From This Moment On - By Debbi Rawlins Page 0,35

forgiven as long as you keep this up.” She let her chin drop as he worked his fingers toward the back, all the way down to the top of her spine.

Her small-boned frame felt fragile, and even though he was careful not to rub too hard, her whole body rocked under the pressure of his fingers. But he kept kneading out the tension, feeling her relax until her forehead rested against his chest and she let out soft moans.

When he couldn’t stand it anymore, he tightened his arms around her and cradled her to his chest.

Slowly she brought her chin up, tilting her head back to look at him. “I thought we were supposed to cool it until we figured out what we’re doing.”

“I’m not starting anything, just letting you know I’m here.”

“So that’s what you call this.”

“Why?” He dipped down for a quick kiss. “What do you call it?”

“Trouble.”

“Ah. You’ve got me there.” He stared down at her lips, fascinated with their silky smooth texture, at how they plumped into a perfect pout. When he met her dazed eyes, his jaw clenched. “You,” he whispered, his whole body tensing, “give trouble a new meaning.”

She pressed her breasts against him, peeling off another layer of his control. The little imp knew exactly what she was doing. A few more minutes and he wouldn’t be interested in any more talking.

Nikki clutched his shoulders and arched her back, just a little, enough to expose more of her slender neck and throat. “You realize Hilda could walk in at any moment.”

“Hell, she’s probably listening at the door to see if it’s safe to come back.”

“God no.”

She froze when his answer was to kiss the tip of her chin. He traced her lips with his tongue, getting too heated for his own good. But Nikki wasn’t responding. Not in a way he’d hoped, anyway. Her body had stiffened and now she was trying to evade his mouth.

He stumbled back a step but held on to her. “What?”

“Hilda.”

“I was joking.”

“No, you weren’t.”

“You’d really care if she caught us?”

“Yes.” She swung a gaze toward the dividing door to the dining room.

“You keep surprising me.”

She shrugged a shoulder as if she wasn’t happy with her reaction but there it was. “You’d be embarrassed, too. And don’t deny it.”

He didn’t, even though she was wrong. After being with the family for over thirty years, Hilda was as much a part of the Sundance as any of them. She’d waded through the hormone-driven teen years of her own son, Ben, as well as Trace and his brothers. Not much left that could embarrass him or Hilda.

Tightening his arms around Nikki, he brushed his lips over her ear. “I get you moaning loud enough she’ll never come in.”

Nikki let out a startled laugh. “You’re that sure of yourself?”

He grabbed a handful of hair and tilted her head back again. The curve of a woman’s throat had never been a turn-on for him, not like this. He kissed the soft silken skin, knowing damn well he was only torturing himself. This had to end soon. Before it got out of hand. Before he couldn’t remember the reason they’d stopped the other day. Matt. Rachel. Nikki’s fresh start. She didn’t need a complication right off. Or to have folks gossiping about her. They all knew he wasn’t the type to take on a relationship. He hadn’t been serious about a girl since high school. He just hadn’t met anyone who made him want to put on blinders.

She made a muted purring sound that vibrated against his mouth. It might as well have zipped straight to his cock. Not much separated common sense from a wild need to drag her up to his room. He had to calm down.

“And the guests?” she asked, letting her head fall back even more. Eyes closed, lips parted, ready for him to slip his tongue inside. Taste the sweetness he’d already sampled.

“What about them?” He breathed in her dizzying scent, warned himself again to back off. The argument was already fading in his mind.

“One of them could walk in on us.”

“So?”

She smiled, swaying enough that he had to tighten his arm around her waist. “This is crazy.”

“Maybe we should start your lesson early.”

“My—?” She opened her eyes. “Oh, right,” she murmured, blinking away the confusion. “What time is it?”

The big round clock hung on the wall to his left. He strained to see it without losing ground, fearing if he let her go, the moment would be