Sizzling Summer Nights Read online

  “Lie down with me,” he said, running both hands down her back until he snagged her panties. A second later they pooled around her feet.

  In her most eloquent move of the night, she flapped a hand at his briefs until he finally stripped them down. She caught herself staring at his erection, then she yanked the covers to the bottom of the bed and knelt on the edge of the mattress. Seth joined her, and they inched their way to the center of the bed.

  Before she could lie down, he wrapped her in his arms, pulled her flush against him. Still on their knees, their height difference had changed, although he was still taller. Broader. And, God, he was hard.

  His erection pressed against her, several inches above her V, and was getting her all revved up. She tried to slip her hand between them, but it took a moment for him to give her the room she needed.

  She curled her hand around his cock, and he inhaled sharply. “Jesus, woman.”

  Hannah smiled. “You aren’t complaining, are you?”

  One more firm stroke and his hand closed around her wrist. “Better stop now,” he said.

  “What, you forgot your condoms?”

  He winced. “Shit.”

  She felt a moment’s panic. “They’re still in your pocket, right?”

  “Yes. Which is good, or else I’d be running out stark naked to buy more.”

  “Actually, I’d kind of like to see that,” Hannah said, laughing.

  He swiped his tongue across her collarbone and down her left breast, then licked her nipple before catching it gently between his teeth.

  Her laughter ended in a whimper.

  “Hmm,” he murmured, sucking lightly at first. Then harder.

  Her hand hadn’t migrated too far. But just as her fingers grazed his erection, he moved back and stood. Spoilsport, she thought, smiling to herself. At least when he turned to get the condoms, she had the pleasure of staring at his butt.

  Must be all that horseback riding. She could, quite literally, stare at him for hours.

  He was back quickly, but she was already lying on her side, her head on one of the fluffy pillows. Thinking about how she’d love to trace her tongue over every inch of muscle, each swell and every ridge. She couldn’t decide where she’d start, but she damn well knew where she’d end up.

  “What’s that smile for?” he asked, stretching out beside her, the warmth from his body washing over her, soothing her and turning her on at the same time. He made sure they were able to look straight into each other’s eyes, a quirk of his that she liked very much.

  “Why wouldn’t I be smiling? We’re finally—” She paused, wanting to be careful about her wording. “We have privacy and each other. What more could we want?”

  Seth’s laugh tugged at her heart. He knew, without her saying anything, that she was concerned about jinxing them. Being with him was so easy. Maybe it was a common thread of the vacation sex experience, the thing that made it so appealing, but she had no way of knowing.

  “It feels as if it’s been more than three days,” he said, caressing her arm lightly, then making a smooth move to her breast. He rubbed his thumb over her already beaded nipple, the pleasant friction making her quiver.

  “I know,” she said. “I’m glad we decided to do this. We should’ve checked in Sunday night.”

  “Believe me, I thought about it.”

  “What stopped you from suggesting it?” she asked, running one finger up the length of his cock.

  Jerking, he sucked in a breath. “Oh, so you want to cut to the chase, huh?”

  “The chase began the minute we pulled over to look at the stars.”

  “Yeah,” he said, leaning in until his lips were oh, so close. “I suppose it’s about time I caught you.”

  He pulled her up tight, then slipped his hand between her thighs. Finding her already swelling clit, he rubbed it just hard enough. Excited, she accidentally bit his lower lip.

  He grunted, but didn’t pause.

  She touched him everywhere she could reach. His back, his shoulders, loving the way his muscles flexed. The world she knew in Dallas was full of cowboy wannabes and gym rats, and she hadn’t given that much thought until Seth.

  It made her wonder if things would’ve been different had they met in Dallas. Would they have hit it off so quickly? Made such a strong connection? The way he turned her on and made her crave him...would it have scared the hell out of her, or made her start thinking about the future?

  His breathing had become more rapid, his tongue more insistent. When she realized he’d already put on the condom, she didn’t want to wait.

