“I think we were ready for that.”

  She chuckled. “You think so? What was your first clue? Me running across the yard?”

  “And leaving your lights on.”

  “I did?”

  “I tried to tell you, but—”

  “So they’re still on?”

  “Far as I know.”

  She started laughing. “I’ll bet my door’s standing open, too.”

  “Come to think of it, I don’t remember closing mine.”

  “We should take care of those things.”

  “Eventually.” He leaned down and allowed himself one more warm, welcoming kiss. She always seemed eager to make that connection, play sexy games with his tongue….

  His cock twitched. He lifted his head. “You’re not going to believe this.”

  “Yes, I will.”

  “But we can’t yet.”

  “I know.”

  “First I have to—”

  “Go out and turn off my lights?”

  He placed tiny kisses all over her face. “That’s what jumper cables are for.”

  “You’re funny.”

  “Truthful.” He nuzzled behind her ear. “Your battery isn’t my priority.”

  She stroked both hands down his back and cupped his ass. “Mine, either.”

  “But I’ll go out there while I’m up.” He eased away from her and stood with one hand on the condom and the other on his pants. Thank God for darkness. Nothing smooth about this pose. “Please make yourself comfortable while I’m gone.” He started out of the room since the house was built before attached baths were a thing.

  “Is that code for please take off your clothes?” she called after him.

  He laughed. “Seems to me like you’d be more comfortable making love that way, but suit yourself.”

  “Lights?”

  “By all means.” He took care of the condom, washed up and zipped his pants. By the time he walked past his bedroom, the door was closed with a strip of light underneath it. He smiled. She was in there creating some effect or other. He’d bet money on it.

  He picked up the pace, striding quickly through the house. He had the urge to start whistling as he walked out on the porch, but that might not be appropriate at one in the morning in his quiet neighborhood. None of his neighbors were up.

  The cool night air was welcome on his heated skin. He took the steps two at a time, hurried down the walk and around the front of the Jeep.

  Good thing Eagles Nest had the lowest crime rate in Montana. Besides leaving the headlights on and her door open, she’d left her keys in the ignition—an impressive testament to her eagerness for what had just happened.

  Their first time. Brief. Intense. He pocketed her keys, switched off the lights and grabbed her purse and camera bag before closing the door.

  Hoisting both straps over his shoulder, he jogged around the back of the Jeep and over to his truck. Door was wide open there, too. The headlights turned off automatically or else they’d be on.

  During the drive home, he’d fantasized that when she climaxed, she’d call out his name. She hadn’t. He jerked his keys from the ignition and shut the door.

  Aw, hell, maybe he was putting too big a premium on having her do that. She’d followed him home and thrown herself into his arms. What more did he want?

  His cock ached, reminding him of unfinished business in the house. Although the living room and kitchen remained dark, a square of light fell on the grass and leaves in the side yard. His bedroom window.

  He’d had to weather turbulence to get to this point. Worth it. Loping across the lawn, he took the steps two at a time, crossed the porch in two strides, and walked in. “Honey, I’m home!”

  “Hang on two seconds!”

  “That’s asking a lot.” He set her bag and purse on the table as he counted. “Mississippi one, Mississippi two, I’m on my way.” He threw both sets of keys on the table and started on the buttons of his shirt as he headed toward the hall.

  The door swung open and hit the doorstop. When he walked in, she made a dive for the bed and scooted under the covers.

  “No fair!” He wrenched off his shirt and tossed it on top of the dresser. “I barely saw you.”

  “That’s the idea. Preserve the mystery a little longer.”

  “I prefer my mystery in books.” He leaned against the dresser and pulled off his boots. “With you, I’d rather….”

  He paused to look around. Why was the room so pinkish? Ah. She’d found his red bandanas and draped them over the bedside lamps. “I like what you did with the bandanas. Nice effect.”

  “A little surprise for you. Thanks for turning off the headlights.”

