TIS THE SEASON...FOR ROMANCE (WESTMORELAND/MASTERS/JEFFERIES) (36 page)

“You know what.”

He began nibbling his way across her cheekbone and jaw. “Tell me,” he whispered hotly, bathing her lips with the warmth of his breath.

Sensations shot straight to her core, and she tightened her legs together to stop the turbulent vibrations gathering between them. “I don’t think I really have to tell you anything.”

He lifted his head and gave her another arrogant smile. “No, you don’t.” And then swooping her up into his arms he crossed the yard and placed her on the horse. When she was sitting on the huge animal’s back he glanced up at her and said, “Starting today I will teach you how to ride, baby, in more ways than one.”

Corey glanced at the cabin that sat up ahead. How he had endured the last six hours he wasn’t sure; especially with the way Abby’s arms were wrapped around his waist as they’d made their way up the mountainside. They’d only had to stop twice and she hadn’t mind when he’d suggested they push forward in order to make it to the cabin before nightfall.

He glanced back over his shoulder at her. “There’s the cabin. I’m sure you’re ready to get off this horse about now.”

She tightened her arms around him. “Umm, not really. I like riding double with you.”

He could only chuckle at that. Evidently she hadn’t been the one in misery. At times while guiding the horse up the mountainous terrain, he had to fight hard to concentrate on what he was doing and where they were going, and take his focus off her. That had been hard to do, especially when every time he’d breathed he had pulled in her scent.

“You’ve been so nice to me, Corey, and so understanding those two times when we did stop. I don’t know how I’ll ever repay you.”

He chuckled. “Trust me. I’ll think of something.”

And then he moved the horse forward toward the cabin in a slow trot. He figured the place was not what Abby had expected since most people were surprised at what they found once they made it to this half-way mark. What was supposed to be a one-room cabin used mostly for an overnight stay had become a home away from home built by Martin and McKinnon Quinn. The father and son project had taken a different turn when they decided a small cabin just wouldn’t do and constructed a much larger one.

Built of study wood, the outside of the cabin had a wraparound porch, and the inside contained a living room with a fireplace, two bedrooms connected by a spacious bathroom and an eat-in kitchen with a gigantic window that overlooked a beautiful running stream out back.

“This place is beautiful, Corey.”

He smiled when he brought the horse to a stop and proceeded to dismount. “Thanks. It was built by my friend Martin and his son McKinnon.”

“Martin Quinn?”

He lifted a brow. “Yes, you remember him?”

She smiled. “Yes. Although we never met because he was away that summer, I recall the two of you shared an apartment.”

Corey nodded, remembering the times she had spent in bed with him in that apartment during her final days at Yellowstone. “Yes, Martin practiced law for a while and then became a judge for a number of years. He retired last year. I’m looking forward to you meeting him and his wife Morning Star when we come down from the mountain.”

“I’m looking forward to meeting them too.”

Corey reached up for Abby to assist her down from the horse, and bracing her arms on his shoulders she easily slid right into his arms. Before letting her feet touch the ground he held her, as they faced each other. They stood that way for several moments before he finally lowered her to the earth. She didn’t remove her hands from his shoulders. Nor did he make an effort to withdraw his arms from around her waist.

He breathed in deeply, wished there was some way he could calm his senses and get a handle on his self-control, but he couldn’t. Not while standing here and staring into the eyes of the one woman who’d made an impact on him from the first time he’d seen her, spoken to her and tasted her.

“It’s beautiful here, Corey. You’re beautiful.”

“Men aren’t beautiful.”

She quickly placed her fingers to his lips. “Please stop saying men aren’t beautiful because you are. I thought that the first time I saw you.”

Corey couldn’t help but chuckle. He recalled her telling him that. “I’m not going to argue with you about that, Abby.”

She smiled. “Please don’t, because you won’t win. Why argue when we can be doing this.”

Easing up on the tip of her toes, she used the back of her hand to place pressure on his neck to bring his mouth down to hers. She didn’t have to worry about Corey thinking she was being wanton. He would see her as being herself, something she enjoyed doing around him.

Abby had wanted command of this kiss and was thankful he was giving it to her. She just wanted him to stand there and feel her brazenness, as well as every ounce of emotions flooding the depths of her. And she wanted to feel what it was doing to him. She had missed the hard erection that would press against her whenever they kissed, or how that same erection would feel sliding inside of her.

She liked stroking his primitive side and used to tempt him without reservations when they were alone. And they were alone now, and had no reason to watch a clock or worry about her parents waking up from their naps early to come look for her. Now they were adults. Time didn’t matter. What anyone thought didn’t matter. They had all the time in the world to do what they wanted to do, when they wanted to do it and how they wanted to do it.

With those thoughts in mind she deepened her control of the kiss, moved closer into him and felt the way his arms tightened around her. And when she thought she could stand there and kiss him forever, she felt herself being swept off her feet and into his arms.

“No fair. And just when I was beginning to feel wild and reckless.”

He threw his head back and laughed. “Hey, don’t let me stop you. I’m just moving us inside.”

She smiled. “Oh, you won’t stop me, Corey. I’m free.”

“You’re free?”

“Yes. And I’m yours.”

After opening the door and carrying her over the threshold, Corey lowered her on her feet and gently pulled her to him. “Do you know what you just said?”

“Yes.”

“Do you mean it? Are you truly mine?”

She smiled. “As truly as truly can get. Are you mine, Corey Westmoreland?”

“Yes.”