  Shoving him to his back, she straddled him, kissing her plan into his lips. He understood her and reached between them to line himself up.

  When she sank down on him they both moaned. His eyes closed briefly, as he thrust up.

  He felt wonderful inside her; filling her with warmth; she almost didn’t want to move. For one stupid moment she felt cheated that there were so few days left, but then he stole her breath by spinning her onto her back.

  Seconds later, he was between her thighs, thrusting in once more. This time, his eyes stayed open.

  So did hers.

  He didn’t look away when he rocked gently forward, kissing her on the lips and giving her hard, aching nipples a light squeeze.

  His gaze remained steady, even when he lifted her right leg over his shoulder, hurrying the pace, stroking deeper and faster as she raked her fingernails down his chest.

  She was the first to blink when his thumb found her clit once again. Relentless, he rubbed and teased until she felt her climax begin. As it blossomed, she squeezed her internal muscles, making them both moan.

  When it hit full force, she spasmed hard. Prickly heat surged through her body. Familiar waves of sensation washed over her, satisfying the ache in her breasts. The emotionally charged pounding in her heart was different.

  On her second big pulse he cried out, stretched his neck and froze. His gaze touched her lips, then met her eyes.

  “Hannah,” he whispered.

  The raw, husky sound of her name on his lips stole what scant breath she had left. She couldn’t speak.

  Seth’s hard, muscular body trembled with his release.

  The moment was utterly silent. Completely perfect.

  It took Hannah a while to summon the strength, but when she did, she reached up and swept back the lock of hair that had fallen onto his damp forehead.

  His mouth curved in a lazy, exhausted smile. It seemed they were both having trouble keeping their heavy lids up as he collapsed beside her.

  The next time she opened her eyes, there was a sheet and blanket covering both of them. Her leg was over his thigh and her head nestled against the dip of his shoulder.

  She sighed, feeling utterly safe and happy as she slipped back into sleep.

  13

  SETH SHOULD’VE BEEN dead to the world after the last few days. He couldn’t remember falling asleep, much less how much time had passed, but he’d be willing to bet he hadn’t slept for more than a couple of hours. And yet he felt pretty damn energetic and raring to go. Although he wasn’t as sure about waking Hannah.

  She was beautiful, with her hair wildly splayed across the pillow, her lips slightly parted. He brushed wisps of hair from her cheek, then skimmed his fingers down to her neck, her chest, her gorgeous breasts.

  It was a damn shame she lived so far away. Being with her was so easy. He didn’t have to plot and plan, try to think what she’d like, or decipher her words and actions to figure out what she really meant. She hadn’t complained about the last-minute emergencies, silly and avoidable or otherwise. Running a ranch was a 24/7 job. Even some of the local women who knew better got sulky over having a date interrupted.

  He couldn’t discoun
t the fact that this was temporary. Vacation sex was probably always fast and furious, less complicated. But it wasn’t just the sex that made him think of her so often.

  She made a sound, high and sweet, and stretched her arm out as she opened her eyes. “I’m so glad you’re here,” she said with a sleepy smile.

  “Me, too.”

  “Is it the middle of the night?”

  “Close to one.”

  “Sounds like a great time to have more sex.”

  “My thoughts exactly.”

  “Okay, you get ready while I go check out the bathroom.”

  She kissed him quickly on the lips, then hopped out of bed, and he watched her until she closed the door.

  Wasting no time, he got another condom ready, although he didn’t put it on. He didn’t plan on using it right away. In fact, as soon as she came out of the bathroom, he got up to use it, as well.

  Hannah was looking impatient by the time he returned, though he couldn’t have been gone more than three minutes.

  “Don’t give me that look,” he said, aware her gaze had just lowered. “Do you know how long I waited for you to wake up? Do you have any idea how much restraint—” Her eyes had widened and focused on his face. “What?”

  “Why the hell would you do that?”