  “You’re welcome.” He quickly unbuttoned and unzipped. “I’ll bet you look great in that rosy light. Without anything on, hint, hint.”

  “In a minute.” She sat in the middle of the bed hugging the sheet to her breasts. “You first.”

  “Not much to see here. Standard issue.” His gray pants joined the shirt on top of the dresser and he shoved down his briefs.

  Her eyes widened. Sucking in a breath, she murmured a soft swear word. “I…uh, knew you were…um, large, but I didn’t fully appreciate how…” She swallowed. “Very impressive.”

  Damn. Now he was blushing. “Thank you, ma’am. Kind of you to say.”

  “Nothing kind about it, soldier. Just telling it like—”

  “Turnabouts fair play,” he said gently. “Gonna ditch that sheet for me?”

  She slowly lifted her gaze from his package and smiled. “Yes.” She threw it aside.

  And he lost his mind.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Aaron’s stunned expression was almost comical. And so sweet. Caitlin soaked up his adoring gaze as it traveled from her bare breasts to her painted toenails and back again, leaving her hot and achy.

  He gave her a crooked smile and his chest heaved. “There goes my plan.”

  “You had a plan?”

  “Go slower. Add foreplay.” He yanked the bedside table drawer open and glanced at her. “How do you feel about foreplay?”

  “Can take it or leave it.”

  “Good. Let’s leave it.” He grabbed a condom from the drawer.

  “Fine with me.” She stretched out on her side. “Watching you suit up that bad boy is all the foreplay I need.”

  She’d found the perfect sexual partner, a man who was right from the first kiss, the first intimate caress, the first wild coupling. She feasted on the sight of his virile body. She craved the sound of his voice, thick with desire, the musky scent of his arousal, the taste of passion on his tongue.

  When he slipped into bed with her, she rolled to her back and held out her arms.

  “Ah, my lusty wench.” He moved between her thighs. “You want this as much as I do.”

  “More.”

  “Debatable.” He gazed down at her. “Makes me feel ten feet tall.”

  “I’m glad you’re not.” She smiled and wrapped her arms around him. “We’d never fit.”

  “Yeah, we would. I’d figure it out.” He maintained eye contact and probed with the tip of his cock. “Because...” With one quick thrust, he was there, filling her, creating frissons of pleasure. “This.”

  She gasped. “Yeah.”

  “I want to go deeper. Wrap your legs around my hips.”

  She did, hooking her ankles together. She glanced up at him. “Good?”

  “Good.” He surged forward, squeezed his eyes shut and groaned. “Very good.”

  “Yep.” The new position set off delicious shock waves in her core. She shivered in anticipation. Soon.

  He opened his eyes. Passion burned hot in their tawny depths as he raked his gaze over her quivering breasts. “So beautiful.” His breathing roughened. “Gotta go for it.”

  “Yes, please.”

  He began to stroke, slowly at first, and then faster, and faster yet.

  Her vision blurred and the intensity stole her breath. He hovered protectively above her, the bringer of pleasure, the creator of a climax that edged closer with each rapid thrust. Almost…yes…now! She let go with a high, keening cry. He drove home one last time.

  Shuddering, he braced himself on his outstretched arms and gulped for air. Murmured something. Then he repeated it again, softly. Her name.

  She closed her eyes and savored the aftermath of really great sex.

  The room was silent except for their breathing. Hers was faster than his, more shallow. She liked his easy rhythm better. She adjusted hers to match. Nice. Like dancing.

  Opening her eyes, she looked straight into his.

  He smiled. “Did you do that on purpose?”

  “What?”

  “Synchronize your breathing with mine.”

  “Yeah, I did. I like the way it feels.”

  “I like the way all of this feels.”

  “We seem to have hit on something good.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” He leaned down and kissed her gently, no tongue this time. Then he lifted his head to gaze at her. “What next?”

  “You know what I’d love?”

  “Name it and it’s yours.”

