Her Secret Thrill. Donna Kauffman

can’t believe I’m doing this.” Might as well get that out in the open.

      “Me, either.” He moved closer to her. “Although, I’m beginning to think I owe Con a thank-you.”

      He was so warm. So big.

      She nodded. “I’m probably not going to be having that talk with Liza, after all.”

      The doors slid open, but they stood, mere inches apart, staring at each other.

      “I need to ask you something,” she said.

      The doors started to slide shut, but Jake reached out and held the button. “Ask me anything.”

      “What is this—exactly?” She laughed a bit nervously at his confused expression. “I mean, I know what this is. But I’m catching a plane later today. And another one a few days after that. And so on. I wasn’t planning on—”

      He pressed one of those big, thick fingers against her lips. “This can just be…this. No strings. No tomorrow.” He let his finger slide slowly off. “Is that what you wanted to hear?”

      She was pretty sure that was exactly what she wanted to hear. She didn’t dwell on anything beyond that. “Yes.”

      He let his finger off the button, and the doors shut. “Come here,” he said softly, and pulled her into his arms.

      She went into his arms as if she’d been there hundreds of times before. And yet it was an electrifyingly original experience.

      He tipped her chin up and angled his head. “Let’s taste each other. And go from there.”

      His kiss was tender but firm. His lips warm and dry…then quickly wetter. She slid her arms around his waist and smoothed her hands up his wide back. God, he was big. She’d never been with a man this…large. There was something deeply elemental about how overpowering he was compared to her shorter, slighter frame. But rather than be intimidated by it, she was secretly aroused by it.

      In fact, as his wide hands moved up her back and cupped her head, moving it exactly where he wanted it, she felt an undeniable urge to have him move her whole body exactly how and where and whatever way he wanted it. She wanted him to be in control, to take her…and make her like everything he wanted to do to her.

      She would have been shocked by the realization—she was definitely one for equal partnerships—but she was too busy reeling from the feel of his tongue invading her mouth.

      He didn’t push or shove. He enticed. Goaded. Teased. Twined. Made her want to do the same. So she did.

      There was a sudden clearing of throats.

      Natalie jerked her head up to find two elderly men staring at them. The lobby stretched out behind them. They’d apparently gone back down. She’d forgotten they were even in the elevator.

      Her cheeks warmed. Jake caught her eye and winked, then tugged her out of the elevator. “You take this one, gentlemen. We’ll catch another one.”

      Natalie was going to tell him that wasn’t necessary. In fact, she might have enjoyed making the old codgers squirm a little bit on the ride back up. But the idea that maybe there was a little voyeur down deep inside her, after all, surprised her so much, she missed her chance.

      Jake pushed the button on the opposite wall, got them into that elevator and gently backed her to one side. “You stand here.” He moved away, pushed for their floor and stood against the opposite wall. At her questioning look, he grinned and said, “Just ensuring we make it to the room this time.”

      She laughed, but as the elevator jolted upward, their smiles slowly faded. They stood on opposite sides of the small car, gazes fixed on each other.

      Natalie felt her entire body come alive as he very deliberately let his gaze roam over her. When he met her eyes once again, she found herself slowly, shockingly, running her tongue over her lips. When she saw his throat visibly work, she grew bold enough to slowly allow her own gaze to travel over his wide shoulders, deep chest, narrower waist, down his long legs…and back up again. Stopping very deliberately for one extended moment at the juncture between them. Then she gazed directly at his eyes. And licked her lips again.

      This time he was ready. His grin was slow, his eyes hot…and demanding. His hands had been pressed to the wall behind him, but now they slid over his thighs…and rested on the zipper of his pants.

      Her eyes widened at the very primal, direct gesture, and her knees went a bit weak. She’d never thought about watching a man stroke himself. Ever. It simply wasn’t part of her sexual experience. But damn if she didn’t want to add it in. Right now.

      She looked to his eyes and saw a taunting there. Was he daring her? Did he want her to ask him?

      She looked back to his hands, but they just stayed there, resting over the bulge she knew very well was behind them.

      The elevator stopped and the doors slid open. Her breath came out in one long sigh. But there was more frustration in it than relief.

      He reached for her hand, she lifted hers to his. She was half wondering if he was going to direct it to his fly, but he folded his fingers between hers and pulled her out of the elevator into the hallway. He checked his room key, then the signs, and headed down the hall with her in tow.

      She liked his long-legged stride, liked the way he kept looking down at her with such heat in his eyes.

      Suddenly he tugged her against him and ducked into the little vending machine alcove.

      “You’re driving me crazy,” he murmured against her mouth just before taking it again.

      Natalie thrilled to the way he simply took her. But while his kiss was demanding, it was also generous. He gave…aggressively.

      When he pulled back, they were both breathing heavily. “I could climb right out of my skin, I want you so badly.”

      The rush of pleasure his roughly spoken words sent through her was so intense, it was all she could do to nod in agreement.

      He wrapped her against him, then finally swore and left the alcove. “I’m going to embarrass myself completely if I don’t get you in that room right now.”

      Natalie decided right then that groping and tearing had its moments, too. She was itching to pull off every stitch he had on.

      He fumbled the key card into the slot, repeating the motion three times before they finally got the door open.

      Natalie didn’t even pay attention to the lovely little room or the original antique furnishings. In fact, if he hadn’t been as hot to get to her as she was to get to him, she’d have been appalled at her greedy behavior.

      He slid off his jacket, yanking the bag from the drugstore out of the pocket and tossing it on the bed before tossing the jacket in the general vicinity of the closet. But just when Natalie thought—hoped—he’d drag her to him and thoroughly ravish her, he stilled, drew in a deep breath, then laughed lightly, rubbing a hand over his face.

      “I wasn’t like this even when I was sixteen.” He looked at her with an adorably wry smile. “I guess my lack of finesse is showing here. Once a cowboy, always a cowboy.”

      “I’m not finding anything lacking.” Natalie took a breath herself. “Except that we’re still clothed.”

      He grinned. “Where have you been all my life?”

      She laughed and let him guide her to the bed. She loved the heady mixture of laughter and passion that accompanied them so easily. Why wasn’t it always this easy?

      She knew why. Because there were no expectations here. No public aspect to this. Nothing to worry about beyond right this moment. She could be anyone. Do anything. And it would be just between them. No explanations. No apologies.

      If she hadn’t already been intoxicated by the possibilities, looking into his eyes now as he tugged his shirt out of his pants had her almost drunk and reeling