From This Moment On - By Debbi Rawlins Page 0,53

love tonight. I love everything about it.” She wound her arms around him. “And as much as I’m beginning to like Gypsy, I’m glad she stayed home.”

“I wondered if you recognized the place.”

“Of course I do. We kissed here for the first time.”

Trace smiled. Damn sentimental coming from her. “We have a lot more to do than kissing.” He skimmed his hand down her back, molded his palm and fingers over her firm round bottom. “After tonight, I suspect this place will deserve its own monument.”

“Wow, that’s pretty cocky.”

“Hell no, I’m counting on you to do your part.”

Her throaty laugh had him searching for her zipper. He found the tab and carefully drew it down her back. She did a little shimmy that helped him pull the snug-fitting dress up to her waist, then she raised her arms. His heart raced and his pulse was going nuts as he lifted the dress over her head. She stood there in nothing but tiny black panties.

He rearranged the long dark hair swirling around her shoulders so that he could see all of her. She had amazing skin, the slight golden color, the silky texture, her dusky rose nipples flushed with arousal... She was so beautiful he couldn’t breathe. “God, Nikki.”

“Come on, Trace,” she said, putting her hands on his chest where his shirt hung open. She slid them up over his ribs and pecs and shoved the fabric off his shoulders.

He shrugged out of the shirt while she unzipped his fly, his short jerky movements hindering rather than speeding things along. “Wait,” he said when she started tugging down his jeans. “I gotta get rid of the boots first.”

“I’m not waiting.” Her impatient hands were everywhere. But it was the one she was trying to slide into his boxers that would be his undoing.

“Okay, if that’s how you want to play it.” He took her shoulders and turned her around, ignoring her gasp, and forcing her to lean back against his chest and thighs. Banding an arm across her ribs, he held her in place and slipped his free hand inside her panties.

* * *

A FIERCE JOLT of longing rocked Nikki against his probing fingers. “What are you doing?” A moan punctuated her protest. His mouth was near her ear, his warm breath gliding over her sensitive skin. She clutched his forearm, intending to force him to let go, but all she did was hang on.

“You’re so wet,” he murmured, his voice a gravelly whisper, and then he was kissing the side of her neck and if he said anything else she couldn’t hear, not when his fingers circled and plunged and made it hard for her to breathe.

She had the vague thought that she should make him stop. Need burned too hot inside her and it had been so long since she’d been with a man. And to make things worse and better at the same time, this was Trace.

God, he had great hands. She leaned back against his strong chest and closed her eyes, moaning when he cupped the weight of her breast. It took her a moment to realize that with both hands busy he was no longer trapping her body against his. But as soon as she tried to move, he released her breast and again banded his arm across her ribs. His fingers between her thighs hadn’t let up even a little.

“Let me take your jeans off,” she said, her voice a notch above a whisper.

In answer he intensified the pressure of his circling thumb on just the right spot to keep her submissive. The strength to argue was slipping away, replaced with an overwhelming need to let him take her to that surreal place where she couldn’t think. Only feel the amazing things he was doing to her body. And knowing that if her weakened knees gave out, Trace was a man she could count on. He would never let her fall.

His sure and unrelenting fingers hit a new plateau, and the sound that escaped her lips was more whimper than moan. Heat surged through her, melting her bones and willpower and the last of her resistance.

“Come on, baby, let go,” Trace whispered. “I’ve got you.” His warm lips moved over her skin, down the side of her neck and brushed her shoulder.

She quivered, knowing it was coming, any second...any second...any...

Her climax hit with such force she rocked back against him. Still he wouldn’t let up on the pressure. He tightened his hold around her middle,