  “Really? Okay, then, a Hasselblad.”

  “Except that.” He picked up a strand of her hair and tickled her cheek. “Try again.”

  “A shower.”

  “You can have that, but when you see the setup, you might go for a bath, instead.”

  “Why?”

  “Gorgeous antique claw-foot soaking tub.”

  “Oh, man, you know how to tempt a girl. Do you use it a lot?”

  “No, sad to say. I’m not a soak-in-the-tub kind of guy, so I just shower in it. But I’ve been told a tub like this is romantic.”

  “You’ve been told right. Would we both fit?”

  “We will if you’re willing to get cozy.”

  She grinned. “Won’t that be hard on you?”

  “Well, there’s that. But at least you’ll be within easy reach so I can get you squeaky clean with the detachable shower head.”

  The sexy conversation was having a predictable effect on her, which he’d no doubt intended. “Will we have bubbles?”

  “I’m not a fan of bubbles.”

  “Yeah, I suppose they’re not manly.”

  “Not particularly. And they spoil my view.”

  “I hadn’t thought of that.” Two could play at this game. “I enjoy a view as much as the next person. I doubt bubbles taste good, either.”

  His breath caught and the teasing light in his eyes became a speculative gleam. “Sounds like you’re ready for a bath.”

  “So ready.”

  “Tell you what. I’ll take care of a very unromantic chore and start the water. Give me a few minutes before you come down there.”

  “All right.”

  “And you should probably grab my bathrobe out of the closet. It’s chilly in here.”

  “I haven’t noticed.”

  “Because you have a hot guy plugged in, keeping you toasty warm. My butt’s freezing.”

  “Really?”

  “Not really. Just said it to make you smile. Which you did.” He slowly disengaged. “Meet you in the bathroom.”

  “I used to say that to my girlfriends in junior high when we had problems with the boys.”

  “And here we are, still giving you problems.”

  “It’s okay. The last hour made up for it.”

  “Excellent.” He left the bed and started out of the room. “That means the next hour should put me solidly in the plus column.”

  And speaking of solid, he looked almost as good from the back as the front. “Depends how skilled you are with that shower head!” she called after him.

  “Very!”

  She laughed. This was fun. More fun than she’d had with a guy in…ever. And they hadn’t even gotten around to discussing Dick Francis.

  Climbing out of bed, she smoothed the rumpled sheets, folded his quilt and laid it across the end of the bed. They wouldn’t need it until they went to sleep. If they ever did.

  The rumble of water running into a deep tub sounded promising. But he was right about the temperature in the house. Cool enough for a bathrobe.

  She located his thick robe, a navy terrycloth with a Badger Air logo patch on it. She slipped it on and was swallowed by soft terry and the scent of his shaving lotion. The hem almost touched her toes.

  The lapels created a double layer of terry as she tied the sash, crossed to the door and poked her head out. The water continued to run and flickering light spilled out into the hall. Either the bathroom had caught fire or he’d lit candles.

  “Ready for me?”

  “Always!”

  She laughed and padded barefoot down the smooth wooden floor of the hall. She had to pick up the hem of the robe to keep from tripping. When she arrived, she was rewarded by a camera-worthy moment. He stood with his back to her and a snowy towel wrapped around his hips as he leaned forward, a hand on each of the taps. The shower head hung over the edge of the tub.

  Lit votive candles sat on the windowsill and the back of the sink, filling the air with a spicy scent. The warm glow lovingly showcased his broad back, powerful thighs and muscled calves. Photogenic guy.

  “Come on in. The level’s almost where I want it.”

  “I like the candles.”

  He glanced over his shoulder. “Badger showed up early this morning with a box of ’em.”

  “Why?”

  “He wanted me to be prepared, just in case I’d be needin’ some ambiance as he put it.”

  “That’s…sweet.” She stepped onto the cool tile. “I couldn’t have admitted this Thursday night, but I’m grateful to the guy.”

