Page 18 of On A Manhunt: Complete Series

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“This is amazing,” I commented, taking in the house.

It was situated at the base of Hunter Mountain, but on the west side, nowhere near the ski slope.

That meant nowhere near other people. Towering pines were on either side of the log house and had views of the entire valley from the wall-to-wall windows at the back.

A two-story river rock fireplace was along one wall with a plush sectional facing it.

It could seat at least six, or one Maverick.

It was professionally decorated with tans and blues and lots of wood.

By the size, I assumed there had to be six or more bedrooms. Probably a walkout basement. All of it came with a hefty price tag.

“My assistant found it for me. It’s better than a hotel.”

“This is where you’ll stay then?”

His cell chimed and he pulled it from his pocket, read the screen. His jaw clenched, but he didn’t give whatever he read much thought because he set the phone and his car keys on the granite counter in the kitchen, then joined me by the window. Scout was sniffing around, checking out his new home.

“This is the first time I’ve been in it,” he admitted. “After I knew I was staying yesterday, I got him to find me a rental. He texted me the address and the door code first thing. I drove by earlier to see where it is, but yeah, it seems nice.”

Seemed nice? It was perhaps ten steps above nice. Twenty.

Taking my hand, he tugged me to the sofa, dropped on it, spread his knees wide and pulled me to stand between them. His hands cupped my hips and we were eye-to-eye.

“Hi,” I whispered, suddenly a little nervous. We hadn’t said much on the ride here from the deli, but the air had been charged. It had practically crackled. I’d had sex before, but it hadn’t been like this. The anticipation. The need.

I wanted him.

He wanted me.

I was wet and I told him so.

He was hard. It was impossible to miss. That bulge.

“Hi.” A small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “Can you see without your glasses?”

I wasn’t expecting the question. “Do you need me to drive anywhere?”

His lips twisted in amusement. “No.”

“Then I’m good.”

He reached up and carefully took them off, reached out and set them on the side table.

“Come here,” he murmured, patting his thigh.

“Aren’t I supposed to be naked?” I asked, referring to his quiz.

“Come here,” he whispered.

I set one knee on the couch beside his thigh and straddled him. His hands went to my hips and pulled me closer so I could feel how hard he was against my center.

“There’s my good girl.”

A curl of lust rolled through me. Fuck, why did that do something for me? His praise, his hold. Sitting in his lap? It was like coming home, this feeling. Comfortable. Easy.

“I think we need to talk,” he murmured.

I swallowed, suddenly nervous. My heart hammered and I couldn’t hold his eyes. Whenever someone said we need to talk, it was never good. “I’m sorry, I–”

“Hey,” he murmured, then tipped my chin back to his. His palm cupped my jaw. “What are you sorry for?”

“I thought you wanted to talk.”

He angled his head, studied me. “So you assumed you did something wrong?”

Exactly, but I offered him a small shrug.

“Oh, baby. No. No, you’re perfect.”

I met his gaze now, not because he was holding my head in place. His gentle words had me relaxing and I knew he felt my body ease.

“I don’t know what the hell this is between us, but I feel it,” he admitted, his hands moving from my hips to gently coast up and down my thighs. “You feel it too, or you wouldn’t be in my lap right now.”

It wasn’t worded as a question, so I didn’t answer. Except he was right. I felt it, the tingling of need. The desire to be with him. To have him look at me, just the way he was right now. It was desire, definitely, but something more. Like he… craved me.

His touch warmed my skin. Awakened me better than caffeine.

“I held your hand at the coffee shop. I wanted to sit with you and talk. Get to know you. But you ran off. You ran off again last night.”

I had. Both times.

“Whatever this is, it’s not because of any email. I wanted you before I even knew who you were. We’d be right here, right now, if you sent your email to Mallory.” His hands slid around my back, one drifted up my spine to cup the back of my neck. The other settled low to cup my ass.

“I’m a foregone conclusion?” I asked, licking my lips.

He shook his head, squeezed his fingers. “No, baby. We are.”

There was a distinct difference and I really liked that he pointed it out.

“You wrote that a man never gave you an orgasm.”

I shifted, tried to get up, suddenly embarrassed.

“Be a good girl and sit still.”

This time, his words weren’t as soft, but deep and low and commanding. I instantly stilled.

His hands began to roam again, now up and down my sides, his thumbs brushing the swells of my breasts. His knees parted further, and my thighs widened. Because of our size difference, I was completely open to him, even fully clothed.

When he cupped me there through my shorts and panties, I startled at the heat of his palm, the intimacy of the touch. His other hand palmed my breast, then skated over to the other, pinching the nipple.

I gasped at the feel. His touch was potent. Gentle, but insistent. Roaming and touching as if he had to learn my body.

“I should get the names of any man who touched you so I can beat the shit out of them,” he said.

“Or thank them for being such shit lovers because I’ll be the one to give them to you.

That’s not ego talking. It’s my job now to satisfy you.

Why? Because you climbed in my lap where you belong.

I will give you whatever you want. It’s my job to satisfy you. You’ll come, baby. I promise.”

Holy shit. I… I’d say he was a dirty talker, but it wasn’t all that dirty. It was all promise. From a focused lover who only had one thing in mind. Me.

His hands continued to roam, caressing every inch of me. As if he couldn’t stop himself. I was melting, like a smore over a fire, getting all gooey and soft. Dripping, even. I had no idea over the clothes petting was so hot.

He leaned in, nuzzled his nose along my neck then whispered in my ear. “You just have to tell me how you want to do it. One question, multiple choice quiz. Do you want to come on my, A- Fingers; B- Mouth; C- Dick or D- All of the above?”