Page 79 of Let Me Be the One

“Your water heater is small so we’ll need to rush through the shower before the tank empties and you’re out of hot water.”

Never before had she given a thought to where her hot water came from, but an icy shower didn’t appeal to her at all. “Race you.” She stripped off her shorts, panties, and socks in one quick movement, and while Tanner gave a heartfelt groan, she grabbed a clip off the shelf behind the toilet to hold up her hair, and then she stepped into the tub. The water was already tepid so she washed with haste and was almost done when he stepped in behind her.

Unfair! She had a most spectacular naked male in the shower with her and she couldn’t linger. “It’s too dark to see!”

Laughing, he moved around her, hogging the spray for a moment. It was an erotic push and pull as they each hurriedly washed and rinsed, and when the water suddenly went cold, Tanner gallantly blocked it with his body so she could snatch up a towel and step out.

Shivering, she said, “Hurry,” knowing he had to be freezing.

He shut off the water, pushed back the curtain, and gave her a candlelit view of his body. The awesome sight sucked all the oxygen out of the room, forcing her lungs to labor.

Her avid gaze moved over his wide shoulders, solid chest, down a firm abdomen and… Reluctantly, sheheld out a soft, dry towel for him to use. He was already hard, despite that cold water, and suddenly she wanted to fan herself.

Mine, mine, mine,her brain silently chanted. It wasn’t something she’d say out loud, yet the territorial instinct grew.

So many parts of her life were currently uncertain, but not this. Not what she felt for him, how intrinsically she reacted to him. It was new and exciting, practically overwhelming, and she wanted more.

As Tanner absently dried himself, he made it clear that he liked what he saw, too. He didn’t care that her hair was wrecked and she was without makeup. In fact, Callie couldn’t recall ever wearing makeup around him.

This was not the time for comparisons, but it struck her that no other man had seen her like this—stripped down to the most elemental version of herself.

Yet Tanner considered it enough.

Completely undone by that realization, she grabbed up the candle and headed out of the bathroom. Thankfully, Tanner was right behind her. In the bedroom, she set the candle on the dresser.

With a suggestive smile, Tanner moved it to the nightstand so that the glow fell over the bed.

A flush of excitement warmed her. Getting in the bed seemed a priority, but Tanner caught her hand, keeping her on her feet. He removed the clip from her hair. Gently, despite the still-damp tangles, he finger-combed it, lifting it over her shoulders, smoothing out each long lock.

With a soft kiss, he said, “I get the feeling you don’t realize how sexy you are like this.”

“I’m a wreck,” she replied, amused that their thoughtsseemed to be running along the same rail. “But even on my best day I’m not the physically perfect example you are. Don’t misunderstand,” she added, “I’m content with how I look.”

His smile made a sexy promise. “Be content all you want, princess.”

For once, the nickname didn’t offend her, not the way he said it.

Using just the backs of his fingers, he brushed a heated path over her shoulder, her chest, down and over her left breast. “But I’m going for a hotter reaction.” And with that, he took her down to the bed and showed her how much he appreciated every single inch of her skin.

Callie wasn’t inexperienced, but with Tanner every touch felt special. Every kiss seemed like her first.

And yet, it all felt incredibly natural, too, as if it was meant to be. Novel but familiar. Unbearably exciting and still comfortable.

Everywhere she touched him made her want more. From his sleek, hard shoulders, to the crisp dusting of chest hair, the deep furrow of his spine and the solid muscles that flanked it.

She let her hands trail to his backside, but before she could truly appreciate the firm muscles there, he slid down in the bed to kiss a path along her body. He lingered at her breasts, first nuzzling, then licking, and finally sucking. Her body arched as sensation washed over her in tantalizing waves. He drew on her until she was gasping every breath.

“So close,” she gasped, unable to believe that she was on the cusp of an orgasm from only this.

“Not yet,” he replied huskily, taking her mouth inanother hungry kiss. He curved his rough hand over her thigh, gently squeezed, then brought his fingers higher—between her legs.

Callie caught her breath and held it, anxious for his touch,needingit. It felt like a lifetime ago that she’d first come out of the woods and found him standing there. Six feet of scorching temptation. She’d wanted him then, and every second since. Getting to know him, caring about him, had only sharpened the desire. She didn’t think she could take any more.

“Tanner…” she pleaded.

“Shh.” He kissed her again. “Let me enjoy you.”

Enjoy her? Well, that sounded nice—if he’d only get on with it. Instead, he kept playing, teasing his fingertips over her, lightly stroking, ratcheting up her tension. She widened her legs, silently demanding.

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