Page 53 of Rocky Mountain Devil

“Am I right?” she demanded.

He laughed. “Yeah, something like that.”

They’d reached her place, and this time he accompanied her down the stairs.

“You’re coming in?” she asked.

“Definitely.” Rafe stepped through the doorway, locked the door behind them then tugged her toward the couch. “I want to neck with my girlfriend.”

“Okay.” His girlfriend. She was such a dweeb that the word on his lips gave her shivers.

He sat, pulling her into his lap. “You’re agreeable tonight.”

“Why wouldn’t I be? Kisses? Fooling around?” She tugged on the button shirt he wore so she could get her hands underneath his T-shirt. She pressed her palms to his warm stomach, tracing the lines of his six-pack with her fingertips. “You never did take off your shirt the other day.”

“I was busy,” he reminded her. “Here, let me. I want your hands on me.”

Instant shiver. She sat back while he made short work of his shirts, pulling off both layers at once to reveal his broad chest and muscular shoulders. His left arm was darker than the right, and she traced her fingers over the line where his T-shirt had left a farmer’s tan. “You drove with your window down and your arm on the sill this summer.”

Rafe nuzzled her neck before nibbling on her earlobe. “The AC in the truck died in mid-July, and I wasn’t sure repairs were in the budget. So, yeah. I red-necked it the rest of the summer.”

He was so warm under her Laurel was ready to strip off a few layers herself. Whatever he was doing to her neck was sending goose bumps down her skin, and she alternated hot and cold as he touched her.

Their lips met, and she joined in enthusiastically as he kissed her. Twisting her in his arms as she dragged her fingers through his hair then lowering her to the couch so he could lever himself over her.

When he lifted up for a breath of air she moaned in approval. “You like being on top. I’m good with that.”

His entire body shuddered for a second. “Fuck it. I’m trying to go slow.”

“I can tell, although I’m not sure why.” She lifted her free leg and wrapped it around his hip, sliding their bodies together more firmly. “This couch is too small. I have a perfectly good bed in the other—”

“Laurel…” he warned, his voice gone deep. “You’re killing me. No beds. Not yet.”

She squeezed her eyes shut and fought to keep from complaining. He was right. She didn’t want him to be, but he was.

“Slow. Right. Sucky idea, by the way.”

Rafe chuckled. “Why does it not surprise me that my best friend, the churchy girl, is the hottest ever to fool around with?”

“You’ve had lots of experience since high school, then? To compare me to?” Laurel didn’t mean to sound jealous. Heck, she had no right, especially considering her relationship with Jeff.

Ugh,Jeff.

Fortunately, Rafe kissed her thoughts back into line, only letting her up once she’d relaxed against him.

“I’m not saying you’re someFootloosecliché or anything. You’reyou. Enthusiastic whether you’re teasing my cousins, or making trouble, or driving me crazy.” He took control, leaving her breathless, ears ringing. He paused the kiss only to confess, “I like that about you. I always have.”

What she wanted was to strip them both, but since that seemed off the books, at least they could take things to the next level.

Tracing her hands over his body seemed a good start. Scratching lightly with her nails as they kissed and rubbed together. He went reluctantly when she pushed on his chest, rolling to one side of the couch and giving her room to move.

She was determined he get the message. “You like it when I’m enthusiastic?”

“Of cours—Hell, woman.”

Laurel finished peeling her shirt off over her head, tossing it aside. She straddled his thighs then reached behind her and undid her bra. “Then shut up and kiss me.”

He stared as the fabric fell away. “I’m on a thin rope here, Sitko.”