Page 40 of A Ranger for Christmas
“I’ve confidence in you.”
After they’d eaten, he’d watched her rise and stretch. He imagined running his hand along the curve of her back. Her skin would be soft, supple, and he supposed she tasted sweet. “I better take my shower.”
“Sure.”
He vanished into the bathroom, knowing the shower would be cold indeed.
While Lucas showered, Marisa cleaned up their empty paper dishes, replaced the lids, and placed the leftovers in a small fridge.
When Lucas emerged ten minutes later from the bathroom, Marisa glanced up automatically. He was dressed in his jeans, and though he’d buttoned his shirt partway, some part of his lean chest was exposed to her view.
A heat, strong and demanding, shot through her body just as it had that first night in Merida. She’d tried to shove aside the sensation and blame it on . . . well, she wasn’t sure what she could blame it on. In Merida, she’d blamed it on loneliness and frustration over the dig, but now as fresh desire pumped through her veins, she searched for another logical reason why she reacted so strongly to him.
He’d protected her. Looked out for her. And desire was a natural reaction to feeling safeguarded.
“You’re staring,” he said.
She glanced up into amused eyes and realized her mouth was open. She snapped it closed. “I don’t think that I was staring.”
“You were staring.”
“I was just thinking . . .” What could she possibly say that would dig her out of this mess?
“Thinking what?”
She closed her eyes for a moment, and before she thought about consequences, she said, “I was thinking about Merida and I was trying to figure a reason why I was as affected by you then as I’m now.”
“How do I make you feel?” He took a couple of steps toward her and she could see the faint mist from the shower still clinging to his skin.
“Maybe because it’s been a long time.”
“That’s the reason?” An arched brow called out her lie.
“That’s the logical explanation.”
“And you believe it?”
She shook her head and instead of answering his question, answered the one troubling her. “Lots of men have offered to be with me, but I’ve never felt the same about them as I do you.”
He took another step closer. “And how’s that?”
“I can’t quite explain it.” Her voice had grown as rough as sandpaper, and she found her thoughts skittering around her head like a mouse searching for cheese.
He captured a damp tendril of her hair and twirled it between his calloused fingers. “You have the prettiest hair. You were wearing it down the night I met you in Merida.”
“I was thinking I needed a change. I’d been in the jungle for months and I’d not had a decent shower.”
“I liked it.” He traced her jawline with his finger and again the sparks shot off in her head like it was the Fourth of July.
Impatience nipped at her heels as she longed for a deep, wet kiss. He was letting her set the pace just as he had the other night. And again, he was waiting for her to make the first move.
Emboldened by her desire, she caught his hand in hers and pulled him through the remaining inches separating them. When his chest bumped against her breasts, her nipples hardened. Too drugged with desire to care about tomorrow, she rose up on tiptoes and kissed him.
He stood still for a moment as if askingAre you sure?She answered him by wrapping her arms around his neck and deepening the kiss.
Without hesitation, he hauled her against him. His muscles snapped with the intensity of a man reaching for a lifeline as he kissed her and cupped her breast in his hand. Her pulse beat with the zeal of a madwoman. She arched as a moan rumbled in her chest.
“Last chance.” His voice, ragged with desire, was barely audible.
