mint toothpaste, making him think of long summer days and cool spring-fed creeks, and the two of them bare in the sun. He could be content doing nothing but lazing all day and night with this woman in his arms.
She was his—for this moment, she was all his, and he could take her to the highest reaches of heaven. Her seductive groan let him know she had no thoughts of fighting him, so his hand moved down her back, landing on the soft curve of her sweet derrière as he pulled her tightly against him.
Just as he was beginning to reach the point of no return, she stiffened and pushed against him. He knew he could still seduce her, knew he could lift her into his arms and ravish her. But he also knew she’d hate him if he went too fast again.
“Stop.”
It was barely a whisper, panted from her moist lips as he eased back. It was all he needed to hear.
“I want you in my bed, Sage. I want you naked beneath me, crying out in pleasure. I want you so much I dream about you and wake up hungry and unsatisfied. I can feel how much you want me, too. Don’t keep fighting me. We can be great together.” He knew he should leave something to mystery, but, damn, he was aching.
She pushed against him. “No. You proved to me that I’m nothing. I don’t want you anymore.”
He set her free despite the infernal throbbing below his waist.
“I was in shock that you hadn’t had sex before. I’m sorry I left things the way I did. But, here’s the reality. We’re both single. We’re both adults. There’s nothing wrong with taking care of basic human needs.” Hmm. Did he need a little work on his bedroom talk? Maybe.
“I’m not looking to get involved with anyone, Spence, especially you. I’m a resident, and you know the kind of hours that means. Plus, you’re my boss. I am so not going to be a cliché and sleep with the boss. That night was a mistake and I’m glad you realized it, since I clearly wasn’t thinking. I think the lack of available women in our small town has you looking for anything near your age. We need to quit this game.”
“I may be a doctor, too, Sage, but some things happening in the body can’t be explained away so easily. I want you, you want me. There’s no reason for us not to be together.”
Spence should just leave this alone, should accept her rejection and leave. It’s what he normally would have done. If a girl didn’t show interest, then why waste his time? But since he couldn’t stop thinking about this woman, he knew that he had to see where this could lead.
“You have jet lag. Go home and sleep it off,” Sage said, moving over to the couch and sitting down, pulling her knees up to her chest and hugging them, looking so sweet and so many years younger than she actually was.
“Jet lag? Really? It’s only an hour-and-a-half flight from Seattle to Billings, and the time difference is only an hour,” he said with a chuckle. “No circadian rhythms were harmed in the making of this scene.”
“Are you mocking me, Spence?”
“No. Enjoying you.”
“Well, I don’t give you permission to enjoy me,” she told him with some heat.
“My dear Sage, you don’t get to decide that.” He walked over and leaned down, putting his face just inches from hers.
“I get to decide whom I date,” she said, emphasizing the m in whom—she wished to sound her starchiest—and leaning back as far as she could. It wasn’t far enough.
“That’s okay. I wouldn’t want you to be too easy.”
“Did you just call me easy?”
“No, that’s one thing that could never be said about you,” he said with a laugh, then couldn’t resist brushing his lips across the tip of her nose. The move seemed to unsettle her. Good. He wanted her unsettled, wanted to bring a bit of chaos to her ordered life.
“I have to . . .” Dang. She couldn’t think of an excuse to make him leave.
He hadn’t known what he wanted when he found himself at her door, but right now he felt like singing in the hills. He’d shaken her up and learned she was far more susceptible to him than she wanted him to know. It was enough for now.
He’d let her take a deep breath and rest up, and then the next round