“You sure?” she asked, leaning on tiptoes and using the tip of her tongue to trace along his lips. They were standing so close she could feel the clenching of his muscles in his stomach, and his erection was boldly pressing hard against her.

She pulled away and took a step back. “Pull off your shirt, Corey.”

He lifted a brow. “Here? Now?”

She nodded. “Yes. Here and now. Haven’t we waited long enough?”

She watched as he eased the shirt from the waistband of his jeans and began undoing the buttons. There were eight of them. She had counted. And now she watched as he eased each one free, surprised to see he wasn’t wearing a t-shirt underneath when he’d bought several for her at the general store earlier that day.

As if knowing her thoughts he said, “I’m used to the cold.”

She lifted a brow. “And you think I’m not? I was born and raised in Boston.”

He shrugged. “There is cold and then there is cold,” he said, tossing his shirt aside.

“Your turn, Abby,” he said.

“I didn’t know I had one,” she said, but complying anyway by pulling the top over her head and tossing it aside.

“Nice bra.”

As if on cue her nipples hardened against the lace material, right before his eyes. She drew in a deep breath when he leaned over and licked at the tips through the material of her bra. The faint scrape of his moustache brushing against bare skin sent sensations shooting down to her womanly core.

“Your jeans, Corey.”

“Umm, what about them?” he asked huskily before applying his mouth to her nipple and sucking at it through her bra.

Suddenly, every fiber of her entire being responded and she could feel herself becoming putty in his hands. But she would not be rushed. She needed to savor every moment, to remember and reminisce. He had been her first lover, and as far as she was concerned her only lover.

“I want you to take them off,” she said, deciding if she didn’t take the matter into her hands he would have her begging in no time at all.

“You sure that’s what you want?” he asked, stepping back and pulling the belt out of the loops and bending over to remove his boots.

“Yes, that’s what I want.” For starters. She was determined over the next two weeks to make up for all those times she had gone to bed longing for him, dreaming of him and wanting him with a need that would often keep her awake at night.

When he straightened his body she scanned her gaze over him while thinking at fifty-four he was in very good shape, all muscles and no flab on his arms, shoulders, legs or belly. He even had nice feet. “What do you do to stay in shape?” she couldn’t help asking while watching him slowly lower his jeans.

“I ride a lot. And then I do I lot of chores around my place. I was determined not to let myself go once I retired.”

Well, he most certainly hadn’t let himself go, she thought, drinking in every contour, line and plane of him being uncovered. She wasn’t disappointed and hoped once she was uncovered he wouldn’t be disappointed either. She was a member of a spa and worked out several times a week. And she participated in numerous walk-a-thons for charities and she –

Whatever thoughts she was thinking were wiped clean from her mind when he slid down his zipper and proceeded to inch his jeans down past his hips. Her eyes were right there, taking it all in, every bit of him; especially his erection that was pressing against his black briefs.

He had a body any woman would appreciate and staring at him made her lips throb, along with other distinct parts of her body.

“Now for
your
jeans, Abby.”

Her gaze moved slowly from his middle upward to his face. “You sure about that?” she asked, hooking her thumbs in the waistband of her jeans.

A smile touched the corners of his lips. “Positive. If I can strip down to my underwear so can you.”

She bent down to remove her boots and he moved closer to her. “Let me help with those,” he offered.

She watched as he leaned over and removed her boots and socks from her feet. And then he took a step back. “Now you can take the jeans off,” he said in a tone that stroked her skin.

Abby met Corey’s dark and intense gaze and forced in a deep breath. She should have known she would probably get cold feet when it came to this part. It had been years since she’d undressed in front of a man and was feeling somewhat awkward doing so now.

“Need help with your jeans, too?” he asked chuckling softly.

There was that arrogant smile on his lips again, and the sight of it gave her a little courage, some spunk. She flipped her hair over her shoulder with a haughty toss of her head and said. “No, I can handle it.”

And to prove that she could, she slid the zipper down and proceeded to work the jeans over her hips. Moments later she was stepping out of them and standing before him in a pair of black lace panties.

She swallowed hard as his gaze slowly swept over her. Even stripped down to her bra and panties, his eyes were leaving scorch spots on various parts of her skin. If the size of his erection, growing longer and getting thicker was any indication, he liked her matching lingerie.

Not being able to handle his intense scrutiny any longer, she lifted her chin and said. “Well?”

He smiled and slowly strolled over to her and said. “Well, I think we should finish this in the bedroom.”

And then he swept her off her feet and into his arms.

After placing Abby on the bed, Corey drew back to look at her. She was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen and his entire body throbbed in desire for her. He quickly dispensed of his briefs and saw her eyes widened as she stared at his penis that was getting harder right before her eyes.

“Like what you see, Abby?” he couldn’t resist asking.

She glanced up at him. “What’s there not to like and appreciate?”

Naked, he moved toward her and braced a knee on the bed. “Come here, sweetheart.”

Abby eased over to Corey and he lowered his mouth to hers, kissing her with a hunger that she felt all through her body. She grabbed his shoulders to hold on. He was giving her one sensuous tongue stroking experience.

The muscles beneath her hands felt solid and the mouth feasting on hers was causing her heart to pound rapidly in her chest. She loved him and she wanted him. And when he raised his head and broke off their kiss, she felt an extreme sense of loss.

“Now to get you naked,” he said in a throaty voice as he proceeded to slide her bra straps down her shoulders. When he tossed her bra aside she felt the heat of his gaze dead-center on her breasts. And when he leaned forward to catch a nipple into his mouth, she could only close her eyes and groan.

“Corey.”