her close.
“It doesn’t matter,” he vowed.
“Of course it does, Denver,” she cried. “It matters a lot. To you. To me. Ever since you got here, you’ve been insinuating I slept with your uncle, for God’s sake. Your uncle! How could you think, even for a second, that I’d—I’d—” She shuddered.
Denver wanted to believe her. She could see it in his eyes. Staring up at him from the tangled cloud of red-gold framing her face, her hazel eyes leveled on him, she knew he wanted to believe her.
“I think you’d better leave,” she said slowly, trying to deny the want that still caused her limbs to tingle, her eyes to shine.
“It’s too late for that, Tessa,” he whispered, kissing her neck, letting his lips linger against her sensitive skin. “I can’t go now.”
“Then, please, Denver. Please trust me. There’s never been anyone but you.”
“You don’t have to—”
“I would never lie! Not about this!”
“I believe you, Tess,” he whispered hoarsely, releasing her wrists. His fingers slid up her arms, across her back, tracing the curve of her spine before he cupped her buttocks.
“I—I’ve only been with you.”
He groaned, a deep, primal sound of pain and pleasure as he kissed her again, his lips crashing down on hers with a need so urgent she couldn’t resist. Her hands moved across his shoulders, feeling each firm muscle before slowly sliding down his arms.
When Denver guided her fingers lower still, she didn’t resist, and her feather-light touches stoked fires already raging deep in his loins as he moved easily over her and parted her legs.
“No regrets?” he whispered, poised over her.
She swallowed but shook her head and held his gaze. “No regrets,” she vowed.
Slowly he plunged deep into the warmest part of her, sheathing himself in her womanhood.
Gasping, Tessa twined her arms around his neck. Her body moved in a magic rhythm with his and she couldn’t stop. Not in her dreams had she felt this rapture, this soaring of her spirit. “Denver, oh, Denver,” she whispered until she could no longer speak—could only feel. He pushed her higher and higher, upward to a sky as blue as his eyes.
“Denver!” she cried hoarsely as the sky seemed to splinter and her body jolted. He fell against her, breathing raggedly, drenched in sweat and whispering her name.
Tessa welcomed his weight. Her arms encircled his chest, and she pressed light kisses to his cheek. Unbidden tears formed in her eyes, hot little pools that drizzled down her cheeks.
Denver touched her lashes, wiping the silent drops away with his thumb. “Tears?” he asked.
“Tears, yes,” she whispered, sniffing, “but no regrets.”
He chuckled—a deep, rumbling sound—as he gathered her into his arms and held her. “Sleep,” he murmured into her hair.
Closing her eyes, she nestled closer to him, listening to the breath moving in his lungs and the muffled beat of his heart. Tonight she would stay with him. Tomorrow she would face whatever the morning might bring. Even if it meant following him to Los Angeles.
Chapter Nine
Morning shadows played across the room. Tessa opened one eye and found Denver staring at her. His eyes were as blue as a clear mountain stream, his hair rumpled and black, the lines in his face less severe than they had been. He’d kicked himself free of the sheet, and he lay completely naked across the bed. Sunlight streaked his skin, gilding the firm ripple of his muscles.
“About time you woke up.”
“Mmm.” She stretched. “What time is it?”
“Early.”
“And you’re awake?” she teased, glancing at the clock.
“I wasn’t. But this ravishing blonde kept kicking me and trying to push me out of bed.”
She grinned impishly. “Maybe you didn’t satisfy her.”
White teeth flashed against his dark jaw. “Maybe I didn’t,” he growled, rolling over so quickly, she didn’t have time to escape. “Maybe I should try again.”
She giggled as his mouth descended on hers. “Denver, stop,” she cried, gasping for air and laughing all at once.
“No way. You threw down the gauntlet, and I’m accepting the challenge.”
Wiggling, she tried to squirm away from him, but the task proved impossible. Just when she slid one of her legs out from under him, he captured her again, pinning her against the sheets and grinning wickedly.
“Let me up!”
“Give?” he taunted.
“No—never,” she gasped.
“Glad you haven’t changed, Tess.” With her wrists bound over her head by his hands, and her legs immobile under his weight, he touched the tip of his tongue to her lips, rimming her mouth leisurely.
“You’re—”
“What?”
“Incorrigible!” she said, for lack of another word. Her mind was spinning