Page 18 of A Midlife Vanishing Trick

Up close, she could make out every detail, from the solid angles of his jaw to the dark blond strands of his hair. She lowered her gaze and immediately wished she hadn’t. His chest, slick as his back was, was just barely touching hers.

The sight of it made her heart pound. That tingle continued to spread through her, and a dull ache settled in her breasts. Her nipples hardened instantly, grazing his chest.

He must have felt it because he suddenly stiffened.

“I missed you, too,” she blurted.

He lifted an eyebrow. “Oh?”

Her cheeks burned. Might as well just tell him. “Yes.” Her voice came out a little croaky. “I did.”

For the next few seconds, all she heard was the sound of their breathing. She kept her hands at her sides, resisting the insane urge to reach out and touch him.

“I know you probably don’t believe me,” she heard him say, “but I’ve only ever wanted you, even when I was away, and I think you feel the same way.”

You’re absolutely right.

She swallowed, daring to look him in the eyes. “What makes you so sure?”

He cracked a tiny grin that sent a throb all the way down between her thighs. “If you didn’t, you wouldn’t keep coming in here to see me.”

She couldn’t argue with that but merely gazed into his face, her nipples still grazing his rock-hard chest. Her lips parted, and she struggled to form words, but she could barely make a sound. Why did he have to be so handsome? And why did he have this effect on her?

She knew something like this might happen if she came down here. And yet she’d come. It was like knowingly walking into a trap. Why? Because she liked the way it—no,he—made her feel.

“You’re as beautiful as the day I was lost to you,” Stanley muttered, and for a moment, she saw sadness in those blue eyes.

She started to back away again, but he looped an arm around her waist and pulled her to him, effectively preventing any chance of escape. His other hand came to rest on her jaw, forcing her to look up at him, the same man who’d hurt her years ago, the man who’d abandoned her, the man she couldn’t get out of her mind.

Desire flickered in his eyes, and she knew she was a goner. His grip on her tightened, crushing her against him, and she felt his groin pressed against her. He was hard, long, and throbbing, an instant reminder that she wasn’t the only one aroused in this barn. It was a reminder of his readiness to take her.

Excitement fluttered in her chest as she looked at him, trying to steady her breathing. Her distended nipples continued to graze his chest, aching to be touched, aching for his hot mouth. Hell, her entire body had come alive. She swallowed, eager for his touch.

As though reading her mind, he caressed her back with one hand, slowly lowering it to her buttocks. He cupped a cheek in his large hand and kneaded it. She let out an involuntary sigh, loving the way he touched her. Her eyes fluttered shut for a moment.

I walked right into this one, Allison thought.

“I missed this, too,” Stanley said. “Holding you, touching you ...”

The temperature in the barn was rising at a dangerous rate. If she didn’t know better, she would think something was on fire near them. But it was her insides that had caught fire. And this man was bent on fanning the flames.

Allison was powerless to stop him.

“I missed your body,” he said, his breath hot against her skin. “And I missed ... I missed kissing you.”

It took all of Allison’s willpower not to melt into a puddle at that moment. It was a good thing Stanley was holding her because when he brought his mouth to hers, she nearly lost the remainder of her resolve.

He kissed her long and hard. His lips parted hers, making way for his tongue to explore her willing mouth. Allison sighed into the kiss. God, she’d missed this. She’d missedhim. And judging from his eagerness, she could tell he felt the same way. The hand on her jaw traveled south between their bodies, tracing a path from her chin all the way down to her navel and back up. He traced circles around her nipples with his fingers, and her breathing quickened.

“Stanley ...” she began.

“Shh,” came his reply. He kissed her again as if to shut her up. “It’s okay.”

She squeezed her eyes shut, relishing the sensations he so generously gave her. He kneaded her breasts, one by one. Suddenly, she felt herself being moved. The next thing she knew, he’d pressed her against one of the walls of the barn.

A horse neighed, but before she could pay it much attention, Stanley was kissing her again. She could still feel him throbbing wildly against her. Her heart jackhammered in her chest, and she found herself filled with the urge to cup his thick, hard length in her hand. She ground her hips against him, grinning inwardly as he growled into the kiss.

“You’re going drive me insane if you keep doing that,” she heard him say.

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