  “You and me, both.” He turned off the water and faced her, a grin making his eyes sparkle. “Looks just as cute as I thought it would.”

  “Generous cut.”

  “Yeah, I hate skimpy bathrobes. Cowboy and Badger got me an extra-large when I signed on with Badger Air.”

  “It’s a great robe, but I could fit a whole other person in here.”

  “There’s an idea.” Reaching out, he hooked his fingers into the sash and urged her closer. “Let’s try it.” He unfastened the tie and opened the lapels. His breath caught.

  “See something you like?”

  “Uh-huh.” Sliding an arm around her waist, he perched on the edge of the tub and drew her between his spread knees. “Missed out on foreplay.” He cupped a breast in each large hand and squeezed gently. “How do you feel about after-play?”

  She moaned and closed her eyes. “Love it.”

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Soft, silky, fragrant, and delicious. So eager to be loved. Aaron’s fantasies of Caitlin paled in the face of reality. Everything about her was just…more.

  By the time he slipped the robe off and helped her into the tub, she quivered on the edge of a climax. It was a tight fit, especially when he had to work around his very rigid cock. But he managed to cradle her in the curve of his body so he had access to all her special places.

  Surrounded by the erotic luxury of warm water and a pulsing spray, she responded by coming…and coming again. Water splashed everywhere. Who cared? He was making Caitlin very happy.

  And himself crazy. The swirl of water and the friction of her slick skin had created the perfect storm.

  When she came down to earth, would she remember making that sexy comment about the taste of bubbles? If not, he might remind her. He wasn’t too proud to beg.

  Her breathing gradually slowed and she turned to gaze at him. “You. Are. Amazing.”

  “Thank you.”

  “Thank you.” Her chest heaved. “I’m afraid to look. Did I splash water all over the place?”

  “Yeah.” He smiled. “Doesn’t matter. It’s a bathroom. Waterproof.”

  She glanced up at the windowsill. “Doused a few candles.”

  “I briefly lost control of the shower head.”

  “Because I was thrashing around. That was epic.”

  He combed her wet hair with his fingers. “Glad you had fun.”

  “Oh, I did.” She grabbed the edge of the tub and adjusted her position so she was facing him. Her gaze lowered. Because of all the splashing, his agitated buddy was no longer submerged. “And the fun’s not over.”

  “Oh?” He tried to sound casual but the word came out as a hoarse croak. His cock twitched, more evidence that he was in dire straits.

  “I just need to....” Water sloshed as she slid onto her stomach with her feet in the air.

  Anticipation squeezed his balls in a vice. He gasped and gripped the sides of the tub as he clamped down on the urge to come. “Need any…um…help?’

  “I’ve got this.” Grasping his thighs, she eased forward, sending tiny waves lapping at his family jewels.

  He groaned. “God, I hope so.”

  “Oh, I do. I can’t wait to get my hands on you.”

  “Then…” He gulped in air. “By all means…”

  She glanced up through eyelashes spiked with water. “Have fun.”

  Did he ever. She had sure hands and a mouth that gave him the kind of pleasure that would be seared into his mind and body forever. She took her time loving him, focusing all her attention on his exceedingly lucky cock.

  He fought against coming, because something this great deserved to be savored. But he’d been ready to explode when she’d started. So good, though…ahhh. He sucked in air through gritted teeth. And lost control.

  He came, and came hard, with a bellow worthy of a bull moose. She stayed for the party, taking all he had to give.

  When he could breathe, he choked out his gratitude, or what he hoped was gratitude. He might not have made a lick of sense. She’d hijacked his brain.

  Slowly she released him and brushed her lips over the damp tip of his cock. “You’re welcome.” Moving carefully, she rose to her knees, leaned forward and kissed him full on the mouth.

  Her kiss was salty. Well, it would be. He cupped the back of her head and took that kiss deeper. With every climax, every moment of surrender, the boundaries between them dissolved a little more. He loved where this was going.