Kelly stared back at him, dazed, uncertain. Rowdy’s expression was fierce, arrogant, equal parts frustration and determination mixed with pure, hot lust.
“Rowdy—”
“I want to take all the fear out of your eyes, Kelly,” he whispered, his head lowering, his eyes holding hers. “I want it gone. I want to see all that fire and arousal and need that’s always been there. That I see now.”
She breathed in roughly, fighting to find reality, to make sense of the influx of sensations racing through her body.
“I want to kiss you, Kelly.” Her lips parted.
Beneath her hands, his heart raced, just like hers. A hard, rushing throb that transferred to her veins, her nerve endings, and washed through every cell of her body.
“Did you miss me, Kelly?” he whispered.
“Yes.” Her vision was filled with his lips. Sensually full, a treat she had dreamed of for too many years, had ached for with everything in her woman’s body.
“No. Keep your eyes open.” He stopped as her lashes drifted closed. “Watch me, baby. See me. It’s just Rowdy. Just my kiss, remember how much you liked my kiss?”
She loved his kiss. Her lips parted in anticipation, but perhaps she hadn’t fully remembered what being kissed by Rowdy meant. Somehow, she must not have remembered just right, exactly how it felt that night on the lake.
Because this was nothing like that brief, hungry kiss four years before. This was seduction. It was coercion on its most basic level. The whisper of his lips against hers as his heavy-lidded eyes stared back into hers, darkening, flaming with need as his mouth possessed hers with devastating sensuality. Rough silk caressed her lips, stroking over them as he denied her the deeper, darker possession she was craving. This wasn’t a hungry consummation, it was a dream washing over her, easing her from the shadows haunting her and pulling her inexorably into a steadily building whirlwind of sensation.
“So beautiful,” he whispered against her lips, sipping at them, making her ache for more. “There you go, just watch me, Kelly. Watch me and feel.”
A whimpering moan tore from her throat as she felt his hands lift the hem of her shirt, felt his hands, calloused and hot against the bare flesh of her back. Curling her fingers against his chest she allowed herself to settle into his body, her head falling back as one hand cupped the nape of her neck and his kiss became deeper.
“Keep your eyes open.”
Her eyes flew open as he pulled back, her breathing becoming jerky at the hunger in his face.
“Watch me, Kelly.”
“I can’t,” she gasped. “It’s too good.”
His eyes dilated at the admission.
“Watch me, or it stops,” he growled firmly. “See who’s touching you, baby. It’s me. You’ve been mine forever, Kelly. We’re just going to ease into it now. Let me show you what I’ve dreamed about for the last eight years.”
She was shaking in his grip, but not from fear. Hunger was consuming her as his lips covered hers again, and she struggled to keep her eyes open, to keep her senses from drowning beneath the full-lipped kiss that threatened to dissolve the strength in her knees.
Twining her arms around his neck, she arched against him, barely retaining enough thought to keep her eyes open. If she closed them, then the incredible pleasure tearing through her would be gone. His lips on hers, his tongue stroking along her lips as hers licked back, desperate for more.
Her h*ps tilted to him, arching as his knees bent enough to tuck his erection at the notch of her thighs.
Oh, that was good. She whimpered as she twisted against him, feeling the heavy rasp against her cl*t as he lifted her to him, turning her and bearing her to the counter behind them.
“There. No need to worry.” He stepped between her spread thighs, pressing firmly against her as her back arched and her hands clenched at his shoulders.
“See how good it feels.” His h*ps moved, dragging a ragged cry from her throat as his lips covered hers again.
Oh yes, it felt good. It felt as though tiny electrical charges were exploding across her flesh, sensitizing her.
His hard, bare chest pressed against her br**sts, the lacy material of her bra scraping over her hard ni**les, making them ache for a harder, firmer touch. This part of her hunger for Rowdy had always frightened her. The part that refused to accept a gentle touch, that ached, screamed out for more.
Powerful, possessive, Rowdy’s kiss consumed her, but his hands didn’t touch her. They were flat on the counter beside her, despite her need for them on her body.
“Rowdy,” she gasped as his head lifted.
“See how sweet it can be, baby?” he crooned. “So sweet and easy.”
“No.” She shook her head fiercely. “Touch me. I need you to touch me.”
There were no shadows of fear now. The overriding hunger Rowdy filled her with left no room for fear, no room for shadows. There was nothing but the demand for his touch, and that demand was rising by the moment.
“Where?” he whispered the question against her lips. “Where do you want me to touch you, Kelly? Show me, baby.”
His powerful biceps flexed at her side as he held back. She shuddered, realizing the demand in his voice and the fact that whatever she wanted, she was going to have to initiate.
Her lips curled at the corners in amusement.
“You think I won’t do it?” Her body was humming with need now.
“I think you could make me lose my mind if you wanted to try.” Heavy-lidded eyes, his lips full and sexy, he stared back at her with wicked intent. “But will you?”
The muscles of his chest twitched; the blood pulsed in his neck. A small rivulet of moisture rolled from his neck, drawing her gaze and her hunger. Leaning forward, she moved her tongue against his skin, licking at his flesh and drawing in the salty male taste.
The groan that rumbled from him had a shiver racing up her spine.
“Touch me,” she whispered against his neck, her teeth raking over the hard column.
“Show me where.” His voice was tight, dark with lust. “It’s up to you, baby.”
Up to her. She breathed in deeply.
“I want your lips on my ni**les.” Her breathing grew harder as she let him hear the words, words she had only whispered in her dreams. “Then your teeth—”
“Sweet mercy.” The heavy groan tore from his lips. “Oh, baby, the things I’m going to do to those tight, hard little ni**les. Lift that shirt for me, baby. Give me those pretty br**sts.”