  “Do what?” he asked, sliding in beside her.

  “Let me sleep. We can’t afford to waste any time.”

  Seth chuckled, then got that she wasn’t kidding. She’d started kissing him before he even hit the pillow. Evidently all was forgiven. And time really was of the essence.

  “I knew you went in there to brush your teeth,” she murmured, tasting quite minty herself.

  He smiled, then slithered his way down her body.

  “Wait,” she said. “Where are you going?”

  In answer, he paused to taste her sweet, hard nipples.

  With a soft whimper she started kneading his shoulders. So he stayed to suck a nipple into his mouth and pluck the other one with his fingers.

  A minute later, lured by the musky scent of her arousal, he resumed his quest, moving farther down, licking and tasting, until he was perfectly situated between her thighs.

  His lips grazed the neatly trimmed patch of hair that guided his mouth directly where he wanted to go. There was no way to stop his moan once he’d spread her lips and finally tasted her.

  It didn’t take long to have her bucking like a bronc as he brought her to her peak. He had to move fast to save his neck, but that was fine because he couldn’t wait another second to be inside her.

  This time wasn’t so slow and tender, but he wasn’t exactly in a rush.

  “You shouldn’t have put the condom on so fast,” she murmured, her voice a breathy rasp. “I wanted to...” she struggled for a breath “...do things.”

  Seth touched her flushed face. “It’s early yet. We can do whatever you want.”

  She smiled so pretty it made him ache.

  * * *

  SETH OPENED ONE EYE. A narrow stream of sunlight breached the closed drapes and hit him in the face. He turned his head and saw that Hannah wasn’t there.

  Her side of the bed wasn’t even warm.

  He stretched out his arms and everything else he could, feeling pleasantly used, like after a really great ride through the foothills.

  Oddly, the door to the bathroom was open, and he didn’t hear the shower or anything. When he noticed it was 8:40, he figured she’d most likely gone down to the lobby for coffee. He squinted at the piece of paper next to the bedside clock. He rolled out of bed, stretched his back, then picked up the small motel stationery tablet on his way to the bathroom.

  I’m getting coffee. Don’t go anywhere.

  “Where would I go?” he asked, hurrying so he’d be ready when Hannah returned with the coffee—and rolls or muffins. Guaranteed she’d bring some sort of pastry. Although he was hungry enough to want a real breakfast. Bacon, eggs, hash browns, toast, more coffee. Oh, yeah. He’d convince her to his way of thinking. Given their activity level last night, she had to be starving, too.

  He decided to take a quick shower, briefly considered squeezing in a shave if he could, but that was probably pushing it. After drying himself off, he walked back into the bedroom with the towel wrapped around his waist, but she still wasn’t there.

  Huh.

  Okay, so she was probably chatting with whoever was manning the reception desk. God, he hoped she wasn’t being held hostage by one of the locals, although it was doubtful anyone from town would be hanging out in the motel lobby, especially at this hour.

  He put on a pair of boxer-briefs and a new pair of dark blue jeans that really needed breaking in, even though he’d already washed them twice. Sitting on the edge of the bed, he put on socks, eyed his boots and hesitated. It was possible he could talk her into crawling back into bed with him. A muffin would hold them over until they got to the diner for a real breakfast.

  His mind wandered back to the night before. He remembered everything, from the way she smelled like unadulterated female, to how she tasted like the ocean on a rainy day.

  The last thing he wanted to do was get all worked up only to have Hannah walk in ready to head out for the day, but damn, just thinking about her was already setting his gears in motion.

  Stupid, though. Especially when he realized the continental breakfast was over and she hadn’t returned.

  He didn’t waste much time pulling on a shirt and his boots. His teeth were brushed, but he still had day-old scruff darkening his jaw, which he wouldn’t worry about now. He ran a hand through his hair, promising himself he’d get a much-needed haircut soon.

