his thumbs along her jaw, and settled into her. She stiffened and flinched with surprise. He expected her timid response. He brushed his lips over her cheek, her temple, her forehead, letting her know she was safe and cherished, not overpowered. Soft little touches. When his mouth found hers again, she kissed him back. He deepened the kiss, using his tongue to trace her lips. She opened on a surprised sigh, inviting him in, closer, and he smoothed his tongue over hers. Sinking fast, and in more ways than one. The feel of her, the taste, her smell, everything drew him in, filled him up, made him feel . . . good, right.
How long had he been living feeling indifferent and apathetic? Stuck in a rut for far too long. Time to try something new with someone who stirred up all kinds of interesting things inside him.
She responded by grabbing his shirt and pulling him closer. She held on to his biceps and matched his kiss with her own. His hands slid down her neck, and he trailed his fingertips along the swell of her breasts. She moaned into his mouth, and he stroked across her breasts again, just above the towel. Lost in her, she tasted so sweet and smelled so fresh. Flowers, sweet and heady.
His hands made a journey up her throat and into her hair. He held her head and tilted it, deepened the kiss. Her nails dug into his arms.
She moved them up his shoulders and linked them behind his neck, pulling him closer. Closer to where he wanted to be. His hard shaft pressed to her belly. She pushed closer and a soft rumble came from his throat. He put his arms around her, about to lift her off her feet and carry her to the bed. She yelped out in pain.
He immediately released her and took two steps back. She almost fell toward him, he’d released her so quickly. With his hands outstretched, he steadied her by the arms.
“I’m sorry. I lost my head. Did I hurt you? Are you okay? Stupid, I shouldn’t have touched your back.” He raked his fingers through his hair and took a deep breath to try to calm his overheated, unruly body.
“Jack, calm down. I’m all right.” Shy and hesitant, she stepped close, put her hands on his cheeks, and pulled him down for a soft lingering kiss. He pushed his fingers through her soft, thick hair and held her head, too.
“I’m sorry,” he said against her lips.
She settled back onto her heels and bit her bottom lip. Her tongue swept across her kiss-swollen lip. Tasting him, her eyes met his. Though he appreciated the passion, it was the trace of wariness that held him back from diving in again.
“I’m all right. Are those my clothes?” Jenna needed a minute to settle her insides. The man could kiss. He made everything inside her mind turn off and her body turn on. The only thing she could think and feel was Jack. Intense and scary and wonderful all at the same time, she took another deep breath and smelled him, soap, leather, hay, and horse. A nice combination.
“You’re always trying to get your clothes on. Right now, I just want to get my clothes off.”
A deep laugh bubbled up her gut and burst out. “Down, boy.”
“He doesn’t want to go down. He wants to come out and play.” Absolutely serious, but aware she needed the levity and time. She appreciated his attempt, despite the tightness in his face and body, telling her he was as aroused as her.
“Funny. How about I let you wrap my thigh before I get dressed?”
“Do I get to kiss it and make it better?”
She smiled. “Be good,” she ordered.
“Oh, honey, I am,” he teased back.
She turned the opening of the towel to her back and stood in front of him. His ragged sigh made her laugh again.
“You’re killing me, you know.”
“Somehow, I think you’ll survive.”
Resigned, Jack grabbed the bandages and knelt on the floor to tend her wound. He checked the stitches and made sure the cut wasn’t still damp from her shower. He covered the gash with ointment and taped a bandage in place.
He trailed kisses along the side of the cut from the bottom up to the top of her thigh. Every touch of his open mouth shot sparks of heat through her system. His big hands rubbed up the front of her legs from her ankles to her hips. Everywhere his