She shouldn’t be—naked! Practically. She was practically naked. She couldn’t think. Had she heard something? “What?”
“Tell me when I do something you like.” Tanner slid down her body, away from her. He kissed her stomach, her hip, her thigh, as he stroked down her calf, past the inside of her knee, back up. He settled down between her legs, holding her hips. He nuzzled her heat.
“Oh!” Hope said, shocked and thrilled at having him there. That was—unbelievable. He was—incredible. Whatever he wanted, he could have. As long as he—. Her mind went blank.
Her breathing quickened. His soft hair, brushing her belly, was tantalizing. Her skin felt bright with tingling. She arched against his hands, clutching his hair. She was on a roller coaster, climbing.
Tanner’s tongue flicked out, finding her most sensitive spot, teasing her.
“Oh,” Hope moaned. Higher.
Tanner slid two fingers into her, stroking her, fueling her fire.
Hope inhaled. Almost there! Almost—there! There, there, there!
Tanner’s fingers probed, his tongue teased, his mouth—his mouth—. Hope panted, needing more air, more room, more of everything. More, more, more!
His mouth pulled.
“Ohhhhhhh. Oh, yes!” Hope said. She felt the whoosh from her lungs as she collapsed. “Oh. Oh.”
She lay on the blanket, limp with fatigue and content to her bones. She inhaled in contentment, smelling the pines and Tanner’s special musky odor. The water trickled down the rocks, occasionally splashing a droplet over them, cooling their skin. The soft breeze rustled the trees and grasses around them. The sun was warm on her legs. A bird cackled from an aspen. She felt utterly part of her surroundings—a wood nymph, who’d spent a sunny afternoon cavorting with a handsome, devilish sartyr.
Tanner moved his hands to her hips.
“You okay?” he asked. “You can stop pulling my hair now.”
Hope smiled, her eyes closed. She was too relaxed to open them. “It’s nice hair,” she said. “I like it.”
“You can pull it again, later.” Tanner came up to lie alongside Hope, reaching for his wallet.
Hope turned into him, draped her arm over his chest, and kissed him. She opened her eyes, realizing with shock that although she was nearly naked, he was still fully clothed. She slipped her hand under his tee-shirt. His skin was warm and firm.
“Aren’t you going to take off your shirt?” she said.
“Should I?” he asked, his voice lazy as he took out a condom.
“I think so.”
“Okay.” But he didn’t take off his shirt.
Hope started to feel uncomfortable. She pulled her shirt down over her still open bra. She was still much more undressed than he was. Much more. It was one thing for him to say the Rangers weren’t coming. He still had his clothes on. He wouldn’t be arrested for public indecency.
“Hand me my shorts,” she said.
“What?” Tanner said. He turned his head to look at her. Just inches from his chocolate-brown eyes, Hope watched them go from inquisitive to tender. He sat up and pulled off his shirt. Then he unbuttoned his jeans and pulled them off, too.
“Now we’re even,” he said. “Except I’m totally naked.”
Hope gazed at his chest. He was broad and strong, with muscles rippling across his shoulders. His arms were powerful, ropey with muscle and tendon. His skin was tanned. His waist was trim, his hips narrow. He was perfect.
“Ah,” she said, gazing at him, her mind gone blank.
She felt that tingle begin again, that tingle that let her know her nerve endings were doing a happy dance. Tanner looked like he could devour her on the spot. And she’d hand him the fork and spoon.
“Do you want to know my fantasy?” he asked, his voice very soft.
“What fantasy?” She swallowed.
Tanner braced himself on one arm and whispered softly in her ear, his breath warm.
“I have this thing going where you’re the fair but naughty queen of all peoples from the planet whatever, and you have legions of men to do your sexual bidding but I’m your favorite, so you took me on this picnic and you’re naked and dancing in the sun but I have to worship you from afar until you are ready for me. And you have me do many, many very naughty things to you hour after hour until I am weak with exhaustion and enslaved to you forever.”
Hope turned into him. “Really? That’s your fantasy? Dancing in the sun like a wood nymph?”
“Yes. Dancing and doing naughty things. Except that you’re more a queen than a nymph. Same principle, though.” Tanner nuzzled her neck.
Hope reached for his shoulder and kissed him, tasting salt