The Merriest Magnolia (Magnolia Sisters #2) - Michelle Major Page 0,56

Magnolia, Dylan Scott had become a man.

His shoulders had broadened, and lean muscles defined his arms, even in sleep. It seemed almost unfair for someone to have that golden tone of skin in winter, like he’d come back to town after years of living in the tropics instead of the big city. A fine sprinkling of wiry hair covered his chest.

“Hey.”

Her gaze flicked to his face, where a small smile curved his full lips and his eyes danced with amusement in the soft glow of the light that remained on in the nearby bathroom.

“I was checking you out,” she admitted with a grimace.

“I noticed.” He turned onto his side, propping himself on one elbow. “How are you feeling?”

“Better. Embarrassed at how I was earlier. I should have gone home.”

“No.” He reached out and traced one finger along her cheek and jaw. “I’m glad you were with me.” His smile widened a touch. “Although you snore.”

She sniffed. “I don’t snore.”

“It’s cute.”

“No wonder you’re single.” She grabbed his wrist and shoved his hand away from her. “Your moves are awful.” But the moment she started to flip off the covers, he moved toward her. More quickly than she would have thought for a guy who’d just been woken from a deep sleep. She was suddenly pinned to the bed with Dylan over her, his warm body pressed against hers in a way that had every inch of her coming fully awake.

“Awful?” he asked with a deep chuckle. “That sounds like a challenge.”

Carrie licked her suddenly dry lips. “And are you up for the challenge?” she asked, barely recognizing her own voice.

“You decide,” he whispered and then claimed her mouth. His tongue melded with hers as the kiss became hot and demanding. His hand pushed up under her shirt, and she gasped as his fingers grazed the underside of her breast, sending quivers spiraling through her.

He urged her to lift her back and pulled the shirt over her head. Gazing up at him, she forgot about being self-conscious.

All thoughts other than Dylan disappeared from her mind. There was no worry over the estate or the town or what was left of her family’s birthright. Dylan might not be her forever, but right now she wanted anything he could give.

She wanted to take her pleasure and dismiss all the stress of real life for a while. In this bed Carrie didn’t have to be dutiful or helpful or anything but a woman with needs.

Needs she had no doubt this man could more than fulfill, despite her teasing.

She wanted to feel alive.

Without another thought, she hitched up her hips and shimmied out of his boxers.

Dylan swore under his breath as he took in her naked body, his gaze filled with appreciation. She’d never felt more beautiful.

Then he lowered his mouth to one breast and then the other, licking and sucking until she moaned and arched under him. Her fingers grazed along the tight muscles of his back. It felt as though all of her nerve endings were standing upright and singing his praises, and not just because it had been far too long since a man had touched Carrie in this way.

No one had ever made her feel the way Dylan did.

She tugged on the waistband on his boxer briefs, and he growled low in his throat when she pushed them down over his hips. The evidence of his desire for her was like its own form of foreplay.

Lifting away from her for a moment, he took his boxers the rest of the way off then grabbed a condom wrapper from the nightstand drawer.

“Expecting company in your new house?” she asked as he tore open the packet.

“Hoping,” he said with a sexy half smile, “that you might stop by for—” he kissed her like he’d been saving up his need for a decade “—anything.”

Her breath hitched at the vulnerability in his tone. This wasn’t exactly the Dylan she remembered. That boy had been at once cocky and sweet, patient with her inexperience but sure of his own control.

The man who covered her body with his felt different. Not just grown-up or world-weary, although she knew he was both of those things. This Dylan had experienced loss and tragedy; he’d made himself into a success, but she somehow understood it had come with a price.

The same way the choices she’d made had changed her from an innocent girl into the woman she’d become. So even if they returned to being enemies again tomorrow or at the