his hands fisted on the cushions next to him. He still hadn’t made a move to touch her. He couldn’t, because if he did, he was done for. He needed to hear her say it, and until the words left her mouth, he was going to hold to his promise.
As if she knew what he was waiting for, she moved one of her hands from the back of his head, sliding her palm down his arm and to his wrist.
“I want you to take back your promise, Tripp.” She’d pulled back from his mouth just slightly to whisper the words, still hovering close enough for her breath to mingle with his. “I want your hands on me.” Her lips brushed over his in the softest of kisses as she brought his hand up and placed it on her thigh. “I want you to touch me everywhere.” She pushed his hand up under the skirt of her dress, and his fingertips brushed lace and satin. “I want you.”
Chapter Twelve
Want
Beth’s friends had advised her to make a move on Tripp. Now she’d done it, and what a move it was.
She currently had a very strong and powerful man between her legs. But the way he was looking at her—like a man barely holding it together—it led her to believe she had all the power in the moment.
Or she’d had the power right up until she said the words, “I want you.”
Just that quickly Tripp was moving into action. His hand on her thigh moved around to her butt, pulling her against him with a firm tug. She gasped as she fell forward, her breasts pressed up to his hard chest. His free hand came up to the back of her head, his fingers delving into her hair as he slanted his mouth over hers.
The hunger in his kiss was more intense that anything Beth had ever experienced. It had no rival. Nothing came close.
There was no gentleness in the possessive way that he held her. Nothing sweet or simple in how his tongue delved into her mouth, demanding from her the same that he was giving. He made her entire body come to life. Made her desperate for more. Made her desperate for everything he offered.
His hand in her hair tightened, not too much to hurt, but just enough to make her scalp tingle with pleasure. He pulled her mouth from his, his lips sliding down to her throat.
The deep need that burned low in Beth’s belly spread, the desperate throbbing between her legs now unbearable. She started to move against him, seeking the pressure that she craved. And oh, did she find it.
Tripp was gloriously hard, his cock straining the zipper of his jeans. Just moving over him was making her more than a bit delirious. She was pretty sure she was going to lose her damn mind when he was actually inside of her, which she was hoping would be happening here shortly.
“Tripp.” His name escaped her mouth on a low throaty moan but any other words she’d been about to speak were cut off. He nipped at the sensitive skin just above her shoulder and her entire body shuddered.
She’d been slightly distracted by everything else—rightfully so—and hadn’t noticed when his hand slipped from her hair to her back. It wasn’t until he pulled the front of her dress down that she realized he’d undone the zipper. The material fell away from her body, the straps catching at her elbows.
“Look at you,” he whispered reverently as he pulled the material from her arms and freed her. The strapless bra she wore was black lace over a nude base, giving the illusion of see-through material over bare skin.
“You said you wanted my hands on you.” He reached up, pushing her hair behind her shoulders before he trailed his fingers down her throat and to her collarbone. It was the lightest of touches, just the very tips of his fingers across her skin.
She nodded, moving her hips again in a not even remotely subtle move. “Yes.”
Tripp’s nostrils flared as he took a deep breath. “I’ve imagined touching you like this more times than I can count,” he said, tracing the swells of her breasts. “Imagined what it would be like to kiss every inch of your body. To learn the taste of you here.” He touched the valley between her breasts.
“And here.” He was at the front of her bra, rasping his thumb over the puckered nipple that was just visible through the fabric. “And here.” His palm went flat as it slid to her belly. He ran his forefinger around her belly button before moving lower.
His hand delved beneath the fabric of her dress, his fingers at the very top of her panties. They matched her bra, more black lace and nude satin. He tugged at the lacy top just slightly before letting them fall back into place and moving down the front. It was then that he was touching her through the thin material, giving
her just a bit of pressure where she wanted him the most.
Then he pulled her panties to the side. Beth grabbed onto his shoulders as he gently spread her, tracing his fingers over her folds. “I want to learn the taste of you here.”
“I want you inside me.”
“Which just so happens to be another want of mine,” he said as he slid a finger inside of her.
The gasp that escaped her mouth was followed by a low moan. Neither could be helped, nor could they be stopped.
“You’re so wet,” he marveled as he pulled his finger out of her. When he pushed back in he slipped two inside. “So perfect.”
“Oh God.” Her grip on his shoulders tightened, her nails digging into his skin through his shirt.
Tripp leaned forward and opened his mouth at the base of Beth’s throat. His tongue rasped over her skin as he moved down to her breasts. “I need you naked,” he groaned as he pulled at her bra with his teeth.
“Then what the hell are you waiting for?”
“That’s a very good question,” he said as he pulled his fingers out before pushing them back in. “I quite possibly could be waiting for us to be a little less exposed. Unless you’re a bit of an exhibitionist.”
It was at that moment that she remembered where they were, and she turned and looked around.
“No one can see us, Beth.” He smiled against her skin, and she could hear the grin in his voice. “Not unless they come right up to the shoreline, or walk into my backyard.” He pushed his thumb to her clit as he continued to move his fingers in and out of her.
The next moan out of Beth’s mouth was in no way quiet, and it echoed through the evening air. She would’ve been embarrassed if she hadn’t been going out of her mind with pleasure.
“Though, that doesn’t eliminate the possibility of us being overheard.” His mouth was on her throat again, trailing kisses along her jaw and to her lips. “And I don’t think you’ll be getting any quieter, so that could be a problem.”
“Tripp.” Beth grabbed his head in her hands, her fingers in his hair as she tugged. She pulled until he was just far enough away so that she could look down into his face, see the desire in his brown eyes. “Take me to bed,” she demanded.
Uncontrollable Page 16