down at him. “I thought you were asleep.”
“I was until I felt you staring at me.” He opened an eye. “It’s like being stalked by a predator. Damn terrifying.”
She leaned over and poked his chest. “Good.”
“Ouch.” He collected her fingers in his and entwined their hands together over his heart. “Go back to sleep, I promise I’ll keep you safe.”
“I’m quite capable of taking care of myself, thank you,” Julia retorted. “And I’m not worried about the surviving part.”
“Then what are you worrying about?” He sounded like he was about to drift back to sleep.
“The usual.”
“I told you my take on it earlier.” He paused. “You changing your mind?”
“I might be.”
“Yeah?” He finally opened both his eyes and gave her one hundred percent of his attention, which was both gratifying and slightly nerve-wracking.
“If we do this—and I said ‘if ’—we both have to agree that it’s not the start of a relationship. That it’s just for now,” Julia said.
“What happens in the cabin stays in the cabin.” He winked. “I’m good with that.”
“And we don’t tell anyone, ever,” Julia added.
“Okay.” His gaze never left her face. “Before you ask, I have protection in my medical kit, so we’re good.”
She was also on birth control, but he didn’t need to know that. She took a deep breath and gathered her courage.
“Then, maybe we should do this.” She waited hopefully, but he didn’t sit up and immediately start kissing her. “If you’re still all right about it.”
“Sure I am.” He stayed where he was, one hand behind his head, and beckoned to her. “You’re the one who owes me a kiss or two, so I’ll let you set the pace.”
Even as she marveled at his absolute and complete audacity she briefly considered turning over and forgetting the whole thing. But, she’d always been competitive, and this was an outright dare of epic proportions.
“Okay, then.” She wiggled out of her panties and climbed onto his stomach, her knees on either side of his hips. “Don’t be scared.”
She slowly leaned down, planted one hand beside his head on the blankets, and licked a line along the slightly parted curve of his lips. He obligingly opened his mouth as she delved deeper tasting a spiciness and a richness that was all him. He made an approving sound and brought one arm around her hips.
“That’s nice, honey. Do it again.”
She considered biting his tongue, but she was already too caught up in the sensual spell of discovery and rediscovery that he represented to her. She’d known him most of her life, but this part of him? The part that seemed made just for her was new, and exciting, and terrifying. This wasn’t a man who didn’t know her, or get her, in fact he knew her far too well, and sometimes that scared her.
He rocked his hips making her very aware that she was sitting across his stomach and that he was very happy about that indeed. She ended the kiss and smiled down at him.
“That was the first one I owed you. Where do you want the next one?”
He raised an eyebrow. “I’m a man. Where do you think?”
She pretended to consider the question, one finger pressed against her lower lip, which he couldn’t seem to look away from. She deliberately licked the tip of her finger and he groaned.
“Yeah, just like that.”
“You want me to kiss your fingers?” she inquired.
“How about you give me your hand, and I’ll show you exactly what I want.”
“Only if you take your T-shirt off first.” Julia was totally ready to bargain for what she wanted.
“You want me to freeze to death or something?” Kaiden complained.
“No, I want to get a good look at those fine shoulders, pecs, and abs I suspect you’re hiding under there.” Now that she’d committed herself, she was enjoying ordering him about.
“If you insist.” He sat up dislodging her from her perch and pulled his T-shirt off one-handed.
“Oh . . .” Julia sighed and leaned in to rest her palm on the heavy slab of muscle layered under his lightly haired chest. “That’s damn fine.” She traced her fingers down over his perfect abs to the elastic band of his boxers. “It’s a shame you have to wear clothes at all, really.”
He flexed his arms. “Thank you, ma’am, and unlike Blaine the pain, I’ve never been inside a gym in my life.” He held out his hand and took hold of hers. “Now, it’s your turn.”
He brought her fingers to the hard length making