lip. The pulsing of her arousal was making her crazy. She tried to rub herself against his hip to get some relief, but she couldn’t get in a good position.
He took his time with the sweet torture until Ruth was genuinely afraid she might come from nothing more than his work on her breasts.
“So,” he said when he finally lifted his head. He was flushed and rumpled and smiling and smoldering with a primitive pride that she really shouldn’t enjoy so much. “What were you saying about how I’m too nice to be good in bed?”
“That’s not what I said! I just meant—” She made a ridiculous sobbing sound when he gave one of her sensitized breasts another quick nip.
“I know what you meant,” he murmured, kissing his way down to her belly. “I know a challenge when I hear one. You don’t seem to understand that I’m up to any challenge you might give me.”
“I do... understand...” She lost track of the conversation. Lost track of her ability to speak. He was mouthing her soft, mostly flat belly, edging downward to where she was hot and wet and pulsing with need.
The flare of fear that sparked up didn’t make sense to her but was strong enough to compel her to action. She pulled his head back up—away from her groin—and kissed him hard and deep, pushing him over onto his back as she did.
He responded to the kiss, but after a minute he broke out of it, his eyes searching her face as he stared up at her poised above him now. “You okay, Ruth?” He reached up to tuck some of her hair behind her ear and then moved his hand to cup her cheek.
She didn’t want him to know that she’d gotten nervous about the idea of his going down on her. She wasn’t even sure why she had—just that she didn’t have a lot of experience with that activity so it made her uncomfortable. So she covered her confusion but saying in a lilting voice, “Yes. Just seemed like it was my turn to be up to a challenge.”
The questioning concern on his expression faded into a smile. “What challenge?”
“What do you think? I can get you all turned on too, you know.”
“I do know. You get me turned on just by existing. You don’t have to do anything to make it happen.”
“Really?”
“Yes, really. You think I haven’t been turned by you in the past two months? You think I don’t picture you in the dark when I’m in bed and get so hot from the thought of you I have to take care of myself?”
“Really?” Her voice this time squeaked in pleased surprise.
He laughed. “Yes. Really. Why are you surprised? I thought you knew I was into you that way.”
“Why would I have known it?”
“Because I haven’t exactly done a good job hiding it.” He was frowning thoughtfully now, as if searching his mind for answers. “I thought that was why you kissed me earlier. Because you knew I wanted it. You mean you didn’t know?”
“No! I didn’t know. I just wanted to kiss you, so I did.” It felt like the world was being reshaped underneath her feet. She leaned down and murmured into his ear. “I’ve been into you that way too. Did you know that?” For good measure, she darted her tongue out to flicker briefly in the shell of his ear.
His whole body jerked in response, and he gave a helpless grunt. Then he adjusted his hold on her so he could roll them back over so he was on top. “I didn’t know that before, but I’m very glad to know it now.”
They were smiling at each other as they started to kiss again. This one lasted even longer. Slower. Deeper. When they finally broke apart, both of them were so far gone they couldn’t sustain the previous conversation. They fumbled with the rest of their clothing until they’d gotten their pajama pants off and were rubbing their bare skin together with shameless enthusiasm.
Ruth felt around on the nightstand until she’d gotten her fingers on one of the condom packets. Carter took it from her, tore it open, and rolled on the condom.
She spread her legs to make room for him. He felt her with his fingers, checking to be sure she was ready. She was more than ready. She was so wet it was almost embarrassing. He held himself in position, and she bent up her knees as he