*
Joy raced throughCooper’s veins.She wanted this as much as he did.Slowly, savoring every soft inch of her skin, he let his hand slid up her back.Rose petals, silken textures, soft sighs—his senses guzzled up everything about her.
Lifting his head and dropping his hands from her, he gulped in some much-needed oxygen, Rose stared at him, her mouth swollen from his kisses, her green eyes nearly pitch black with desire.
“Damn Rose, you’re killing me,” he groaned as he slid a hand down between her breasts.
Her breath hitched.
“You okay with this?”he growled, desperately trying to keep a tight rein on his libido.
Instead of answering, she lifted her hands and opened the top button of his shirt.With a small smile, she dropped her eyes to the task at hand and within seconds, his shirt was opened.With a tiny frown between her eyes, she moved the parts aside and put her hands on him.
Groaning, he gathered her close.As he captured her lips, he wasn’t surprised to find himself shuddering.Here, with her, was where he was meant to be, touching her, showing her what an amazing woman she was, how in awe he was of the way she’d survived the storm, how deeply she touched him.
When he slipped his hands beneath her top again, she stepped back and lifted her top over her head.
All the breath left his body.A midnight-black lace and satin bra covered her luscious breasts.“Look at you,” he whispered as he brushed his fingers over the spattering of freckles on the curve of her breast above the bra.“Beautiful, brave, and so sexy, you make me ache for you.”With his hands on her hips, he bent down and kissed the hollow between her breasts.
Slipping her fingers in his hair, she pulled him even closer.But it wasn’t enough.Not even close.He wanted,neededmore.Greedily, he pushed the material away, but it still didn’t give him enough access.
“Let me…” Groaning, he unhooked her bra and dropped it on the floor.
Trying to get more oxygen into his lungs, he inhaled, but it was futile.Nearly reverently, he covered her breasts with his hands, thrilled by her hard nipples pushing against his palms.In a desperate attempt to still the ache deep inside him, he kissed her again while his hands slid over her body, caressing and worshipping every inch until her moans slicing through the thick air around them was the only sound he could hear.
Rose pulled away, her eyes dazed.“A phone…”
Only then he became aware of the constant ringing of a phone.His phone.Trying to get his breath under control, he took it out.
“It’s Willow.”
As he opened his mouth to answer, a giggle slipped over Rose’s lips.And just like that, the fire was back.His hand shot out to drag her closer, but she danced away, her breasts jiggling.
“Mom is making coffee.Bring Rose,” Willow said, her voice loud enough so that Rose could also hear.
“On our way.”As he put back his phone, he gave a step in Rose’s direction.
“No!”she gasped bending down to pick up her top and bra.“You go, I… I have to…”
But ignoring her, he pulled her closer.“We don’t have to go for coffee.”
“I need to borrow a bag from your mom.I’m flying to Seattle tomorrow, I have to settle my affairs.”
Frowning, he cupped her face.“Will you be okay?I can come with you…”
She shook her head.“You’re busy on the ranch, I’ll be fine, but thanks.Give me a minute?”With a twinkle in her eyes, she grinned.“I can’t appear in front of other people looking like I’ve been ravished.I have to comb my hair and get dressed.”
“Not without another kiss.”
Blushing, she stood on tiptoe and kissed him.And of course, he had no choice then but to cup her breasts again.For another moment, she leaned into him before she quickly turned around and ran toward her bedroom.
Trying to catch his breath, he leaned against the wall.The sight of those long jean-clad legs, her red hair swinging over her naked back… Man, he had it bad.The need to chase after her, drag her to her bed, was a living, breathing animal in his chest.
With a shuddering breath, he put on his shirt and tried to comb his hair with his fingers.He needed another few minutes before he could move, though.
Chapter Seven
Rose’s whole bodywas still glowing when she and Cooper arrived at Arlene’s for coffee.Cooper had taken her hand when they’d left her house, and even though she’d tried to pull it away when they entered his mom’s house, he was having none of it.