  Some guy was already in the elevator before Seth caught the door. He looked like a salesman passing through, his suit as well worn as his weathered face. Eventually, they reached the lobby level, and Seth went on the hunt.

  He didn’t need to go far.

  Hannah was sitting in one of the burgundy chairs, leaning toward Sherwood, the BLM rep, who was sitting in the matching chair. They were talking, and it looked as though they’d been at it awhile. Hannah was holding a foam cup with most of her coffee gone.

  What could she possibly have to say to him? Did she still have questions after last night’s meeting? From where Seth stood, it sure as hell appeared as though Sherwood was happy to tell her anything she wanted to know.

  Last night he’d looked pretty damn slick, standing there in front of a room full of ranchers, using PowerPoint to show them all his charts and graphs. But he’d swiftly ditched the props when it was obvious they served to magnify the gap between him and his audience. At least he’d been smart enough to wear jeans and a casual Western shirt, giving the appearance he was one of them.

  Today he looked more at ease in gray slacks and a navy blazer over a crisp white Oxford shirt. His light hair was short, neat and combed, with a part that was a little too straight. Seth wouldn’t be surprised if the BLM was just a stepping stone on this guy’s way to a political career.

  Hannah’s laughter made Seth’s chest clench. He walked over to the cozy couple, making sure his smile was relaxed. But watching Sherwood hand over a business card to her nearly blew Seth’s facade.

  “Call me any time,” Sherwood said with his megawatt smile.

  A second later, Hannah looked up. “Seth.” He didn’t miss her slight jump. “Oh, my God, I’m so sorry. I didn’t realize how long I’d been down here.” She lifted a lidded foam cup and a cinnamon bun on a napkin that had been sitting on the table. “The coffee’s probably cold by now, but I think they’re making a fresh pot.”

  She sounded genuinely sorry, which made him feel like a heel for being so suspicious. Knowing her, she was probably just doing business. He had no doubt she was a hell of a headhunter, and why not try to recruit a guy like
slick?

  Sherwood had stood immediately, waiting easily for Seth to acknowledge him, and when he did, the man put out his hand. “Morning,” he said, shaking firmly. “Hannah and I were just talking about the meeting last night.”

  “Oh, yeah?”

  “I think it went well, all things considered.”

  “Boy, do we have a different definition of well.”

  Sherwood laughed. “Anytime the topic of property rights is brought up, whether pertinent or not, tempers soar. But no blood was shed, so I think we did all right.”

  Seth had to smile at that. The guy had a point.

  Hannah’s low groan caught Seth’s attention. He turned just as Jasper entered the lobby, making a face like he’d just swallowed sour milk. The old guy’s clothes looked as though he’d slept in them. Dry mud chipped off his boots with each step, sending up puffs of dust and leaving a trail on the tan carpet.

  “Well, don’t this make quite the picture,” Jasper said, eyeing Sherwood up and down and then glaring at Hannah. “I didn’t believe Avery, so I had to come see for myself.”

  “See what?” Seth asked, moving so he stood directly between the old man and Hannah. “Some people having coffee?”

  “That’s what you want me to think. Gotta say I’m surprised at you, boy. Cozying up to the government like a common—”

  “Oh, my God.” Hannah got to her feet, forcing Seth aside. Her face was flushed, her eyes livid. “Are you talking about last night at the Full Moon? What I said to Avery?”

  “Don’t bother.” Seth put a hand on her back. “Trust me on this.”

  “I was being sarcastic,” she said, meeting Jasper’s glare. “Trying to show Avery how ridiculous he sounded asking me if I was a government spy.”

  Sherwood’s brows shot up and he laughed.

  That only riled Jasper further. Before he responded, Sadie rushed through the door, out of breath, as if she’d been trying to catch up with Parsons.

  Seth rubbed the back of his increasingly tense neck. Great. This was turning into a real circus.

  “Mr. Sherwood, I apologize. Please don’t listen to this jackass,” Sadie barely huffed out. “Hannah, you too.”